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Game 4 Rehash

Edgy DC Oct 16 2006 12:36 AM

I've got to say, I'm a little confused by Willie's sense of bullpen conservation. Bradford going 1.3 is OK, but then, when we put it out of reach, he threw an inning each to the situational lefty and the co-setup guy, instead of Roberto Hernandez, the fourth righthander in the pen. Of course, it all worked out brilliantly, as Feliciano and Mota each ended up with a laughably short workday (10 and eight pitches respectively), Mota got a positive outing after his last battering (probably what Willie was thinking in using him), and Robo gets a night off after going yesterday. So everybody is looking pretty fresh right now, except Oliver and Bradford, and I'm sure Bradford can answer the bell tomorrow for a batter or two. I agree that it'd have been nice to throw a bone to Castro back there, but they probably wanted Lo Duca out there to work with Mota. Castro caught him in Florida also and all, but the Mota rehab inning was probably important to Willie. Just guessing. I was assured by a KTE essay or two that Yadier Molina was lameo hitter.

Zvon Oct 16 2006 12:41 AM

Yea-LoDuke working with the pitchers had to be a factor as to why he played the whole game. I do believe he means alot more to this team than we even know, on many levels. Maybe someday we see a lil "C" on his uniform,...huh?

Edgy DC Oct 16 2006 12:43 AM

Nah.

Valadius Oct 16 2006 12:52 AM

David may earn that "C" someday.

Edgy DC Oct 16 2006 12:57 AM

He may get the title (big may), but I suspect we've seen the last "C." Randolph was named co-captain of the Yanks one season and thrown over for Steve Sax the next. He may be cynical about the title.

Gwreck Oct 16 2006 02:02 AM

After the '05 season, I'd have said that David Wright was on his way to being a Mets captain. After this year, I'd say that Reyes would be more appropriate captain.

vtmet Oct 16 2006 07:35 AM

The captain thing can cause more harm than good...does it need to be official? It's a team thing, not a does Jeter accept AROD into his realm thing...Both Reyes/Wright work well together and work well with others, they don't need no stinkin' "C" to know their value to the TEAM...it just ranks one higher than the other, which is counterproductive...if we need a guy with a "C" to go crying back to the Wilpons, we can always high Franco/Leiter back...

Rotblatt Oct 16 2006 07:53 AM

La Russa got burned tonight. I really don't get leaving Thompson in to face Delgado when Flores was ready in the pen. Perez looked a'ight. The ump had a relatively small strike zone last night (although it looked consistent to me) but he worked with it, and like Zvon said, made some good pitches when he needed to. I was a little surprised with Willie's use of Bradford's as well, but I suppose Willie didn't want to give the Cards any chance to get back into it. Valentin has been great defensively and he had a couple good at bats at the plate tonight for the first time in a while. If he & Wright get it going, it's going be a big boost. Speaking of Wright, I continue to think that he should cheat towards the third base line. Reyes has got nice range, and Wright's given up a lot of "just missed it" doubles down the line. Green's also driving me crazy in the field, with his "just missed it" moments, but he's also had some nice at bats. Sometimes I wish we could just clone Endy, though, and put him in left AND right. Edmonds' catch last night was amazing. I thought that was a hit for sure. Great game last night; hopefully we can build on it tonight! Or tomorrow, if the weathermen have their shit straight.

Willets Point Oct 16 2006 08:30 AM

Hmm...perhaps Green could take some Endy performance drugs such as EGH.

HahnSolo Oct 16 2006 09:27 AM

Oliver Perez at the plate has a swing that reminds me of the guy from the Lotto commercial who bought the baseball team.

Johnny Dickshot Oct 16 2006 09:29 AM

Green's really revealed himself to be an awful fielder in this series. No surprise that our breakout inning was a Met Classic in style: Reyes single, runs on a ground single, walk, wham. Gotta do the same to The Weave tonight and we'll be fine.

Edgy DC Oct 16 2006 09:32 AM

Thing is Ollie's a good athlete and his swing is fine from the waist up. His feet are ridiculously all over the place, though. I think it's pointless to rehash rumors and speculation about Franco and Leiter in this thread. We have an actual real-live NLCS playoff victory to rehash.

Iubitul Oct 16 2006 09:41 AM

I'm thinking that if the game is played tonight, I still don't pitch Glavine. Historically, he's not good on short rest. Start Heilman, let him go 2-3 innings, and go from there. Who knows - we could get lucky, and have Glavine on the mound up 3-2 on Wednesday.

Edgy DC Oct 16 2006 09:50 AM

What takes more luck though? Pitching Glavine on short rest and hoping for a win? Burning through our bullpen and hoping for a win and having a few of them knackered? Now, we have that travel day to restore them, but giving Leiter his first start since 5/15/05 just strikes me as a desperate move that sends a message of desperation to the team.

Iubitul Oct 16 2006 09:53 AM

The travel day is why I would consider this if it works, and each guy gets an inning, they won't be abused.

metirish Oct 16 2006 09:53 AM

When asked about possible game seven starters Willie said Heilman would not start.

MFS62 Oct 16 2006 09:58 AM

="Edgy DC"] Randolph was named co-captain of the Yanks one season and thrown over for Steve Sax the next. He may be cynical about the title. Is that thrown over for Steve Sax or overthrown by Steve Sax? Didn't Sax suffer from Knobloch disease? Later

dinosaur jesus Oct 16 2006 10:15 AM

Edgy DC wrote: giving Leiter his first start since 5/15/05 just strikes me as a desperate move that sends a message of desperation to the team. That really does sound like desperation. Did they sneak Alois onto the roster?

Farmer Ted Oct 16 2006 10:17 AM

Endy is gold. That peg of Belliard at third was huge.

Centerfield Oct 16 2006 10:19 AM

I don't think Leiter should start tonight.

Yancy Street Gang Oct 16 2006 10:30 AM

Centerfield wrote: I don't think Leiter should start tonight. Jerry Koosman is well-rested. A rainout tonight allows Glavine to go on his normal rest, but does the same for Weaver. (It also give LaRussa the chance to send Carpenter on three days rest. I don't expect he'd do that though, but who knows?) The good thing about Glavine pitching today is, if the Mets win the series, he'd have four days rest before Saturday night in Detroit. Things could start looking pretty good if Glavine can pitch Game 1 and Orlando Hernandez can go in Game 2. But first things first. Whenever it's played, Glavine's the best bet for Game 5. And then Maine in Game 6, and Darren Oliver in Game 7. I'd use Steve Trachsel as the last man out of the bullpen in an 18 inning-game.

Iubitul Oct 16 2006 10:35 AM

Yancy Street Gang wrote: But first things first. Whenever it's played, Glavine's the best bet for Game 5. And then Maine in Game 6, and Darren Oliver in Game 7. I'd use Steve Trachsel as the last man out of the bullpen in an 18 inning-game. This does make sense, but either way, Game 6 will have one team a step from elimination, and I would rather have Glavine on the mound for that game.

cooby Oct 16 2006 10:36 AM

Centerfield wrote: I don't think Leiter should start tonight. Id be out back doing my raindance

Yancy Street Gang Oct 16 2006 10:36 AM

But sending Glavine in Game 5 is the best chance of having it be the Cardinals who have their backs to the wall instead of the Mets.

Edgy DC Oct 16 2006 11:29 AM

I was on my way to a meeting, and I conflated two Mets with an IE and an L. It sure was a smelly conflation.

MFS62 Oct 16 2006 11:34 AM

="Edgy DC"]I was on my way to a meeting, and I conflated two Mets with an IE and an L. It sure was a smelly conflation. Is that another way to say mis-typed? Later

Rotblatt Oct 16 2006 11:46 AM

After looking at his numbers, I'm more optimistic about Glavine starting on short rest. He's only done it twice in the past 4 years, and he had one good start and one bad one. Sure, he's got a bad record on short rest in the post-season, but it's probably just a small sample size. His regular season short-rest starts have been pretty good. Weaver hasn't started on short rest at all, from what I can tell. Still, a fully rested Glavine would be a good thing. We can't worry about the World Series just yet . . . Besides, maybe El Duque can start Game 1 & Glavine, Game 2.

Yancy Street Gang Oct 16 2006 11:49 AM

Rotblatt wrote: Besides, maybe El Duque can start Game 1 & Glavine, Game 2. Good thought. I'd be down with that.

soupcan Oct 16 2006 01:01 PM

During the game Buck and McCarver interviewed LaRussa between the top and bottom of the 4th inning. A. Reyes was the 4th hitter due up in the bottom of the 4th. They asked LaRussa what he thought about his pitcher's performance thus far and LaRussa said 'blah, blah, blah but he's done and I'm taking him out'. Bottom of the 4th comes and goes, Reyes' spot comes up and LaRussa pinch hits with Duncan. At the post game interview, LaRussa is asked about Reyes and says 'I would have let him pitch another inning if his spot in the order didn't come up.' Huh? Anybody else notice that? Was he lying in the postgame thinking no one saw the in-game interview or did he forget what he said on-air?

Valadius Oct 16 2006 01:04 PM

Maybe La Russa's forgetful? Who knows. Maybe he was trying to weasel his way out of admitting mistakes.

soupcan Oct 16 2006 01:06 PM

Valadius wrote: ...Maybe he was trying to weasel his way out of admitting mistakes. That's kinda what I was thinking.

Edgy DC Oct 16 2006 01:06 PM

I'm guessing (a) he forgot, and (b) he assumed that spot would come up. Much as I should like access and all, I don't like the intrusion of those in-game interviews. It feels like the Pro Bowl.

Edgy DC Oct 16 2006 04:23 PM

That single to left by Lo Duca with Reyes running... I'm guessing he was swinging on his own. That's where the battering began.

Centerfield Oct 16 2006 04:55 PM

Some thoughts regarding Oliver Perez...Joe Buck and company, as Perez was working through the 6th, made it seem like he came up big, or at least, turned in an acceptable performance. 5 runs, 5.2 innings, that's not very good. The best thing he did was not suck until the Mets had scored a ton of runs. Perez seemed pretty upbeat about his performance too. I'm hoping in the future he will not be as satisfied as he was last night with that kind of line.

Valadius Oct 16 2006 04:59 PM

Look at it this way - 3 runs, 5.1 innings. That's all right.

Yancy Street Gang Oct 16 2006 05:00 PM

Good point. If that's the best he can do, it's not very good. But this isn't big picture time. He helped them win the game, and that's all that matters. And he hung in there into the sixth inning, which avoided putting a burden on the bullpen. If the Mets advance to the World Series, hopefully the rotation will work out so that Perez doesn't get more than one start.

HahnSolo Oct 16 2006 05:01 PM

Centerfield wrote: The best thing he did was not suck until the Mets had scored a ton of runs. Pretty much. But, I look at it this way: he only walked one guy, which was unexpected to me. And also, he scattered his runs. No big innings to get the crowd into it.

Hillbilly Oct 16 2006 05:10 PM

Centerfield wrote: I'm hoping in the future he will not be as satisfied as he was last night with that kind of line. I hope you're right, but with the big lead his approach was correct. He was in the mode of 'here it is - hit it', which is what you should with that kind of lead. If he was walking guys and nibbling, and in general not pitching to the situation, I would have been much more disappointed. All things considered, Ollie gave a nice solid effort. I'm not too troubled by the two late HRs.

Gwreck Oct 16 2006 06:03 PM

Yancy Street Gang wrote: If the Mets advance to the World Series, hopefully the rotation will work out so that Perez doesn't get more than one start. With the rainout today, the rotation for the WS sets up like this: Games 1/5: Oliver Perez Games 2/6: Glavine Games 3/7: Maine Game 4: ?? If Perez starts NLCS Game 7, he would move to the WS Game 4 slot. Clearly this would be subject to roster changes (El Duque? Williams?) and whoever starts NLCS Game 7, if necessary.

Willets Point Oct 16 2006 06:07 PM

Gwreck wrote: Games 1/5: Oliver Perez No that's just not going to happen. On a related topic, do we have ANY other starting pitchers to add to the WS roster? Bannister? Pelfrey? Soler? The Mets just seem to be short a starting pitcher.

Gwreck Oct 16 2006 06:12 PM

Willets Point wrote: ="Gwreck"] Games 1/5: Oliver Perez No that's just not going to happen. On a related topic, do we have ANY other starting pitchers to add to the WS roster? Bannister? Pelfrey? Soler? The Mets just seem to be short a starting pitcher. I didn't say it was going to happen; it's just how it sets up. As discussed elsewhere, they can add Orlando Hernandez or Dave Williams to the roster by subtracting any player. (This also applies to Royce Ring, but he's not a starter). Adding Bannister, Pelfrey or Soler would require removing a player currently on the roster (read: Trachsel) due to injury.

Hillbilly Oct 16 2006 06:14 PM

Willets Point wrote: ="Gwreck"] Games 1/5: Oliver Perez No that's just not going to happen. On a related topic, do we have ANY other starting pitchers to add to the WS roster? Bannister? Pelfrey? Soler? The Mets just seem to be short a starting pitcher. The talk is El Duque will be ready if we get there. http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061015&content_id=1714138&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym[url][/url]