Break up the Mets!
I look at this team, and I see a team that is seemingly running on fumes and devoid of some of their key players whether they are on the DL or mired in a season long slump. It’s incredible how they go out on that diamond and continue to play ball day in and day out at such a competitive level.
Yesterday’s 7-0 shutout win over Pirates sheds light on just how outstanding Mets starting pitchers have performed during this recent remarkable stretch.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, in the Mets’ last 17 games, their starting pitchers have allowed just 32 earned runs in 113 2/3 innings pitched. That adds up to a major league best 2.53 ERA.
In all honesty, when Chris Young was lost for the season after only 24 innings pitched this season, I thought for sure the Mets’ goose was cooked. But up comes Dillon Gee from Triple-A Buffalo, and in the nine games he has started for the Mets, the team is 9-0. Incredible.
Chris Capuano goes out there every five games and always gives the Mets a chance to win, and lately he’s looked like the Capuano of old on the hill – this guy knows how to pitch.
R.A. Dickey and Jon Niese both got off to a slow starts this seasons and had some problems with their control, but they’ve both been solid since May 1st and whenever they take the mound you automatically sense another win. That’s a good thing.
Mike Pelfrey continues to search for some stability and sustained success. He is coming off his best performance of the season last Wednesday against the Brewers, but it will be up to him to get the Mets back to .500 on Monday as the Mets wrap up their four game series with the Pirates.
Give some credit to pitching coach Dan Warthen, who says, “Over the last three weeks, I think we’ve done what we were supposed to do and what we expected from all of these guys going into the season. They’re throwing strikes. They’re moving the ball around. They’re changing speeds. I’m very happy with their game preparations. So let’s hope that we can keep going for the next 97 ballgames.”
Manager Terry Collins is absolutely thrilled not only with how well this group is pitching, but how deep they are going into games as of late. “You want to know how we’re hanging in there? They are doing tremendous. They are keeping us in games. They are giving us a chance. They have been absolutely great. I can’t say too many good things about them right now. They are pitching just crazy. It’s really amazing.”
Hey, I don’t know what they’re putting in the water at Citi Field these days, but whatever it is just keep it coming. It’s fun to watch the Mets again and I hope all of you are enjoying this season as much as I am.
Quotes courtesy of ESPN.com
