John Maine continues to dominate the Grapefruit League.  Last night against the Indians, Maine pitched five and two-thirds innings, allowed one run, while striking out seven.  Maine is now 2-1 with a 2.33 ERA in Grapefruit League play.  What’s more impressive in in 19-plus innings, Maine’s struck out 21 and walked only 4.

Maine is coming off a season where he dominated the first half (10-4, 2.71), and floundered the second (5-6, 5.53).  Critics labeled him a starter with upper rotation stuff, but not able to last the entire season.  Maine was said to work out in the off season.  He has something to prove this year, and the Mets will be counting on him to produce.  Sitting in the #3 spot in the rotation, he doesn’t have the pressure he had last year, that should definitely help.  If he manages to string together a season similar to last year (with a better second half of course), the Mets have the best #3 starter in the league.

Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself.  They say Grapefruit League stats don’t mean anything.  While it’s true they don’t count for anything, I do find some validity in them.  Early on pitchers work on their mechanics, so they might be off, but for the second half of Spring Training they are dialing in, and getting ready for the season.  This is especially true with young pitchers. 

Watching what pitchers are doing the next week and a half could be very telling what they might show as as the season begins.