Summary: The Mets played a good, crisp game tonight. Mike Pelfrey and Josh Johnson both pitched like aces, with Johnson having to leave after 5 due to a sharp grounder from Beltran striking him in the hand in the bottom of the 5th. Once again, Pelfrey pitched very well at home; the Marlins did not do much against Big Pelf, aside from Mike Stanton’s huge solo HR. Those ridiculously calling for Pelf’s demotion to AAA can give it a well-deserved rest.
Defense was a big factor for the Mets tonight. Willie Harris played an excellent 3rd base, highlighted by a great diving catch to save a run in the top of the 4th. In the next frame, Beltran made a fine catch in right off of a Coghlan liner and doubled Infante off of 2nd.
The Mets took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 4th on another big hit from Justin Turner, a double in the gap scoring Murphy. The Marlins tied it on on a massive Stanton HR to center in the top of the 7th. Pelf left after seven very strong innings, hitting the mid-90s on the gun and appearing confident and in control.
Mike Dunn looked truly impressive when his batting average against stats were shown upon his entrance in the top of the 7th; when he started pitching, he really impressed. Five Ks in six batters faced, although, to be fair, counting Jason Bay as a batter might be unfair.
KRod was his usual cardiac self in the 9th, hitting Buck to start off the inning, then finishing off the Marlins by inducing a Hanley Ramirez groundout.
Mr. Clutch Jason Turner began the ninth with a slow grounder to Hanley, who continued his abysmal year by throwing the ball away, sending Turner to 2nd. After Pridie failed to bunt and the Marlins walked Thole and Reyes, the man most deserving of being an ex-major leaguer, the abominable Hu, grounded out on the first pitch he saw to end the threat.
Mike O’Connor continued the excellent bullpen performance, striking out two in a 1-2-3 10th.
Burke Badenhop began the 10th by walking Beltran. Jason Bay finally contributed to the team offensively, by bunting Beltran over to 2nd; those who hate bunting clearly had a rare moment to enjoy the sacrifice of an out. Murph was then walked to bring Turner to the plate; he hit a sure DP ball to Ramirez who saw a bad hop turn into a DP after all as the errant ball bounced right to Infante at 2nd. Inning over.
After allowing a leadoff single to Stanton and a 2-out hit to Bonifacio, the Marlins were apparently forced to allow pitcher Badenhop to hit. His second career hit was a single up the middle to score the go-ahead run. Hanley then grounded out to end the inning.
The still-perfect Leo Nunez allowed the Mets to nearly equal Badenhop’s feat by giving up a 2-out triple to pinch-hitter Jon Niese. But Jose did as Jose generally does in this type of spot, striking out to end the game.
Another close loss, but still another loss; allowing a pitcher to get the game-winning single does, unfortunately, seem to be the way things go for this team.
The Mets played hard and largely played well, but did just enough to lose. Again.
It’s the Stadium, Stupid: Big Pelf pitched well again, and it seems as though the comments about his catchers might be slightly off the mark. Over his entire career, Pelf has pitched far better in the pitcher-friendly confines of Shea and Citi. 2011 has been no different. Pelf did pitch well in his recent start in Colorado, but his best four other games of the year have been at home, and every time he has been shelled has been on the road; and every time visiting an NL East opponent. Met announcers have made many comments on this, and it seems to speak to the idea often posited that Big Pelf might not be as big mentally as he is physically. He has nine starts, and the four on the road in the division have all been awful; the other five have ranged from decent to excellent. If the team can teach Pelf some visualization which allows him to see Queens in Atlanta, Miami, and Philadelphia, he might indeed become the number two we have always hoped for.
The Bay-Mendoza Line: It’s time to update this tired old tag, and while Mario Mendoza’s impressive offensive ineptitude should indeed be memorialized eternally, let’s add another ex-Pirate and modernize the epithet. While daft observers continue to mention the utterly irrelevant and meaningless coincidence of Jason Bay’s return and the team’s improved recent record, Bay’s offense has indeed been quite offensive. The second most overpaid Met of the Minaya era of error, Bay’s anemic play could soon result in some FMart sightings in left field. Bay did leg out an infield single tonight, but slid weakly into second, with his primary concern being raising his arms to shield his helmeted head from contact. A true Minaya Met.
Thoughts on Wright: As it now becomes known that David Wright has been playing with a stress fracture in his back, it really is time for the Wright-bashing Met “fans” to ask themselves what fandom means. This winter, Wright was the first high-paid veteran who showed up early to camp, eager to play. And in unusual fashion for recent Mets, Wright clearly WANTS to play. How many Mets of recent years would have begged out of the lineup with an injury like this? How many months would some others be out? Despite the losing, despite media bashing, despite questionable efforts around him, despite a clearly apathetic clubhouse in recent years, and despite constant nonsense from empty-headed “fans,” all we see from Wright is effort and desire. He WANTS to play, and is willing to risk further pain to try to help the team win. This is one player who deserves universal respect from all true fans of this woebegone franchise.
Tomorrow’s Game: The weather again looks questionable, but if Mother Nature allows, Jon Niese will take on Ricky Nolasco with the first pitch at 7:10 PM. The Mets again face a tough task, as approaching .500 seems to be allergic to this team. Losing again to the Fish will put the team four games under; there are no must-wins for a team in the Mets’ current situation, but another loss would indeed be very painful.
40 comments
metsfan4decades
5/17/2011-12:14am at 12:14 am (UTC -4)
I’ve been saying it for days: Iggy stinks.
I knew the instant I saw him up in the BP it was over.
At this point, I’d rather Parnell. I want to hear on this post game he’s been sent down. A cardboard cutout would be preferable.
There was absolutely no excuse for what Igarashi did there. None.
Not that we didn’t waste plenty of opportunities though. Should have never even been in extra innings. Just should have never even saw Iggy on the mound.
But good for you, Niese. And nice game for Pelf.
kingman 26
5/17/2011-12:18am at 12:18 am (UTC -4)
I cannot believe I am saying this, but I really see positives.
They don’t have enough talent, but they are playing hard and hustling; they are not giving up like the 2010 Mets.
Bay is abominable, Hu is not a major leaguer, Jose is the King of the Choke, and Iggy indeed sucks, but still, Pelf is coming around, the pen is really good now, the defense was excellent overall, and the team’s depth has improved with the moves Alderson has made.
And finding out that Wright has been playing with this injury has to motivate almost everyone to look in the mirror and increase their efforts.
There’s not a hell of a lot of hope for 2011, but I firmly believe that the culture of contented mediocrity is changing before our eyes.
metsfan4decades
5/17/2011-12:27am at 12:27 am (UTC -4)
The pen minus Iggy is fine.
I never wanted him back up her to begin with so yeah, I’m probably overly critical but he’s not consistent at all and if you can’t trust him, he shouldn’t be out there.
Harris, Hu, Hairston aren’t contributing at all. But we don’t have much choice right now with swaps. Replacements are thin. Buffalo has it’s share of injuries as well as the big club.
Bay, at least, can play defense. But his bat is almost non existent and not getting it done.
I don’t have a problem with Reyes but he often comes up short with runners on base so far this year.
Good to hear that Ike’s ankle is feeling much better and he’ll be back after the 15 day.
Pagan should be back in a week, from what I’m hearing.
Beato is close.
Keeping my fingers crossed 15 days of rest for Wright will be all that’s needed.
metsfan4decades
5/17/2011-12:22am at 12:22 am (UTC -4)
Spot on Kingman, concerning Wright.
Only thing though, maybe if he had the MRI when they suggested he get one some time ago, he could have been well on his way to recovery.
I appreciate the ‘I’m her to play’ attitude from Wright, I really do. But sometimes, you have maybe pay a little more attention to what your body is telling you and think maybe it’s something that needs to be checked out. Almost like he had in the back of his mind if he did get that MRI earlier, it was gonna reveal something that would take him out. Something he didn’t want to hear.
All water under the bridge though. Sounds like he didn’t make it worse by playing so we’ll just have to keep our fingers crossed it heals sooner rather than later.
kingman 26
5/17/2011-12:26am at 12:26 am (UTC -4)
In a perfect world I totally agree MF4D, and I know I feel more extremely on this than some others here, but the team’s attitude the last two years has sickened me. It makes me happy as a Met fan to see one of the highest-paid Mets actually trying to avoid missing games.
I honestly believe a lot of Mets have given less than total effort, have slacked on preparation on every level, and have taken way too much time off.
Knowing the off-field life that Wright has, finding out that he has been strenuously avoiding missing time and playing hurt really makes me admire the hell out of the guy.
How easy would it have been for him to take some time off with all of the moronic crap he receives on talk radio and from idiot “fans” and while the team is in last place?
The guy is the poster child for what today’s athletes SHOULD be.
Mr North Jersey
5/17/2011-12:22am at 12:22 am (UTC -4)
Regarding Pelfrey.
Mike Pelfrey over last 5 Starts including tonight: 32.2/IP 10/ER 2.75/ERA 3/W 1/L 1/ND
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7807
Not bad
kingman 26
5/17/2011-12:27am at 12:27 am (UTC -4)
In his four road starts against NL East teams he has been abominable.
In the other six starts, he is almost an all-star.
kingman 26
5/17/2011-12:28am at 12:28 am (UTC -4)
Oops other five.
Long night.
gategem
5/17/2011-12:22am at 12:22 am (UTC -4)
It’s okay to call Jason Bay a batter. Just don’t call him a hitter.
In the all the years I’ve followed the Mets when they had weak teams there were many games that followed the script of tonight’s loss. The Mets would play hard and play well defensively but in the end would always find a way to lose.
Mr North Jersey
5/17/2011-12:25am at 12:25 am (UTC -4)
Did Collins just say that Bay asked to bunt cause he had been struggling?
metsfan4decades
5/17/2011-12:31am at 12:31 am (UTC -4)
I believe so.
But what are we gonna do? We’re stuck with his contract much like the Phils and that 3 year contract they gave Ibanez. They got 1/2 year production out of that contract. So far, we haven’t even got that.
Mr North Jersey
5/17/2011-12:38am at 12:38 am (UTC -4)
That then bothers me cause to me he passed the buck to the next guy to deliver. This after he said,
““It’s not the first time we’ve lost a key piece of our team, and while not ideal, you just gotta step up and move ahead.””
Way to step up Bay.
-sigh
http://proxy.espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/23014/time-to-find-out-what-bay-is-made-of
metsfan4decades
5/17/2011-12:36am at 12:36 am (UTC -4)
I see Lennon tweeting Hu is gone.
Fine…but why isn’t he taking Igarashi with him?
metsfan4decades
5/17/2011-12:41am at 12:41 am (UTC -4)
Good. Hu is taking Igarashi with him.
Tejada up and Beato activated.
metsfan4decades
5/17/2011-12:42am at 12:42 am (UTC -4)
When Wright is DL’d, Evan will be called up.
So says Carlin on the post game show.
gategem
5/17/2011-12:47am at 12:47 am (UTC -4)
BTW I understand that this year Willie Harris has 4 hits in 10 at bats against left-handed pitching.
metsfan4decades
5/17/2011-12:48am at 12:48 am (UTC -4)
Honestly, I don’t remember Harris having 4 hits total.
I only remember one hit from him this year. You sure those weren’t in ST?
gategem
5/17/2011-12:54am at 12:54 am (UTC -4)
I double checked the splits and indeed he has 4 hits against left-handed pitching this year. Why in the world would you pinch hit with Hu?
metsfan4decades
5/17/2011-12:57am at 12:57 am (UTC -4)
I have absolutely no idea. As much as I think Harris is useless, Hu is even worse so. I could not believe he PH Hu for Harris.
Couldn’t believe he had Bay and Pridie bunting with no outs either.
We should have never been in extra innings. I like TC’s call to arms with the troops but his in game management? Some real questionable decisions there.
Prismo
5/17/2011-1:10am at 1:10 am (UTC -4)
“Collins on Bay bunt: “Jason even looked over to me before he went up there and asked me if I really wanted him to bunt.”"
Wow.
TRS86
5/17/2011-7:24am at 7:24 am (UTC -4)
OK so which is it? Is it that Bay asked to bunt or Collins is an idiot and called for Bay to bunt? Hey the good news is Bay went 1/4 and his average went UP!
TRS86
5/17/2011-7:25am at 7:25 am (UTC -4)
The difference in Bay’s home and away stats are ridiculous.
.273 .351 .455 .806 Home
.178 .288 .244 .533 Away
Seriously? Might think about platooning him home and away.
stickguy
5/17/2011-8:36am at 8:36 am (UTC -4)
Pelf too. Leave them in NY when the team goes on the road
metsfan4decades
5/17/2011-7:50am at 7:50 am (UTC -4)
Regardless of what I thought I heard last night, I’m guessing Bay bunting was not his call.
And I’m really getting tired of seeing that bunt with no outs – unless it’s the pitcher at bat. The odds just do not favor it.
Bay was involved in an earlier play also that likely was the game changer. Had he not got thrown out trying to steal, we get 2 runs that innings instead of 1 – and the game never reaches extras for Igarashi to cough it up.
TRS86
5/17/2011-8:36am at 8:36 am (UTC -4)
I think the steal was a good move. Can’t argue with his baserunning ability as he was 10/10 last year and was 2/2 this year. However, that wet track made him stick like glue on that slide.
kingman 26
5/17/2011-9:00am at 9:00 am (UTC -4)
His slide was chickensh*t weakness. If the concussion isn’t healed, go back on the DL.
I watched the entire game, and as that fool slid into 2nd, he did not focus on avoiding the tag, and focused on covering his head with his arms to avoid any contact to his noggin.
It was pathetic, as has been everything Bay has done for this team on offense.
TRS86
5/17/2011-9:04am at 9:04 am (UTC -4)
Of course we are going to see it differently. I saw a guy that was caught off guard by the fact that he slid and did not slide. Two sides to every story.
kingman 26
5/17/2011-9:22am at 9:22 am (UTC -4)
Not two sides to the fact that his focus was protecting his head.
Seriously, if he feels that way, he shouldn’t be playing.
TRS86
5/17/2011-9:31am at 9:31 am (UTC -4)
Yes after he did not even slide on the slide and saw a player getting ready to crash down on him he tried to protect his head. I am sure he was thinking the hell with this I am going to protect my head screw the team. I am sure it was not an instinct reaction.
Again, we are just going to disagree on this one.
I think Bay has been terrible just like you do however I think he is a guy that is a professional in every way and wants to be out there helping his team. You do not. Best we just leave it at that.
kingman 26
5/17/2011-9:38am at 9:38 am (UTC -4)
I don’t think he was consciously thinking screw the team; I do think that if he is afraid of getting hurt again, we have an even more serious problem than it appears to be with his offense.
TRS86
5/17/2011-9:42am at 9:42 am (UTC -4)
Again, what I (me, not saying it is the only way of seeing it) saw was when Bay slid and did not slide it caught him off guard and instinct took over. It’s kind of hard to explain unless you have been in a similar situation where you are competing and something unexpected happens when normally the same thing has happens 100 % of the time. Not sure if you get where I am coming from at all.
kingman 26
5/17/2011-9:45am at 9:45 am (UTC -4)
I definitely get where you are coming from, and I think we are viewing the same thing slightly differently.
Yes, maybe I was overstating why he slid the way he did; guilty.
TRS86
5/17/2011-9:50am at 9:50 am (UTC -4)
Yeah I think about it as driving a car. Driving down a one lane high way same stretch of road you have always driven down and suddenly a car in front of you is going the wrong way. How you act then would not be a good example of your normal driving ability.
metsfan4decades
5/17/2011-9:57am at 9:57 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, I saw something similar when Reyes ran last night too. I guess all the work they did pre game, whatever crap that is they put down, makes the dirt like clay. So the booth was saying…
TRS86
5/17/2011-9:58am at 9:58 am (UTC -4)
Yeah. That was my thought as well. If not perhaps I would have a different view of Bay’s slide and reaction to the slide.
metsfan4decades
5/17/2011-10:08am at 10:08 am (UTC -4)
It’s almost as if they expected to slide along with the dirt and instead, just game to a halt as they ‘got stuck’ trying to slide in.
Weird. And I think at that point, it was just a gut reaction from Bay. Since he wasn’t down in the slide like normal, he was more upright, he covered his head thinking the player was gonna come down on him. Which is exactly what happened when Reyes slide in, only Hanley did wind up right on top of his head (b/c Reyes slides head first).
stickguy
5/17/2011-8:38am at 8:38 am (UTC -4)
At this point, I think they need to hire someone specifically to make the in game moves. Let Terry do his motivational thing, then have him sit in a luxury box while soemone else runs the in game.
as much as I hate harris, sending Hu up to PH for him was insane.
the team gagged this one up, but I give JC a good share of blame for (as his predeceser often did) putting them in the best position to lose.
TRS86
5/17/2011-9:04am at 9:04 am (UTC -4)
I agree. Batting Hu there was ridiculous. It’s almost like Sandy said, “you gonna use Hu there then I will take care of that problem”
kingman 26
5/17/2011-9:22am at 9:22 am (UTC -4)
I agree 100% with this.
kistics
5/17/2011-10:18am at 10:18 am (UTC -4)
So I was at the game yesterday watching the grounds crew work their magic for 1.5 hours and that stayed till midnight to watch this crap.
I thought the Mets had their chances to really get to JJ, but did not convert. I really thought Bay hit a HR in the 2nd inning, but thick air and mist kept it in the park. Stanton’s HR was just crazy. On a dry day, that HR might have hit the speakers.
And then there’s Bay’s bunt, Hu the pitcher, and Iggy’s nibble…. ugh….