No Closer? No Problem!

So this is the way to motivate starters to finish their games — eliminate the closer. In the two games Francisco Rodriguez has been suspended, both Johan Santana and R.A. Dickey threw complete game shutouts.

Dickey was particularly masterful — a one-hitter against the Phillies on Friday, with opposing pitcher Cole Hamels getting the only hit off the knuckleballer. The offense was anemic as usual, but slumping David Wright and Carlos Beltran hit back-to-back doubles to score the game’s only run.

The Mets now have four shutouts in less than a week — three of them by 1-0 scores. With all that’s been going on both on and off the field, the Mets are pretty much at their depths right now. Imagine how lower that depth would be if the pitching had been just average instead of magnificent.

*****

Pat Misch gets the start Saturday night against the Phillies. I’ve been calling on the Mets all season to bring Misch up from Buffalo. He looked pretty good in limited time last year for the Mets — he pitched in 22 games, seven as a starter, and was 3-4, with a  4.12 ERA. He’s been tearing up Triple-A this season working exclusively as a starter — 11-4, 3.23 ERA. He better not disappoint, or I’ll look like a jerk.