Home » Mets 2008 Games » Mets Game 54: Win Over Dodgers
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May 31, 2008 Mets 2008 Games Joe Janish

Mets Game 54: Win Over Dodgers

Mets 3 Dodgers 2компютри втора употреба

I’m starting to believe that the Mets are becoming the team we’ve been dying to see for over a year.

The New York Mets — OUR New York Mets — came from behind AGAIN to steal a win away from the Los Angeles Dodgers.

There was life, there was spirit, there was drama — and best of all, a story with a happy ending.

High on the list of outstanding performers was Mike Pelfrey, who pitched seven innings — six of them excellent — and held the Dodgers to only two runs on seven hits and one walk, striking out three. I’m absolutely convinced he was motivated by my suggestion he swap places with Aaron Heilman a few hours before the game. No doubt, he’s cemented his place in the rotation once Pedro returns … let’s hope we don’t have to suffer through five awful outings before we see another gem. Oh, but let’s stay on the positive …

While Pelfrey was setting down the Dodgers, Chad Billingsley was doing the same to the Mets — until the 8th, when he was removed for Jonathan Broxton. Broxton gave up a double to David Wright and homerun to Carlos Beltran to tie up the ballgame, then allowed a single to Carlos Delgado. Delgado was replaced by pinch-runner Nick Evans, who was sacrificed to second by Damion Easley. Brian Schneider was then intentionally walked, and Fernando Tatis ripped a single up the middle to score Evans, put the Mets ahead for the first time and for good.

Billy Wagner came on in the ninth and struck out the side on 15 pitches to earn his eleventh save. Dominating.

Notes

This game was reminiscent of the ones we enjoyed in 2006 — plenty of chutzpah, and a never-say-die effort. Tatis is playing the role of Jose Valentin — the washed-up veteran middle infielder who reinvents himself and surprises everyone.

Next Game

The final game of the series will be played at 8:05 pm and carried on ESPN. Johan Santana takes the hill against Hiroki Kuroda.

Joe Janish began MetsToday in 2005 to provide the unique perspective of a high-level player and coach -- he earned NCAA D-1 All-American honors as a catcher and coached several players who went on to play pro ball. As a result his posts often include mechanical evaluations, scout-like analysis, and opinions that go beyond the numbers. Follow Joe's baseball tips on Twitter at @onbaseball and at the On Baseball Google Plus page.
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  1. sincekindergarten June 1, 2008 at 5:23 am
    I left for 4:30 Mass as Pelf gave up his first run, and got home as Pelf was starting the seventh. Timing is everything. Carlos Beltran was clutch with the slider that stayed over the plate, bouncing it off the scoreboard. And Carlos Delgado should get kudos for stroking the single immediately after. Fernando Tatis is a keeper, too. I’m thinking that when ‘Stache gets back, Nick Evans goes back–but to N’awlins, not Binghamton.

    Great game all around. Though, I was pretty sure that the pitchers were getting the outside strike (3″-4″ outside) in the last few innings. Why bother to throw inside?

  2. isuzudude June 1, 2008 at 8:12 am
    You’re right, SK, timing is everything. After the Mets left their 80th man on base in the bottom of the 7th, I had seen enough and was convinced the Mets were going to get shutout, so I left for a barbeque at my gf’s house. I proceeded to tell everyone at the party the Mets had lost, fully assuming they had no chance to rally for the victory. So you can understand my surprise (and elation) when I got back to my house and discovered the Mets had won. Pretty Amazin’.

    Although it’s always a nice problem when a team has to make tough roster decisions because there are too many players deserving to stick around on the 25-man roster, I’m somewhat worried the Mets are going to make some bad decisions in the near future. No doubt about it, Pelfrey was terrific yesterday. But it still doesn’t erase the fact that he had lost each of his previous 6 starts, and that he still carries an ERA near 5.00, a WHIP of 1.70, and an opponents’ batting average of .317. Meantime, Claudio Vargas has been everything we’ve hoped for and more. His WHIP is 1.04, his opp. batting average is .200. And he does not have minor league options, which means if the Mets demote him he’d have to pass thru waivers and I doubt he’d make it thru still Mets’ property. With as unstable as the Mets’ starting rotation has been (and is likely to remain), we need to keep all the able-bodied pitchers we possibly can. And since Pelfrey still has options, and clearly still needs development in the minors, it would behoove the Mets to let him do it at AAA rather than in the majors, thus allowing Vargas to keep his spot. I would hope Carlos Muniz isn’t a candidate to be demoted, because A) he’s proven he’s able to contribute at the major league level, and B) neither Pelfrey or Vargas belong, or represent better options, in the bullpen.

    So I’m hoping that when Pedro is activated, Pelfrey goes to AAA.
    When Alou is activated, Evans goes back to AA.
    Willie sticks with a lineup of Reyes, Castillo, Wright, Beltran, Church, Alou, Delgado, Schneider/Castro.
    And the bench is rounded out by Casanova, Castro/Schneider, Easley, Tatis, Chavez.

  3. debmc June 1, 2008 at 6:37 pm
    I’m thinking that maybe Young Pelfrey learned a little something about himself yesterday. Frankly, I was shocked he made it out of the fourth inning… and then the fifth… and then, well, he looked like a new pitcher out there. He can build on yesterday’s effort if he chooses to, and for all our sakes, I hope he does. The kind of effort he made yesterday is something that can turn him right around emotionally, and physically as well.

    I’m torn between wanting Pelf to stay up here in the major leagues and build off his start, and knowing in my heart that probably he needs some work in the minors.

    Of course, all of this could change in a heartbeat considering Pedro’s fragility over the past several years.

    I can’t wait for tonight’s game. And I can’t remember the last time I felt that way. 🙂

  4. Left Coast Mets Fan June 1, 2008 at 6:46 pm
    I still think that Pelfrey should be sent down. As mentioned earlier, we don’t want to wait through 5 bad outings before we see another one like yesterday’s. He would benefit from regular work (on a rotation basis) as well as developing the confidence in himself he needs to be successful on the major league level.

    Vargas brings big league experience with him, and he really hasn’t looked all that bad since being called up from New Orleans. Besides being out of options, I believe he would bring the continuity this rotation needs.

    I will be at Thursday’s game at Petco Park. Looking forward to seeing the boys in blue and orange beat up on the Friars.

    LET’S GO METS!