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Mets manager Jerry Manuel recently finished his weekly appearance on the WFAN’s Mike and the Mad Dog show.
In case you missed it, here is a quick recap of Manuel’s appearance:
- Manuel said he did not send Johan Santana to the plate to bat in the seventh because he believed the team needed more than a one-run lead due to the bullpen’s struggles. Had Daniel Murphy drove in a run, he would have let Santana bat and pitch the eighth inning.
- Manuel said Santana did ask to stay in the game last night.
- He did not use Eddie Kunz as the team’s closer last night because he believed Pedro Feliciano was a better match up against the left-handed hitting Willie Harris, who lead off in the bottom of the ninth. However, if Feliciano struggled he would have gone to Kunz.
- He is proud of his team for doing a good job coming back after bad losses. He believes the team’s resiliency will help them in September.
- He wants the starting pitchers to be patient with the bullpen while Billy Wagner is on the disabled list.
- Manuel says he is surprised by Murphy’s maturity at the plate and that he has grasp of the strikezone.
- He will be watching John Maine closely tonight to see if he alters his mechanics due to his injury.
- Manuel stated he has not lost confidence in Aaron Heilman, but believes he needs to find the right spot to pitch him in.
To listen to Manuel’s interview in it’s entirety, go to WFAN.com.
The right spot for Heilman is not the issue, because he’s been inconsistant in all of them. The biggest thing he needs is more rest.
So much for the “If Johan had come to me and asked to stay in, I would’ve let him.” comments. More of ‘my word is law’ though..
Why bother saying you’re going to have bullpen roles, or saying you’re going to use Kunz if you’re going to make the decision last minute anyway?
Heilman is terrible in tie game situations. Which one could probably guess by his 1-7 record, but I wonder if Jerry is aware that Aaron is getting hit at a .360 clip in tie situations.
That might help him better decide when to use Heilman.
According to some posters here, those numbers merit him a spot as our third starter, because abject failure in the bullpen = success as a starter!!!! Different mentality, see, and. . . .
he was right about pedro jr last nite look if it wasn’t for the willie harris circus catch we woulda had a 22 or 3 run lead but hey i don’t fault jose – that imo wasnt a bonehead play
the pen would still find a way to blow a 22 run lead… ;)
Are you PWI? (posting while intoxicated)
*2 run sorrytennis elbow
the right spot for heilman is down in AAA.
The same could have been said about Joe two days ago…
1) “Manuel said he did not send Johan Santana to the plate to bat in the seventh because he believed the team needed more than a one-run lead due to the bullpen’s struggles.”
2) “Had Daniel Murphy drove in a run, he would have let Santana bat and pitch the eighth inning.”
These two comments dont jive… If the pen needed more runs why would he leave him in with a bigger lead…?
If Johan could have stayed in, he is the safest guy to have pitch with a one run lead. The pen is so bad that PHing for Johan for the potential extra runs might not be the smart move.
Johan with 1 run lead in 8th or Pen with 3 run lead in 8th? I’ll take Johan.
I like how Jerry simultaniously uses the press to take the pressure off the pen by saying its his fault. “I have to use them in the right spots” and tries to motivate them by suggesting they can’t be trusted anymore and others need to step in. Very keenly manipulative of him.
I’m not sure I’d use the words ‘keenly manipulative’.
but you have a good point about how the two statements don’t really go well together..especially when its’ Schneider you’re PH with. I’d have kept Johan in regardless. The less innings they pitch the more rested/effective they should be later.
fewer, not less. “The fewer innings they pitch…”
no.
you undestood, therefore it’s correct.
of course those 2 statements jive.
murphy struck out, so manuel tried to pinch hit with schneider. if murphy gets a single there, mets have a 3 run lead, and santana can bat without worry, what’s illogical about that?
He said the pen needed a bigger lead. The move was about trying to leave Santana in the game.
The pen doesnt need a bigger lead, the pen needs to be avoided altogether.
saying ‘I wanted to get the pen a bigger lead so I could leave my starter in.’ does not jive.
Are you being willfully obtuse? The opportunity to pinch-hit for the pitcher does not come up every inning.