While checking out some baseball news, I noticed that on this date two years ago Aaron Heilman pitched a one-hitter. Any Mets fan knows that not only is Heilman one of the best eighth-inning set-up men working in the game, but he also desperately wants to be a starting pitcher.
Which makes me wonder, if instead of pitching that one-hitter against the Florida Marlins in 2005 he finished with the first no-hitter in Mets history, would he be a reliever today? I doubt it. Mets fans would call up WFAN after Willie Randolph and Omar Minaya insist on sending him back to the bullpen and clamor for them to let the kid start. "C'mon Mad Dog," they'd say, "we're talking about the only pitcher in Mets history who's ever thrown a no-no for the Mets!"
And Chris "Mad Dog" Russo would say, "It's a fair point. What do you think Mike?" And Mike Francesa (who is much better on football, in my opinion, than baseball. But he's knowledgeable in both) would say, "He's a good pitcher, but he's much more effective when hitters don't get used to his unique delivery and learn to lay off his hard sinking fastball."
But he would have started last year. Perhaps they don't acquire Orlando Hernandez as a result, keeping Jorge Julio for the bullpen. And who knows how many games Julio would have blown last year if he were our man in the eighth. Imagine if...
Ok, this is getting boring already. Suck it up Aaron, you got a win last night, and you're on the best team in the National League, I don't care what those goofs in Atlanta say. And forget about Jimmy Rollins for now.
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