Mon 23 Apr 2007
First let’s thank the NY Highlanders for losing 3 straight to the Old Town Team and taking away the back page of the tabloids. It may be there first time in a long time I’m not bitching about the media coverage of the Mets.
Yesterday’s loss was very tough to take, especially after dropping 2 of 3 in Atlanta last time the two team met and having a 3 run lead late. Friday’s game you chalk up to an ace pitcher, Tim Hudson being on his game as he kept the Mets batters off balance all night. Saturday’s game was proof of the solid work that Professor Rick does with this pitching staff. Oliver Perez went from having no command of the strike zone in his last start to no walks and 9K’s in 6 2/3 IP.
So now it looks like we have a race in the NL which should make for some fun this summer. As much as it sucks to drop 4 of 6 to the Braves, it does a couple of things for the Mets. First, this should light a fire under the ass’ of the 25 players and coaching staff. Willie Randolph should put a big highlighted mark on the games of May 22-24 as that the next time the Mets play the Braves and the games will be in Atlanta. This should be the first big statement game for the Mets this year. Randolph loves to be this understated guy, never too low, never too high well this should be the time he gives his team a challenge and go to the Ted and apply an ass kicking.
Speaking of Randolph, A lot of people are giving him some hell over not matching relievers/batters in the 7th. With a 6-3 lead and Tom Glavine done for the day, I would guess that Randolph would have loved to get 2 innings out of Burgos as Amby threw 13 pitches Friday night but did not pitch on Saturday and to get 2 innings out of him and then let Aaron Sele finish off the 9th was the best laid plans but of course there are times when those plans don’t go according and yesterday was one of those days. The Mets bullpen has been as close to perfect as you can get and if this loss happened against any other team but the Braves, you’d shrug it off but to lose to Atlanta like this just irks the shit out you.
