Tagged: dillon gee
Pelfrey struggles, Mets begin Subway Series part II
The Mets lost to the Detroit Tigers yesterday afternoon by a score of 5 – 2. While the Mets didn’t sweep the Tigers, they did win the series. The Mets have won their last three interleague series versus Oakland, Texas, and Detroit. These last three series have put the Mets above the .500 mark, and 5.5 games back in the wild card race.
I’ve been super impressed with the Mets the last week, week and a half. They’ve shown that they have what it takes to stay in the hunt for the playoffs. All the Mets need to do is keep playing well pitched, solid baseball. If they can do that, they can make the playoffs. They can’t worry about what the other teams are doing, just what they are doing.
The Mets’ offense lately has been super, scoring loads of runs over the last four of five. Yes, the Mets only scored two runs yesterday, but they still were in the game and had opportunities. No, you won’t score double digit runs every night. There will be days where you just can’t get that run in. Its incouraging though, because they have had opportunities and were in the game the whole way. Unfortunately, Pelf wasn’t on his game last night and wasn’t effective.
That’s been the problem. Pelfrey just cannot remain consistant over an extended period of time. He has shown time and time again that he has the stuff to be a top of the line pitcher, but he cannot remain on task mentally and he then falls behind hitters and let’s the game get away.
If only Mike had the mental toughness of someone like Dillon Gee. If Mike could get that mentally tough, he would be a dominant pitcher.
Mike was that pitcher the first half of the 2010 season. If he can find a way to get back there, that would change the Mets’ rotation completely. But unfortunately, I don’t see that happening. He is just too much of a head case. Maybe not like A.J. Burnett, but he is a head case.
And for that reason, when or if Johan Santana comes back, Mike Pelfrey has to be the odd man out. Of the five current starters in the rotation: Mike, Chris Capuano, R.A. Dickey, Dillon Gee, and Jon Niese, Mike has been the least effective. It’s obivous that R.A., Jon, and Johan will be in the rotation. The three that would be competeing for two spots would be Mike, Dillon, and Chris. Chris has been very effective this season and because he’s a lefty, he’s a valuable option to have in the rotation. in regards to Dillon, he has been way to effective to take out, so he’s almost sure to remain.
So, it’s not between Chris Capuano and Mike Pelfrey. I would pick Mike to be out, but some people may make the case to take out Capuano because he’s a lefty and could be vaubale in the ‘pen.
Whatever is done, the Mets need to do what’s best for the team to win. Maybe that’s cutting ties and trading Pelf in season or in the offseason. I don’t know, but whatever happens, the Mets can’t afford to risk ruining this potentially positive season.
Speaking of pitching, Jon Niese was cleared by doctors regarding his rapid heartbeat and will start tonight versus that Yankees. The will be toe-ing the rubber against Ivan Nova for the Yankees.
They’re gaining ground
The Mets won their second consecutive game this afternoon, beating the Nationals by a score of 1 to nothing at Citi Field. The Mets now find themselves at 5 1/2 games back of the Phillies. The Mets can gain another 1/2 game tonight if the Phillies lose. In the Mets’ last 25 games, their 16-9, a pretty respectable number for the amount of injuries they’ve had to overcome.
Jason Bay had a great game, collecting three hits for the first time since the middle of last season. Although this is a great sign, as Gary Cohen and Ron Darling pointed out during the game, he hasn’t been able to lift the ball as he has done throughout his career. Bay needs to take it slow and just collect hits. If he can get hits and raise his average, the home runs will come. Plus, hitting in Yankee Stadium this weekend could boost those power numbers. Terry Collins also added that he may bat Jason in the second slot to hopefully get him some fastballs and balls to hit with Beltran and Turner behind him.
Dillon Gee, Dillon Gee! Boy, he couldn’t have been much better today, pitching 7 2/3 innings allowing just two hits, one of which was collected by Livan Hernandez. Gee lasted 5 2/3 innings without allowing a hit. Yet again, the Mets will not have a no hitter. Dillon Gee is a good, solid starting pitcher who can get it done on the mound. Gee may not have the best stuff, but he has the ability to locate his pitches and get the job done. I think it was a mistake to put him in the ‘pen, because of how well he does when starting. He has been proving he deserves to be here. In ten career Major League starts, he has an ERA under 2.50. Can’t get much better than that.
Justin Turner has come through yet again, driving in the sole run of the game. In just over 50 at-bats this season, he has 13 RBI. He has been a key piece to this lineup and his proving himself that when the regulars come back, he needs to stay with the big club.
While Turner has been hitting the snot out of the ball, Daniel Murphy is in the completely opposite direction. He is batting below .240 and as Keith pointed out, he’s “letting the ball get too deep.”
The Mets are headed to Yankee Stadium tomorrow to start a three game series with the Bronx Bombers. The Yanks have been struggling and the Mets will avoid C.C. Sabathia. Go get ’em boys!
It’s my time to vent…
The Mets just lost their second straight game tonight by a score of 10-3. The Mets lost a tough game last night, but tonight’s game gives most fans heart burn. Mike Pelfrey was once again comepletely ineffective and had no idea what he was doing (or it appeared that way).
Mike lasted only 4.1 innigs tonight, throwing 71 pitches, but most of those pitches from the second inning on were melons coming toward the plate.
Mike doesn’t appear to understand how to pitch. He NEEDS to bust Howard inside. Someone needs to do it. Brush him back, hit him with a fastball (not the 80 mph slider Pelf hit him with) to send a message. When you do not brush someone off the plate, your bound to leave one out and he can extend and reach pitches on the outside corner. Mike left a pitch out over the plate and Ryan drove it into the upper tank. That’s what happens when you don’t brush someone back, Pelf!
First of all, there is no way Mike should have started the game. He lost around eleven pounds due to the flu during this week. He probably didn’t have the best strength. Dillon Gee needed to get the start. He was effective from the rotation and there is absolutely no way he should have been placed in the ‘pen.
Gee walked some guys tonight and was pitching well against Howard, until he left one on the inner half of the plate, but it had enough, and he went yard and collected 4 RBI off of his grand salami.
It’s not even Gee’s fault, atleast I don’t believe so. He shouldn’t have been brought in in a tight situation like that.
Jason Bay didn;t help things by grounding into an un-timely double play. Also, the home plate umpire was absolutely awful. He missed calls (balls and strikes) and he had a very inconsistent strike zone.
Also…Mike just said in an interview that he needed to tip his cap to Howard for hitting the pitch? Tip your cap? In high school if you get a ball there you’re expected to drive it. Come on Pelf, it’s his job to hit the junk you throw up to the plate.
The two positives: Jason Pridie and Ike Davis’ home runs. Good jobs guys, for what it’s worth.
Another bad taste left in the Mets fans’ mouth. It makes it even more painful when yet again it is Philadelphia who does it. Now the Mets can expect two more losses when they face Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee…Gulp!
Break out the pepto, it’s gonna be a long two days in Philly.
Gee stays, Carrasco goes
The Mets won their fourth straight game today, sweeping the D-Backs and finishing this homestand with six wins and four losses. The Mets rebounded nicely from a near sweep at the hands of the Astros.
I’ve been impressed by the Mets’ home run totals lately at the stadium. David Wright hit two home runs today, and Ike Davis along with Bay hit homers yesterday. Ike had three bombs, and I mean bombs during the homestand. Ike proved once again he has sheer power and that he is now a force in the N.L. East along with Heyward, Utley, and Ryan Howard. On MetsBlog.com, the discussion was brought up about the dimsensions of the Mo’s Zone. It probably wouldn’t be a terrible idea, but I hate changing the stadium once it’s been open. And, I really don’t know why either. But, if they did have a shorter fence, Carlos would have had to homers today.
By the way, I love the name Gary Cohen gave the left field wall: The Great Wall of Flushing.
Dillon Gee pitched very well, yet again yesterday. He did allow four runs, but only two were earned and he was affected by a Daniel Murphy error and an Ike Davis dropped pop up in foul ground.
Sandy Alderson announced that the Mets have optioned D.J. Carrasco to AAA Buffalo in order to retain Gee. Chris Young is going to return Tuesday to pitch versus the Nats in Washington, D.C.
I will be sick if the Mets put Gee in the bullpen. There is too much changing of roles in today’s game. Just leave the guy where he has been effective and where he is comfortable. Why mess him up by switching him from a starter to a reliever, then back to a starter. If he can’t be in the rotation, send him to AAA and bring him up when a spot opens back up.
Another option could be to put Chris Capuano in the bullpen, where he has pitched before. That seems to be more logical, to me atleast. The only dilemma is that he pitched great last time out.
You Gotta Believe
With the Mets at 4-9, and their pitching struggling, the future doesn’t look very bright. But, I wouldn’t rule the Mets out just yet. I’ve had to convince myself that the Mets can do it, but I really do think they can. Yes, they can, but it won’t be easy.
The Mets have to first figure out a way to get their bullpen in order. When you lose three of four games to the Rockies by one run, you know that they pitching is at fault, considering the offensive numbers that were put up. Is it sending someone down that will solve the problem?
The two pitchers that have looked the worst are Bobby Parnell and Taylor Buchholz. I have been getting somewhat fed up with Bobby, because he just cannot get people out, and he doesn’t deserve to be here. Pat Misch needs to be here. He deserved to make the team.
Dillon Gee may be called up to pitch in Chris Young’s place, as he is still suffering from sore ribs as a result of rib tendinitis. I like Gee, I think he could be successful, as he was last year.
This is the problem that the Mets have to watch out for, keeping the pitching healthy. I think that it is going to be important to go out an acquire someone, to help keep the Mets in it. If they could acquire one or two guys, then get Bay back, they could definitely win some ballgames.
Another thing the Mets have got in their favor is that their schedule is not a back breaker. They play the Braves three times in the next two days, and then have another day off. This could help out the bullpen’s stamina. The Braves are also struggling right now, so the Mets should try to take advantage. On Tuesday, they are back home to play the Astros and D-Backs, then they go to play the Nats.
The Mets have a chance.
Remember Mets fans, You Gotta Believe!
Problems with the pitching
The Mets were rained out today in Atlanta, and this will result in them playing a double header tomorrow, starting at 4:10pm. D.J. Carrasco is set to pitch against Derek Lowe in the first game, while Big Pelf is gonna pitch against Jair Jurrjens in the second of the two.
This has disaster written all over it. Why? Because the Mets are going to play their second double header in three days. The bullpen is spent as it is, and with two games tomorrow, they’re destined to have more trouble. The Mets’ bullpen has been the worst in baseball so far, and their starters haven’t been much better.
It seems as though every time the Mets’ offense get the pitchers a lead, they give it right back in the following half inning, or later on. The Mets average five runs a game, which has to be good enough to win games. Frankly, I’m surprised the ‘pen and starters have been so bad. During the spring, they looked really promising. I guess they spent all of their out then. The only positives have been Pedro Beato and Jason Isringhausen.
Isringhausen was called up to the majors a few days ago, making his first Mets appearance since 1999. And, he has pitched well, though his time here has been brief to say the least. He has closed close to 300 games, so it appears as though he will be able to withstand pressure packed situations. The real question is, can he stay healthy?
Pedro Beato has been lights out every time he has come in, and I think, though it may be premature, Terry needs to take advantage of his talent and effectiveness lately.
I think it’s likely the Mets will call up Dillon Gee to pitch, which I’m happy about, considering Chris Young’s rib cage. They need to call up Pat Misch, to provide bullpen help and to get some outs, something the Mets’ bullpen can’t do as of now.
Put it in the Books! 