photo by Matthew Bohrer http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattbohrer/
As the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates, who are already officially eliminated from post season contention, and the host New York Mets, who are all but play out the string at Citi Field, it calls to mind a group of undead zombies stumbling upon a field filled with fresh corpses and devouring their brains. It doesn’t call that to mind for you? Oh well. Anyway, this meaningless game did have some meaningful moments.
Official restaurant of undead Chris Carlin
For example, when Angel Pagan singled in the bottom of the 1st inning to drive home Jose Reyes and give the Mets a 1-0 lead, it marked the 627th run scored of Reyes’ career which tied him for 3rd place on the Mets all-time list with his current hitting coach Howard Johnson. In the 2nd inning when Reyes scored on Pirates right fielder Ryan Doumit‘s error to make it 4-0 Mets it was the 628th run scored of Reyes’ career which tied him for 2nd on the Mets all-time list with his current infield mate David Wright. Then when Carlos Beltran and Nick Evans both hit solo homers in the 3rd inning (Evans crushed his to the LF side of the HR apple) to give the Mets a 6-0 lead it was the first time the Mets had hit 2 home runs in the same inning since 6/13/10. Finally, when Reyes and Pagan scored in the 4th inning on a Beltran 2-run double to make it 9-0 Mets, not only did Reyes move into sole possession of second place on the Mets all-time list with 629 runs scored but it marked the first time since 7/4/10 that the Mets had scored at least 1 run in each of the first 4 innings of a game. So for zombies they did alright.
Zombie Mets march (slowly) to victory
The Pirates scored a meaningless run in the top of the 9th off of R.A. Dickey (11-6) for the final score of New York Mets 9, Pittsburgh Pirates 1. For Dickey it was his second complete game of the season. Other highlights included 3 stellar double plays turned by Reyes, Ruben Tejada and Ike Davis. Tejada also had 3 hits including a double. Pagan wound up with 3 hits and 3 RBI and Beltran finished with 2 hits and 3 RBI. It was a good night for Zombie Mets.
16 comments
metsfan4decades
9/14/2010-10:18pm at 10:18 pm (UTC -4)
RA Dickey….Who would have thought back in April?
Discussion in the GKR booth tonight was do you just offer RA arbitration when he’s eligible for FA end of next year or offer him a multi year contract now? IMO…I’d offer him a multi year contract now.
I know he’s 35, I know this is his best year ever. But he’s been as consistent as any starter on this team has been in the past several years. I’d take the chance his 35 year old legs and shoulder holds up for 2 more years or so and has just a good 2011 and 2012 as 2010.
Mr North Jersey
9/14/2010-10:21pm at 10:21 pm (UTC -4)
I would not sign him to a multi year mainly because of 1 thing 4d.
The fear that he would get complacent now that he has some security compared with offering him arbitration and then watching him go out and earn a long term contract next year by proving this season was no fluke.
My 2 pennies
metsfan4decades
9/14/2010-10:26pm at 10:26 pm (UTC -4)
Well, I can’t tell if you’re serious or not but ironically enough, RA himself said something to that affect after his last start, I believe.
Said that he goes out there with the mindset of no one owes him anything and every start is doing his best and proving over and over he belongs here.
So maybe you’re on to something. Although RA strikes me as too intelligent to let it go to his head, plus at 35 he should have learned a thing or two given the fact that he never gave up and believed in himself.
Sorta like Figgy w/o the attitude.
Mr North Jersey
9/14/2010-10:29pm at 10:29 pm (UTC -4)
Don’t let the smieys fool you.
stickguy
9/14/2010-10:38pm at 10:38 pm (UTC -4)
well, I don’t think a 2 year deal will make that much of a difference. Assuming, of course, that he desires to keep pitching past 2012.
but, I am fine with doing arb and seeing what happens.
hey, throw on an option year, those always work out for the mets.
Mr North Jersey
9/14/2010-10:19pm at 10:19 pm (UTC -4)
Not for nothing but that zombie isn’t as scary as watching Ollie come in to pitch in a tied game.
GravediggerHebner
9/14/2010-10:29pm at 10:29 pm (UTC -4)
Only somebody without a brain wouldn’t be afraid of a zombie.
Except for the fact that he’s right handed I thought the zombie Met looked a lot like Barry Zito.
metsfan4decades
9/14/2010-10:30pm at 10:30 pm (UTC -4)
O.K., someone help me out please. I love the first pic but can’t actually tell who that is….
GravediggerHebner
9/14/2010-10:36pm at 10:36 pm (UTC -4)
I have no idea. I just googled “zombie met” for kicks to see if I would find anything and this came up:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattbohrer/3979525158/
If you have time check out some of the guys other photos, he’s good.
metsfan4decades
9/14/2010-10:44pm at 10:44 pm (UTC -4)
Yes, I went there in hopes of identifying the Met…only to finally conclude it might not really be a NY Met but just representation of a zombie NY Met.
Spent awhile going thru his pictures. Very talented.
stickguy
9/14/2010-10:46pm at 10:46 pm (UTC -4)
saw this in the times article. first time I saw the 6 months as how long before he could even throw. Wonder if it is true or not?
“there was no damage beyond what was expected.
Enlarge This Image
Kathy Willens/Associated Press
Johan Santana is expected to wear a sling for several weeks and will not be able to throw for at least six months.
Santana will not be able to throw again for at least six months, meaning he probably will not be back before the All-Star break.”
Mr North Jersey
9/14/2010-10:59pm at 10:59 pm (UTC -4)
Rubin had an article where a Dr said it could quite possibly take as long also I believe. Also the injury expert guy had an article that guesstimated as much also.
I will say what I said before and that is don’t make plans foe Santana in 2011 and prepare yourself accordingly.
If he does come back to pitch at all consider it a bonus and leave it at that.
The talk of him not being possibly ready to throw till some time in the Spring is enough for me to not expect Santana returning to any semblance of his current self before the injury at anytime in 2011.
If somehow he does pitch in 2011 I will be ecstatic but until then We have no ace for 2011 season.
stickguy
9/14/2010-11:23pm at 11:23 pm (UTC -4)
I saw the 6 month-2 year stuff, but that was put in terms of back to normal (or something like that).
initial reports seemed to indicate the 6 months was a rehab time. Maybe I just assumed that would include being able to throw, and being ready to go in some form.
hopefully tomorrow the team releases something official. Obviously they can’t (OK< shouldn't) be definitive, but at least clarify what the expected, anticipated range is.
metsfan4decades
9/14/2010-11:17pm at 11:17 pm (UTC -4)
I too believe that mid season next year would be wonderfully optimistic for Johan’s return. Not returning at all next year would not be surprising to me.
Sigh…..
stickguy
9/14/2010-11:27pm at 11:27 pm (UTC -4)
IMO, they should consider Johan out for the year. Not because they really should expect it, but it is much safer that way.
If he is likely to miss 1/2 the year, odds are he will not be himself for some time.
so, assume he does not exist until 2012, and plan that way. If he comes back and gives you anything in 2011, it is a bonus (found money).
maybe this means they go after a 1 year only option SP, but as long as they don’t pencil johan in anywhere, there should be plenty of options.
Not, hopefully, including Mejia. especially after MF reported on the article about his mechanics needing work!
metsfan4decades
9/15/2010-7:40am at 7:40 am (UTC -4)
For anyone that’s interested, this was the article from Joe Janish on Mejia’s mechanics:
http://www.metstoday.com/5128/pitching-mechanics/is-jenrry-mejia-a-good-or-bad-example-of-mets-minor-league-system/
This was only his opinion. And it was about the overall development of pitchers in the minor league levels, using Mejia and his poor mechanics as an example. It’s highly possible the Mets do not agree and have no plans to tinker with them.