Blow It Up: Pirates 7, Mets 5

by Eric Simon on Aug 11, 2008 5:15 PM EDT

Heilman, Show, Smith, Feliciano, oh my! I haven't seen anything like this, possibly ever. For 80% of the bullpen to implode on a daily basis, for a team that is actually pretty talented and a collection of relievers that has established, for the most part, some level of reasonable proficiency, I honestly am at a loss.

At this point, it almost makes more sense to just blow up the bullpen and replace it with pitchers from AA and AAA. The Mets may come back and win the next seven games and they could very well win the division when the dust finally settles, but who can bear to watch this play out? Every day it's like this, and if it's killing me to watch I can only imagine the psychological beating the Mets' hitters and starting pitchers are taking as they build up leads just to see the bullpen defecate all over them.

And now, in what is quickly gaining momentum as the Mets' 2008 slogan: Eff This Ess.

Big winners: Pedro Martinez, +21.4% WPA, Duaner Sanchez, +19.6% WPA
Big losers: Aaron Heilman, -54.5% WPA, Scott Schoeneweis, -19.0% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Easley's glove the calm before the storm, +18.2% WPA
Teh sux0rest play: Doumit single in ninth, -39.7% WPA
Total pitcher WPA: -54.9%
Total batter WPA: +4.9%

Game Thread Roll Call

Nice job by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright; his effort in the game thread embiggens us all.

Name	# of Posts
Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright	57
IanB in MD	47
Endys Game	42
Simons	24
Prince	19
JoshNY	18
LOUtheMETfan	10
anonymous	9
kingcritical	9
mmxii	8
elifriedman	7
whynot	3
goth brooks	1

Tweet Comment 17 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Ugh. Just ugh.

I came home early from work because I was feeling sick. I should have just stayed at work; the game made me feel worse.

by BobbyV_Incognito on Aug 11, 2008 5:21 PM EDT reply actions

two questions

whay not let pedro pitch the 7th? and why not let Sanchez pitch the 9th?

by Endys Game on Aug 11, 2008 5:21 PM EDT reply actions

Pitch count.

Pedro was already up to 100 pitches, and he historically struggles quite badly after the 100th pitch. Besides, his control was pretty awful those last couple innings. As for Sanchez, Jerry likes his bullpen to have defined roles, and in Wagner’s absence, Heilman becomes the closer. Unfortunately, there’s no sign as to how many more games he has to blow before that changes.

by BobbyV_Incognito on Aug 11, 2008 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree with all that

But a Pedro with iffy control still mighta had a better shot at a clean 7th than our bully of late. I’d like to think so anyway, given how shitty our bullpen is right now.

'Catsmeat!' he cried. 'I see it all. It was that chump, Catsmeat.'

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Aug 11, 2008 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Why not let Sanchez pitch the 9th?

Because he’s been shitty lately too?

by JoshNY on Aug 12, 2008 12:12 AM EDT up reply actions

What a hideous WPA chart

Sacking everyone in the bullpen for AA/AAA slobs would have two benefits. A, we could watch somebody else screw up for a little variety. Secondly, if we let the kids pitch in August it would give the MLB dogs some much-needed rest. Those guys have been overworked like nobody’s business.

I guess they’ll just keep on keeping on like this until the September callups though.

by Simons on Aug 11, 2008 5:25 PM EDT reply actions

bullpen overworked?

I saw an analysis somewhere-I can’t remember where to save my life-that shows that the Mets bullpen really isn’t overworked at all compared to other bullpens.

These guys aren’t blowing chunks because they are overworked. They’re blowing chunks this year because they blow chunks this year.

The problem in some ways is that the market for relievers is both unreliable and hella expensive. Manuel is just going to have to go to the kids because I’m all kindsa done with Heilman. I don’t think he’d be claimed on waivers if we cut him.

"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin

by dcrockett17 on Aug 11, 2008 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Cyclones

By the way, it looks like I’ve got 2 extra tickets for the Cyclones on Sunday. The first to respond to this can get them.

by BobbyV_Incognito on Aug 11, 2008 5:57 PM EDT reply actions

Endy Chavez

From where I sat (which admittedly was a ways away in the upper deck) it seemed like Endy misplayed a ball into a double in the 7th and a got a bad jump on one in the 9th. He seems less comfortable in right than he is in left. Since he can’t hit, if he isn’t going to play gold glove caliber defense, why is he still here?

by Reg Dunlop on Aug 11, 2008 8:20 PM EDT reply actions

Leave Endy alone!!!

ok seriously, you are right, his defense has slipped of late. However I don’t think he had a shot in the 9th. He did misplay the ball in the seventh. It is ok to have him on the roster but he never should get regular playing time.

by Endys Game on Aug 11, 2008 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions

In all seriousness, something is truly wrong with the bullpen and the front office.

I’m setting sarcasm and anger aside to sincerely address what is a sad state of affairs for the New York Mets.

Bullpen – THEY…CANNOT…PITCH. THEY…CANNOT…HOLD…A…LEAD. Forgive me if this sounds conspiratorial, but it’s as if the bullpen is doing this on purpose. Honestly, how can every single bullpen pitcher be this bad simultaneously? Why aren’t the pitching coaches able to help? Is it mechanical or psychological? Is it both? How about other teams stealing the signals from the catcher? Can anyone remember a bullpen that has performed this badly on this many occasions? I’m sure there is someone whose got some stats or history on it.

Front Office – THEY…ARE…REALLY…IN…TROUBLE. The Arizona Diamondbacks just got Adam Dunn. There are teams that are still making moves to get better and make a run for the playoffs. AND IT’S “AFTER” THE GOD DAMNED TRADE DEADLINE! Are the METS strapped for cash? Did they blow their wad acquiring Johan? Are our farm teams completely depleted? Is there no one in the front office who knows how to make a deal? I thought this was New York! The epicenter of deal making. This team is run by a bunch of malcontents. Where is Minaya? Why is the New York press not asking for his head?

I swear, it feels like there is complete apathy on the part of ownership to help out these players. I feel like I’m cheering for baseball’s version of the L.A. Clippers. I honestly don’t know how the players even enjoy suiting up to go out there and give it there all knowing that the game truly isn’t over until the final out has been called. No one can feel comfortable or have any confidence once the ball is out of the starters hands.

I truly feel bad for the team.

"MY SERVICES ARE PRO BONO."

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Aug 12, 2008 1:31 AM EDT reply actions

uh...

I honestly don’t know how the players even enjoy suiting up to go out there and give it there all knowing that the game truly isn’t over until the final out has been called.

Isn’t that what makes baseball great?

We've got ourselves a ball club, the Mets of New York town!

by kingcritical on Aug 12, 2008 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions

i will be at the Nats / METS game tonight cheering the team on...

until the 7th inning.

from that point, I’ll just sit quietly and watch.

"MY SERVICES ARE PRO BONO."

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Aug 12, 2008 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Even if Santana is pitching a no-no?

Aw c’mon LOU, I can’t begrudge anyone their cynicism (I mean we ARE all Mets fans here; kinda goes with the turf) but yer killing me lately. Sure, the bullpen stinks. We all know that. But it’s almost like you expect this team to lose every game. What’s the point of watching at all?

'Catsmeat!' he cried. 'I see it all. It was that chump, Catsmeat.'

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Aug 12, 2008 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions

i normally am the most postive person you would ever meet

but…

i just get very disgusted at the bullpen play.

here’s a hug. ;-)

"MY SERVICES ARE PRO BONO."

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Aug 12, 2008 11:50 PM EDT up reply actions

As long as we're "uh..."-ing

With regard to Adam Dunn, I believe Arizona had waiver priority over the Mets anyway because of their inferior record. With regard to our bullpen situ, I’m assuming Omar won’t mortgage what little we have left for a mediocre reliever. Still, it would be nice to at least see if some of our farm kids could do better. Can’t do much worse.

'Catsmeat!' he cried. 'I see it all. It was that chump, Catsmeat.'

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Aug 12, 2008 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions

sure does seem like a lot of fellow AMAZIN bloggers like to sharpen their teeth on my comments.

Uh…

“King” maybe tennis, skiing, chess or marbles are games that are great for individually choking at, but this team sport requires a large group of players to depend on one guy to do his job. In the METS case, the larger portion of the team is depending on the relief pitcher and currently they can’t. So, if I were a baseball player and I was giving it my all and I see that my efforts are getting wasted by 4 to 5 guys in the last 3rd of the game…I wouldn’t be telling myself that this is what makes the game great.

“Catsmeat et. al” I used the Adam Dunn comparison as a general point of a team trying to improve. The METS front office either is flummoxed on how to improve the team or the cupboard is basically bare and are unable to make a move.

Carry on.

"MY SERVICES ARE PRO BONO."

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Aug 12, 2008 3:15 PM EDT reply actions