Last Night Was Awful, Good Thing the Game Was on The West Coast

After watching the Mets try to fight back 6-1 and 10-4, and then seeing the Padres find a way to keep extending their lead, I decided to stop watching last night's game and went to sleep.  So, I can't really talk about the WHOLE game, as I didn't really watch the whole thing, since I was disgusted with the bullpen.  Anyway, the Mets ended up getting embarassed 18-6 (box score/wrap)...

Takahashi got hit pretty hard early, and gave up a grand slam to Jerry Hairston in the third inning which really started the offensive out-pouring from the Padres.  I'm not concerned with Takahashi getting hit hard, but I am slightly concerned with his inability to stay ahead of hitters.  As the SNY crew noted many times during the telecast, the Padres seemed more patient and were able to lay off Takahashi's change up.  This is true.  But the thing that I don't remember hearing put together was that since Takahashi wasn't really ahead in counts, it was easier for the Padres hitters to lay off that change up and wait for Takahashi to come to them.  Also, a bunch of breaking balls that Takahashi threw hung, like the one Hundley hit for a double, and that also didn't help his cause.

Overall, the bullpen was awful.  Valdes couldn't throw strikes.  Somehow Mejia was able to keep the damage slightly under control, and then he was gone after an inning just in time to see Igarashi get bombed.  Ollie Perez only gave up two runs in 2 and 2/3, but that was mop-up duty.  I'm sure Ollie will thrive in these non-pressure situations.

There were some big hits from Reyes, Barajas and Francoeur.  But on the whole last night wasn't about what the offense did, as much as what the pitching didn't...

The Mets try to even up the series tonight with Pelfrey going to the hill against Wade LeBlanc...