Mets outlast cub “B” team 7-6

Our Mets were able to muster a win last night against the Chicago “scrubs”. Did you recognize any of those guys? Ok, Edmonds…what’s he? A thousand years old now. I remember him with the angels when I was a kid and I’m old now. One name the Mets know for sure is Micah Hoffpauir. WHO? He only went 5 for 5 with 5 RBI. Wanna guess what his lucky number is?

Pedro Martinez started and as is his habit gave up a couple in the first. Some met fans here in NY want Pedro to close. How clueless can you be? Pedro has trouble getting loose and routinely gives up runs in his first inning. JUST what you need from your closer. Good call, losers.

Mets fell behind 6-3 and give them credit they scratched out runs in the 7th, 8th and 9th to win it. They got RBI singles from Robinson Cancel and Ramon Martinez (I still don’t know who this guy is) in the eighth and a very creative slide from Ryan Church. The ball beat him to the plate but he was able to avoid the tag by slipping around the catcher, running past the plate and diving back. He showed better moves than a contortionist.

The Mets began the ninth with a Jose Reyes single.  Daniel Murphy struck out trying to bunt him over. How come nobody in the major leagues can bunt? Also, the bunt sign was taken off after two strikes and Murphy tried again anyway. Listen, kid, don’t think too much, you may hurt yourself. Wright struck out in a big spot for the second straight night and for the umpteenth time in September. Reyes stole second so the Cubs walked Carlos Delgado to pitch to Carlos Beltran. Carlos came through with an RBI single to win it.

The Phillies were off so the Mets pick up a half game and are 1 game back with three to play. As for the Brewers, did you think the Pirates would really win? C’mon, be serious. The Brewers used 37 pitchers (not really only seemed like it) to hold Pitt to a single run. Milwaukee won it on a grand slam in the 10th. They remain tied with the Mets as the cubs go Milwaukee for the final three games.

The Mets welcome the fish to Shea tonight. Stay tuned.

Mets Blog

Post info: By Bernalda on September 26th, 2008
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Mets Finally Win, Down Nats 9-7

I guess one thing you can say about the Mets bullpen is that they are historical-like as in they are the worst bullpen in the history of baseball.  Seriously, seven relievers to close out a game?  While the bull pen  was awful last night, the Mets got enough offense to finally win a game a stop their losing streak.  It was a good thing they won as both the Phillies and the Brewers won last night. 

Jose Reyes hit a lead off homer.  Reyes admitted that he was glad that the Mets would be facing some right handed pitching as he has really struggled against the lefties here in September.  Obviously something clicked for him as he was 2-4 with 2 RBI; he also walked once and scored twice.  Carlos Delgado hit his 36th homer of the season; he also scored twice and drove in a pair as well.  Carlos Beltran was the real story last night.  He hit two homers and was 2-3 with 3 RBI and two runs scored.  Is there another outfielder in the National league who has both scored and driven in over 100 runs? 

Unfortunately David Wright is choking.  He was 0-5 last night, he struck out two times and stranded four guys on base.  It also looked as if his ninth inning error might just blown the game for the Mets.  I like David a lot.  I think he plays hard and I think he is just an all around good guy.  He is being groomed as ”the guy” of this team for the long haul.  But, if you look at what Ryan Howard is doing for his team right now and you compare that to where David is right now, it looks like he is choking big time.  Listen, I hope tonight that Wright comes out of this funk and totally just makes a fool out of me for writing this.  If the Mets are going to go anywhere and not fall out of this, they need the big four Wright, Reyes and the Carloses to carry them there. 

It appears that we will be oh so lucky to continue to see Luis Castillo.  Damion Easley is probably not going to be able to contribute much after tearing his quad over the weekend.  Also, while Fernando Tatis is holding off on having surgery for  his grade 3 shoulder separation, he will not be back for the Mets this season, even if they do make the play offs. 

The Mets will have Johan Santana on the mound tonight.  Game time is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. 

Mets Blog 

Post info: By Bernalda on September 18th, 2008
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Mets Lead Just 1/2 Game As Nat’s Win 7-2

Just curious, did the Mets know there was a game last night and did they realize that it was important?  Because if they did, shame on them for not showing up.  Nothing was happening for the Mets last night as they were downed 7-2 by the Nationals. 
 
The Mets are now just 7 and 5 in the month of September and have seen their three game lead shrink to just half a game.  The Phillies are tied for the wild card and the Brewers, trying to avoid the collapse of last season, just fired their manager, so the race has heated up and everyone is fighting for a position.  But instead of urgency, it almost seems like a sense of dread had overcome the Mets.  Especially when they the bullpen comes into the game. 
 
Pedro Martinez started, but in his six innings of work he allowed four runs on eight hits, he walked four and struck out three.  Listen I want to be all warm and fuzzy about Pedro but I think we all know that he is not going to be a Met next year and he isn’t exactly helping us down the stretch.  But if you ask him, he went out there and battled.  And, I guess that is all that matters, at least he tried.  Give me a break!  I realize we don’t really have another starter, but really what are they going to do with this guy?  Anyway, after Pedro coughed up four runs, the Pig Pen was at it again.  Duaner Sanchez gave up three runs in a third of an inning.  Wow-face three batters and don’t even get one of them out.  Great job, Duaner! 
 
And clearly the Nationals (who are coming off a five game losing streak) had all star pitching last night as the Mets were only able to generate five hits.  Not one player had more than one hit and David Wright, Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado were hitless in the game.  Wright had a tough night, he struck out with a runner in scoring position in the first inning and then grounded into a double play with the bases loaded in the eighth.  I know they’ll give us the whole thing about having to go back out there and get it done tomorrow, but guys-you’re running out of tomorrows.  Not only that but you are playing teams under .500 and out of the race, these are the teams you are supposed to beat!  Is anyone going to show up and play “tomorrow”?  This whole falling apart thing is all starting to feel a little to familiar.  If this team does this a second year in a row, they may never bounce back. 
 
On a side note, John Maine is hoping to rejoin the team at Shea Stadium when they return home on Monday.  Apparently he has even volunteered to be the closer if the Mets want him too.  Might as well give him a shot, he can’t be any worse than anyone else who is out there.  I wonder, how do you look your teammates in the face after you go out there night after night and play like this?  I guess it is ok because they all stink too.  Also, I guess we should realize that they clearly don’t feel any heat, they were all able to have fun after that terrible weekend of play as it was all fun and games when they went about their hazing rituals for the rookies.  So, I guess as fans these losses just hit us a little harder and if that is the case, maybe I need to rethink this fan thing…
 
The Mets and the Nationals meet again tonight, Mike Pelfrey will pitch for the Mets.  Game time is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. 
 
Post info: By Bernalda on September 16th, 2008
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Game 2: Mets 5 Braves 0

 

Jon Niese was awesome in his second start.  He pitched eight shut out innings, allowing only six hits.  Niese walked two and struck out seven.  It was a great outing for him, especially considering that his last outing didn’t go so well.  It was a shot in the arm for the Mets and (hopefully) a look at the future. 
 
The Mets offense was much better in the second game.  Carlos Beltran, David Wright and Jose Reyes all hit homeruns.  (Reyes was 3-5 in the second game)  Carlos Beltran has been red hot, he has an eleven game hitting streak, and is 18 for his last 42, meaning that during this hot streak he is hitting .429.  This is perfect time for him to get hot!  Luis Ayala closed out the game, he allowed two hits but no runs and stuck out one.  
 
The second game was what the Mets needed.  Because of how the schedule has worked out and because the Mets lost game one of the double header to the Braves, the Phillies picked up a half game in the standings.  Geez-could the Brewers show up at all?  The Brewers have lost the first two games of the series and now the two teams will play a double header this afternoon.  The Phillies are all po’d though because they asked the Brewers to stay in town and play Monday instead of playing the double header today and the Brewers declined, and it is basically so that they can save Sabathia for when the Brewers meet the Cubs on Tuesday.  Basically the Brewers have decided that their fight is more important than the Phillies.  I don’t blame them.  The Brewers are still fighting to get themselves into the playoffs.  Although, how great would it be to watching Sabathia just mow down that Phillies offense?
 
Headed into play today, the Mets have 15 games left.  On Monday they begin a four game series with the Nationals, then they travel to Atlanta for three.  They come home on Sept. 22 to play four with the Cubs and then finish the season with three against the Marlins.  In that time frame, the Phillies will have an off day on Monday, then will travel to Atlanta for a three game series  and then they’ll play three in Florida.  They return home to play three with Atlanta, and then after an off day on September 25th, they Phillies will complete their season with a three game set against the Nationals.  Every game has meaning-I love this time of year!  
 
The Mets will wrap up their last series ever at Shea Stadium with the Atlanta Braves this afternoon.  Chipper Jones has not played in this series because of a sore back but he did bring his four year old son, Shea to New York this trip.  Of course Shea Jones thinks that Shea Stadium was named after him!  Jorge Campillo will take the mound for the Braves and the Mets will throw Oliver Perez.  Game time is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. 
 
 
Post info: By Bernalda on September 14th, 2008
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10-8 Seems to be Lucky As Mets Win and Phillies Lose By Same Score

The Mets were able to get by the Nats 10-8 last night, and strangely the Phillies lost to the Marlins by the same score.  So the Mets stretched their lead over the Phillies by two and a half-three in the loss column.  The Phillies were down early and came back to make it interesting, but in the end just couldn’t get it done.  Unlike the Mets who seemed to be determined last night. 
 
I don’t know if the Mets were scoreboard watching or what happened but they played like crazy last night.  The Carloses hit back to back homeruns to give the Mets the lead in the inning.  For Carlos Delgado that was his second homer of the night.  He is in a zone that I pray lasts until the end of September.  He hit two shots that were just unbelievable.  It isn’t just Delgado who has been in a zone, Carol Beltran is hitting .348 with six homers and 17 RBIs in his last 14 games, he also joined Wright and Delgado in 100 RBI club.  I thought it was a good sign last night that both David Wright and Jose Reyes did a much better job with the bat.  Wright actually had a two out RBI.  In addition, Ryan Church hit in the two spot last night, he had two RBI, one of the solo homerun. 
 
Oliver Perez stunk up the joint, for the most part the pitching for both teams was terrible.  Lucky for the Mets the Nationals pitched worse.  Perez, who has really been good for the Mets just didn’t have it last night.  He only worked three and a third innings; allowing seven runs on eight hits while walking three and striking out two.  It was uncharacteristic of the Perez we have seen recently.  Nelson Figueroa and Brandon Knight were awful, but kudos to Joe Smith, Brian Stokes, Scott Schoeneweis and Luis Ayala who combined to pitch four shut out innings.   
 
For as much as I have ragged on Billy Wagner in the blog this season, I actually felt bad for him last night when they showed clips of his press conference from earlier in the day.  He really broke down when asked what his son thought of what was happening.  I guess you can understand how it feels.  It isn’t a life threatening illness, but it is your livelihood, and while I’m sure he has plenty of money, but it is always better to leave your terms.  Who knows if he’ll ever pitch again. 
 
The Mets and the Nationals will meet again tonight at 7:10 p.m.  Mike Pelfrey will be on the hill for the Mets and the Nats will counter with Odalis Perez. 
Post info: By Bernalda on September 10th, 2008
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Mets Shut Out by Phillies in Opener 3-0

It’s hard not to feel disappointed with the way the game went last night, but it is amazing that I am not feeling panic mode, because the Mets have shown us that they can bounce back.  The Mets really only need to win one of the three games to maintain a two game lead.  They are 10-6 against the Phillies this season and while I think they have last year hanging over their head the realize last year they beat themselves by not playing well.  However, given that this is the last time the Mets will see the Phillies this season; this series is a good way to show the Phillies that they don’t sweat them.
 
Brett Meyers was fantastic.  Since his screaming matching with Phillies manager Charlie Manual, he has been virtually unhittable.  However, the Mets out hit the Phillies 5-4 and squandered their opportunities.  They left runners in scoring position in the first, second and sixth innings.  The Mets had two on and one out in the bottom of the ninth and couldn’t get a runner home.  It was really frustrating to watch David Wright pop up in the sixth inning, Carlos Beltran didn’t have a good at bat against Brad Lidge in the bottom of the ninth.  Look, there will be games like this, what is important is what the offense does next.  They are scheduled to see Jamie Moyer today and Cole Hammels in the final game of the series.  The Phillies know how important these games are as they adjusted their rotations so that Hammels would pitch against Santana on Sunday.
 
The Mets were able to bounce back against the Phillies in games after a loss.  When they were in Philly just over a week ago, after they blew their 7 run lead, they were able to come back the next night and beat the Phillies.  So, here we are-sitting in New York and it is supposed to rain all day Saturday, meaning that the Mets and the Phillies will probably have to play a double header on Sunday-which could actually play into the Mets favor, given that it is very difficult to sweep both games of a double header. 
 
Mike Pelfrey was great last night.  He made one mistake on an inside fast ball to Greg Dobbs who took it over teh fence in right field to put the Phillies on top 3-0.  Replays show that Ryan Church nearly caught that ball, he went up over the fence but the ball hit just of the tip of his glove.  In his seven inning of work Pelfrey allowed three runs, only two earned, on four hits.  He struck out four and walked two.  The bullpen pitched two innings without any drama. 
 
Good job by Mike Schmidt looking to fire up his old team.  Too bad the old codger has to live vicariously through his old team.  I’m glad that he has a such insight into the minds of the Mets to just put it out there that the Mets know that the Phillies are better than them.  Although, given that the Mets have beat the Phillies 10-6 so far this season, that bit of news might have been lost on the Mets.  And, I guess since the Mets were able to catch the Phillies who looked like they could run away with the division when the Mets were stinking up the joint in the earlier part of the season-they probably didn’t realize then that the Phillies were better than they are.  So, while I do think the collapse of 2007 weighs on the Mets-the focus on the Phillies is that they are their only competition in the division. 
 
Mets and Phillies are scheduled to meet at 3:55 this after noon with Jamie Moyer on the hill for the Phillies and the Mets will counter with Pedro Martinez. 
 
Post info: By Bernalda on September 6th, 2008
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Mets Best Brewers, Win 6-5 in 10

The Mets were able to overcome a shaky first outing by rookie Jonathan Niese to beat the Brewers 6-5 in 10 innings.  Endy Chavez hit a sac fly in the top of the 10th to score the go ahead run and to put the Mets in position to sweep the series against the Brew Crew.  

The Mets got a great performance out of their bullpen as Niese failed to even get out of the fifth inning.  Knowing how well the Mets bullpen has pitched this season, I was figuring that we’d be in a for a long night.   But, for a second straight night, the bullpen did not allow a run and kept the Mets in the game.  Obviously, the Mets have the added benefit of the expanded roster which allows Jerry Manual to basically work match ups, but also I think it adds a little competitive nature to the bullpen-competition is a good thing especially for a bullpen that has been awful! 
 
Carlos Beltran who suffered a bruised knee when he slid into the home plate umpire on Monday night did play last night, he hit a three run homer and as of late is swinging a hot bat.  I know that there was some discussion as to whether he would even be in the line up yesterday and it seems that Manual basically said to him that unless he had a broken leg he would be in the line up.  And, when you are in a pennant race, that is how it has to be.  Nobody is healthy, but  you’ve got to play through it.  Not only did Beltran have a great night with the bat, he also had a great defensive play, throwing a runner out at home to keep the game tied at five. 
 
While Niese’s outing last night didn’t go as well as Mets fans might have hopped, the rookies are making a statement on this team.  Daniel Murphy and Nick Evans continue to play well.  And while I sometimes cringe when I see those guys go back on a ball, they have really played well for guys who are natural infielders.  Murphy has been great with the bat, he knows how to prolong at bats by working the count.  Not only that, Murphy also seems to run the bases well, and in fact the reason the Mets won the game was because of smart base running by Murphy.  I know Minaya said that the organization expects that Evans will actually hit for power as he matures, Evan’s hasn’t quite shown that just yet, but he did hit his first homerun in the bigs over the weekend. 
 
So the Mets will wrap up their though road trip with a 2:05 start in Milwaukee this afternoon.  Thus far, with only one left to play the Mets are 5-2 on the road trip.  This was a big test for the Mets as they played games not only against their division rivals, the Phillies, but against the Marlins-who aren’t totally out of it, and the Brewers who are trying to hold on the the wild card.  The Mets will return home and after an off day will play three with the Phillies-this marks the last series of the regular season between the Mets and the Phills. 
 
Also, Pedro Martinez has returned to New York to work out with a personal trainer.  The Mets have been careful not to say too much, but it seems that Pedro is having trouble getting lose both prior and during his starts.  The issue of him loosening his shoulder is something that Gary, Keith and Ron have talked about especially in response to the trouble Martinez seems to have in the first inning.  Clearly with the off days in the next two weeks, the Mets can get by with a four man rotation, but a three man rotation isn’t going to work.  I would be surprised if Niese get another start, and given how  Nelson Figueroa and Brian Stokes have kind of etched out places for them in the bullpen, does it makes sense to have one of them start? 
Post info: By Bernalda on September 3rd, 2008
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Mets Get Best of Braves Pen, win 7-3

The Mets beat the Braves last night 7-3.  Going into the eighth inning, it looked as if the Mets would drop yet another game to the Braves, but lucky for the Mets, because for one night, the bullpen that blew the game was wearing red and blue, not orange and blue.   

The Mets scored two in the first inning off Braves’ starter Jo-Jo Reyes on a David Wright sac fly and a double by Fernando Tatis.  However, the offense stopped there and for six straight innings the Mets did not get another hit.  However, in the bottom of the eighth, down 3-2 the Mets got a little help from the Braves bullpen.  Jeff Bennett retired Jose Reyes on a ground out, but then he issued back to back walks to Nick Evans and David Wright and Carlos Beltran got aboard to load the bases on a little blooper that Chipper Jonescould not make a plan on. The Mets, who have just been awful with the bases loaded, now had Carlos Delgado at the plate, Delgado who has cooled off since that amazing run in July had a terrible game at the plate on Monday against the Pirates.  For whatever reason, Bobby Cox elected to bring in the lefty-now I know that is by the book, but Delgado has smoked lefty pitching, Delgado hit a double off the fence in left center that was only a few inches from leaving the yard, two runs scored to put the Mets on top 4-3.  Easley hit a single to center that scored both Carloses, and then Ramon Castro drove home a run with a double to left.  In all, the Mets scored five in the inning and won the game 7-3.  The Mets finally got someone to hit with runners in scoring position.  It’s about time.  It was really unexpected also because after the first inning, the offense looked like it wasn’t going to do anything.  And for one night, the bullpen didn’t blow it.   

Oliver Perez struggled last night, he walked five stuck out three and allowed three runs on seven hits.  Luis Ayala jumped right into the fire, as he entered the game in relief for Perez with two on, Ayala got both batters he faced to pop up, ending the threat there.  Aaron Heilman worked the eighth inning, he allowed one hit and walked one but did not give up any runs.  Scott Schoeneweis worked the ninth inning to close the game out.  And, after it was all said and done, Schoneweis basically said to the press that it was nice that the other team’s bullpen was the story on the night.  

This series against the Braves is one of those must wins.  The Braves are terrible on the road, and again lat night lost a game in which they had a one run lead.  Combine that with the fact that the Phillies are playing the Nationals, and the Nationals have lost 11 straight, the Mets are going to have to do their part to not lose any ground in the standings.  

So, the Mets got bad news on Billy Wagner.  And then Billy Wagner has to turn around and tell us how we can’t understand how hard it is to go out there and do what they do day after day-being picked on in the press-well Billy, boo-hoo.  If you don’t like, don’t play in New York.  I mean, you played in Philly, you had to have some idea of what you were getting yourself into.  If you want fans who don’t care, go play for the Marlins, who even though they are winning can’t get anyone in the stands.  Shut up-before you end up with an inflamed jaw. 

And on a funnier note, there was a conference call set to take place yesterday between the umpires, major league baseball and whoever else.  Turns out, the Umps missed the call again; see, they are boycotting the usage of instant replay.  While I still haven’t figured out what my position is on this matter, I can tell you one thing-if they’d gotten the myriad of calls right over the season, then this would be a non-issue.  But the fact that they go out there night after night and continue to screw up calls has brought baseball to this point.  I have harped on this over and over, if there is anyone out there reading this on a steady basis, you know that I’ve been killing the officiating of these games all season. 

The Mets and Braves play the second of three tonight.  The Mets will send Mike Pelfrey to the mound, he is 11-8 with a 3.91 era.  The Braves will counter with their “ace” Jair Jurrjens who is also 11-8 but with a much lower era of 3.15.  Game time is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. 

Mets Blog 

Post info: By Bernalda on August 20th, 2008
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Mets Sweep Nationals 9-3, Take Over First Place in NL East

The Mets wrapped up a sweep of the Washington Nationals with a 9-3 win to take over first place in the NL East.  The Mets bounced back well after imploding in a make up game agains the Pirates on Monday. 
Oliver Perez pitched 6 2/3 allowed three runs on six hits, walked three and stuck out eight.  All three runs came in the bottom of the seventh with two out.  Since July 29th he is 4-2 with a 1.97 era.  He has cut down on walks and as a result pitches deeper into games.  Perez has really shown what he is capable of doing.  The conversations are starting about where Perez will end up-if he keeps pitching like this-I hope he is there to open Citifield. 
 
The Mets scored two in the fourth inning off a ground out by Carlos Delgado and a sac fly from Carlos Beltran.  In the top of the fifth, they added two more when Brian Schneider hit a two run shot to center.  Delgado added to the Mets lead when he hit an opposite field home run in the top of the sixth.  The Mets tacked on four in the top of the ninth, thanks in large part to a poor defensive performance by the Nationals.; Ronnie Belliard and Emilio Bonifacio committed back to back errors with two out. 
 
Joe Smith came in to relieve Perez, there were two on and two out, and Smith got Belliard to fly out to end the inning.  Smith then started the eighth inning quickly retiring Ryan Zimmerman, but he walked Lastings Milledge and Austin Kearns.  Smith was then replaced by Duaner Sanchez who struck out Aaron Boone, David Wright made a great play on a ground ball at third to retire Wil Nieves.  The ninth inning belonged to Aaron Heilman.  He walked one and stuck out one.  You could see though that Heilman was none too happy to be out on the mound with the Mets that far ahead-but after Monday’s performance against the Pirates, Heilman did actually believe that he would see action with the game on the line, did he? 
 
This was a huge sweep by the Mets, helped along by the Dodgers who swept the Phillies four straight.  The Mets now sit in first place all by their lonesome with a one game lead.  The Mets will now play four with the Pirates while the Phillies play three in San Diego. The Marlins lost three out of four against the Cardinals, and will have the Cubs in town for three. 
 
On a side note-Mike and the Mad Dog-a popular sports talk radio show heard on WFAN 660 NY is now over.  Mad Dog is no long with the fan and is said to have signed a deal with satellite radio.  For me, Mike and the Mad Dog is a habit, I listen to it for the ten or twenty minutes it takes me to get home from work.  I guess there is a little sadness there, but most of the time Chris “Mad Dog” Russo had no idea what he was talking about and butchered every name he said.  Unfortunately for listeners we are stuck listening to Mike, while you actually get knowledge-the pompous way in which he delivers it gets old. 
 
Mike Pelfrey, 10-8 with a 4.11 era will look to redeem himself after struggling against the Marlins on Sunday.  The Pirates will have 1-1 Jason Davis with a 1.38 era on the hill.  First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. 
Post info: By Bernalda on August 15th, 2008
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Bullpen Helps Santana Get 10th Win as Mets top Nats 3-2

The Mets finally got a decent performance out of their bullpen and held on to win 3-2 in Washington on Tuesday night.  With Johan Santana on the mound you almost automatically think the bullpen will blow it.  However, Santana did get his 10th win of the season, he pitched seven innings, allowing three runs on eight hits; he walked two and struck out six.  

Jerry Manual elected to pinch hit for Johan Santana in the top of the eighth inning.  Santana was visibly unhappy about leaving the game at that point.  Listen, considering how the bullpen has pitched as of late, and particularly how they seem to pitch in relief for Santana, I can imagine that he was not too happy about leaving the game in the hands of the bullpen.  Also, now he’ll have to hear that he only gave the Mets seveninnings, he hadn’t even thrown 100 pitches.  Listen, Santana wasn’t exactly stellar last night, he relinquished the lead on two occasions.  In the bottom of the first with a two run lead, Santana gave up two in the bottom of the inning.  Then, with the Mets winning 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh, he gave up a solo pinch hit homer to Ryan Langerhans-it was Langerhans’ first homer of the season.  However, Santana pitched well enough to get the win and after what he has been through with this bullpen, it was good to see that he finally got one. 

If someone had told you in March that Santana wouldn’t get his 10th winuntil the middle of August, you would think that something ridiculous had happened, and the truth is, the bullpen has been ridiculous.  If the bullpen had been able to hold leads in the games that Santana started he would be a 15 game winner right now.  Since the all star break, the Mets bullpen has a 6.82 era, the worst in the majors.  After the latest debacle against the Pirates in Monday’s make up game, Jerry Manual vowed to shake things up.  Scott Schoeneweis called a bullpen only meeting challenging guys to step up and go out and do what has to be done.  Apparently, it must have worked because both Joe Smith and Pedro Feliciano threw scoreless innings to finish out the game last night.  Smith worked the eighth, he allowed on hit and stuck out two.  Feliciano worked the ninth, he did not allow a hit or a walk and stuck out two, Feliciano also earned his first save of the season. 

The Mets scored two in the top of the first, Nick Evans singled with one out, and scored on a two out double by Carlos Beltran.  Beltran would score on a single to center by Carlos Delgado.  The Mets scored one in the third to go ahead 3-2 on a RBI double by Carlos Beltran.  Beltran had a better night at the plate last night, he was 2-4 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI.  He left two guys in scoring position when he stuck out with two outs in the top of the fifth inning.  However, hitting in the cleanup spot seems to agree with him, and given that winning these games against Washington and Pittsburgh are so important, hopefully, Beltran can really get it going.  The Mets left the bases loaded againin the top of the eighth inning. 

Good thing Damion Easley got hit in the head by a pitch in the top of the eighth ( he wasn’t actually “hit”more like the ball just grazed his helmet), otherwise the Mets would not have gotten a run home from third withless than two outs at all in the game.  What a terrible job by the Met’s hitters in that spot.  Dan Murphy pinch hit for Ramon Castro and struck out.  Then Brian Schneider pinch hit in the pitcher’s spot and struck out also, for that Santana could have batted and stayed in the game. 

A win is a win, and because the Phillies lost to the Dodgers on Tuesday night, the Mets sit in second place just one game out.  This is really a make or break road trip for the Mets.  The bullpen has got to get straightened out because the Mets are in a situation where a couple of losses in a row could be very hard to overcome.  Yes, the Mets do have five games left with the Phillies, so there is that to keep in the back of your mind, but the Marlins are not going away just yet.  The Mets meet the Marlins six more times, three of those games are the last three games of the regular season.  While we are discussing the last week of the season, the Mets are at home but play three with the Chicago Cubs and three with the Marlins; at that same time the Phillies will be at home for three against Atlanta and Washington.  So, really, the time to make up ground is getting short so the Mets must take advantage of the next two series and win some games. 

Ryan Church had a good work out down in Florida and is feeling good.  The Mets have still not set a time frame for his rehab assignment.  Carlos Muniz was sent down to Triple A New Orleans and Brian Stokes will stay with the team.  Luis Castillo‘s return from the DL has been delayed “indefinitely” because he has been away from workouts attending to a personal family matter.  That or he realizes that when he returns he will be sitting on the bench.  Either way, let him stay down in Florida. 

The Mets and the Nats meet up again Wednesday night.  John Maine, fresh off his stint on the 15 day DL will start for the Mets and the Nationals will have Jason Bergmann on the mound.  Maine is 9-7 with a 4.13 Bergmannis 2-8 with a 4.13 era.  Game time is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. 

Mets Blog           

Post info: By Bernalda on August 13th, 2008
Comments: 5 Comments »
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