A new start for Maine and Mets

BY DAVID DRIVER
For the Stafford County Sun
Published: August 21, 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The New York Mets, after firing manager Willie Randolph in mid-June, recently posted a 10-game winning streak under interim manager Jerry Manuel.

That streak reinvigorated playoff hopes for the Mets, but then top relief pitcher Billy Wagner went on the disabled list.

The Mets bullpen struggled in Wagner’s absence, and prior to an Aug. 12 game, Manuel hinted that he may have to use North Stafford High School graduate

John Maine out of the bullpen in between starts. A day earlier the Mets relievers had blown a big lead in a 7-5 loss at home to Pittsburgh.

But Maine, two days later at Nationals Park in Washington, had one of the best starts of his season as the Mets crushed Washington 12-0. Maine allowed just one hit and no runs in five innings and improved his record to 10-7 in his first-ever appearance at Nationals Park.

“It is easy to pitch when you have that kind of lead,” said Maine, who came off the 15-day disabled list in his first start since July 28. “I would have liked to have pitched another inning. But it was 12-0. It made sense to take me out.”

It was the first time this season Maine did not allow a run. He improved to 10-7 and lowered his ERA to 3.97. He was 15-10 last season for the Mets.

Mets catcher Brian Schneider, a former National, said Maine did a good job of coming back from his injury and was aided by eight runs in the third inning by the New York offense.Maine also walked twice at the plate against the Nationals, and one of those walks came with the bases loaded to bring in a run.

“He appeared to be fatigued in that last inning,” Manuel said after Maine’s win Aug. 13. “Coming off an injury with such a big lead, I didn’t feel it was worth risking anything at that point.”

Manuel may have been trying to light a fire under his bullpen by suggesting he could use Maine or other starters, such as Oliver Perez, out of the pen. Even so,
Maine said he would be willing to do so if needed.

“Whatever they need,” Maine said. “It would be fun. I would like to get a couple of saves.”

Maine, who grew up in Hartwood, noted he threw out of the bullpen two times when he played for the Baltimore Orioles in 2005. But those were hardly pressure situations in the ninth inning.

“Slop innings” is what Maine called those outings. Maine’s value to the Mets seems to be as a starter down the stretch as New York battles Philadelphia and
Florida in the National League East division race.

Manuel was named the Mets’ interim manager on June 17, as he took over for the fired Randolph. At the same time Dan Warthen was named the pitching coach of the Mets. Warthen, who took over for the fired Rick Peterson, was the pitching coach for the Detroit Tigers from 1999 to 2002, San Diego Padres from 1996 to 1997 and the Seattle Mariners in 1992.

Maine, with the win over the Nats, was 4-2 with three no-decisions since Warthen became the pitching coach. The former University of Charlotte standout, traded by the Orioles to the Mets after the 2005 season, went on the disabled list Aug. 3 (retroactive to July 29) with a mild strain in his right rotator cuff.

Maine, drafted out of Charlotte by Baltimore in 2002, was 9-7 with an ERA of 4.13 in the 22 starts before facing Washington.In his previous start he allowed one run on four hits in 4.1 innings against Florida on July 28. In his first two starts against the Nats this year he was 2-0 with an ERA of 2.13.

Maine was 5-2 with an ERA of 4.44 in his first nine starts against the Nationals. The outing Aug. 13, his first appearances at Nationals Park, came after four previous starts at RFK Stadium.

David Driver is a contributing writer at The Stafford County Sun. Reach him at