Misery Loves Company: Two Guys Watch Baseball

Game 6 - Mets

Expos 8, Mets 5
Record: 3-3

That's it, Whit. Keep talking up the bullpen. Nicely done.

Armando Benitez blew his first save opportunity of the year, giving up a three-run homer to Jeff Liefer. This, when the Mets had battled back from deficits twice and taken a 5-4 lead on a tater by Rob Russell's favorite part-time 1B, Tony Clark. [Mo strained a hip flexor last game and was sitting.] These are the ones that sting you down the stretch when you're just a game out.

Bullpen by committee may draw the most snide comments by the sports media, as elaborated upon by Mr. Russell, but Bullpen by Benitez is just as scary. He throws hard, but very often hard and straight, and the ball often reaches the bleachers in just as hard and straight a fashion. He had a great year last year -- when the Mets never contended, and I don't think that's a coincidence. It's always when you need a game most that Armando Benitez seems to blow up. I realize it's April, so this game couldn't have meant that much, but to quickly dispose of the Expos and take over 1st place would kept things rolling along nicely. Oh, well.