SIX DOWN, FIVE TO GO
I think it's safe to say, no one's gonna forget the Maine.
Soooooo sweet. Gutsy performance early on, then straight domination before Willie pulled him in the 6th. What can I say? He out-pitched Carpenter in the "Incredible Shrinking Strike Zone" game last Friday, and he outpitched him last night. He's not a dominant starter at this point in his career, mostly because he throws too many pitches to go deep into the game, but I'm happy he's our guy going forward (to the World Series, to next season, whatever).
And how 'bout Jose, Jose, Jose pulling a Dykstra, leading off by going yard. Fantastic. He looked great last night, lacing line drives, taking pitches, going the other way, running well, stealing bases, turning DPs. Just a clinic in RapidoBall.
And continued production from Green, a timely hit from LoDuca, fine defense including three important double plays. Except for players who's names begin with W, it was as close to a perfect game as you'll ever find. Speaking of which, we find ourselves in a very strange place, adding charm & whimsy to what would otherwise be your standard, wild October ride. Let me explain.
Back in April, we knew we had a good ballclub on our hands. Maybe not great, but damn good. A couple of friends & I do our pre-season predictions every year, which leads to much shit-talking, good natured ribbing, bad natured ribbing, and outright invective. My 75-87 prediction for 2005 left me wallowing in shame & derision most of the off-season. Anyhow, two of us predicted 93-69 for 2006 (the third goon said 85-77, or something equally ludicrous. Hah!), so no one can say he's too surprised to see the Mets facing the Cardinals in game 7 of the NLCS, even with the Mets as home team.
But, here's what is surprising: the Mets forced that Game 7 because John Maine (who?) saved the season with a pitching gem in a game that saw 2nd baseman Jose Valentin (what???) turn 3 double plays, left fielder Endy Chavez (Andy who?) lead-off an inning with a nice bunt, right fielder Shawn Green (for the Mets?) drive in the first run, reliever Guillermo Mota (the guy with the ERA approaching 10 in the AL?) induce Dave Duncan's son (lay off the weed before you write, man) to hit into an inning-ending DP, setting up the final battle for the NL pennant with Oliver Perez (I said, lay off the weed!) taking the hill on a short leash, so Darren Oliver (how much did you smoke?) could come in at the first sign of trouble.
What a season this has been! And what a season I want to see continue, right into Detroit, where we can see the surprises continue, as Tiger ace Kenny Rogers takes the hill against our boys.
(And becomes the first pitcher in major league history to walk in the winning run on the game's first pitch.)
I see only two possible reasons for that not to happen: dead bats tonight, and a blown save by You-Know-Who, about whom I've lost all confidence. I know it'll never happen, but in a save situation tonight, Willie should go with Heilman, who's been straight-out dominant for two months now. Unlike Shaky Bill, Heilman's got the gunslinger look lately. Eyes focused, throwing first pitch strikes, serious gas before drops the changeup in.
I'm not trying to stir it up here, or to get down on Wagner. I'm sure he's a helluva guy, and he could prove very valuable against ALers who've never faced his 97+ MPH gas. But tonight is all about winning one game. Starters going two innings, Glavine coming in to throw 30 pitches if needed, bunts and steals and hit-and-runs. Pinch hitters in the 4th inning. All that sort of thing. And if it means keeping the "designated closer" locked in the pen where he can't do any harm, then so be it.
That said, as it has been all season long, tonight's about the bats, about Met lumber. They're facing a very average major league pitcher who struggled on the road all season. Their line-up is stacked. They've got Jose & Carlos & Carlos all with their heads in the game. And maybe there's someone else who's gonna bring that A game we all know and love. That A game we would have predicted last April.
Tonight, The Wright Stuff appears in Shea. See ya in Motown.
Soooooo sweet. Gutsy performance early on, then straight domination before Willie pulled him in the 6th. What can I say? He out-pitched Carpenter in the "Incredible Shrinking Strike Zone" game last Friday, and he outpitched him last night. He's not a dominant starter at this point in his career, mostly because he throws too many pitches to go deep into the game, but I'm happy he's our guy going forward (to the World Series, to next season, whatever).
And how 'bout Jose, Jose, Jose pulling a Dykstra, leading off by going yard. Fantastic. He looked great last night, lacing line drives, taking pitches, going the other way, running well, stealing bases, turning DPs. Just a clinic in RapidoBall.
And continued production from Green, a timely hit from LoDuca, fine defense including three important double plays. Except for players who's names begin with W, it was as close to a perfect game as you'll ever find. Speaking of which, we find ourselves in a very strange place, adding charm & whimsy to what would otherwise be your standard, wild October ride. Let me explain.
Back in April, we knew we had a good ballclub on our hands. Maybe not great, but damn good. A couple of friends & I do our pre-season predictions every year, which leads to much shit-talking, good natured ribbing, bad natured ribbing, and outright invective. My 75-87 prediction for 2005 left me wallowing in shame & derision most of the off-season. Anyhow, two of us predicted 93-69 for 2006 (the third goon said 85-77, or something equally ludicrous. Hah!), so no one can say he's too surprised to see the Mets facing the Cardinals in game 7 of the NLCS, even with the Mets as home team.
But, here's what is surprising: the Mets forced that Game 7 because John Maine (who?) saved the season with a pitching gem in a game that saw 2nd baseman Jose Valentin (what???) turn 3 double plays, left fielder Endy Chavez (Andy who?) lead-off an inning with a nice bunt, right fielder Shawn Green (for the Mets?) drive in the first run, reliever Guillermo Mota (the guy with the ERA approaching 10 in the AL?) induce Dave Duncan's son (lay off the weed before you write, man) to hit into an inning-ending DP, setting up the final battle for the NL pennant with Oliver Perez (I said, lay off the weed!) taking the hill on a short leash, so Darren Oliver (how much did you smoke?) could come in at the first sign of trouble.
What a season this has been! And what a season I want to see continue, right into Detroit, where we can see the surprises continue, as Tiger ace Kenny Rogers takes the hill against our boys.
(And becomes the first pitcher in major league history to walk in the winning run on the game's first pitch.)
I see only two possible reasons for that not to happen: dead bats tonight, and a blown save by You-Know-Who, about whom I've lost all confidence. I know it'll never happen, but in a save situation tonight, Willie should go with Heilman, who's been straight-out dominant for two months now. Unlike Shaky Bill, Heilman's got the gunslinger look lately. Eyes focused, throwing first pitch strikes, serious gas before drops the changeup in.
I'm not trying to stir it up here, or to get down on Wagner. I'm sure he's a helluva guy, and he could prove very valuable against ALers who've never faced his 97+ MPH gas. But tonight is all about winning one game. Starters going two innings, Glavine coming in to throw 30 pitches if needed, bunts and steals and hit-and-runs. Pinch hitters in the 4th inning. All that sort of thing. And if it means keeping the "designated closer" locked in the pen where he can't do any harm, then so be it.
That said, as it has been all season long, tonight's about the bats, about Met lumber. They're facing a very average major league pitcher who struggled on the road all season. Their line-up is stacked. They've got Jose & Carlos & Carlos all with their heads in the game. And maybe there's someone else who's gonna bring that A game we all know and love. That A game we would have predicted last April.
Tonight, The Wright Stuff appears in Shea. See ya in Motown.
posted by Mike at 7:38 AM
20 Comments:
Talk about calling it. I saw your post over on Toasty Joe from yesterday afternoon.
You da man!
Awwww, shucks.
Couldn't agree more about Maine. Man that was a gutsy performance for a 25 year old kid.
His stuff is so flat to my eye though. I dunno why they don't teach kids to throw at least 3 pitches - including a good breaking ball - for strikes before they call them up. He's a big kid though and looks to me like he has a great future.
Can you imagine how tough he'd be if he had a decent splitter to chase that letter-high gas he throws? Jesus.
And yeah tonight is win one game night. Figure out a way to put foreign bacteria in the opposing team's hotel water. Flatten the tires on their bus. Pitchers pinch hit and stand in front of a pitch to get on base. Throw broken bats at their catcher.
Whatever it takes.
Oh.
Your MVP for last night is Lo Duca. No way Maine gets out of the first without him. Maine had deer in the headlights tattoo'd on his forehead while he was warming up and Lo Duca went out and talked him down for about 2-3 minutes before the first pitch. Then he blocks a bases loaded bouncer wild pitch in the first. Then he drives in the winning margin.
Without Lo Duca last night the Mets lose.
Is Kevin Gilhooey (sp?) in the Yellow Pages?
Under Runway Wrench Attacks.
He can go for Phat Albert, who's starting to look like Fat Albert actually.
The save on that wild pitch -- a fastball! -- was key. Just took a stab at it, and it caught the heel of the glove.
Huge play.
Mike - Love your stuff on the Diaspora by the way.
Ed-
Yeah, it's been fun hitting Cardinal Diarrhea.
Here here. Randolph's done a great job managing a good team into a great team.
The Cards have done a great job crumbling under pressure the last few years. Let's hope they keep that up.
BELIEVE
I've got this feeling, as you suggest at the end of your email, that Reyes woke up last night and tonight's Wright's night.
I might even prefer him closing.
Go Mets!
Bottom of the eigth, Beltran on first. The reliever Flores called up from the bullpen for the Cards. Oh, this is so exciting...
The rain is starting to come down, oh, I can't take it. Who will win?
One out, Wright at the plate. The rain is pouring down now...
D'oh!! He struck out! Next up, Green, averaging .318.
What happened? I turn away for two seconds and it's the top of the ninth. Sheesh!
Struck out Beltran on three straight pitches. I thought they had a chance after Flores walked the pitcher but no dice. Sorry Mike, I was pulling for 'em. :-(
Thanks, Mort.
Oof.
Sorry guys. I wanted them to win too. That's baseball.
/sigh
Heh.
OK the entire left and right NY based blogosphere that I frequent has gone comatose over this.
Next year guys. :)
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