Juiced at Minute Maid

I kept saying it time and time again last week after the Mets lost a grudge match at home to St. Louis 10-8 in 15 innings. The Mets used their entire bullpen in that game, and did not have ANY pitchers left at the end. Aaron Heilman was left holding the bag for 50+ pitches, when he is used to only 20+ per game... MAYBE! I kept saying that this game is going to haunt them over the next two weeks because of the over-use of that bullpen that day. It was truly out of their control because, with Pedro Martinez on bereavement leave, the Mets had to use journeyman Brandon Knight and he could not survive for more than four innings after giving up 4 runs in the top of the first. Situational baseball forced Manuel to go through relievers quickly, and it has caught up with them.

Since that game, the Mets are 2-4 with the pen blowing each of the four games. They have now slipped to third place in the NL East; the first time since early July. Here is where I don't agree with the 100 pitch benchmark that managers pay closer attention to than their own schedules. Back in the day, I remember Doc Gooden (as well as many other pitchers for various teams) going 10 or 11 innings to close out a game if they were 'on' that day WELL WELL WELL above 100 pitches. The game has not changed, still 9 innings, still 27 outs, still the same distance from the bump to the plate. What has changed is the perception of this game and the value of the arms on the mound. Maybe an extra playoff series has put managers on the cautious side with their pitching staff, but in order to get to the playoffs you need to ride the multi million dollar train in the regular season. Santana has been pulled out, now, THREE times too early this year and EACH time the Mets have coughed up the victory and were up by 3+ runs in each of the tilts. EACH time, Santana was in control and the opposition could not figure it out. Santana threw 103 pitches last night.... and was pitching a 3 hitter when he was pulled. At least get through the 8th and bring Wagner into the 9th. Granted, Wagner blew it last night, but I think the Astros' confidence cranked up a notch after knowing that the quivering Mets' bullpen would have to save the game. As the Mets' knees quivered, the 'Stros' got stronger.

Was July an aberration? Have the Mets been exposed? Will they rebound back to the top? Will Oliver Perez be the stopper the Mets have come to expect from him in recent weeks? The Mets cannot afford to lose today's game and get swept by the Astros or the July momentum will be lost and possibly lost for a long while.

What will happen? Stay tuned! Same Mets time.. Same Mets channel.