BelLOL

See, Heath Bell is about efficiency. I mean, why have four pitchers walk one batter each when one pitcher can do ineffectively do that on his own. Using four pitchers to walk four batters? That’s pork barrel politics. To have one guy do it all just makes more sense. To have Heath Bell do it is fitting on this homecoming week, as the former Met threw only 24 strikes in 46 pitches in the ninth inning. And a good portion of those strikes were foul balls hit by Justin Turner (eight) in an epic 13 pitch at bat where he came from down 0-2 to driving in the tying run with the bases loaded. Bell walked David Wright, Lucas Duda, Ike Davis and Turner before giving up a single to Kirk Nieuwenhuis, thus giving the sweep to the Mets with a 3-2 win on Thursday.

You can’t say that the Mets didn’t treat Jose Reyes right this week. Not only did they give him a video tribute, but they also gave him not one, but three swift kicks in the ass. He also got, totally free of charge, an exasperated look on his face leaving the field, much like the rest of the Marlins surely had. This was supposed to be their parade over the Mets with a former Mets star wearing their uniform. Didn’t quite work out that way, did it? Instead, the only parade they provided was the parade of baserunners walking around the bases against them. Jose may have gotten the video tribute, but it was the Mets that got the gifts. Thanks, Miami. Don’t let the bullpen gate hit you on the way out, boys.

The happiness of sweeping the Marlins is tempered by losing Mike Pelfrey for what is likely to be the season and his Mets career with a 99% chance of Tommy John surgery. With no stud prospect quite ready to make the leap, Chris Schwinden gets another shot on Friday. Schwinden has put up some good numbers so far in Buffalo, but one has to hope that Schwinden isn’t one of those AAAA pitchers who is too good for Buffalo but not good enough for Flushing. His road to disprove that starts in the noted pitchers’ paradise of Coors Field. Good luck with that, Chris.