Why take Maine out after six innings? Again, that 100 pitch limit rears its ugly head. How is the bullpen going to be refreshed if they have to pitch 3 or more innings every night? Been there, done that. At the very least, Maine should have started the seventh inning. When will managers, including Willie Randolph, stop babying these starting pitchers?

It may have not made any difference since Mets hitters could not get on track against Chicago pitching. However, if Maine went a bit deeper it could have changed how the Mets relievers were used. I liked the Mets chances heading into the ninth one run down. I didn’t at all like their chances with them down by 6.

Randolph, unfortunately, received his tutelage under the direction of Joe Torre. Following the Yankees just a little bit makes you realize Torre was no master of handling the pen either, not since Zimmer and Stottlemyer left. Willie keeps preaching that his starters must get him deeper into games. I agree, so why not leave them out there longer. Maine may have thrown 100 pitches but he was getting stronger as the game went on.

You can argue that Jose Reye’s error in the eighth opened the flood gates. But good teams overcome those mistakes. Give Heilman credit. He didn’t blame anyone but himself for what happened that inning. And he almost got out of it. Had Maine started the seventh, maybe he gets through without issue. Willie could have then brought in Sanchez for the eighth. As it turned out his strategy cost three pitchers instead of two. The more relievers you save in a game, the more rested the pen will be and the better off the team will be come the dog days. Someone needs to teach Willie before it’s too late.

Around the Mets Minors

The Mets minor league teams are in full action except for the short season A league and rookie leagues. The New Orleans Zephyrs are currently 4 games out of first in the Pacific Coast League American South Division with a record of 10-8. N.O. has split the last 10 games they have played. Speculation is that this could be the last season for the Mets triple A club in New Orleans. The Mets would much rather field a team closer to home. It’s possible that Rochester New York will become the new Mets affiliate at the top A level next season. These days, AAA players are a repository for the Major League club and it’s important to be able to retrieve players quickly in case a need should arise. In the Pacific Coast League, a great deal of time, players are on the west coast requiring a couple of days to connect with the big league team. The reason the Mets ended up in New Orleans the last two seasons was because they thought they had a deal in place to continue at Norfolk. But when the Tides at the last minute decided to attach themselves to the Baltimore Orioles, the Mets were left without a dancing partner in the International League. New Orleans was the only spot open. It would make sense for the New York Mets to have a triple A affiliate in New York state.

The double A Binghamton Mets of the Eastern League is 8-9, 5.5 games behind the division leading Portland (Maine) Sea Dogs. The B-Mets have lost 4 straight. Fernando Martinez, the touted Mets top outfield prospect plays for Binghamton. Martinez is currently batting .247 with 1 home run, 6 doubles and 6 RBI. First baseman Mike Carp is tearing up the league batting .446. I hope Mike continues his stellar hitting. The New York Mets may need a first baseman sooner than later the way Delgado is hitting (0-12 in the Philadelphia series).

At the single A level, the Port St. Lucie Mets are struggling big time with a record of 2-15. They are 9 games out of first place. They have yet to win a road game. The Savannah Sand Gnats who were horrible last year are not much better this year either. The South Atlantic League Mets affiliate is 6-11. What bothers me about these two clubs is that we were told the Mets have talent at the low levels of their minor league system. In fairness perhaps they do but based on the win loss record so far, you have to be concerned. Still it’s too early to assume this crop will not develop into something special.