Still staring into oblivion

15May/080

Still staring into oblivion

Just sat here staring at the screen for a while after a first to third line out double play ended today's game. A game where Mike Pelfrey had arguably the Mets best start of the year (OK, it would be a tough argument, it's probably second best to John Maine's start last week).

Pelfrey took a no-hitter into the seventh. Gave up a run in the eighth. Lost one nothing.

In the third with 2 outs and Castillo on first Wright hit a routine fly that was inexplicably dropped by Kearns. Had Castillo been running all-out, he would have scored. But -- maybe a guy like Castillo, prematurely old and injured and on his first day back from an injury is correct in not going all-out on such a routine play. But as it turns out, that's the ballgame, Mets never scored and lost by one.

In the eighth Reyes gets an infield hit, and tries to go first to third on a Castillo sacrifice when the catcher fails to cover third. The shortstop breaks for third before Reyes does, handles the throw on a full run, and reaches behind his back to tag Reyes. If Reyes stops short the shortstop probably loses his balance and Reyes might be able to sneak in. Probably seeing the shortstop break before him Reyes should have stayed at second. But Keith Hernandez said that you don't take this risk when you're losing in a close game, and maybe you do this when you're up one. Really? If ever this is the correct play, it's in this situation. You're trying to be the tying run on third base with one out. Surely this is the situation where you're most willing to take risks to get the extra base. Poor execution on Reyes' part? Yes. He should have noticed that the catcher wasn't breaking to third earlier, and he should have rounded second at full speed. Having failed to move early enough, he should have held second. Having forced the first baseman to hit the shortstop on a dead-run near third base, and seeing the defense execute, Reyes should not have simply run into the shortstop, but rather should have forced the shortstop to stop, regain his balance, and make the tag. So Reyes failed. But is Hernandez right that you do this up by one but not down by one? I don't see that at all.

Then in the ninth Church hits a ball poorly, but the placement seems perfect, until an incredible diving catch. Then Beltran steals second and takes third with one out as the throw goes into center. Then Delgado lashes a line drive that's caught. Beltran breaks to the plate and is doubled off. One of the most sudden "defeat from the jaws of victory" losses that I remember. The worst: Here's what I remember (and which may not be totally accurate) Back in 1983 the Mets led 9-6 in the bottom of the ninth and Neil Allen loaded the bases. Rick Owneby came in to pitch to Bo Diaz. I was listening on the radio. Diaz hit a fly ball. I didn't fully understand the call. I heard "and the game is over." I thought we won. We didn't. Very painful. But in retrospect, there was a happy ending. The Mets would soon trade Allen and Owneby for Keith Hernandez. I may not agree with Hernandez's opinion of Reyes' baserunning today, but I'm one of many who thinks that -- more than Gooden, Strawberry, Darling, Carter, Dykstra, Orosco, Davey Johnson, etc. -- Keith was the key in turning baseball's worst team into its best.

Writing this makes me feel a bit better. And on the bright side -- hell of a game by Pelfrey, perfect day at the plate for Castillo (2-2, walk, sacrifice), Beltran hit the ball hard, Delgado good clutch hitting (too bad it was caught for a double play), nice defense behind Pelfrey. Oh -- and my favorite -- the fans gave Pelfrey a standing ovation when he lost the no-hitter, and when he left the game in the eighth. When's the last time you saw the Shea faithful give a standing O to a guy leaving the field as the pitcher of record on the losing side? Thank you Shea fans. And if this outing by Pelfrey is a step towards him realizing his potential, then it was a loss worth having, like that sad day in 83 where we lost by walk-off grand slam.