Collins says Pelfrey his Opening Day starter
In a way, it was Terry Collins' first public decision as Mets manager and he chose to be bold. As he introduced players to fifth- and sixth-graders from Sunnyside Community Services yesterday, he did not merely announce Mike Pelfrey's name. Collins made a point to add, "He's our Opening Day starter."
Collins does not have a lot of options, what with Johan Santana out for the first half of the season. Still, the manager believed it was worth making a statement about Pelfrey getting the honor of ushering in the Collins era against the Marlins April 1.
"Darn right he is. He deserves it, he earned it, he should have made the All-Star team last year," Collins told reporters after the formal part of the Citi Field Kids program in the Mets' clubhouse. "Right now, I think Mike Pelfrey should be the No. 1 guy on the staff. I know one thing, he's excited about it."
"It makes me feel good," Pelfrey said. "You embrace it. Whether you're starting the first game of the year or you're starting the fifth game of the year, you've got to go out there and compete. I look forward to going out there on Opening Day and competing, no matter who it's against."
Every starting pitcher wants to be the first on his team to take the ball. Having been given that award nearly a month before spring training from a manager for whom he has never worked is an extra distinction. "He really likes to compete," the manager said. "If you like to compete, why not go head-to-head against the best?"
It also speaks volumes about the Mets' rotation that there was not much of a choice. "I would have liked to have my hat in the ring. I say that jestfully," said R.A. Dickey, the only other conceivable candidate and a close friend of Pelfrey. "I think he deserves it and I think he'll embrace the opportunity."
Pelfrey believes he is stronger after his 2010 season, which started 9-1, dropped into a stretch that he called "a god-awful month" with an 0-4 record and 9.00 ERA and finished well, at 15-9, 3.66. "I thought I ended on a good note," said the pitcher who will get the freshest of starts.
He and his teammates know what they are up against, without Santana and with a handful of pitchers who are trying to revive their careers. And they have to deal with the Phillies, who have four Opening Day-caliber starters.
"That's a team's dream come true: 'Here's the ball, go take it.' Their rotation is probably the best in baseball and maybe the best in history," Pelfrey said. "Our rotation doesn't have to try to go out there and try to match that. On paper, we're definitely not going to. But with the offense we have, we should be able to put up runs every night and that alone should give us a chance."
Dickey said, "I have a lot of hope . . . but you're talking to an optimist."
Notes & quotes: Collins said Jose Reyes will bat leadoff exclusively ("Good, I didn't do good at No. 3," Reyes said) and be more involved in defensive plays such as relays and pickoffs . . . Carlos Beltran will get the first shot at centerfield in spring training. "He deserves the respect," Collins said . . . Daniel Murphy is in the hunt for the starting second-base job, but also will prepare to be a backup at third and first.
