Is The Apocalypse Coming?

Sign #1 of the apocalypse: Last night's Met victory was one of the most satisfying Mets victory's I've seen in a while. Aaron Heilman was sick of everyone ripping him on the field and off. Just when many people (including myself) labeled him "useless", he comes out and throws a one hit, complete game. It took him only 107 pitches to shut the Marlins down. He had this scowl painted on his face and looked determined. He was throwing first pitch strikes and going after hitters. He was exploiting the high and away strike that the ump was giving him and though it was one game, it looks like Heilman has turned a corner. He did not look like the timid pitcher that we have seen over the past few years, he looked like a Major League pitcher. With his new arm angle, his fastball looking like Victor Zambrano's in terms of movement. Aaron Heilman had movement on every pitch he threw and rarely used his off speed pitch, which had the same exact movement and was nasty. This begs the question, why was it changed in the first place anyway?

Sign #2 of the apocalypse: Victor Diaz tripling his walk total of one BB in fifteen games in 2005 and nabbing and getting 19% of his walk total in 141 games at Norfolk in just six games.

Sign #3 of the apocalypse: Bruce Chen going nine innings giving up only four hits and one walk against the Yankees for a resounding victory.

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My how much the complete game has become obsolete. If you check out the Mets team page for 2004 pitching stats on ESPN.com, complete games is not even a stat because there would be way, way too many zeroes. In 2003, the Mets had three complete games. In 2004, they only had two. So far in ten games, the Mets have already equaled their 2004 output and it took them only 208 pitches to get it done between the two starts.

It takes a big man to admit he was wrong, and I was wrong (so far) about Magglio Ordonez. Though it is not his knee, he is still going to miss a substantial amount of games.

Mets pitching first five games:

            W    L    IP    IP/S    HR     WHIP     ERA
Starters    0    4  26.1    5.27     4     1.52    6.84
Relievers   0    1  13.2     n/a     3     1.83    6.59
Overall     0    5    40    5.27     7     1.63    6.75

Too many long balls. Too many men on base. Starters not going deep enough into games. Too many runs scored. The Mets truly had some bad pitching through their first five games.

     
           W    L    IP    IP/S    HR     WHIP     ERA
Starters    2    0    37     7.4     0     0.86    1.22
Relievers   3    0    10     n/a     0     1.20    2.70
Overall     5    0    47     7.4     0     0.94    1.53

The last five games, starters have pitched and unbelievable 37 innings with a sub 1.00 WHIP. The key is no homeruns. Moving away from the Great American Launching Pad did the Mets staff good. The starters ERA and relievers ERA has been bit better to say the least.

Overall, here are the Mets pitching stats:

IP     H/9     K/9     K/BB     ERA     WHIP     BAA
87    7.24    8.59     2.13    3.93     1.25    .221

When will Jose Reye's OBP not equal his BA?

PEDRO v LEITER

Do I need to say anything else?

Ismael Valdez is due to miss 2 to 4 weeks and Brian Moehler is due to take his spot.

Despite Neil Musser almost having a WHIP of 2.00 in yesterday's Norfolk game, he only gave up one run and walked away with the victory. Overall, he has 0.82 ERA in 11 innings.

Though Matt Lindstrom got a no decision in the B-Mets win last night, he went five innings, struck out five, only gave up one earned run while walking two and allowing four hits. Overall, he has a 3.00 ERA in nine innings.

Neil Musser is not the only lefty sporting a 0.82 ERA in eleven innings this year. Evan MacLane went five innings for a no decision in Port St. Lucie's win yesterday. He went five innings, giving up four hits, one walk, and struck out five. Lastings is still off to a slow start and is batting .167.

Carlos Gomez homered in Hagerstown's win yesterday.

Quote of the week:

If I said we'd be talking about Benson's chest for most of April, would you think I was talking about Kris Benson? Benson is just a few days away from getting back on the mound, testing his healing pectoral muscle. Assuming he stays on the current plan, he'll need a couple of bullpen sessions then two rehab starts. That puts him back right around May 1.

The Mets are now one game out of first and own a better record than the Yankees. Why was anyone worrying the first place?