Yesterday, I posted a little tidbit about the Mets and free agent Ben Sheets. I included some Twitter responses as well. And Kerel Cooper even posted a video response.
Let me clear something up on my stance regarding Sheets…
Sheets, when healthy, is a premier pitcher in the game. But he’s rarely healthy. Even when he’s pitching, he’s usually not 100 percent.
I would support the Mets efforts in tracking and possibly signing Sheets on a incentive-heavy contract. But in no way do I want the Mets to look at Sheets as their go-to guy that will solve their rotation woes.
Sheets should be an addendum to whomever the Mets sign/trade for. In no way can you rely on an arm that missed all of the previous season to to injury and surgery.
The thing with Sheets is, it’s not “if” he gets hurt, but rather “when” will he get hurt. After, as Cooper said, we just witnessed a “bizarre season” of injury, there’s reason for fans to be wary.
If Sheets can come out and pitch in 20-25 games as “old Ben Sheets,” missing a month or two to injury, I would consider it a success. He’d hopefully give you better quality performances than most of the rotation that is already in place for those 20-25 starts.
Obviously, this all hinges on Sheets health coming into 2010 and if he’s even ready to pitch again.
As commenter dances_w_vowels wrote on the post yesterday, “He had an injury, he didn't lose his stuff.”
Take a chance on him. Bring him in, see what he can do and hope he works out. Just as long as you’re not relying on him to shore up the rotation.