Certainly it was not what we were hoping for. Even if the Mets had to lose, we all were hoping that it would be a well pitched game by Pedro. It was rather shocking to see someone with such focus and determination get so rattled so quickly as Pedro Martinez did last evening. The writing was on the wall when David Ortiz hit a come-backer to Pedro who then suffered from vapor lock. He could have easily started the 6-4-3 double play then perhaps everything in the universe would be right again. But it was not meant to be. So what happened? Two things, that’s what. Pedro was obviously nervous and for the first time this year, the Mets played a team that is actually better than they are. Having won 11 in a row, the Red Sox right now are a dominating team. Everyone in their line up is hitting and they are also getting great pitching. The Red Sox pitchers have done something that no other team has been able to do recently. They have contained Jose Reyes and David Wright.
If anything, you can see how important these two home grown Mets are to this team. Carlos Delgado has hit a couple of home runs, Beltran had one the other night but with Reyes and Wright being held in check, the Mets offense has sputtered the last two games. And the Red Sox hitters have simply carved up the Mets starting pitching by taking apart Alay Soler and then of course spoiling Pedro Martinez’s comeback to Fenway. The Sox winning streak has been entirely against National League teams which tells you something about the disparity right now between the two leagues. The Mets, now 5 and 6 in inter-league play, are actually one National League team that has faired well in comparison to the rest of the NL.
The good news for the Mets last evening was that all other NL East teams lost too. So even though the Mets got absolutely pounded the last two nights, they remain atop the division 12 games in front of
All in all, I always like to view the glass as being half full. Perhaps these loses to the Red Sox are a good thing for the Mets, especially the younger players. They can see how they measure up to this blazing Red Sox team. Now the Mets know if they want the brass ring, they will have to ratchet up their performance a bit more.
Notes: The Mets have not returned the favor to the Yankees. Last week the Yanks helped out the Mets by winning two of three from the Phillies but so far the Mets have lost the first two from the Red Sox.
The scene last night at Fenway with Pedro returning home was similar to one that occurred at Shea Stadium long ago. It happened on Sunday, August 21, 1977. It was the first time that Tom Seaver pitched against the Mets. I attended that game and I’ll never forget how long of a standing ovation Seaver received from a full Shea Stadium. It was the only time I recall ever rooting against the Mets and so did everyone else that day. The difference of course, compared to last night, was that every fan at Shea then was so angry with the Mets front office for trading the Franchise earlier during that season over a contract dispute. The recent and current Red Sox team is a different matter. Pedro left because he was not offered a contract as good as the one the Mets offered plus the Red Sox had just won the World Series and remain a very good team. When Seaver was traded, it really was the last straw for Mets fans. The team was totally decimated by bad trades, a barren farm system, and a total unwillingness to delve into the free agent system. Boy those were dark times. It eventually culminated with the sale of the team to Nelson Doubleday in 1980. By the way Seaver and the Reds won that day beating the Mets 5 to 1. The losing pitcher was Seaver’s long time teammate and friend, Jerry Koosman. Tom pitched a complete game.
