Mets Game 28: Win Over Pirates
Mets 7 Pirates 3
The game was much closer than the final score indicates.
As usual, the Mets got on the board first with a two-run initial inning, but rookie Jonathan Niese allowed the Bucs to battle back with two in the third. The game remained deadlocked until the eighth inning, as the Mets played down to their competition with sloppy baseball and head-scratching at-bats.
In the eighth, though, the Mets finally woke up and realized they were playing a bad AAA team, and were in danger of looking foolish in front of their home fans. So, they started paying attention and exerting themselves. The result was a five-run bombardment of singles, walks, and extra-base hits that resembled the blitzkrieg — it was an inning that seemed it might never end. Finally, though, Luis Castillo saw that the flogging was getting embarrassing so he kindly popped out to right to end the frame and allow the Pirates an ounce of pride.
Minutes later, J.J. Putz disposed of the first two Bucs batters, but then, like Castillo, felt kinda bad for his brethren, and allowed them a score before inducing a flyout from Nate McLouth to end the evening.
Notes
Jon Niese, with his “drop and drive” motion and big overhand curve, reminds me of a tall Jerry Koosman. For those too young to remember, Kooz is the best lefthanded pitcher in Mets history, Johan Santana included. Though, if Santana strings together a few more seasons like this one and the last one, that could change.
With a four-run lead in the ninth with two outs and J.J. Putz struggling to throw strikes on the mound, Pedro Feliciano was warming up in the Mets bullpen. I sort of understood why someone was getting ready behind Putz, but didn’t get the choice of Feliciano, who had thrown 38 pitches over the previous two days. Is Brian Stokes injured? Suffering from flu symptoms? Not good enough to shut down the bottom of the Pirates order with a 2- or 3-run lead?
For those who think that frequency of use might be marginally related to performance, Putz has thrown 144 pitches in 7 games over the last 12 days. But who’s counting?
I was lucky enough to attend the game as a guest of Francis Ford Coppola’s winery, watching from an Empire Suite. I’ll be posting pictures here on MetsToday later this weekend and wine tasting notes at WineWeekly in due course. No, Francis wasn’t there, but I did see Rusty Staub, who stopped by for a few innings and a glass of wine.
Next Mets Game
John Maine looks to extend his winning streak to three games in an afternoon contest that begins at 1:10 PM. The Pirates will send ace Paul Maholm to the mound.
About the Author
A Mets fan since birth, 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. Oh, and he's often a bit cranky.
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Joe, Delgado’s “extra-base hit” went about 435 feet, I figure. What a shot on a slider that didn’t.
Dating back to 2006, the Mets have shown plenty of signs of life over the course of a season to suggest they are playoff-bound, only to fail to meet expectations or completely collapse upon themselves, especially in September. So I realize the Mets have done diddly squat until they can finish the season strong and make the postseason. But there have been an increasing amount of positive signs emanating from this ballclub over the last few games, and quite a number I can recall from this game:
1. Castillo batting 2nd in a game in which Dan Murphy is also starting against a RHP.
2. Mets scoring some tack on runs late in the game and hitting with RISP.
3. Entrusting Sean Green and Ken Takahashi in a tight game (i.e. using all of your bullpen bullets).
4. Jon Niese with a fine spot-start, throwing strikes and keeping his team in the game. He has certainly earned another start in my book, even if Tim Redding throws a no-hitter in AAA.
Now all of this is great to see but means next to nothing if it is not maintained over the course of 162.
The one glaring blemish I saw was Jerry going to the already overused JJ Putz in the 9th to close out a 6-run lead, while Brian Stokes sat idly by for a 10th consecutive day. When are these managers going to get the memo that the team carries 7 relievers and not 6? WE WANT MORE BRIAN STOKES!