Barring injuries, most of the Mets' starters are set heading into the 09 season. really, unless the mets sign orlando hudson (who is really cheap and i would strongly reccomend it, but i doubt it will happen), the only position player thing left to be sorted out is to what extent schneider and castro will share the games behind the plate. but that's not a big deal. The only big question is who will fill out the final spot in the Mets' pitching rotation. Here are the candidates:

1. Tim Redding--probably the leading candidate for the job, reddign was the ealiest offseason acquisition the mets made in the rotation. He went 10-11 last year with an era just under 5.00, but sadly was the best starter the Nationals had. I had assumed he had the 5th starting spot locked up when we acquired him, and he is probably better than Pedro, who was our 5th starter last year. He is consistent and historcally durable, if nothing else, and that may be just what the docotr ordered for a team who has had so many pitching injuries recently. Redding has recently said that he was under the impression that the 5th starters job is his, that it was given to him behind closed doors when he was signed, and he fully expects to be in the rotation when the season starts.

2. Freddy Garcia--garcia used to be considered a great youg prospect, and had much early success with other teams, but injuries and underperforming have made him a drifter in the past few seasons, playing with the Phillies and White Sox, where he struggled. He is still only 30, is now fully healthy, and probably has the most upside of all the candidates because of his former success. He also has said that he feels the starting job is his, and that if he doesn't get it "he'll go somewhere else". Not sure i like the attitude, but i like the pitcher and his potential.

3. Livan Hernandez--the cousin (or brother? idk) of orlando hernandez, who the mets fired last year, he is the oldest candidate but the one who has had the most success. he won World Series MVP in 1997. That is a dozen years ago! so he used to be excellent, but he is 37 now and was hurt all last season. The mets signed him less than a week ago, planning to give him at least a shot at the rotation if he excels in Spring training. if he doesn't make the team, he will go down to the minors in case somebody on the big league club gets hurt and his services are suddenly required.

4. Jon Niese--the youngest candidate, and perhaps the one with the longest odds, he was called up in September last year due to injury and made 2 starts out fo neccesity, with mixed results. His first start he got rocked, but in his second he pitched 8 innings of 1 run ball and got the W. He doesn't have many pitches, but he has good velocity and his curveball is supposedly devastating. He is a nice prospect for the future, and the mets had considered giving him the chance at a rotation spot back in October, but with all their new, more experienced acquisitions that appears more and more unlikely barring a very impressive Spring Training display.

so who do you think should get it? who are you pulling for? I think redding will make it but i'm sort of hoping Garcia can get it together and be the ace people once thought he could be. if he could put it together and have a great year, our rotation would be unstoppable. if nto redding will suffice and we can use the others for depth or in the bullpen.