Heartbreakers

The Mets lose to the Rockies by a deflating score of 11-5. So all the Braves have to do is win against the Marlins and Scott Olsen whom they have owned since he came up to the majors, and they would be sole possession of first place in the NL east, and with no division rivals to play next.

For eight innings, Tim Hudson was the 2007 NL Cy Young winner. Allowing six hits, zero runs, and recording a career-high 12 strikeouts, this game looked like it was going to be a piece of cake.

I should've seen it coming. Olsen, after his shaky start struck out eleven of his own batters, and kept the Braves off the scoreboard for a solid six innings.

But in the 9th inning, that's when the shit hit the fan. Bobby Cox who I have already established is one of the finest managers of modern baseball lore, made a tremendous managing snafu tonight. Twice, now that I think about it. Cox's dedication and confidence towards his players has got to be the biggest rub of inspiration to his team, but there is a little something called reality that isn't being taken into effect. And for an ol'skool skipper like Bobby, who likes to play by the numbers, the numbers aren't favoring tired pitchers.

• Hudson had already exceeded 100 pitches, and far too often, Braves starters have stayed in one-inning too long. Tonight was no exception
• The score was only 3-0 going into the bottom of the 9th. If it were me managing, any and all save situations would be handled by the closer, with the only exception being a potential no-hitter or perfect game. (Mistake #1)
  
• Bobby usually lets his potential CG'ing pitchers go in the 9th, and immediately relieves them at the first sign of danger. Tonight, he waited until Huddy loaded the bases on three-straight singles, before bringing Wickman into the game. (Mistake #2) As good as Wickman has been thus far, asking any reliever to go out and retire the next three guys without allowing the tying run is way too far.
• Wickman's reputation as a fireman isn't that great - his closing numbers are stellar yes, but his favorable situation would be starting the 9th completely fresh for him to establish his dominance. Once anyone gets past first base on his watch, Wickman becomes vulnerable and much more likely to make mistakes, like the passed ball that ultimately ended the game.
  
• Rafael Soriano, whose intensity and mentality, and capability of producing K's would have been far more ideal at the arduous situation at hand. What baffles me is that in 8th, Soriano was getting warmed up - by the 9th, he should've been nice, warm and loose and ready to go.

I would rather have lost 11-5 than to lose a heartbreaker like the Braves did tonight. This is the kind of game that really deflates me as a fan, and really hurts. As a result, the Mets are still first, and the Braves are a half-game behind. And now they have a day off to let all of this sink in, which, by the numbers is never a good thing.

Here's hoping that James, Smoltz and Davies can get something good going in Colorado, who has to be flying high right now having pwned the Mets to end their series.

Hey, if Byung-Hyun Kim is pitching any of the games this weekend, that's like a guaranteed win, right?