Aside from last night’s two home run evenings by Jeff Francouer and Rod Barajas, Mike Pelfrey’s performance was the best news. Lets go inside his numbers.

1. 94 pitches in 6 innings, with 57 strikes. That’s around 61%. Considered another way, 6 or every 10 pitches were strikes. Pretty good.

2. 16 of 26 first pitch strikes. That’s about 62%. Or again 6 out of every ten. So more simply said, 16 out of 26 Nats saw a strike first pitch. I’d like 70% or higher, but I’ll take it as Pelfrey will get ground balls.

3. ESPN provides an interesting stat on strikes: Called strikes-Swinging strikes-Foul balls-In Play strikes. Pelfrey was 21-5-14-17. To be candid, I’m not sure what to do with this stat except to say that it’s indicative of the Nats’ scouting report. They wanted to make Pelfrey throw strikes. They only took 5 called strikes in 6 innings.

4. But 6 innings is an inning too short. For the Mets to be successful, they will need Pelfrey to be more of an innings eater. If they have a six run lead, he needs able to keep the bullpen in their jackets by being more economical with his pitches. If he shows NL advance scouts that he continues to throw a significant number of first pitch strikes, it can get Pelfrey much more consistently into the 7th and 8th innings.

5. The 4 Walks: He’s been pretty good over the past two seasons in that he’s averaging about 3 per nine innings. But as he’s been giving up a hit per inning or work, it will be indicative of a pitcher who will not be able to get more innings of work. This is the downside to the previously mentioned upside.

6. Outlook: Pelfrey’s starting to compare favoribly with former Mets Ron Darling and Walt Terrell, although he’s been giving up more hits than did either of the two. If Pelfrey shows that he will be around the strike zone more consistently early in the count, he’ll get more contact earlier. This will get his pitch counts and base hits numbers down.

On another note, another very good job by the Mets bullpen (Takahashi, Nieve and Mejia). All the outs over three innings of work were ground balls outs or strike outs. No hits either. But lets not wear them out like we did last year. We need Pelfrey and Jon Niese to consistently get further into to the games we’re winning.

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Why is that David Wright’s first inning two-run homer seem so familiar?The blue sky bathed the day in grace. John Santana got the win and Fernando Vieve held the Marlins scorless for two innings before Franciso Rondriguez closing act. Not a bad day all-in-all against a team that the Mets have had trouble beating the last few seasons.

Our ace beat their ace. Our stars contributed. The bullpen held the lead. And it was a beautiful day, but I still miss Shea.

Get well soon Jose and Carlos. Insert special blessings here for the rest of the rotation.

Anyhow, let’s go Mets

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The Post’s Mike Puma says it best regarding Oliver Perez:

Oliver Perez finally has a healthy knee, but spent most of the spring serving up batting practice to opposing hitters, inspiring little confidence that he is about to get his act together and have a breakout year. Perez wasn’t wild, but didn’t fool many people, either.

Perez’ face can be posted in Websters by the definition for “enigma”. I’ve always hoped that Perez would one day find his inner Sid Fernandez. He never has and only rarely given anyone hope that he would. Fairness dictated that last season was a wash as he was saddled by an injured knee. Reportedly, he is in good shape after a productive off season.

But as Puma indicates, Perez wasn’t very good this spring. So it begs the question of just how long will the club go with him if he struggles.

The Mets won’t tolerate any Perez drama this year. He’ll probably get three starts to show what he can do. Two members of the bullpen are there now in Hisanori Takahashi and Fernando Nieve that they won’t hesitate to put in there.

But what then with Perez? The Mets may attempt to get him to go to Buffalo, but his agent Scot Boras won’t let that happen. The Mets may then attempt to deal Perez with the stipulation that they would pay the bulk of his remaining salary. There aren’t likely to be many takers as there weren’t when Perez was a free agent. Omar Minaya was probably bidding against himself in the first place. As Jeff Wilpon will be looking to be as drama free as possible, the Mets might just cut their losses and let Perez go in the event he struggles.

In many ways, Perez future is similar to that of Minaya and Jerry Manuel. Poor play over an extended period will prompt Wilpon to take action.

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Conservative columnist, George Will probably loves baseball more than he does politics. Probably in anticipation of Opening Day, he pens a neat little piece regarding the game’s unspoken, but widely understood (Will’s words) code of etiquette.

My favorite memory of the code being enforced was when Roger McDowell immediately retaliated against the Phillies after Keith Hernandez had been knocked down. Hernandez frequently was guilty of peeking at where the catcher set up, which as part of the code allowed a knock down.

No matter. McDowell was warming up at the time in the Veteran’s Stadium bullpen when Hernandez was flipped. Rick Aguilera told McDowell who never said a word or offered any aknowledgement, and knocked down Greg Gross with his first pitch.

The dugouts at the Vet were very close to the field and Phillie coach Lee Elia screamed something rather salty at Hernandez. The Mex replied in kind with two familiar words. The first word began with “f” and the second a “y”.

Issue settled and we moved along nicely.

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With Joel Piniero and Doug Davis gone to the Angels and Brewers respectively, the Mets suddenly find themselves with few free agent options left to bolster their starting rotation. Coupled with the loss of catcher Bengie Molina back to the Giants, a once promising off-season has hit a wall.

What now?

Jon Garland, an excellent option for Citi Field, seems to want to pitch on the west coast. That leaves Ben Sheets and John Smoltz, both with significant health issues. It was clear that the Mets were offering competitive salaries to both, but weren’t willing to go the extra mile to get either. Unless they can somehow get Garland, they should gamble on Sheets. The Mets only appear to have interest in Smoltz as a reliever, but the future Hall of Famer may be looking to start. He left Boston last year because they wanted to use him in the bullpen after he failed as a starter.

Word this morning is that the Mets will be making a hard push for Ben Sheets. In the event they sign Sheets, it could tun out that that they backed into the best guy. Potentially lightning in a bottle, Sheets has the the ability to emerge as a co-number one with Johan Santana.

Its the kind of move that make the Mets a contender. A healthy Sheets could turn around the energy lost from Carlos Beltran’s absence.

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One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. The Post’s Bart Hubbach reports that the Met’s will be “taking advantage” of the list that became available this weekend when they were cut loose by their clubs.

Good. Some much needed depth and power can be had from the group that includes Jonny Gomes, Jack Cust, Ryan Garko and Garrett Atkins. Amongst pitchers, Hubbach reports that relievers Clay Condrey, Mike MacDougal and Matt Capps could interest the Mets.

I’d look for the Cubs to go after of of these to compete for the closer role. They need someone to close games badly. Getting one of the other two would benefit the Mets’ bullpen.

I’d take any of the others whom can play first and the outfield.

Overall it will be much easier for Minaya to bring in two from this group than it will be to get one of the big three – Holliday, Bay or Lackey. Some reports have the Mariners have entered the bidding and Bay has been quoted as saying he would love to play near his Canadian home.

At the very least, the thought that the Mets were going to take advantage of the heft that was removed from their payrol last year. The Wilpons have told the basball people to they can improve the club via free agency.

But to really put themselves back into the conversation – which in New York is crucial – they will have to sign one of the big three. Getting a couple of non-tendered won’t get it done for a critical media and a wounded fan base.

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Adam Rubin’s well reasoned piece today speculated on the Mets dealing Billy Wagner via waiver trade by August 31.

If the Mets do this it needs to be a baseball decision that’s weighed against the talent that would come in a trade versus what the Mets would get as a compensatory draft pick next June. But the Mets have been sending signals that its about the money right now. Lets hope this isn’t a snag.

Adding a healthy Billy Wagner to a contender’s bullpen must be intriguing right now for teams and their fans. He makes sense for team like the Cubs, Cardinals and (hold your breath) the Yankees. However, a Wagner trade could be blocked by an opposing GM to keep him from going to a rival. Yesterday’s acquisition of Chad Gaudin by the Yankees isn’t necessarily indicative of the gentleman’s agreement to keep the waiver wire open. It’s early in the month and Gaudin is not a player of significant caliber.

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This is good news.

As Putz only needed to have spurs removed, his return this season was likely. If he had soft tissue damage to a ligament or tendon, it would have been see you next year.

A return of both Putz and Billy Wagner seems imminent sometime this month. There wasn’t any need to spend what few minor league assets the Mets had on an arm with these two returning.

September could be different in that Manuel will have an expanded roster with more players on the bench to pinch hit. A bullpen that includes Putz and Wagner will benefit a staff who’s starters do not go deep into games. If the Mets recall a catcher, they will be able to pinch-hit and double switch comfortably.

If they are in contention it will make sense to promote the two major league bats that are on the AAA roster in Mike Lamb and Nick Evans.

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Was it being called out by damn near everyone that prompted this surge? No matter, they’ve played to their potential and should be commended.

Lets hope Jonathan Niese pitches well enough to stay in the rotation and that the remarkable Ken Takahashi continues to make his strong contribution to the bullpen, as it will be good to have another lefty in the pen.

The line-up and depth are beginning to be a strength as players whom come off the bench are seen as regulars by the other club. Usually two of the quartet of Daniel Murphy, Fernando Tatis, Gary Sheffield and Ryan begin the game on the bench. As they are considered to be 3 thru 6 hitters in an everyday lineup and not just pinch hitters opposing managers have less favorable matchups against their bullpen.

I look forward to more games like today’s where the club uses needs to use two pitchers, instead of its customary 3 or 4 out of the pen on games they win.

Brian Stokes has only allowed one unearned run in 11 outings this season. Along with Takahashi, the duo allows the struggling Sean Green and, when he returns, Oliver Perez to get it together.

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During the 1986 season, I was in the clubhouse at the beginning of the game doing something in San Francisco. The only way to the field was an entrance right next to the Giants’ bullpen down the right field line. A little chicken coop cage is where the pitchers sat during the game. I got to the heavy steel door and watched us hit in the top half of the first. When Wally Backman came up, a voice from the Giants bullpen said, “hit him in the f….ing head.”

I told Backman about it later and he laughed loudly. In fact several players did. It meant mission accomplished. Backman got under the other team’s skin. How many current Mets spark this sort of response.

Matt Cerrone’s reporting on Minaya’s commnets was excellent in that he noted how Minaya made his initial pointed comment that clearly was intended to point to this club’s particular passion and intensity. Another more appropriate word would be moxie, a term that measures one’s ability to face difficulty with spirit and courage.

Minaya’s use of the word, “edge” is more subtle and more ill defined. But to use my word, moxie, on the surface only a few current Mets clearly appear to have it: Johan Santana, Francisco Rodriguez and David Wright. When Jose Reyes is playing with his devil may care attitude and the other team hates him, he has it. But these times are not seen often enough. Essentially only one of these is an everyday player.

Yes, here is where that other ill defined term, chemistry comes in. It’s not just liking and getting along and/or respecting each other. Whatever the particular personalities, a sense of shared purpose needs to exist. Resolve to acheive you goals.

And yes, you are what you appear to be – to opponents, to fans and yourselves.

With the current batch of players, all of these issues and subsequent questions are out there. The 2006 team that reached Game 7 of the NLCS had two players with which played with the aura of these intangible qualities in Cliff Floyd and Paul LoDuca. Pedro Martinez was also still around.

Omar Minaya did indeed walk back from his thoughts not because he believed he was wrong, but beacuse he knew he was right and there isn’t a whole lot he can do about it.

Chemistry can develop though as a team begins to find its way. But this team’s starting rotation will have to do more. The model for victory in last’s night’s game – needing three relievers to win – cannot sustain itself over a season. The line-up cannot continue to watch leads they’ve gotten during the early innings fade while they are playing defense during the middle of the game. There will be way too much psychological drama and the bullpen’s most talented pitchers will be spent by the time August gets here.

Daniel Murphy’s first inning two-run homer held up last night. Its these sorts of things that can help build something. Murphy is batting 3rd alot and its a traditionally an important spot in the batting order for the Mets. See Keith Hernandez and John Olerud. He’s done nothing but hit since he’s arrived. Maybe it will be that his emergence as a young star the Mets will have a badly new source of positive energy.

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