SAN FRANCISCO — The Mets gave Mike Pelfrey a reprieve this week that the enigmatic right-hander is determined not to waste.
With the Amazin’s needing both a roster spot and a rotation spot for Pedro Martinez’s return tonight, Pelfrey was steeling himself for a return to Triple-A New Orleans.
When Willie Randolph unexpectedly went in a different direction late Monday night, moving Claudio Vargas to the bullpen and optioning reliever Carlos Muniz back to the minors, Pelfrey had some breathing room.
Not much, mind you; there is still that little matter of losses in each of his past six starts. But Pelfrey is grateful for another chance to show the Mets he is better than his 2-6 record going into a road start Thursday against the Padres.
“I was prepared mentally for whatever they wanted me to do,” Pelfrey said. “If that meant going to New Orleans or the bullpen, it would have been nothing new. To be able to stay in the rotation is a great feeling. I want to show them they made the right decision.”
The Mets are sticking with Pelfrey as their fifth starter in part because he continues to show flashes of brilliance, even amid the losing streak. Not only did he almost no-hit the Nationals two weeks ago at Shea Stadium, but he also was strong in seven innings against the Dodgers on Saturday.
The Mets rallied late for a 3-2 win over Joe Torre’s club, so Pelfrey didn’t get a long overdue victory. But he definitely pitched well enough to get the decision, scattering seven hits in seven innings of two-run ball.
Randolph admitted the Mets still had Pelfrey’s most recent outing fresh in their minds when it came time to make the Martinez roster decision, and they want to see if Pelfrey can build on it.
“Pelfrey’s throwing the ball pretty well,” Randolph said. “We’re going to continue to develop him and hope he gets better and better. We see him as someone who right now is still part of our plans, and we want to keep him going.”
The Mets are willing to stick with Pelfrey because he showed signs in that start against the Dodgers that he can keep his sinking fastball down and not let a little trouble lead to a meltdown, as it had several times recently.
Randolph and the team’s management also were concerned a trip to the bullpen or New Orleans might hurt Pelfrey’s fragile confidence, which similar moves appeared to do the previous two seasons.
That’s not to say Pelfrey will have a long leash. The Mets have decided to let the former first-round pick sink or swim, and Pelfrey’s timetable to swim will be in weeks and months, not years.
“He’s got the talent, but we need to see some consistency from him,” Randolph said.
Pelfrey seeks a personal turnaround like the one he enjoyed last season. After an 0-7 start and trip to the minors, he returned to the Mets late in 2007 and won three of his final four decisions.
Pelfrey said he has noticed enough encouraging developments in his recent starts, particularly last weekend, to think an about-face is in the cards. The best part about the Dodgers outing: one walk, after giving up three in each of his previous three outings.
“The signs are there,” Pelfrey said. “There have been some things I can really build on lately. I feel like I’m right on the verge of putting it all together. It’s up to me now to go out there and do it.”