Too bad he couldn't extinguish the Phillies last night !!
Look, I am not so upset with the fact that the Mets lost to the Phillies 10-7. If anything I can look at the bright side and take solace in the fact that the Mets didn’t lie down and accept defeat after trailing by the score of 7-2 in the fifth inning. It was heartening to see David Wright, Carlos Beltran and Ike Davis sustain the inning by getting on base and knocking in runs. I am also happy to see that Jose Reyes appears to be 100% healthy. His ability to get on base with infield hits is awesome.
What I am disheartened to see was the regression of Mike Pelfrey. Mike looked awful from the first pitch that he threw. By the time that he was taken out in the third inning, he had already given up three runs. Unfortunately Taylor Bucholtz allowed all of the runners that he inherited by Pelfrey to score, ballooning the score to 7-0.
Blane Boyer pitched well against the first two batters he faced, until the Phillies got lucky and were able to rock him for three runs,
But back to Pelf. I don’t know if this has to do with the fact that he has been named the “ace” of the staff in Johan Santana’s absence. I know that his psychiatrist, who he openly credited in helping him overcome his peccadilloes passed away over the winter, but is that what has caused him to revert back to the Pelf of ’07 and ’08 ? The season is still young and I am not saying that Pelfrey is washed up. He just has to find his ” special” place where he can concentrate on the mound and not pitch scared like he did last night. Pelf has the stuff the be a front of the rotation pitcher mechanics wise, but he has to start to believe in himself and his abilities. If he doesn’t it might be a very long season for him – and I wouldn’t rule out the negative faction of the fan base to start considering him the next Oliver Perez. Lets just hope that is not the case, and this is just a easy mechanical problem that needs to be tweaked.
And with that said … HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!
Mets alumni celebrating a birthday today include :
Back up outfielder from the ’63 season, Joe Hicks is 78 (1933).
The New York Mets signed free agent utilty man, Clint Hurdle on April 7, 1983. Clint played parts of three seasons with the Mets before finishing his career with St. Louis,. After his playing career had ended he became a manager in the Mets organization. He has since managed the Cardinals, Colorado Rockies. Last season he was the hitting coach for the Texas Ramgers, and is currently the manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The New York Mets signed free agent middle reliever, Bob Gibson on April 7, 1987. He made just one appearance for the Mets that season. He retired after the season had ended.
The Cincinnati Reds claimed pitcher, Pete Schourek of the New York Mets on waivers on April 7, 1994.
The Philadelphia Phillies claimed starting pitcher, Nelson Figueroa of the New York Mets on waivers on April 7, 2010. Nelson was a underdog journeyman pitcher who Mets fans had taken a shine to. He pitched decently in his second go rounf with the Mets, but many people were put off by his perceived ” sense of entitlement” that he deserved to make the team last season. He was roundly cheered after being shellaced by the Mets when he faced them for the first time last season. He was released mid season and caught on with the Houston Astros.
And yes tomorrow is the big day !!! No not Mo Vaughn seeing his toes for the first time in decades but just 1 day until the Mets 2011 home opener against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field !!! I’ll be there and tomorrow i’ll reveal what section i’ll be sitting in.
43 comments
TRS86
4/7/2011-8:38am at 8:38 am (UTC -4)
Other starters who, while not quite as bad as Pelfrey, have pitched awful in 2 starts.
Billinglsey, Volquez, Dempster. Buehrle.
In just one start
Carmona 10 runs, Lackey 9 runs. Westbrook 8 runs, Penny 8 runs, Kazmir 5 runs in 1.2 innings.
SP with higher ERA’s than the Cat:
Carmona, Kazmir, Lackey, Hamels, Penny, Westbrook, Happ, Pavano, Wandy, with Vazquez only slightly behind him.
Although concerned, it’s just too early to worry.
rustyjr
4/7/2011-8:42am at 8:42 am (UTC -4)
I’m not worried about the team – I’m worried about Mikes psyche – he seemed to pitch scared last night. I’m sure he will straighten himself out but you have to admit last night was a bit disconcerting
TRS86
4/7/2011-8:51am at 8:51 am (UTC -4)
I don’t think he was pitching scared. I think he was throwing too much breaking stuff and then trying to take something off his FB to get it in, the opposite of overthrowing (what he did his first start).
rustyjr
4/7/2011-9:04am at 9:04 am (UTC -4)
That’s my point he didn’t challenge him with his fastball – he seemed to shy away from it
ajgmets
4/7/2011-12:55pm at 12:55 pm (UTC -4)
Mike Pelfrey the anointed Mets Ace in the absence of Johan Santana stopped by the pitcher’s mound at Citizen’s Bank Park in Philly last night. Mikey who was not good in his first start of 2011 just 5 days earlier in Florida, managed to stick around long enough to chuck 50 so called big league pitches toward the plate at which stood various and numerous salivating Philly hitters. 50 pitches…50 pitches, from the staff “ace.” Apparently according to all reports, Mike “just didn’t have it” and so was removed after being unable to record an out from any of the four batters he faced in the Phils’ 3rd inning. While a Ryan Howard home run can be noted as “that’s going to happen”, a pitcher who refuses to bear down and increase his focus and intensity following such, has no place acting up when a bloop off the bat of Pete Orr (Who? Oh that guy who was a Brave and a Nat in the last 2 years) falls in between his shortstop and left fielder just after a “visit” from his pitching coach.
When Pelfrey left the bases loaded for Taylor Buchholz the Phillies were smelling blood and opposing pitcher Joe Blanton drove in two of those runners with a hard single to left. And Placido Polanco plated the final charged Pelfrey run with a single.
Doesn’t it always seem that opposing pitchers fatten up their typical paltry offensive stats against the Mets? Just thinking out loud.
I think we Mets fans have seen these types of atrocities in the past but they’ve primarily been performed by Francisco Rodriguez in his typical 1 inning shows of inanity. He’s thrown about 50 pitches in an inning I’m pretty certain.
I’ve questioned Pelfrey’s fortitude and intensity for much of his career and these latest foibles have done nothing to alter those sentiments.
The Mets rally to come back and tie the score thus taking Pelfrey off the hook for the loss was the lone bright spot of the night and season thus far for the right hander.
Maybe it’s time for Pelfrey to skip a turn and work on something. I don’t think you even consider moving a player who is struggling, especially when that player is your “Ace”. Mechanics, Attitude, Focus, something needs to be done to avoid the type of embarrassment witnessed last night. And Soon.
It’s unconventional sure, but with his steady performances and obvious intensity, maybe RA Dickey fresh off signing a new contract would have been better suited to be selected by the NEW regime as the Opening Day starter oh wait he will be the Home Opening Day Starter.
stickguy
4/7/2011-12:59pm at 12:59 pm (UTC -4)
go to some kind of 6 man rotation and juggle guys around so that Pelf never has to pitch on the road. Only makes home starts.
TRS86
4/7/2011-1:18pm at 1:18 pm (UTC -4)
Man, you need a blog or something. Welcome the opinion but why are we calling Pelfrey an ace? The Mets did not call him an ace, he did not call himself an ace. The media is the one that is confused thinking that just because you pitch on opening day you are supposed to be an ace. The Mets do not have an ace or anyone even close to an ace on the current roster. They don’t have a #1 and most likely don’t have a #2.
TRS86
4/7/2011-1:20pm at 1:20 pm (UTC -4)
Ah, you do have a blog and it seems as though you just posted the entire article from your work today.
Andy, I do not mind you stopping by. More the merrier. However, if you want us to publish or link to your articles just email us. Door’s always open.
metsfan4decades
4/7/2011-8:43am at 8:43 am (UTC -4)
On the basis of two starts here to open the season, normally I wouldn’t be very concerned either. However, this is starting to become somewhat of a pattern with Pelf. By pattern I mean that he lets his mind beat his talent out there on the mound. This, to me, is the real concern.
saltygary
4/7/2011-8:44am at 8:44 am (UTC -4)
If anyone dislikes this article then you should stop reading anything from a sports writer.
http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/8654/ten-reasons-the-mets-arent-that-bad
metsfan4decades
4/7/2011-9:00am at 9:00 am (UTC -4)
I’d like to believe in all his points but the jury is still out on several – such as the BP. Not sure it’s ‘sneaky good’ – it’s too early to tell.
Bay is a question mark, Beltran’s health is a question mark and after last night (thanks Big Pelf), Pelfrey is one big question mark.
I agree though if all things break right we should win more games than last year. Just depends on how many more…..
mrose
4/7/2011-10:15am at 10:15 am (UTC -4)
I don’t buy that Wright is a step below the Zimmerman/Longoria group.. maybe Longoria..but why Zimmerman???
kistics
4/7/2011-10:24am at 10:24 am (UTC -4)
I think they’re better defensively. But offensively, Wright is pretty much on par with both of them and perhaps better than Zim.
mrose
4/7/2011-10:42am at 10:42 am (UTC -4)
Take out Dunn from the Nats lineup (which has happened) and his offensive numbers go down.
Defensively, definitely Zimm is better…not sure about Longoria..haven’t watched him enough
kistics
4/7/2011-11:16am at 11:16 am (UTC -4)
I think I saw some stat on SNY that Wright had the most errors amongst 3rd basemen in 2010 or 2009. I don’t think Wright that bad defensively. He does make occasional throwing errors, but I think he’s defense is more than sufficient.
metsfan4decades
4/7/2011-8:44am at 8:44 am (UTC -4)
Pelf aside (because I think we’re all pretty much in agreement there)…..when your team comes back from a 7 run deficit to tie the score the BP has to hold it there. They didn’t. That’s not going to cut it so crossing my fingers this doesn’t become the norm.
TRS86
4/7/2011-8:51am at 8:51 am (UTC -4)
Poor Boyer though. He pitched well and they scored 2 runs.
fongy2
4/7/2011-8:53am at 8:53 am (UTC -4)
God!……..It’s gonna be a long season…………..
TRS86
4/7/2011-9:00am at 9:00 am (UTC -4)
Aren’t most .500 seasons? Only way it’s going to be a miserable season is if you are expecting something drastic from them one way or another. Me, I am well prepared for a .500 season full of ups and downs.
njstuckintx
4/7/2011-9:01am at 9:01 am (UTC -4)
While I think the team will be over .500, it’s going to have a few of these ‘what the hell just happened’ games….
TRS86
4/7/2011-9:02am at 9:02 am (UTC -4)
That’s the definition of a .500 team. Great games, terrible games, close calls, blow outs. Averaged out to .500.
fongy2
4/7/2011-9:20am at 9:20 am (UTC -4)
.500 would be a surprise to me!
My problem cuts deeper. The situation here reminds me too much of the late 70s era. Ownership unable to spend
money, none of youngers appear to be of the Allstar class
type players, the Stars we have are either on the other side of the hill (Beltran) OR about to leave (Reyes) and
the farm system doesn’t appear to have anyone ready
to step in and become an Allstar. We’re reduced to cheering for other teams former prospects and guys we really already know have likely reached their ceilings which
has previosly shown not to be good enough to contend.
TRS86
4/7/2011-9:27am at 9:27 am (UTC -4)
Not to many 70′s era teams with 145M payroll. As for our farmsystem, hard to not get behind guys like Davis, Thole and Niese. Not to mention hope from guys like Havens to come to the rescue.
Again, as normal I just don’t have that glass half empty approach. I like this years group, find them easy to route for and think they will surprise some.
njstuckintx
4/7/2011-9:29am at 9:29 am (UTC -4)
I see what fongy is saying though. There isn’t one kyle Drabek or Heyward n the system at the high levels. Even Niese, while strong and capable, doesn’t have that high ceiling.
TRS86
4/7/2011-9:46am at 9:46 am (UTC -4)
Not sure about Niese not having the same ceiling as Drabek although I agree that our farm does not have that flashy name. Although I do believe it is getting better. We also do not know what Mejia’s true ceiling is either.
stickguy
4/7/2011-10:48am at 10:48 am (UTC -4)
Neise has just as good of a ceiling, and has shown more success in the majors so far. He is the real deal. regardless of where he was ranked in BP a few years ago.
And Ike has AS potential, even though that is tough to get as a 1B, he certainly can put up the numbers to be in the running.
metsfan4decades
4/7/2011-9:05am at 9:05 am (UTC -4)
Note to Boyer….if you’re going to stick out your glove to get a ball, make sure you can actually get it.
TRS86
4/7/2011-9:15am at 9:15 am (UTC -4)
Really to me that was just a lot of bad luck. It was instinct for him to stick out his glove there. 1 inch away and it’s an out.
rustyjr
4/7/2011-9:17am at 9:17 am (UTC -4)
Unfortunately I expect to see a bunch of blame Beltran Terry’s and stories today
metsfan4decades
4/7/2011-9:45am at 9:45 am (UTC -4)
Oh, no doubt.
The blame clearly lies with Pelfrey first, and a couple of BP arms second.
TRS86
4/7/2011-9:47am at 9:47 am (UTC -4)
Honestly I can’t fault really any of the pen arms for yesterday. Although their job is to get outs, I thought overall they threw pretty well.
kistics
4/7/2011-10:18am at 10:18 am (UTC -4)
I was pretty impressed by Tank’s curveball though he takes forever to pitch.
stickguy
4/7/2011-10:45am at 10:45 am (UTC -4)
who the hell is tank? I keep thinking they brought Tankersly up when you mention the name.
kistics
4/7/2011-10:53am at 10:53 am (UTC -4)
Sorry not Tank. Buccholz… I’m retarded.
metsfan4decades
4/7/2011-11:04am at 11:04 am (UTC -4)
Didn’t Buc allow the inherited runners to score though?
That’s not exactly what I want to see from the BP.
TRS86
4/7/2011-9:27am at 9:27 am (UTC -4)
If anyone out there is blaming Terry or Beltran for last night’s loss then I would stop reading the article and anything they subsequently produce.
kistics
4/7/2011-10:18am at 10:18 am (UTC -4)
What happened to Terry or Beltran last night?
TRS86
4/7/2011-10:26am at 10:26 am (UTC -4)
I guess bullpen decisions or Beltran not being able to get to that hit to RF.
kistics
4/7/2011-11:02am at 11:02 am (UTC -4)
What BP decision? That he left Boyer out too long? Which I can see the argument there. But I think he made good pitches. He just got unlucky.
As for Beltran not getting to the ball… well.. he has 2 bad knees… at least he’s playing…
njstuckintx
4/7/2011-9:22am at 9:22 am (UTC -4)
Also, if you look at Pelf’s limited history… Decent year, not decent year, decent year… and here we are in this year… just saying…
stickguy
4/7/2011-10:44am at 10:44 am (UTC -4)
pelf is a mental midget, and I have absolutely no faith that if the Mets are in the pennant race, and it is game 161 or 162 and they have to win, that he won’t wilt under the pressure.
That, and I will bet that he is trying to pitch through an injury (the shoulder from last year?) that is limiting he arm and hurting his mechanics (leading to aiming or pushing the ball). Just my guess of course, but the signs are there.
TRS86
4/7/2011-10:52am at 10:52 am (UTC -4)
Confidence issues for sure but I will save terms like mental midget for guys like Perez if that’s ok with you.
metsfan4decades
4/7/2011-11:06am at 11:06 am (UTC -4)
Last night I pretty much discounted an injury but now I’m starting to wonder.
If his next start is god awful as well someone needs to find out if he’s ‘pitching through pain’ – ala the Maine route.