THE GOODWell kids... Not too much last night...
Tatis continues his hot hitting with a key triple early in the game...
Decent bullpen outings by Muniz and Sanchez...
THE BAD
Joe Smith got rocked... Schoeneweis none better... Taking a 1 run lead in the 8th, and giving up 5 runs...
It's time, with the trade deadline one day away, for the Mets to really figure out if these bullpen guys are sufficient to get the job done this year... There are arms that COULD be had, if we're willing to part with some minor leaguers (NOT named Martinez or Niese), and I think we could certainly use an upgrade over what we have out there right now...
Rough night for Jose, going 0-5...
THE UGLY
Maine leaving early... If this is anything serious, it throws a serious obstacle in our way to winning this year, because quite simply, I don't think we have the arms to call up from the minors that could even come close to replacing John Maine, and that's also still assuming that Pedro can come back healthy, and I have little reason to believe that is the case, unfortunately...
And, the Marlins are for real... They've always hit this year, but now they're starting to get some of their young starting pitching back, and I think that they have a legitimate shot to win the division, something that would have seemed impossible back when they traded away Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis...On the bright side, the Braves are toast!!! Stick a fork in 'em, they're DONE!!! (sorry, best picture I could find!!!)
5 comments:
To be honest, ding dong, I'm as worried about the rotation as I am the bullpen, especially considering Maine's problems last night, and the fact that Pedro can be counted on for about two starts of about five innings each per month, lol.
So I'd not be averse to adding a long man/possible starter, and even another arm.
I've never been a huge Smith fan; I think sparingly is the way to use him; Feliciano too, come to think of it... to me, these two are more short stint guys and should be used that way. And we really don't have a bona fide "long man" out there, which is a problem.
And as I said yesterday, I do believe the fish won't be fried as easily as dropping them in boiling oil. Or is that the PHILLIES who should be dropped in boiling oil... I'm so torn, and so confused! lol
They're definitely starting to over use Joe Smith, and lot of the rest of the bullpen. Shades of September 07 if they're not careful...
Our bullpen is not wonderfully configured, imo. If the starters don't go deeper into games, we are woefully exposed in the pen for what we are... a mediocre bunch of haphazardly gathered arms, without a true long man (unless you count Muniz, which if you did, you're too dumb for words, lol), no real set up man, an unhappy Heil-man, and a closer that sometimes makes me wish for Armando Benitez, and I hated him with a passion reserved for only him.
I would rework the entire bullpen to the extent possible, to be honest.
Of course, the good news is that most teams have the same bullpen issues :)!
Yeah, this bullpen almost make Rickey long for the days of Mota when he was juicing. Wags is no Arrrrrrrmandno Benitez(!!!!) but he sure does have a knack for imploding at inopportune times. Heilman? Dude's never gonna be happy--he's just an all around sourpuss. But you're right, show Rickey the team in the NL that doesn't have pen issues and he'll give you a buffalo nickel.
Now, Rickey, dear, make no mistake; I think you'd agree that regardless of how our bullpen stacks up against those of other teams, I believe it can be retuned and retooled, and probably should be.
And Rickey has a very good point about Herr Heil-man. I wonder if he'll ever be happy. Happy just doesn't seem to work into his persona, does it? Nary a smile, nary a laugh, not even a "ha!"
And to be honest, I can't see him as a starter. I think the idea of him being a starter started and ended with him, and he seems to be the only one convinced (except for Joe Janish, whom I love dearly, but in this case, disagree with) that he CAN be an effective starter. I've seen Herr out there for a couple consecutive innings, and I'm not even slightly convinced he can make it in any ML rotation.
Still, maybe it would be smart to give it a chance, if for no other reason than to put the issue to bed, once and for all.
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