"Can anybody tell me what's wrong with this picture?"
New York Mets starter Jonathon Niese (8-6) was cruising. Through 3 innings he had struck out 6 Florida Marlins while allowing only 1 base runner. His Mets led 4-0 over the Marlins and their starter Anibal Sanchez (11-8) in the bottom of the 3rd and had the bases loaded with 2 outs looking to add more. But things had already started to go wrong. Ruben Tejada was at the plate and he was there because in the previous inning starting shortstop Jose Reyes had aggravated his previously injured oblique muscle and been replaced by Tejada. He’s not slow but he isn’t as fast as Reyes so when he was called out at 1st base on a close play ending the Mets 3rd inning rally it hurt knowing that should have been Reyes running. It hurt even more when replays showed that Tejada beat the throw and should have been called safe. It hurt still more when the Mets never scored again while the Marlins put up 11 unanswered runs en route to an 11-4 victory.
"I think it's out of order."
It was such a promising start. With 2 outs in the bottom of the 1st Carlos Beltran singled then David Wright crushed a 2-run homer off the facade of the upper deck in left field to give the Mets a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the 2nd Luis Castillo walked and Angel Pagan doubled him home for a 3-0 Mets lead. Prior to the ill-fated Tejada play in the 3rd Jeff Francoeur‘s RBI single drove in Wright to give the Mets that 4-0 lead. It was the best of times.
"And now you're gonna die wearing that stupid little hat."
Hanley Ramirez hit a line drive 2-run homer in the bottom of the 3rd cutting the Mets lead in half making it 4-2. Things remained relatively quiet until Marlins grew feet and roamed the earth in the 6th. Niese hit Logan Morrison with a pitch to start the inning. Ramirez singled to put 2 runners on. Met-killer Dan Uggla doubled driving home Morrison to make it 4-3 then Gaby Sanchez walked to load the bases. Mike Stanton then struck out but a Wes Helms sacrifice fly tied the game. Brett Hayes doubled home Uggla for a 5-4 Marlins lead which knocked Niese from the game. Pinch-hitter Donnie Murphy greeted Mets reliever Elmer Dessens with a single to drive home Sanchez, then Cameron Maybin singled to drive in Hayes and finally Morrison’s 2-run double scored Murphy and Maybin and just like that Florida had a 9-4 lead. The Marlins added 2 completely unnecessary runs in the 9th. Meanwhile Marlins pitchers walked the Mets lead off batter in the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 9th innings but none of them scored including Francoeur who walked leading off the 5th then was thrown out trying to go from 1st to 3rd on a single to left field. The Mets record fell to 51-24 when they score first. It was the worst of times. Final score Florida 11, New York 1.
10 comments
metsfan4decades
8/26/2010-10:46pm at 10:46 pm (UTC -4)
Win one, lose one. Win one, lose one. Win one, lose one. Stop me if you’ve seen this script before…
Reyes interview after the game saying the oblique never really did heal (obviously). Said he felt something during batting practice but didn’t think it would be a factor in the game, didn’t think it was that big of a deal.
Jerry said in his interview, he’ll take guidance from the doctors and trainers because if it was up to Reyes, he’d want to play no matter what.
Right now, most are speculating it’s more bothersome than worrisome, right now. Looks like they’ll be taking it day by day.
And that was just one ugly game. Niese looked very good through 5, only 2 hits including that HR. If it was up to Bobby O…Niese would have been out of that game long before he was finally pulled….
metsfan4decades
8/26/2010-10:46pm at 10:46 pm (UTC -4)
I meant the oblique ‘didn’t heal….
GravediggerHebner
8/26/2010-11:04pm at 11:04 pm (UTC -4)
On your “win one, lose one, win one, lose one” note someone pointed out to me last night (I apologize if it was you) that since August 1st the Mets have never been more than 1 game over or under .500. They have been mediocrity incarnate.
stickguy
8/26/2010-11:16pm at 11:16 pm (UTC -4)
guess that is .500 the hard way!
stickguy
8/26/2010-11:17pm at 11:17 pm (UTC -4)
I am just looking forward to the off season. I got lots and lots of ideas and plans.
Too bad that the mets are likely to foul them all up.
asod75
8/26/2010-11:45pm at 11:45 pm (UTC -4)
While I can never outright root for the Mets to lose (just not in my makeup), it wouldn’t be the worst thing if they just fell apart and had a lousy September. Would get another protected first-round pick (where they will hopefully grab another pitcher to help the minor-league depth) and also increases the chances that Omar will be gone/reassigned. Jerry and the coaching staff are gone regardless (unless Mets go 32-5 down the stretch which we all know isn’t possible). I’d also like a look at some young players, particularly Lucas Duda, Nick Evans and Josh Satin (plug him in at second and see if he can handle it since it’s likely to be a competition heading into the spring, barring a free agent signing/trade). This Marlins series again reinforced my hatred of Jerry’s managing. The Marlins absolutely kill lefthanded starters. Earlier in the week, it was reported that Jerry would skip Pat Misch this week, yet somehow decided to pitch him anyway (maybe Pat complained, seems to work for Francoeur and Gimpy). So, the Marlins get to see two lefty starters this series instead of one and beat them both up (I know Misch only gave up three earned, but they were hitting him pretty hard). Jerry never looks at numbers or matchups, just goes with his almighty and powerful gut. Can’t wait till the brainless wonder is gone.
stickguy
8/26/2010-11:54pm at 11:54 pm (UTC -4)
a new manager and coaching staff will be a complete breath of fresh air, for the team and the fans.
even if they do nothing else but change them, plus dump ollie and slappy and frenchy, and find basic but functional replacements (5th SP, 2B and RF), the team will be revitalized.
asod75
8/27/2010-12:29am at 12:29 am (UTC -4)
You’re right. So tired of Jerry and HoJo in particular.
wannybackstra
8/27/2010-8:46am at 8:46 am (UTC -4)
it was pretty obvious that niese had lost it very early in the seventh. well, obvious to everyone but jerry.
and jerry got what he deserved with dessens. you cant expect that guy to be effective when he’s ordinarily sitting at the end of the bullpen with ollie for long stretches of time.
asod75
8/27/2010-4:42pm at 4:42 pm (UTC -4)
I think Dessens has been very lucky the last two years anyway. Doesn’t get many strikeouts. Very hittable with a sub 90 fastball. Horrible career numbers. Would have gone to Acosta there, but oh well. Another poorly managed game by Jerry, what else is new?