Aaron Heilman's inconsistent season continues, and it's getting frustrating. Heilman (and the Mets) wasted an outstanding start by Pedro Martinez* Thursday night in Miami, losing to the Marlins, 4-1.
Pedro* turned in 6 innings, giving up just a solo homer to Mike Jacobs - one of four hits. He struck out 9. After the homer, Pedro* showed some rare anger, cursing at himself (I'm assuming it was at himself) as Jacobs rounded the bases. It was the only mistake Pedro* made all game.
The Mets rallied to get that run back in the top of the 7th, but like the last two nights, there were a lot of wasted chances, and that came back to haunt them.
Heilman got two outs in the 8th, but loaded the bases, and then gave up a bases-clearing double to Miguel Cabrera, breaking the 1-1 tie. Heilman looked very good the past couple of nights, posting consecutive 1-2-3 innings. It's tough to say this inning means he's back to his inconsistencies - maybe he's just not ready to be going three nights in a row, all in tight spots. But he'd better get used to it - because that's what the Mets need from him.
Roberto Hernandez turned in another nice inning - maybe he'll thrive now that he's back with the Mets and being in a pennant chase.
The Marlins turned three double plays - all three coming at key times, squelching Mets rallies. This was a frustrating game - it was the type of game you want the Mets to win for their starting pitcher, especially when he turns in an outing like Pedro* turned in. The good news? David Wright was 2-for-4, possibly breaking out of his slump. His average is back up to .309.
Friday night the Mets come back home to play the second-place Phillies - Orlando Hernandez gets the series started for New York. It's one of the final '86 Mets giveaways before the reunion on August 19th (which I'll be going to). My parents say they're going for me, to get me the '86 championship T-shirt the Mets are giving away. They're wonderful people, my parents. My sister and future brother-in-law were nice enough to give me one of their pictures of Mookie running down the first-base line from a game against the Pirates last month. I missed out on an '86 commemorative pin, and a replica '86 yearbook. But I don't care much for pins, and I didn't need the replica yearbook because I have the real thing. Looking forward to a t-shirt, though. I've outgrown all my '86 championship gear.
MAGIC NUMBER: The Phillies are winning as I write this, so there looks to be no change in the Magic Number, unfortunately, staying at 44.
MINOR NEWS: Before Wednesday's game, Mike Pelfrey was sent back to the minors, and reliever Royce Ring was brought up. Pelfrey was the odd man out, with the Mets having six starters after Pedro* came back from his injury. It came down to John Maine or Pelfrey, and Maine has just been pitching better. Pelfrey will be back when rosters expand in September.
MAJOR NEWS: The Mets signed THE GREATEST BALLPLAYER WHO EVER LIVED, Jose Reyes, to a 4-year contract extension before Thursday's game, with an option for a fifth year. This is good news, locking up the kid for a while. Now the Mets have to do the same with Future Hall of Famer David Wright. Remember how it was sort of a big deal that Wright's contract for this year was so small, comparatively speaking? It wouldn't look right for the Mets to lock up Reyes and not Wright. I'd be expecting an announcement before the season's up.
Although I just read on the Mets' website that Wright doesn't expect anything, because he has a different situation than Reyes - he came to the Majors a year later. So I guess it's good if Wright's OK with things...still, the Mets should work out a contract with Wright now. Don't waste time. It would show him that they care, and he's the type of player who would remember something like that down the line.
QUICK NOTE: I see Dave in Brighton left a comment about the LOB from the Mets' game last night. I've been thinking about it, and the most players a team can leave on base in an inning can be 9, if they load the bases, and then there are three outs. Three LOB per batter. That's the number I was looking at - LOB per batter, which ended up being 28 total for the Mets. And I guess just 10 total at the end of each inning.
MADDUX: As I write this, Greg Maddux has thrown 6 no-hit innings in his Dodgers debut against the Reds in Cincinnati. I'm going to go watch the end of that now - hope he throws the no-hitter - it's been too long since the last no-hitter in the majors.
THE KID'S KIDS: The St. Lucie Mets lost to Clearwater Thursday, but Daytona was losing in the 9th inning at press time, so they could still be tied for first in the second half of the season.
Also of note, during the Marlins broadcast, the Aflac Trivia Question was "Which former Met won manager of the year during his rookie season in 2005?" Then the announcers said it was in the minor leagues, and of course, we all knew the answer was Gary Carter. Then the announcers talked for a little while about how great it was that a Hall of Famer was managing in the low minor leagues. It was nice to hear some Gary Carter talk during a broadcast - but I still can't stand those Florida broadcasters. Of note, too, Carter, right after retiring from baseball, was an announcer for the Marlins for a few years.
ALFONZO'S COMEBACK: Back to 3B Thursday night for Edgardo Alfonzo - he was 1-for-4, which raises his average to .226. The problem here is these past few games (it's about a 5-game hitting streak now) have all been singles for Alfonzo - no extra base hits. Oh well, we'll keep rooting for him.
CHASE'S CHASE: A hit in his first at-bat, so it's a 35-game streak for Utley. Now is the moment of truth - do I root for the streak to continue, with three games against the Mets, or do I root for the Mets to end it?
Honestly, as much as I like a good hitting streak, I want the Mets to end it. But if Sunday rolls around, and Utley hit in all three games, but the Mets went 3-0, I'll be perfectly fine with that.
BEAT THE STREAK: I'm looking for Vladimir Guerrero to continue his lifetime hitting streak against the Texas Rangers in their 4 games this weekend. It begins tonight, after press time.
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