Anyone Know How To Pitch Around Here?

By Shari Forst
Posted Saturday, September 29, 2007

Let's be blunt — the pitching for the Mets down the stretch has been nothing short of putrid. In fact it stinks on ice. All year we heard how they had the easiest schedule the last week of the season only to get clobbered by one of the worst teams in the division — the Nationals. Perhaps they have the Mets number because of Manny Acta, but I think it's fair to say that the pitching has not held water. From the starters to the relievers it's been a joke.

Lets look at the starting pitching. No one can go more than six innings except Oliver Perez, leaving the Mets open to that sinkhole of a bull pen.

Joe Smith has lost his luster. Once called "Mighty Joe Smith" early in the season, he was sent back down to New Orleans for his ineffectiveness. Recently recalled, he gives up runs like he is running a fire sale. Pedro Feliciano hasn't been so effective either. If we think back to last year no one was really worried that Pedro and El Duque weren't pitching in the playoffs because we knew guys like Chad Bradford, Darren Oliver, Duaner Sanchez, before his injury, and even Roberto Hernandez were good for something. Now we have to depend on Aaron Sele and Scott Schoeneweis, who hasn't been that bad lately. I still wouldn't trust him in the playoffs. Billy Wagner wasn't so good in his last outing either.

The offense has been firing on all cylinders — it mounted almost miraculous comebacks led by David Wright, Moises Alou, and Beltran only for the leaky pen to give back every run and then some. I don't see how they can expect to compete in the playoffs with pitching like this. Then, when you think about the mental errors of late and the sloppy play, it's just maddening. They should have had this thing sewn up over a week ago.

Like I said in last week's column, they are getting very hard for me to watch on TV the last few days. I am getting worried to be honest. I am writing this on Thursday after the Nats swept into town and took our Mets with them. A makeup game against St Louis tonight and then the last three games of the season against Florida — nothing is a given anymore. They can't trade for any pitching help at this point. I thought this season would be their year, but from what I've seen coming down the stretch it's back to the drawing board for Omar. Get some pitching in here!

On a personal note I will be appearing on sportstalkcleveland.com's FDH Lounge. The show is from 8 P.M. to 11 P.M. and I will be on at 8:50 P.M. Hope you can all tune in!