The Mets have been waiting since they drafted Pelfrey 9th overall in 2005 to come around and be a consistent starter in the Majors. It seems as if their wait may be over as the 25 year old blanked the Nats on 5 hits through 7 innings tonight. Washington could not get anything going offensively as a combination of bad baseball decisions and untimely hitting left them scoreless in Shea.
While the loss itself is disheartening, there is one good thing can be taken from this game. The players that beat the Nats weren’t the result of the 100 million dollar payroll of the Mets, in fact the prime producers in this game for New York were Wright, Reyes, and Pelfrey…all home grown talent. Why should this make the Nats feel good? Because it proves that it can work, it proves that the Nats efforts in solidifying their farm system over the last 3 years can finally pay off after some patience. It may not be this year or the next, but the promise is there.
Stupid Baseball:
Milledge answered the booing crowd in his return to Shea with a double to left. With one out he attempted to steal third on Schneider, who has one of the best arms in baseball. The result wasn’t exactly positive; he was gunned down at third. While that is a bad thing in its own right, what really is confusing is why he would steal while already in scoring position and the number three and four hitters due up. There was only one out, a base hit from either Zimmerman or Johnson would have scored him, getting thrown out at third gives him a 0% chance to score.
In the top of the third there was a chance for redemption. Lastings Milledge walked with one out to load the bases for the heart of the Nats order. Zimmerman came to the plate and on the first pitch popped the ball up to the infield allowing no runners to advance. When the bases are loaded with only one out the only really negative things you can do is either strike out or pop out. The basic rule is that with runners in scoring position you only swing at the first pitch if it is one you know you can handle; and by handle I mean…do anything but pop up to the infield. If Zimmerman had drove the ball to the outfield Guzman could have tagged up, even a hard ground ball could have scored the runner with the infield in double play position. Johnson struck out the next at bat, leaving the bases stranded.
The Nats stranded 18 baserunners tonight.
The Batting Order:
No one except Milledge or Guzman are really hitting very well right now. With that said Acta’s use of Guzman in the leadoff spot is confusing me. Acta is a fan of Moneyball, he knows how to get the most out of his low market team and understand the importance of things like when to stay away from small ball, on base percentage, and the importance of good defense. Guzman however while hitting a great .333 on the season is only getting on base .335 percent of the time. That’s not just a poor on base percentage but also an alarmingly low walk rate for any player much less a leadoff. Why not switch Lastings and Christian in the order? Lastings is getting on base 20 points higher then Christian, and Christians ability to put the ball in play makes him the ideal number 2 hitter to smack in Milledge.
Wright and Reyes:
Well I wrote in the preview that a lot of the Mets success would lie in the legs of Jose Reyes. He proved he was healthy, going 4 for 5, only a homer shy of the cycle. Wright had himself a day too, 3 for 4 with two doubles and a bomb, 5 RBI’s. This just shows the example of the types of premium players the Nats will need to become an elite team in the league. Can Milledge and
Zimmerman fill those shoes? It’s possible, but keep in mind they’re only a year younger then the dynamic duo from NYC.
Side Note:
Paul Lo Duca did not get the start tonight, probably a result of the injured hand from Sunday. For whatever the reason he did not get a chance to face the hostile crowd in Shea. In his stead started Johnny Estrada who mets announcers Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez had a field day with while making fun of his weight.
TheNatsBlog.com
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Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Young Mike Pelfrey helps blank the Nats
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4 comments:
I'd ideally love to see not only Milledge move up to lead off, but pick Zimmerman up to the two spot. I've never liked Zimmerman in the 3 spot. He just isn't that type of hitter. His bat control with Milledge's speed infront of him makes for a great one-two pair.
My perfect line up would be a
Thrillage
Zimmerman
Johnson
Pena.
This puts a lot on Pena returning to his form from the end of last season, but this move could do wonders for the line up. A move like that could hopefully spur Zimmerman out of this horrible spell he's in.
I'd also love to see Belliard bumped out of the 8 hole. His fat ass could use some real pitches to hit.
I really just can't decide. Is jose reyes a duchebag like alex rodriguez, or is he more of a duchebag Derek Jeter. I just want someone like Ray King to wipe that smirk off his face with a 92 mph fastball. But in all honesty I'm taking my fuming rage out on a player of the opposite team, and to be fair for all the times he got on base, or to third for that matter, he only scored once.
My true rage comes from the utter inability to bring runs home in two-on or bases loaded situations. I'll leave the numbers to you guys, but I don't need to see a figure to know its the kind of thing lipitor was invented for. Seriously, Manny Acta should have the whole team do one lap around the warning track every time they leave the bases loaded in an inning without scoring. At the very least, dmitri and "eric" Estrada might benefit from the exercise. Instead of going into the clubhouse to take a bubble bath after the game a couple of laps around the field might give them the proper motivation. Hit like big leaguers and you'll be treated like big leaguers.
And another thing! I understand that Jackie Robinson was an extremely important part of the game and American History, but did everyone half to wear 42 last night. I cannot tell you how many times I had no idea who i was watching because he wasn't wearing his normal number. The least I can hope for is that someone's fantasy team will get a jump by the scorer giving one player or another too much credit for the nights activities.
Anyways, I'm a friend of James' from work. I'm a bipolar baseball fan. Today, obviously burning, seething, rage. a win tonight might turn it into prom-night optimism, though not the one on tv, where you think you might die, the one where you think you might get that prude to finally give it up!
Just a quick thought. First team to win 3, first team to lose 10. Chew on that.
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