Daily Archives: August 7, 2008
Last night, in a loss to the Padres, Pedro 
Martinez let up a home run to two of the first three batters he faced, but then retired eight straight batters and 11 of 12.
On the night, Martinez allowed two earned runs and four hits while striking out three and walking three through 6.1 innings pitched.
This season, opponents are batting .366 against Martinez during the first 30 pitches he throws.
However, they are batting .196 against Martinez during the next 30 pitches he throws.
Martinez, on his performance and the loss, while talking to reporters following the game, said:
“I can’t be satisfied with a loss, but the results overall on my outing were positive. Even though I got ambushed really early in the game, I gave the team an opportunity - I believe - to stay in the game and rally back…When everything gets sharp, hopefully I’ll be able to do my thing…I felt great. Two outings in almost a month? We have to be realistic here. I haven’t pitched the way I normally would pitch. You can see Oliver Perez and guys who haven’t missed a start, how everything just seems a lot more consistent. I need to pitch, get work under my belt…but I think I am making it there.”
Jerry Manuel, speaking about Martinez, while talking to reporters following the game, said:
“What’s going to be important for him now is to keep the ball in the ballpark. Five home runs in the last two outings? That’s not Pedro-like, but I was very happy with the way he competed after that. He got back in the strike zone with some authority.”
…the stat above should essentially put to rest any talk-radio babble about how martinez should be the team’s closer, or pitch from relief…i think it’s quite clear, not just from the stat line, but from using your own eyes, that pedro needs at least an inning or two to calibrate himself with the opposing team’s offense…this trick, or ability to adjust, is what now makes him a good pitcher…it used to be his power and intensity, now it is his finesse, artistry and intelligence…
Tagged Pedro Martinez |
In his last eight games, during which the Mets are 2–6, while dropping from first to third place, David Wright is batting .161 with no home runs, just three RBI and five strike outs in 31 at bats.
During last night’s loss to the Padres, Wright was doubled-off of first base to end the inning, and he could not get his glove on pool-que ground ball in the seventh, which led to the go-ahead run.
Wright was also doubled-off on the base paths in Monday’s game.
Wright, on errors, while talking to reporters after the game:
“Yesterday I was just trying to be aggressive, today, you lost track of how many outs there are, and there is no excuse for that…That’s just a mental mistake. At this point where we are at we can’t afford that…I don’t like making errors. It’s not a good feeling to see the go-ahead run cross the plate because of one of your fielding mistakes.”
When asked if he believes he needs a day off, “Everybody is tired at this point of the season, everybody is beat up, but we need wins…No, I don’t need any days off.”
Jerry Manuel told reporters after the game that he initially approached Wright about taking the day off, but that Wright talked him out of it.
…jerry has shown he is not one to be bossed around, so it probably was, ‘Hey, what do you think about a day off,’ to which wright naturally said no…today, however, with such an early start, and after seeing what i saw last night, jerry should just tell him to take a seat, no questions asked…
To watch 
‘s exclusive Post Game Extra, hosted by Gary Cohen and Ron Darling, including highlights and quotes from last night’s loss to the Padres, click below:
