PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Chan Ho Park had finished off his third straight perfect inning when he got back to the dugout expecting a pat on the back and instead got the word that he was done for the day. What he wasn't told was that those three innings were his last as a starter.
Confused and disappointed, Park found himself waiting around and finally heading into Willie Randolph's office to meet with the manager, pitching coach Rick Peterson and general manager Omar Minaya. Behind closed doors, the Mets tried to appease him and convince him to accept this role.
And without any official announcement, this likely means that the role that Park hoped for was decided -- although the Mets kept a straight face on the worst-kept secret. Mike Pelfrey almost certainly will be the Mets' fifth starter, a spot he has earned with a stellar spring training and the potential that even the aces of the Mets' staff no longer possess.
Park made 38 relief appearances in 1996, his first full season in the major leagues, but has been in only five games out of the bullpen since then. And he did not seem pleased with the prospect of doing it again.
"To be honest, I feel more comfortable as a starter," Park said. "That's who I am. I've been here 13 years. Yes, I have experience as a reliever and have had some success with it. But I signed with the Mets looking for a job as a starter, that's for sure. If they ask me to be a reliever, honestly, I'm unhappy. I'm not happy."
Not happy, but willing at least for the moment, Park will head to the bullpen.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Park headed to the pen; Pelfrey the 5th starter?
From NorthJersey.com,
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1 comment:
Too bad, so sad. If you're not happy, try actually pitching well. Park hasn't pitched well enough to be a legitimate starter in this rotation since '01. And if they had bumped Pelfrey it would be criminal. He's had a solid spring training.
On the other hand, it's helpful to keep Park positive and his psyche up. Who knows when El Duque will crumble to injury or Perez will fold. I hope I'm wrong on both counts, but it would be a small miracle if neither happened all season.
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