Looking for Steady Freddy

Of all the off-season moves the Mets made, the one with the biggest upside is the addition of Freddy Garcia as a potential 5th starter.

It's also one of the moves that fans, the media, players and management love--the lightning in a bottle move.

Why I like it is because there is absolutely no risk, but a ton of reward.

According to this piece in the Daily News:

Garcia had an MRI exam on his shoulder in Venezuela after experiencing the winter-ball inflammation, which revealed no damage. Another MRI given by the Mets last week also showed him to have a clean bill of health.

"We played catch today with no problem," Santana said. "When we talked, we said if he stays healthy he's going to have a pretty good chance. He's done it in the past. He's a great competitor. He's a guy who will take the ball any time. He has that kind of mentality. Regardless of the situation, the team he's facing or anything, he's always that guy who wants the ball. That's what you need."

So far as anyone can tell, the shoulder is healthy--that is checkmark number one.

The next question is, "can he still win in the big leagues?"

We're not suggesting that he can return to the form that allowed him to put up eight 200+ inning
seasons in his first nine years.

But he did fare well in his return to the big leagues last September after a long absence:

2008 Season Stats
SPLITS	G	GS	CG	SHO	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	W	L	P/GS	WHIP	BAA	ERA
Season	3	3	0	0	15.0	11	8	7	3	6	12	1	1	68.7	1.13	.204	4.20

Moreover, he held the powerful Texas Ranger lineup scoreless over 5 innings in his first game back:

Game Log September 29, 2008
DATE	OPP	RESULT	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	GB	FB	PIT	BF	GSc	DEC	REL	ERA*
Sep 29	@CWS	L 8-2	5.0	2	2	2	0	3	3	7	7	70	20	55	-	-	4.20
Sep 23	KC	L 5-0	5.0	7	5	5	3	2	6	6	8	77	23	37	L(1-1)	-	4.50
Sep 17	@TEX	W 17-4	5.0	2	1	0	0	1	3	5	9	59	18	63	W(1-0)	-	0.00
Monthly Totals			15.0	11	8	7	3	6	12	18	24	206	61	--	1-1	0 sv	4.20

All good signs as we move forward.

The early chatter in St Lucie points to a wonderful battle for the 5th starter this Spring. And, unlike last year, we seem to have three solid options in Garcia, Tim Redding and Jon Niese.

Moreover, as all baseball fans know, a team needs a minimum of 6 major league quality starters to break with the team out of camp.

Don't believe me? Consider this:

11 different players made starts for the Mets in 2008....eleven!

How good will 2009 be if we can cut that down to 6 or 7 guys making all 162 starts?

The answer? Very good...very good indeed.

Here's a video of the arrival of Steady Freddy:

2009: The Mets No-Hitter Arrives

I am calling it now--right now--you heard it here first (or second or third):

The Mets will throw their first no-hitter in 2009, and it will come at home.

Facts:

• Johan Santana had two complete game shutouts with 3 hits each in 2008.
• John Maine had a 7 2/3 inning, no run, 1 hit game in 2007.
• Mike Pelfrey had 2 games in 2008 in which he went 7 or more innings and gave up 5 hits or less and no runs.
• Freddy Garcia, in his last injury free season in 2006, had two 8 inning, no run, 1-hitters....and they were in back to back games!

Oh yes my friends, 2009 is the year, and one of these four gentlemen will finally accomplish what no Mets pitcher in history has done--throw a no-hitter--I'm banking on it coming at Citi Field (or whatever it's going to be called).

A Wing and a Prayer

As the days of this most curious winter dwindle down, and we approach the wonder that is pitchers and catchers, the Mets carefully piece together a starting pitching staff. And they are doing it on a wing and a prayer.

Perhaps they will wave a chicken bone cross across the once magic arm of Freddy Garcia, who is attempting to come back from a torn labrum. This is the same Garcia who was among the top starters in the American League from 1999 through 2006. In that eight-year span, he ranked first in the A.L. in innings pitched, with 1,643 2/3, and second to Mike Mussina in victories, with 116.

John Maine, a man most Mets fans pencil in as the #3 starter, is also coming back from injury. He will get a garlic necklace and a Shaman. Maine, who expected to win 15+ games last year and continue developing into one of the National League’s better starters, had what he called a disappointing season. A bone spur in his right shoulder knocked him out when the Mets needed him most.

Then there's Tim Redding. Redding gets a witch doctor, a set of new bandages, a GPS navigation system, and a daily dose of my grandmother's chicken soup.

Jan 12, 2009: Signed as a free agent by the New York Mets to a one-year contract.
Dec 12, 2008: Washington Nationals declined to tender a contract.
Jan 17, 2008: Re-signed by the Washington Nationals to a one-year contract.
Sep 17, 2007: Missed 9 games (elbow injury).
Sep 6, 2007: Elbow injury, day-to-day.
Jul 2, 2007: Contract purchased from Columbus (AAA).
Mar 26, 2007: Assigned to minor league camp by the Washington Nationals.
Mar 25, 2007: Outrighted to Columbus (AAA).
Feb 6, 2007: Re-signed by the Washington Nationals to a one-year contract.
Nov 6, 2006: Signed as a free agent by the Washington Nationals to a one-year contract.
Nov 1, 2006: Opted for minor league free agency.
Mar 27, 2006: Assigned to minor league camp.
Dec 23, 2005: Signed by the Chicago White Sox to a minor league contract.
Jul 16, 2005: Designated for assignment.
Jul 14, 2005: Contract purchased from Columbus (AAA).
Jul 2, 2005: Acquired from the San Diego Padres.
Jun 22, 2005: Missed 39 games (strained right shoulder).
May 9, 2005: Strained right shoulder, 15-day DL.
Mar 28, 2005: Acquired from the Houston Astros.
Feb 7, 2005: Re-signed by the Houston Astros to a one-year contract.
Oct 5, 2004: Did not make the playoff roster.
Sep 6, 2004: Recalled from New Orleans (AAA).
Aug 11, 2004: Optioned to New Orleans (AAA).
Feb 27, 2004: Re-signed by the Houston Astros to a one-year contract.
Jun 8, 2003: Missed 4 games (shoulder injury).
Jun 4, 2003: Shoulder injury, day-to-day.
Jul 25, 2002: Optioned to New Orleans (AAA).
Jul 21, 2002: Missed 1 game (right knee injury).
Jul 20, 2002: Right knee injury, day-to-day.

Now while the upside of Garcia is certainly there, and Redding did throw the most big league innings of his career in 2008, we still wonder when the Mets will add some stability to this rotation.

They now must sign Oliver Perez...there is no other way around it.

At this point Ben Sheets, with his arm worries, seems less likely of a target, but he will certainly fit in with this group.

The Mets training staff commented on the current pitching staff with one simple statement: "Holy Crap!"

Freddy Garcia is a Met

As we posted two days ago based on a tip that the Mets would sign a pitcher this week, the Mets did just that, signing Freddy Garcia to an incentive laden deal.

Freddy Garcia agreed to a minor league deal with the team in an effort to continue his comeback.

More details will follow as they become available.