The Mets had a three run lead before the Cubs even got into their Dugout courtesy of a David Wright 2 RBI double. R.A. Dickey would use the wind in his face to really make that knuckle ball dance and it worked until the 4th inning when the Cubs put up a 4 spot that included an Alfonso Soriano 3-run home run.
Cubs pitcher Randy Wells would work in and out of trouble until the 6th when Lucus(the Dude) Duda would hit his first base hit(a double) and get his first RBI knocking in Pagan from first and thus knotting the game at 4.
But R.A. Dickey would be a victim to the 3 run Home run again in the bottom of the 6th when Blake Dewitt would hit an wind-aided 3 run bomb. David Wright would pull the game within 2 with his 23rd home run in top of the 7th and Luis Hernandez would hit his first home run since being called up-thus cutting the Cub lead to one in the top of the 8th.
Manny Acosta did his best to give the Cubs some insurance when Xavier Nady lead off the 8th with a single but Soto hit a shallow line drive to Lucus Duda who made a great catch in right field and doubled up Nady off of first. Ryota Igarashi came in the pitch to Alfonso Soriano who hit a 2 out double and Jerry Manuel went to Pedro Feliciano who finished the inning striking out the Heavy Hitting Number 8 Batter Blake Dewitt.
Carlos Marmol would come in the 9th inning and get his 26th save of the year.
14 comments
stickguy
9/3/2010-5:26pm at 5:26 pm (UTC -4)
I am liking what I am seeing out of duda so far. especially in the field. he looks perfectly capable out there, and really has a good arm. Which means the idea of him ending up as a power bat in RF at some point is not all that far fetched.
apparently he was a pitcher in HS, and could hit 90, so I guess it is not that surprising that he has a good arm.
and it isn’t like Frenchy had any notable range or special talent in the field, other than the arm.
metsfan4decades
9/3/2010-5:45pm at 5:45 pm (UTC -4)
Pretty sad when the season has come down to me watching just to see a bright spot or two on this roster…..
Disappointed in RA’s outing but overall he’s been great so hard to get on him. If he goes downhill here in Sep, that’ll be another question.
Duda showing the leather. As Keith put it: ‘I’m impressed. We’ve been given a bad scouting report on him’.
He’s certainly got a better arm than Carter does, or Murph for that matter.
GravediggerHebner
9/3/2010-6:54pm at 6:54 pm (UTC -4)
Getting a wee bit concerned with the off-Dickey home runs. He’s given up only 11 in 21 starts which seems reasonable to me but 6 in his last 7 starts.
SLG against him was highest of season in August and surely got higher today.
metsfan4decades
9/3/2010-7:50pm at 7:50 pm (UTC -4)
I was trying to ignore that nagging thought….
stickguy
9/3/2010-8:26pm at 8:26 pm (UTC -4)
he still gives up less than johan. And, he still is not walking anyone.
a knuckleballer I always figured would be a little more susceptible to an off day by missing his stuff, bu he still has looked pretty good.
but as always, who knows what the future will bring.
rustyjr
9/3/2010-7:02pm at 7:02 pm (UTC -4)
Duda as trade bait perhaps?lets not get all enamored with him yet – remember how we fell in love with murph – where did that get us?
stickguy
9/3/2010-8:24pm at 8:24 pm (UTC -4)
speak for yourself about falling in love with murphy.
but duda, he put up numbers that murphy could only dream of in the minors, and has way more potential to give this team a power bat in the OF that they desperately need.
I am ready to leave my wife for him.
rustyjr
9/3/2010-9:33pm at 9:33 pm (UTC -4)
Brokeback Duda ?
stickguy
9/3/2010-10:06pm at 10:06 pm (UTC -4)
Not that there is anything wrong with that…..
metsfan4decades
9/3/2010-9:33pm at 9:33 pm (UTC -4)
HAHAHA – that stickguy, always with the sense of humor.
I loved Murphy’s work ethic but was always a little suspect on his skills/talent. Murph would do whatever they needed him to do, like start opening day in LF with very little experience then move to 1st when Delgado went down. He gave it his all. But from this very small sample size, it appears to me Duda is a far better defensive LF than Murph was. And he certainly has a better arm than Carter does.
As I think Murphy won’t be much trade bait over the winter – having had very little season stats, I wouldn’t mind seeing if he can field adequately enough to be a backup at a few positions – if his bat will bring something to the roster off the bench.
stickguy
9/3/2010-10:06pm at 10:06 pm (UTC -4)
I actually like murphy. scrappy little guy. but, I don’t think he ever had the potential to be a high end starter.
now, if he can become acceptable at 2B, his bat will be a plus. But, most likely best case, he becomes a bench guy next year, that can play (sort of) at a bunch of spots, and be a LH bat off the bench. think the carter role, with more defensive ability and flexibility.
njstuckintx
9/4/2010-8:24am at 8:24 am (UTC -4)
Murphy for 2B!
stickguy
9/4/2010-9:01am at 9:01 am (UTC -4)
well, from the guys we have seen so far, if the mets don’t sign a solid FA (say hudson or uribe), and decide to fill it in house, I hope it is him.
if he can play anything passing for acceptable defense (think Ugly or up), at least he has a bat that is not an embarrassment.
I still want to see turner get some PT, but have seen enough of slappy, arias, and tejada to have decided that I do not want any of them starting games there next season!
damn havens. If he hadn’t missed 1/2 the season with the oblique, I think he would be out there already.
njstuckintx
9/4/2010-9:59am at 9:59 am (UTC -4)
Yeah man, I’m with you. If Havens or Turner can man the position well and have a passable bat (AKA better than slappy and waaaaaaaay better than tejada), I’m for it. Murphy’s bat is proven at the MLB level (at least to me) and if he can be Uggla Lite, I’d take that in a second. Eat 4+ mil and move Castillo for anything (minor league player, BP guy, whatever) and then fill 2B with Turner/Havens/Murph/Tejada (if he makes strides in the offseason & spring training, which he very well could). I just can’t fathom spending resources on MrGritty or Uribe when the BP and another SP are needed so badly.
On a side note, I’m glad that Dickey is getting shelled a little bit. Only because I do not want the Mets to get so comfortable with him that they’ll think “oh, dickey is fine, no work is needed for the starting rotation.” Signing a Lilly type (if he can be had) allows Mejia or Gee or another to be waiting at AAA or allow Takahashi (assuming he stays) to be a BP guy. It’s going to have to be a creative offseason, but I do have hope that what they put out there will be decent.