Mets Beat Marlins, 17-3; Pelfrey: "I Can Do This"

by Nicholas Stix

In the Mets' nightcap, Jose Valentin had seven RBI, including a grand slam home run and a bases-loaded triple; Cliff Floyd had 5 RBI, including a two-run homer; and 22-year-old rookie Mike Pelfrey won his major-league debut. The nervous Pelfrey, a tall drink of water who lists at 6'7" and 210 lbs., had trouble with his command, walking four, hitting one batter, and throwing 105 pitches. The lack of control led to an early exit, after only five innings. But he had good stuff.

Pelfrey, who threw at 94-97 mph, at times with excellent movement, benefited from ideal circumstances. In the first two innings, his teammates staked him to a seven-run lead, and in his last two innings, Marlins hitters laid off some 96-mph fastballs that had too much of the plate for comfort.

Manager Willie Randolph and GM Omar Minaya will be meeting tonight about Pelfrey's future, and will likely send him back down to the minor leagues for some more "seasoning," while keeping right-hander John Maine with the club. Pedro Martinez is currently on the DL with a freak hip injury, and fifth starter Alay Soler has been ineffective of late.

Maine, more of a breaking-ball and off-speed pitcher, does not have Pelfrey's overpowering stuff, but at 25-years old, and following a "couple of cups of coffee" with the Orioles and Mets, has more experience. Maine had pitched well for the Mets briefly earlier this season, before being sidelined with an inflammation in the middle finger of his right hand, which he uses to guide his breaking pitches. Maine was effective in today's first game but lost, 3-2.

Meeting with reporters after the game, Pelfrey was still all grins and nervous energy, but nonetheless managed to show the proper mix of humility and pride. Referring to manager Willie Randolph and general manager Omar Minaya, he acknowledged, "I'll go wherever they send me," but also recounted that after he got his first big-league pitch over for a strike, he said to himself, "I can do this."

Once Pelfrey makes it back to the big club to stay and establishes himself, the jitters -- and the lean frame -- will likely both become things of the past.