Thursday, August 28, 2008By Mike Steffanos
Game 134: Mets 6 - Phillies 3
The Mets record in the first game against of all series against the Phillies this season: 1-4
The Mets record in all other games against the Phillies this season: 9-1.
God bless you, Carlos Delgado and Daniel Murphy.
So could someone please explain to me why every time the Mets lose a heartbreaker to the Phillies in the first game of a series I'm bombarded with "the Phillies are in the Mets heads" stories? The Mets have won 10 of 15 head-to-head games versus Philadelphia this season. It seems to me that if a team is in your head they win more than 33% of the games.
The stories in the Philadelphia papers today used the tired Phillies bullpen as somewhat of an alibi. I could only point out the obvious that the Mets bullpen was tired, too. However, one huge factor in this game that you haven't really heard discussed much was Pelfrey's complete game on Monday. That day off for the Mets bullpen the night before a 13-inning game that required 8 innings from the bullpen allowed Jerry Manuel a little more leeway in using his bullpen guys yesterday.
I don't know how this season will play out. The questions surrounding this bullpen, John Maine's injury and the ongoing (except for last night) drought of late-game offense for the Mets are all potential landmines for their playoff hopes. But last season the Phillies seemed to catch every break in those games down the stretch last season, and that seems to have evened out a great deal this year.
In 2007, it would have been the Phillies getting breaks like Beltran's swinging bunt in the eighth and Brian Schneider's well-placed bloop single that plated the 2 insurance runs.
Maybe that's why the Phillies spend so much time being offended by things the Mets do this season. Our inside sources tell us that Jimmy Rollins didn't like the way the Mets players were smiling after the game and vows terrible revenge for the temerity. Might I suggest strapping them down and forcing Wright, Delgado et al to listen to an endless loop of Rollins' interviews? Now that's punishment.
As for the Mets, I watch every game now with my fingers splayed in front of my eyes as they dodge bullets or take one full in the heart. It's hard for me to make an intelligent argument for this team to survive the final 28 games with all of their deficiencies. But then again, this just doesn't seem to be a year where logic rules. It may be maddening, but it's also fun. I don't really need what's left of my hair, anyway.
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Comments (6)
Mike,
Great point about Pelfrey's complete game the night before the Philly series. A Newsday columnist who's generally very good said the Mets were "wasting" Big Pelf by letting him go the distance. The waste would've been losing both these games because the pen was spent. (They had extra-inning games the day before and after Pelfrey's CG.)
And Mr. Rollins seems to confuse baseball with a tea party. Maybe the Phillies shouldn't have crowded around the plate after they won the game Tuesday. Complaining about other teams reactions? That's bush. You want to complain about something, how about the dimensions in Philly that would be tiny for a Wiffleball field.
Posted by metsilverman.com | August 28, 2008 4:47 PM
Just to make things sweeter, the Phillies let up 5 runs in the 8th inning to lose 6-4 to the Cubs today. As a result, the Mets are now up a full game over the Phillies for 1st. Hey, every little bit helps.
If anyone's in another team's head, it's the Mets who are in the Phillie's heads. The Mets have lost no series to the Phillies all year, and as Mike said, have a 10-5 record to the Phillies so far. I completely forgot about the win/loss record after the first game, and it really is damning that the Mets are 9-1 against them after the first game.
The biggest problem for the Phillies all year has been their starters- Hamels is the only pitcher in their rotation to consistently go 7 innings. Everyone else does 6 innings or less, with varying degrees of success. Their bullpen's starting to wear thin, too.
Posted by Jason B | August 29, 2008 12:16 AM
Matt - Rollins claims that the Phillies are using the Mets celebrations as motivation. Maybe after dropping 10 of 15 they should try different motivation.
Jason - I guess it's not just our bullpen that coughs up great efforts from a starter.
Posted by Mike Steffanos | August 29, 2008 1:37 AM
Any Met Fans take special note of the hometown "fans" showering him with their renowned "affection" recently after he opined on a Sports talk show? LOL
(Any Mets ever call you guys front-runners before?)
Posted by LetsGoMets | September 6, 2008 11:33 PM
So I stumbled on this site looking up Jimmy Rollins. I am a die hard Phillies fan. I couldn't help but post how funny it is to read this trash people posted in late August. You guys are right that the Phillies stink and get all the breaks and the Mets have their number. hahahahaha How'd you make out?
Posted by Mike Roberts | December 21, 2008 5:49 AM
That's not really what it says here, Mike, but that's okay. I understand Phillies fans aren't very bright. Do yourself a favor and stick to the sites with lots of pictures in the future.
Posted by Mike Steffanos | December 21, 2008 7:56 PM