Pinto has pitched in the last two games. In both cases, the score was close — the Marlins were up by 2 on Friday, and down by 1 yesterday. And in both cases, Pinto pitched effectively. His current ERA: 2.70.

A brief fact check: Pinto allowed — gasp! — one run today. He’s played in 13 games so far this month, and in 10 of them, he’’s allowed no runs. In an 11th, he allowed two runs, but neither was earned.

Statistics are a means of recording what actually happens on a baseball field.

Usually, what happens is that Pinto pitches well. Occasionally he doesn’t. The same can be said of every player on this team or any other team. Yes, he walks way too many people. He’s also amazing at not allowing hits — he’s only allowed 36 hits in 47 innings — and especially at not allowing extra-base hits. The guy has allowed only two home runs this year. He strikes out a lot of guys. He has strengths and weaknesses — one weakness, really — but you seem psychotically fixated on the latter.

We’ve had a lot of relief pitchers do well this year, so maybe it’s easier for you to deny Pinto’s contributions. But let me point out, Pinto would have the third-best ERA in the Braves bullpen. We’re starting a series with the Mets tomorrow; Pinto would have the second-best ERA there. But you’ve got this weird vendetta against him, and there’s something about your refusal to accept reality that annoys me.

Look at Friday — Dan Meyer was awful. But I didn’t hear you saying, “oh, that Dan Meyer, he’s not a real baseball player.” I didn’t hear you openly hoping Meyer gets injured. Because you remembered that Dan Meyer usually pitches well. How come you’re not capable of doing the same thing for Pinto?

The bottom line is this: Renyel Pinto has gone into 56 games this year, averaging just under an inning per game. 45 of those times, he left without allowing a single run. Four times, he’s allowed one run; seven times, he’s allowed two. I feel like if a relief pitcher allows no runs 80% of the time, he’s doing his job — especially considering that he’s never racked up more than 2 runs allowed, and also considering that he’ll likely end up in around 70-75 games this year. That’s a pretty heavy workload, and your ravings aside, he’s handled it well.

Also, you do know you can reply to comments, right?)

…because he did exactly the same thing as Pinto on Sunday. Pitched a whole inning, but allowed twice as many runs.

And so is Dan Meyer, because he also allowed two runs and got one guy out on Friday.

And let’s not even get into Nunez and Matt Lindstrom, who allow WAY more runs than any of those guys…

…well, okay, Matt Lindstrom IS awful.

You know who sucks, really? Pitchers. No pitcher has ever been good. They’ve got one job — don’t allow runs — and sometimes, THEY CAN’T EVEN DO THAT. Who do they think they are?