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Wheels On

The Rays have a pitcher that the Mets sure miss.

No, I'm not talking about Scott Kazmir. I'm actually referring to Dan Wheeler.

This isn't a first-guess, second-guess, third-guess, or fourth-guess. When Wheeler was with the Mets in 2003-2004, he wasn't quite of Tidrow List caliber, but he didn't exactly bring back memories of Turk Wendell either. Basically he was average and has been so for a long time.

Until this season.

I don't know what kind of value you place in "holds" (in summary: reliever who enters in a save scenario, gets outs, leaves with save scenario still in place), but it might interest you to know that Dan Wheeler is the AL leader in holds, having picked up his 18th on Thursday night.

Wheeler has been vintage Wendell for the Rays over the last month. Check out these numbers:

Since May 20

14 Games
12 Innings
1 Run
8 Hits
1 Extra-Base Hit
.186 Opponents Batting Average
7 Holds
0.75 ERA

In the past 8 days, Wheeler has come into a game with a one-run lead in the eighth inning three times. The innings have gone 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2-3-4.

That's pretty good.

Yes, the Rays-Mets stories are going to keep coming. What do you expect me to do with double-digit shutout losses at home?

True Metlers know...That I believe a tally of career holds by Mets pitchers, flashed on the DiamondVision while the raindrops were falling in that game against the Rangers a couple of Saturday's ago, was incorrect.

The Mets tally had Aaron Heilman just shy of Dennis Cook's career holds record. Baseball-Reference now has the following:

Most Holds
Mets History

59- Aaron Heilman
56- Dennis Cook
55- Turk Wendell
53- John Franco
49- David Weathers

>> Dan Wheeler: 3 career holds for Mets.

By Baseball-Reference's count, Heilman broke the Mets hold record with his 57th against the Braves on April 26.

Also of note: Dan Wheeler had one career walk-off win for the Mets. He also has one walk-off loss against them.

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