Random thoughts on the Mets, baseball and global warming…
Johan Santana proves that you don’t quibble about prospects when you are getting a proven Major League talent in return. The Twins will be lamenting this trade for years while Mets fans get treated to a pitching gem every time Santana takes the mound. One of those prospects we gave up was Phil Humber who was released on Friday. Santana has been the best pitcher in the Milky Way since last years All Star break. He has totaled 123.1 innings pitched in 17 starts, has a 1.61 ERA, while striking out 117 and walking just 30. So let’s go after Halladay next.
Sure it’s still early, but how comforting is it to know that the Mets currently have the best bullpen in baseball? It’s true, the Mets bullpen is sporting a 1.80 ERA, while closer Frankie Rodriguez leads the way with a 0.00 ERA. He’s accompanied by O’Day at 0.00 (more on him later), Putz at 1.29, and Parnell at 1.69. Not too shabby…
While some are worried that CitiField may be too pitcher friendly, that’s the least of their concerns over at the new Yankee Stadium, where the Yankees suffered a humiliating 22-4 loss at the hands of the Cleveland Indians. Mercy rule anybody? One day after the Yankees belted five homeruns on Friday, the Indians come right back and swat six of them in what may soon be called the house that Grady built. Meanwhile, Chien-Ming Wang has no options and must go through waivers before getting demoted to the minors. This can get fun.
Brad Lidge cannot walk on water. When Lidge entered the game in the ninth inning against the Padres, he blew the save by giving up 4 earned runs in 2/3 innings pitched. Ouch… There will be no perfect season for him in 2009 after converting 41 of 41 save opportunities last season. The Phillies are playing some pretty bad baseball right now. Big mouth starting pitcher, Cole Hamels has an ERA of over 11.00 right now. <cough, cough, choke, choke>
Deja Vu? 2008 Cy Young award winner, Tim Lincecum struck out 13 batters and walked none while pitching eight scoreless innings against the Diamondbacks on Saturday. He came away with a no decision as the Giants lost 2-0. Johan Santana had a very similar start against the Marlins on April 12th.
Darren O’Day leaves the Mets with a 0.00 ERA in three innings after being designated for assignment to make room for Nelson Figueroa who takes the hill this afternoon against the Brewers. I had hoped it would have been Bobby Parnell that could have been sent down for a couple of weeks without having to lose anybody, much less a solid reliever who was once considered a top prospect before an injury dropped him off the radar for one season. The very first time Parnell, Stokes, or Figueroa cough up a lead, I’m predicting a dozen stories about why did the Mets let Darren O’Day go for nothing and how Omar should get some heat over it.
Hopefully the Mets will be able to score more than one run today, because I have a hunch that a similar offensive outburst won’t get the job done against the Brewers and Jeff Suppan. Wouldn’t a two homer game by David Wright or Carlos Delgado be a perfect way to close out the series?
Later…
