Walks in the Park (I blame Chan Ho)

So, a walk off walk. For once, walks helped the Mets last night, as the Cubbies couldn't get the ball over the plate in the ninth inning. Lou must be ready to explode after that debacle.

Tommy wasn't at his best last night, though the defense did let him down a tad. He is still stuck on 294 wins, and this time, he can only blame himself. In the first, it seemed Mike Pelfrey was on the mound, as Tommy gave up a double to Soriano, followed by a single to Aramis Ramirez. He was able to get out of the inning down only 1-0. Then, in the second, a walk to DeRosa (who has a 350ish average lifetime against the Mets), a double by Angel Pagan and a single by Jason Marquis led to two more runs. Marquis would later score on a single by Izturis, and it was 4-0 Cubbies.

Glavine settled down until the 5th, retiring the next nine in a row. In the 5th though, after getting two quick outs, a walk to Soriano (who then stole second), was followed by walks to Ramirez and Murton. Bases loaded, and Tommy showed the veteran guile and was able to stop the Cubbies. One more inning for him, final line, 6 innings, 4 runs, 2 K's and 4 walks. Tommy may be in his little dip that he seems to go into every year. They usually do not last long. I for one hope that is the case now, as they can ill afford to have him slumping. Glavine was followed by Joe Smith, who gave up a single in 1.1 innings, and then by Pedro Dos who had a similar line. Heilman got the last out in the ninth, and walked away with the win.

On offense, little was done by the Mets until the 4th when Delgado walked. Up stepped The Prince, and he hit a drive to right that just cleared the fence, and it was 4-2 Cubs. Wright ended the night going 3-4. I'm thinking he's back now. Delgado, you're next. Two walks are OK, but some extra base hits to drive in runs would be better.

The Mets tied it in the 6th. Delgado and Wright singled to start the inning. Following a Green strikeout, PLD doubled to drive in Delgado. Easley then hit a sac fly to plate Wright, and we were tied. It would stay that way until the 9th, when with 2 out, Jose Jose Jose singled. Endy walked following a Reyes steal of second on a pitch-out. Beltran followed with another walk, loading the bases for Delgado. A ten-pitch at bat ensued, with Carlos fighting off some good pitches. Finally, Wuertz threw ball four, and the Mets would go home winners, and in possession of first place by 1/2 game, as the Braves fell to the Nationals (during the game, the Braves were no hit for 7 innings, and Smoltz dislocated his pinkie tagging out a runner. No word on how long he will be out, if at all. That's four in a row for Manny Acta's Nats. Thanks Manny!)

So, on a night where walks were prevalent, the Mets for once were able to come out on top. A couple of things I noticed. First, Lou Pinella is terrible. I know he has a good record, but the guy shoots daggers at his pitchers. He just has god-awful body language in the dugout. He conveys a sense of loss, not of winning. I'm not saying to sit back and do nothing ala Joe Torre, but for pete's sake, if you don't show confidence in your pitchers, they are not going to react well. I for one am glad he was not hired as Mets manager a few years back.

Marquis, I don't know how he does it. The guy is not that good, yet he is 5-1. I was not that impressed with him last night. Several balls were hit hard, but went right to Cub fielders. I don't think it is long before the bloom comes off that rose.

Tonight, the game that worries me in this series, as John Maine faces Carlos Zambrano. Zambrano has had a tough year, going 3-3 with a 5.83 ERA and 1.60 WHIP. Is it the contract discussions that are bothering him? Is he hurt? Or is it simply that guys have figured him out? He has thrown a lot of innings and pitches in his career, thanks to Dusty Baker (who lets a guy throw 120 pitches in the last game of a dead season? Dusty Baker.) That being said, CZ has the ability to be lights out. I'm a little worried that he is going to try to do that tonight, in the hopes of either getting his new contract done, or impressing the Mets so they go after him in the offseason if he goes the free agent route. I hope I am wrong.