Pedro, Mets Get On the Right Track
Martinez's Arrival Sparks the Mets recent hot Streak
The Mets rebounded from a four-game sweep at the hands of the Phillies by winning the next five of six games, and building their lead back up to five games.
After a devastating four-game sweep in Philadelphia, the New York Mets turned their road trip around. They headed to Turner Field in Atlanta, a place where they normally struggle, and swept a three-game set from the Braves. After that, they headed to Cincinnati, where they took two games from the Reds, and managed to split the 10-game road trip. The Phillies had gotten as close as two games behind the Mets, but after Willie Randolph’s club’s recent hot streak, they now have a five-game cushion as division leaders.
The Mets’ bullpen was absolutely horrendous throughout the series against Philadelphia, a series that was capped off by former Phillie Billy Wagner blowing a save and handing the Mets a heartbreaking 11-10 loss. However, the bullpen was not an issue in Atlanta or Cincinnati, and the Mets’ offense supplied plenty of runs to allow them to take five of six games.
After sleepwalking into and out of Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, the Mets suddenly woke up. The return of clubhouse favorite and legendary pitcher Pedro Martinez may have had something to do with that. Martinez joined the team in Atlanta, and brought his jovial routine along with him. There is no doubt that with Pedro in uniform, the dugout and clubhouse come to life.
Martinez helps keep his teammates loose, but when it’s time for him to take the mound and lead his team, his approach is serious. He showed how serious he can be during his year-long recovery from rotator cuff surgery. Many pitchers would have sat out all of 2007, but Pedro’s work ethic might be just good as his late 90’s pitching repertoire. Never once did he show any doubt that he would make a comeback in 2007, and although it was later than he anticipated, Pedro proved to everybody that he means business. Pedro’s first start was a gutsy 76-pitch five-inning effort in Cincinnati on Monday, allowing only two earned runs He showed that even though his Labor Day start was his 2007 debut, that he can still help this team reach the postseason, and possibly win a World Series.
The Mets seem to be coming together at the right time. There were some other additions to the Mets this week as well. Endy Chavez returned from his injury, and minor league pitchers Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Willie Collazo joined the Mets staff after the rosters expanded on September 1st. Pelfrey will hold down one spot in the rotation, at least until Orlando Hernandez returns from his injury. In his first start after his call-up, Pelfrey pitched six innings and gave up one run against Atlanta on Saturday. Humber, a starting pitcher from Rice University, probably won’t get the chance to start a game this season, but could be effective out of the bullpen, if Willie Randolph chooses to give him a chance. Collazo is a 27-year-old career-minor leaguer, who made his debut in Wednesday’s 7-0 loss to Cincinnati, pitching an inning and two thirds, allowing no runs. Collazo was fantastic in Triple-A New Orleans. The left hander appeared in 54 games, and finished the minor league season with an impressive 2.46 ERA. At the very least, Humber and Collazo will eat innings for Willie Randolph, and allow him to rest the other pitchers in his bullpen.
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