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In the ninth inning, with the Mets up 10-7, Billy Wagner let up two runs on two hits, but rebounded to get Jayson Werth to fly out to right field to notch his 20th save of the season.
Wagner, on the team’s play in Philadelphia:
“We were picking each other up. I think that’s how we have to approach this season, picking each other up, and continue to play like that. I mean, Jose Reyes, he hit a routine ball to second base and he almost beat it out. That’s how we have to play. We have to beat teams to where, when they’re done playing us, they’re tired, they’re exhausted.”
…the ninth inning of last’s night game made me sick to my stomach, between wags’s inexcusable walk to Eric Brunlett and Carlos Beltran’s ill advised throw to third, the Mets did everything possible to let this game get away, but they got the win and that’s all that matters…
Over at his blog for Newsday, Ken Davidoff wonders if the Mets have replaced Wagner with Armando Benitez.
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Wagner can talk about picking up, can someone clean up after him now?
I know. A win, is a win, is a win.
But really, how do ya let a 10-1 lead slip away? That’s a bit troublesome.
How? By letting Tony Armas pitch, that’s how. He opened the floodgates.
It’s in Citizens Bank Park. No lead is safe. Pop ups are home runs. And doubles that are ruled as such are home runs, too, apparently.
I was re-examining the Mets remaining schedule last night, and my eyes popped–they literally popped–in fact I had to take a break and put them back into their sockets.
The Mets have played 49 road games and only 40 home games. This means they have 41 home games remaining, and only 32 road games. Moreover, they don’t have any more long road trips left, and they are done visiting the West Coast.
If you are a loyal reader (and I know you are) you’ll remember how much I bagged on MLB for sending the Mets to the West Coast three times in June, with two of the trips occurring with one Mets 3-game homestand in the middle–ridiculous.
Let me say now that the brutal June schedule may have been a blessing in disguise, though it also may have contributed to Willie’s dismissal, but that is pure supposition.
So what road games are left?
4 in Cincy
6 in Fla
3 in Houston
7 in Wash
4 in Pitt
2 in Philly
3 in Milwaukee
3 in Atl
Not bad–not bad at all. Did I mention the other thing in the Mets favor? 9 days off–yes, 9 off days–a ton by baseball standards. Seems as if the Mets first half schedule didn’t allow for those “off day” thingies very often, so they load them up in the second half (when you need them the most).
Dog, while the points are all valid..they must still win the games. Certainly a bit easier when the team is rested and the schedule does not require long flights or trips west to play a day game in LA after a night game in Philly.
I look forward to seeing if they are up to the challenge
Like most teams, the Mets play better at home…that is a plus….as you mentioned, no long road trips helps keep our guys fresher….I am not saying the schedule is a panacea, but it is VERY favorable for the Mets.
41 Home games and 32 road games, with none to LA, SF or Col, is huge for us, as is the fact that we only have to go to Philly for 2 more games, and they come to Shea for 6.
That’s an excellent point. Given the way all teams have been playing on the road this year, the Mets definitely have a very favorable second half schedule. Let’s hope they can take advantage and make that run for the postseason.
rmas had no business going out for the 6th inning. He’s garbage. I don’t care if it was an 8 run lead. It was a game this team had to have and it was against the Phillies in a ballpark notorious for runs. I just knew he was going to get pounded. Luckily it worked out in the end, but Armas is garbage, plain and simple.
The run needs to start now. Finally being over .500 again with some daylight ahead is nice.
This team really needs an infusion of at least one more legit reliever to begin to feel good about its 2008 future.
I wish we had it in the system. I can not see the METS parting with Fmart for reinforcements in any deal. Further, I do not see the value in players like Carp, Murphy and Evans at AA to bring us back much. Hence….I think this is the team we keep and run out there.
Observations of the team recently…
1) They are hitting the ball
2) There are no easy outs right now. Easley replacing Castillo has been great. Chavez is heating up and is hitting near .400 in his last 10 games, and even Schneider and Delgado are participating.
3) Starting pitching looks good. They are all kind of finding it at the same time (with Santana being the exception since he has found it all season long) Maine is pretty obviously steady, Pelfrey looks to have turned the corner in his last 6 starts or so, possibly more and could end up the best #5 pitcher in the NL, Perez seems much better now with 2 or 3 starts in a row of quality with the new pitching coach, and finally….a contribution by Pedro who I think is healthy finally and starting to remember what he needs to do to get guys out. He really has only pitched sporadically in the past 2.5 years so we do need to cut him a bit of slack.
4) Pen is starting to really frighten us fans. The phillies are to be commended as they never give up. To turn a 10-1 game into a 10-9 nailbiter is a testiment to them as much as it is to the state of our pen. However, we simply can not rely on Wagner and Heilman to shut the door which is very upsetting. Joe Smith has been very good. Sanchez has been pretty good and Feliciano when used almost exculsively against lefties has also been pretty good. But Heilman, Wagner, and the rotisserie of long men we have used from Vargas to Armas to Muniz to Figueroa to MAtt Wise etc have all just not locked down a job with their play.
The PEN NEEDS HELP. Its obvious. Too bad Kunz is not doing the job all that well in AA or else he would certainly be called up to help get some key outs
El Duque in the pen?
Thats an option. certainly for long relief and possibly 6th and 7th inning. God knows he is not coming back to be a starter now that we are finally getting some consistency back with that group.
Not a bad idea. He can replace Armas. Considering how bad Armas is, it would be an upgrade of obscene proportions.
My thoughts exactly. Hopefully he will be less likely to break down if he pitches in relief.
Nice to see Wagner singling out a teammate for something positive.
Hey Billy, the whole team is going to end up on the DL with bad backs from picking you up for the past month and a half. Just shut up, get the outs, and back off the boring cliches.
yup.