The Tongue is Mightier...
How 'bout that tongue?!!
More about Mike Pelfrey's dominance over the Asstros in a minute.
It's time for my daily carping about the WBC. So I see the Mets aren't worried about David Wright's toe.
When Manuel was asked Thursday if Wright should have been kept in the game, there was no room for ambiguity. "He probably shouldn't have played if he felt he had a broken toe," he said. "No question about that."
Complicating matters was the fact that the US had no replacement for Wright, who won Tuesday's game with a two-run single with one out in the ninth...When Manuel was told of the empty bench, he seemed puzzled. "I don't know about that," he said. "That's interesting."
Add to that, some fat slug's abuse of our brand new bazillion dollar closer:
The Mets have other reasons to worry. Venezuela manager Luis Sojo went back on his pledge to rest Francisco Rodriguez and used him for an inning Wednesday - in a non-save situation in a relatively meaningless game. That's on top of back-to-back four-out saves. But Manuel tried to put the best spin possible on that as well.
"I'm not really concerned," Manuel said. "I think what he has shown us with this tournament is he can be a guy we can count on for four outs. I think that's if it's necessary or if it fits. It's something that we thought would be out of the question or we would not go down that road. But because of this, we feel that hey, we can test that as well, if need be."
Interesting?
No, it's a damn outrage. The Mets management should be worried. Half-assed is not good enough when you're talking about the integrity of the roster. Doh'mar just spent the summer negotiating with these guys, agonizing no doubt over every little bit of their value and worth, only to immediately turn around and put their season at risk by authorizing this crap? These games are unnecessary even in the context of the meaningless WBC! That is a damn Russian nesting doll of unnecessity!!
***
Big Pelf just flat abused them Houstonians today. And seeing as I had to watch the Astros demolish the Mets in person last season, and how the Astros will be filling the last weekend spoiler role this season, this seems more significant.
To balance out my negativity, this slightly hyperbolic article by the normally grouchy Marty "Pants" Noble about the grandeur that is Pelfrey will make you happy, even if you retain your post-"Generation K" skepticism. Here are some highlights with my fave parts in bold:
The Mets aimed high when they used the ninth selection in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft to choose Pelfrey. The right-hander remains on course to be the most successful pitcher the club has drafted, signed, developed and retained since Dwight Gooden. Even now, as Pelfrey approaches his second full season in the big leagues, only the presence of Johan Santana separates him from top-dog billing in the rotation.
The ease with which Pelfrey handled the Astros was one thing. The way he did it, using both sides of the plate, was even more impressive. Pitching coach Dan Warthen allowed Pelfrey to experiment with the "Greg Maddux pitch," a front-door sinker, similar to the one Livan Hernandez threw effectively on Wednesday. The front-door sinker is a pitch thrown by a right-handed pitcher to a left-handed batter that breaks back over the inside of the plate.
With that front-door sinker, a natural two-seam fastball that threatens the feet of right-handed hitters, a changeup and the curve that has replaced his discarded slider, Pelfrey has developed a nasty repertoire.
Exciting. I admit.
More about Mike Pelfrey's dominance over the Asstros in a minute.
It's time for my daily carping about the WBC. So I see the Mets aren't worried about David Wright's toe.
When Manuel was asked Thursday if Wright should have been kept in the game, there was no room for ambiguity. "He probably shouldn't have played if he felt he had a broken toe," he said. "No question about that."
Complicating matters was the fact that the US had no replacement for Wright, who won Tuesday's game with a two-run single with one out in the ninth...When Manuel was told of the empty bench, he seemed puzzled. "I don't know about that," he said. "That's interesting."
Add to that, some fat slug's abuse of our brand new bazillion dollar closer:
The Mets have other reasons to worry. Venezuela manager Luis Sojo went back on his pledge to rest Francisco Rodriguez and used him for an inning Wednesday - in a non-save situation in a relatively meaningless game. That's on top of back-to-back four-out saves. But Manuel tried to put the best spin possible on that as well.
"I'm not really concerned," Manuel said. "I think what he has shown us with this tournament is he can be a guy we can count on for four outs. I think that's if it's necessary or if it fits. It's something that we thought would be out of the question or we would not go down that road. But because of this, we feel that hey, we can test that as well, if need be."
Interesting?
No, it's a damn outrage. The Mets management should be worried. Half-assed is not good enough when you're talking about the integrity of the roster. Doh'mar just spent the summer negotiating with these guys, agonizing no doubt over every little bit of their value and worth, only to immediately turn around and put their season at risk by authorizing this crap? These games are unnecessary even in the context of the meaningless WBC! That is a damn Russian nesting doll of unnecessity!!
***
Big Pelf just flat abused them Houstonians today. And seeing as I had to watch the Astros demolish the Mets in person last season, and how the Astros will be filling the last weekend spoiler role this season, this seems more significant.
To balance out my negativity, this slightly hyperbolic article by the normally grouchy Marty "Pants" Noble about the grandeur that is Pelfrey will make you happy, even if you retain your post-"Generation K" skepticism. Here are some highlights with my fave parts in bold:
The Mets aimed high when they used the ninth selection in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft to choose Pelfrey. The right-hander remains on course to be the most successful pitcher the club has drafted, signed, developed and retained since Dwight Gooden. Even now, as Pelfrey approaches his second full season in the big leagues, only the presence of Johan Santana separates him from top-dog billing in the rotation.
The ease with which Pelfrey handled the Astros was one thing. The way he did it, using both sides of the plate, was even more impressive. Pitching coach Dan Warthen allowed Pelfrey to experiment with the "Greg Maddux pitch," a front-door sinker, similar to the one Livan Hernandez threw effectively on Wednesday. The front-door sinker is a pitch thrown by a right-handed pitcher to a left-handed batter that breaks back over the inside of the plate.
With that front-door sinker, a natural two-seam fastball that threatens the feet of right-handed hitters, a changeup and the curve that has replaced his discarded slider, Pelfrey has developed a nasty repertoire.
Exciting. I admit.
Labels: DohMar, slip em the tongue
posted by I.M. Forme @ 6:52 PM
5 Comments:
At 8:40 PM,
Anonymous said…
That story does give me cautious optimism about Pelfrey. But, it just boggles the mind how Omar can allow the Met players to get hurt and worn out at the WBC. Not even knowing about the injury until the next day. That shows that he isn't even watching the games, like many Met fans are. This is his job - to at least keep track of the state of his players in real time and to make sure that they are not overused or abused, as has been the case. This makes the case, if the Wilpons were paying more attention to what was going on than they were to Madoff, to fire Omar. His contract can be eaten for a lot less than the combined contracts that the Mets are committed to. Whether the contracts that Omar negotiated are good or bad, these players need to be protected. The worst contract that Omar negotiated for the NY Mets was the one that he negotiated with the NY Mets for his extension. Put him on the Mo Vaughn Layaway Plan.
At 2:38 AM,
I.M. Forme said…
"The worst contract that Omar negotiated for the NY Mets was the one that he negotiated with the NY Mets for his extension."
Hmmm, i hope that doesnt turn out prophetic, Cverdamus.
Turns out "tongue" posts don't drive comments/traffic as much as I thought.
I'm pulling an all-nighter (at my age) to finish chapter 2 of my thesis. But I still have to comment on the way the news cycle has turned Ollies start from a near disaster of normal Ollie proportions into, a few hours later, a "sharp" (Journal news), "strong return" (nytimes).
It's a game nobody saw!! ahahahahaha!
If an Ollie can't find the plate and there's no body there to report it, does he still walk the park?
That crazy press, they should be as embarrassed as Obama probly is over the "special olympics" gaff.
At 9:32 AM,
katherine said…
well, with Wright and Pelfrey, the Mets certainly do seem to lead the league in conspicuous tongue waggling. No! I take that back - whatever team Ronnie Belliard is on wins that competition.
Thank you for the happy news about Mike P! Amazing. Now if John, Ollie and Livan could just be OK this year.
At 5:45 PM,
Anonymous said…
The title of Chapter Two of my thesis is "When Omar Says That He is Comfortable With Some Development, I Cringe." Cver, they should fire Omar, but they are incompetent. The people who trusted BERNIE MADOFF claim that they trust Omar with their half billion dollar team. What hope is there? Owners can be as incompetent as they please. Would you fans please stop going to the games? That is the way to get Omar fired.
At 11:15 PM,
Jaap said…
The tongue was not touching anything, Mr Forme. The traffic is not the tongue, but what the tongue is touching.
Although not entirely related to Pelf, moreso the abuse of Mets players in the WBC, can you imagine what the Mets season would be looking like right now if Santana had gotten his wish to pitch for Venezuela after seeing how Sojo has handled our other prized arm, K-Rod?
We'd probably be turning to Pelf as the ace NOW, not "some day".
Post a Comment
<< Home