K-Rod no longer perfect, but close
Prior to every Mets game, the PR staff compiles a packet of game notes that include mention of anything striking, remarkable or bizarre. For some time now, one note has been chronicling the success of Francisco Rodriguez, who by all accounts has been untouchable in his first year as a Met. Here's what that note had to say today:
"Francisco Rodriguez has not allowed an earned run in his last 25 2/3 innings dating back to April 27 ... Rodriguez is tied for third in the majors with 17 saves ... Rodriguez converted 16 save opportunities to begin his Mets career, extending his club record, before suffering a blown save on June 12 at Yankee Stadium ... Anthony Young began his Mets career with 12 saves in 1992 ... Rodriguez hasn't allowed an earned run in 30 of his 31 outings ... Rodriguez has notched 35 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings ... lefthanded batters are 7-for-61 (.115) off him while righties are hitting .189."
Now many of those statistics no longer apply after Rodriguez blew his first legitimate save -- his first actually allowing an earned run -- of the year on Thursday. But they still serve a purpose. Rodriguez has been good -- real good -- and one blown save doesn't change that. You can still make the argument, as Livan Hernandez did after the game, that he's the "best closer in the game."
You could make a case for Jonathan Broxton, you could make a case for Heath Bell, and you can always make a case for Joe Nathan or Mariano Rivera. But through roughly 40 percent of the season, it's difficult to argue against K-Rod -- blown save or not.
--Anthony DiComo
"Francisco Rodriguez has not allowed an earned run in his last 25 2/3 innings dating back to April 27 ... Rodriguez is tied for third in the majors with 17 saves ... Rodriguez converted 16 save opportunities to begin his Mets career, extending his club record, before suffering a blown save on June 12 at Yankee Stadium ... Anthony Young began his Mets career with 12 saves in 1992 ... Rodriguez hasn't allowed an earned run in 30 of his 31 outings ... Rodriguez has notched 35 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings ... lefthanded batters are 7-for-61 (.115) off him while righties are hitting .189."Now many of those statistics no longer apply after Rodriguez blew his first legitimate save -- his first actually allowing an earned run -- of the year on Thursday. But they still serve a purpose. Rodriguez has been good -- real good -- and one blown save doesn't change that. You can still make the argument, as Livan Hernandez did after the game, that he's the "best closer in the game."
You could make a case for Jonathan Broxton, you could make a case for Heath Bell, and you can always make a case for Joe Nathan or Mariano Rivera. But through roughly 40 percent of the season, it's difficult to argue against K-Rod -- blown save or not.
--Anthony DiComo
Forget about the closers and the starting pitching it is sound and it will take us along way. But what won't take us anywhere is our hitting, I really don't care to here all the talk about when we get healthy. When and if we get healthy we could be 10 games out.
We need a power bat now and Adam Dunn can be had for next to nothing put him in the lineup between Wright and Beltran and watch the runs start flowing. If this blog is ever read by the Mets Gm Omar the great get Dunn now and you can teach him spanish later.
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