DC Sweep Takes Heat Off Mets Bullpen

Props to Nomar!  The biggest development for the Mets this week was LA’s four game sweep of the rival Phillies, keyed by Garciaparra’s walkoff shot Wednesday, which combined with the Mets sweep of the pathetic Nats to leave the Amazins up one game in first place the NL East.  You can win all you want but you can’t gain ground unless the team you are chasing loses, which is why I believe Manny and the surging Dodgers have been a godsend for the Mets the past four days.   

The Mets sweep of Washington featured perfect work from the beleaguered bullpen, which has an ERA well over 6.50 since the All Star Break, the worst in MLB other than the drain-circling Braves.  My “why Joe Smith should be the closer” posting will now be relegated to draft status forever after his two walk, no out performance last night following a string of recent bad outings.  Pedro Feliciano and Duaner Sanchez, on the other hand have both stepped their game up considerably of late.   

I was impressed by Sanchez last night, who came into a tight 5-3 contest in the eighth with one out and the two guys Smith walked on base.   Sanchez made mincemeat out of Aaron Boone, getting up 0-2 and then inducing Boone to swing at a high fastball way outside that he just couldn’t lay off.  Duaner had been lacking the usual zip on his pitches of late but this week for whatever reason he was back to his intimidating best, helped once again by his back-to-the hitter Luis Tiant style delivery and his filthy rosin-covered hat.  Sanchez embodied the name of the game for relievers, movement, deception and knowing the situation.

Someone should tell that to Aaron Heilman.  In his latest meltdown on Monday, Heilman allowed the Pirates to finish off their comeback from a 5-1 deficit by allowing three earned runs and getting only one out in a shocking 9th inning collapse.  It was clear to me what Heilman’s problem was, and I truly wonder if he has the mental makeup to be a reliever in big spots.  Heilman could not throw his offspeed pitches anywhere near the strike zone, and it was just too easy for Pirate hitters to lay off.  Then he tried to compensate by overthrowing his fastball, attempting to break the 200 MPH barrier and sacrificing his mechanics in so doing.  SNY’s Ron Darling alertly pointed out how his arm angle suddenly lowered, and he was getting way too much of the plate with the fastball.  Instead of trying to throw “extra hard”, Heilman needs to stay cool under pressure, work the count, and use a fastball with some movement on it instead of pure heat (which he was able to do successfully against the Marlins last weekend).  I’m sure pitching coach Dan Warthen has drummed that concept into his head a million times, but somehow these fundamentals break down when things start to go south in a big situation, and the hits and walks just snowball.  Which is totally unacceptable for a reliever!

Its brings up an excellent question about bullpens in general, why do the best pitchers all seem to work as starters or possibly closers, leaving the critical seventh and eighth innings to the worst arms on the staff?  Shouldn’t the starters be capable workhorses and the middle relievers be the guys with the nastiest stuff?  Love to hear what you think STB readers!! 

Very big start for Mike Pelfrey in Pittsburgh tonight as he looks to bounce back from a poor showing vs. the Marlins Sunday. 

And finally, a budding story for the Mets is the fact that they’re getting it done with rookies; Argenis “The Other” Reyes and Nick Evans have made solid contributions, but none bigger than Daniel Murphy, who just looks so natural at the plate and has been hitting the cover off the ball.

 

 

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Last post (s) by Mark Reichman

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