Pelfrey Could Be The Next Great Closer

Since 2005 when Mike Pelfrey was chosen in the first round (9th overall), Met fans have looked towards him as the future Mets ace for years to come. In his last year at college he was a second team All-American, Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year and Missouri Valley Conference All-Star. In his first year in the Mets Minor Leagues he was awarded the New York Mets Minor League Player of the Year.

All of these honors and awards should have garnered some results in the Majors, but they haven’t. In 2006, when Pelfrey was called up due to constant injuries to the Mets starting pitching, he posted a 2-1 record to go along with a 5.48 ERA in 4 starts. These weren’t bad for a pitcher who didn’t even have a full season of Minor League ball under his belt, but when he pitched lights out in Pre-Season, before the 2007 season, and earned a spot in the Mets rotation, as the fifth starter, he didn’t fair too well. So far, this season, Pelfrey has posted a 0-7 record to go along with a 5.92 ERA in 9 starts.

The main problem I, I think with Mike Pelfrey, is that he relies on his fast ball too much. He does have a devastating slider and if he decides to use it effectively he could be the next Brandon Webb, but for some unknown reason, he feels that his good old number one is his bread and butter. Now, a lot of pitchers do make a living off of their fast balls. The only problem is that they aren’t starters. Mainly they’re set up men and closers.

For this reason, I believe that Pelfrey could be one of the most dominant set up men and once Billy Wagner’s contract runs its course, a dominant closer. For this to happen, Wagner is going to have to take Pelfrey under his wing and show him the ropes of being a closer and dealing with the high pressure situations.

If memory serves me right, Billy Wagner, who was selected in the first round of the draft (12th overall) , was a full time starter (3-2 3.28 ERA) until he made his way into the Majors and was immediately converted into a set up man/closer where he converted 9 of his 13 save opportunities. This kind of experience would be of enormous value to a pitcher of Pelfrey’s credentials.

Imagine it if you will, a right handed pitcher who can throw in the mid to high 90’s, setting up for a left handed closer who can also throw in the mid to high 90’s. That would be one of the most dominant duos in baseball for relievers and, just might, solve the on going problem in the Mets bullpen.