Maybe Somebody Different Needs To Be Catching Mike Pelfrey, Maybe Mike Nickeas?

Funny, what with all the headlines that Ronny Paulino made during the spring for not being able to play, I had no idea who the backup catcher was till I just checked out the Mets roster and saw that it's Mike Nickeas...Mike Nickeas?!? Exactly.

Bottom line, if as reported, Pelfrey and Josh Thole aren't seeing eye-to-eye on pitch selection and whatever else than something needs to be done and quick because with Johan Santana out, we need to figure out what's wrong with Big Pelf...like now. To think, one of the few bright spots to come out of the 2010 Mets was the stellar defensive play of Henry Blanco...so of course we got rid of him. That said, either Ronny Paulino comes back quick and does it or Mike Nickeas has to starting catching Pelfrey. It's your move Terry Collins.

Just Let Mike Pelfrey Be

First, let me say that this is nothing to do with what he did last night. I like Mike Pelfrey and he's been good for us, but this idea (that Ron Darling kept spouting about over and over again yesterday) that Pelfrey can be an ace is just ludicrous. In fact, the last thing Mike Pelfrey needs right now is any added pressure to perform like a No. 1 starter just because Johan Santana is out. Mike Pelfrey is what he is...a No. 2 or No. 3 guy with an often nasty sinker who can be a plus for any rotation, much less win 15 to 18 games for you in a good season. But he's not Santana or Roy Halladay or C.C. Sabathia or in the same league of any of the other aces in the league. Maybe it's his psyche or maybe it's just his ability, but whatever the case if Pelfrey was capable of being an ace he would've long shown it by now. So people need to back off and just let him be who he is. Because in a season where's there's really not much expected to begin with, 15 wins from Pelfrey with a 3.50 ERA would be a boon.