Ruben Tejada squares up a ground ball
It was Ruben Tejada’s error that allowed Jackie Robinson day to be so unpleasant, but was it really his fault? Ramirez, Acosta, and Batista shit the proverbial bed in keeping Pelfrey’s 2-1 lead safe. Of course Pelfrey’s 2-1 lead came from repeating an unsustainable Houdini act in which he managed to keep stranding base runners. All told Pelfrey allowed 8 hits and 2 walks over 6 innings which simply won’t cut it if he intends to maintain his 3.09 era for any reasonable length of time.
Assuming it’s safe to say that the difference between being behind 7-2 and 8-2 in the bottom of the ninth is negligible, we can eliminate Batista from the argument and therefore we are faced with two questions: who is more to blame, the relief pitcher who blew the lead, or the Relief pitcher who let the game get out of reach; and if it is the latter is that the fault of the fielder who let the inning continue or the pitcher, who after the error was committed, walked in a run and allowed a bases loaded double?
This begs the greater question, when does a team give up? If the Mets’ bullpen kept the braves offense to 3 runs would the Mets’ batters have played harder? If the Mets weren’t already behind would Acosta have been able to recover from the error? What we have to look at is the pivotal moment, when was the game no longer a game? By that logic it was probably over much earlier than any of the mentioned events. It was over the same moment the Mets season ended, when Mike Pelfrey took the mound. But alas, as much as we’d like to give it to Big Pelf it doesn’t seem fair. This loss’, and the third Wilpon Award of the Season will instead go to Manny Acosta, you should have gotten out of that inning and kept the game close. You may have escaped this round Ramirez, but be forewarned you’re on thin ice.
Manny Acosto blows some snot into his hand
MANNY ACOSTA CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE WON THE THIRD WILPON AWARD OF THE SEASON!
The Wilpon Award 