K-Rod becomes true Mets closer: Padres 6, Mets 2

Now it appears K-Rod has truly settled into his role as Mets closer.  It’s really an initiation process because to be a Mets closer, you have to blow two terrible games in a row.  Welcome K-Rod.  You have now joined the elite along with John Franco, Armando Benitez, Braden Looper and Billy Wagner.  The green jacket with the BLSV stitched onto the back will be waiting for you in San Diego tonight.

A couple of serious notes about that ninth inning.  It’s one thing to get bad luck with injuries, but it’s another for the umps to look like they’re getting paid off by the other team.  That should have been an out at the plate for the Padres’ second run and then K-Rod’s 2-2 pitch before the grand slam was clearly a strike.  Two brutal calls that ultimately cost the Mets big time.

Ollie Perez had his first really good start of the season.  He was consistently throwing 94 all night long.  The maddening part of this is why can’t he just pitch like this always!?  I know everyone has said this for the past three seasons, but it’s one of the reasons why I believe the game is more mental than the stats guys believe.

And finally, I have to call out Matt Cerrone for something he wrote yesterday because it made no sense.  It was in his post on metsblog.com regarding Bobby V becoming manager next season.  This is what irked me: The thing is, I am not sure Jerry Manuel has done anything to warrant being fired.  Frankly, I think he’s done an admirable job navigating through this 2009 injury-storm.

I agree that the lack of success this season is not Jerry’s fault.  I don’t think any manager would have made any difference this season.  But there is absolutely no possible way you can tell me he’s done an admirable job.  That’s just flat-out wrong.  The team couldn’t have been any worse since the core went down with injuries.  If you’re telling me Jerry has done an admirable job, then you could say that about any manager that suffers through injuries.  I guess it’s a bright spot the team actually shows up (physically) to the ballpark everyday.  Name me one thing that Jerry has done which leads you to believe he’s been doing a good job.  The Mets have folded like lawn chairs lately.  So come on.  And Matt’s not the only one who’s said stuff like that.  I’ve been reading it from the writers lately too.  Are we supposed to praise Jerry because the team wins one or two games a week instead of losing all of them?  I’m a little confused with that one.