Luis Ayala: hero?

August 25, 2008

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Paul Petrone

Luis Ayala: hero?

I know it has only been 4 innings into his Met career, but Luis Ayala has already solidified himself as the best guy coming out of the unspeakably bad Met’s bullpen.  Think about it, run down the roster: who else would you rather see late in a game: Heilman?  Sanchez?  Both have blown it in big spots consistently this year.  Before, to a left hander at least it was Pedro Feliciano but after yesterday's performance I am not so sure.  Joe Smith has the epitome of average; Schoeneweis has been okay but never pitches in the big spots; Brian Stokes is a mop-up guy at best leaving only Luis Ayala to take the top spot.  In fact, if I to rate the Mets, 1-5 in guys I would like to see coming out of the pen it would read like this:1. Ayala- Simply because he hasn't done enough for me to hate him yet.  Give Omar some credit for what, so far at least, appears to be a solid pick-up.2. Scott Schoeneweis - His era is under 3, he's a veteran, he has a World Series ring....... pretty solid.  3. Joe Smith if it's a right-hander, Feliciano if it's a left hander- Either one of these guys are not terrible, although certainly not good enough to have any sort of confidence in them.4. Duaner Sanchez- Has disappointed this year, but hey, he has balls and goes after the guys.5. Brain Stokes- Got cut from Tampa Bay last year, enough said. 

10,831. Aaron Heilman- Doesn't attack the hitters, bad control, not even that great of stuff.  Walked a relief pitcher the other day.  A Relief Pitcher!  Probably his first at bat of the year and he walks him.  In fairness, if he didn't, I'm sure Aaron would have served up yet another of his patented back-breaking home runs.  It is getting to the point that if the Mets know Heilman is coming into a game they must be winning by at least 3 runs.  Any less than that and it is a guaranteed loss, as he will most certainly blow the lead.  I call it the Heilman factor, just edging out other names such as the Victor Zambrano factor or the Eli Manning against the Vikings factor.  In a way it is almost amazing that the Mets win at all with what appears to be an obvious mole working for another division rival pitching in our bullpen.  If he signs a huge contract with Philly in a couple of years I would be anything but surprised.  Even more amazing, he somehow leads the team in bullpen innings.  It appears that as bad as he is as a pitcher is as good as he is at convincing whoever is running the team to put him in.  Why does he have to get into every game?  O well, at least you can count on him in a big spot.  Like Game 7 of the NLCS.  In the ninth inning of a tie game.  With a crappy defensive-minded catcher at the plate.  Yea, you could trust him then. 

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Keywords: Aaron Heilman, Luis Ayala, New York Mets

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