Unhappy Recap: Reds 6 Mets 5
Willie called it the classic giveaway game. I call it another Wagner disaster. I am not officially worried about Billy Wagner. And I understand why Claudia wanted to leave last Thursday's game when Wagner came in. The Mets need Billy Wagner to pitch better if they are going to go anywhere in the playoffs. But remember Bobby Jenks was a World Series winning closer last year. You just need him to get hot for a couple weeks. Hopefully the blown saves are out of his system.
It seems like it's been since before 1990 when the Mets last had a reliable closer. It's been Franco, Benitez, Looper and now Wagner. And everytime they blow a save we say "why do they always blow saves when it really matters?" Because every time you have a lead in the 9th and don't win it's damaging. But looking back, the second game of the season wasn't such a big deal. Nor were the blown saves against San Francisco (the Bonds homer) or Pittsburgh. The loss the Yankees killed, but that didn't even count as a blown save since the lead was 4.
Willie was asked if this was the type of game that made him glad to have a 9 1/2 game lead. And it is. These things happen, but the Mets still have a big lead.
Some other things happened in this game.
Soler actually pitched pretty well. The defense hurt him a little, Wright's error and LoDuca's passed ball. And of course the wild pitch on strike 3 that allowed Kearns to reach base
Speaking of Wright, he never should have fielded that ball in the ninth inning. He knew he couldn't get an out, so he should have just let it roll. It wasn't going to roll into left field or bounce off the bag like the announcers said. Mental mistake.
Great game for Jose Reyes, but I'm going to give it it's own post, because it deserves that much.
Very exciting 7th inning. Another clutch hit by Wright and a huge home run by Jose Valentin. It was after that inning that I started to believe. I was thinking that innings like that are the type of innings that championship teams have which make championship seasons so special.
But we all remember that being a Met fan is a test of patience. Whenever you get too high, some mediocre closer is there to knock you back down.
By the way, Wagner has now blown 4 saves this year, compared to 3 all of last season. Benitez always blew between 4 and 6 when he was with the Mets, and we all hated him and said he sucked.
It seems like it's been since before 1990 when the Mets last had a reliable closer. It's been Franco, Benitez, Looper and now Wagner. And everytime they blow a save we say "why do they always blow saves when it really matters?" Because every time you have a lead in the 9th and don't win it's damaging. But looking back, the second game of the season wasn't such a big deal. Nor were the blown saves against San Francisco (the Bonds homer) or Pittsburgh. The loss the Yankees killed, but that didn't even count as a blown save since the lead was 4.
Willie was asked if this was the type of game that made him glad to have a 9 1/2 game lead. And it is. These things happen, but the Mets still have a big lead.
Some other things happened in this game.
Soler actually pitched pretty well. The defense hurt him a little, Wright's error and LoDuca's passed ball. And of course the wild pitch on strike 3 that allowed Kearns to reach base
Speaking of Wright, he never should have fielded that ball in the ninth inning. He knew he couldn't get an out, so he should have just let it roll. It wasn't going to roll into left field or bounce off the bag like the announcers said. Mental mistake.
Great game for Jose Reyes, but I'm going to give it it's own post, because it deserves that much.
Very exciting 7th inning. Another clutch hit by Wright and a huge home run by Jose Valentin. It was after that inning that I started to believe. I was thinking that innings like that are the type of innings that championship teams have which make championship seasons so special.
But we all remember that being a Met fan is a test of patience. Whenever you get too high, some mediocre closer is there to knock you back down.
By the way, Wagner has now blown 4 saves this year, compared to 3 all of last season. Benitez always blew between 4 and 6 when he was with the Mets, and we all hated him and said he sucked.
posted by Paul at 2:43 AM
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