What would you do?

[PaladinFan]

Top of the 7th inning. Mets leading 2-1 against the Braves. Man on second, one out.

Pitcher Orlando Hernandez comes to the plate. He's been flat dealing on Atlanta with a nasty slider and wicked change. The only run he surrendered was a solo homer to the first batter he faced. He's been dominate since then.

Met's skipper Willie Randolph decides to roll the dice and play for an insurance run, sitting Hernadez down and putting in a pinch hitter. Kyle Davies wiggles out of the jam and no run scores. The Braves go on to score two runs in the 8th against Met relievers, winning the game 3-2.

Would you have pulled Hernadez? After watching a game like that how could anyone possibly follow the American League and their tainted form of baseball? xsmiley_wix

[NE MT GRIZZ]

I would have kept him in, unless these guys are on pitch counts this early in the season.

Even if he strikes out, the Mets have one more chance with the leadoff guy.

[SunCoastBlueHen]

After watching a game like that how could anyone possibly follow the American League and their tainted form of baseball? xsmiley_wix

I agree. Much more strategy in the NL without the DH. Just ask Charlie Manuel - he still hasn't figured it out.

I agree with NE MT Grizz, BTW. Cold weather, early season - O.H. was likely on a pitch count and was getting close to that number.

[PaladinFan]

I would have kept him in, unless these guys are on pitch counts this early in the season.

Even if he strikes out, the Mets have one more chance with the leadoff guy.

Who is, in my opinion, one of the most dangerous players in the league. I'm sure the Mets front office doesn't mind penciling in Reyes and Wright to anchor the left side of their infield for the next 10 years.

[NE MT GRIZZ]

Who is, in my opinion, one of the most dangerous players in the league. I'm sure the Mets front office doesn't mind penciling in Reyes and Wright to anchor the left side of their infield for the next 10 years.

I agree. Last year in the NLCS, Reyes was trouble the whole series for my Cards. He is a great player. I'd like to have him in Cardinal Red.xthumbsupx

[dbackjon]

Should have kept him in, unless he was scheduled to come out regardless do to pitch count.

Another reason why NL is the superior league!!

[*****]

Top of the 7th inning. Mets leading 2-1 against the Braves. Man on second, one out....Change the channel. :p :) xnodx

[I Bleed Purple]

I was watching that game. I definitely noticed it. That's certainly a tough call to make.

I'm guessing the manager was thinking along the lines of the number 30. That is, 30 more starts for this guy. Can't burn him out early. Cox would have probably kept him in and had him bunt. Either way, it worked at well as far as I was concerned.

[PaladinFan]

Should have kept him in, unless he was scheduled to come out regardless do to pitch count.

Another reason why NL is the superior league!!

As they say, managing in the National League is playing chess, managing in the AL is playing checkers.

[GannonFan]

Mets bullpen, even without Sanchez, is pretty good. Asking them to go 3 innings isn't a big deal. Plus, El Duque is something like 45 years old (who knows really, no reliable birth certificate) and this was game 2 of what will be something like 30-35 starts over the rest of the year. Oh, and it was pretty cold weather to boot. And a 1 run lead isn't all that much with 3 more innings to play - heck, that's still 33% of the game to go - that would be like running the clock in football just a little bit after halftime. Pull him, pinch hit and play for the bigger lead. Blowing out one of your 2 or maybe 3 at most decent starting pitchers because you want to protect a 1 run lead over 3 innings in a game in early April isn't a wise move.

[PaladinFan]

Mets bullpen, even without Sanchez, is pretty good. Asking them to go 3 innings isn't a big deal. Plus, El Duque is something like 45 years old (who knows really, no reliable birth certificate) and this was game 2 of what will be something like 30-35 starts over the rest of the year. Oh, and it was pretty cold weather to boot. And a 1 run lead isn't all that much with 3 more innings to play - heck, that's still 33% of the game to go - that would be like running the clock in football just a little bit after halftime. Pull him, pinch hit and play for the bigger lead. Blowing out one of your 2 or maybe 3 at most decent starting pitchers because you want to protect a 1 run lead over 3 innings in a game in early April isn't a wise move.

They mentioned during the broadcast that Orlando and Livan Hernandez were brothers. That little fact I didn't know.