When Charlie Manuel was questioned about his team cheating, he deflected to the Mets, trying to insinuate that the Mets may be cheating because of their record at home as opposed to their record on the road.
So maybe the Mets had that in mind going into this series as they swept the Phillies and kept them from scoring a single run.
With the Phillies not scoring any runs, it’s proof that the Mets can win at home without stealing signs because hitters steal signs, if you’re the Phillies, bullpen coaches steal signs, NOT PITCHERS.
Met pitching shut out the Phillies for three consecutive games, a feat they had not done since 1969 against THE PHILLIES.
The Mets did it with two backup pitchers and their second ace Mike Pelfrey. Pelfrey didn’t have his best stuff, but he battled like an ace making key pitches and inducing inning ending double plays on more than one occassion. He also kept the heart of the Phillies National League Champions lineup hitless.
The Phillies are just in a horrible slump and it doesn’t help that Jimmie Rollins is on the DL. The Phillies have been known to have an AL type lineup, but without their depth, it’s an NL lineup because the bottom of their lineup right now is weak.
The Mets have Jose Reyes playing like his old self and it is helping so much because he’s getting on base, he’s stealing, and scoring. If you ever doubted that he was the catalyst of the team, the way he has played as of late, you can’t question it now. He is definitely the key to the lineup.
Now the Mets hope to continue the momentum as they head into Milwaukee, who have not been playing well, sending their other ace Johan Santana to the mound who is looking more and more like himself as the season progresses.
The Mets hope to improve their road record which is 6-14 right now, which is one of the worst road records in all of baseball. There is such a dramatic difference in their home record which is 19-9, the best in baseball.
If the Mets can even play nearly as well on the road as they do at home, it will benefit them dramatically and put them in contention.
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