Timely Hitting

There is difference between getting a base hit and a timely base hit. Just like there is a difference between batting .275 and a batting a soft .275. Hitting a home run when you are up 10 to 1 means nothing. But hitting a home run when the game is tied in the bottom of the seventh inning changes a game. That has been A-Rod's big knock against him. He produces when it doesn't matter. But that home run he hit against Papelbon in the final game of the last Red Sox - Yankee series was huge for the team (I was actually at this game and had the best seats I have ever had). They have since gone on a tear. This is a perfect example of timely hitting.

Timely hitting is not an area the Mets have excelled in recently, which has contributed to their bad run. Not scoring a guy from third base with less than two outs is an example of untimely hitting. Last night was a little different. Ledee's RBI single in the 4th was with two outs. And LoDuca's RBI single that brought in two runs to give Maine some breathing room came with 2 outs and on an 0-2 count. Hopefully the Mets can turn the corner and get hits in big spots.