"Looks like you won't be attending that hat convention"
When New York Mets 3rd baseman David Wright hit a solo home run off of Atlanta Braves starter Tim Hudson (15-6) with 2 outs in the top of the 6th inning to give the Mets a 3-1 lead it marked just the 14th time in 29 Johan Santana (11-9) starts that the Mets had scored 3 runs or more. Santana, overcome with glee, strained his pectoral muscle celebrating and had to leave the game. OK part of that is fiction. The celebration part. The rest is true, Santana did receive some (for him) noteworthy run support and he did strain a pectoral muscle and leave the game. He is listed as day-to-day. Another truth, the Mets won the game 4-2.
"As opposed to The Louvre in Wisconsin?"
Before all that the Mets got off to surprisingly quick start against the Cy Young candidate Hudson. With 2 outs in the top of the 1st inning Carlos Beltran sent a hard liner bouncing into center field that, to the noticeable dismay of Hudson, bounded past Melky Cabrera to the wall as Beltran cruised into 3rd base. In his irritation Hudson was slow to back up 3rd base and justice was served coldly to him in the form of a throwing error by Omar Infante on the relay which skipped past Hudson into the dugout for an error allowing Beltran to score. Unable to shake his anger at Cabrera, Infante and himself, Hudson allowed consecutive singles to Chris Carter and Wright, then walked Ike Davis to load the bases. New Met Joaquin Arias stepped to the plate and hit a high bouncer toward shortstop that 3rd baseman Martin Prado attempted to play by waiting for the base runner Wright to pass in front of him and the time wasted in doing that allowed Arias to reach base safely as Carter scored and after half an inning the Mets led 2-0.
"How am I driving? Call 1-800-I'm-gonna-f*ckin'-die"
Brian McCann homered leading off the bottom of the 2nd to make the score 2-1. After Wright’s homer made it 3-1 Mets in the 6th, the Mets added the extremely rare (for them) 4th run on a 7th inning fielder’s choice RBI ground out by Beltran that plated Luis Castillo who had singled and moved to 3rd base on Infante’s 2nd error of the game. Mets reliever Bobby Parnell had a rough 8th inning facing 7 batters but allowing just 1 run on a 2-out Prado RBI single for the eventual final score of 4-2. Hisanori Takahashi allowed a lead off single to McCann in the 9th but retired the next 3 batters in order for his 3rd save.
45 comments
metsfan4decades
9/2/2010-10:22pm at 10:22 pm (UTC -4)
Great graphics.
So…RA Dickey our new ace for the rest of the way? ‘Cause I’m assuming Johan is done for the season.
Gary Apple post game: ‘‘Clubhouse still closed right now with a meeting, so we’ll bring it to you as soon as that’s over’.
Hmmmmmm….
They’re still replaying interviews from the pre game show so wonder what this closed door meeting is all about?
metsfan4decades
9/2/2010-10:29pm at 10:29 pm (UTC -4)
Jerry:
‘Johan had a little strained pec muscle. He started complaining in that last inning so we decided to take him out of there’.
‘I want to say more fatigued than anything. Johan doesn’t think it’s bad. Will he miss a start? We don’t know right now. We’ll have to see how he feels tomorrow, how is BP sessions go.’
And LOL..Jerry thought pec was the arm. Jay had to tell him chest. He says: ‘Well I don’t know the anatomy very well’.
Oh, brother.
stickguy
9/2/2010-10:31pm at 10:31 pm (UTC -4)
maybe jerry isn’t quite as smart as we thought?
stickguy
9/2/2010-10:30pm at 10:30 pm (UTC -4)
this could be interesting. or not, given that it is the mets!
and at this point, it is hard to argue with the idea that Johan should just shut it down for the year. at minimum, miss a start? but at that point, why bother?
metsfan4decades
9/2/2010-10:32pm at 10:32 pm (UTC -4)
Johan said he went back to the trainer room to stretch a little tightness he had and go back out. ‘But they took me out instead. They decided I was done for the night.’
stickguy
9/2/2010-10:47pm at 10:47 pm (UTC -4)
in this case, I take the side of the team. err on the side of caution for a change, especially in a game that realistically meant nothing. And since the consequences of sending him back out and tearing a muscle are too horrible to contemplate, this was the right way to go.
he gets an easy day, and a win. nothing to complain about.
GravediggerHebner
9/2/2010-10:36pm at 10:36 pm (UTC -4)
I was distracted. Has there been any explanation of the delay in opening the clubhouse?
metsfan4decades
9/2/2010-10:43pm at 10:43 pm (UTC -4)
No. That appeared to be the first question to Jerry in his interview, but he laughed it off making some joke (that I don’t remember), implying it was no big deal the door was closed longer than usual.
Kind of unusual to me though since this is ‘get out of town’ night for them.
stickguy
9/2/2010-10:45pm at 10:45 pm (UTC -4)
and a day game tomorrow.
man, I can’t stand jerry anymore. His managing style just does not seem professional, and of course, his game management is horrendous.
asod75
9/2/2010-10:49pm at 10:49 pm (UTC -4)
Should have been fired after last season and definitely after 2-9 West Coast swing. Oh well, at least he’ll be gone as soon as this disaster of a season is over.
GravediggerHebner
9/2/2010-10:55pm at 10:55 pm (UTC -4)
Thank you. I’m not sure if I’ve said this before or not but it’s worth repeating if I have. I always appreciate the snippets of the post game that you note here because usually during it I’m busy putting the finishing touches on my own and can’t really pay attention to SNY so thank you very much MF4D.
stickguy
9/2/2010-10:50pm at 10:50 pm (UTC -4)
damn phils. and rockies.
in 8 innings, phils gave up 19 hits and 4 walks. that is almost 3 runners per inning. but still only gave up 10 runs, and lead 12-10.
kingman 26
9/2/2010-10:58pm at 10:58 pm (UTC -4)
Hey I am sitting at OHare waiting for a damn thunderstorm to pass with 8 zillion others….how did Jerry do tonight?
Duda hit second? Johan is hurt?
Oy.
stickguy
9/2/2010-11:05pm at 11:05 pm (UTC -4)
jerry made the usual amount of poor strategic moves, including a sac bunt that made no sense, even for him.
and supposedly Johan was just a little tight, and went in for a quick treatment, but the braintrust decided to pull him to be safe (at least with this, I agree).
but hell, they won.
oh, and not sure why Duda 2nd tonight. Just jerry being jerry.
metsfan4decades
9/2/2010-11:08pm at 11:08 pm (UTC -4)
Um….Jerry was Jerry, nothing different there. Bunting with 2 on and a lead, leaving Blanco out there to hit with men on base, pulling Johan when Johan said he had no intention of coming out.
metsfan4decades
9/2/2010-11:08pm at 11:08 pm (UTC -4)
And here’s hoping you get out sometime tonight Kingman. OHare can be a nightmare on a good weather day.
kingman 26
9/2/2010-11:13pm at 11:13 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks MF4D-and obviously you have been to OHare!
I am HOPING to just be 3 hours late…
Thanks for the info guys….I miss one game and feel lost. I guess after 37 years I am officially addicted.
stickguy
9/2/2010-11:15pm at 11:15 pm (UTC -4)
thunder storms in chicago, and a hurricane coming up the east coast?
just stay over. go see the game tomorrow. It is a day game. You can get a late friday night flight out. just head to the airport from wrigley.
you may still be sitting in O’hare at noon anyway, so what the hell@
kingman 26
9/2/2010-11:17pm at 11:17 pm (UTC -4)
Holy crap I did not even realize that if I am here long enough I might see Jerry walk right by me!
Stick, what can I say to him for you?
stickguy
9/2/2010-11:25pm at 11:25 pm (UTC -4)
just tell him you would rather have stick next year than him, and it is one or the other!
and to have a nice retirement, far from NY.
GravediggerHebner
9/2/2010-11:10pm at 11:10 pm (UTC -4)
Jerry said before the game that he felt on Weds night the Braves were clearly trying to breaking-ball Duda to death so he felt batting him 2nd might allow him to see more fastballs.
Once the game started I didn’t really notice Jerry (which I consider an endorsement of whatever he was doing/not doing) except for when they showed him talking to Warthen in the dugout during the top of the 6th while Dessens was (at that moment inexplicably) warming up.
kingman 26
9/2/2010-11:15pm at 11:15 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks Grave.
And again, your piece today was Exhibit A of what makes this place special.
And of course talking to you and Stick and MF4D late night alone at OHare getting knowledgeable Met info!
stickguy
9/2/2010-11:16pm at 11:16 pm (UTC -4)
hmm, last time I was stuck at O’hare I found a bar tender to talk to.
fongy2
9/2/2010-11:42pm at 11:42 pm (UTC -4)
Last time I was at Ohare(about 7yrs ago), in the middle
of the winter,during a snow-storm, I was delayed about 3
hrs traveling back to NYC from Vegas….And AFTER
watching the wings being de-iced, sat for ANOTHER
hour watching the ice build back up again on those
same wings BEFORE we took-off!…..Thank God for
our man Brock it’s September not December!
GravediggerHebner
9/2/2010-11:25pm at 11:25 pm (UTC -4)
Thank you.
When Santana left the game I think 2 whole innings passed before any information about why he left was provided. That’s 2 innings you’re glad you missed, trust me.
metsfan4decades
9/2/2010-11:57pm at 11:57 pm (UTC -4)
Back in the day when I traveled lots for work, I wouldn’t go out of OHare unless I could get the first flight out, if possible. That way, I’d have half a chance of actually getting out of there mid afternoon.
Use to have lots of nice bars and restaurants though. I’ll bet it’s even better now (and more expensive).
At least OHare doesn’t have a ‘noise’ ordinance (at least I don’t think they do). Getting stuck at Regan is a nightmare as all air traffic stops at 10pm. You don’t get out by then, you’re stuck till the next day.
kingman 26
9/2/2010-11:10pm at 11:10 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks kids….boy am I glad I missed the bunt!
But a Wright HR and a Johan win…first game I saw zero of in ages.
Definitely going to find a way to watch Mejia Saurday.
fongy2
9/2/2010-11:32pm at 11:32 pm (UTC -4)
Sorry about that my friend!…..BUT you’d be delayed at O’Hare
if weather was perfect. I’ve never had the pleasure to spend
a second outside the two airports there…BUT have spent hours
in all types of weather, during various times of year IN the airport
AND worse, sitting on the tarmac…..Flying stinks!!!
Be safe!!……And what the hell……Let’s Go Mets!!!
stickguy
9/2/2010-11:03pm at 11:03 pm (UTC -4)
damn. lidge tried to blow it, but couldn’t quite pull it off.
it really annoys me that the phils will be in the playoffs again. I need to move somewhere else in the country.
metsfan4decades
9/2/2010-11:05pm at 11:05 pm (UTC -4)
Well, plenty of time yet left for the Phils to blow it.
Go Cards! Go Giants! Go Reds! Go any team that can knock them out…
stickguy
9/2/2010-11:13pm at 11:13 pm (UTC -4)
I am pretty sure they are in the playoffs. Would be shocked if they miss out.
even worse, their offense is all finally back and the big guys are heating up. And the top 3 in the rotation have been lights out lately.
absolutely would not be surprised (just pissed ) to see them blow through the playoffs again and be in another WS.
actually think there is a lower chance of the yankees making it, due to there very shaky rotation at the moment.
fongy2
9/2/2010-11:36pm at 11:36 pm (UTC -4)
This is a very good post!….Just finished watching the illies
and it popped into my head a few times, in a pretty wide
open League, THAT Line-up, heathy, with a 1,2,3 of
Halladay, Oswalt and Hamels in gonna be pretty tough to beat in the post-season….Plus, the toughness of this Phil
group cannot be overstated….
stickguy
9/3/2010-12:09am at 12:09 am (UTC -4)
yeah, you know that if nothing else, they aren’t going to wilt under the pressure of the playoffs.
well, lidge might. but they quite possible go through a series without even needing him!
metsfan4decades
9/3/2010-12:34am at 12:34 am (UTC -4)
Bah…
GravediggerHebner
9/2/2010-11:33pm at 11:33 pm (UTC -4)
Interesting coming from one of the most underachieving (according to tennis talking heads, I wouldn’t know) pro-tennis players:
http://espn.go.com/blog/new-yorkmets/post/_/id/9619/tennis-star-blake-wants-change
fongy2
9/2/2010-11:37pm at 11:37 pm (UTC -4)
A tennis player……….Enough said!
metsfan4decades
9/2/2010-11:59pm at 11:59 pm (UTC -4)
LOL!
Prismo
9/3/2010-9:10am at 9:10 am (UTC -4)
Heck, he’d probably be a better manager than Jerry.
njstuckintx
9/3/2010-9:14am at 9:14 am (UTC -4)
That guy Arias is impressive. Impressive how much he is not good. Couldn’t we have just shipped Frenchy to Texas for nothing?
stickguy
9/3/2010-9:39am at 9:39 am (UTC -4)
my guess? either the FO is totally clueless still about evaluating worthwhile talent, or more likely, they thought it would be less embarrassing than just giving him away to get anything at all back.
not really that much different than when the braves took chur
njstuckintx
9/3/2010-9:47am at 9:47 am (UTC -4)
i hear you. but saving face these days is basically a moot point. What face is there to save? Giving him away for nothing vs. getting crap back isn’t less embarrassing, one way or the other.
What spurred me to write the orig. statement was watching Infante beat out that infield hit that would have been routine to reyes. Carter’s Arm, Cora’s range and an envy of Valentine’s ‘stache that will never be attained.
Dirtysanchez
9/3/2010-9:55am at 9:55 am (UTC -4)
I used to think it was just for depth reasons only but since Turner is healthy…yea I dont know why this guy is on the club…I HOPE its not because he will serve as the reserve for next years bench
Prismo
9/3/2010-10:07am at 10:07 am (UTC -4)
Hmm, better than spending another $2MM on the next Alex Cora!
njstuckintx
9/3/2010-10:07am at 10:07 am (UTC -4)
From your mouth to God’s ear.
stickguy
9/3/2010-10:30am at 10:30 am (UTC -4)
sadly, I think that is the plan. hopefully his play now stands out for its suckitude, and turner gets a chance to play nad looks better.
cause from what we have seen of the 2 of them (and their recent history), turner looks like a better bet.