Submitted by dave crockett, May 9, 2007 09:17

Insightful analysis to be sure.

Many Mets fans and analysts think that Omar Minaya will probably look to make a June deal for a middle-of-the-rotation type starter for just the contingency you mention. Of course, this will be easier said than done until we start seeing a little more separation in many of the division races. It's hard to make deals for pitchers these days with virtually no sellers, and even harder when everyone is deluded into thinking they're still in a race. I might also add that the longer we go without catastrophe to any of the top three starters the larger the specter of Pedro's return becomes. Pedro may well do more for the Mets this season by providing Minaya just a tad more bargaining power at the trading table than he ever does on the mound.

As for the back of the rotation, Randolph may simply continue to implement his own version of "the Yankee Way" in Flushing by trying to beat the living daylights out of everyone else's 4th and 5th starters while continuing to hand the ball to Pelfrey and Sosa and mixing in a spot start for Aaron Sele once Mota finishes his suspension. Though perhaps inelegant, it's probably not an altogether bad plan. If the Cardinals proved nothing else to me this past post-season it's that much of our anxiety about 4th and 5th starters is probably much better spent elsewhere; in NY's case, probably focused on Alou's and Valentin's knees and Green's inevitable plummet back to earth.

The one point I'd add is that you could take this same analysis, change "starting pitching" to "middle relief" and change "Mets" to "Braves" without changing another word. It would be just as spot on. You might also add the ridiculous number of two out runs the Braves have been scoring to the "things not likely to last over the long haul" pile.

Note: Comments are screened, and in some cases edited, before posting. We reserve the right to reject anything we find objectionable.