Note: This will be the first installment of what will become my weekly column.  In this column, I’ll take a look at four things, which based on importance I will rate as a single, double, triple or home run—a la hitting for the cycle. 

Single: Boy is this picture from the Daily News beautiful.  Yesterday as pitchers and catchers reported (see more on this later), Pedro Martinez was asked about his status as the team’s ace and opening day starter. When asked whether or not it is important that he gets the nod come opening day, he said, “Not really. If I get a start in that first rotation I’m happy. I’m extremely happy. Felipe [Alou] told me one time that the day’s special when you’re on the mound. It’s your day. No one else is as important that day.”

Despite everything Pedro has done for the franchise, I think Johan Santana should be toeing the rubber come March 31st.  Granted, my opinion will likely go back and forth over this throughout spring training, the Mets didn’t unload most of their farm system and the largest contract ever to a pitcher for nothing.  He’s the best pitcher in baseball and beyond everything else that qualifies you to get the ball Day 1 and every fifth day from there on out.     

Double: In a recent chat for espn.com, Keith Law was asked, “Is El Duque the 5th starter for the mets?” Law replied by saying, “It should be [Mike] Pelfrey, but it will probably be El Duque until he hurts himself cleaning his dentures or something.”

I really believe in Pelfrey and I think his great sinking fastball is enough to carry him as a starter.  BUT, I do think he should start the year in the minors.  As of now, Pelfrey doesn’t have the mental makeup and maturity to succeed.  Last year when he was given a rotation spot he failed, and it couldn’t have been much worse.  Through his first eight starts he was 0-7 with a 6.10 ERA.  Not to mention walking 22 guys in that span while only striking out 21.  He did show flashes of what he can do in September, when he won three games but when he was needed he didn’t continue that success.  On September 24th, when the Mets were mid-free fall, Pelfrey gave up 6 earned runs in 5.2 innings to the lowly Nationals. 

Triple: On Wednesday, Roger Clemens testified to Congress to deny his use of steroids and HGH.  On Wednesday, and even dragging into today Clemens’ and his former trainer Brian Mcnamee’s testimony covered baseball news and headlines.  It also came out that that in his testimony to Congress, Andy Pettitte admitted knowledge of Roger Clemens’ use of illegal performance enhancing drugs. 

Considering how much media attention this story has gotten over the past week this should probably be my ‘Home Run’ topic but I refuse to give it another top headline.  It is very disappointing that pitchers and catchers began yesterday, and still headlining many websites such as SI and Fox Sports were pictures of Roger Clemens talking to Congress.  Until we get a lot of evidence this story is just boring and repetitive to me, because so much of it is one guy’s word against another.  And I might hate Clemens more than anyone, and enjoy seeing his career going up in flames like this, but jeez can’t we just pay attention to baseball? 

Home Run: Pitchers and Catchers reported yesterday for many teams, including the Mets where players reported to Tradition Field in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Newsday gives us quotes from Wagner, while I already discussed earlier what Pedro had to say. 

To me, pitchers and catchers isn’t really a big deal.  Most players aren’t doing anything different than the day before, except for a player or two who marveled over Johan Santana as he threw a bullpen session today.  Even though its the off-season, every player works out over the winter.  Whether its playing winter ball or lifting weights and throwing on the side, almost everyone is prepping for the season no different than they were thursday when pitchers and catchers began.  However, what I do love is what pitchers and catchers represents.  It means that we’re only a little over a month away from real baseball.  It means we have a week and a half until I get to watch a baseball game, even if it doesn’t count.  It means the monotonous offseason is over, an end to repetitive and mostly false rumors and pointless speculation, but a beginning to why we read every false rumor and every bit of pointless speculation. 

A spectre is haunting baseball — the spectre of spring training.