The bottom line is this. When the Mets get quality innings from their starting pitching, everything else will fall into place. The Mets as a team were absolutely horrid to start the season from a pitching stand point. To this point they hold a 4.75 ERA as a team. Nothing to brag about by any stretch, but it's plenty better than the 5.24 ERA they had before R.A. Dickey made his start against the Astros on Wednesday (though to be honest, numbers still don't mean a great deal this early in the season with only 20 games played thus far). It's amazing the difference 3 starts can make. But for me the starting pitching has always been the key.
Early on in the year, the Mets had trouble, you don't need me to tell you that. But the problem was the starting pitching. Combined with some slow starts to games at the plate, they fell behind early, thus demoralizing the team. And since they got very little length out of their starting pitchers to start the season, the relievers became overtaxed and began to underperform. But the tides are beginning to turn, at least I hope.
Though Dickey gave up 4 runs, he did make it through 8 innings, and if Angel Pagan lowers his leg on a slide at home plate, who knows what would've happen. Capuano and Pelfrey both took the mound on the following two days and through a couple of gems. Naturally, the Mets had a much easier time overall. They pounded the Astros on Thursday like you'd expect a team with a team with a ton of built up frustration to do. Then came out and played a solid game for the most part against the D'Backs behind Pelfrey, earning him a win. Like I said, starting pitching means everything. A starting pitcher can have the most profound impact on a game of any player. He controls everything. It's no surprise that they've won the past 2 games with the performances they've got. The key is now to keep that streak going. Dillon Gee will try and make that happen tomorrow.
After the start the Mets got off to this season, it was easy for a lot of Mets fans to go nuts, some even wearing paper bags on their heads to games. I even let it get to me, which I hate. Fans can't get too high or low over the course of a season, especially in baseball. There are too many games. Things will inevitably even out. The Mets have too much talent on their roster to be the worst team in baseball, it's that simple. The question was always their starting pitching, and I know it has only been 2 or 3 good starts in a row, but this is something the Mets need to build off of. If they do, maybe we'll actually have some fun baseball to watch this summer.
