The Mets are now on an 89 win pace . . . first time since the first week of the season. It is just amazing what consistent, outstanding starting pitching will do. A good bullpen is all well and good -- but if you have starters going 7+ innings game in and game out as they have been doing, you're gonna win a lot of games. Period. Billy Wagner or no Billy Wagner. The losses will stick out and hurt, but the wins will ultimately pile up.

I don't think you could reinvent Maine and Perez and have them employ Pelfrey's new and startlingly successful pitch-to-contact strategy. But it might be nice for them to try.

I don't think you could reinvent Maine and Perez and have them employ Pelfrey's new and startlingly successful pitch-to-contact strategy. But it might be nice for them to try.

It would be tremendous for Maine to try, especially right now, to save him pitches at a time when his shoulder problems make it essential that he do so. Perez is a much less big deal, especially since (let's face it) we don't even know if the Mets will have the benefit of the future of his arm . . . so if he throws a lot of pitches now, well???

Boys, I think we got us a rotation anchor.

Based on what I've seen, I'd work to sign Perez now.