Nobody likes losing with a chance to sweep, especially when you’re doing so well, and especially when you stage a great attempt to come back from a 5-run deficit.
The Mets did just that yesterday, falling behind 6-1 due to bad pitching by Hisanori Takahashi. I really hope the Mets can eventually replace him in the rotation with a front-line starter via the trade market (read on!). I don’t feel Takahashi is cut out to be a starting pitcher, because he is so much more hittable the second time through the lineup and despite his experience he has not shown consistent enough command of the strike zone. As a guy who’s not a power pitcher, that is what he desperately needs to succeed.
The Mets put together a few good innings, chipping away in the sixth with three thanks to a rally energized by a poor Tigers outfield and a David Wright RBI double with a run already in. The Mets scored another run on an Ike Davis GIDP.
The Mets’ best chance was in the seventh, when Jesus Feliciano reached on an infield single, loading the bases for David Wright with one out against Phil Coke. Wright pressed and had a bad at-bat, swinging at multiple balls, but credit has to be given to Phil Coke, throwing a few fastballs with nasty movement. Wright struck out, and expectedly, Ike Davis also made out.
I’m starting to be very unsure about Ike Davis in the cleanup spot. He’s really not doing much in big spots, especially against lefties, even though he has a good average against lefties. I think you can expect more from your 4-hitter, which is why I can’t wait for Beltran to get back. Speaking of which, in his first real game action of the season in St. Lucie, he went 0-2 with a walk and two groundouts, and played 5 innings in center but didn’t have any putouts.
As I have said, Pagan needs to stay in the lineup when Beltran returns. Talk has surfaced putting the Mets and Twins at the front of the Cliff Lee sweepstakes. The Mets are willing to talk trade without the necessity of a negotiating window with Lee, who seems to want to test free agency no matter what, although I think the Mets have a better chance of extending him than the general thought seems to be.
The talk also is that Angel Pagan might be a centerpiece of a Cliff Lee trade. Pagan has been so good this year. He’s become a healthy player, and has been great for the Mets ever since he filled in for Moises Alou in 2008. I’ve seen deals suggesting trading Fernando Martinez, Jeurys Familia, and Josh Thole for Lee, and I’d do that in a New York Minute. Nor would I balk at seeing Jenrry Mejia go as the centerpiece of a trade. But Pagan is too valuable to the Mets to deal to Seattle for Lee, because I think the Mets would improve the pitching at the cost of possibly hurting their lineup. Mejia and the other minor leaguers aren’t going to contribute significantly this year, even if Mejia comes back as a starter. Point is, get Cliff Lee, but don’t deal Pagan. Even if you can’t sign him, you get two draft picks, and the last two compensatory draft picks (coming from Mike Hampton and Tom Glavine leaving) have turned into two guys named David Wright and Ike Davis.
Today, Pagan will sit again due to that muscle spasm, and Barajas’ back is bothering him, so Thole will start. The Twins are reeling and the Mets are at home with Pelfrey the ace on the bump, so tonight’s chances look good. Let’s stay 10 over .500.
Let’s go Mets!
