MVN - Most Valuable Network

Hands Down: Pouring Runs Edition

The start of tonight’s game was delayed a bit by more rain (does lousy weather just follow the Mets everywhere they go?), but the game was well worth the wait. Early on, it was the infield dribblers working in the Mets’ favor (when it usually seems like that sort of thing only benefits the other team). Then it was the offense hitting the ball hard with even better results, which gave way to the appreciation of a young pitcher’s continued development, some much-needed rest for the bullpen, and a Reyes-Reyes double play to put it in the books. For the third night in a row, the Mets scored at least seven runs, the offense clicking just in time for a crucial trip to Philly. This has been a year of ups and downs, and after the down of last night, this up was just what we all needed.

Thumb: Not only did Mike Pelfrey deliver a strong outing, allowing just one run and striking out six over seven innings, he also contributed at the plate with an RBI single in the six-run third inning. While Pelfrey will not pitch in Philadelphia this weekend, his bullpen-saving start could have a significant impact on that series.

Pointer Finger: Carlos Beltran, who has been in a bit of a slump over the past week or so (two hits and nine strikeouts in his last 22 plate appearances) got the night off. If Beltran responds to the rest the way that David Wright has, that would make the last few series before the All-Star Break quite fun to watch.

Middle Finger: It’s tough to come up with one of these when everyone in the starting lineup reaches base at least once, so I have to go with something that was referenced on the broadcast. At some point in the middle innings, Keith mentioned that he was craving some nachos. Now, I’ve never been to St. Louis, but at every ballpark I’ve ever gone to, the nachos were horrible, with some nasty neon-yellow glop that passes for cheese. So tonight, with the Mets winning big and putting the game away early, standard-issue ballpark nachos get the middle finger. Now, nachos with fresh cheese and good salsa and just enough peppers for some added flavor, those are another story entirely.

Ring Finger: It’s been over a month since the Mets played against a division rival, the last such matchup coming at the end of May against the Marlins. At the conclusion of that series, the Mets were a game below .500 and four and a half games out of first place - exactly where they are right now after playing .500 ball over the last 34 games. The Marlins have gone 14-19 over that time to fall out of first, the Braves have gone on a 12-21 nosedive, and the Phillies have gone just 16-15 over the same timespan, but that has been enough to hold on to first place.

Pinky Finger: So, what has our old friend Guillermo Mota been up to lately? Apparently, something a lot like what he specialized in last year.

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 3rd, 2008 at 8:26 pm and is filed under Guillermo Mota, Hands Down, Carlos Beltran, Mike Pelfrey, New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals, 7 Train. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.