Last night’s Mets win over the Miami Marlins in my opinion was crucial. Yes it is still early in the season, and yes it’s more than likely that the Mets will not be competing for a playoff berth come late September, but still if there was a game that could be seen as a turning point for the season – this was it.
First off we found out early in the day that both Jason Bay and Mike Pelfrey were heading to the disabled list. Yes Bay has not been setting the world on fire this season, but Pelfrey for the past two games has been providing quality starts ( with a lack of run support). It is quite possible that Bay could be out for more than the minimum 15 day disabled list, and it seems that it is more than possible that Pelfrey may require season ending shoulder surgery due to what is said to be a tear in is U.C.L.
But did the team take this news and simply close up shop ? No – if anything I believe the pre-game events may have spurred and reinforced the ”us against the world” mentality that exudes from this clubhouse. Johan Santana – almost 2 years removed from one of the hardest shoulder surgeries to rehab from looked like his former M.V.P self. He limited the Marlins to 1 run on 3 hits while dueling Marlins ace, Josh Johnson. With the Mets down 1-0 late in the game this team could have just packed it in for the night ( something they did regularly during the Manuel regime).
I give Mets manager Terry Collins the bulk of the credit here. He has instilled a never say die mentality, and is not afraid to confront players that seem to be mailing it in.
The question remains if the Mets can overcome the possible long term loss of Pelfrey. Their pitching depth in the minors is thin ( don’t expect to see Harvey or Famillia up in the near future) and I am sure that Miguel Batista is not the every fifth day answer. But hey you never know what can happen unless your backs are against the wall – sometimes AMAZIN can happen !
And with that said… HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!
Mets alumni celebrating a birthday today includes:
Reliever from the ’69 season, Bob Johnson is 69 (1943). He appeared in two games for the Mets that season, earning one save and not allowing a run.
Reserve outfielder from the ’98 season, Tony Phillips is 53 (1959).
Spot starter/middle reliever from ’89-’91, Blaine Beatty is 48 (1964).
Mets middle reliever from the ’98 season, Brad Clontz is 41 (1971). Brad appeared in 2 games for the Mets, and incurred a E.R.A of 9.00 .
Mo Vaughn was at last nights game. He said that he was indifferent to Jose Reyes’s return to Citi Field last night. He was too busy eating the nachos grande !!!
26 comments
darknova306
4/25/2012-6:55am at 6:55 am (UTC -4)
Talk about over-dramatizing things. This was a pitching duel that the Mets were going to lose because of a sputtering offense until the Marlins bullpen came in and couldn’t find the strikezone. Taking ball four isn’t exactly an “us against the world” mentality. Can a come from behind win just be called a win, instead of being dramatized into something bigger than it is?
How about putting a ticker on the side of this site showing the number of times a Mets related blog post says the phrase ‘turning point’ this year?
And as much as I hate Mike Pelfrey, his 200 mediocre innings will be hard to replace with the dregs the Mets have on their depth chart. They damn well better resist the urge to bring up one of the big prospects until they actually look ready. (And yes I understand Pelfrey has had some good starts early in the year, but we all know better than that)
rustyjr
4/25/2012-7:03am at 7:03 am (UTC -4)
Tell me how you really feel lol
srt
4/25/2012-7:31am at 7:31 am (UTC -4)
That game could have really went either way.
The play at home with Murphy was very, very close. We could have got that call.
The play at home they scored on – taking the chance there – should have been an out at home plate but as you pointed out, defense let us down on that one.
If we’re being honest, it was a classic pitcher’s duel between both starters, who both showed last night why they’re considered an ace.
In came the BP and ours was just better last night. It takes patient hitters and a good eye to take ball 4 from 4 different BP arms. If they’re not going to give you a pitch to hit, take the walk. Gutsy move by TC to PH Turner for Ike but you can understand the mindset there.
Offense on both sides last night were virtually non existent but the battle of the pitchers from both ends goes to the Mets, as does the win.
Prismo
4/25/2012-7:57am at 7:57 am (UTC -4)
I think this win is where the Mets begin their road to the World Series.
NJstuckinTX
4/25/2012-9:33am at 9:33 am (UTC -4)
I believe this road ends somewhere in 2016 or 2017.
Mr North Jersey
4/25/2012-1:38pm at 1:38 pm (UTC -4)
hahahahahaha
Stickguy
4/25/2012-7:36am at 7:36 am (UTC -4)
Rusty, you say up above the Pelf has a shoulder injury. It is actually an Elbow. I think you Johan fixation was coming through!
last night? An ugly win is better than a pretty loss!
rustyjr
4/25/2012-7:39am at 7:39 am (UTC -4)
Tired so sue me lol
srt
4/25/2012-7:42am at 7:42 am (UTC -4)
The only exception I take here Rusty is:
‘…..is not afraid to confront players that seem to be mailing it in’
Terry is apparently all about the team and the W first, for the most part.
We’ve seen him pull his closer in the 9th when he wasn’t shutting the door and the game was on the line.
We’ve seen him PH for Ike last night when he thought the better match up would be a RH hitter, especially considering Ike’s struggles thus far.
I don’t see any evidence right now of players – or the team as a whole – mailing it in. I do however, see struggling up and down that line-up, particularly what was the middle of the order for much of the first few weeks so far. I’m willing to bet it’s not b/c these guys are not concentrating or trying.
- Bay looks done unfortunately.
- Duda isn’t hitting much but is taking walks.
- Ike is just lost so far – don’t know what his problem is.
- Nickeas can’t hit, period.
- Wright is now in a slump for several days.
We were not predicted to finish any higher than a .500 type ball club. As much as Pelfrey has struggled, he’s looked good so far this season. We just don’t have the immediate quality depth to take his place.
We’ll be lucky to finish .500. It’s a long season though and I’ll just be enjoying how this all plays out.
rustyjr
4/25/2012-9:30am at 9:30 am (UTC -4)
Poor choice of words on my part
srt
4/25/2012-10:20am at 10:20 am (UTC -4)
Not a poor choice, especially if that’s your opinion. Wasn’t criticizing really, just giving my opinion.
I can see how some would go down the ‘mailing it in’ road. We’ve certainly seen much of this in the past few seasons. I was just commenting that so far this year, IMO it’s not what I’m seeing.
kingman 26
4/25/2012-10:03am at 10:03 am (UTC -4)
Geez, Ed is taking a beating here!
I agree that was a good win, regardless of how it happened. They climbed back above .500, and I totally agree that this team is the antithesis of the Manuel Country Club and the Minaya Reign of Error.
After Friday’s horrific loss, they came back and won Saturday. After getting swept and looking atrocious Monday they came back and won yesterday. Yeah, the Marlins’ pen was comical, but hey, the Met batters had good eyes. And Johan came back from a horrid start to pitch wonderfully.
Turning point? Huge game? Maybe, maybe not.
But it was a great win, and I think that we have to take satisfaction where we can with the 2012 Mets, as we watch player after player start going down once again.
9-8 after 17 games, all with the division plus the Giants? We’ve had a tough schedule and we have faced good to excellent starting pitching almost every damn day.
I still think they may finish last, and Davey’s Nats may be a year ahead of schedule, but I am happy thus far.
srt
4/25/2012-10:22am at 10:22 am (UTC -4)
My money is on the Phillies finishing last.
What….too soon?
kingman 26
4/25/2012-10:45am at 10:45 am (UTC -4)
Nah. They will go out and get a pitcher or two.
But the day when you and Stick are finally right may be approaching!
All in all, I still think we finish last. Pelf’s gone, and his detractors will soon miss him if we see Batista or Schwinden starting.
Still think we can go 81-81 and finish last.
NJstuckinTX
4/25/2012-10:55am at 10:55 am (UTC -4)
TRS said it over on the “other” web site, but this could have been the last start ever in a Mets uni for Pelf.
kingman 26
4/25/2012-11:42am at 11:42 am (UTC -4)
Could be, depending on what the rest of the year brings starter-wise at the MLB and AAA and AA levels.
But Pelf’s been here a while, and they might try to negotiate a performance-based deal if he recovers nicely.
NJstuckinTX
4/25/2012-11:52am at 11:52 am (UTC -4)
Possible. They certainly aren’t going to pick up his last year of Arb when there is doubt he’d be ready for next season.
trs86
4/25/2012-11:15am at 11:15 am (UTC -4)
Kingman, I am not sure they have the money to go out and get anything. That is why they had to bargain bin shop for LF and have no real replacements for Utley, Howard and Placebo.
kingman 26
4/25/2012-11:40am at 11:40 am (UTC -4)
Maybe, but you never know. Surely ownership has enjoyed the last five years, which were almost certainly the most profitable years in Phillie history. With the clear writing on the wall regarding the Nats’ improvements, the Braves’ staying power, and the Marlins’ new blood, Phillie ownership might dig deep in couch cushions and find 5–10 million bucks.
Cannot imagine they are going to stand pat if their offense continues like this.
Stick
4/25/2012-12:25pm at 12:25 pm (UTC -4)
they will find some money if desperate, but I would not expect it to be a huge amount.
They aren’t going to be looking for SP though.
trs86
4/25/2012-10:22am at 10:22 am (UTC -4)
I am waiting on the Nats before I decide. Their starting pitching is VERY good BUT it can’t really be as good as it has pitched. The ERA is 2.21 as a staff and 1.72 as a starting rotation with a .182 .232 .255 .487 slash line.
Granted that rotation has the potential to be good all year but there is no way in hell it’s gonna be THAT good.
They also have Ryan Zimmerman maybe going down for the year again.
kingman 26
4/25/2012-10:48am at 10:48 am (UTC -4)
No, they cannot maintain this level, but Strasburg and Gio probably can be as good as any 1-2 in the game, and there’s a hell of a lot of talent there.
Davey is without a doubt my all-time favorite manager, and one of my favorite Mets overall. Obviously I want the Mets to win, but I don’t care for the Phils, Braves or Marlins too much, and if the Mets are not winning, then I am most definitely strongly rooting for the Nats.
Stick
4/25/2012-12:24pm at 12:24 pm (UTC -4)
I am with you. If the Mets aren’t winning the division, the Nats are my easy 2nd choice.
Followed by a meteor strike wiping out the world so no one wins.
srt
4/25/2012-11:54am at 11:54 am (UTC -4)
I see they brought up Bryce Harper too.
It’ll be interesting to watch this team going forward.
Prismo
4/25/2012-2:13pm at 2:13 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t think they called Harper up?
I believe he has a few more weeks before they get that extra year of him. I figured they were waiting for that.
Prismo
4/25/2012-2:20pm at 2:20 pm (UTC -4)
The Nationals are winning a lot of very close, 1-run games. Their offense is rightly atrocious and their pitching is stronger than reality and logic suggest.
I expect their bats to be cool all season, and the pitching to be good, but not THIS good. Even if you give the starting pitching a huge year – let’s up the staff ERA to 3.00 (Phillies led MLB last season with a 3.02 staff ERA)…that’s almost an extra run given up per game. Where would sit with all those 1-run victories then?
I think the Nats will compete this season and have a real good shot at the playoffs, but I think they’re far from a 95 win team with that offense. Yeah the Phillies pitching was sick last season, but they also scored 89 more runs than the Nationals.