Given the awful happenings surrounding the other Orange & Blue team I have given my allegiance to, needed the Mets to do something positive to lift me out of my malaise. They did not disappoint.
Mike Pelfrey made his second start. While not exactly lights out, with 7 hits and 3 walks, he was efficient, and made strides over his first outing, throwing fewer pitches and going 6 innings. He allowed only two fly balls. He showed some moxie when he faced Adam Dunn with 2 runners on in the 5th, and Ken Griffey Jr. waiting on deck. He fell behind 3-1, got Dunn to foul off a fastball, and followed that with a beautiful rising and tailing in fastball to strike Dunn out, ending the threat. Nice little fist pump, not only by Pelfrey, but by Paul Lo Duca as well. Maybe the hole in the rotation has been plugged. He at least deserves another couple of starts.
Jose Reyes returned to the lineup, making Met fans and fantasy team owners (like me) happy. He did not disappoint, scoring from first on a Lo Duca double. Nice to have you back Jose.
Carlos (Grand) Beltran followed his Sunday Grand Slam with another last night. What a bomb it was, an estimated 450 feet into the second deck in left. Carlos has tied David Wright for the RBI lead, in 52 fewer at bats. MVP talk was had last night on the broadcast, a stealth campaign it was called, under the radar. Unfortunately, if history is any guide, no Met will win. Beltran is deserving of consideration, as are Wright and Reyes. Of course, this means they will split the vote. There is precedence here, Darryl Strawberry and Kevin McReynolds split the vote in 1988, and Kirk Gibson won the award. I hope this does not happen again. It would be tough for me to pick among them, but I would have to tilt towards Beltran at this point. His play in the field has been great, he has been the offensive force the team (and fans) thought they were getting last season, and he has done it in fewer at-bats. Throw in the rebound from last season, and he makes a good case.
Of course a case can be made for the two youngsters as well. I do not mean to dismiss them, as I am a big fan of them both. Reyes is possibly going to break numerous team records, and Wright may come close as well. However, Wright’s play in the field is not a stellar (granted, at a particularly hard position), and Reyes had early season times where he was too quiet. Plus, they are both young, which may work against them.
I will be fun to watch them all this summer. Let’s see if one can pull away. I wonder, what happens if Delgado gets hot? Could he work his way into the picture as well. Nice problem to have.
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