Last Friday, the best news was that the 2nd suspect in the Boston Marathon was caught. It was a nice way to end the night. So, what was I doing while this was going on.
Well, I was watching the Nats-Mets game. This was the game where there was the marquee matchup - Matt Harvey and Steven Strasburg. It was a night where two phenom pitchers were going at it.
I tuned in around the third inning when Strasburg was pitching. I could tell he wasn’t doing that well. He had a lot of trouble finding the strike zone and his team was already behind 2-0.
Matt Harvey on the other hand seemed unstoppable. He had struck out 7 and his fastball was going 96 even in the late innings. He seemed like he would be in trouble in the 7th inning when Tejada misplayed the throw from Murphy and suddenly, the bases were loaded.
Maybe there was frustration in Harvey’s mind but he seemed like a veteran and pitched his way out of the inning, leaving the game in the hands of the bullpen for Price and Parnell. Yes, Bobby Parnell would come in in a no save situation since the score was 7-1. Nats announcers would say that he needs the work. Nice bullpen management. Maybe Parnell can come back for the whole series if the other two games are close. Let's face it, the bullpen will get plenty of rest during the All Star Break and the end of the season.
Meanwhile, Drew Storen came on and let up homers from Lucus Duda and David Wright. Davis had a homer the inning before and by then, the Mets were up 7-1. Storen would finish the inning. Johnson knows better than to burn his bullpen out at that point unlike one manager on another team.
If that wasn’t enough, when Strasburg came out of the game in the 6th, the fans were chanting Harvey is better. That prompted the Nats announcers to say that the Mets fans haven’t had anything to cheer about in a long time so enjoy it. As far as Storen was concerned, he hadn’t pitched in a week and he needed the work.
The Mets would lose on Saturday, 7-6, on a homer from Bryce Harper but win the finale, 3-1. Most people would say that that game was a gift for the Mets since Jason Werth hit into a double play on a 3-0 count. Yes, he swung on 3-0. He would say later that he thought he would make something happen but didn’t.
For the Mets, it was a big win in a series after being swept by the Rockies. Give them credit for fighting back to take a big series from one of the best teams in the National league.
Far as I was concerned, the highlight was seeing Matt Harvey. Before you know it, he may be the starting pitcher in the All Star Game. Certainly, the Mets needed this after Santana went down. Shaun Marcum is expected to return to the staff on Sunday against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Mets will face the Dodgers before that and the Braves after the Marlins. Tough schedule in any case.
How about this for another matchup. Matt Harvey and CC Sabathia. Then how about Matt Harvey starting the All Star Game at Citi Field. Hey, why not. Bochey would give him the chance. That would be great for Met Fans.
It’s a long season. What kind of season will it be for the Mets. It could be better than the previous seasons. Let's face it, their biggest obstacle is Terry Collins. They may have a chance.
Rick Holman
Well, I was watching the Nats-Mets game. This was the game where there was the marquee matchup - Matt Harvey and Steven Strasburg. It was a night where two phenom pitchers were going at it.
I tuned in around the third inning when Strasburg was pitching. I could tell he wasn’t doing that well. He had a lot of trouble finding the strike zone and his team was already behind 2-0.
Matt Harvey on the other hand seemed unstoppable. He had struck out 7 and his fastball was going 96 even in the late innings. He seemed like he would be in trouble in the 7th inning when Tejada misplayed the throw from Murphy and suddenly, the bases were loaded.
Maybe there was frustration in Harvey’s mind but he seemed like a veteran and pitched his way out of the inning, leaving the game in the hands of the bullpen for Price and Parnell. Yes, Bobby Parnell would come in in a no save situation since the score was 7-1. Nats announcers would say that he needs the work. Nice bullpen management. Maybe Parnell can come back for the whole series if the other two games are close. Let's face it, the bullpen will get plenty of rest during the All Star Break and the end of the season.
Meanwhile, Drew Storen came on and let up homers from Lucus Duda and David Wright. Davis had a homer the inning before and by then, the Mets were up 7-1. Storen would finish the inning. Johnson knows better than to burn his bullpen out at that point unlike one manager on another team.
If that wasn’t enough, when Strasburg came out of the game in the 6th, the fans were chanting Harvey is better. That prompted the Nats announcers to say that the Mets fans haven’t had anything to cheer about in a long time so enjoy it. As far as Storen was concerned, he hadn’t pitched in a week and he needed the work.
The Mets would lose on Saturday, 7-6, on a homer from Bryce Harper but win the finale, 3-1. Most people would say that that game was a gift for the Mets since Jason Werth hit into a double play on a 3-0 count. Yes, he swung on 3-0. He would say later that he thought he would make something happen but didn’t.
For the Mets, it was a big win in a series after being swept by the Rockies. Give them credit for fighting back to take a big series from one of the best teams in the National league.
Far as I was concerned, the highlight was seeing Matt Harvey. Before you know it, he may be the starting pitcher in the All Star Game. Certainly, the Mets needed this after Santana went down. Shaun Marcum is expected to return to the staff on Sunday against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Mets will face the Dodgers before that and the Braves after the Marlins. Tough schedule in any case.
How about this for another matchup. Matt Harvey and CC Sabathia. Then how about Matt Harvey starting the All Star Game at Citi Field. Hey, why not. Bochey would give him the chance. That would be great for Met Fans.
It’s a long season. What kind of season will it be for the Mets. It could be better than the previous seasons. Let's face it, their biggest obstacle is Terry Collins. They may have a chance.
Rick Holman