Game 4 Rehash

[Guest Edgy DC]

I've got to say, I'm a little confused by Willie's sense of bullpen conservation. Bradford going 1.3 is OK, but then, when we put it out of reach, he threw an inning each to the situational lefty and the co-setup guy, instead of Roberto Hernandez, the fourth righthander in the pen.

Of course, it all worked out brilliantly, as Feliciano and Mota each ended up with a laughably short workday (10 and eight pitches respectively), Mota got a positive outing after his last battering (probably what Willie was thinking in using him), and Robo gets a night off after going yesterday.

So everybody is looking pretty fresh right now, except Oliver and Bradford, and I'm sure Bradford can answer the bell tomorrow for a batter or two.

I agree that it'd have been nice to throw a bone to Castro back there, but they probably wanted Lo Duca out there to work with Mota. Castro caught him in Florida also and all, but the Mota rehab inning was probably important to Willie. Just guessing.

I was assured by a KTE essay or two that Yadier Molina was lameo hitter.

[Zvon]

Yea-LoDuke working with the pitchers had to be a factor as to why he played the whole game.

I do believe he means alot more to this team than we even know, on many levels. Maybe someday we see a lil "C" on his uniform,...huh?

[Guest Edgy DC]

Nah.

[Valadius]

David may earn that "C" someday.

[Guest Edgy DC]

He may get the title (big may), but I suspect we've seen the last "C."

Randolph was named co-captain of the Yanks one season and thrown over for Steve Sax the next. He may be cynical about the title.

[Gwreck]

After the '05 season, I'd have said that David Wright was on his way to being a Mets captain.

After this year, I'd say that Reyes would be more appropriate captain.

[Guest vtmet]

The captain thing can cause more harm than good...does it need to be official? It's a team thing, not a does Jeter accept AROD into his realm thing...Both Reyes/Wright work well together and work well with others, they don't need no stinkin' "C" to know their value to the TEAM...it just ranks one higher than the other, which is counterproductive...if we need a guy with a "C" to go crying back to the Wilpons, we can always high Franco/Leiter back...

[Guest Rotblatt]

La Russa got burned tonight. I really don't get leaving Thompson in to face Delgado when Flores was ready in the pen.

Perez looked a'ight. The ump had a relatively small strike zone last night (although it looked consistent to me) but he worked with it, and like Zvon said, made some good pitches when he needed to.

I was a little surprised with Willie's use of Bradford's as well, but I suppose Willie didn't want to give the Cards any chance to get back into it.

Valentin has been great defensively and he had a couple good at bats at the plate tonight for the first time in a while. If he & Wright get it going, it's going be a big boost. Speaking of Wright, I continue to think that he should cheat towards the third base line. Reyes has got nice range, and Wright's given up a lot of "just missed it" doubles down the line.

Green's also driving me crazy in the field, with his "just missed it" moments, but he's also had some nice at bats. Sometimes I wish we could just clone Endy, though, and put him in left AND right.

Edmonds' catch last night was amazing. I thought that was a hit for sure.

Great game last night; hopefully we can build on it tonight! Or tomorrow, if the weathermen have their shit straight.

[Willets Point]

Hmm...perhaps Green could take some Endy performance drugs such as EGH.

[HahnSolo]

Oliver Perez at the plate has a swing that reminds me of the guy from the Lotto commercial who bought the baseball team.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Green's really revealed himself to be an awful fielder in this series.

No surprise that our breakout inning was a Met Classic in style: Reyes single, runs on a ground single, walk, wham. Gotta do the same to The Weave tonight and we'll be fine.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Thing is Ollie's a good athlete and his swing is fine from the waist up.

His feet are ridiculously all over the place, though.

I think it's pointless to rehash rumors and speculation about Franco and Leiter in this thread. We have an actual real-live NLCS playoff victory to rehash.

[Guest Iubitul]

I'm thinking that if the game is played tonight, I still don't pitch Glavine. Historically, he's not good on short rest. Start Heilman, let him go 2-3 innings, and go from there.

Who knows - we could get lucky, and have Glavine on the mound up 3-2 on Wednesday.

[Guest Edgy DC]

What takes more luck though?

1. Pitching Glavine on short rest and hoping for a win?



2. Burning through our bullpen and hoping for a win and having a few of them knackered?

Now, we have that travel day to restore them, but giving Leiter his first start since 5/15/05 just strikes me as a desperate move that sends a message of desperation to the team.

[Guest Iubitul]

The travel day is why I would consider this if it works, and each guy gets an inning, they won't be abused.

[metirish]

When asked about possible game seven starters Willie said Heilman would not start.

[MFS62]

="Edgy DC"] Randolph was named co-captain of the Yanks one season and thrown over for Steve Sax the next. He may be cynical about the title.

Is that thrown over for Steve Sax or overthrown by Steve Sax?

Didn't Sax suffer from Knobloch disease?

Later

[dinosaur jesus]

Edgy DC wrote: giving Leiter his first start since 5/15/05 just strikes me as a desperate move that sends a message of desperation to the team.

That really does sound like desperation. Did they sneak Alois onto the roster?

[Farmer Ted]

Endy is gold. That peg of Belliard at third was huge.

[Centerfield]

I don't think Leiter should start tonight.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Centerfield wrote: I don't think Leiter should start tonight.

Jerry Koosman is well-rested.


A rainout tonight allows Glavine to go on his normal rest, but does the same for Weaver. (It also give LaRussa the chance to send Carpenter on three days rest. I don't expect he'd do that though, but who knows?)

The good thing about Glavine pitching today is, if the Mets win the series, he'd have four days rest before Saturday night in Detroit. Things could start looking pretty good if Glavine can pitch Game 1 and Orlando Hernandez can go in Game 2.

But first things first. Whenever it's played, Glavine's the best bet for Game 5. And then Maine in Game 6, and Darren Oliver in Game 7. I'd use Steve Trachsel as the last man out of the bullpen in an 18 inning-game.

[Guest Iubitul]

Yancy Street Gang wrote: But first things first. Whenever it's played, Glavine's the best bet for Game 5. And then Maine in Game 6, and Darren Oliver in Game 7. I'd use Steve Trachsel as the last man out of the bullpen in an 18 inning-game.

This does make sense, but either way, Game 6 will have one team a step from elimination, and I would rather have Glavine on the mound for that game.

[Guest cooby]

Centerfield wrote: I don't think Leiter should start tonight.

Id be out back doing my raindance

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

But sending Glavine in Game 5 is the best chance of having it be the Cardinals who have their backs to the wall instead of the Mets.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I was on my way to a meeting, and I conflated two Mets with an IE and an L.

It sure was a smelly conflation.

[MFS62]

="Edgy DC"]I was on my way to a meeting, and I conflated two Mets with an IE and an L. It sure was a smelly conflation.

Is that another way to say mis-typed?

Later

[Guest Rotblatt]

After looking at his numbers, I'm more optimistic about Glavine starting on short rest. He's only done it twice in the past 4 years, and he had one good start and one bad one. Sure, he's got a bad record on short rest in the post-season, but it's probably just a small sample size. His regular season short-rest starts have been pretty good.

Weaver hasn't started on short rest at all, from what I can tell.

Still, a fully rested Glavine would be a good thing. We can't worry about the World Series just yet . . . Besides, maybe El Duque can start Game 1 & Glavine, Game 2.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Rotblatt wrote: Besides, maybe El Duque can start Game 1 & Glavine, Game 2.

Good thought. I'd be down with that.

[soupcan]

During the game Buck and McCarver interviewed LaRussa between the top and bottom of the 4th inning. A. Reyes was the 4th hitter due up in the bottom of the 4th.

They asked LaRussa what he thought about his pitcher's performance thus far and LaRussa said 'blah, blah, blah but he's done and I'm taking him out'.

Bottom of the 4th comes and goes, Reyes' spot comes up and LaRussa pinch hits with Duncan.

At the post game interview, LaRussa is asked about Reyes and says 'I would have let him pitch another inning if his spot in the order didn't come up.'

Huh? Anybody else notice that?

Was he lying in the postgame thinking no one saw the in-game interview or did he forget what he said on-air?

[Valadius]

Maybe La Russa's forgetful? Who knows. Maybe he was trying to weasel his way out of admitting mistakes.