Mets Game 161: Win Over Nationals

Mets 7 Nationals 2

The Mets took one step closer toward fulfilling Ken Davidoff’s preseason prediction of an 80-82 season. I’m texting Ken now for lottery numbers.

Game Notes

Reliever Raul Valdes started the game and went 5 innings despite pitching on three days’ rest — and pitching twice in one day four days ago. Additionally, starter R.A. Dickey pitched an inning of relief on two days’ rest. How does this happen in a meaningless September, when rosters can be expanded to 40 players? Oh, because the Mets have only 33 players on their roster currently.

Interesting that in addition to the front office mismanaging September callups, Jerry Manuel still runs out of arms when he has 8 extra bodies and 16 total pitchers. Maybe there is something to the idea that poor management starts from the top and trickles down.

Note: if the Valdes start and Dickey relief appearance was not a hard, clear message to Oliver Perez, I don’t know what is.

Ah, but why should I be so negative after a victory? Let’s talk about the great, awesome stuff that gave the Mets the opportunity to possibly finish the year with 80 wins!

David Wright blasted his 29th homer of the game to break a 2-2 tie and give the Mets a 5-2 lead. He has followed in the footsteps of team leader Carlos Beltran and really stepped it up once the season no longer mattered. He has a chance to finish the year with 30 HR and 100 RBI — really nice individual stats that look great on paper and make him a good choice for your Strat-O-Matic team this winter.

Chris Carter followed with a 2-run homer in the eighth, scoring Lucas Duda. Duda hit a prodigious blast of his own in the fourth to put the Mets ahead 2-zip.

There were 7 Mets rookies in the starting lineup. My wife was able to identify one. Though, if Mike Nickeas started behind home plate, I’m not sure she’d have identified that many.

Last Mets Game

The Mets and Nationals play the final regular-season game of 2010 on Sunday afternoon at 1:10 PM. There is no tomorrow after tomorrow, so Jerry Manuel has the option to manage like there is no tomorrow. In other words, not much differently than what you’ve seen for the past two and a half years. Mike Pelfrey takes the ball against Livan Hernandez.