I know we all would like the Mets to run off win after win, but you had to figure this would be the game they'd lose. Arroyo is death to the Mets and Maine has been struggling. That combination didn't bode well for the Mets.
John Maine has been struggling with his control the last few games, so everybody was hoping the break would help sort out that issue. John pitched much better yesterday, but still ended up losing. His pitch count was lower and his control was better. After getting thru the 1st 4 innings with about 60 pitches thrown, everything fell apart in the 5th. A couple of walks and a bunch of dink and dunk hits and before you know it, there are 5 runs across the plate. I swear John must have a Black Cat following him around this year. If David makes a stop on a short hop chopper at 3rd, Maine gets out of the inning leading 2-1. With no chance to get the speedy Keppinger, David tried to get the short hop and step on 3rd base for the last out of the inning. Instead, the ball glanced off his glove and everybody was safe.
John wasn't the only pitcher having problems on the Mets. I believe the Mets had 7 walks and the Reds had 4 more walks last night. When the umps have a tight strike zone, it really hurts Heilman, Smith, and Maine. They have so much lateral movement on their pitches that they tend to get balls called because of it. If hitters are not swinging, they're walking.
Even with the problems of Maine and the pen, the Mets could have won the game if they could hit a curveball. I've said it before and I'll say it again, if the opposing pitcher can throw breaking pitches for strikes, the Mets have a hard time scoring. Arroyo sucks this year, but the Mets make him look like Seaver. I think he's beat the Mets 4 straight times. Why can't someone throw breaking pitches to the hitters during batting practice? Is Doc Gooden Available?
Tonight Ollie goes to the mound and hopes to start a new winning streak for the Mets. If the Bats get out of their slumber, there could be plenty of runs crossing the plate tonight. No one ever said the Reds couldn't hit, but the Mets should win 3-4 of these games. Here's hoping the Wizard shows up today, not Ollie the Fool.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
14 comments:
Looks like the Marlins are gonna give the Phillies the L though!
Seriously, let's see what we can get in a trade with maine. I think the bloom is off of that rose and it is time to cash in our chips.
I've been saying for a long time that Maine is not that effective of a pitcher. He has no real out pitch and usually gets his strikeouts on a high fastball. That doesn't work that well the 2nd time through a lineup. That's why I foresee him being a reliever in the future.
i agree guiness, i would just like to see him pitching in relief for another team at this point. I am sure that he has some value for a team who thinks he is a #3-4 starter. I don't think he is getting paid much money at this point either. maybe the mariners will take him for Ibanez.
We would get more than that or at least we better. He needs to be traded for a couple of important pieces. Maybe to the Pirates for Sanchez and Bay/Nady?
don't know if we would get sanchez and bay/nady. they are said to be asking for a lot for either bay or nady. Until Wright learns how to hit a curveball, can we entertain the prospect of dealing him? I know that it is blasphemous to even suggest it, but what if the Rays were willing to deal Longoria and Kazmir for Wright?
Maine is not becoming a reliever or being traded. So get that out of your heads. The only problem with Jiohn is that he's trying to be too fine with his pitches. Dan Warthen said as much during yesterday's game. As soon as Dan can get it into John's head that he just needs to throw his stuff, not aim it, things will be better. Look at the 4th inning. John started nibbling, got 2 men on base, and then Dan went to the mound. He verbally kicked John in the ass, and the next pitch was a double play ground ball. John is too hard on himself and needs to just throw his pitches. He has above average stuff [everybody but Guinness says this], he just needs to trust it. Pelfrey was the same way earlier this year. He nibbled, and got into trouble. Now Big Pelf just throws his stuff, and dares the hitters to try to hit it. John needs to take a lesson from Mike's troubles and just throw his stuff.
Warthen kicked his butt in the 4th and Maine went ahead and spit the bit in the 5th. the guy is done dan. his stuff may be good, but it doesn't matter how good your stuff is if you don't know how to pitch. let's get something for him now before he loses all of his value.
How is it spitting the bit when David doesn't make a play to end the inning and then the Next batter dunks a blooper past and old and slow Delgado that scores 2 runs? I guess Pefrey,and Santana are done too then. Pelfrey gave up 5 runs, and Santana gave up 5 runs and didn't get out of the 4th inning. Even Perez stunk this weekend. Who but Sanchez and Wagner pitched well this weekend? Nobody. So I guess by your logic we should shit can everyone but them.
Walking in a run and forcing a run in by hitting a batter is spitting the bit. santana did not pitch well either. perez pitched well and deserved better. pelfrey was off but still managed to pitch 7 innings and only threw 89 pitches.
We know what Santana is, pelfrey is getting better, perez is a headcase. At this point, Maine is a big unknown. But the mediocre starts have occurred much more, especially lately, than the good ones for him. He is what he is, a border line #3, more likely #4 starter.
Maine is not a great pitcher Dan. He's barely a good one. He can and does get guys out on his fastballs but the 2nd and 3rd time through the order gets his pitch count extraordinarily high. I'm sorry but a starting pitcher is not going to stay a starting pitcher very long when it consistently takes him 100 pitches to get out of the 4th and 5th inning...
That's just it, his pitch count was only about 60-70 heading into the 5th inning. If a few plays had been made, the results would have been different. He could have pitched into the 7th inning but the 5th inning screwed him. I fail to see why both of you are so quick to get rid of him, but you sing the praises of Pelfrey and Ollie when they can't find the strikezone and give up 5-8 runs a game. All pitchers have rough stretches. I'd rather John have this rough stretch now, then in September.
I just want Maine to have a pitch (other than his fastball) that is above average. Maybe he can develop one, who knows, but right now, he doesn't.
Dan Warthen has asked Pelfrey and Maine to both start throwing their curveballs again. Peterson told them to stop throwing it. Dan wants them to show that pitch 4-5 times a game if possible to keep the hitters guessing. If Mike and John can throw a curve to go with the slider, change-up and fastballs they should get more swings and misses. Maybe Mike will show John how to throw a heavy sinker to go with his high fastball. Afterall, Mike has been having success with 80-90% fastballs because he can throw the slider, curve and change-up once and awhile to mess with the hitters heads. If John stops beating himself up over a missed pitch or two, He'll get better results. That was what killed Mike the beginning of the year.
Post a Comment