Enemy Territory: Philly phans react

Yes, I read Phillies blogs. I also read Braves, Marlins, Nationals, and Yankee blogs. It's a keep your friends close and enemies closer type of thing. Here's some reaction after last nights game...

Beerleaguer:

Offensively, I’ve never been less impressed with an eight-run comeback. Sorry to spoil what little cheer you have this morning, campers. They let Pedro Martinez off the hook a couple times, particularly in the fourth. The offense keeps peppering in just enough poor at bats to spoil their momentum against halfway decent pitching, which is all Pedro was last night.

True. Pedro wasn't spectacular, but it was a boost to Mets fans to see him not flat-out struggle through his start. Two solo home runs allowed, in that park, doesn't seem too bad.

Phillies Nation:

They gave it their all when the chips were completely off the table. Come to think, maybe that was why they gave it their all — without much pressure to mount a huge comeback, they mounted a huge comeback. They just didn’t do enough.
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With the loss and a Marlins win, the Phils are now 1.5 games in front. The Mets are only 2.5 back now, and coming on strong.

Again, I must tip my hat to the Phillies, who were down by nine runs at one point and were able to battle back to within one. It was a great game that should have never been.

Oh man, it's great to see that in writing. The Mets are coming on strong. That has to make you smile.

A comment from OZ on Phillies Nation:

not feeling good ladies & gents…we were supposed to remind folks that we were a high end NL team - losing 3 of 4 to the Muts?! ugghhh.
Sell! Sell! Sell!

I seriously hope he's kidding.

Sort of.

Early Morning Madness: Nearly handing it away edition

I can't freak out and worry about the Mets meltdown and as they nearly served up last night's nine run lead on a silver platter because the bullpen has been extremely dominant as of late.

Aaron Heilman's two runs allowed were his first let up since June 12. Heilman has seemingly turned it on lately, but still has not quieted doubters of his talent and ability. I still hear people calling for him to be traded for Rockies reliever Brian Fuentes.

I don't get that. It would be like trading for the same guy. They have similar build, similar pitching style, similar numbers. What's the point.

Trust the things you know, I say. Heilman has been great for the last month, and is getting better every day. No need to fret.

** * **

Sticking with the bullpen, I'm not worried about Billy Wagner either.

Every pitcher is going to struggle. His fastballs will go flat, his breaking balls won't break, and hitters will just seem to be able to hit everything he throws. It's going to happen.

Wagner is enough of a veteran to shake off bad performances. He seems to always string together his poor starts, so as a fan, you can rely on him to scare you for a few days every few months, and then be practically lights out otherwise.

He's one of the best in the biz, but for the next few days, I'm going to worry if he comes into the game to try and seal it.

** * **

I don't know how much stock I put into this latest quote from Carlos Beltran. His ill-advised throw to third in the ninth, which was trying to nail a meaningless runner at third, sailed wide, and allowed the run to score to bring the Phillies within one, was questioned by a reporter.

Here's how it happened, via Adam Rubin:

Beltran resoundingly disputed any suggestion he made the incorrect decision throwing to the third base trying to catch Eric Bruntlett in the ninth. The throw allowed the potential tying run, Pedro Feliz, to reach second. When the ball got past David Wright, Bruntlett trotted home and made it 10-9. When an MLB.com reporter told Beltran he didn’t think it was a good decision, Beltran replied: “You’re not a baseball player.” Even Jerry Manuel, though, didn’t think it was wise. Beltran kind of threw Wright under the bus, saying he should have made the catch since he had Bruntlett nailed.

Beltran, sans Sunday's game, has been mired in a slump. I'll sort of give him a pass here. He's frustrated at the plate, and now his one constant ability, his fielding prowess is being questioned, it cannot feel good.

His throw seemed to beat Bruntlett, but bounced a few feet left of Wright. It seemed to glance off the tip of Wright's glove as he tried to bring the glove across his body and apply the tag, unfortunately with an empty mitt. The throw had him beat, and I'm almost certain Wright will treat this like water off a duck's back.

Bad idea turned into a run, but the Mets still won. Let's not gripe about it too much.

Who woulda thunk it? The Mets are only 2.5 games out of first

This is why you have to play the games.

With all the talk of how much the Mets stink and how bad they play at times, the Mets now sit one game above .500 and are only 2.5 games behind the Phillies (2 in loss column).

The Mets have six games left before the All Star Break, three each against Colorado and San Francisco at home. The Phillies will welcome St. Louis and Arizona into Citizen's Bank Park for their final six games.

New York has a definite shot at playing their way closer, or even possibly into first place by the time the All Star Game rolls along.

Time will tell, but things may be looking up for this team.

TSTDIA: Mets 10 -- Phillies 9

What looked like a laugher, quickly became a nail-biter, as the Mets bullpen surrendered seven runs in 3 2-3 of an inning, but managed to barely hold on for a win to move above .500 and move within 2.5 games of first place.

Hear that blowing sound? That's a collective sigh of relief from Mets fans everywhere.

Only the Mets...

I was down on Fernando Tatis

From a post of mine, published March 30:

Again, I don't get why Fernando Tatis is so wonderful. Sure, he can play pretty much any position besides center field if need be, but he doesn't play any of them especially well. We already have two guys in Marlon Anderson and Damion Easley who can play the entire infield and two guys in Endy Chavez and Angel Pagan who can play the entire outfield. So why do we need a guy who can do all of those, but none well? Brady Clark will be much more lasting and consistent, I feel, and that's why I want him to make the team.

Boy, was I wrong.

Tatis came through for the Mets again, in the 12th inning, again. He hasn't been dominant, but he's been more than capable in his fill in position.

I love his hustle. Tatis always seems to leg everything out, even the routine ground ball. He never takes anything for granted. As Gary Cohen said on the broadcast on Saturday, "It seems as though Tatis got a second lease on life and is going to make the best of it."

The bench has been invaluable in the last few games, helping the Mets really from behind and rally for wins late in games. 2006 saw the bench come through in the clutch time and time again, and now we're seeing a sample of that in 2008, spearheaded by Tatis & Co.

Celebrate, Mets fans: Chase Utley to compete in HR Derby

It's music to my ears: Chase Utley will be one of players participating in the 2008 Home Run Derby.

Pardon me while I take a few minutes for some diabolical laughing.

OK, I'm back. We all saw what happened to David Wright after his stint in the HR Derby, and as Mets fans, we can only hope the same sort of funk sets in with Utley for the rest of the 2008 season.

Dan Uggla will be competing as well.

This is great. What more can we ask, as Mets fans? Oh, taking three out of four from the Phillies in Philadelphia, that's right.

Early Morning Madness: Who is this man you call 'El Duque' edition

Hey...remember this guy? Well he's on the comeback trail.

That's right, Orlando Hernandez threw four innings of baseball in rookie league ball, allowing two runs (one earned). El Duque allowed four hits, walking one, and striking out six.

Honestly, I'm not even going to begin to remotely think about if he could ever be somewhat effective ever again. This is just a pinhole sized blip on the radar screen.

** * **

Is Pedro cooked? I don't think so.

Yes, he has struggled through his recent starts, but if you take away a shaky first inning last time around, he pitched pretty well. His start win interrupted by a rain delay, but Pedro Martinez manned up and came back out, pitching fairly well before allowing a solo home run.

Tonight should be interesting, especially because he's pitching in hitter friendly Citizen's Bank Park.

** * **

The Continuing Story of Ryan Church...continues.

Church was held out of the lineup for all 12 innings during yesterday's marathon game. Church was recovering from a migraine which forced him out of 8th inning of Saturday's game.

Hopefully (fingers crossed), it was really only a migraine and was only slightly related to the concussions, if at all. The team's dynamic is nowhere close to the same without his bat in the lineup.

I'll be monitoring this situation closely.

I'm sorry...what?

Billy Wagner did what??

** * **

From an MLB.com article:

Before Sunday, the Mets' last 1-0 win came on June 23, 2007, against the Athletics.

Hmm...that's odd. I don't remember the Mets winning 1-0 on Sunday. More like 4-2. Got to love your editors.

TSTDIA: Mets 4 -- Phillies 2

Oliver Perez coasted through seven innings, the Mets (Carlos Beltran really) scratched out two runs, and the game was handed over the the only New York Mets All Star Game selection for the final three outs of the game. Billy Wagner got the Phillies down to their last strike before surrendering a two-run home run to tie the game.

The Mets rallied back late with a two-run dinger of their own, off the bat of Fernando Tatis, beating the Phills in 12 innings.

Major props must go to Joe Smith for 2 1-3 scoreless innings of relief.

Billy Wagner is lone Mets representative in ASG

Billy Wagner will be the only member of the New York Mets to represent the team in the 2008 All Star Game.

That is, barring a push for the final player, or an injury replacement.

Rightly so, for Wagner. David Wright maybe deserved a spot on the bench, and Johan Santana could be argued for a spot based on his ERA, not his record.

Represent the team well, Wagner.

Update: Wright is on the final ballot.

Final ballot candidates:
Pat Burrell, Phillies
Corey Hart, Brewers
Carlos Lee, Astros
Aaron Rowand, Giants
David Wright, Mets

Vote for Wright here.