After the Tigers showed that they didn't win 95 games on some sort of whim, the Mets received a great (and somewhat atypical) playoff performance from Glavine.* The team was helped, as were the As and Cards, by some crappy play though in Game 1 a miscue by Valentin was key to two Dodger runs as well.
But, seriously, the Mets should have been in a nail-biter (helped by a good catch and a wind blown out that turned two apparent home runs, especially the second one, into fly ball outs). Instead, a lackadaisical double play attempt led to Julio Franco (John Franco btw was in the house) barely beating out a double play ball that would have got the Dodgers out of a no one out, bases loaded jam. Instead, a run scored, followed by another. Oh, and somehow a key LD reliever cut his hand, probably in a bar (the cover story aside). Still, the Mets are stuck with Perez as their Number Four, underlining why Glavine's strong six innings were so important.
Up 4-0, it was a bit surprising Randolph did not go to a back-end reliever for the seventh or eighth, but there is an off day and Steve Trachsel (control freak, last start missed for personal reasons) might need some help. His "pitching good enough to win with lots of run support" style might be problematic since Maddux is up. A sweep honestly is no gimmee though LD should be pressing by now. Anyway, one wonders if Dave Williams, a toss in starter who filled in pretty nicely at times, was available to pitch. I sorta wanted him in since each time he went out there, DW tossed a decent game.
Perez was 3-13 overall (but the Pirates opening game starter), 1-3 as a Met. GM Minaya (NY Daily News): "He's the best available option we've got. It is what it is. He's the one that's on turn and we'll give him the ball." Such confidence! Honestly, he is decent, though less likely to be able to control his nerves than John Maine (this year's Brandon Backe ... the Astros rookie that shined a few years back when Pettite was hurt during the playoffs ... let's ignore the fact they lost the second round vs. the Cards). Perez has potential, and one great game under his belt, but likely to be out after 4-5 innings, giving up a few runs. Such is why the team is carrying twelve pitchers.
Anyway, an analyst mentioned the the mound is Glavine's "office," which is an apt metaphor. Along with Maddux, it does look like he is some dispassionate executive out there, Glavine at least looking more athletic than the other guy. TG also has the perfect game face -- he just does his job, usually quite well, not showing much emotion at all while doing so. This is why the first couple years with the Mets were so hard on him -- the teams were just too sucky that even he could not blithely go out there and suffer through them. Hope he is back next year ...
Let his 300th regular season win be as a Met (10 to go).
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* It is not so shocking that they won one game vs the Yanks, though some seem to be suggesting that. Now, if they win tonight, with Kenny "worse in big spots than A-Rod" Rogers, now that will be worth mentioning with a bit of awe. It is a bit curious why he is pitching this basically must win ... i.e. stressful ... game. Yeah, he started the All Star Game, but Brad Penny was there too ... and he (badly) pitched relief yesterday.