This Shouldn't be an Issue

Coming into this season, there didn't appear to be many glaring holes on this team to the biased fan. Most sports pundits wouldn't agree with that, but aside from a power-hitting righty what else was there? Now one is starting to show it's face for some. If you're reading the box scores, the rotation with Mr. Santana aside could be an issue. However the box score doesn't tell you everything.

After forward progress in his last two starts, John Maine took a small step back last night. Through the first inning Maine was making the top three in the order look silly with that beautiful rising fastball of his. Second inning had him working his slider and mixing in the occasional change-up with great effect. Then things got hairy in the third. He had some trouble locating his pitches and getting the proper sink or rise on his fastballs. In John's defense, home plate umpire Gary Darling had a rather inconsistent strike zone all evening which made it difficult to get the job done as well.

The other killer? Oh none other than the ever rattling plate presence that is Chase Headley. In all seriousness, Headley just had a great game. He hit in the spots he needed too and no they weren't terrible pitches he was raking on. In both of his RBI at bats (he had three rib eyes on the evening) he just sat and waited for the fastball he wanted. He never got the exact pitch, but worked with what he was given with runners on base. Game ball to you sir.

Yes you're going to read a lot of gloom and doom about this Mets rotation today. Maine had one bad inning. He pitched to some contact last night and a few walks (one intentional) hurt him. Personally speaking there is no need to fret just yet. I mean we have Livan stepping on the rubber tonight, what is there to be worried about?

Side Note - David Wright is not looking himself at the plate. I said it over a month ago here after watching him play in Toronto at the WBC. Read this alarming piece from our friends over at The Daily Stache and it'll be ever more apparent. Oh and add 2 more strikeouts from last nights game to his current season total.

Photo: Uli Seit for The New York Times