Notes From the Clubhouse: As the Mets Bullpen Turns

Our MLB editor provides weekly dispatches from major league games in Notes From the Clubhouse.

After blowing another lead in the ninth inning against the Pirates Monday, the Mets appeared to be at their breaking point when they arrived in Washington for a three-game series with the Nationals. Things were so bad manager Jerry Manuel talked about using starting pitchers Mike Pelfrey, Oliver Perez and John Maine in the ninth during his pre-game meeting with reporters.

Fast forward nine innings and reliever Pedro Feliciano, the savior of the moment after a pitching a perfect ninth to nail down a 4-3 win, was joking with reporters about how "scary" the save situation was for him.

Such is life in a desperate pennant race in the middle of August with three teams battling for just one spot in the postseason. "Sometimes you're flush and sometimes you're bust," as Ray Liotta's character from the movie Blow would say.

Chances are the New York media will paint this win as a watershed moment for the Mets, a moment spurred by the motivational tactics of Manuel and a closed-door bullpen meeting led by veterans Scott Schoeneweis and Duaner Sanchez.And it will be painted that way because that is what the Mets are saying.

"Everybody in the bullpen was hurt, because that's kinda saying we aren't doing our job," said Feliciano of Manuel's pre-game proclamation that cats could be dogs starters could be closers. "We gonna step up and do our job."

Manuel refused to take credit for his bullpen's sudden turnaround, but that didn't keep him from hinting that it was a factor.

"I think they all feel victorious that they were able to get those last six outs in a one-run game," he said. "I'm not trying to light any fires. If that's how they want to take it, that's cool with me. I'm trying to be honest as I can."

When asked point blank if this was a turning point for the Mets, Feliciano replied "I think so."

Latest MLB Photos

Former Cleveland Indians pitcher Paul Byrd, center, talks to the media before the Indians play the Baltimore Orioles in a baseball game, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008, in Cleveland. The Boston Red Sox acquired Byrd from Cleveland on Tuesday, hoping to boost a rotation hurt by an injury to Tim Wakefield and the struggles of Clay Buchholz. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Former Cleveland Indians pitcher Paul Byrd talks to the media before the Indians play the Baltimore Orioles in a baseball game, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008, in Cleveland. The Boston Red Sox acquired Byrd from Cleveland on Tuesday, hoping to boost a rotation hurt by an injury to Tim Wakefield and the struggles of Clay Buchholz. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Players of the Twin State Peregrines of Vermont and New Hampshire cross Havana's Revolution Square near an image of late rebel hero Ernesto 'Che' Guevara August 12, 2008. Young baseball players from the United States, the first team of Little Leaguers known to visit Cuba since 2000, and Cuba squared off on Sunday in a game that was far more friendly than relations between their two countries. REUTERS/Claudia Daut (CUBA)

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Players of the Twin State Peregrines of Vermont and New Hampshire stand near the monument of Cuba's independence hero Jose Marti at Havana's Revolution Square August 12, 2008. Young baseball players from the United States, the first team of Little Leaguers known to visit Cuba since 2000, and Cuba squared off on Sunday in a game that was far more friendly than relations between their two countries. REUTERS/Claudia Daut (CUBA)

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LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 11: Jimmy Rollins #11 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on after a double by James Loney of the Los Angeles Dodgers (not in picture) in the bottom of the eighth inning during their MLB game at Dodger Stadium on August 11, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers defeated the Phillies 8-6. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jimmy Rollins

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LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 11: Jason Schmidt #29, Manny Ramirez #99 and Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate after their win against the Philadelphia Phillies on July 11, 2008 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers beat the Phillies 8-6. (Photo by Jonathan Moore/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jason Schmidt;Manny Ramirez;Clayton Kershaw

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LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 11: Manny Ramirez #99 of the Los Angeles Dodgers runs to third base on a double by James Loney (not in photo) in the eighth inning during their MLB game at Dodger Stadium on August 11, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers defeated the Phillies 8-6. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Manny Ramirez

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LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 11: Matt Kemp #27 of the Los Angeles Dodgers collides into Chase Utley #26 of the Philadelphia Phillies at second base as Utley finishes his throw to first base to converts the double play at the bottom of the seventh inning during their MLB game at Dodger Stadium on August 11, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers defeated the Phillies 8-6. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Matt Kemp;Chase Utley

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LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 11: Chase Utley #26 of the Philadelphia Phillies holds up his glove to the umpire after tagging out Juan Pierre #9 of the Los Angeles Dodgers at second base in the seventh inning during their MLB game at Dodger Stadium on August 11, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Juan Pierre;Chase Utley

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And maybe it will be, but things always look better after a victory. Or as Ray Liotta's character from Blow put it "when you're up, it's never as good as it seems, and when you're down, you never think you'll be up again." A couple of clean innings against the worst team in baseball doesn't mean the Mets bullpen is suddenly ready for October.

Feliciano might be Flushing's closer du jour for the next 24 hours, but given the way right-handed hitters knock him around the ballpark (.329/.417/.524 AVG/OBP/SLG) he isn't a long-term solution in the role.

Lost in all the bullpen drama was an underwhelming performance from $137.5 million man Johan Santana, who coughed up New York's 3-2 lead in the seventh inning on a pinch-hit home run by Ryan Langerhans of all people. Santana's strikeout rate is down, his walk rate is up, and he's once again allowing big flies at an alarming pace. He's still one of the 15 or so best pitchers in baseball, but he's not the very best like he was in Minnesota.

Santana didn't sound quite as certain that the bullpen's woes are a thing of the past -- an understandable reaction considering how many of his wins they've let slip away. "You have to let go," he said of departing with the game still in doubt. "There's not much you can do but hope."

So maybe the Mets' season turned in Washington, but it's more likely that this was just a good day for New York in a knockdown, drag-out NL East race between three similarly flawed clubs.

As for Manuel, he seems more pleased with the smaller victories earned Tuesday night: a game gained on Philadelphia in the standings and a bullpen that's a lot fresher than it was when it arrived in the nation's capital.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

8-13-2008 @ 10:27AM

Jeff said...

>>Chances are the New York media will paint this win as a watershed moment for the Mets, a moment spurred by the motivational tactics of Manuel and a closed-door bullpen meeting led by veterans Scott Schoeneweis and Duaner Sanchez.

What New York media are you reading? The Mets are the whipping boys of this city. They get zero respect here. It's more likely that they will be examined and declared DOA in this morning's papers, unfit to suit up in the majors and unworthy of any success.

Of course, if the Mets win the division, then yes, sometime in September this will be called a turning point. But that's not unreasonable, is it? Finally, management is doing something about this very large elephant in the Mets' living room. Manuel is taking action where Randolph would just sit and wait for things to work themselves out. All respect to Willie, that was maybe not the best strategy here. (Of course, it wouldn't hurt for Omar Minaya to make a key mid-season acquisition or two.... He's starting to look like Willie, if you ask me.)

Now the Yankees, everything's a turning point with them. If you want to read some good homer journalism (like you get in the rest of the country), check out the drama in New York Times coverage of the Yankees. The last time the Mets were deemed more worthy of a championship than the Yanks was 1986. Seriously, you could look it up.

8-14-2008 @ 9:39AM

lew said...

as long as heilman is on this team they mets are doomed. how ignorant is the manager management. and minaya. he is a cancer he will lose 80 percent of the games he is put into. dump the cancer trade him now or the mets are doomed. he will lose your chance for a division title. thats a guarantee. he is a cancer. eliminate the garbage heilman. the others will do fine ..

8-14-2008 @ 1:32PM

K said...

Ray Liotta said what in Blow? You mean in Goodfella's? Depp was in Blow.

8-15-2008 @ 2:14PM

LEW said...

NOW THAT THE METS ARE IN FIRST BY A GAME. THANKS TO THE DODGERS HELP AND A 3 GAME SWEEP OF WASH. DONT USE HEILMSN UNLESS YOU HAVE AT LEAST A 6 RUN LEAD. HE WILL KILL YOU. HE WONT HELP THE METS HE WILL DESTROR THEM I KNOW WHAT HE IS AS IVE SAID BEFORE A CANCER.