...because Metsblog is for optimistic pu**ies.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Game #65 (37-28) - 10 of 11!

The unbelieveable hot streak continued tonight, as the Mets beat the Indians by a final of 8-4 to win their 6th in a row, and their 10th in their last 11.  The Mets are now 7-1 vs the American League, their best start vs. the Junior Circuit since the start of interleague play in 1997.  Most importantly, they are beating the terrible teams on the road that they should be beating, which to me is really separating this Mets team with the teams of the last 3 years.  They've been showing an unwillingness to play down to their competition that we haven't seen since 2006, and yet again, I'm starting to get my hopes up.  Kill me now.  Anywho, here's some notes on last night's performance.

  • The 7 doubles for the Mets tonight tied their season high, but it was a great way of highlighting the ability of this Mets team to score runs different ways.  7 extra base hits last night produced 8 runs, while only one extra base hit on Tuesday produced 7 runs.  The Mets are finding a way to get it done in multiple ways, which is what happens when you have a young team with speed and gap power.
  • Niese wasn't as good as his last two starts, but battled some bad location with his curveball and trouble with the mound to give 7 innings for the 3rd straight outing, putting his career high winning streak to three.  His peripherals are actually worse this year than last, with his FIP up to 3.76 from 3.25, and his HR/9 has doubled.  However, the increase in mixing his pitches has really padded his results, specifically that cutter that he began developing in 2008.  The cutter, which is much easier to control, is now being thrown 26.7% of the time, most at the expense of his curveball, which is obviously much harder to throw for a strike.  In Niese's first cup of coffee in 2008, Niese threw the curve 24.7% of the time; this year that number is 12.4% of the time.  Using the cutter so often has also given him a 4th velocity level, as he's throwing it at an average speed of 85.9, to go with his average 90.0 fastball, 81.6 MPH changeup, and 74.8 MPH curve.  Hitters are much more confused by Niese's approach this season, and he seems to be building a solid foundation for success going forward.  It's been a while since the Mets had 2 homegrown young pitchers with such strong foundations for continued success.
  • Wright now has 13 RBI in 6 games since moving back to #3 hole.  His season average has moved up to .291, and he's "only" struck out 8 times in his last 10 games, after 69 in his first 54.  He's improved his approach greatly against right handed pitching, and it's really showing in his performance.
  • Again, it's going to be very interesting to see what happens with Angel Pagan should Beltran come back in the 2nd half.  I don't really see how you can't sit him, but Francoeur has been playing too well to sit the bench, and Bay's just getting paid too much.  I'd really hate to be Jerry if/when this happens.  It's very tough to find a solution to this situation, because someone hot is going to have to sit down.  Dare I say that Pagan becomes a very interesting centerpiece to a Cliff Lee or Roy Oswalt deal?  It would be a massive risk given Beltran's injury history and Francoeur's streakiness, but I have to ask you guys, do you think it would be worth it to move Pagan for an ace quality starter, one who would give the Mets a really strong shot to win the NL East this year?
  • What is going on with the mound in Cleveland?  We saw it drive Stephen Strasburg nuts on Sunday, and it certainly seemed to bother Niese a great deal tonight.  It wasn't as persistent a problem as it was on Sunday, and it didn't seem to bother Santana last night, but it definitely seems like something is a little off at Progressive Field.
  • Jason Bay should be ok after a pretty intense collision with Indians 1B Andy Marte in the first inning of last night's game.  He definitely gets toughness points in my book for staying in the game, as he wasn't pulled by Jerry until the 6th inning for "precautionary reasons."  He's listed as day to day, so keep an out for his status when the lineup is announced this afternoon.  As much as I've been riding Bay, I'm completely terrified of having to watch Jesus Feliciano with a bat in his hand 4 times.  It was a nice story and all to call him up, but can he go away now?  He's terrible.
The Mets go for their second straight road sweep (I can't believe I just typed that) against the Indians tonight at 7:05, with Robert Allan Dickey looking to win his 5th straight start against potential future Met Jake Westbrook.  Enjoy tonight's game, because Friday the Mets travel to the Bronx to take on the big boys, who are sure to give us some reminders of why being a met fan sucks.

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