I shall be the first one to admit that going into last nights game against the Colorado Rockies , I had very little faith in Mike Pelfrey. First off Mike hasn’t been anywhere close to his first half of the season form. Secondly , up until last night Mike had seemed to succumbed to the yip’s. And lastly Big Pelf was facing Ubaldo Jimenez – the man who may possibly win this years Cy Young award.
But Mike surprised me. He threw seven shutout innings against a very good offensive Rockies team. Mike was consistently getting his first pitch over for strikes, and came close to throwing 120 pitches for the game. Josh Thole supplied the offense with his deep double in the bottom of the seventh inning, in which he would score the winning run on a Jose Reyes sacrifice fly, while the recently called up Fernando Martinez went 1-2 with a hit by a pitch and a walk.Francisco Rodriguez looked like a man on a mission when he retired the heart of the Rockies batting order 1-2-3 in the ninth to earn his twenty-fifth save of the season. But the problem here is once again the Mets offense wasn’t hitting, collecting only four hits for the entire game. I know that they were going up against one of the best pitchers in the league, but it seemed as though the Mets hitters were being to aggressive, many times they were first pitch swinging, which enabled Jimenez to work into the seventh inning. The Mets went 0-4 with runners in scoring position last night. In their last seven games, the Mets are hitting .183 (11-60) in such situations. Come on guys if you guys are going to do your best Lazarus impersonation you will need both the pitching and hitting to come alive ! Lets just hope the can build on last nights win and get over the .500 hump again.
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                                                                                          ” Welcome back Big Pelf !”
And with that said…. HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!
Today would have been the ninetieth birthday of former Mets general manager from ’70-74, Bob Scheffing (1913).
Mets pitching coach from ’82-’83, Bill Monbouquette is 74 today (1936).
Backup middle infielder from the ’87 team, Al Pedrique is 50 (1960).
Middle reliever from ’86-89, John Mitchell is 45 (1965).
The Mets claimed middle reliever, Jeff Tam on waivers from the Cleveland Indians on this August 11. 1999.
And did you know whenever Mo Vaughn comes to Citi Field he is counted as ten people in the attendance records?
25 comments
ceetar
8/11/2010-8:08am at 8:08 am (UTC -4)
Actually I believe he threw 121.
Those are games they’re supposed to find ways to win that they usually don’t. Luckily, Jerry couldn’t just let the positive feelings flow, spouted all sorts of garbage about the roster and who’s pitching and what not. Does Taka remain the 8th inning guy through the homestand do you think?
metsfan4decades
8/11/2010-8:43am at 8:43 am (UTC -4)
According to Jerry last night, I’d say yes. He flat out said if the opportunity presented itself, Taka would be out there for the 8th inning again.
You know how this goes….he’ll be the 8th inning guy, until he fails, then the next man in line will get a turn again. I think they’ve all been tried now as the 8th inning guy….
dirtysanchez
8/11/2010-9:05am at 9:05 am (UTC -4)
they havent tried frenchy! ;p
dirtysanchez
8/11/2010-8:37am at 8:37 am (UTC -4)
Nobody saw this performance coming im sure
I just hope he manages to repeat whatever he did this game to get himself right. The most imporant pitch is strike one and pelf seemed to follow the age old advice. The offense is a bit worrisome to say the least. Im glad we lead the majors in 1-0 games this year but i think it speaks to how our offense is so skitish. That is a problem that hopefully, the mets realize this offseason and bring in someone that can coach them to regain some consistency.
metsfan4decades
8/11/2010-8:41am at 8:41 am (UTC -4)
Yes, our offense is non existent for a bit too long now.
Regarding last night’s game, I too wrote that off as a loss going in. Between all the rookies in the lineup trying to hit against one of the best pitchers in the league this year and Pelfrey’s struggles, I didn’t expect a win. Just goes to show you….
I know many don’t think a hitting coach contributes that much but why not try a new one? A fresh approach can’t make things any worse than they’ve been lately….
dirtysanchez
8/11/2010-9:05am at 9:05 am (UTC -4)
Yep, someone that actually comes with a resume would be worth a shot…(phillies old hitting coach). Like you said, if they really didnt matter then whats the problem in trying out a new one?
metsfan4decades
8/11/2010-9:08am at 9:08 am (UTC -4)
For the most part, the offense has been a problem all year. There is no way HoJo should return next year.
ceetar
8/11/2010-8:42am at 8:42 am (UTC -4)
Mariano blew it last night in complete “I have nothing” fashion.
His numbers are poor in tie games.
And Girardi hasn’t used him much lately. This is why Manuel is so great a manager. He’d have made sure to get his closer tons of work even if it meant pulling successful pitchers against Boston so that his closer was getting enough work.
njstuckintx
8/11/2010-9:29am at 9:29 am (UTC -4)
sarcastical!
ceetar
8/11/2010-9:31am at 9:31 am (UTC -4)
Metsblog comment: “I would Trade Beltran, and keep the 26 year old, Remember Pegan at age 26? Not good, 3 years later at 29, better that Beltran. Where could Frenchy be in 3 years?”
njstuckintx
8/11/2010-9:33am at 9:33 am (UTC -4)
My guess he’ll be in a pirates uniform in 3 years.
prismo
8/11/2010-9:51am at 9:51 am (UTC -4)
Not knowing how to spell Pagan was the first clue of idiocy!
But even if what he said was true (which it probably won’t be), the Mets should continue to play a stinky Frenchy in 2011 and 2012, sacrificing the position for two more years, because he’ll be good in 2013? Makes no sense!
trs86
8/11/2010-11:21am at 11:21 am (UTC -4)
Exactly let him find his way back to the Mets then like Pagan did.
stickguy
8/11/2010-10:02am at 10:02 am (UTC -4)
there seems to have been a key point overlooked with last nights game.
Notice who was behind th dish?
Besides getting the double (that I consider the game winning hit), Mr. Thole led Pelf to probably his best start of the year.
and frankly, has Thole done anything as a catcher to make you notice im in a negative light, and say that he doesn’t belong back there?
njstuckintx
8/11/2010-10:08am at 10:08 am (UTC -4)
He really has looked the part of an everyday catcher. And I thought his D was the suspect part of his game too.
ceetar
8/11/2010-10:09am at 10:09 am (UTC -4)
he was slumping for a week or so?
sample size is still small, but I’m nearly convinced that the only position the Mets need to consider an upgrade is 2B.
stickguy
8/11/2010-10:30am at 10:30 am (UTC -4)
I was just looking at the defensive side. But yeah, he was in a little slump, but is still hitting well over .300
njstuckintx
8/11/2010-10:34am at 10:34 am (UTC -4)
You think it’s possible to pry Doumit from Pittsburgh? Run a 50/50 split with Thole/Doumit and have Doumit as back up 1B? Not sure he would accept that roll, but then again, if it’s a position off the pirates, he probably would be elated. Just wondering.
oleosmirf
8/11/2010-11:11am at 11:11 am (UTC -4)
by all accounts Doumit is a pretty bad defensive catcher.
the way Thole has played in his brief MLB career, there is no reason why he shouldnt be the unquestioned starter going forward.
njstuckintx
8/11/2010-11:15am at 11:15 am (UTC -4)
I hear you. I’m just thinking I do not want to annoint anyone the starter and then have my backup plan be someone aged 35+.
oleosmirf
8/11/2010-11:45am at 11:45 am (UTC -4)
i am perfectly happy with Thole and Blanco for next season.
njstuckintx
8/11/2010-11:55am at 11:55 am (UTC -4)
Well, that makes one of us. Blanco has been everything and more than we could have hoped for. He’ll be 39 next year. This has Omar trying to catch lightning in a bottle twice with the same player written all over it.
oleosmirf
8/11/2010-12:12pm at 12:12 pm (UTC -4)
not really Blanco has been one of the best defensive catchers in baseball for many years. sure he might bat .240 instead of .260 but thats not important i just dont see why he cant be just as good defensively at 39 as he was at 38.
i would though have someone like Gerald Laird, Jason LaRue brought in to AAA in case Blanco got hurt.
Kingman 26
8/11/2010-12:39pm at 12:39 pm (UTC -4)
He also made a great throw on a SB attempt which Jose dropped…but hey, Jose can’t be expected to be ready and focused for every throw from the catcher!!
Thole might wind up as the best of the Junior Core.
GravediggerHebner
8/11/2010-12:52pm at 12:52 pm (UTC -4)
Your opening about having little faith and then surprisingly being rewarded exemplifies why sports are a great metaphor for life. Well played Rustman!