SAN JUAN – Consider ing the Mets’ current pitching plight, is it too late to put a call into Nuke LaLoosh? After all, Mets superfan Tim Robbins has a lot of time on his hands these days.
The Mets desperately needed a change of scenery last night and they got a salsa of a switch, playing the Expos at Hiram Bithorn Stadium, the second major league game ever played in Puerto Rico. It didn’t matter. They were Caribbean clubbed, 10-0 with David Cone enduring one of the worst innings of his career in the third. Cone surrendered seven runs and two homers in the frame, including a titanic grand slam by Brad Wilkerson far over the “Home Rums” sign in right-center. It’s enough to drive a Mets fan to drink.
The Expos look young and studly. The Mets already look old and tired. They have hit the crisis point only 10 games into the season and a major part of the problem deals with closer Armando Benitez, who blew Thursday night’s game in Florida.
Cone said he put the team in a terrible hole, hanging a curve to Wilkerson. When he was asked if Friday’s loss had any carryover effect, the always-honest Cone said: “I don’t know, it could have. It was a tough game, you get in really late. Those are conditions conducive to a team being flat.”
That’s why any lead Benitez blows is so painful. It’s tough to lose the ones you have in your back pocket. The club should have traded him this off-season and signed Ugueth Urbina. They should still try to deal him because he doesn’t get this whole New York closer thing. He’s too sensitive for the job. Last night, one day after blowing his second save in three outings, Benitez was the only Met booed here during introductions.
The Mets, who are not good about admitting mistakes, probably don’t have the guts to move the supersized closer. Benitez and his three saves and 7.11 ERA are all theirs. Considering that ERA, Benitez should hit the casino tables as soon as possible at the team’s hotel.
If the Mets refuse to trade Benitez, here’s a three-point plan to get him on the road to closer recovery:
* First of all, Big Guy, cut the sensitivity act. You are supposed to be an Intimidator, so start acting like one – and not with reporters.
Benitez always seems to be pouting. After serving up a three-run, ninth-inning home run to the Expos’ Jeff Liefer the other day, Benitez was upset that reporters don’t always come to see him when he gets a save, but are always there when he blows the game. Such is the life of a closer. You get paid the big bucks not because of your engaging personality, but because the game is on the line when you are on the mound. Stop worrying about how reporters do their job and start doing yours. It wouldn’t hurt if you started intimidating opposing hitters.
* Mix in a salad. Benitez is noticeably bigger this year. You would think that any veteran pitcher who works in New York would learn something from seeing how Roger Clemens works. The older your arm gets, the harder you have to work your body. It’s that simple.
* Use the splitter more. Opposing batters are sitting on the fastball. When Derrek Lee and Juan Pierre pull fastballs, something is wrong. As one GM told me yesterday, “Hitters used to go up there fearing his fastball, now they’re looking for it.”
And hitting it hard.
