Pelfrey Needs a Confidence Start

He doesn't need to Dominate, he doesn't need to throw a shutout, but he does need to pitch well.

Last season Mike Pelfrey turned things around, for himself, and for his team, en route to a fine year in which he established himself as a bona fide major league starter.

This year's forearm tendonitis is partially to blame for Pelf's bad start, but there is also the fact that he has not located his pitches well. What we don't know is if the injury is solely to blame, or if other factors are involved.

One thing is for certain: if the 2009 Mets are going to contend, Mike Pelfrey needs to pitch well. I would define well as averaging 6.0 innings per start, with an era somewhere south of 3.60.

He doesn't need to be an ace--we already have one of those--he needs to be "Mr Steady" in this rotation and give the team quality start after quality start.

Today would be a very good place for him to "really" begin his 2009 season with a confidence (quality) start because, as we saw last year, once it clicks back in, Pelf will smoothly sail to a fine year.

Career: | Pitching |
SEASON	TEAM	G	GS	CG	SHO	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	W	L	SV	HLD	BLSV	ERA
2006	NYM	4	4	0	0	21.1	25	14	13	1	12	13	2	1	0	0	--	5.48
2007	NYM	15	13	0	0	72.2	85	47	45	6	39	45	3	8	0	0	--	5.57
2008	NYM	32	32	2	0	200.2	209	86	83	12	64	110	13	11	0	0	--	3.72
2009	NYM	2	2	0	0	10.0	13	9	9	3	6	5	1	0	0	0	--	8.10
Total	--	53	51	2	0	304.2	332	156	150	22	121	173	19	20	0	0	--	4.43