The Mets’ Bullpen Sucks – A Proven Fact
Jayson Stark, everyone favorite hometown hero, offers a brilliant breakdown of just how bad the Mets bullpen has been this year and, perhaps more fittingly for this space, just how good the Phillies have been late in games.
Bad memories, you can stomp out. Bad bullpens … eh, not so much. These Mets are living proof.
That difference is now 2½ games, but if all games ended after six innings, those NL East standings would look a whole lot different.
In fact, according to Bill James Online, here’s how those standings would look if games were six innings:
Mets 84-52
Phillies 71-62 – 11½ games outYep, you read that right. If games were six innings, the Mets would be leading this division by 11½ games.
OK, suppose all games were eight innings. Here’s how those standings would shake out:
Mets 83-59
Phillies 75-64 – 6½ games outMind-boggling, isn’t it? How gigantic are those last three outs? Gigantic enough to cause an eight-game swing in the standings. Gigantic enough, in other words, to change everything about this race.
“Both those bullpens are fried at this point, but the Phillies’ is less fried — and they have Brad Lidge,” one NL scout said. “The difference between these two teams, really, is Brad Lidge. And even if Billy Wagner was still healthy, the difference is Brad Lidge.”
Wow. We all know those last three outs are a monster, but what about watching the Phillies get those three outs – that aint no easy feat either my friends.
Read.
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