Wednesday 5/11 through Tuesday 5/17

Key
IR = inherited runners
IRA = inherited runs allowed
IRA% = % of inherited runners allowed to score (IRA/IR)

OVERALL

                      IP      R     ER     IR      IRA      IRS%
Manny Aybar          1.1      0      0      2        0        0
Heath Bell           2.2      1      1      4        0        0
Mike DeJean          2.0      0      0      0        0        0
Roberto Hernandez    5.0      2      2      2        0        0
Dae-Sung Koo         2.2      0      0      3        0        0
Braden Looper        1.2      0      0      2        0        0

Mets Bullpen        15.1      3      3     13        0        0    ERA = 1.76

Overall, the Mets bullpen was outstanding during the past week. In 15.1 innings, Mets relivered collectively allowed just three runs to score. More impressively, they inherited 13 runners over the past six games and didn’t allow a single one of them to score. Unfortunately, of the three runs that they did allow, one was a tying run and two were game-winning runs. That said, if the Mets could get this kind of production in the late innings of ballgames every week they would be extremely pleased.

Willie Randolph’s bullpen usage was very evenly distributed among his relivers, with one notable exception: 40-year-old Roberto “Bert” Hernandez threw five innings of relief in the last week, and one has to wonder if he will have enough energy to make it through an entire season at the pace he’s going. His heavy workload notwithstanding, Hernandez has been one of the bigger surprises on the whole team thus far in 2005.

VS LIKE-HANDED BATTERS

                       TBF     H     BB     K     HR
Manny Aybar              4     0      0     1      0
Heath Bell               6     2      0     1      1
Mike DeJean              6     2      1     2      0
Roberto Hernandez        7     1      1     0      0
Dae-Sung Koo             9     1      2     3      0
Braden Looper            5     1      0     1      0

Mets Bullpen            36     7      4     8      2    BA = .219, OBP = .306

Something of a mixed bag here for the Mets when facing their like-handed platoon split (lefty vs lefty, righty vs righty). Aybar retired all four righties he faced, while Looper set down 4/5 of those that he faced. The worst pitcher here is DeJean, who allowed three of the six righties he faced to reach base; simply unacceptable. Six batters is certainly a tiny sample size, but DeJean has been far-and-away the worst pitcher out of the pen this season among players still currently with the club (i.e., not counting Mike Matthews).

Koo let one-third of the lefties he faced reach base, which isn’t terrible but isn’t particularly great, either, especially when you’re the only lefty in the pen and you’re being counted on to get those tough lefties out. He was great in retiring all three lefties he faced on Monday night against the Reds (and three tough lefties at that), but faltered when facing them again last night, recording only one out and allowing a single and a walk.

VS OPPOSITE-HANDED BATTERS

                       TBF     H     BB     K     HR
Manny Aybar              0     0      0     0      0
Heath Bell               1     0      0     0      0
Mike DeJean              4     1      0     0      0
Roberto Hernandez       13     1      2     5      0
Dae-Sung Koo             3     0      1     1      0
Braden Looper            0     0      0     0      0

Mets Bullpen            21     2      3     6      0    BA = .111, OBP = .238

Ironically, the Mets bullpen was much better this week when facing their opposing platoon split (righty vs lefty, lefty vs righty). Twenty-one batters faced, sixteen set down; three walks and two hits were the only blemishes, leading to a terrific BA and OBP against. Pimp of the Week award goes to Hernandez, facing 13 lefties and retiring 10 of them, five by strikeout.