Home plate ump Larry Vanover did Jason Bay no favors on Wednesday.
The second series of the year is history, and it wasn’t nearly as encouraging as the first. The Washington Nationals took 2 of 3 from the Mets at Citi Field, and David Wright missed the last two games of the series with a broken pinky finger.
So, what did we learn from this series?
Hitting
Is the expression this time of year, “Pitchers are ahead of hitters,” or “hitters are ahead of pitchers?” Well, it certainly seemed the Nationals pitchers were ahead of Mets batters. On Monday, the Mets scored 4 runs, the last of which scored on a walk-off single by Daniel Murphy.
Then, with Wright out of the lineup, they scraped up 2 runs late in game 2, after they were already down 6-0.
We learned this lineup certainly misses Wright, especially when Ike Davis, Lucas Duda, and Jason Bay are all hitting like the illegitimate children of Mario Mendoza and the Queen of England (I assume she’s not a good hitter). No return date has been set for David, and when he does return, who knows if he will still be able to comfortably grip a bat, or hit the way he did before he went down.
In addition, as many expected, the likes of Justin Turner, Ronny Cedeno, and Scott Hairston have provided no depth as of yet.
Pitching
We learned the Mets pitchers continued to hold up their end of the bargain. Even Mike Pelfrey grinded his way through an 8 strikeout performance on Monday, en route to the team’s only win of the series. Johan Santana was outstanding once again on Wednesday, pitching 5+ innings striking out 8, and allowing only one run (on his wild pitch).
Defense
The defense lived up to its dubious reputation during the series, committing 2 errors officially, but looking shaky in general. In particular, the known weak spots – catcher, second base, and right field, showed their blemishes.
Daniel Murphy made an outstanding diving play to save a run in the top of the 9th on Monday, before he drove in the winning run in the bottom of the inning. However, he committed an error, and failed to turn a couple of double plays during the rest of the series.
Lucas Duda misplayed a fly ball on Tuesday that cost Dillon Gee a run, and kept him from getting out of the inning.
Josh Thole committed his first passed ball of the year on Wednesday, and looked as if he was using mattress for a catcher’s mitt all game long.
Looking ahead
The Mets get a day off on Thursday, then head to Philadelphia to face the depleted lineup of the Phillies. But the struggling Mets lineup will have to face Cliff Lee, Vance Worley, and Cole Hamels – a difficult task, especially for the left handed-heavy lineup against Lee and Hamels. They may opt to sub in some right handed batters, as they did against Ross Detwiler on Tuesday, but we’ve learned that’s no bargain either. We’ll see what the Mets have learned heading into that series.
23 comments
kingman 26
4/11/2012-7:19pm at 7:19 pm (UTC -4)
Well, some of us realized that this team would be seriously offensively challenged without Jose and Beltran and that it is a bit early to pencil in Ike and Duda for 30/100 each.
Injuries could demolish this team with its lack of depth.
Still, I expect the Nats to be very good, and we are 4-2. Not a bad start, all things considered.
gategem
4/11/2012-7:38pm at 7:38 pm (UTC -4)
Winning 4 out of 6 is a very good way to start the season. Losing two out of three to a superior ballclub is nothing to be embarrassed about. However, Paul,as you pointed out the weak spots did and will continue to bite this team on its rear. Additionally the team lacks speed and quickness that not only handicaps it defensively but offensively as well. In a tight pitchers dual this club lacks the capability to manufacturer a run like for example the Cardinals used to back in the mid 1980’s that would drive us Mets fans to distraction. The bullpen showed its weakness today after a series of solid performances. While this team is actually a long way from being a legitimate contender I am more optimistic about this club then I was back in ST.
srt
4/11/2012-8:15pm at 8:15 pm (UTC -4)
Not a bad start, all things considered.
Lineup misses DWright. Defense is not going to be fun to watch at times.
Interesting use of the BP by TC. First time I can remember a manager mostly going 2 innings with his BP arms.
What I learned?
Larry Vanover needs to find a new line of work. That was just brutal today.
gategem
4/11/2012-9:28pm at 9:28 pm (UTC -4)
I can imagine Bay asking Vanover how he manages to keep his job and Vanover asking Bay the same question.
Paul Festa
4/11/2012-9:38pm at 9:38 pm (UTC -4)
Hahaha!
srt
4/11/2012-10:29pm at 10:29 pm (UTC -4)
Oh, zing. LOL.
Honestly though, Bay would have had to step across the plate to hit at least one of those balls he called a strike. Was like 6 inches outside.
Can’t blame him for mouthing off to the ump.
Hopefully, this link below works. This is a graph of that 4 pitch at bat to Bay. Just a sample of how bad this ump was today.
http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfxVB/numlocation.php?pitchSel=544931&game=gid_2012_04_11_wasmlb_nynmlb_1/&batterX=50&innings=yyyyyyyyy&sp_type=1&s_type=3
Stickguy
4/11/2012-8:52pm at 8:52 pm (UTC -4)
we learned that they really aren’t going 162-0?
gategem
4/11/2012-9:25pm at 9:25 pm (UTC -4)
The question mark me think that perhaps you believe they can still go 162-0.
NJstuckinTX
4/11/2012-10:08pm at 10:08 pm (UTC -4)
Johan looks good, reduced velocity and all. The rose colored glasses of 4-0 had me confused for a bit. The realization of just how little margin of error the SPs are going to have to work with is scary.
The D is just putrid. I knew Murphy would be not so good. His batting better keep pace with his anti-D.
Love love love the lack of black in the uniforms. Just had to say that.
And Gee needs a shave.
NJstuckinTX
4/11/2012-11:13pm at 11:13 pm (UTC -4)
rewatching the game… Ike looks lost, no compass…
darknova306
4/12/2012-4:17am at 4:17 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, and he’s looked pretty much like that since day one. I expected him to have some rust after the long amount of time off, and maybe some league adjustments, but he looks really bad. There’s no reason for anyone to throw him a fastball until he forces them to.
Looks like, through the first six games, Kingman was right about the rotation being the only strength of the team. Not that I’d label a five inning start by the ace of the staff as ‘tremendous’ or anything, but even Poof managed to keep the team in the game while he was out there.
TRS86
4/12/2012-8:55am at 8:55 am (UTC -4)
its too early to say this offense wont score. Wright is out Duda struggling and Ike is lost. I dont expect that to contine.
kingman 26
4/12/2012-9:28am at 9:28 am (UTC -4)
The offense is going to be mediocre at best.
Folks were acting this offseason like Duda is already a seasoned slugger. Ike’s 2010 was pretty good; not great or all star or even close. He Ks much too often, and perhaps it is the long layoff, or perhaps the league knows him already. But he’s got to stop the whining at umps or he will never get a call.
Jose and Beltran were all-stars and great offensive players when healthy. They have not been replaced.
In addition, as Tuesday night showed, without Wright and Ike (and Beltran and Reyes) this offense is really an AAAA offense.
Hairston, Cedeno, and Nickeas? Yeah, I know Cedeno got hits, but really, that’s five black holes in the lineup with Bay.
But, not everyone pitches like the Nats, so IF the starters keep it up, and Niese has a really good year, I do think they can fight for .500.
Prismo
4/12/2012-11:09am at 11:09 am (UTC -4)
Why do you hate Ike kingman? Is it because he’s Jewish?
kingman 26
4/12/2012-11:18am at 11:18 am (UTC -4)
Well, I am not sure if that is a serious question considering the frown face, but with what you know of my attitude and politics, could that be true?
I also might add that I am Jewish, although not very seriously practicing.
I actually would probably root a little MORE for Ike because he is, as Rusty would say, a member of the Tribe.
I just think fans overrate Ike, and I really think he needs to lay off the whining at umps. He’s not Pujols or Wright or an established star, and he’s going to get squeezed by umps more and more unless he lays off of doing that.
On the other hand, he has had a very long layoff for a young player, and who knows how much the Valley Fever and lingering effects of last year’s injury could be hindering him.
Prismo
4/12/2012-12:17pm at 12:17 pm (UTC -4)
It was not serious!
But I do wish you’d give him a bit more of a break…he’s just a young frustrated player.
kingman 26
4/12/2012-12:29pm at 12:29 pm (UTC -4)
Ouch! I didn’t think so, but the frown face was confusing!
And you are totally correct.
I guess with Ike and Duda it is more the fans who perplex me with statements about them each hitting 30-40 HR, etc.
I want Ike to succeed. But I do stand by the idea that he really needs to take striking out a little more gracefully, or the umps are going to be really tough on him.
Prismo
4/12/2012-2:22pm at 2:22 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah totally in agreement that it’s silly to make predictions for any of these young players.
We really have no idea what any of them will do, even after 1 year of playing (look at Heyward).
gategem
4/12/2012-7:13pm at 7:13 pm (UTC -4)
As usual you are correct in your assessment. I would like to add what I mentioned previously and that is the lack of overall speed on this ballclub. I am a huge proponent of speed and quickness. To some extent you can offset the lack of speed and quickness on defense and offense by strong baseball instincts and experience, neither of which the Mets posses. It’s extremely difficult to overcome a lack of speed and quickness.
darknova306
4/12/2012-3:19pm at 3:19 pm (UTC -4)
To be fair, I said that during the first six games the starting pitching was the only strength. I wasn’t projecting that out for the full season.
Prismo
4/12/2012-11:10am at 11:10 am (UTC -4)
I think it showed that we NEED Wright in the offense. He’s the ONLY veteran in the lineup you can count on, and that’s kind of terrifying. But I think he makes the whole lineup a lot better.
Mr North Jersey
4/12/2012-12:29pm at 12:29 pm (UTC -4)
Off Topic: I saw that MLB did a article on Tejada and how he feels no pressure following Reyes.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120412&content_id=28495866&vkey=news_nym&c_id=nym&partnerId=rss_nym
Anyways prefacing this with the disclaimer of “Yes, It is only 6 games” here is where Reyes & Tejada stand side by side so far in 2012.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/share.cgi?id=v5pWT
srt
4/12/2012-1:43pm at 1:43 pm (UTC -4)
I think some Met fans forget just how young Tejeada is – and how young he was when he first made an appearance.
He’s a totally different player than Reyes was. More focused, less dynamic, not as fast, but his defense should not leave us missing Reyes in that record.
I too know it’s only been 6 games into the season but so far, looks like he’s locked in, especially now knowing he’s the starting SS with Reyes gone.