Friday, May 2, 2008By Mike Steffanos
If you're a Mets fan, you've been treated to endless early season updates on Brian Bannister's hot start for the Kansas City Royals. They always seem to start, "Now I'm not trying to upset you..." when, of course, that's exactly what they're doing.
Now it occurred to me today that I haven't seen a Bannister update for a while. I thought that the columnists had finally grown tired of yanking our chains and reporting on Brian's 3-0 start and 0.86 ERA. Maybe they're finally developing a conscience.
Not so much.
Bannister now has 6 starts on the season. In his last 3 starts he was roughed up in a loss to Oakland for 5 runs and 9 hits in 5 innings, touched up for 2 runs in 6.2 innings in a tough loss to the Indians, and torched for 7 runs on 7 hits in a 3 inning loss to the Rangers. Those 3 losses have dropped his record to 3-3, and upped his ERA all the way to 4.04.
I guess that's not newsworthy.
For what it's worth, I like Bannister and think he is going to have a fine career as a starting pitcher. I wish Omar hadn't traded him. I tend to doubt he will be the next Greg Maddux, however, despite all of the hype thrown our way early on in the season.
Back with another piece later this afternoon.
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Comments (2)
The jury's still out on Burgos. I liked what I saw out of him before his injury, and if he can compete at anywhere near that level, the Mets may have their very own Joba Chamberlain (I know, I know, it's stretch. But a man can dream...).
Bannister's not a bad pitcher, but the Mets at the time thought they had Glavine, El Duque, Ollie, Maine, Pelfrey, and Vargas, Humber, and Pedro waiting in the wings. Bannister was "expendable", or so they thought.
The good news for the Mets in the present day is that they have Santana in the rotation, Maine slowly getting into shape, Ollie, and Pelfrey and Figueroa pitching suprisingly good. And this doesn't include a hopeful Pedro return, and the fact that Armas and the other Vargas are in the minors. And that Jon Niese is killing Double AA. And the Mets stand a good chance at getting Freddy Garcia later on in the season. So the Burgos/Bannister deal was something that didn't work out great for the Mets (yet), but it's also not something that they should be kicking themselves over too much.
Posted by Jason B | May 3, 2008 12:05 PM
Jason - Joba is a stretch, but they could surely use a power pitcher beside Wagner in the bullpen. My point on Bannister is how the media updates suddenly stopped when he struggled a little.
Posted by Mike Steffanos | May 4, 2008 12:16 AM