Daily Archives: July 5, 2009
The Phillies defeated the Mets, 2-0, today in Philadelphia.
For a complete recap, box score and stats, click here.
The Least You Should Know:
- Johan Santana allowed only three hits in seven innings, but two of them were solo home runs to Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley.
- The Mets notched only four hits and their two best scoring opportunities ended in 4-6-3 double plays. The first came off the bat of David Wright with the bases loaded in the top of the sixth.
- The Mets have gone 20 straight innings without an extra-base hit since Nick Evans’ seventh-inning double on Friday. The 3-6 hitters in the Mets’ lineup combined to go 1-for-30 (!) on Saturday and Sunday.
Other Observations and Notes:
- Ouch.
- Santana took another hard-luck loss, but if there’s an upside to the game for Mets fans it’s that he looked better than he did in Milwaukee. Still, he only struck out three batters in seven innings, continuing a month-long trend.
- It would really help if, in the rare instance that a Met gets on base, the guy behind him doesn’t hit into a double play. It’s become frighteningly predictable.
- It really felt like Charlie Manuel was toying with the Mets when, with one out and runners on first and second, he called on Chan-Ho Park to face Fernando Tatis. Tatis once hit two grand slams off Park in the same inning, but today he grounded into a double play. Obviously.
- I’m sorry, did I really just watch Joe Blanton outduel Johan Santana?
- For what it’s worth, Santana, Wright, Carlos Beltran and Francisco Rodriguez were named National League All-Stars.
- Brad Lidge struck out the side in the ninth for the Phils. Fantastic.
The Game Ball:
- Goes to Carlos Beltran upon his fifth All-Star selection, because I can’t in good conscience give it to a healthy Met and I’m not about to give it to Joe Blanton. Since Beltran went on the shelf, the Mets are hitting .234 with an on-base percentage below .300.
Update, 11:50 am:
David Lennon, in a post to Twitter, says that Fernando Martinez‘s injured right knee is improving, but he will be checked out by doctors in New York tomorrow.
Original Post:
The Mets (39-41) close out their three game series with the Phillies (41-37) this afternoon at Citizens Bank Park.
Alex Cora will lead off, followed by Daniel Murphy, David Wright, Ryan Church at cleanup and playing right field, Nick Evans in left field, Jeremy Reed in center field, Brian Schneider, and Luis Castillo.
Johan Santana (9-6, 3.34 ERA) will start today for the Mets. After two fantastic starts against the Rays and Cardinals, Santana struggled last Tuesday against the Brewers, allowing five earned runs on nine hits in six innings. Since June 2nd, Santana is just 2-3 with a 6.19 ERA.
Joe Blanton (4-4, 5.08 ERA) will start today for the Phillies. Blanton is looking for his first victory since June 1st, and he is 1-1 with four no-decisions since, but has a respectable 3.65 ERA over that span. He has fallen victim to the home run ball, allowing nine of them in his last 37 1/3 innings.
Tagged News |
Over the past couple of weeks, I keep seeing what I believe to be new lows for the Mets.
The latest bottoming out to me was yesterday’s comedy of errors in the sixth inning, when the Mets dropped two fairly routine pop ups on the infield, in foul territory, endured an errant throw from their latest center fielder, and that errant throw was not able to be cut off by their latest first baseman.
Like I said last night, losing is one thing. It is fine to lose games playing the best they can possibly play or when the pitching gets hit really hard.
But from what took place last night, and a series of games dating back to the Luis Castillo dropped popup at Yankee Stadium, I am forced to believe that the club has not emphasised and exercised fundamental play dating back to February and play like that disappoints me and pains me.
The old adage in baseball is that a team will win 33 percent and lose 33 percent of their games. The fate of the team lies in what they do with the other 33 percent. The teams that can get the bunts down, catch and throw the ball consistently, and are good situational hitters win that 33 percent in my opinion.
Over the past week, we have seen what the Mets are doing with that other 33 percent. The inning in Milwaukee last Tuesday and of course last night are indicators.
It doesn’t take a superstar or even a regular player to avoid problems like this, and that is what gives me such heartache. The plays that the Mets have failed to execute, such as not being able to consistently lay down sacrifice bunts and the defensive lapses, specifically Nick Evans failing to cut the ball off yesterday in the sixth inning, are things that our coaches made us run miles for.
It is really hard to feel confident right now, and as the disappointment mounts, even I feel pessimistic even with the return of their regulars getting closer.
That said, I am very hopeful that the issue today is that the youth and professional inexperience is the cause, and that this group is learning as they go, and therefore the Mets can begin to win that “other” 33 percent of their games.
I am going to be patient with this current group and not ask Omar Minaya to do something hasty, despite the need for more offense and the need for more consistent starting pitching…I know I am in the minority but too many times have I seen this organization make bad moves in what seems to be a desperate situation, only to fall flat in the end.
The reason for that is I too watch these games and say “Jose Reyes would have beaten that out” or “Carlos Beltran would have caught that ball” but if I have to say things like that twice in one game I know that bringing in one guy like Adam Dunn, Alex Rios, or Matt Holliday will not solve their problems today and while I believe the Mets are able to make a move, they can only bring in one player of that caliber.
That said if a player is available that fits the teams mold for Citi Field and their long term goals, I am all for it, even if it means that the team won’t win in 2009.
Tagged Michael Baron |Metstradamus thinks the Mets are acting like a slot machine on the old strip in Las Vegas.
Over at Mets Fever, Ed Ryan believes Omar Minaya knew that Carlos Delgado would go down with an injury.
James at Amazin’ Avenue puts himself in David Wright‘s head, and proclaims that he is a leader.
Finally, the New York Times has located “Short Al”, a long time overnight caller to WFAN.
