Now that's more like it
The starter goes deep, one of your stars goes yard and your closer actually closes it. The Mets followed that script more or less to a 'T' and bounced back with a 6-3 win over the Phillies Wednesday night at a considerably more skittish Shea Stadium.
Given what had transpired the night before, who could blame the fans for being on edge, and when the Mets only managed two runs in the first despite Brett Myers' inability to throw a strike, you got a little nervous. Then Maine allowed back-to-back jacks to Victorino and Jenkins in the second and the frustration started bubbling up.
But Maine settled down from there and ended up going seven innings, allowing six hits and two walks with five K's. He got the win thanks to Jose Reyes, who blasted a three-run homer off his personal whipping boy, Ryan Madson.
Schoeneweis and Smith managed to get through the eighth and Billy Wagner made a triumphant return to the hill, tossing a 1-2-3 ninth for his 25th save of the season.
A great bounce-back win for the Mets, although they left a TON of runners on base and probably should have blown the Phillies out. But after Tuesday's absolute debacle, they'll take it and run.
SIDENOTES: Regarding the hoo-hah surrounding Santana not pitching the ninth inning, here's my take. Yes, I would have liked to have seen Manuel put Santana out there to start the ninth. Yes, I would have liked to have seen Santana ask for the ball. But Santana doesn't throw many complete games. Yes, he will give you six, seven, eight strong innings but the complete games are rare and, like almost every other starter in MLB, can't go much more than 100 pitches.
It reminds me of the line from Don Henley: "Those days are gone forever, I should just let 'em go." Starters don't go nine anymore. They're not trained to do so. It's not the 1970s. It sucks, but that's the way it is.
That said, the bullpen - Wagner or no Wagner - should be able to close out the ninth up by three runs. Case closed.
Also, condolences to Pedro Martinez, whose father passed away after a battle with brain cancer. He will return to the team after a Thursday funeral in the Dominican Republic.
Given what had transpired the night before, who could blame the fans for being on edge, and when the Mets only managed two runs in the first despite Brett Myers' inability to throw a strike, you got a little nervous. Then Maine allowed back-to-back jacks to Victorino and Jenkins in the second and the frustration started bubbling up.
But Maine settled down from there and ended up going seven innings, allowing six hits and two walks with five K's. He got the win thanks to Jose Reyes, who blasted a three-run homer off his personal whipping boy, Ryan Madson.
Schoeneweis and Smith managed to get through the eighth and Billy Wagner made a triumphant return to the hill, tossing a 1-2-3 ninth for his 25th save of the season.
A great bounce-back win for the Mets, although they left a TON of runners on base and probably should have blown the Phillies out. But after Tuesday's absolute debacle, they'll take it and run.
SIDENOTES: Regarding the hoo-hah surrounding Santana not pitching the ninth inning, here's my take. Yes, I would have liked to have seen Manuel put Santana out there to start the ninth. Yes, I would have liked to have seen Santana ask for the ball. But Santana doesn't throw many complete games. Yes, he will give you six, seven, eight strong innings but the complete games are rare and, like almost every other starter in MLB, can't go much more than 100 pitches.
It reminds me of the line from Don Henley: "Those days are gone forever, I should just let 'em go." Starters don't go nine anymore. They're not trained to do so. It's not the 1970s. It sucks, but that's the way it is.
That said, the bullpen - Wagner or no Wagner - should be able to close out the ninth up by three runs. Case closed.
Also, condolences to Pedro Martinez, whose father passed away after a battle with brain cancer. He will return to the team after a Thursday funeral in the Dominican Republic.
posted by Gaspo @ 6:43 AM
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