Start #2 - 4/15/09 - Win

I am not really buying into the old good Ollie, bad Ollie talk that is out there - but I find myself saying it more often these days - especially after start 1, where he was both in the same game. Last night would be considered 'pretty good' Ollie. Take a look at this article btw - http://www.sny.tv/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090406&content_id=1497522&oid=36018&vkey=9

I think it is pretty telling on how Ollie gets a bad rep!

Anyway, on to last night:

I am not sure why, but my schedule and Ollie's starts have not been meshing well this year. Wednesday night I am in a bowling league and did not get to see much of his starts - but as soon as the Yankee game ended, I was able to get them to switch the TV to the Mets.

I started watching in the second inning, and I think I can see one of the major problems Ollie has after only watching the first batter. Last season Wharthen allowed Ollie to pitch from whatever part of the rubber that he felt comfortable in, and then changed his windup motion to a rocking back and forth type routine. The thought is - get him to have a constant windup and delivery and if he wants to change angles - move his spot on the rubber instead changing his arm angle or other parts of his mechanics. The results were great. I am sure you can find a multitude of article out there describing it - heck I probably wrote about it here last year - but there has been another change and I think it might be effecting his control and velocity.

Last year, after the fix, Ollie had came to stop mid wind-up. He also rocked straight back and forth. this allowed him to have an explosive start to the delivery, and even though he was moving slower - all his weight was going back and forth and directed at the plate when he delivered. This gave him those extra 3-4 mph on the pitch - and gave us the mid-90's heat.

Last night, if you watch his motion - he was actually back to stepping back at an angle - with his back foot going towards third base - and there was no hitch in the delivery. Although it looks a little smoother - I think it is costing him control and velocity - thus only seeing him 90 or 91 on the gun when he bursts and him sitting at 88-89 for most of the night.

I really don't remember him throwing so many changeups in the past. I knew he had one, but I never saw him use it so much. Is this from the mentoring of Johan Santana? Ollie used to throw mainly fastball / slider, and he would occasionally mix in that 65mph slow curve that would keep the hitters off balance. I don't think I have seen him throw that pitch all year? Did he dump it? Having not been able to watch much - did I just miss it?

Anyway that's about all the comment I have on last nights game - as I didn't see it all - but the conclusion I can come to is - He was Good Ollie without his Good stuff - which is always encouraging. He also gets to go down in the Mets record books as the first Met pitcher to record a win at the new Citi Field ...

Game Line for last night: 6IP, 3 Hits, 2 Walks, 4K, 1ER, 1 Win (anytime you see a WHIP below 1.00 you have to be happy)

Season Stats

(1-1), 2 GS, 10.1 IP, 8 H, 9 ER, 7 BB, 11 K, 7.84 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 1 QS