1. Why does Tatis HAVE to start a game? Even as early in the season as it may be every game is valuable and I don’t want to weaken the team in any way for any game. Look, if Ike was totally gassed and desperately needed an off-day, I could see giving him a break. But even though I totally get the concept of keeping your bench players fresh, Tatis is soooo bad at this point and so gone when Beltran comes back that it’s a non-issue.

2. I don’t even understand your argument there. “If he needs work, he needs work, that’s who he is?” You know what, this guy is a veteran. If he can’t get his work in on the mound in the bullpen, then he’s doing something wrong. As it turned out, he ended up closing last night. Would one extra day not pitching really have screwed him up. I’m sorry, you don’t bring in your closer in the 8th inning when you’re losing by two on the road, especially when the rest of your bullpen isn’t that reliable. Which leads to point number

5. Suppose Feliciano hadn’t given up a run in the 9th or even the 10th but the game was still tied. Igarashi would have had to pitch anyway. The point is that when you’re on the road and in a tie game, you only use your best relievers late when you’re desperate to get out of a jam and keep the game going. Sending Feliciano out in the ninth to face a slew of righties was a recipe for a loss.

3. I love this “Barajas’ run didn’t mean anything” argument. You don’t use speed to get the 5th run, you save it for the close play at the home for the 6th? What if the close play at home IS the fifth run? What if Carter had hit a ground ball in the hole and the Marlins were able to get a force at second because Barajas was too slow to make it where with Cora they wouldn’t have had a play. If you know you’re going to use a pinch runner somewhere in that inning, you use it to get your slowest runner off the bases as soon as possible.

4. The pitcher was right-handed so that’s why Thole had to bad for Tejada. I guess we shouldn’t play Ruben against righties at all then. I can understand wanting to replace a lefty bat against a tough lefty pitcher, but pinch-hitting a righty just because there is a righty on the mound is overdone.

6. You don’t want to throw to Uggla? Then you walk him. I’m sick of this “pitch around” nonsense. If you’re going to make your pitcher throw the ball near the plate, there’s always a chance of a mistake. I don’t think we’d ever confuse Feliciano with a pinpoint control guy. You walk Uggla there and take your chances with Ross and a possible force play at second and third.

I wish we’d all quit messing with Jerry. He’s not the best, but he’s definitely not a moron. He managed a fine game, GETTING US BACK TO A TIED GAME, but in the end we just didnt win.

ALl respect to you Terrific Tom, I usually agree with all you say

Battling is great, but I want the Mets to win as often as humanly possible, and to be a great baseball team. When they don’t win, I am angry, frustrated, and I want to analyze and suggest how they woulda or coulda but didnta!

I also think that after any loss there will be a laundry list of woulda, coulda, shouda………..this team was in the cellar and now they are scratching and clawing a smidge out of 1st, we have to give some credit where it’s due please.

Also, enough with the Bobby V………..when he left town I don’t remember people being all that upset. I think we have a selective memory sometimes.

Your point on Tatis over Ike, I have to cancel out. At some point you have to get your bench guys some playing time. Batting him in front of Frenchy is a non issue also to me. Francoeur is not some all-star hitter who needs to be given the nod over others at the bottom of the order. I mean he was 1 for 3 with a run scored, it’s not like Tatis had an 0fer, granted his hit was a gift.

The issue you didn’t bring up in regards to this move was that Ike was 4 for 6 against Robertson. So perhaps that’s the best reason why not to sit Ike yesterday and maybe sit him today v. Volstad if you really wanted to get Tatis a day in this series.

I disagree with your 2nd point because K-Rod is his most trusted reliever. Closers should have more of a role than to just get a save. If K-Rod doesn’t pitch that inning 1-2-3, then perhaps the Mets don’t have the window to come back. He gambled, it kind of paid off in that his team then had a chance to win the game… but the real problem is his lack of options in the bullpen, not who he picks.

#3 You have no idea if Blanco was available to come in if the game had been tied. He may have been, I don’t know but don’t forget about these guys’ age. But it’s a fair point, just not one to flip out about. I think if its a playoff game, he makes the PR move.

#4 I gotta claim conspiracy here actually. I think Thole’s stock jumped a little bit because of this move and I think that may have been the reason for the move. I don’t know, but to say he’s less proven than Tejada is silly. You’re pinch hitting a minor leaguer for a minor leaguer… it worked.

Some Mets fans GOTTA get over Bobby Valentine though. I mean it’s like comparing every girlfriend you have to the one you had 10 years ago. For better or worse Jerry Manuel is the manager for 2010, and to compare him to a manager from 10 years ago is ridiculous.

I think at times you take gambles in the regular season, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. You manage the playoffs totally different because by the time October roles around you have more data in front of you about whether Tejada can come up big in that spot, or whether you have another bullpen arm to throw in the 8th etc.

I think it’s June 30th and to worry about how Jerry will manage Game 1 of the playoffs is way way too far ahead.

I’ll address each of your points to what I think Jerry might have been thinking.

1) Tatis for Ike – Maybe Jerry felt Ike needed a day off, Maybe Tatis had relatives at the game and Jerry was doing him a favor by giving him the start. As far as logistical reasons, I can’t think of any reason why you would start Tatis over Ike regardless if there is a Lefty or Righty on the mound. Ike is better all around, fielding, hitting, hands down Ike should get the start and there is no “platooning” situation at 1st.

2) Pitching K-Rod in the 8th. I think that you may have nailed it on the head. Putting myself in Jerry’s shoes, this is what I come up with. Ok, I have already used Dessen and Parnell; I can’t trust Igorashi after the previous nights performance, Nieve is my long man, so basically I have K-Rod and Feliciano to work with. I am already short one man in the bullpen, so I am going to play for the win — Strike that, I don’t have a clue what he was thinking, it makes no sense other than to get K-Rod some work, just like you said.

3) Agreed, he should have pinch run for Barajas, but I’m guessing Jerry probably did not want to pull the trigger on one of his catchers until something serious developed, and by the time Chris Carter hit that would be triple it was to late. The only reason Cora runs for Carter is because Jerry uses Thole to pinch hit for Tejada so he can do a double switch. But I agree that despite everything worked out for the Mets regardless of the move not being made at the right time, that Jerry should have pinch run for Barajas.

4) Agreed, heck I would have used Thole to pinch run for Barajas and let Tejada swing.

5) Well unfortunately Jerry’s hand here were tied. Igorashi struggled on Monday, and bascially Jerry painted himself into a corner by using K-Rod in the 8th. In my opinion of the options he was left with, I would have used Pedro as well.

6) Agreed, big mistake not putting the force play into effect. Granted you only needed 1 out, but you don’t pitch to Uggla. I wouldn’t even be against walking Uggla and Ross to pitch to Paulino who was 0-4 yesterday.

I am pretty much with you TT. Please, somebody explain K-Rod in the 8th!!!

Not so sure the base paths and P-hitting moves were so important to me, but why the heck Davis didn’t start last night. I mean, the back of Fernando’s jersey may as well read “Washed Up.” I like the guy, but I don’t think he gives us the chance to win.

I realize it’s just another loss to the Marlins, but why do we have to suck when we face this lousy team. Ugh!

Last night’s loss really put me in a bad mood, which followed my third inning temper tantrum. Yuck.