Put The "L" Next To Manuel's Name

Like just about every other Met fan, this morning I am completely disgusted. The Mets had a chance to set the tone yesterday, to make a statement and they had everything working… Then they BLEW it. Personally, I think the “L” should go next to Jerry Manuel’s name.

The fact is Johan Santana was pitching a gem. He had only thrown 105 pitches and given up just two runs. He had gotten the first batter out in EVERY inning he pitched. There was no reason that he was pulled from the game after eight and not given an opportunity to pitch a complete game.

I understand that is the way baseball is played today but I HATE what baseball has become. As Harold Baines said after the game yesterday, this is exactly the reason the Mets got Santana, to handle a situation like this. Let him go, lets see what he has. I felt that way when Argenis Reyes came up to pinch hit in the bottom of the eighth for Santana and I certainly felt that way after the Mets blew the game.

While I would have kept Santana in the game (as Baines said, it wasn’t like Santana was struggling and he worked the eighth fairly easily), I also agree with a comment Lee Mazzilli made after the game. Maz was talking about how with a three run lead and only needing three outs, you have to get them. I agree with that thinking too.

Once Santana was pulled from the game, the Mets have to hold the Phills. You CAN’T let them score six runs in the ninth and play as sloppily as they did. There was no excuse for the bullpen to blow that game. They needed to come through and they didn’t.

I don’t even care that Wagner was not available. I thought Ron Darling, Keith Harnandez and Gary Cohen made it sound much tougher than it was, talking about the difference between pitching the eight and the ninth. Garbage! With three runs, it is possible Manuel would not have even brought Billy Wagner into the game if he were available (certainly over the past couple of years in that situation he would occasionally be given the night off—although once trouble started, probably would have been brought in). The bullpen has got to get three outs. The didn’t.

It is true that the defense did not help the pitching but the bottom line is, Met pitching should never have even let them get in such a situation.

Last night, the Mets reverted back to the pitiful team they were at the end of last season and the beginning of this one. Let’s hope today, we got the “other” team back.

Let’s Go Mets!