My wrap of the final game of the NLDS with thoughts on the series. Soon we’ll find out who the Mets will face next Wednesday at Shea to open the NLCS.
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Welcome to Amazin’ Moments, the un-official New York Mets Baseball Podcast. This is where fans of the New York Mets pro baseball team get their fix.
I’ve been a lifelong Mets fan. I grew up just a few miles from Shea Stadium and have experienced all the ups and downs of the last 30 years of Mets baseball.
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Lets Go Mets!
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What an awesome game – I love that we can have faith that the Mets can come back, something that hasn’t been there in recent years.
I’d like to Beltran swinging again, but I’m not gonna complain! Let’s go Mets!
Comment by Greg_in_CT | October 8, 2006
I think the celebration with the champagne is not necessary if the players don’t get focused. If the players can have fun and celebrate and then come back out and get focused, then I think celebration is acceptable.
I agree, if the Mets don’t get the we have Perez going? No effence to him but i don’t trust him. Come on, he is like 3-13. To pitch in the playoffs with that record I think is rediculous, but Willie seems to have some fatih in him to bring him along and I have faith in Willie.
What do you all think about Bradford. Personally, i don’t like him. I think he pitches meatballs all the time except with the good change or curve or what ever that he has. Even though pretty much every pitch is like a change up.
I think Heilman might be ready, if necessary in the 7-game series, to start. Though he is the set-up man I think we could leave the 7 and 8 innings for him. But, if we have pitching, i would not go to him.
I figured Shawn Green would turn it on when he returned home and that is exactly what he did. I think the ball that hit the top of the fence should have been a home run but i think they ended up scoring the runner anyways.
Agreed with the Jeff Kent comment. He is a very good player and a top second basemen in the league. To bad he wasn’t that good for the Mets.
Who would you like to see the Mets play in the playoffs. Personally, I want to see the series go all 5 games. The
Cardinals have a stacked lineup, but except for Carpenter, really no pitching. The Padres have good pitching with Wells, Peavy, and Hoffman, but we have owned them at Shea this year. Clearly I think the Cardinals are a hitting team and the Padres a pitching team. Both teams have 2 left-handed pitchers including bullpen and starters (on each team).
Well I’m done with my long comment. I will be watching to see who wins the series and at the end of the day, me and I’m sure many New York Mets will be saying LET’s GO MET’s!!!
Comment by Matt | October 8, 2006
Regarding the champagne celebrations: I think it sort of cheapens the celebration after the NLCS game, but for a team like Detorit who 3 years ago lost 119 games… they need to celebrate anything they can and I think it was great to see the bubbles after the Yanks went down.
Regarding Perez: He’s obviously not the ideal choice, but when it comes down to it I really don’t have a problem with him on the hill. His numbers aren’t great, as Matt pointed out, but since he joined the Mets, his numbers are more encouraging than they could be. He had 1 bad start that killed his ERA in which he gave up 7ER in 3.0IP, but if you overlook that game, his ERA with the Mets has been about 5.4. Not only this, but the Mets have given him zilch when it comes to run support. He pitched a Complete Game Shutout in which they gave him 8 runs… big deal. If you take away those 8 runs when they really didnd’t matter, they have given him a total of 5 runs in 5 games. Bottom line, he’s a young entheusiastic STRIKEOUT pitcher whose not afraid to go after hitters, and that will be essential versus a team like the Cardinals.
Regarding Bradford: Can’t bash Bradford. He’s perfect for clutch situations. Hitters aren’t used to watching a submarine release point which makes him invaluable in a tight spot versus maybe 1 or 2 hitters. I think he may even have the MLB record for most 1 out appearances or something like that.
Regarding Heilman: I can’t see Willie wanting to mess with the back end of the bullpen. Heilman has been great in the absence of Sanchez and it’s just not worth giving up that forgone conclusion of Heilman/Wagner late in the game for a slightly better start. Other pitchers available to start if need be are Williams, maybe Bannister, maybe even Oliver?
Regarding the next series: The next series is best of 7 Matt, and nooooooo we do NOT want it to last the full 7. Just as Rob mentioned, the quicker we can finish this series up the more time we have to rest injuries, and our starters to be able to put together the rotation that Willie wants. Let’s pray for a quick finish no matter who we’re facing.
Comment by Brett | October 8, 2006
I think I’m a little superstitious when it comes to celebrations. The dance is still happening and the Mets haven’t been crowned king of the prom yet. A little celebration is fine. I just want the team to stay focused on the long road ahead.
All I can hope for Oliver Perez is that he can give us four or five good innings. The guy needs work though and I see him getting an early hook if he gets in trouble in the NLCS. This is one of the reasons we need to win quickly. Because I expect the bullpen to be used quite a bit and they just might get burnt out if a series goes to six or seven games.
I was talking to my friend today and his perspective on the NLCS was that whoever we play, they will need to come to Shea for two games. It just feels so much more comfortable to have home field advantage.
Comment by Rob Safuto | October 8, 2006
Sorry, Brett, i was talking about the Cardinals vs. Padres best of Five. I would want that series to go 5 to wear down the pitchers of tyhe winning team. Sorry for the confusion. You make a good point with Perez, but if i had a choice between him and El Duque Bannister or Williams I wouldn’t take Perez.
Comment by Matt | October 8, 2006
Hi,
I concur completely that a champagne celebration does indeed seem to be a bit much for winning the NLDS. There is a whole other round to go. Good point. I said as much to my wife when the champagne was flying!
Matt
Comment by Matt | October 9, 2006