The art of managing is about managing a pitching staff, getting the most from your starting rotation and bullpen. Bobby Valentine’s Red Sox are a perfect example of what can go wrong when the front office does not supply enough pitching.
The 8-6 Mets are an example of things going right as manager Terry Collins continues to get the most out of his rotation and just enough from his bullpen.
The starting staff continues to be the Mets’ strength. They are 10th in the majors with a 3.52 ERA. The Red Sox are 28th at 5.75 and last with a bullpen ERA of 8.44 following Saturday’s Fenway Freakshow. Yankees starters are 29th with a 5.84 ERA.
A year ago at this time the Mets were 4-10.
If the Mets do not continue to get the starting pitching they have been getting, they could easily wind up in the same last-place position as Bobby V’s Red Sox, especially when you consider that the Nationals rank No. 1 in starting ERA at 1.82, the Phillies are No. 2, the Braves are ninth at 3.50 and the Marlins are right behind the Mets in 11th place at 3.56. The NL East is a beast when it comes to starting pitching.
Collins has done an excellent job managing those starters, but these next two days will be pivotal. After yesterday’s rainout, spot starter Miguel Batista and Dillon Gee will start today’s Citi Field doubleheader against the Giants’ Tim Lincecum and Madison Bumgarner. Johan Santana, who is coming off his worst start, will be pushed back until tomorrow night in a test against Miami.
Santana will get first crack against Jose Reyes when Reyes returns as a Marlin.
If the Mets continue to get good starting pitching, they can “compete’’ all year long, Collins said.
“Our rotation has given us quality innings, so every time we go out there right now our guys think, ‘If we can score some runs we’ll be fine,’ ’’ Collins told The Post. “And that’s why the emphasis has been on us swinging the bats the way we’re capable of doing in the middle of the lineup.’’
Having Santana back this season has set a positive tone and has given the other starters someone to emulate.
Collins does not want to see good starting pitching go to waste. A little more hitting will take some of the pressure off those starters.
No manager understands the value of starting pitching more than the Giants’ Bruce Bochy. The Giants’ World Series victory two years ago is proof of that.
“That starter sends a sense of confidence throughout the club,’’ Bochy said. “They’re the guys that keep you in the ballgame and give you the chance to win and you get that consistently and it does change the mentality of the club. They know every day they are going to have the chance to win with the guy on the hill.
“I saw how it changed here. Their confidence grows, they say, ‘You know what, we’re good, we can play with anybody because that guy is going to keep us in the ballgame. If we can figure a way to get enough runs, we’ll win the game.’ ’’
Catcher Josh Thole said the Mets are getting that kind of boost from their starters.
“Our starters have kept us in the game long enough to allow us to get going offensively,’’ Thole said.
“We’re scoring runs late in ballgames, that’s why we are having success,’’ the catcher said.
For success to continue, the starting pitching has to continue to excel. Mets’ relievers are 24th in ERA at 4.43; which looks good next to the Red Sox’s world’s worst numbers.
The Yankees are second with a 2.14 bullpen ERA. Collins feels for Valentine.
“What Bobby is going through, I don’t wish on any manager,’’ Collins said. “Bobby Valentine is a friend of mine and he’ll do a great job up there. He will right the ship.’’
Only if the pitching improves, otherwise any ship can sink quickly. Collins is well aware of that.