Two Great Tastes That Taste Great Together

They say that no matter what happens the night before, tomorrow is always a new day. So I woke up on Saturday, the sun was out, the birds were keeping warm by singing, and the horror of Opening Night washed away.

Then I made a dumb decision: I wanted to read.  Read on the internet.  And these are the words that were strung together in front of me:

“He was abused.”

That was Yankees GM Brian Cashman taking about the way the Mets used Pedro Feliciano … you remember him, the guy who the Yankees paid their usual mint for so he can be a lefty specialist for them.  Not the Pedro Feliciano that the Mets traded to the Yankees without giving them a medical history, or … statistics that are available anywhere.  Because that never happened.  What did happen was that the Yankees signed him of free will without any pushing or prodding from anybody, and now he’s on the disabled list with a sore shoulder.

The use pattern was abusive.”

Notice the language.  Not: “He logged a lot of innings”, or “there’s some wear and tear on his arm with all the innings he’s been asked to throw.”  No.  “The use pattern was abusive.”  The first two are true statements.  The last one comes off as a dig.  And don’t think he didn’t choose his words carefully.  Oh, so sorry Brian.  Sorry the Mets didn’t assign any special rulesto Feliciano … because if anyone knows how to handle a pitcher, it’s you.  The Mets didn’t realize that part of their decision making about whether to put Pedro Feliciano in a game in 2008 was how it would affect the all mighty Yankees in 2011.

Rick Peterson/Dan Warthen: Should we get up Feliciano?

Willie Randolph/Snoop Manuel: Hey, easy now.  We need to keep him fresh for when he signs that big deal with the Yankees.  We have to think of our friends here.

What?  It wasn’t enough you got our pitching rubber?  It’s not enough you’ve been able to convert the weak ones into Yankee fans because the Mets have stunk for two seasons and choked two others away?  You want the Mets to act like your farm system too?  Quick , Joe Girardi, get a clubbie to bring Mr. Billion Dollar Payroll his binky.  Boo hoo.  I guess Dan Warthen is to blame for Kei Igawa and Carl Pavano too.

But here’s the best part:

“It’s not a major concern. If it becomes one, I’ll let you know.”

Oh, it’s not a major concern.  But major enough to point out he was “abused”.  I guess peanut butter and chocolate has nothing on that really sweet combination of passive and aggressive, right?  And speaking of peanut butter and chocolate, I think Brian Cashman is better served to worry about whether Feliciano can appear in a Yankee game before Joba eats him.

***

So as you could tell, that put me in a foul mood all day.  Combine that with getting no-hit for six innings, Brandon Lyon, and Jon Niese giving up a quick two in the first inning Saturday, I wanted to flip large pieces of furniture over on their side.  But that would be a little extreme for Game 2, no?  I mean, furniture shouldn’t flip over until at least Game 50.  (If it’s not a rule, it should be.)  So I remained calm, and Jon Niese rewarded my patience by showing me why it isn’t the most far fetched idea in the world for the Mets to be somewhat okay this season.  Final tally: seven innings, four hits, one since the first.  And just one walk.

Combine that with Josh Thole getting a big hit in the ninth inning to take the lead, and recoveringfrom a Frankie blown save by rallying in the tenth to win the game (with help from Scott Cousins getting cute and letting a David Wright foul ball drop hoping he’d hit into a double play, but instead Wright singled up the middle to give the Mets the lead) and it was a fine way to recover from a dreary opener.  And even Frankie blowing the save wasn’t so bad.  First off, it’s not like Rodriguez looked that bad.  His pitches were moving, and he wasn’t afraid of contact.  It wasn’t like the two blown saves against the Nationals he’s had where you knew he had nothing and the game was done, he actually lost with good stuff.  And, he didn’t finish the game.  So his “games finished” clause remains at zero.  Good for the bean counters.  Everyone wins … even Frankie (1-0).

Everyone wins, except Emilio Bonifacio.  2011, and I’m still tired of him.