MET NOTES
This isn’t a good appearance, inning or game anymore. This is Braden Looper’s season, and so far it can’t be going much better.
Looper, you see, just finished up a scoreless month.
OK, that’s a little bit of an exaggeration. The Met closer has allowed one run. But here’s the thing – it was unearned and hence, he has a 0.00 ERA.
“I’ve had some good months before, but what can I say? Hopefully I can keep doing it for a while,” Looper said, noting a 0.00 ERA for a month is a first for him. “I told you guys in spring training I was going to try to be perfect.”
Looper laughed at this, but the truth is, so far, so good. On Sunday, Looper’s first May outing went as well as his April ones. He fired a scoreless inning in the Mets’ 6-2 victory over San Diego.
For the season, Looper has appeared in 12 games and thrown 12 1/3 innings, allowing no runs and just 10 hits. And then there’s his strikeout-to-walk ratio: Eight punch-outs and only one base on balls.
The one peculiar stat in his season line is his save total. Looper has just four, and actually, he blew his first save opportunity of the year in Puerto Rico when he came in with runners on second and third and surrendered Jose Vidro’s two-run flare double.
Looper simply hasn’t had the chance to rack up the save totals, as the Mets have shown a disturbing inability to win close games. But he insists he doesn’t care about the save totals. For him, it’s about a more important number – team victories.
“As long as we keep winning, that’s the most important thing,” Looper said. “I’m not real selfish.”
* He’s said 2004 will be his last year, but Todd Zeile sure isn’t playing like someone who’s getting ready to retire.
After a strong series against San Diego, in which he went 6-for-11, Zeile has his average up to .322. He’s been solid all season, but even more so since Ty Wigginton went down with an ulcer. Zeile has become an everyday player in Wigginton’s absence, and he’s been impressive.
“He just gives you a quality at-bat, even if he doesn’t get a hit,” Art Howe said.
One reason Zeile said he came back this year was to have fun in his final season. So far, that’s exactly what’s happened.
“I don’t feel any expectation or pressure,” he said. “I feel ready to help any time I can.”
* Despite Kaz Matsui’s struggles, Howe said he is not considering taking the rookie shortstop out of the leadoff hole. Matsui has just three hits in his last 30 at-bats . . . Pitching matchups for the Giants series: tonight, Steve Trachsel (2-3, 4.50 ERA) vs. Brett Tomko (1-1, 7.57); tomorrow, Jae Seo (1-3, 5.06) vs. Jerome Williams (3-1, 3.93); Thursday, Al Leiter (1-1, 1.65) vs. Jason Schmidt (2-2, 4.70).
