Where would the Mets be this past few weeks without new pitching coach Dan Warthen? It seems in just a short amount of time that he has brought this year’s pitching staff back to life and has really jump-started Mike Pelfrey. Since taking over for Rick Peterson last month, Warthen has corrected Oliver Perez’s inconsistency, dramatically changed Pelfrey’s performance, solved Pedro hat-tipping his pitches and even changed Johan Santana’s delivery to make him even more effective.
During this current eight game winning streak, the Mets are the first team since 1900 to allow three or fewer hits in five consecutive games. It wasn’t that long ago that if it wasn’t the starters getting rocked, the bullpen would find a way to blow the lead in later innings. However recently the bullpen, and Aaron Heilman most dramatically, have found their confidence and are pitching better than they have in over a year. In the past thirty days, the Mets pitching staff is third in strikeouts, eighth in walks, and has a team ERA at 3.60.
It’s obvious that along with new manager Jerry Manuel, Dan Warthen’s ability to give defined roles to each member of the pitching staff has straightened this team out and have them within a .5 game of the Phillies for the lead in the NL East going into All Star Break. So here’s to you Dan Warthen for being a vital part of saving New York’s season and putting the Orange and Blue back in the hunt for October. Let’s keep it going!!!
