Cause Of Death...Over-Managing

I am in full support of Jerry Manuel. He has done a very respectable job as manager of this befuddled Mets team, especially after the mess Willie Randolph left this team in.

But, last night made me scream. In their 5-4 loss to the Marlins in the bottom of the ninth, was as frustrating as it gets.

The Mets battled back all night, and tied the game at 3, only to have the Marlins take the lead the next half inning, scoring a run of Bobby Parnell. In the Mets half of the ninth, with two out, pinch hitter Jeremy Reed laced a hard hit single to right, scoring the ever-hot Carlos Beltran - knotting up the score 4-4.

In the bottom of the ninth, Pedro Feliciano came in a was pitching real well. With two outs, General Manuel decided he had to do what so many Tony LaRussa-ettes feel they have to do: match righty against righty. Manuel brought Darren O'Day, who proceeded to allow the winning run score.

Yes, the loss is charged to Feliciano, but even at the time I was yelling at the TV. Feliciano was pitching well, and I believe would have gotten out of the inning. Bringing O'Day in was a gutsy call. The kid might not be 'all there' after learning of the death of his friend and former Angel teammate, Nick Adenhart.

O'Day didn't look good, facing two batters, walking one and giving up the game winning hit. When Feliciano left the game, there were two outs and a runner on first. O'Day walked Hanley Ramirez, moving Emilio Bonifacio, who had singled, to second. The final nail in th coffin came when O'Day surrendered the game winning hit to first baseman Jorge Cantu.

I will continue to say this until my last breath: with all these 'match-ups' one thing is perfectly clear: a good hitter can hit a righty or lefty pitcher, a good pitcher can retire a righty or lefty hitter. Over-managing has grabbed so many defeats from the jaws of victory.

C'mon Jerry let the guys play. The Mets did manage to leave 14 men on base, not a good sign. Another bad sign is that David Wright and Luis Castillo are absolutely lost at the plate. Wright has yet to get a meaningful hit since last September, and Castillo, on at least three occasions this young season, has stood idly by as three fastballs struck him out, without out ever offering at a pitch. He did it again last night.

I know, I know, you are all saying, "Chill Metsfan73, it's only four games into the season..." True, but winning isn't only on the scoreboard and in the standings, but it is a frame of mind. Beltran and DelGado (enjoy drunkjaysfans.com ) have been lights out. Wright and Castillo need their bulbs replaced. This team still does not have that winning attitude. It will be up to the 25 on this roster to get in gear, and learning how to tear out their opponents jugular, instead of allowing these teams to keep fighting back (see Cincinnati this past Thursday). This team is in dire need of a real leader, a Keith Hernandez type, to kick them in the tail, and teach them how to win.