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Quotes: Jerry Manuel on Last Night’s Loss

by Matthew Cerrone on July 8th, 2009 at 8:33 am

Mets manager Jerry Manuel talked to reporters after last night’s loss to the Dodgers, and had the following to say regarding:

Mike Pelfrey, who allowed five runs, eight hits and three walks in just three innings pitched:

“Well, he just didn’t have the command that he’s able to have for a period of time.  The command just wasn’t there for him.  He struggled with the command of the fastball, and the other things couldn’t quite get in sync.”

…so, you’re saying it’s the command…

…or, in other words, pelfrey stunk… it happens…

The lack of offense, and inability to string together hits:

“Well, it’s difficult right now because, you know, we’re struggling as a whole… What’s happened to us is, we begin to look at, ‘What if,’ but that still doesn’t mean that ‘if’ could struggle as a whole.  We need to battle through this… When you don’t hit, and you’re hitting all singles, it makes your team look lethargic and that’s what we look at.”

Is he running out of ways to get his team out of this funk:

“I think what we have to do it starts one inning at a time, and try to put together, as best we can, quality at bats.  For the most part, everyone has gotten the opportunity to play and so everybody should be able to compete at this level.  It’s almost like a team funk, it’s not just one guy, it’s a team funk, and hopefully sooner than later we’ll come out of it as a team, and that’s kind of my hope at this point.”

…well, he’s right about everyone playing… jeez, that’s an understatement… frankly, i’m surprised you and i have not been given an at bat…

The difference between the Mets and Dodgers:

The way we’re playing and performing now there is definitely a difference, no question about that.  Do I think we are capable of playing that style of baseball?  Yes, I think we’re capable.  The No. 1 thing we have to get on a consistent basis is good starting pitching.  Good starting pitching and good defense can level the playing field, and so that’s what we’ve got to do.”

…i hear ya, jerry, but you’ve been saying that for three weeks…