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.
{ 41 comments }
I can safely speak for all of us when I say that the word “frustration” cannot even begin to assess how we feel right now. Why is no one holding Mr. Minaya accountable for our team’s incompetence? Why don’t we begin chanting “FI-RE O-MAR?” at Citi Field? Why can’t Gary Cohen have the testicular fortitude call the team out live on television? –forget professionalism; it would be therapeutic for us that matter most to this organization, the fans! It seems like our players don’t have psychological strength to withstand criticism and tribulation. Must I remind everyone that we’re currently three games under .500 and four games behind our arch rivals – fourth place in the pitiable NL EAST? We scored three runs in three games! We put on an embarrassing display of baseball in Philadelphia, and have given the players and their fans reason to write off the Mets for the season.
Are any of you embarrassed? Is it even worth expending this much energy on a team that, honestly and possibly, could not care less about their pathetic losing streak?
So what do you expect him to do? Who do you want to acquire? What are you willing to give up ? Are you willing to give up the top 5 or 6 prospects in your system and further weaken your system in order to acquire a rent a player like Matt Halliday, who isn’t having that great a year, and Adam Dunn?
Kd Bart are you Fred Wilpon in disguise?? all you do in all your posts is make excuses for this pathetic organization. We dont get paid millions of dollars to figure out a trade to help this team! Omar Minaya does! Stop posting excuses for this franchise cause it is getting old. Are you happy with this teams performance??? Why dont u lay out some money and buy season tickets or go to some games like the rest of us and not only have an emotional interest in this team but also a financial interest and I’m pretty sure you will stop making excuses for everyone. We have the highest payroll in the national league and are in FOURTH place! The Wilpons are charging their fans a lot of money to go to Citifield (home of the Dodgers) and watch these losers play baseball – Minor league baseball! It isn’t fair to any of us. STOP MAKING EXCUSES FOR THEM!
This team will never change as long as the Wilpons own it. If Omar goes, his replacement will probably be Tony B., which is just more of the same. No way any real manager would want to manage a team with Tony B in the background.
The chant we should start at CitiField should be:
Hey Hey, Ho Ho
Freddy Wilpon’s got to go!
Yes, I am disgusted and embarrassed as well. But the ‘fire Omar’ thing is silly. He is certainly not without sin for a couple of poor signings and trades, but it’s obvious the absence of Beltran, Reyes and Delgado is what kills our offense. That ain’t Omar’s fault. And at this point it would be foolish to try an acquire anybody other than Dunn. You think Teahen or Rios or Spilborgh are going to save us?
Wright can’t carry the team and looked like crap the entire weekend, including defense.
We are stuck with second rate guys like Tatis, whose DP today was completely predictable. THE GUY STINKS. But Jerry will keep goint to him as a way of “getting him started.” If anyone should be fired it should be Manuel.
I do agree strongly with your final point that it’s very draining expending energy on this team. I’ ve taken the view that they will probably lose every time out and I watch the games with sound off, hoping that maybe they’ll have a big inning. But then send Jerry sends up Tatis with men on 1st and 2nd and I know what’s going to happen. If I can see itcoming, why can’t Jerry?
Just curious why you point out Tatis’ DP and let Wright’s slide? Wright is an all star after all and those are precisely the kind of situations where all stars are supposed to shine. A fly ball would have at least tied the game.
I’m beginning to have my doubts as to whether building this team around a guy like David Wright is really a good idea.
Wright’s DP was just as bad, no question.
But the team is NOT built around Wright. It is built around Wright, Reyes, Beltran, delgado, Santana and K-Rod. So happens that only Wright is in the lineup every day and as much as I hatre his strikeouts and his DP today, he cannot carry the team. That doesn’t mean he should be trashed. If anything, he’s to be sympathized with for the situation he’s in.
We were in Philly for Saturday’s game and Wright could barely walk, the only time that we saw any life in him was when he chased the ball in foul territory and Cora yelled.
The main thing I noticed about Wright on Saturday was that he did not pull the ball and was one of the few that actually managed to get the ball out of the infield on a fly.
How about we stop talking about “building a team” around anyone. The Yankees never built their championship teams around Jeter. Jeter entered into a well-built team. Since the Yankees started building their team around Jeter, they’ve won nothing. Wright is a great player, but he is considered the “face” of the franchise because he is white and good-looking. The player who the Mets should “Build” around is reyes, if anyone. Wright is a very solid player, but there are only a handful of players in baseball who can take over a game on their own and I’ve never seen wright do that. Reyes does it on a nearly daily basis.
Even acquiring Dunn won’t do much. Especailly if it costs you a couple of your top prospects They have 8 players, Reyes, Beltran, Delgado, Perez, Pagan, Putz. Maine and Wagner, who would be part of their 25 man roster. And we’re not talking fringe types like Stokes, Reed, and Redding. We’re talking key elements of your team. Check the DL. No team has close to the level of talent on the DL as the Mets have. Any team that lost this much talent would suffer significantly. You can’t trade for and/or call up players to replace what is missing. Look around the league. The Braves are their equal in record and the Cubs are barely better and those teams are relatively healthy. Imagine where they’d be if they had the injury situation that the Mets have.
Keep making excuses for them. I hear excuses every year for this team…
Qns Philosopher you hit the nail on the head and are speaking for every NY Mets fan out there… Enough is enough of the losing it is downright embarrassing!
Maybe if Jerry employed a tactic known as the hit and run, they’d be in some innings a little longer and get some more opportunities. The only thing about this season that makes me happy is that Jeff Wilpon’s “Stadium O’ Clubs” won’t be raking in the cash. I was in philly yesterday — Citizens Banks is a far superior stadium than Citi and is designed for the average fan in mind — there’s a bar on the outside of the stadium with live music playing and the place isn’t covered with exclusive clubs and food levels. I don’t know about you guys, but I get really pissed off when I can’t walk around the stadium in a circle because of that exclusive restaurant behemoth in left-center
Here Here!! OK, this team can’t hit the ball out of the park. With that, a real manager would use what he has and adjust accordingly. Instead, Jerry Manuel puts a different lineup out on the field everyday and hopes someone will have a career game.
For a player that is supposed to be a superstar baseball player, David Wright leaves a lot to be desired. After Blanton walked Murphy I had zero confidence in Wright to get the job done. I just knew that he would ground into a double play. I have no faith in this guy no matter what his numbers say.
Also his quote yesterday that “bad defense is contagious” is ridiculous. When Castillo dropped his pop up he was man enough to stand in front of the cameras and take the punishment. It is about time that David just faces the music and say the obvious that his defense and the team’s defense stinks. Take some advise from Alex Cora who says it like it is.
Sad but true – when Wright was up with the bases loaded and 1 out, my first thoughts were that he would either strikeout or ground into a DP before I gave any thought of him actually driving in a run or two. Not exactly the kinds of thoughts you would expect for a player who’s just been named to the All Star team for the 4th year in a row.
Wright is the ONLY real player we have left in out line up. It is easy to pitch around him and give him nothing good to hit, when, his protection is Chrurch? He cannot carry this team alone, and, it is a tremendous pressure to put on him. As I keep saying this team chokes, worse than the RED SOX. Everytime a big game or series comes up, they dont show up. For god’s sake Jamie Moyer, older than dirt with an ERA over 6!!!! Santana on the mound? These are games we should win. Until they prove they can play with the big dogs, no team in the division will take them seriuosly. After game 7 in 2006, game 162 in 2007 and game 162 again, in 2008, I see a pettern here. LOSERS!!! The Phillies get the job done and the METS don;t. Thats why they are the defending world champions and we are nothing.
the biggest issue i have with wright is his strikeouts. doubleplays happen, but for a supposed contact hitter to have 80+ strikeouts at the allstar break? blah
Hopefully the strikeouts will go down in the second half when he has protection in the lineup and hopefully will catch a few breaks from the umpires on called strikes.
I hate Jerry, but blaming him fully for this debacle is silly. Omar is to blame
we dont have any farm system. Omar has had plenty of money to spend, and made bad decisions. For his contract to be extended last year in the middle of the collapse, Fred should be ashamed.
Signing Perez for 3-36 and redding for 2-9 when we could have had lowe for 4-50 is inexcusable. Starting the season with Daniel Murphy as your left fielder, when he has never played the outfield before, after you put him in winter ball to learn 2b is inexcusable.
Now on Manuel, he is awful as well. He decides who his favorite is and sticks with it. Castillo batting 8th is a joke. He had argenis reyes and his 150 average lead off the other day, with daniel .240 murphy batting 2nd, and castillo 8th. silly. He has mismanaged the bullpen. He lets the players do what they want. They play zero fundamentals. he holds nobody accountable. He is a joke.
Yes, I am embarrassed
also, the mets medical staff has to be held somewhat responsible. and omar is responsible for them
Great stat re Beltran’s absence, Ted. For anyone who doubts the value he brings to the club, that about says it all.
Anyone seen the musical Spring Awakening? One of the most memorable songs is entitled “Totally F**ked” . This should become the new Mets theme song.
Enough already about the Omar or Jerry talk. We all know the Mets are hurting; however, it reasonable to expect the team they’re fielding to score more than 3 runs (2 if you exclude Nieve’s RBI) at CPB. DWright’s approach has to dramatically change. We shouldn’t expect him to be Pujols (or Ultey, Rollins or Howard), who can put a team on his back, but we can expect a sac fly to tie a game that Santana is pitching. I knew as soon as he hit the DP that Philly would tack on. You can’t expect any pitching staff to walk the tight rope the way the Mets pitchers have been asked to. I think all the Mets should take the All-Star break off and go fishing to clear their heads.
Why shouldn’t we expect him to be our Utley, Rollins, Howard? He is our “All-Star” isn’t he?
I really hope no Met goes to the all star break. They all have been over worked and over burdened, physically and mentally. They all need the entire break for the good of the team.
first sentence should have read “all star game”
All-star and “I can put the team on back” player are two different things. I think DWright is an outstanding players who has shown flashes of brilliance at bat and in the field. However, much like the NFL QB who does not win a Super Bowl, he is on track to be remembered for outstanding stats and not for the championship moments that make the elite athletes special. Today’s performances of Federer and Tiger show you the difference between someone whom you’ll remember as a “good player” vs ” a winner”.
its weird bc in 2006 david wright was a “winner” he had alot of big walk off hits even one off the great mariano. and it seemed like ok we got our guy who will come through when we need him then suddenly he just lost that ability.
Wright did have the game winning clutch hit against Mariano this year, not his fault that Castillo dropped that pop up at Yankee Stadium.
My fear is that right now this “team” seems so mentally beat down that I don’t know if they can make it the next 3 weeks till Reyes or Beltran possibly return. DW has had the most bizarre season I’ve ever seen and I just worry that he’s just worn out as well. I hope he comes up with some fake injury and takes the all star break off. If anyone needs 3 days in the Bahamas its DW.
The Jerry talk is a waste of time. He’s made some weird moves and done things I’m not happy about but all managers do, but we see our manager everyday so we don’t think that way. But ultimately its the players and lack of talent, its not Jerry’s fault they are in this position.
I think this scene sums up my feelings on this year’s Mets.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLMl0CLIDLg
I think this scene sums up my feelings throughout my life as a Mets fan:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPw-3e_pzqU
Luckily due to the 4th holiday I missed most of this debacle. 3 runs in 3 games where you can almost bunt for a HR. Man that is pathetic.
I heard 1050ESPN radio this past week talking about “Mets Brass” is considering bringing in the fences next year. I feel they should leave the fences the way they are and get legit power. Make Citi Field a park that is hard to win at for the opposition, not make it easier.
as the season has progressed I agree with this. The mets are the only team that cant hit balls out at citifield, so obviously its not the park. Get legit hitters and the offense will produce, plus you dont need to make it easier for the phillys to come here and play long ball.
I’m making the call to Dr. Kevorkian to put this team out of it’s misery. This season is over. It’s become an embarrassing joke.
The biggest difference between the METS and Phuillies is the Phillies get it done in the biog spot and the METS choke. When the Phillies ost 8 of 11 games and we had a chance a make up ground, they didnt, when the Mets played 3 games against the Phillies and had a chance to gain ground, we get swept!! Lets Go METS !!!
“The mets are the only team that cant hit balls out at citifield,”
This is not really true. Here are the number of HRs hit by VISITING teams at some parks this year:
Citi — 36
PETCO — 39
CBP – 59
NYS — 61
So it appears that HRs are harder to hit at Citi than even PETCO which has always been considered to be one of the most pitcher-friendly parks in the majors. And that the new Yankee Stadium and CBP are deserving of their reputations as Coors Field East.
The Mets have hit 10 fewer HRs at home than their opponents, but I think you can attribute a lot of that to the loss of Delgado, Reyes and Beltran.
But since HRs are harder to hit at Citi, it might be best to move or lower the fences slightly next year. Not a lot, and they should be careful not to make it like CBP or the NYS. But make it a more neutral park.
“The biggest difference between the METS and Phuillies is the Phillies get it done in the biog spot and the METS choke.”
I know a lot of Mets fans are frustrated and so am I. But their current play has nothing to do with choking or grit and everything to do with a depleted roster. Being so undermanned has put a tremendous amount of pressure on all the players and its wearing on them.
The Mets have already proved earlier this year and last that when close to full strength they can beat the Phillies easily head-to-head.
I have no doubt that if the Phillies were without Ibanez, Utley, Rollins, two relievers, and two of their starters all at the same time — and the Mets were near full strength — the standings would be reversed.
It sucks that the Mets are playing so poorly now. But realistically, there is not much that can be done right now that isn’t just cosmetic. They have to wait for the wounded to return.
Is anyone still pining for Lowe? His ERA now is the same as Livan’s. Probably Livan’s ERA will get much worse as the season progresses, but the point is Lowe is pitching nothing like an ace.
I hope we’ve heard the last of the complaints over Omar not getting Lowe. I think the amount of yearly dollars to Ollie didn’t make much sense, but clearly Lowe was not a much better alternative.
If there’s anything to be done now, maybe it’s simply to reinforce the current roster with those in the minors who are preforming well.
Niese is pitching lights out now, having just thrown a 5-hit shutout yesterday. If Livan continues to struggle, I’d like to see Niese take his spot in the rotation. At this point, the Mets cannot afford to put anything but their best personnel on the field every single game. They can’t afford to fall further behind because who knows when the bats will come back from the DL, and even when they do come back, it may take awhile for them to get going.
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