Mets-Giants: New York Defeats San Francisco Giants Despite Jerry Manuel

It’s not often I write about a single moment that happens in a game, but since I was at the game itself and since the move that happened was so egregious, I felt I had to write about it.

Yesterday was really a great day at Citi Field. It was about 70 degrees with not a cloud in the sky. It was a little windy, which would explain all the papers and whatnot all over the field. The game better resembled a game at Candlestick Park in San Francisco in April than it did a game in New York in May.

But let’s fast forward to the top of the eighth inning.

The New York Mets were leading the San Francisco Giants 4-2 heading into the top of the aforementioned inning. The Mets had their ace, Johan Santana, on the mound and entering the inning he had given up six hits and just two runs. He had walked zero and struck out six.

The Giants smacked a couple of hard hit balls against Santana on the day, but for the most part Santana was in control. To start the eighth, Nate Schierholtz and Aaron Rowand singled to give the Giants runners on first and second with nobody out.

Santana then proceeded to get Andres Torres to line out to Jose Reyes, and Pablo Sandoval hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Schierholtz. So now the Mets are leading 4-3 and the Giants have a runner on first with catcher Eli Whiteside coming to the plate.

At 101 pitches, this was clearly Santana’s inning. Not according to Mets manager Jerry Manuel. Manuel pulled Santana in favor of the right-handed Fernando Nieve.

Nieve served up a single to Whiteside. Then Manuel brought in the left-handed Pedro Feliciano to face the left-handed Aubrey Huff. Huff singled to tie the game. Manuel wasn’t done yet as he pulled Feliciano to bring in the right-handed Jenrry Mejia to face the right-handed Juan Uribe.

Mejia was able to retire Uribe but Manuel used four pitchers to get three outs in the eighth, when in reality, he should have used only one—Santana. If you don’t trust your ace to get Whiteside out with two outs and a runner on first trying to protect a one-run lead in the eighth, then what exactly are you telling your team and most importantly your ace?

After the game, Manuel revealed that he had already predetermined, regardless of outcome, that Sandoval was going to be Santana’s last batter. What? Really?

I understand managing by the book, but what separates a mediocre manager like Manuel from a great manager is the ability to manage by the feel of the game. The feel of this game called for Santana staying in.

Everyone knew Santana should have been in there to face Whiteside. Even my friend Adam, who, after Manuel removed Santana, wanted to rip Manuel’s head off.

Sometimes I wish the managerial mentality would shift back to the '70s or '80s when managers would stick with their starter in a tough spot. I don’t understand the philosophy of taking out your best pitcher in favor of perhaps the fourth or fifth best pitcher in your bullpen.

It just doesn’t make sense to me.

The Mets ended up winning the game 5-4 in the bottom of the 11th on a Henry Blanco walk-off home run, but this win had nothing to do with Jerry Manuel.

The Mets won this game despite him.

You can follow The Ghost of Moonlight Graham on Twitter @theghostofmlg.