Nothing is going to change with Big Pelf until he finds consistancy low on the strike zone. He was able to get six groundball outs but falling behind in counts and then failing to deal with the dangerous Chase Utley was his downfall. In the bottom of the 5th Pelf was ahead in the count to Jason Werth leading off the inning put missed the strike zone on two pitches to go full on Werth. Relying on a fastball all night he tried to get one past Werth who singled to right. Greg Dobbs came up and after getting ahead 0-2 Pelfrey lets on over the middle and Dobbs hits it left for a single. Now you’re in a bind with the big three coming up next. Pelfrey gets too cute with Utley and falls behind 3-1 and throwing more and more fastballs Utley was salivating for that 3-1 pitch and wasted no time hitting it out of the park for his second home run of the game for a 4-0 Phillies lead

 

Give the Mets credit as the fought back to tie the game but Pedro Feliciano again falling behind in the count (see a pattern here?) tries to throw a breaking ball that didn’t break but sat right over the plate and Pedro Feliz as a pinch hitter lines it over the right field fence to put the Phillies back on top. Not much to analyze here, its basic pitching you fall behind in the count and try to sneak a breaking ball in on a hitters count it never goes in the pitchers favor. Throw strikes and keep the ball down sometimes easier said than done.

 

With Moises Alou ready to come back by this weekend, wouldn’t it be good idea to let Angel Pagan work out a t first base just to keep his bat in the lineup? I know he has never played the position in the minors or majors but he seems he is athletic enough to be adequate at worse and suprisingly good at the best. I’m sure if Omar asked nicely, Keith Hernandez would show young Angel a few trick at the right corner.

 

Not only is Carlos Delgado not hitting he has thrown the whole Mets line up out of whack. With Delgado look more over the hill every game, Willie had to drop Ryan Church down in the order and move Gimp Castillo back to the 2 hole (I would have put Endy in the 2 hole myself but I’ll give Willie the benefit of the doubt seeing that Endy has hardly played at all) but when Grandpa Moises comes back this weekend he has to go right in the 6 hole and Delgado down to 7 (or bench) and Gimp back to 8 and Church to 2.

 

Maybe you notice my calmer tone today, in fact I don’t think I used one profanity in today’s post ( I have a standing penance with my parish priest on profanity to the point I don’t even have to confess it anymore. Four Hail Mary’s, Two Our Father’s is the usualorder) I guess it’s due to my day at Highlander Stadium yesterday at the Papal Mass. I guess I should warn you that the Mets/baseball portion of this post is done. If you want to hear about my day at the Mass read on otherwise see you tomorrow.

 

We got to the Bronx about 9AM and walked from 149 St and River Ave down to the Stadium. Most of the parishioners with us have either never been to the Stadium or haven’t been there since Mickey Mantle patrolled centerfield so I was the unofficial tour guide. Security was extremely tight as you either had to arrive by charter bus or subway no private cars were allowed. As we walked down River Ave we were stopped three times to have our tickets inspected. We were then directed to the proper gate to enter where we all (kids as well) emptied our pockets and had to show ID. Once we were in the Stadium we found our seats. I joked that’s why we were invited because I was the only one in the group who knew his way around Highlander Stadium. We had tickets on the first base side in the Field Box (about a $300 dollar ticket for a Highlanders game I presume) I joked that our parish must have given a lot of money to the Cardinal Appeal to get such great seats. I have to give the Highlanders credit as the covered up all the advertising signs all around the ball park in with white, purple and gold material. The pitchers mound was covered by the Vatican Seal as was the walls in back of the bleachers. The opening concert was great with Harry Connick Jr,, Jose Felicano and Stephanie Mills but the Harlem Gospel Singers stole the show as most gospel singers usually do.  After a dreary start of the day although it was still very chilly the sun came out just as the doors of left field fence opened and Pope Benedict XVI made his entrance.

 

Over 57, 000 people roared and waved gold and white handkerchiefs that were given to us as we entered. People were crying as the Pope mobile made its way just out of excitement of seeing the Holy Father. The Pope made his way to the Highlander dugout to put on his vestments for Mass. The crowd just stood in anticipation and roared again when he came out and followed the procession to the alter.

 

With all the cheering and yelling as Pope Benedict waved and held his hand on his heart telling us how he felt about our greeting. He stood and started the Mass. As soon as he said “In the name of the Father……”  it was like the plug was pulled, everyone stop cheering and blessed themselves. Throughout the mass, I was astonished on how quiet the stadium was, no one spoke or even moved in their seats. We captivated by this man.

 

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