Pain before Pleasure

No, this is not a post about a modest three game winning streak against the Pirates. Yes, I am happy about it, especially the way the offense has begun to put some runs on the board again, and David Wright last night appeared to be back in form (though David needs to run at the crack of the bat. That double last night could have been an out, he barely made it.) Nice opposite field home run by The Prince.

No, Pain before Pleasure is about the pitching for this weekend, the next two days in particular. Now, I am quite happy with Pedro going on the DL, I called for this earlier this week. Why push it when the team has a nice double digit lead in a division that is frankly awful? Plus, with the All Star Game next week, there is already built in time off, plus Pedro does not have to listen to the usual BS about his not going to the game (though he claims he wanted to go, all who are fans know he is simply saving face. Pedro hates the ASG, and prefers to take a few days off).

I am on the other hand not looking forward to the Pain we are going to have to endure having Lima Time! on the mound this evening. He was quite atrocious the first time around. I do not care if he had thrown 3 no-hitters and 2 other shutouts in Norfolk since he was jettisoned (which he did not even come close to doing mind you), the man simply does not belong in a major league rotation. His best days (and they were quite few) have passed him by. To top it off, the team had the audacity to give him Keith Hernandez' # 17 the last time around. This is a number that shold be retired, but failing that, should be held for someone who can either realistically or potentially live up to the legacy. Lima Time! has not chance of doing this. I fully expect a shellacking this evening, even facing the AAAA team that is the Marlins. Miguel Cabrera is a very good hitter, and Mike Jacobs is bouncing back from a terrible first month and a half of the season. The potential is there for the Marlins to put up a high crooked number.

The Mets alas must face the D-Train. Willis is 3-0 at Shea in his career. The Mets did beat him earlier this season, and won one other start he made but did not factor in the decision. Willis had a strong June, going 4-1 with a 2.51 ERA. Considering the funk the Mets lineup has been in as of late, and the fact that he is a lefty, there could be trouble tonight. Pain aplenty.

The Pleasure will be seeing the debut of Mike Pelfrey tomorrow in one of the game of the double-header. The opener is on FOX TV, so it will be interesting to see if Willie decides to check out how Pelfrey reacts to the big stage in his first start. Scouts think that if he is able to spot his fastball, and get the calls on the black, he could do well, despite not having another Plus pitch. Personally, I say throw the kid out there now. While Omar is saying this is a test, it may well be that he is needed as the #3 starter in the playoffs. Now, a Saturday game on Fox against the Marlins in July is not the same as a playoff game, there is sure to be hype in the NY press. Let's see how he reacts. My hope, as I expressed earlier this week, is that expectations are not too high among the fans, and they do not expect the kid to be lights out the first time out.

Billy Wagner has spoken about the Phillies again, this time to Jon Heyman of SI (formerly Newsday), on the topic of the Phillies. Country Time feels that Gillick should break up the Phillies, saying that there is no leadership and little heart. He also stated that the team has a lot of talent. Now, Billy is an honest man, and not the type to "no comment" a question. I think part of the issue here is the reaction to his comments last year, where a couple of Phillies called him out, with a spillover to early this season prior to the Mets first visit to Shea South. However, Billy quite frankly should have told Heyman "They have a lot of talent, I'm not sure what is wrong. I am now a Met, and wish my former teammates well, so long as they are not playing us." End of story. Speaking up again is not going to win him any friends over there (not that he needs any) and is only going to pump up the hype for later this season, with 10 games against the Phils in August (6 home, 4 at home away from home). Hopefully, nothing in the way of a beaning occurs. Should it happen, well, I hope the Mets react appropriately.