[Note: Blogger down yesterday, so this post is a bit stale. Also, I link up the various fray posts to catch-up, instead of posting the text here. One last thing ... West Wing was pretty good this year, but why is it ending early April? Sheesh. I do like Santos ... designated loser.]
Update: The Mets finally won Sunday, after two more games of more of the same (lack of timely hits, some messiness, and inconsistent pitching mixed with some promising hurling). Pedro pitched a complete game, gave up one run, and John Smoltz's own gem was broken up in the eighth and the hitting floodgates opened. Finally. Meanwhile, Baltimore gave the Yanks a lot of problems as the Red Sox opener approaches.
To add to the below whining, there was some more Mets fun this week. Now, yes, equal time warrants references to two blown saves (one leading to a loss with help of an A-Rod error) by Mariano "not the Red Sox again" Rivera. And, various pitchers (especially those in the bullpen) have had problems this week, including John "I had longer outings as a closer" Smoltz, who could not get out of the second inning.
Nonetheless, Willie Randolph did not have a good first series as a manager. And, fans had more reasons to bite their fingers ... oh for one or two more breaks. For instance, everyone but the umpire (admittedly the only person who counts) apparently felt that two key pitches by Tom Glavine were third strikes. Neither were called, and the next pitches resulted in a total five runs.
Glavine had to leave in the fourth, but the Mets bullpen held the Reds scoreless until the eighth. With good comes bad: (1) the Mets blew a no one out bases loaded opportunity by getting but one run [questionable base running helped] and (2) a reliever finally blew it in the eighth by giving up a grand slam (Joe Randa, no powerhouse, thus contributed to two losses). On the other hand, the runs negated any problems arising from Willie not properly making a double switch earlier in the inning.
A bit more whine with that meal: Ishii also had a pretty good game. Early problems were overcome, apparently his typical behavior, and he had a "quality" start for 6.2 innings (three runs, not all his fault). The bullpen stretched the day before and likely needed on Saturday for long action, Ishii was left in ... two runs. Reliever comes in (the same who gave up that grand slam) ... another run. This is the path of scoring over ten runs in a three game series, eleven in the first two combined, and being swept.
Not to worry, this weekend will be easier: The Braves.