5/31/08

I believe in Aaron Heilman (and the New York Mets)

The headline is a spoof on famous Batman character, and soon-to-be blockbuster movie villain Harvey Dent.

For The Dark Knight, the latest installment in Christopher Nolan's Batman series, Aaron Eckhart (one of my favorite actors) will play Harvey Dent, better known as Two-Face.

Take note of the first names. Aaron Eckhart will play Two-Face in the theaters, while for Shea faithful everywhere, Aaron Heilman is playing Two-Face on the Mets.

Just take a look at Heilman's season so far by heading to his Baseball-Reference page. Here's a quick rundown of how his season has gone:
  • First two games, both against Florida, he pitches three innings and only allows one hit and one walk while striking out four.
  • Over his next three appearances, against Atlanta and Philadelphia, Heilman allows six earned runs in three innings.
  • Bouncing back, facing the Brewers and the Nationals, he pitches 4 2-3 innings, again allowing only one hit and one walk, striking out five.
  • Over the next four appearances, Heilman doesn't log a full inning. Facing the Phillies, Cubs and Nationals, Heilman allows eight runs (four earned), while striking out four in 2 1-3 innings.
  • Heilman then logged six quality outings, lowering his ERA each time. Over 8 1-3 innings, he let in only two earned runs on six hits and three walks. He struck out eight in that stretch.
  • His next appearance did not fare so well, as Heilman allowed three earned runs on three hits in only 1-3 of an inning. He followed that up with a slightly better performance, allowing two earned runs in one inning of work. He followed that up with another better performance, allowing only one earned run on three hits.
  • Recently, against Florida, Heilman logged four innings of one hit ball, striking out seven.
  • He imploded again last night, getting tagged for four earned runs on four hits. He did not strike out any batters.
Heilman, as I've shown you before, is having an absolutely roller coaster season, just like the New York Mets.

Though my good buddy Dave over at Mets Lifers has a post claiming Heilman is this years Met villain, using a picture of Heath Ledger as the Joker, I think the Mets would be much more suited as Mr. Harvey Dent, a.k.a. Two-Face.

They have become the masters of inconsistency. They tease us with a three game win streak, where the show fire, fight, heart, and talent. Then they come out, fight a bit, surrender leads, and watch their bullpen implode in their face.

It's going to be a very long season. Unless this team can put together a 40-game win streak, I'm not going to stop worrying until the season is over.

Up and down, up and down, probably all season long. Mets fans, we must get used to this roller coaster season, now titled 2008: The Year of the Two-Face Mets.