Full Count: Mets Pitching Report Week 1

A week into the season the Mets starting rotation has been a case of going one step forward and two steps back.

The Mets have gotten tremendous efforts from Jonathon Niese, R.A. Dickey and Chris Young. However, their so-called ace Mike Pelfrey has turned a feel-good story into one of concern.

On Wednesday night, Pelfrey was atrocious.

Against the Phillies, Pelfrey was pulled after pitching only two-plus innings and allowing seven runs (six earned) on eight hits and one walk.

Pelfrey looked rattled and scared. Perhaps Pelfrey is uncomfortable feeling like he has to carry the weight of the staff. He looks lost.

There is still plenty of time, and there is no need to hit the panic button. But there is definitely a need to hit the “concern” button with Pelfrey.

Lets look on the bright side though.

Niese, Dickey and Young were solid in their starts, and have given confidence to a team in desperate need of it.

Niese was first to get things in motion.

Coming off an opening day loss to the Marlins, the Mets were in need of a wake-up call and got that in the effort Niese produced. He pitched seven strong innings and limited the Marlins to two runs on for hits and only one walk. While he did not earn the win, Niese kept the Mets in the game and would have won if not for a blown save by Francisco Rodriguez.

Up next was Dickey. Dickey just continued to do what he did all last year.

Dickey still has his doubters and he seems hellbent on proving them wrong. Against the Marlins on Sunday, Dickey pitched six innings while allowing five hits and three walks. Surprisingly, Dickey struck out seven batters.

With the momentum of a two-game winning streak and capturing a rare road series, Chris Young was next on tap.

Young was faced with the task of going head-to-toe with a member of the Phillies’ vaunted rotation and one of their “four aces” in Cole Hamels. Young more than held up his end of the bargain and won in his first start with the Mets.

Young pitched in and out of jams while completing 5.1 innings pitched. He did give up five hits and four walks, but he did strikeout seven batters. Young looked comfortable out there. There may be some bumps along the road as he battles back from all those injuries, but Young has a world of potential and experience.

After all the woes the Mets suffered away from Citi Field last year, to start the year 3-2 on the road is something to be proud of. The effort of the staff, sans Pelfrey, is a good reason why.

The law of averages suggest Pelfrey will bounce back. He better.

If the Mets are to contend this year, Pelfrey will have to step up. Hopefully the Mets also get a boost from Chris Capuano, who will make his Met debut on Saturday.

In the meantime it’s refreshing to see the other so-called question marks on the staff bust out of the gate trying to prove the critics wrong.