POTG Beer Poll - 7/28/06 - Mets 6 Braves 4

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

Having not pitched since June 28th, Pedro Martinez's return to the mound for the Mets was reason to celebrate, no matter the outcome. After a rough first inning in which the Braves slapped him around for 4 runs on 4 hits and a walk. Following his rough first inning, Pedro shook off the rust and lost his apprehension to pitch 5 great innings. The bullpen trio of Pedro Feliciano, Duaner Sanchez, and Billy Wagner combined to no-hit the Braves during their three shut out innings of work.

The Mets had staked Martinez to a 2 run lead as he took the mound for his shaky first inning. Jose Reyes hit his fourth lead off home run of the season and Julio Franco singled in Wright from second base, following his double. In the second inning the Mets again struck to pull even with the Braves. Martinez doubled and Reyes walked, before Carlos Beltran delivered a 2 out single to tie the game at 4. In the third, the Mets took the lead for good when Jose Valentin hit a sacrifice fly to left that scored Xavier Nady from third. David Wright "put the icing on the cake" with a line drive, opposite field home run in the seventh. It provided a little extra margin for the relievers to work with.

So let's celebrate another great victory by the Mets. Their come from behind win dashed the hopes of an all-time record home crowd for a Braves game. So raise a frosty mug of Market Street Pilsner Draft. A wonderful southern microbrew, for a fine Mets victory.

[Elster88]

Very tough call. I'm not sure why people are picking Pedro. Perhaps some folks could enlighten me?

[Elster88]

Very tough call. I'm not sure why people are picking Pedro. Perhaps some folks could enlighten me?

[Guest cooby]

Gee I don't know. Maybe it's because he pitched a good game after a month off and had a double and scored a run yet besides.




I didn't know we were back to defending our choices again.



Why did you vote for Wright?

[Elster88]

cooby wrote: I didn't know we were back to defending our choices again.

Just once in my life I'd like to ask someone for an explanation of their opinion without them getting snippy and defensive. I don't think it's possible though.

[Guest cooby]

I am not trying to be snippy with you. I enlightened you about how I voted


Believe me Elster, you are not the problem here.

[metirish]

I voted for Pedro because after a month off and a bad first inning he settled down and was just great....

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

I picked Beltran because his two-run blast was huge. But it was a close call between him and Pedro, who settled down beautifully after the rough first inning.

[Elster88]

cooby wrote: I am not trying to be snippy with you. I enlightened you about how I voted

Fair enough. For myself, I just flipped a coin between Beltran and Wright. Their performances were very close. For Pedro, I was pleased that he settled in after the first, and his double and run scored obviously helped. But I'm big on overall numbers when it comes to pitchers. On many days, if you just pull out "the one bad inning" then the pitcher had a great day. I don't like pulling out the one bad inning myself, even when it's the first inning coming off of an injury break.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

The funny thing is, that I almost didn't even nominate Pedro. His overall pitching line of 4 earned runs allowed in 6 innings wasn't all that great. I finally decided to nominate him because his return to the rotation was so big for the Mets and he did settle down to pitch very well the last five innings.

I voted for Beltran for getting a two out hit to drive in the two runs that tied the game up.