Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Mets 8, Phillies 3
I've found myself using the word "effective" to describe the efforts of certain Mets pitchers lately. It's accurate, in that they are preventing runs, which is their job. But it doesn't convey the sense that they're doing so via some extraordinary exhibition of skill. Because while the bottom line is that keeping runs of the board is all they need to do, another line in the vicinity of the bottom delineates the notion that they're unlikely continue to prevent runs at their current rate if they persist with their current approach. Their casual relationship with the strike zone may not immediately doom every start of theirs to be a failure, but it is not the sort of pitching likely to be effective in the long term. Of course I'm referring to Kris Benson, who really ought not spell his name with that weird K if he's going to pitch like this, and tonight's starter, Victor Zambrano.
Zambrano pitched five more effective innings tonight against the Phillies, though I suppose there is something inherently ineffective about a starting pitcher's performance if he records a mere fifteen outs. But he only gave up one run along the way, and he struck out an impressive seven batters. That's enough strikeouts to make three walks in five innings not seem like a big deal. This is especially true if you ignore the two batters he hit, or rather the one batter he hit twice, which of course you shouldn't. But those five base runners, along with the four who reached via the ordinary single, were not enough to put more than a solitary run on the board, and so Zambrano earned his fourth win of the year as the Mets provided him with far more offensive support than he needed.
The Mets got offense from each spot in the lineup, as every starter reached base one way or another. Carlos Beltran had a big night with a double and a triple. Mike Piazza launched his ninth home run of the year over the left field fence. Mike Cameron had a double and a single. Jose Reyes went hitless, but drew a walk and scored a run. Even Jose Offerman got a hit in a pinch hitting role.
Heath Bell and Royce Ring combined for two scoreless innings of relief. Danny Graves followed them and provided something less useful. He got through two innings and allowed only two hits, which is a plus. But they were both home runs, which is a minus. It's good to see Graves being used in situations suited to his abilities, like a seven-run lead. It's something less than good to see that he's not necessarily a lock to hold such a lead.
Tomorrow, the Mets, who've now won just as many games as they've lost, put that adequacy in serious jeopardy by sending Kazuhisa Ishii (2-6, 5.25) to the hill in hopes of some of his intermittent "effectiveness." Cory Lidle (6-6, 4.12) goes for the Phillies, who'll try to avoid slipping into last place by a margin of half a game. ¶ joe | 12:58 AM |
I've found myself using the word "effective" to describe the efforts of certain Mets pitchers lately. It's accurate, in that they are preventing runs, which is their job. But it doesn't convey the sense that they're doing so via some extraordinary exhibition of skill. Because while the bottom line is that keeping runs of the board is all they need to do, another line in the vicinity of the bottom delineates the notion that they're unlikely continue to prevent runs at their current rate if they persist with their current approach. Their casual relationship with the strike zone may not immediately doom every start of theirs to be a failure, but it is not the sort of pitching likely to be effective in the long term. Of course I'm referring to Kris Benson, who really ought not spell his name with that weird K if he's going to pitch like this, and tonight's starter, Victor Zambrano.
Zambrano pitched five more effective innings tonight against the Phillies, though I suppose there is something inherently ineffective about a starting pitcher's performance if he records a mere fifteen outs. But he only gave up one run along the way, and he struck out an impressive seven batters. That's enough strikeouts to make three walks in five innings not seem like a big deal. This is especially true if you ignore the two batters he hit, or rather the one batter he hit twice, which of course you shouldn't. But those five base runners, along with the four who reached via the ordinary single, were not enough to put more than a solitary run on the board, and so Zambrano earned his fourth win of the year as the Mets provided him with far more offensive support than he needed.
The Mets got offense from each spot in the lineup, as every starter reached base one way or another. Carlos Beltran had a big night with a double and a triple. Mike Piazza launched his ninth home run of the year over the left field fence. Mike Cameron had a double and a single. Jose Reyes went hitless, but drew a walk and scored a run. Even Jose Offerman got a hit in a pinch hitting role.
Heath Bell and Royce Ring combined for two scoreless innings of relief. Danny Graves followed them and provided something less useful. He got through two innings and allowed only two hits, which is a plus. But they were both home runs, which is a minus. It's good to see Graves being used in situations suited to his abilities, like a seven-run lead. It's something less than good to see that he's not necessarily a lock to hold such a lead.
Tomorrow, the Mets, who've now won just as many games as they've lost, put that adequacy in serious jeopardy by sending Kazuhisa Ishii (2-6, 5.25) to the hill in hopes of some of his intermittent "effectiveness." Cory Lidle (6-6, 4.12) goes for the Phillies, who'll try to avoid slipping into last place by a margin of half a game. ¶ joe | 12:58 AM |
