An Amazin’ Letdown

Did the Mets even show up for this game? Maybe I missed it. The season’s on the line, and this is what they came up with? While the Phillies and Brewers were winning, the Mets looked soggy and hungover from Thursday’s win. Too bad the game didn’t get rained out.

Mike Pelfrey did his best Pedro Martinez impression by letting in two first-inning runs. He settled down for the next four frames, then coughed up a home run in the sixth. His final line: six innings pitched, three runs, eight hits, three strikeouts, no walks. Not bad really, but he didn’t get any help from anybody else. Seven relievers (again) followed Pelfrey, highlighted by Aaron Heilman throwing a ball to the backstop to walk in a run (it’s like deja vu all over again). Why is he even allowed near the field in a crucial game like this? And Daniel Murphy didn’t help the cause when he tried to deke a runner into thinking he was going to catch a bloop hit only to have it bounce past him for an error.

The offense was nonexistent in this game. They only totaled seven hits, and were o for 6 with runners in scoring position. The only run they tallied came on a Brian Schneider fielder’s choice. Ryan Church followed up his three for three game the previous night by flying out with the bases loaded and hitting into an inning-ending double play with two runners on base.

Maybe they were all expecting late-inning heroics to happen again and sleepwalked through the first half of the game. But they sure picked a bad time to come out flat, and lose their energy and determination. Now they need help from the Cubs and the Nationals. Johan Santana is being bumped up a day and will toe the rubber on three days rest this afternoon (after begging Jerry Manuel to let him pitch). It’s now desperation time. Let’s hope the Mets show up today.