Clay Holmes has all the ingredients to make Mets look like geniuses

PORT ST. LUCIE — The Clay Holmes rotation experiment is no experiment at all. It’s a cold Mets calculation, yet another one I’m betting will work.

It’s a calculation by Mets honcho David Stearns, his math-driven minions and new Mets starter Holmes himself — all fellows I wouldn’t bet against.

I don’t have Stearns’ team of analytic heroes, or frankly his Harvard degree. And I wasn’t class valedictorian or a straight-A student like Holmes. I simply trust they’re not just guessing that Holmes can somewhat seamlessly transition from relief to rotation, that they know what they’re doing.

No doubt, it surely surprises many to see the ex-All-Star closer, all-around nice guy and son of a preacher — who was demoted to setup guy across town last year — get such a prime appointment now. It isn’t only Stearns’ computer and his computer guys who embraced this surprise storyline, but also the fine folks who run the Orioles and Red Sox, a couple of Yalies (Mike Elias and Craig Breslow, respectively). Those two also pursued and envisioned the longtime Yankee and division rival as a starter following three-plus years in The Bronx bullpen, where he produced a 30-save season and 2.69 ERA overall.