The Mets split a doubleheader today against one of the worst teams in baseball, scoring only one run and losing the second game against the Reds' Bronson Arroyo,who came into the game with an ERA over 8.00.
Willie did his usual "pull the starter why he's still effective" routine, yanking Pelfrey after six, with the Mets trailing 2-1. This time it almost worked. Aaron Heilman ran totally against type and got out of the seventh without allowing a run. Unfortunately, Duaner Sanchez--sensing an opening that needed to be filled in terms of stinking-up the joint (thanks to Heilman's uncharacteristic exhibition of competence)--came on in the eighth and had absolutely nothing. He gave up a couple of runs, throwing meatball after meatball for the Reds' dining pleasure. The coup de grâce happened in the ninth, when the defense imploded and Mets fans were treated to the distasteful sight of Josa Sosa taking the mound in relief of Billy Wagner after the Reds had tacked on three runs.
Pelfrey looked good--"fifth-starter good," at least, which was a positive development. Of course, it does absolutely no good for the starter to keep the other side down for six innings if the relief corps is gonna give up the ghost in the last three innings. This was far from the most egregious example of Randolph lifting an effective starter too soon because he'd reached the max pitch count--the Mets offense was so putrid, they would've lost anyway--but it's still infuriating, and bodes poorly for the future.
And to think: I'd thought Willie letting Santana throw 120 or so pitches in game one was a sign he'd learned from past mistakes. Not bloody likely.
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