Auditioning For A Spot

Rumors have certainly been running rampant regarding the possibility of Cliff Lee or Roy Oswalt wearing a Mets uniform in the near future. While that would be outstanding for the Mets - assuming they don't give up too much - I, for one, refuse to believe that the front office has an ace or bust mentality.

Instead, they are probably evaluating options to strengthen the middle and back end of the rotation as well.

The Mets rotation is fairly stable as it currently stands, but there is always room for improvement. Mike Pelfrey, Jonathon Niese, and Johan Santana are fixtures. Additionally, with the recent brilliant outings by R.A. Dickey it's going to take something considerably bad to get him out as well.

So, by that logic, that leaves one spot. At least, as it stands now.

Right now, Hisanori Takahashi is that guy. He pitched very well tonight, going 7 innings and allowing just one run (granted it was against Baltimore's horrendous offense). He did well enough, if, in fact, he was auditioning for his job (for the short term of course).

But, here is the fact of the matter. It is very difficult to believe that if the Mets have meaningful games to play in September that they will be parading out this exact starting five.

So, Takahashi (or perhaps even Dickey) is temporary.

Lee, and Oswalt of course are targets. Within the organization, the options aren't nearly as appealing (John Maine is probably the most realistic alternative).

This begs the question, who else? Well, the Mets may just be facing "who else" on this very road trip.

Tomorrow, Baltimore throws Kevin Millwood to the hill. A 35-year old veteran with an 0-7 record doesn't sound incredibly appealing at first, and certainly should not be the first guy Omar Minaya is looking at. That said, he is a proven winner who is simply stuck on a horrendous team that won't help him out one bit. The team is going nowhere, hence, he is going somewhere. The Orioles aren't going to hang on to a veteran pitcher with trade value when they are rebuilding (if that's even an appropriate term for them).

If the pieces are right, and if Lee and Oswalt can't be grabbed, look for Millwood to be somewhere on Minaya's radar.

Then there is Jake Westbrook of Cleveland. The Mets will be facing the 32-year old righty on Thursday. He is 4-3 with a respectable ERA on a very bad Cleveland team this year. He is certainly not an ace and has the track record to prove he isn't, but much like Millwood, he could potentially be a good fit as a 4th or 5th starter.

Once again, if the pieces are right, and if Lee and Oswalt aren't doable, look for Westbrook to be somewhere on Minaya's shopping list.

Why? Why would the Mets settle for these two, or pitchers of equal value? For one, they are cheaper - at least in terms of what the Mets would have to give up. Why else? Because they are proven veterans that would, in fact, make the Mets a better team.

But let me make this much clear. I want Cliff Lee. If I can't have that, I want Roy Oswalt. The Mets owe it to their fans to go for it.

Anything else would be settling.


-Tom Greenhalgh (6/12/10)