Valdespin Provides Game Winner, Thole Likely Out With Concussion

Added by Eddie Utley on May 8, 2012.

Mets catcher Josh Thole will likely head to the DL after taking a shot to the head in a collision with Ty Wigginton.

You Have To ‘Spin To Win

Jordany Valdespin did not start the game last night, but he ended up being the hero.  Valdespin was on his way to Philadelphia to ride the bench for the game. Justin Turner turned in a decent game at shortstop, but, when you have these rookies, they need to play.

Valdespin came up in the 9^th against one of the best closers in the game, Jonathan Papelbon. On a pitch that was low and definitely not a strike, Valdespin golfed one into the right field stands and won the game to keep the Mets rolling.

The Mets were down 2-0 after a very shaky start from Jon Niese. Then, David Wright did what he does to the Phillies as usual, he tied the game with a 2-run double against Roy Halladay. The game was silent for the most part until the 9^th inning.

If that was Citi Field he would have blown the roof off the place, if it had a roof. Good to see him get his first hit and today we get to see him in his first game.

Another Man Down – Thole possibly to the DL

Josh Thole has been one of the shining players here in 2012. It now  looks like he might be out for a while, whether it’s the 7-day DL or 15-day DL. Good thing it isn’t more but, in this case, I think something has to be done to the perpetrator.

I used to love that Ty Wigginton bowled over catchers like they used to before baseball became about primadonnas. But, this time, it looked like he gave Thole a forearm shiver which works in hockey, but not baseball.

In two days, the Mets lost two guys who were hitting and this team needs all they can get with Duda and Davis still not thumping. Hopefully, Valdespin makes up for Tejada, but the Mets have no catchers who can hit and get on base like Thole. If the Mets have to depend on Nickeas, then there may be some trouble. Nickeas is a nice defensive catcher and might not have taken an elbow to the head like Thole, but the guy can’t hit for his life.