Delgado Does Work

Anyone Mets fan who saw the second game of the double header Sunday night breathed a deep sigh of relief thanks mostly to a man who at the beginning of the season seemed like a very unlikely MVP candidate. After a season of great decline last year which continued on into the first half of this season, all of the experts said Delgado was done. They said he would never be able to put up his natural numbers which used to be at least 30 home runs and at least 100 RBIs. Sunday night, on ESPN, broadcasted all throughout the U.S. Delgado continued his hot streak by going 3 for 4 with two home runs and four RBI. Delgado handed it to Cole Hamels, who lasted only five innings and threw 110 pitches. Johan Santana bounced back well after giving up an RBI single and a solo shot to Ryan Howard early on, managing to strike out six and lower his ERA by 0.01 for what it's worth. For yet another game, the Mets bullpen was right on cue, allowing only one run, which wasn't earned, and trying to give Mets fans a good feeling about their relief pitching. This 6-3 victory was much needed for the Amazins who would have fallen into a tie for first place with the Phillies which would have phsycologically messed with them as well as put on the obvious pressure of being right with them in the race. Oh and just to throw it in there before it's too late, Charlie Manuel was ejected from the game in the bottom of the first inning for arguing balls and strikes.

Tonight, the Mets are currently tied 2-2 with the Washington Nationals who have John Lannan starting for them, a pitcher who I think very highly of. This year, in what will be recorded as his rookie season, Lannan has allowed more than four runs in only six of his 28 starts including tonight. Lannan is already after the game after surrendering five runs to the Mets. He has 101 strikeouts with an ERA of 4.09 and a record of 8-13. Before tonight's game he had a solid WHIP of 1.34 and has been pitching great for a Nationals team that hasn't provided him with too much run support. If he were to play for say the Mets, I would say his record would be at least 14-8. Lannan has proven he can pitch well against good offensive teams with solid performances against the Cubs, Rangers, Dodgers, Brewers, and Mets. At times, he has been throwing beautiful pitches that get batters swinging silly while he has also shown a few explosions as he did tonight against the Mets. Three of the five runs Lannan has allowed have come from two home runs, one a solo shot from Ryan Church and the other a two run shot from non other than Carlos Delgado. Delgado now has 67 RBIs in his last 66 games, including tonight's game which hasn't concluded. Right now, Delgado is making himself an MVP candidate. Well all in all, I do have to say I love John Lannan's stuff and really wish the Mets could try to get him seeing as the may be running dry in the starting pitching department next year.