OK Mets Nation … E-X-H-A-L-E …
It was just another wild night of September baseball as the Mets (84-67) snapped their losing streak with a 9-7 win over the Nationals (57–95) in Washington, D.C.
For a recap, boxscore, stats, etc., click here.
The bats did indeed wake up right away in the 1st inning with a lead-off home run by Jose Reyes followed by a one-handed solo bomb by Carlos Delgado.
After the Nationals scored one in the top of the 3rd frame (thanks to a blown call by the 1st base umpire), the Mets tacked on four more runs highlighted by Carlos Beltran’s two-run home run, seconds after he got his eye cleaned out by trainer Ray Ramirez.
At times Brandon Knight looked sharp with late life on his fastball and a sharp breaking slider, however he ran out of gas in the 4th inning but battled through and finished the 5th inning to earn his first career win.
Seven relief pitchers and five Nationals’ runs later, we are biting our nails right down to our knuckles before Luis Ayala finally closed the door.
Let’s try to forget about the bullpen woes or David Wright’s putrid night for a second and talk about the biggest star of the game: Beltran.
Beltran homered from both sides of the plate, drove in three runs and covered all 1,000 yards of the Nationals Park outfield.
With the Phillies win, the Mets remain a half game behind the division lead.
And by the way Keith, I am not doing very well but thanks for asking!
The Mets go for the series split tomorrow night at 7pm with Johan Santana (13-7, 2.70) taking the mound against Tim Redding (10-9, 4.54).
{ 106 comments }
hhh
Finally J. Reyes, Delgado and Beltran woke up. What’s happening with the bullpen is unbelievable; 7 different pitchers used to finish up the Nats. Do any of these players have any pride in what they do? Heilman should be executed on sight, Stokes is no longer reliable, Feliciano isn’t effective against right handers and Joe Smith is too timid around the strike zone, its like he’s afraid to catch a line drive to the face if he ever throws a strike. My God!
David Wright’s so tight he can’t even make a routine throw to 1st base. He’s pressing so much at the plate that his inability to drive in runners in scoring position is affecting his defense. What a MESS! MEET the MESS!
I thought the same thing when I saw the error.
My feeling was he was so upset about his last at bat, he was still thinking about it in the field, which caused the error.
Not good.
By the way, speaking of the bullpen, what is Dan Warthen doing to help the pen? Can’t he help?
He needs a day off to clear his head.
I thinks it time for Schoenweiss to call another bullpen only meeting.
It worked last itme.
Now is the time for another.
didnt watch an inning.. monitored from the iphone.. maybe Im onto something
I will never agree with those of you who suggest the Mets should blow up this team in the off season. They should never, ever, consider trading Wright, Reyes or Beltran in their prime. What they need to do is to trade away, release, DFA, or just plain execute the following players:
Heilman
Castillo
Feliciano
Duaner Sanchez
Schoeneweis
WE HAVE TO SIGN K-ROD and rebuild the bullpen since we’re going to get rid of all the above mentioned garbage and we MUST SIGN ORLANDO HUDSON to man 2nd base.
I dont agree with Hudson, as much as I like him. I really think we could end up having something with Murphy. We’ll obviously see how he does in winter ball. I’d go hard after K-rod and try to just retool the whole bullpen through FA or from within (parnell, kunz etc) then get an everyday preferably RH hitting LFer.
You are an idiot. Relief staffs are always up and down. And you would get rid of Scho and Feliciano, two of the 4 most reliable?
Scho has 53 innings and 3.04 ERA. You’d get rid of that?
Here is Feliciano five past years: 3.35, 5.40, 2.09, 3.09, 4.03. You won’t find many relievers who aren’t closers that are as consistent.
This is Sanchez’s first season back after a major injury after 3 dominating seasons. Sure, trade him. You’ll regret it when we face him.
Some of your points are well taken. Sanchez is a god though.
He ain’t getting back the form he had pre injury.
Feliciano’s ERA looks good because he’s always giving up everyone else’s runs. It seems like everytime he comes in with guys on base, they score. They need to blow this bullpen up and get more reliable help. I wouldn’t mind keeping Sanchez and see if he can get back to form. Feliciano, Show and Heilman need to go. I’ve been a fan of Heilman and have defended him but this bullpen experiment is over. He had a half season of success and has struggled since. I would love to get Bradford back, he was probably their most reliable in 06. I’d also like to see some of the younger guys get a shot, they can’t be much worse.
I bet you were the same guy yesterday who was saying yesterday that we need to trade Reyes and Beltran.
Learn how to be a fan. Or find another team. If you can’t take the ups and downs, find another sport…
No lectures please. Not right now. Not after last year.
I want nothing to do with Hudson. He is wanting Utley money for 6 years or more. He does not have that great of production. Go actually look at the stats. We can get by with Murphy and Castillo (if we don’t dump him) to save 15 million.
Get Krod
Resign Perez
Pick up 5th starter like Lowe.
oops..didnt mean that…
they won so i wont go crazy, but how many relievers does it take to get the last 9 outs of a baseball game? against the Nats?? even if this team does make the playoffs, how are they gonna get the Manny’s, Soriano’s, and Howard’s of the world out in the big spot?
I know it is a win but why am I still annoyed? Jesus nothing comes easy for this team huh? Maybe I will catch a decent nights sleep for the first time in 4 days being that we actually won but wow. I just do not know how to react anymore
A little analysis here. Anyone think Jerry should stop using 15 pitchers per inning and simply tell these wusses in the bullpen to man up?
As a fan of this team from the early 80’s, I will echo Ron and Keith’s sentiment that I have never seen anything like these games in my entire life.
I never, I repeat never want to see Heilman pitch another inning for The New York Mets. Get this bum out of here send him packing, DFA him trade him, whatever it takes.
Agreed 100% . Let him embark on his second career – appearing at St. Louis-area memorabilia shows with Yadier Molina.
agreed and i say take marlon anderson with him. they are both negatives and it is easy tosee that every time they step out on the field u can just feel something bad about to happen.
How could you possibly lump Anderson with Heilman?
Dude, Anderson can hang around and do locker room speeches, math lessons and general good yucks. But he is TOAST at the plate. As good as he was last year getting hit after hit (that the Mets found ways to waste btw) he can’t buy a hit this year at the dollar store with a fist full of Ben’s.
True but he is really not hurting the team right now. He is not the go to pinch hitter and is more of a clubhouse prescence than anything else right now.
I posted this in the game thread –
I thought Manuel said that Heilman has been hurt most of the year. If so, why is he still trotting him out there? DL him, DFA him, just get him out of here!
Exaclty, he definitely said Heilman has been hurt since coming out of spring training. Which begs the question: Why in the worls and in anyone’s right mind would you bring an injured pitcher in a MUST WIN game, in the might of a fears, tight pennant race. Please, someone please, please make me understand.
** in the middle
You know, they mentioned that, and also mentioned Braden Blooper also pitched hurt, as if that made him some kind of hero or undeserving of the abuse he took for stinking up the joint.
If you go out on the field, no excuses. Be ready to go. If you’re hurt, go on the DL
Mets always use that excuse to try and lessen the boos once the crowd turns. Looper, Show, Heilman, and the list goes on.
real — ur might be right. why do they only say the player has had a season long nagging injury toward the end of the season, after repeatedly giving bad results… if they are injured, put them on the shevles.
In case Johan is not clear on what is needed from him tomorrow, I suggest the Mets send every pitcher not named Santana to Atlanta tonight.
LOL!
you were nervous? psssh. I knew they had it all along
i second the heilman sentiment. he should be sent home to clear his head out to pitch for the mariners (seattle or chiba lotte, I dont really care) next year
I don’t know what to type here. I must still be in shock that the BP actually did not blow this game, though they really tried.
exactly how I feel. I know I should be up because they finally won a game, but it feels like they blew it with as bad as the pen was yet again.
At least the offense kept on adding runs for a change.
Just going to say, that in the 9th, it was everyone’s dolt captain to be that added all the negative vibes to the arena. Smith was dealing, got RATTLED, Feliciano got a HUGE out with 2nd and 3rd and made an outstanding pitch that some hitters on the Mets side should take note of and what to do with it.
The real screw job tonight was Heilman.
With the score 9-5 Heilman of course could not record a single out, the first ball being hit so hard off of him, that even though it hit the turf about 60 feet from the wall it still almost stuck to the wall when it got there.
Next hitter single, which of course forces the use of both Show and Smith in the 8th.
Heilman should have what ever surgery he requires this morning. Knee, lobotomy, whatever.
I have feeling Santana is going to have a masterful outing (8.1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 10K, 1BB). Nat’s park has such a huge outfield and all he has to do is just make them hit everything to Beltran and Church.
Rotation:
Santana at WAS
Niese at ATL
Perez at ATL
Pedro at ATL
Pelfrey at CHC
Santana at CHC
Niese v CHC
Perez v CHC
Pedro v FLA
Pelfrey v FLA
SantanaCyYoung at FLA
Mets need to go 3-0 in Santana’s starts, hopefully they can clinch before them so he could start the first game of you know what.
It’s not at Chicago. It’s in NY.
They’ve been saying for a while that Niese will pitch on the 22nd against the Cubs.
That makes the 27th a mystery starter for the next to last game.
I’m very elated that the Mets won tonight, but I have to be honest. I’m sure a bunch of you are going to rip into me, and so be it, but we need to be realistic here. I understand that from a standings point of view, tonight was a positive. But from a mental standpoint and a phsychological standpoint, it was a negative. I mean, we just lost 2 straight and almost blew yet another huge lead to the nationals. This is one of the worst teams in professional baseball people. The bad skid this team has been on the last week is NOT over. Sure we got the win, but tonight was disheartening. If you think the players have confidence now after this game, you are crazy. They are feeling the exact same way they felt before last nights’ game and the night before. Their so called, “slump” is still in effect. Sure a bunch of guys came up big tonight, but a lot didn’t. Sorry to be pessimistic but that’s reality people. Until this team can dominate against bad teams and win regularly, (not every night) against good teams, then it’s still not looking good. I hate to say it but even after tonight’s game, my confidence level in this teams’ ability to make the playoffs continues to go down. I hope I’m wrong, I really do. Go Mets!
agree, that’s how i feel
Momentum is tomorrow’s pitcher. Next.
A loss of momentum is the next guy out of the bullpen. Next.
How was this game any different than the two games with Washington at Shea?
cuz we are in the midst of a “mini collapse,” and it’s september, and we just blew a 4 game lead in a week, and we are now in 2nd place, and every talk show in america is talking about how bad we are, and it’s obvious that the mets are feeling the pressure, etc, etc, I could go on and on. Bottom line is, everything before this past week is different now.
If you are a player, nothing is different.
We’re the only idiots who think we are in a ‘mini collapse’ just because ESPN says so. Players don’t pay attention to this garbage.
I think your hypothesis applies to fans, not players.
Besides how can you “blow” a lead you only got a week earlier?
Don’t believe the hype – there is no “collapse” – just a pennant race.
Shhhh….you are being way too logical.
Seriously, anyone who pays attention to the opinions of radio and television talking-head analyst shows where the guy who yells loudest commands the most attention needs to consider the fact that all those guys are told directly to gear their conversations and topics toward controversy, argument, and inciting dissent.
I don’t know, you don’t sound all that sorry to be pessimistic to me.
skids are never truly over until they become a streak. Win tonight and the skid is over. Win tonight. That is all you can think about now.
Have to give props to the offense though. Came out swinging and determined tonight. Tacked on runs. Didn’t quit the whole night. Didn’t give up any at-bats. If anything, I think the hitters finally realize that they have to press on and on with the runs. It’s crunch time now, and they did something about it tonight. Let’s hope they can continue it.
The mopre this current BP implodes, the better the odds we acquire K-Rod next year. It’s like they are almiost forcing the hand of Omar and the Wilpons to get a top-flight closer.
Maybe I’m just being nit-picky but can we refrain from using the phrase Mets Nation.
You prefer Mets Universe?
I prefer Mets Asylum
11 more days exactly like this…then a post-season filled with tension
One thing at a time please
that wasn’t for the simpletons
I’m predicting a mets v.s yankees world series in 2009. Yanks gettin C.C Mets are prob goin after K-rod/ Manny. If the bullpen get’s fixed we’re going a long way especially with Pedro gone as well
only want manny if its a 2 year deal
I’ll take it. As long as the Mets win.
Dazed and confused is right.
Can we stick to 2008?
Jerry made a great point during his interview with Francesca on the FAN at 5 p.m. when he said that the team was very fortunate to get this opportunity to compete for the Division crown again so soon after such a crushing previous year and that they should take advantage of this chance.
I think that’s a good reason why we won’t choke this year – unless the bullpen just continues to crumble.
Do you guys understand that this is “playoff mode” for the Washington Nationals? They’re completely out of it, so they have no pressure and nothing to lose….thus, any pitch becomes a monster home run or bases clearing double….with that being said, can we please stop using aaron heilman as the scapegoat for every single blown lead? brian stokes was the one who gave up that home run and pedro feliciano gave up those two runs….and david wright can’t be a defensive powerhouse every day….sorry guys, I know you think you’re paying these guys when you’re not….but you really need to bring your expectations down to earth….
If I can send a message to Mets Nation…its this: STOP WORRYING. We’re going to the playoffs this year….either as the Wild Card or as the NL East winner. So please, give this tired act of worrying a rest. The Phillies will cool off and come down to earth by this weekend and they’ll blow their lead too….they may be a good team, but they won’t win every single game down the stretch.
So guys, please can we give it a rest?! Thanks!
We just have to make sure we win when they win, we lose when they lose, and we win when they lose.
After witnessing tonight’s game I cannot see how you feel that way. They almost blew every lead they had, which is unacceptable from a playoff caliber team against the lowly Nationals who had only 55 wins coming into this series. I didn’t see those Atlanta Braves playing loose down in cozy Altanta where they were shutout tonight by Phillie pitching.They have yet to beat Philly in their home ball park this year. Talk about a team thats putiing the hammer down, I’d love to see The Mets play like that.
we WON….isn’t that what matters? And Philly pitching? Give me a break….they have a patchwork rotation just like we do who happens to be hot right now….big deal. The phillies are not going to win every single game down the stretch….the nationals may be a lowly team, but they’ve got nothing to lose, so they’re playing for a job for next year….and that is what is motivating them. Weren’t the Braves making comeback after comeback against that supposedly untouchable Phillie “pitching” last night? I’m not saying they played great….but can we stop trying to sound like ESPN analysts FOR ONCE?
I am down down down, but I can’t worry about the Braves until Friday night in Atlanta. Period.
These same Nats took 2 of 3 from the Phillies in their own ballpark a couple of weeks ago.
Another seer. Where were you when I needed you before the stock market started its recent free fall?
i’m still buying my friend….i’m just buying more shares of my stocks at MUCH lower prices….remember, buy low and sell high!
If we win the wild card, then here is our motto:
2000. 2002. 2003. 2004. 2005. 2007. 2008.
Yeah, yeah. Does anyone know if there are t-shirts for the WC winners? BTW, I still do want them to win the East. I haen’t goven up on that. But the WC is our fall back.
what about ‘97?
All that does is make me hate the Wild Card even more.
The 2000 world series winner was NOT a wild card.
The 2002 world series winner had enough victories to win three other divisions.
The 2004 world series winner had enough victories to win FOUR other divisions.
The 2005 Winner WAS NOT A WILD CARD.
The 2007 Winner WAS NOT A WILD CARD.
If there is any justice in the world whatsoever the Brewers and their 0-7 September mark against the Mets and Phillies will be the odd team out amongst the three. I mean, come on.
Unlike last year I feel positive. Sometimes it takes a win ( no matter how ugly it was) to get out of dodge. Now maybe they can relax, and just play ball.
However I really want to see Omar fired
1. signing castillo to a long term contract
2. two years of a junkie bullpen ( I blame him more for the second year for not doing anything after the first).
3. too many injured players and wasted money that could have been used to sign a great reliever. I’m talking about you pedro, alou, and el duque.
I agree with some parts of this and disagree with other parts. Like every GM, Omar has made brilliant moves and bonehead moves. And everything in between. On balance, I think he is well above average.
But the main thing I wanted to point out is that, while it could be argued that we have a junky bullpen, I don’t think we have a junkie bullpen. At least, not since Mota left.
your points 2 and 3 are ludicrous.
2. he did things, many things, and some have worked some have back fired, worst of all the fairly reliable Aaron Heilman has vanished.
3. you can’t possibly be whining about Pedro, that deal was the impetus for better or worse for getting the nuts and bolts of this team off the ground. Alou and El Duque are total after thoughts with Tatis, Murphy, Evans. No one could have ever anticipated Maine going down or Churches problems, and the cherry on top no Wagner.
I am pretty sure Minaya knows they have to get some fresh blood into the pen.
It shouldn’t be this hard.
The bullpen is nuts.
Johan better go 9 tomorrow :(
There should be a rule this time of year that no one is allowed to be upset about a WIN. C’mon people, particularly Miker94. If it were mid May or mid June, then I’d agree with you – I’d agree that this team has serious problems, particularly with the bullpen, and will never make it to a september pennant chase (and oh gee, look where they happen to be!). But there are 11 games left people. Nothing matter except wins, in any way whatsoever. It does not matter how they do it, only that they do it, and this team will do it. I believe in them. And I dont want to hear this crap about “oh how will they ever win in the playoffs with this BP?” First of all, you have to get there first. Second of all, the playoffs is maybe the ultimate insult to baseball, as it is a short sprint, while the regular season is a MARATHON. ANYTHING can happen in the playoffs – it is a crapshoot.
Man up, people. BELIEVE.
LET’S GO METS!
There certainly need to be more posts like yours on this site. It’s refreshing to have to positive thoughts spread on these pages. A great post, well done.
Thanks!
Perhaps Matthew can bring in an evangelist to preach to us. ;)
Anyway a win is a win is a win.
The Mets playoff teams in ‘69, ‘86, in ‘99 and 2000 all had reliable bullpen/game ending pitching… This team hits, scores, plays excellent defense, and has decent starting pitching. They have managed to overcome extensive injuries to high caliber players and important role players–Church, Alou, Pagan, Castillo…Castro and Easley have spent a lot of time on the DL as well. They have also endured subpar stretches from returning injured players—Castillo, Pedro, Duaner. ANd now they have to overcome the loss of Maine, Wagner, and Tatis, . The idea that the core of this team consists of people who choke or buckle in the face of adversity is ridiculous. It’s amazing they’re in contention at all with all the injuries and all the blown leads/saves. It tells you just how good that core is and it tells you Manaya had a good stock of people in reserve…But as Matt has said—it’s the bullpen that has held this team back the entire year…Maybe they’ve been over-used….maybe some are pitching hurt…What’s obvious is that they are a mess without a healthy Wagner. I think we may make it to the playoffs but I do not see how we advance unless perhaps Maine and Pedro and perhaps Niese can morph into bullpen pitchers a la Sid Fernandez…Otherwise, teams will work counts to force starters out of the games and then they’ll have a field day. If the Mets pull that off, it’ll be a final Mets magic act for the final season at Shea.
Thank you. When you take a step back and look at it, it really is amazing that the Mets are in contention at all. To compare this team to last year’s team is ridiculous. Last year’s team seemed to coast for almost the entire season thinking that it was pre-ordained and played with a lack of urgency that cost them in the end along with an imploding bullpen. This year’s squad has had to fight through plenty of injuries and a ton of mentally draining defeats but has always found a way to bounce back. I don’t know if the Phillies would’ve been able to do the same.
I died watching that game, I think.
What the hell was that. LOL. Seriously. Damn Nats.
I just got back from a game, and that was probably the most stressful win I’ve ever experienced in my life. My wife was wondering why I looked so stressed when we were “about to win,” and, poor thing, I think I must have given her such a dirty look.
But, a win is a win is a win. I am torn about going to the game tomorrow night. The Mets have now won seven in a row in games that I’ve been to down here – haven’t lost since 2005 – but I seriously don’t think I can take another one of these.
That said, the big difference between last year and this year: tomorrow night’s starting pitcher. If we score runs, we’ll win.
GO TO THE GAME! never mess with a hot streak.
where were you last September! I went to two games down here and they lost both of them. So far this year I’m undefeated on the road though, 3-0 here and 1-0 in Philly. Hopefully it continues tonight, the 5th time I’m seeing Johan pitch this season!
I wonder… would Jon Niese be considered eligible for the post season? If he is, I wonder how serious the Mets would consider to carry him… hopefully he has nerves of steel and not turn into the next Rick Ankiel who was sh*ttin’ on his pants years ago pitching in the playoffs for the Cardinals against the Braves.
As for tonight’s game, that guy blowing through the bag perfectly describes my mood when the Nats were closing in. The Mets must take tomorrow’s game as well as a series sweep of Atlanta because next week is the Cubs (4) and Marlins (3) for the final 7 games of the regular season at Shea which by the way, I am going to Shea next Thursday…
Lastly – how desperate are Yankee fans to rob toilet seats from the Stadium? Quite frankly – I believe it will serve as a reminder to that person just how bad the Yankees underperformed… LOL
That’s a good question about Niese, I want to say No because I think he came up after August 31st, but did he come up with A Reyes and Marlon and all of those guys?
I think the Mets can call up anyone from the 40 man roster to fill vacancies due to injury and that would qualify Niese. Am I wrong? They are going to have vacancies with Easley and Wagner going down…Did Niese pitch before the September call-ups…Would he have had to, to qualify? I think I remember Kevin Elster coming up late and playing in the play-offs in ‘86…??? Anyone know the rule for sure?
MH that is pretty much accurate. Anyone on the 40 man roster is eligible, but when you have guys injured on the 40 man they can be replaced by guys like Niese. For example K-Rod was a Sept call up but due to injuries was eligible for the playoffs back in 2002 and that turned out pretty well for LA.
Any player in the Mets system before Sept 1st this year is eligable for the postseason as injury replacements for some of the season long injured.
Niese has gone well over his innings threshold already this year and will not pitch in the postseason unless they really want to risk his long term health.
lets cross this bridge when we are allowed too
Can anyone tell what the Met relievers are doing wrong? Tipping their pitches? Loss of velocity? Loss of command or ability to locate? I hope someone on the Mets does, and can help them fix it.
They have been switching between Jekyll and Hyde mode all throughout the season. I hope that the 20 straight scoreless innings version of the bullpen makes a return, and soon.
By the way, it seems like the Marlins are trying to do like the Rockies did last year.
Too bad Rick Peterson isn’t around to fix them in 15 minutes =P
It’s hard to say if they’re collectively doing anything, although I’ve noticed there aren’t a lot of first pitch strikes, and that appears to be more due to them missing their spots than the umpiring. Maybe it’s a control issue? And, how do you fix that? If you can’t locate your pitches you end up at the mercy of the batter in the count.
1) poor location on a consistent basis
2) lack of confidence
3) lack of performance enhancing drugs
Bullpens all over baseball are terrible. The Mets pen issues isnt really all that unusual, teams like the White Sox, Brewers and Marlins have been going through the same thing most of the year.
Yep, steroids were huge for bullpens.
“Baseballaddict” Warthen is a fine pitching coach but he is not an alchemist.
I went to the game last night (now at work, yeah it’s 4am – don’t ask, I’m running in 2 hours sleep).
A nice season ticket holder gave my friend and I seats a few rows behind the Mets dugout so we had a good view of some dugout fun. Pedro threw fans bazooka bubblegum, and Pelfrey and Maine are BFFs.
Also, for the first time in my life I booed a Mets player. Luckily, I was so close that I’m sure Heilman could hear it. And he deserved it.
Wright was visibly frustrated after each at bat…to say the least. He looked homicidal after a couple of them. The second time he threw his helmet down, the batboy chased after it and looked like he was about to sh** his pants.
Why is K-Rod being mentioned so much? It’s not happening. It’s been explicitly said already. It’s also logically impossible. Do you think the Wilpons have an unlimited amount of money?
Get your heads out of your a sses, be a real fan, and get rid of the thought. You’ll save not only the rest of us, but more importantly yourself, a lot of headache and foolishness.
LOL, why on earth do you not think with all the money coming off the books that the Wilpons going into a new stadium can’t or won’t pay for Krod?
Perez 15 million
Krod 15 million
5th starter 10 million
That’s not out of the question at all considering Pedro, Alou, Elduque and others come off the books.
After disagreeing with him for months, I have to agree with Ceeter. Manuel is all talk and no action. I thought he was going to try new and different combination of pitchers? What about Parnell? Why not use Rincon in the Feliciano role (since Feliciano can’t get ANYONE out right now?). Can Al Reyes at least get into a game?
Heilman, Feliciano and Sanchez should not be used in a game anymore, period. They can not be trusted. And Manuel talking like he’s going ot mix it up is just making it more disappointing when any of these three come into a game and start to blow it.
Did you actually WATCH the game tonight? Rincon already pitched, and in a Heilman-less world, Show, Smith and Feliciano might never have pitched tonight.
He went to Heilman in desperation to get him some redemption outs. Failed.
Feliciano had to ball out Smith, screwed by Wright. Feliciano got two huge outs, made a great 2-2 pitch to a righty who put a sick swing on a solid pitch.
Yes, I did watch. I think Rincon was used in the wrong situation. He’s proven he can get lefties out in his small sample size, and I think he should be saved for the later innings as a bridge to the 9th, not as a garbage-time reliever with a 7-1 lead facing lefties and righties.
Heilman has had more shots of redemption this year than I care to count. I like Heilman a lot, and have come around to agree with the people who feel he’s been mistreated and miscast by this organization – but no more Heilman this year unless we’re down 11-1 or something of that level.
Feliciano’s two outs last night were the first solid outs he’s gotten in about a month it seems – and even then, he still couldn’t finish the inning, solid pitches or not.
And it still doesn’t change my original point about Manuel … I thought he was going to give “Parnell another look.” The 6/7th innings could have been a good time to see that. Is Reyes THAT bad that he can’t get a shot over Heilman or Duaner at this point? Is Stokes your set-up guy or not? Why pitch him in the 7th instead of the 8th?
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