Mets manager Willie Randolph said he still has confidence in Victor Zambrano.
What else would you expect him to say in April?
However, that confidence was misplaced this afternoon. When your starter has a 9.00 ERA going into a game, the leash should be short, but Randolph extended it with Zambrano in the fourth inning.
The Mets were down a run and it was too early to go to a bullpen that two days before worked hard in a 14-inning game.
Zambrano got the first two hitters, but surrendered a single to San Diego pitcher Clay Hensley. It happens, but when Zambrano walked the next hitter, Dave Roberts, he should have been pulled. If not then, than certainly after Josh Barfield singled to load the bases.
No way Zambrano should have been allowed to face Brian Giles, who, as you of course know by know, hit a slam and the Mets went on to lose, 7-4.
Game notes …
Carlos Beltran remains day-to-day with a tight right hamstring. “If he can’t give me a window, maybe we should consider bringing somebody up,’’ Randolph said. … Jose Reyes started the season hitting in eight of his first nine games, but has been in a tailspin since, with his average dropping from .326 on April 14 to the .234 with a .272 on-base percentage it is now.
3 Comments
It doesn’t sound like Zambrano is coming out of the rotation anytime soon. But if it did happen, who would take his place.
Larry …
Zambrano is staying in … he’ll go Saturday. Should the Mets have to make a decision, look for it to be Jose Lima or Yusaku Iriki. They like Aaron Heilman staying in the bullpen.
Thanks for the info. I’m glad to hear he’s going Saturday so that won’t put him on track to start May 5 against Atlanta when I’m going.