Jun

30

Big week coming up

June 30, 2008 |

The Subway Series is always exciting, and I certainly can’t complain with the result (which I believe makes it 5 consecutive seasons without the Yankee taking the season series), the truth of the matter is that all the Mets and Yankees really compete for is the back pages.

At the risk of engaging in hyperbole, the next week will have a huge impact on how the rest of the Met season plays out, as they first head to St. Louis to take on the wild card leading Cardinals for four games before continuing on to Philadelphia to face the NL East leading Phillies. When I first noticed this stretch a few weeks ago, the series with St. Louis seemed bigger, but they have played good ball between then and now and have put another game or two between them and the Mets. The way things are going right now, it looks like the wild card is going to come from the NL Central, but it can’t hurt to keep tabs on St. Louis and stay within striking range. Santana won’t be pitching in this series; instead Tuesday Tony Armas will make his Met debut against Todd Wellenmeyer, who has put together a very solid season. The pitching matchups aren’t great, mainly because Armas is pitching, and I don’t think anyone knows what we’re gonna get from Pedro. (Hopefully he has been tipping his pitches, because I don’t want to live in a world where Pedro isn’t any good.) Hopefully Maine can get us off on a good foot today, because without a win tonight it will be hard for us to earn a split.

The trip to Philly is more important, as we enter play today only 3 games behind them, and 2 back in the loss column. A good series this weekend and we could be in first place, or tied, with a lot of season to play. Jerry Manuel said that Mosies Alou should be starting a rehab assignment this week with the hopes of him playing the weekend series, but I am not getting my hopes up. The series starts on Friday with a great pitching matchup, Santana against Hamels. Apparently the Mets have changed up their rotation, and John Maine will go Saturday against the ageless Jamie Moyer, Oliver Perez on Sunday vs Kyle Kendrick, and Mike Pelfrey against certified Met killer Adam Eaton on Monday. I am a little worried about the Monday game, as I figure Pelfrey will struggle against the left handed bats Philly can throw out there, but we have to eventually put up a big number against Eaton. The matchups here are a lot better, particularly if the changes Perez made in his mechanics continue, but much like Alou, I am not holding my breath.

Posted by Conor Lyons


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