One thing became abundantly clear last night and that was we need to appreciate Billy Wagner. Yeah, we are all well aware of our closer’s faults, but maybe last night was something we needed. It gives us a reality check on how good we actually have it. We all know that when Billy fails, it’s not because of a lack of guts or a lack of heart. He’s a stand-up guy who seems to actually enjoy pressure and he wants the ball in big spots. Well, after reading John Delcos of the Journal latest post the same cannot be said of Duaner Sanchez:

While we (the Beat Reporters) were in with Manuel, (Sanchez) tried to slip away. We got him in the hallway. I don’t even know if he showered…He tried to slip away. He answered questions because he was caught, not because he is stand-up…Then he says he made good pitches, but didn’t get the results. Sorry, you can’t say you make good pitches if you don’t get anybody out…It takes a certain mentality to be a closer, and Sanchez doesn’t have it.

I think Sanchez has shown a lot because he did battle back from a major injury. But, I think this is a sign that he may not have the make-up a closer needs, especially in NY. Hurry back Billy, I know I miss ya.

Not knowing how Mets’ pitching coach Dan Warthen has exactly worked differently with the Mets’ pitchers, it seems that, on the whole, Mets’ pitching has produced strong results in the wake of the change. There was no obvious reason for the firing of Rick Peterson, but perhaps, in the long run, Warthen will produce positive results out of some Mets’ pitchers who have struggled.

SNY and Mets fans alike have praised the recent performance of Michael Pelfrey. Admittedly, when the performance is succinctly summed up as “he’s won his last five starts,” his recent performance sounds more than adequate. Since Warthen was guiding Pelfrey during four of those starts, it seems reasonable that he should get some credit. Not to be overtly negative, but new expectations around Pelfrey should be tempered just a little.

There’s no arguing that Pelfrey’s last two starts have been optimum. In both starts, he pitched seven solid innings. Against the Cardinals on July 3, Pelfrey gave up one run on six hits and two walks. On July 8 against the Giants, Pelfrey had an even better start, giving up no runs on three hits and zero walks.

However, the previous three starts weren’t quite as good. He battled against the Yankees on June 27, giving up a lot of baserunners — eight hits and four walks in five innings. While he didn’t give up any earned runs against the Rockies on June 22, he had five walks, a season high, in that game. Pelfrey also struggled mightily in the seventh inning of his win on June 16 against the Angels. Pedro Feliciano ended up allowing two inherited runners to score, ballooning Pelfrey’s line to six earned runs after six innings that night.

Long story short, Pelfrey’s two “battling” starts look to serve as the bridge to his recent dominance, but not all five of the wins in his streak were dominant starts. Therefore, raising expectations exponentially might be a bit unfair to Pelfrey just yet, potentially setting him up for future failure.

Similarly, Oliver Perez was another Met starter who had been struggling at the end of Peterson’s tenure. In his first two starts under Warthen, against the Angels and Mariners, Perez continued to struggle, giving up nine earned runs in 14 innings. However, his last three starts have translated to just two earned runs in 19 innings.

But while Perez pitched well early on Friday, a Met fan cannot be completely satisfied with his last performance. He gave up six walks, the second-highest total he has this season. (His highest total was eight at Colorado on May 23. Gary Cohen said on Friday’s telecast that the Rockies’ lineup was a team that did well against Perez. Perhaps the team is specifically more patient with him.) Regardless, Perez walked the bases loaded in the 6th inning on Friday and then gave up a walk and a single in the 7th inning. While Perez got out of it himself in the 6th, Aaron Heilman really bailed him out in a big jam in the 7th.

Speaking of Heilman, he’s another man who has become more successful as of late. During Friday’s telecast, Ron Darling said Heilman was using his slider more during the last month and a half, as well as locating his pitches down more. The reliever has been excellent over the last month and a half, a period mostly under new coach Warthen.

Another pitcher who may be benefitting from the change is Duaner Sanchez, though his reaction to the change has largely not been speculated upon. Since the managerial changes on June 17, Sanchez has only allowed one earned run. This could be credited not only to new Warthen philosophies but also Jerry Manuel’s decision to finally define bullpen roles. Perhaps, the stability of always knowing he has the eighth inning has steadied Sanchez. Since June 10, he’s lowered his ERA from 5.26 to 3.57.

The only Met pitcher who has visibly taken a downturn since Warthen came on has been John Maine. While Maine still “limits the damage,” three earned runs given up in his last three starts, he has pitched even less innings than usual. The Cardinals just kept hitting Maine early on June 30. He gave up seven hits in just four innings and afterwards complained of lack of movement on his pitches. Maine gave up five walks, amidst eight strikeouts, against the Giants on July 10. This caused him to not be able to go five innings for the second time in his last three starts. Since these problems are the same as before Warthen came on and since Maine had struggles in the second half of the season last year, it would suggest that the pitching coach change might not be it. One shouldn’t completely shut the door on the possibility, though.

What has been said most often of Warthen during his early tenure with the Mets, both by Met pitchers and commentators, is that he allows the pitchers to do “what brought them to The Show.” Peterson supposedly tried to mold pitchers to his vision, whereas Warthen is the type to “accentuate the positives.” This certainly seems like a more positive approach on the whole. Then again, I could swear that Peterson’s philosophy of molding pitchers was held as a positive during the initial success of Perez.

Duaner Sanchez, was emotional, and appeared on SNY after tonight’s game with Kevin Burkhardt…

“I felt like it was my major league debut all over again”

David Wright and John Maine on Duaner’s return…

“Having Duaner back makes us feel whole,” David Wright said.

“Il be happy if Duaner’s backing me up,” John Maine said.

Great to see Duaner happy. He has really persevered over the last 21 months to get back to the position he is in right now..

“I feel great, I’m feeling like I never had the surgery”

Music to my ears, keep it up Duaner…

The Mets beat the Washington Nationals 6-0 tonight.

• Mike Pelfrey was brilliant, allowing no runs and only five hits and two walks over seven innings. He struck out two and 65 of his 100 pitches were strikes.
• Jose Reyes began the game with a spark, hitting for a single, double, triple in that order in his first three at-bats.  He failed to hit for the cycle, although he singled again in his fourth at-bat.
• David Wright was 3-4 with a 2 2Bs and a 2-run HR to start the game. He scored two runs and had five RBIs, and now has 15 on the season.
• Carlos Beltran was 1-4 with an RBI.
• Ryan Church batted 2nd, behind Jose Reyes while Luis Castillo batted 8th. 
• Duaner Sanchez pitched the ninth for the Mets, striking out one and allowing one hit.

Game ball definitely goes to Mike Pelfrey who had a fabulous outing.  He was in control the whole time and never got out of control.  He was phenomenal.

Reyes had a fantastic game, but his hammy doesn’t seem 100% yet.  If he was hustling the whole way, that 3B could’ve been an inside the park HR, and he was caught stealing in the first inning.  Take your time Jose it’s a long season.  It was also nice hearing fans chant the ‘Jose-Jose-Jose-Jose’ rather than it being blasted over the loud speakers.

Nice to see Wright getting back into the groove of things, a HR and a 2B, plus another hard hit ball to his former high school team-mate Ryan Zimmerman.

Aaron Heilman still doesn’t look like himself, but I still trust him with the ball in his hands…call me crazy. He got out of the 8th unscathed, but it was scary.

Awesome to see Duaner back in a real game again, he can be such a lift to this team.  Plus his goggles are pretty boss.  Also amazing to see how emotional he was after the game in the post-game interview, behind those goggles I swear I saw tears.

Finally, I told all my friends today it was a guaranteed win because I wore my Mets tube socks today.  Make fun of tube socks all you want, but they get it done for our Mets.  Everybody then asks, why I don’t wear them everyday and you simply have to understand that you cannot abuse the power of the Mets tube socks.  Might’ve been a bit early too early to bring them out, but this was a nice win and I don’t regret it.

By the way, Luis Castillo should bat ninth. 

According to Matt Cerrone of Mets Blog Duaner Sanchez has been promoted to the Big Club so they sent pitcher Carlos Muniz to the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs.

Plus, Jose Reyes will play tonight and lead off.

Good news from New Orleans, Mets reliever Duaner Sanchez pitched in back to back games for the first time since he injured his shoulder in 2006. Last night he pitched one inning and once again gave up no runs. Pitching for the Mets Triple A team New Orleans Zephyrs Sanchez did not give up a hit, struck out one and walked no one. Eddie D’Anna’s blog Ya Gotta Believe is reporting that Sanchez may be with the big club as early as Tuesday.

Matthew Artus at Always Amazin takes a look at Aaron Heilman’s poor start this season where he has given up 2 runs in three straight outings.

Artus wonders what the future holds for Heilman beyond this year with talk by Willie Randolph and Billy Wagner regarding him being the future Mets closer.

Yesterday, Jon Heyman told WFAN that “Other teams wonder why he is not a starter.”

The uncertainty of Duaner Sanchez is putting a lot of pressure on Heilman to lock down that 8th inning. In a perfect world Heilman would be the 7th inning guy, with Duaner setting up Wagner. That remains to be seen, and hopefully when Duaner is expected to return next week, we will see guys settle into their roles and get the job done.

Pedro Martinez is scheduled to arrive at Port St. Lucie on Monday to begin rehabbing his strained left hamstring. Pedro is expected to miss at least six weeks.

Duaner Sanchez made his second rehab appearance in Port St. Lucie, tossing a scoreless inning, allowing a double and striking out two.

Moises Alou, currently stored in a dehydrated form in the Dominican, has started swinging a bat, though not actually at anything.

Duaner Sanchez gave up two homeruns in an inning pitching in St Lucie, which isn’t what one would call good.  The team is expected to have him throw for AAA before he gets sent to the majors, so it’ll be awhile.

While reading the biography of former President Ford, Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez was eaten by wolves. He was delicious.