NLCS Game 2: Cardinals
It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.
The tale of the first two games of the NLCS is one of good pitching and so-so pitching. Where Game 1 saw a masterful display by both the Mets’ Tom Glavine and the Cardinals’ Jeff Weaver, Game 2 saw St. Louis ace Chris Carpenter and Mets’ rookie John Maine struggle through the first half of the game before both gave way to their respective bullpens, before Mets relievers gave up game tying then game winning runs, in route to a 9-6 Cardinals win.
The Mets (and their fans) have been on pins and needles since the loss of their two starters, Pedro Martinez and Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez just prior to the start of the NLDS. While this team has used 13 different starters over the course of the regular season, the uncertainty of the pitching rotation has kept us only cautiously optimistic about our playoff future.
Friday night’s game demonstrated that while Maine is a good pitcher with a bright future, in a short series, the weight placed on his shoulders may be more than he can handle at this stage. Further, the usually reliable setup man Guillermo Mota, and closer Billy Wagner, who both worked in Game 1, failed them at the worst time, demonstrating a vulnerability the Mets will need to address if they want to continue.
This was the first Mets loss in the 2007 playoffs (they swept the Dodgers), and we aren’t in panic mode yet here in New York. But with Games 3, 4 and 5 in St. Louis, we need to grab the first one to regain momentum and at least one of the remaining two to get back to New York if we want a chance at clinching.
Posted by bernie at October 14, 2006 2:51 PM