Pelfrey brings some promise to Mets

FORT MYERS, Fla.

If we existed in a world where nothing ever went wrong for the Mets, then Johan Santana would've visited his old spring-training home Wednesday, tipped his cap to the many Twins fans on site and worked toward his Opening Day start.

Instead, Mike Pelfrey, who, for what it's worth, didn't interest the Twins greatly three years ago when they sent Santana to Flushing, took the Hammond Stadium mound and offered a workmanlike outing en route to his big moment, April 1 at Sun Life Stadium.

"Take it for what it's worth," the tall righthander told reporters, after scattering nine hits in five innings and allowing three runs.

What it's worth is this: Charged with throwing the first meaningful pitch of this 2011 Mets season, Pelfrey personifies his club. As much as the team's bigwigs can't admit it at this point, this year will be largely about development and transition, and Pelfrey could be part of both processes.

"He clearly knows how to pitch," new Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said of Pelfrey, whom he has seen perform in person only a few times. "With his typical velocity and the ability to locate his pitches, that's about all you need to do to be successful."

The typical velocity, 92 miles per hour, wasn't quite there yesterday, and neither were the secondary pitches. Really, the Twins hammered Pelfrey pretty good. Even many of their outs were hard.

Yet with most of their regulars in the game, including Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau, the Twins stranded six runners against Pelfrey. With the bases loaded and one out in the second, Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen visited Pelfrey, and the next batter, Alexi Casilla, hit into a, 3-2-3 double play.

The Mets are stressing to Pelfrey that he need not change to adapt to the de facto ace's slot. Said Warthen: "I want the same guy that finished the season last year. Strong mental approach, pounding the ball down, elevating when he needs to."

For his final 11 starts of 2010, Pelfrey put up a 2.78 ERA, walking 18 and striking out 36 in 741/3 innings.

Pelfrey said: "We all need to raise our level. We all need to be better and can't let each other slack off . . . I'm going to have adrenaline. I'm excited. It's an opportunity. I plan on making the most of it and running with it."

Pelfrey thinks the "adrenaline" of meaningful games will give his velocity the necessary boost, and he has two more Grapefruit League starts to refine his split-fingered fastball, slider and curveball. He allowed a second-inning solo homer to Denard Span, a blast off the rightfield foul pole, when he shook off catcher Mike Nickeas' call for a four-seam fastball up and opted for a sinker down in the strike zone.

"He was stuck" between the two choices, Warthen said, adding that his pitcher should have stepped off the mound for a moment, contemplated and then thrown a pitch with more conviction.

At 27, Pelfrey might have peaked already, which would be fine if he can duplicate his performances of 2008 and 2010. He might have more to offer. As long as he doesn't regress significantly, he can help the Mets move through this difficult stretch.

He can be a front-of-the-rotation guy through 2013, when he'd be up for free agency. Or he could work his way toward being a valuable trade chip, if the open-minded Alderson decides to go in that direction.

We know that the Mets' world is far from perfect. It's not without promise, however. Pelfrey brings some of that.