Baseball Guru
04-23-2006, 04:53 AM
http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060423&content_id=1414237&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym
Mets turn to Zambrano in finale
By Marty Noble / MLB.com
It is too early in the season, the Mets have no real alternatives and Victor Zambrano hasn't pitched so poorly that any change in the rotation is in the offing. That said, Zambrano, who starts Sunday's series finale in San Diego, remains the least reliable component in the Mets' starting rotation.
Major changes in personnel assignment don't happen overnight. Seeds are planted long before the changes are made. Former general manager Frank Cashen eventually acknowledged he began to see Mets reliever Neil Allen as "a player to trade," as he put it, months before he worked the deal for Keith Hernandez in 1983.
"You start looking at what you have in a different way," he said. "What your player can't do instead of what he can do."
The Mets may not have reached that point with Zambrano, but they have stopped offering unsolicited praise for him. And his being bumped from the rotation at the end of last season was an indication of something less than positive, as is the club's 13-18 record in Zambrano's 31 Mets starts over three seasons.
Zambrano's hamstring pull the last Friday of Spring Training and his subsequent illness have prompted the club to look at him in a softer light -- for now. But eventually, he must perform at a higher and more consistent level. It's not too early for a reversal.
Pitching matchup
http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/mlb/images/team_logos/50x50/nym.gif
http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/mlb/406913.jpg
NYM: RHP Victor Zambrano (1-1, 9.00 ERA)
Zambrano is better off away from Shea Stadium, posting a 4-4 record with a 3.24 ERA on the road last season. He won his lone road start this season and his only road start with New York in 2004. Compare that with his work at Shea as a Met -- a 4-9 record with a 5.17 ERA.
VS
http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/mlb/images/team_logos/50x50/sd.gif
http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/mlb/454535.jpg
SD: RHP Clay Hensley (0-1, 6.00 ERA)
The 26-year-old rookie is set to make the third start of his career and his second in six days. He pitched four innings in a no-decision, a Padres' loss to the Rockies, on Tuesday. The Mets have a grand total of eight career plate appearances against Hensley, most of them coming in his big-league debut last July.
Player to watch
At age 38, Vinny Castilla still can crush a fastball. He acknowledges most of his hits come on fastballs. He has more at-bats, a mere eight, against Zambrano than any other Padre. Among his four hits against the Mets starter are a double and a home run.
On the Internet
MLB.TV
On television
• WB11
On radio
• WFAN 660 AM and WADO 1280 AM (Español)
Up next
• Monday: Mets (LHP Tom Glavine, 2-1, 1.38 ERA) at Giants (RHP Matt Cain, 0-2, 6.75 ERA) 10:15 p.m. ET
• Tuesday: Mets (RHP Steve Trachsel, 1-1, 3.71 ERA) at Giants (RHP Jamey Wright, 2-0, 2.91 ERA) 10:15 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: (RHP Brian Bannister, 2-0, 2.37 ERA) at Giants (RHP Jason Schmidt, 0-2, 5.33 ERA) 3:35 p.m. ET
Mets turn to Zambrano in finale
By Marty Noble / MLB.com
It is too early in the season, the Mets have no real alternatives and Victor Zambrano hasn't pitched so poorly that any change in the rotation is in the offing. That said, Zambrano, who starts Sunday's series finale in San Diego, remains the least reliable component in the Mets' starting rotation.
Major changes in personnel assignment don't happen overnight. Seeds are planted long before the changes are made. Former general manager Frank Cashen eventually acknowledged he began to see Mets reliever Neil Allen as "a player to trade," as he put it, months before he worked the deal for Keith Hernandez in 1983.
"You start looking at what you have in a different way," he said. "What your player can't do instead of what he can do."
The Mets may not have reached that point with Zambrano, but they have stopped offering unsolicited praise for him. And his being bumped from the rotation at the end of last season was an indication of something less than positive, as is the club's 13-18 record in Zambrano's 31 Mets starts over three seasons.
Zambrano's hamstring pull the last Friday of Spring Training and his subsequent illness have prompted the club to look at him in a softer light -- for now. But eventually, he must perform at a higher and more consistent level. It's not too early for a reversal.
Pitching matchup
http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/mlb/images/team_logos/50x50/nym.gif
http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/mlb/406913.jpg
NYM: RHP Victor Zambrano (1-1, 9.00 ERA)
Zambrano is better off away from Shea Stadium, posting a 4-4 record with a 3.24 ERA on the road last season. He won his lone road start this season and his only road start with New York in 2004. Compare that with his work at Shea as a Met -- a 4-9 record with a 5.17 ERA.
VS
http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/mlb/images/team_logos/50x50/sd.gif
http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/mlb/454535.jpg
SD: RHP Clay Hensley (0-1, 6.00 ERA)
The 26-year-old rookie is set to make the third start of his career and his second in six days. He pitched four innings in a no-decision, a Padres' loss to the Rockies, on Tuesday. The Mets have a grand total of eight career plate appearances against Hensley, most of them coming in his big-league debut last July.
Player to watch
At age 38, Vinny Castilla still can crush a fastball. He acknowledges most of his hits come on fastballs. He has more at-bats, a mere eight, against Zambrano than any other Padre. Among his four hits against the Mets starter are a double and a home run.
On the Internet
MLB.TV
On television
• WB11
On radio
• WFAN 660 AM and WADO 1280 AM (Español)
Up next
• Monday: Mets (LHP Tom Glavine, 2-1, 1.38 ERA) at Giants (RHP Matt Cain, 0-2, 6.75 ERA) 10:15 p.m. ET
• Tuesday: Mets (RHP Steve Trachsel, 1-1, 3.71 ERA) at Giants (RHP Jamey Wright, 2-0, 2.91 ERA) 10:15 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: (RHP Brian Bannister, 2-0, 2.37 ERA) at Giants (RHP Jason Schmidt, 0-2, 5.33 ERA) 3:35 p.m. ET