Pedro Beato continued his poor second half last night, when he served up a game-winning three-run homer to David Freese in the Mets 6-5 loss to the Cardinals. The loss ensures a third straight losing season for the Mets.
Beato had not pitched in six days and has appeared fatigued for most of the second half of the season. Manager Terry Collins had hoped the extra rest would bring back Beato’s lost velocity and life back to his fastball which now sits in the 85-89 mph range.
“I’m just tired,” Beato said. “It’s been a long season. I’ve been going about two years straight pitching and stuff. This is the first time I’ve done it, and it’s caught up to me thus far. I’m just trying to finish it out, not throw in the towel early”
Collins has sounded fed up with Beato of late.
“We’ve rested him, we’ve tried all sorts of things,” Collins said. “My issue with Pedro – he’s had a wonderful year for a rookie, and he had a tremendous first half – is just that he’s gotten away from what he does well, that’s throw the ball hard.”
Beato had a solid first half in which he posted a 3.34 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 31 appearances. However his ERA in the second half sits at 6.04 in 27 appearances and hitters are now batting .290 against him.
The Mets have had no choice, but to keep the Rule 5 pick on the roster all season long or risk losing him. But next season the Mets will no longer have that restriction. If Beato doesn’t show any improvement next Spring, he could be in danger of starting the season in the minors.
