14
2009
Pedro Hammers The Final Nail In; Mets Lose 1-0
An article by 
In 2007, the Phillies took the division from the Mets on the last day of the season after the Mets held a 7-game lead with 17 games to play. Pedro Martinez faced the Phillies once in those last 17 games and the Mets lost that game.
In 2008, the Mets held a 3½ game lead over the Phillies with 17 games to play. Pedro Martinez faced the Phillies once in September and the Mets lost that game.
In 2009, Pedro Martinez is now on the other side of the rivalry. The Phillies are now the team with 17 games left on their schedule. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Pedro Martinez pitched tonight in a Mets-Phillies game and the Mets lost.
Martinez was brilliant tonight as he pitched eight strong innings and threw 130 pitches in the Phillies’ 1-0 victory over the Mets. The loss officially eliminated the Mets from playoff contention and also guaranteed that their streak of four consecutive seasons with a winning record would not be extended.
There aren’t too many highlights to report in this recap. There certainly was one huge lowlight. Oh, Mr. Murphy, would you care to explain why you tried to take third base when the ball trickled away from the catcher with two outs in the eighth inning? Have you been hanging out with Angel Pagan again? This has happened way too many times this season and if Keith Hernandez was watching, he would immediately be calling for the proper “fundies” from the Mets. With one out, you take that chance, but not with two. Murphy’s baserunning faux pas (that’s French for “faux pas”) took the Mets out of their last good scoring opportunity.
Not everything went badly for the Mets in the game. After giving up a run in the first inning, Tim Redding matched Pedro Martinez pitch-for-pitch. Redding was brilliant in his six innings of work, allowing one run on only three hits, while walking two and striking out three. He did not allow the Phillies to lengthen their lead and at one point, he retired 14 consecutive batters. Unfortunately, just like John Maine lost Game 1 of the day-night doubleheader despite allowing only one run, Redding pitched even more effectively before ultimately suffering the same fate. He was surely a hard-luck loser tonight.
But alas, this was Pedro Martinez’s night to shine. This was the Pedro the Mets hoped to see on the day he signed his four-year deal back in 2005, when he thought he was going to take the Mets to the promised land. Now he has a chance to take the Phillies there, while the Mets watch them playing in October. Again. Somewhere in the distance I can hear Alanis Morissette asking “Isn’t it ironic? Don’t you think?”
About the Author: Ed Leyro
Ed Leyro was hatched in the Bronx, but spent most of his youth in Queens at Shea Stadium. Apparently, all that time spent at Mets games paid off as Ed met his wife (The Coop) for the first time at Citi Field during its inaugural season. Guess the 2009 season was good for something after all. In addition to his work at Mets Merized Online, Ed also owns, operates and is head janitor at Studious Metsimus, where he shares blogging duties with Joey Beartran. For those not in the know, Joey is a teddy bear dressed in a Mets hoodie. Clearly, Studious Metsimus is not your typical Mets blog.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationals | 26 | 18 | .591 | - |
| Braves | 26 | 20 | .565 | 1.0 |
| Mets | 24 | 21 | .533 | 2.5 |
| Marlins | 24 | 21 | .533 | 2.5 |
| Phillies | 23 | 23 | .500 | 4.0 |
Last updated: 05/25/2012
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Write Your Own Mets Post
Omar Minaya has proven that he has no clue when it comes to making the everyday decisions to manage this roster. He gives contracts to players he knows are injured like Putz and Redding and Delgado. He required no medical tests from either of them before lavishing millions on them or trading for them. Redding begins season on DL, Putz and Delgado succumb to their ailments. Two years ago he did the same thing with Castillo.
Now in the case of Pedro, he gets gun shy? It’s embarassing that Pedro got well and did his rehab on the Mets dime, but the Phillies are reaping all the benefits.
Pedro even proved that he was healthy with a superb showing in the WBC in the spring. He even made it clear he would sign for $5 million and give the Mets a hometown discount because he felt he owed them.
Pedro invited Omar and his trainers to his home to plead his case for a return to the Mets.
Even as the Mets dfropped like flies, Pedro was still there for the taking. Unfortunately, the Phillies who have a GM that plays to win, went after Pedro and brought him in for a try out and came away impressed that he was throwing 92 MPH and his curveball was sharp.
They signed him to what ammounted to a prorated $5 million dollar deal. Then they even traded for Cliff Lee.
The Mets, who were just 4 1/2 games out, sat on their hands.
Yep, there are many indictments on Omar this year and the ones you list are good ones, but no the only ones. The sad reality is that both Omar and Jerry need to go, but in all likelihood both of them will complete their contracts.
I’ve watched or listened to 150 games a year since 1945. Let’s say 10,000 games. Who invented the pitcher bunting with first and third and one out in a 1-0 game? That’s a play that avoids one bad outcome and about 10 good ones. It wasn’t around during “The Boys of Summer” years. Some genius like La Russa is responsible, and Manuel is, if nothing else, a good mimic.
Pops
Of course Pedro pitched great against the Mets. Why is this even a story?
We all knew he would throw a gem against us.
so Pedro has the last laugh. In fact he will be laughing all the way to the WS. I’m happy for him. Omar is an idot and yesterday’s game is the prime example of this.
Exactly!
Redding has a very good track record against the Phils and this season shows more evidence of that. Look at his stats against the Phils. None of the losses were to his pitching. 7-innings 3-runs, 5-innings 0-runs (pulled early by Manuel), and 6-innings 1-run. The Mets signed him because of his record against the Phils and he proved it. They even joke that his name is Cy Young in Philly because of how well he handles them!
As for the Mets not signing him. Still was the right move. By the sign the Mets could have signed him, everything was already out of control and the Mets were done. Maybe they should have signed him to add more depth, but the amount he wanted along with what the organization was doing (and the fact we THOUGHT Pelf turned a corner) meant it was time.
If the Mets signed him, I think it would be more for marketing as there is NO WAY he gets the Mets into the playoffs given what happened and with the fundamental problems.
Ina season of tough losses, this one is hard to beat. Pedro whips our butts while the Mets get 7 hits to the Phils 3 hits and we lose 1-0. That truly stinks. Redding piched like a hero but all for naught.
The GOAT award belongs to the offense and their are 2 prime candidates: Sullivan wo left 4 runners stranded and Murphy who killed us with the foolish dash to 3rd. I pick Murphy because not only was it bad performance, but it was stupid performance as well.
The GOAT for the game is Murphy.
GOATS for the 2nd Half are: Parnell, Pelfrey, Cora, Perez, Pelfrey, Santana, Niese, Green, Pelfrey, Pagan, KRod, LHernandez, KRod, Parnell, Pagan, LHernandez, KRod, LHernandez, Parnell, Tatis, Misch, Perez, Parnell, Murphy, Pelfrey, Stokes, Parnell, Pelfrey, Stokes, Pagan, Redding, Misch, Parnell, Tatis, Valdez, Murphy.
GOAT Repeaters: Parnell(6), Pelfrey(5), Pagan(3), LHernandez(3), KRod(3), Perez(2), Stokes(2), Misch(2), Tatis(2), Murphy(2).
Murphy’s brain fart puts him on the GOAT Repeaters list and bring the Repeaters Club up to 10 under the Chairmanship of Bobby Parnell. I wonder what some more time in the Minors (with actual professionals to guide them) might have done for their ultimate performance. This was simply unfair to the pitching staff and Mets fans everywhere.