Flip Wilson's final performance
As good as New York Mets starting pitcher Mike Pelfrey (12-7) was (and that was pretty darned) Pittsburgh Pirates starter Jeff Karstens (2-10) was bad. Pelfrey threw 119 pitches over 8 innings allowing 2 runs, 1 earned, to the Pirates on 6 hits and 2 walks. Karstens on the other hand threw 70 pitches over 3 1/3 innings allowing 7 runs, all earned, on 11 hits. Those 7 runs would prove more than enough for Pelfrey and the Mets. Bobby Parnell finished off the Pirates with a 1-2-3 9th inning to preserve the win for Pelfrey. The loss, the Pirates 82nd of the season, assured Pittsburgh it’s 18th consecutive losing season, the record for a major sports franchise in North America. Final score New York 7, Pittsburgh 2.
This looks like a lineup that can score (bow chicka bow wow)
Since the Mets rarely score lots of runs lets savor each one. They got 3 in the top of the 1st inning. Jose Reyes led off with a single. After Angel Pagan popped out Reyes stole 2nd base as Carlos Beltran struck out. Tonight’s much maligned cleanup hitter Chris Carter then blooped a single to shallow left to plate Reyes. David Wright singled to put runners on the corners then Ike Davis singled to drive in Carter. Josh Thole rounded out the 1st inning scoring by singling to drive in Wright and after 1 it was 3-0 Mets. Carter homered leading off the 3rd inning and later that inning a Thole single scored Wright making it 5-1 Mets. In the 4th the Mets completed their binge when Beltran singled to drive in Reyes and on the same play a throwing error by Pirates LF Jose Tabata allowed Pagan to score for the eventual final of 7-2.
19 comments
njstuckintx
8/20/2010-10:17pm at 10:17 pm (UTC -4)
Nice crooked hat Heb. Good win. Finally seeing some bats, but I guess that’s what the Pirates do to teams. 1 down, 2 to go.
metsfan4decades
8/20/2010-10:22pm at 10:22 pm (UTC -4)
It’s been so long, I’ve forgotten what it’s like to have the lead first, lead early, tack on runs and never fall behind…
Didn’t think Pelf would go deep in the early innings but kudos to him for making whatever adjustments necessary to do just that.
Love Parnell in the 9th so far.
And LOL…you gotta love Carter. Interview by KB after the game, he still thinks we’re in this race. It’s a given he’s got a weak arm out there in the OF, but what he lacks in defensive skills he tries to make up for with effort, especially with that good catch out there in RF. Got some timely hits tonight as well.
Watching the Mets tonight beat up on the Pirates, for as bad as we’ve been….I can’t imagine what it must be like to be a Pirate fan.
oleosmirf
8/20/2010-10:43pm at 10:43 pm (UTC -4)
good news: Mets bats came alive and Carter looked very good at the plate as usual.
bad news: instead of leaving the lineup exactly the same, he will sit Carter in favor of Francouer and maybe Thole as well…
Ceetar
8/20/2010-10:55pm at 10:55 pm (UTC -4)
if they’re serious about winning (they’re not) they’d play Castillo.
Also, Frenchy’s having some good AB lately. if you can milk a hot streak out of him, you gotta do it. Carter did look good today though.
oleosmirf
8/20/2010-11:14pm at 11:14 pm (UTC -4)
they believe that Tejada’s defense and youthful energy is more valuable than Castillo despite the fact that Castillo’s .236 BA is still much better than Tejada’s .181.
metsfan4decades
8/20/2010-10:45pm at 10:45 pm (UTC -4)
Didn’t realize Pelf was throwing up prior to the game…must have same problem that Wright and Thole have/had. Given that, this start goes from good to impressive.
Wonder if the guys all got poisoned from those bad eggs that have continued to be recalled across several states from one coast to another? Stick to the oatmeal, boys….
Ceetar
8/20/2010-10:54pm at 10:54 pm (UTC -4)
What’s stretch of a stat will people make up about the Mets road record if/when they win this series?
two chances to win a series and a road trip. It’s not enough if we’re pretending they have a shot. (slim to none, but it’s there). Sweep. Sweep the home stand. Sweep the road trip after that, and possibly the home stand after that.
GravediggerHebner
8/20/2010-11:01pm at 11:01 pm (UTC -4)
If/when the Mets win this series no one will have to make anything up they’ll just note accurately that the Mets record in road series against NL foes will be 1-13-4 and point out that the 1 series win came against the lowly Pirates.
But lets not count that glorious chicken before it hatches.
njstuckintx
8/20/2010-11:03pm at 11:03 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks for the cold shower buddy.
oleosmirf
8/20/2010-11:16pm at 11:16 pm (UTC -4)
are you implying that the Mets road woes are just a fabrication of the media/fans?
kingman 26
8/20/2010-11:09pm at 11:09 pm (UTC -4)
Well, I am starting to like Carter. He’s awful hard not to like after what we have been watching for the last four years….
Maybe Pelf is going to win 16–18??
Ceetar
8/20/2010-11:14pm at 11:14 pm (UTC -4)
Next year he’ll win 18.
12 with 40 games left? so he’s got what? 8 starts left? I guess 4 more wins isn’t out of the question, nor is 6 for that matter, but 4 is half. 16 wins? would be very nice.
stickguy
8/20/2010-11:15pm at 11:15 pm (UTC -4)
pelf has a good shot at 16, if he keeps pitching like this (and gets some run support). I guess he will get 7-8 more starts, so not unreasonable.
and Carter always did have a pretty good bat. And it is always nice to see a guy that really paid his dues in the minors get a chance, and take advantage of it.
GravediggerHebner
8/20/2010-11:34pm at 11:34 pm (UTC -4)
Obviously many circumstances could lead to Pelfrey winning more or less than 16 games but statistically speaking 16 is very reasonable to expect.
He has made 25 starts. He has decisions in 19 of those starts or 76%. His record is 12-7 so he has won 63% of his decisions so far. He has 8 scheduled starts likely over the last 40 games. 76% of 8 is 6 (6.08). 63% of 6 is 4 (3.78). 12 wins plus 4 more is 16.
Hooray math!
johan4cy
8/20/2010-11:38pm at 11:38 pm (UTC -4)
Math doesn’t take into account the possibility of him going on an incredible hot streak or an incredible rut. Baseball players aren’t machines (except for Albert Pujols, of course). I know that you know this, but I’m just saying.
GravediggerHebner
8/20/2010-11:46pm at 11:46 pm (UTC -4)
Your point is valid and fair. I never said it was going to happen just that it was “reasonable to expect.”
This concept of players as machines is one that has given me trouble as I attempt to learn more about various sabermetrics. But one thing that I have finally come to understand in my learning is that even hardcore sabermetricians do not consider players to be machines. They simply are looking for ways, hopefully better ways, to define the odds for success of both teams and individual players.
In that context a sabermetrician might (I am not one so I can’t speak for one) say that it is reasonable to think Pelfrey might win 16 games given the factors I presented above.
Certainly it’s easier to support the concept of Pelfrey winning 16 games than it is support the same about R.A. Dickey for example who has 8 wins and thus would have to get the winning decision in all his remaining starts which would be something he has not done so far this year.
To get Pelfrey to 16 wins I’m simply asking him to continue winning at the pace he already has established.
johan4cy
8/20/2010-11:54pm at 11:54 pm (UTC -4)
lol…
GravediggerHebner
8/20/2010-11:58pm at 11:58 pm (UTC -4)
I’m glad I could amuse you. But now I must sleep. Good night.
stickguy
8/20/2010-11:13pm at 11:13 pm (UTC -4)
yowzers. I go to the movies, and come home to find they put up a 7/15. That’s a full series worth of work, in 1 game!
man, the Pirates are pitiful, aren’t they?