Mets Game 82: Win Over Nationals
Mets 9 Nationals 5
The fireworks began in the initial inning and continued through the final frame.
When it was all said and done, the Mets scraped out a series split with the worst team in the NL East. And they were lucky to do so.
Game Notes
Hisanori Takahashi pitched five innings, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks, striking out 7. He was removed after 85 pitches but more importantly, after seeing the lineup twice. His junk simply runs out of magic during the third time through the lineup.
Jason Bay had a huge day, going 2-for-5 with 4 RBI and a triple, hitting the ball hard every time he came to bat. He could be at the start of a hot streak.
David Wright continued to pound the horsehide, with 2 hits and 2 runs scored.
Angel Pagan returned to the leadoff spot with a flourish, collecting 3 hits — including 2 doubles — driving in two and scoring once.
The Mets required five relievers to cover the final four frames. For reasons unknown, 8th-inning-guy Pedor Feliciano came on in the 7th to face a few lefthanded hitters before yielding to Ryota “Rocket Man” Igarashi. Igarashi and Bobby Parnell were both underwhelming as they bridged the gap to K-Rod, who didn’t create too much drama for a change.
The Mets had an 8-run lead entering the sixth, yet they somehow needed Francisco Rodriguez to end the game. Whoa.
Next Mets Game
The Mets return home to host the Reds in a 7:10 PM matchup. Mike Pelfrey goes against Aaron Harang.
My bold yet morbid prediction is that the Mets will stumble into the allstar break by losing at least 4 of their next 6 games against the Reds and Braves. Both teams are hot and I see them as being poised to take advantage of a tiring, vulnerable Mets team. And when the Mets enter the break on a mild freefall, watch the fanbase explode in Cliff Lee-mania, demanding all valuable pieces of the minor league system be dealt for the lefty. Yet, if they get what they desire, the bullpen will remain exposed, management will be left in tact, and the future will be thrown into turmoil. And then expect the end result to be another September collapse, followed by finger pointing at all the wrong people, followed by another 3-4 years of mediocrity and lowered expectations.
On a side note, though I feel Mike Pelfrey definitely deserved to make the allstar team this year, it might be for the best that he gets the break to rest if he’s experiencing a dead arm as rumored to be the case.
But the reason that the bullpen is overused is that they are not very good and can’t get anyone one out. These guys have no command of their pitches and are constantly an adventure.
I also agree about Pelf. As far as i’m concerned I would just as soon not have any of my players on the all star team. I think the three day break from baseball at this time of year is a blessing.
Octavio dotel ?
Is it Pedro F’s fault that he is on pace to appear in 95 games this year?
Is it Fernando Nieve’s fault that he was on pace to appear in over 120 games after the first 6 weeks of the season?
It is ALL Jerry’s fault. ALL. Bullpen management is the single most important aspect of MLB managing, and Jerry fails miserably at the task.