In the regular season, the Sand Gnats were 50-22. They needed to win two of three in Savannah to take the SAL crown. They were one strike away from doing so Friday night. Now they will be left to wonder what could have been
Greensboro 7, Savannah 3 (Grass Hoppers win series tied 3-2)
When Savannah took a 2-0 lead in the third inning after an Alonzo Harris RBI double and a subsequent run scoring single by Darrel Ceciliani, things were looking up. Then the bottom fell out. The Grass Hoppers hung a five spot in the fourth and added two more in the fifth, and that was that. All season long the Sand Gants survived on solid pitching and (by Low A standards) defense, while the bats could do just enough to give them an edge. All series long, the pitching and defense faltered and the bats struggled to keep up. Sometimes they did. Last night they did not. Angel Cuan and Adam Kolarek were ineffective, and WIlfredo Tovar’s two errors contributed to two unearned runs. Two wild pitches didn’t help. It was all too much. You can only ask a team to play out of it’s comfort zone for so long. I know it is minor league playoffs and we should put a huge stake in these matter, but something that we as Mets fans expect from the team (like it or not) is for them to make an unforced error when they are in the driver’s seat. At least that is a pervasive feeling since October of 2006. From poor decision making to playing down to the level of competition. I’ve noticed something similar in the minors over that time too. Not with individual prospects, but the teams from level to level have varied between outright poor to very good but unable to seal the deal with things lining up in their favor. We are at the end of Year One of a new regime. It is my hope that a killer instinct and the ability to finish off an opponent will begin seeping in throughout the system in the years to come.
5 comments
Bryan
9/18/2011-3:51pm at 3:51 pm (UTC -4)
Certainly disappointing to come so close and not be able to win a championship, especially with three affiliates in the playoffs and none of them winning. At the same time it was very exciting to follow and gave us minor league baseball all the way to the 17th of September.
It’s hard to disagree with Peter about teams not being able to seal the deal when they have the opportunity, but at the same time you can have hope that it is a new regime and teams are starting to perform better. In the end it’s all about individual prospects that can be major league contributors, but it’s also important and largely overlooked that players experience winning and get a feel for playing in games where the result is meaningful while they develop in the minor leagues, which is something that is starting to happen.
MetsFan4Decades
9/18/2011-4:12pm at 4:12 pm (UTC -4)
One strike away…..I guess that’s why Yogi was quoted as saying ‘It ain’t over ’till it’s over’.
Nice season regardless and I’ll be looking forward to many of these guys progressing through the system next year.
MetsFan4Decades
9/18/2011-9:23pm at 9:23 pm (UTC -4)
So only the big club still playing now.
And taking 2 of 3 from the Braves in late September? It’s the little things now.
If the Braves lose the WC by one game, I’ll look back on this game and just laugh.
Anonymous
9/19/2011-1:00am at 1:00 am (UTC -4)
It appears the Mets responded well to Terry’s criticism. Also, playing a team still in the wild card race helps to lift the team’s effort I tuned in and saw the last out of the game.
From the recap it still appears the Mets defense continues to be at best average and with a contact pitching staff the Mets need superior defense to compete. The defense must be addressed in the off-season.
MetsFan4Decades
9/19/2011-1:57am at 1:57 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, it wasn’t a great defensively played ball game.
On a play that got by Ruben, Pridie in CF ran right past the ball as well. He won’t be playing CF next year, so there is that.
Turner was the other culprit at 2nd and I highly doubt he’s the starting 2nd baseman next year either.
We really need Duda to step up and at least play a mediocre RF next year. ‘Cause his bat and those HRs is just sweet to watch.