Luis Ayala

the sixth, but the bullpen didn’t hold up its end of the bargain.  Scott Schoenweis and Luis Ayala gave up back-to-back home runs in the eighth, and the offense couldn’t fashion a comeback.  The Mets fell one win short of the playoffs, just like last year.

Continue reading "In The Aftermath Of The Collapse"

of the infield with the Mets, but has a .327 batting average with the Nats since he was traded for Luis Ayala) led off with a walk, but Pelfrey erased him on a Wil Nieves double play grounder.  With two outs and nobody on, Odalis Perez slapped a sinking liner to left.  Fernando Tatis dove forward but missed the ball, allowing it to bounce past him for a double.  Tatis landed awkwardly on his left shoulder, separating it.  He'll miss the remainder of the season.

Continue reading "Mets In First Place...For The Wild Card?"

    Since coming over from the Nats, Luis Ayala turned his season around and looked great in the closer role for the Mets.  Until last night.  Casey Kotchman, who was 6-9 in the series despite his .219 batting average since joining the Braves in the Mark Teixiera trade, and pinch hitter Kelly Johnson, the resident Met-killer, led off the ninth with back-to-back singles off Ayala.  Then Greg Norton stepped up to the plate as a pinch hitter, and belted a line drive over the right field fence on the eighth pitch of the at-bat.  The home run gave the Braves a 5-4 lead, and the blown save was Ayala's second, and the 27th of the season for the Mets' bullpen.  The two runs Atlanta tacked on against Pedro Feliciano were just gravy, as the Mets came up empty in the bottom of the ninth against Mike Gonzalez.  Meanwhile, the Phillies swept a double header from the Brewers to pull within a game of the Mets (two in the loss column) for the lead in the NL East.

Continue reading "Ayala Joins The Blown Save Party"

hat the bullpen pitched three scoreless innings?  Brian Stokes, Pedro Feliciano, Joe Smith and Luis Ayala all did their jobs last night, and for that they deserve credit.

Thought of the Week:  Pitchers Only Known for Giving Up Big Home Runs

Continue reading "Delgado's Two Bombs Save The Day"

s like beating a dead horse already, but the bullpen has not been nearly reliable enough.  The Luis Ayala experiment at closer backfired in its first attempt, and Duaner Sanchez can't seem to get anybody out anymore.  Pedro Feliciano is only useful against lefties, and Joe Smith is only useful against righties, but they never seem to pitch well on the same day.  Scott Schoenweis is inconsistent at best, and Aaron Heilman is either brilliant or terrible.  Last night Heilman gave the Mets three scoreless, albeit difficult, innings, but who knows what to expect his next time out?  In my August 12 blog, I statistically broke down Heilman's appearances to that point.  He actually hasn't allowed a run since then, and has overall looked best when he pitches on back-to-back days.  Jerry Manuel will need to find the right mix with the pitchers he has now, but to this point he hasn't found the right pattern.

Continue reading "Seven Runs: Too Little, Too Early"

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

Continue reading "Luis Ayala: hero?"

rlier this year, but he saved 26 games for the Rays last year and has a 3.82 career ERA.  Like Luis Ayala, if the Mets can catch lightning in a bottle with the addition of Reyes, he will be a valuable contributor down the stretch, especially if Wagner cannot return.

Continue reading "Pelfrey Goes The Distance"

me through 6.1 innings, allowing only three runs despite giving up seven hits and five walks.  Luis Ayala relieved Perez with two runners on and one out in the seventh, and immediately endeared himself to Mets fans by brushing back Omar Infante with some chin music, and then retiring Infante and Brian McCann on successive pop-ups.  Aaron Heilman escaped a jam in the eighth without allowing a run, and Scot Schoenweis tossed a scoreless ninth to nail down the victory.

Continue reading "Delgado, Easley Spark Comeback Against Braves"

(Twins), Paul Byrd (Indians), and Jarrod Washburn (Mariners), relievers such as Scott Eyre (Cubs), Luis Ayala (Nationals), and David Weathers (Reds), and outfielders such as Craig Monroe (Twins), Randy Winn (Giants), and Brian Giles (Padres) are all candidates to clear waivers and change teams before the August 31 non-waiver trade deadline.  And then there's always the option of free agent starter Freddy Garcia, who is working out and will be ready to pitch within a week or two, according to his agent.  Hernandez and Monroe have already been designated for assignment by Minnesota, so depending on the severity of the inuries to Maine and Ryan Church, the Mets may consider either player as an option.  As I've said all along, I think Brian Giles is the best fit for the team despite his left-handedness, so I hope he becomes available.

Continue reading "Mets Look to Bounce Back at Home"