This time through the rotation the Mets will be showcasing Johan Santana, Mike Pelfrey, Tim Redding, John Maine and Livan Hernandez.

Let’s see how they’ve done this year and what we might expect from this this week:

Johan Santana (5-2):

Santana won the NL Pitcher of the Month Award in April and is well on his way to another Cy Young caliber season. In his last start, Santana allowed six runs, four earned on 11 hits against the San Francisco Giants but still managed to get a Win thanks to some great hitting by the Mets.

As fangraphs.com points out here,

Santana is primed for a huge season. In 39.2 innings this season, Santana has punched out a jaw-dropping 54 batters (12.25 K/9), which is the highest rate of his career. His FIP sits at a microscopic 2.03, and he has compiled 1.7 WAR already.

In his last start against the Red Sox, Santana allowed one run on 7 hits in 5 innings.

Mike Pelfrey (4-1):

Pelfrey had a case of the Yips last week. He allowed 2 runs on 6 hits against the San Francisco Giants but suffered his first loss of the season as the Mets were unable to score on Matt Cain and the Giants bullpen.

Pelfrey is sporting a 1.54 WHIP, .286 BABIP, and a 5.23 FIP. Most striking is his 0.65 K/BB ratio, the worst in his career. However, his GB/FB ratio stands at 1.80, the best of his career.

Tim Redding (0-0):

Redding allowed two runs on 2 hits while walking four and striking out four in six innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Nonetheless, the Mets made 5 errors and left 11 on base, and in the 11th, had probably one of the worse innings in baseball this year (Glad I went to bed after the 10th).

I won’t bore you with any stats, since one game is not enough to go off of.

John Maine (3-3):

Maine allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits while walking three and striking out three in 5 1/3 innngs against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Maine flirted with disaster the whole night but hung a slider to Casey Blake for a three run homerun.

Maine is sporting a 1.42 WHIP, .260 BABIP and a 4.83 FIP. His career best GB/FB ration is 0.80 (2006) but stands at 0.91 this year. Also, Maine’s LD ratio is at 22.5%, the highest of his career.

Livan Hernandez (3-1):

Livan allowed one run on seven hits while walking one and striking out two in seven innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Livan was wonderful, but the offense failed him as they left nine on base and couldn’t capitalize when they needed to.

Livan is sporting a 1.47 WHIP, .316 BABIP and a 4.65 FIP.

In his last start against the Washington Nationals last year, Livan allowed six runs giving up 10 hits in six innings.

The Mets need the rotation to continue to give the team quality starts, especially with the bats slumping. If the Mets are able to take 2 of 3 from the Boston Red Sox, they’ll come back with a 23-20 record and would’ve gone 6-5 on the west to east trip. Let’s Go Mets!

Apparently, Matt Cerrone of Matthew Cerrone’s Metsblog.com will be making an announcement later regarding the status of the comments section writing earlier today, “For those who are curious, I will be making a post later today about the state of this site’s comment section, which has been intentionally closed since Tuesday night.”

My guess is he’ll say a small group of commenters became an annoyance so he closed it, he’ll then poll something, but finally just decide to do without the comments section.

I doubt the decision will significantly hurt the site, since it’s the “Grand Central Station for Mets Information”. However, eventually people will decide they no longer are interested in the Grand Central Station and instead like the Union Square of Mets Fans! What I mean by that is that eventually a newer and more fan friendly site will come along to take over as the #1 site for Mets stuff. That won’t happen for a while, since Metsblog.com has reached a critical mass and people will continue to visit the site, despite its flaws.

BTW, a group of ex-commenters, led by therealsince86 and dirtysanchez, have gotten together and are starting their own site, trs86.wordpress.com and will be joinging forces with mrose’s NLEastChatter.com. Go check em’ out and catch up w/ old friends.

Marlon Anderson

The N.Y. Post reported earlier today that the Mets have cut Marlon Anderson in order to make room for Livan Hernandez. If Marlon isn’t picked up on waivers, he can accept a spot at AAA Buffalo or choose to be a free agent.

Mets Beat Reds 9-7 in 2nd Game of 2009 Season

In yesterday’s game, the Mets beat the Reds 9-7.

Mike Pelfrey (1-0) went 5 innings giving up 5 hits and 4 runs while walking 4 and striking out 2.

In relief, Bobby Parnell (H,1) walked 2 and struck out 1 in the 6th. Pedro Feliciano gave up 2 hits and 2 runs while walking 1 and striking out 1.  Sean Green (H,2) mopped up the 7th only giving up 1 hit. J.J. Putz (H,2) closed out the 8th giving up 1 hit and 1 run. Francisco Rodriguez (S,2) got another save on two walks and 1 strike out. 

The Mets went up 2-0 in the first off a Carlos Delgado bomb to right field scoring David Wright. In the 5th Carlos Delgado made it 3-4 by driving in Jose Reyes on a bases loaded grounder to first.  Carlos Beltran put the Mets up 5-4 by singling to center and driving in Daniel Murphy and David Wright. In the 7th, Carlos Delgado drove in David Wright by singling to left. In the same inning, Brian Schneider made it 9-4 Mets on a bases clearing double to right center scoring Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran and Ryan Church.

Johan Santana (1-0) threw 5 2/3 innings, gave up 3 hits and 1 earned run, walked 4, and struck out 7 99 pitches.
Sean Green (H,1) threw 1 1/3 innings of scoreless pitching.
J.J. Putz (H, 1) closed the 8th while walking 1 and striking out 1.
Francisco Rodriguez closed the game by striking out 1.

Daniel Murphy homered to right in the 5th and drove in Luis Castillo on a bases loaded grounder to first.

Today’s lineup will be:

Jose Reyes SS

Daniel Murphy LF

David Wright 3B

Carlos Delgado 1B

Carlos Beltran CF

Ryan Church LF

Brian Schneider C

Luis Castillo 2B

Johan Santana P