Phils tee off on Pedro, Cone
By ADAM RUBIN
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
PHILADELPHIA — The Mets had not surrendered five homers in a game in more than two years, since Armando Benitez served up two homers in the 10th inning of a loss to the Astros. At least this time, the Mets didn't suffer through an agonizing ending, as the Phillies routed Pedro Astacio en route to an 11-3 victory last night at Veterans Stadium.
"If you're going to lose, you don't mind these from time to time, because you don't lose any sleep," manager Art Howe said.
Met-killer Pat Burrell, batting .208, was benched by Phillies manager Larry Bowa. But Ricky Ledee, inserted in the outfield with Philadelphia facing a righthander, did Burrell's job of finishing off the Mets. The ex-Yankee hit the first of three homers off Astacio — a three-run shot in the second inning.
It was Ledee's fourth homer in 13 career at-bats against Astacio, and came on a fastball that caught too much of the plate.
"A ball right down the middle," Astacio said.
Said Howe: "His velocity didn't seem that bad tonight. He just didn't hit spots."
Astacio — earning $7 million this season, in the final year of his contract — will be one of the players on the trading block should the Mets continue to languish at the bottom of the NL East. But he did his trade value little service last night, surrendering seven earned runs on eight hits in four-plus innings while walking three and striking out one, before deferring to Pedro Feliciano. Astacio's ERA soared to 7.36 in the 65-pitch performance.
Vance Wilson said Astacio looked like he was rushing his delivery, "almost like Al (Leiter) gets sometimes — just too revved up."
Meanwhile, the Mets cured the ills of Phillies righthander Vicente Padilla, who had lost his last five decisions. Padilla (4-6) limited the Mets to one hit through five innings, and that could have been prevented had Ledee not misplayed Roger Cedeño's leadoff liner in the first inning.
Ledee initially charged in on the liner, which sailed over his head for a triple. Cedeño scored on Rey Sanchez's groundout to second.
But Ledee made up for it by belting his three-run homer off Astacio (3-2) in the second and the Phillies were on their way. Jimmy Rollins added a solo homer in the fourth and Jim Thome had a leadoff homer an inning later as the Phillies built a 7-1 lead. David Cone and Pat Strange also surrendered longballs.
The Mets (23-29) mustered two more hits in the sixth against Padilla, on singles by Jeromy Burnitz and Jason Phillips. But Ty Wigginton grounded into an inning-ending double play to end the threat.
The Mets dropped to 4-4 in their 12-game stretch against the Phillies and Braves. Atlanta's win last night dropped the Mets 12 1/2 games back.
With the Mets trailing by six runs in the sixth, Cone relieved Feliciano, making his first regular-season relief appearance since Sept. 25, 2000, for the Yankees against Detroit.
Cone, who spent more than a month on the disabled list because of an arthritic left hip before his activation on Tuesday, got a rude reception. After retiring Rollins on a liner to Burnitz in center, he surrendered the fourth homer by the Phillies on the night, to Placido Polanco.
However, Cone — who did not pitch last year — expressed more displeasure with the two walks he surrendered in his two innings of work.
"When you don't throw in the mid-90s like I once did, you need to be sharp," he said.
Now the question becomes how quickly Cone can bounce back and pitch again in the long-relief role.
"I know some people would say, 'Why?'" Cone said. "I just love to pitch. If that's my problem, so be it."
TrueTemper Here in the Rubber Eden
USA
Posts: 105
(5/29/03 9:32 am)
Re: Phils tee off on Pedro, Cone
Excerpt from today's Newsday:
Though Burnitz sees nothing extraordinary in his efforts, such heroics stand out even more on a team of underachievers.
Burnitz's energy apparently was infectious Tuesday. Cliff Floyd, knocked repeatedly this season for not running out ground balls, pushed his aching Achilles tendon to the limit to leg out an infield single and also got an extra base when David Bell's throw went wild.
These two examples would seem to be what's merely expected of players, but manager Art Howe said it is more the exception than the rule. When asked if he has tried to instill that message in these Mets, Howe said yes.
"You always do," Howe said. "But you're lucky to get players that play that way. You bust it on every play, because that might be the one play they don't make. Baseball purists love that kind of play."
What ? It's that last sentence I cannot believe I'm reading....Something is really...really.....really wrong here...when a manager makes a statement like that....."you have to accept it to a degree" ?????!!!!!!?????????
OK there Art.........to just WHAT degree is non-hustling acceptable ????
Re: Phils tee off on Pedro, Cone
He's got a valid point TT. With the unGodly sums of money these guys make today, many don't bust it on every play and take more plays off. Happens in all pro sports unfortunately.
The hustle and hard work are the reasons I like Burnitz even when he struggled last season. He never made excuses and never stopped working hard. He's setting a good example for the team. Especially for the kids. If it rubs off, good for the Mets.
TrueTemper Here in the Rubber Eden
USA
Posts: 108
(5/29/03 11:20 am)
Re: Phils tee off on Pedro, Cone
Well not me man...I can't get "with" that line of shit.(Howe's rationale that is)...maybe that's why I don't really care about sports other than baseball and really with that said only Mets baseball and if you really want to go a bit further my connection w/ Mets BB these days seems more nostalgic and abstract for a game and players I barely recognized any more........Still I watch um.
I dunno Bull....Art's so even tempered about everything it's starting to creep me out. OK if he knows something we don't about the future or direction of the team...well....good...but you know throw the lions a meatball will ya ? Like his comment about last night loss you reprinted in this thread....some lame crap about..."not losing any sleep about losing a game this way." Ha ? C'mon man I heard this morning on MSG this is the Mets 11th game in which the opposition has scored double digits.....and we aren't even to 30 losses yet.......dude that's 1/3 blow outs !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Re: Phils tee off on Pedro, Cone
I hear ya TT and agree completely. It's why I prefer minor league baseball over the majors. Kids play harder because they're trying to make it to the show.
I can only guess that Howe knows he has to ride it out with this squad until they can move these contracts and go with the kids. At least, that's my hope.
TrueTemper Here in the Rubber Eden
USA
Posts: 109
(5/29/03 11:40 am)
Re: Phils tee off on Pedro, Cone
Of Course your right....I dunno I just get really pissed @ the present state of ALLOT of things....Speaking of Triple A ball...really looking forward to signing kid out of school (now what 16 year old doesn't dig that ? ) before lunch next week, picking up my bartender bud and heading up to Buffalo to see the Tides play the Indians affiliate up there. Man I looking forward to it (as I said) as much as a Mets' game. Yeah as a matter of fact a week from today we'll be sitting in the ball park. Nice place too. Right downtown. Great cheap seats behind homeplate.....Great food also cheap....hey Bull I got an idea......................................
How about a road trip ????????????????????
(it's only a seven hour drive)...
Re: Phils tee off on Pedro, Cone
Don't tempt me TT. I'd do that trip in a heartbeat.
TrueTemper Here in the Rubber Eden
USA
Posts: 110
(5/29/03 12:06 pm)
Re: Phils tee off on Pedro, Cone
Well....sight unseen..........you know your welcome anytime ...straight shot up the NYS throughway.....Hell we could make a "lost" weekend of it....probably only cost you your marriage, job, heath....etc. O BTW were you anywhere around the jersey turnpike this AM ?...like exit 11....saw on the news a hellva accident...jackknifed tractor trailer...
Re: Phils tee off on Pedro, Cone
Given that he's pitching with a torn labrum in his shoulder, I guess Howe thinks anything over 60mph is good velocity for Astacio.
dunsel252 There is nothing to fear, but life itself
Fire Steve Phillips!!!
USA
Posts: 872
(5/29/03 2:11 pm)
Re: Phils tee off on Pedro, Cone
Given how low they set their sights, in terms of talent acquired, we're probably lucky to have won as much as we did.
Welcome to Shea Stadium. Home of the Queens Chapter of the AARP
Re: Phils tee off on Pedro, Cone
Yeah, they sure are. They just have a tough time under the heat of the spotlights.
dunsel252 There is nothing to fear, but life itself
Fire Steve Phillips!!!
USA
Posts: 874
(5/29/03 3:25 pm)
Re: Phils tee off on Pedro, Cone
Seriously, Pedro needs to be shut down, and have the surgery. He's no good to anyone like this. Bring up Heilman. He's 24, and perhaps he'll get knocked around a bit like Strange, but that's bound to happen to most young arms coming up. We need to start grooming them now, for 2 seasons from now, if we wanna compete then.
Welcome to Shea Stadium. Home of the Queens Chapter of the AARP
Re: Phils tee off on Pedro, Cone
Dun, I've been saying that since they signed him. Have the damn surgery and take a year off to recover. Let the kids take their lumps in order to build for a future.
dunsel252 There is nothing to fear, but life itself
Fire Steve Phillips!!!
USA
Posts: 875
(5/29/03 6:41 pm)
Re: Phils tee off on Pedro, Cone
But we need to have patience with the kids. They're not gonna come up and win the Cy Young. They're gona be mediocre. But that should be expected.
Welcome to Shea Stadium. Home of the Queens Chapter of the AARP
Re: Phils tee off on Pedro, Cone
You're right Dun and I'd be more than willing to accept that (as I'm sure you would too) in order to build a contender for the future but as we both know, most fans want to win now especially with the Yanks doing so well.
dunsel252 There is nothing to fear, but life itself
Fire Steve Phillips!!!
USA
Posts: 879
(5/30/03 9:32 am)
Re: Phils tee off on Pedro, Cone
Don't look now, but they've been pretty mediocre for awhile. Losing series, especially at home. Even a couple of sweeps.
Welcome to Shea Stadium. Home of the Queens Chapter of the AARP
Re: Phils tee off on Pedro, Cone
True Dun but you know they're going to be there at the end. Just too much talent on that team not to be plus, if they need someone, they'll just go out and get him regardless of cost.
Phils tee off on Pedro, Cone 
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