May
18
2012

Game Preview: Mets @ Blue Jays

An article by Elliot Teichman

The Mets make the journey up north to America’s Hat to open up an interleague series against the Toronto Blue Jays tonight. The Mets split each of their last two series and finally got firing on all cylinders yesterday as they rolled past the Reds by a score 9-4. The Mets made a comeback bid, went for the kill in the bottom of the eighth and then held it for the ninth. In tonight’s game, Niese will get the start against Ricky Romero.

Niese is 2-1 over 7 starts and 39.2 innings with an ERA of 3.40. In his last two starts he has pitched 11.0 innings with 2 ER. Niese has never faced Toronto, which makes sense. Despite never actually facing the Jays, Niese has some numbers against some current members of Toronto’s ball club:

Francisco: 3-12
Johnson 4-10, 2B
Escobar 0-2
Mathis 0-2

Romero is 4-1 on the season over 8 starts and 53.1 innings of work. In his last three starts he is 1-1 with a 5.12 ERA where he pitched 19.1 innings of work where he allowed 11 ER. He walked and striked out 13 batters over those 19.1 innings. Being a Blue Jay his entire career means he has never faced the Mets. It’s not surprising that the Mets have limited exposure to Ricky:

Hairston 2-6
Johnson 1-3
Cedeno 0-3
Turner 1-1

Let’s Go Mets! Check 213 Miles From Shea!

About the Author: Elliot Teichman

6 Comments + Add Comment

Angelo May 18, 2012 at 4:05 pm

lets get 1 out of 2 , would be fine , 3 games over then ….. wait, we can sweep them ? probably not cause Gee and Batista will start . I dont think we can win the series but hey, the mets suprised me a lot this year . LETS GO METS
- Angelo May 18, 2012 at 4:06 pm
  
  i miss Pelfrey , had some promising stats this year. whatever
Joey D. May 18, 2012 at 4:18 pm

Mets lead 3-2 with the tying run on second, winning run on first and two outs in the ninth. OK, which team has the advantage in this scenario?

The Jay’s Ben Francisco, pinch hiting and coming to the plate with his .214 batting average, six hits in 28 at bats, with only two extra base hits (both doubles),,,,

Or our own Frank Francisco with his 8.04 ERA who has given up 23 hits and nine walks in just under 16 innings worth or work?

If it comes down to that, one thing is for sure – a Francisco will be both the goat and the hero.
Angelo May 18, 2012 at 5:05 pm

with 2 outs and a opponent .214 BA , i say the better chances are on the leading mets .

Anyway you guys see that struggling francisco is still on pace for a 40 save season ??? it would be only the 3rd in mets history .
- any May 18, 2012 at 6:08 pm
  
  proving once again, if you take any pitcher on the roster and run them out there for every save op, they are going to end up with a bunch of saves. Especially coming in with 2-3 run leads a lot of the time!
  
  Takagoochie had quite a few saves there while K ROd was out. he pretty much was like any other closer.
  - Joey D. May 18, 2012 at 6:47 pm
    
    Hi Any,
    
    The criteria developed for a save is very subjective, not straight-forward. I mean, a pitcher can come into the game with two out in the ninth with a five run lead but since the bases are loaded, he can get a save because the tying run is on the on-deck circle? Or walk into a game with the bases clear and a three run lead, give two back and still get credit for one as well?
    
    Best way to compare the qualities of a closer is not the save stat but the intimidation factor. Riveria had it. Fingers and Gossage had it well. But though he had just seven less saves than Mariano Riveria and had blown saves less often than the future Hall of Famer, there was something about Trevor Hoffman that was not intimidating at all.

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