(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) via ESPN.com
The Mets were able to win another series today, as they beat Arizona 3-1 on the back of RA Dickey.
Dickey was pretty awesome today, allowing just one run and pitching into the ninth, and not allowing a hit until the fourth inning of the game. The offense supplied him with three runs, coming on a two-run single from Daniel Murphy, and an RBI single from Josh Thole. In the 9th he would allow a run to score and a man on second, but Tim Byrdak and Frank Francisco were able to shut the door (albeit nearly allowing two homers), and give The Dickster his win.
The one bad part of this game was that Ruben Tejada “strained his oblique” tripping over the bag on a play at first base, and may have to go on the DL. He was having quite the nice game before injuring himself.
Continue reading for some notes.
Dickey was masterful today, as evidenced by A.) that he pitched into the 9th inning, and B.) that I am writing this right now, as this whole recap will probably lack in organization. Dickey kept the ball down in the zone, and baffled the Arizona hitters, other than Gerardo Parra. He got Parra back by picking him off at first with runners on the corners and two out, in what was really the only adversity he faced today. When he was pulled he was very angry, tossing the rosin bag to the ground after being pulled, we still <3 u RA.
Daniel Murphy had a nice day, and although he is being jerked around in the batting order, has managed to produce in each stop, I really like the idea of having him hit behind David.
Ike continues to struggle, but he seemed to lay off a few tough breaking pitches that were out of the zone. Baby steps.
Rubes was really having a nice day before hurting himself, running out a slow roller down the line in his first at-bat, and then realizing how far back the third baseman was and taking advantage of that by bunting on the play he was hurt on. It appears as though the reason he might have came out was that he hit his groin on the bag, and “strained oblique” (UPDATE 2: As SRT pointed out, it is quad, not oblique) may be the operative term for that. Fingers crossed.
Well for those of you that don’t want to stomach the Knicks, comment about the game here. I’m gonna’ steal Connor’s idea with some points of discussion.
- Do you think Torres or Kirk should play in center every day?
- Would you have left RA in to try and finish it?
- Who should replace Rubes if he has to hit the DL? (UPDATE: Valdespin on taxi squad, per David Lennon)
The Mets will be in Philly tomorrow to take on the Phillies. 7 PM for that one, with Jon Niese taking the mound versus the seemingly mortal Roy Halladay.
17 comments
Stickguy
5/6/2012-4:44pm at 4:44 pm (UTC -4)
good game. and I like how the team just keeps showing resiliency. Really think they will hang around this year.
missing tejada though for a long time is going to be interesting if it happens.
as to the questions:
I was supporting bringing Dickey out for the 8th.
For now, Torres can stay in CF with Kirk in the corner. Would really be an issue until Bay comes back (if he ever does!)
For SS? I’ll go with Qunitella. Just don’t see Valdespin as being a good option. The dude (rodriquez?) in AA could be a dark horse. I just don’t want to see Cedeno for a long stretch.
Bryan
5/6/2012-6:16pm at 6:16 pm (UTC -4)
Right now Valdespin is the easy option because he’s on the 40 and the 40 is full, but both Quintanilla or Josh Rodriguez could be solid options. I wouldn’t like Turner for more than a day or two and I agree Cedeno wouldn’t be the best option for anything longer than a week or so.
Stickguy
5/6/2012-8:59pm at 8:59 pm (UTC -4)
there is still some filler on the 40 man. You could spare a guy like Satin most likely if the team needed a player.
gategem
5/7/2012-9:47am at 9:47 am (UTC -4)
I guess they could always send Duda down or just release him.
srt
5/6/2012-4:53pm at 4:53 pm (UTC -4)
Dang…missed this game for a family function this afternoon but got home in time to catch the recap on the post game.
RA – sounded like that knuckle ball was dancing all game. I guess he was mad when he was pulled b/c he couldn’t put them away in the 9th for the complete game? From the recap, I guess he left in the 9th with no outs and a man on after a run came home. At that point, pulling him was probably the right call. One long ball and the game is tied – although our BP lately is certainly capable of giving that up as well.
I heard Howie’s play by play in the 9th right at the point RA was pulled. Love Howie’s game calling – he’s one of the best. My sister and I driving home were holding our breath with that long fly Byrdak gave up and when FF came into the game. On the last batter – ‘long fly ball, deep to RF, Duda going back to the wall’…..and we both groaned. Happily, the ball died there.
Yes, I think Torres should be the starting CF for now. With Duda in RF, and Torres’ above average defense in CF, I think it makes sense. In his limited play so far he’s getting on base so for now, it makes sense.
Recap said Rubes injury was a ‘strained left quad’ and was getting an MRI this afternoon. Terry said he was just as concerned about the eye which was almost immediately swollen shut as the quad. Here’s hoping it’s nothing serious.
If he does hit the DL, I guess Valdespin comes back up? Don’t think Cedeno is close to coming back. Didn’t think Rottino played SS so I guess it’ll be Turner and Valdespin?
Glad they came away with the W and series win today.
srt
5/6/2012-5:07pm at 5:07 pm (UTC -4)
Make that strained right quad……
srt
5/6/2012-5:08pm at 5:08 pm (UTC -4)
Reading this below on Twitter. I guess RA was mad at himself:
Dickey on 9th inning anger, spoiled shutout: “When you walk the leadoff guy, it’s disgusting. I should have been caned. It’s just awful.”
Canned? Nooooo…….
Mr North Jersey
5/6/2012-6:09pm at 6:09 pm (UTC -4)
Mets take 2 out of 3 vs the Dbacks on the back of Dickey’s awesome effort and Murphy’s 2 RBI game. Dickey made a bid for the complete game but couldn’t close the door with a walk and double to start the 9th. Fingers crossed on Tejada’s quad strain not resulting on him going on the dl. He has played well so far in 2012 and it be a shame to lose him for any length of time.
Positives for me has to be Dickey’s performance 8.0/IP, 4/H, 4/BB, 4/K, 1/R, 1/ER and the pen with Byrdak and Francisco coming in and getting the final 3 outs though Francisco needed the whole park for the last one. Still he got it done.
On to Philly & Miami for the next 6 games.
LGM!!!
NJstuckinTX
5/6/2012-8:15pm at 8:15 pm (UTC -4)
Does ‘Spin get consistent starts at SS?
Hazmet
5/6/2012-8:41pm at 8:41 pm (UTC -4)
In other news, just now on ESPN:
Hamels hit Bryce Harper and Hamels gets hit in his AB. hmmm, maybe some more fireworks later?
Stickguy
5/6/2012-9:01pm at 9:01 pm (UTC -4)
best result for the mets is to beat each other up.
srt
5/7/2012-6:57am at 6:57 am (UTC -4)
I turned the game on after Harper got hit. Not that it cost them the game but Harper came around to steal home after being put on base.
I saw Hamels get hit. The ump warned both benches after that so figured nothing else would go on. From what I’m reading:
After the Nats took the first two games of that series:
The Nationals had swagger. Hamels wanted it back.
“I was trying to hit him,” admitted Hamels, who allowed one run over eight innings to improve to 4-1 with a 2.45 ERA. “I’m not going to deny it. I’m not trying to injure the guy. They’re probably not going to like me for it, but I’m not going to say I wasn’t trying to do it. I think they understood the message, and they threw it right back.
*******************************
If you admit to throwing at someone, doesn’t that garner you an automatic fine? Not that Hamels can’t afford it…..
srt
5/7/2012-7:05am at 7:05 am (UTC -4)
Side note:
Werth broke his wrist last night in that game on a catch he tried to make. I didn’t realize it but apparently he broke that same wrist in 2005 with the Dodgers. For whatever reason, it cost him the entire 2006 season.
Stickguy
5/7/2012-7:12am at 7:12 am (UTC -4)
I think he had an issue where it was misdiagnosed, he tried to play and it caused problems, then after a year or something they finally figured out what the problem was? But that was the reason he ended up being cut from the Dodgers system, and the Phils were able to pick him up as a MiL FA type.
trs86
5/7/2012-8:16am at 8:16 am (UTC -4)
He was going to get fined and suspended most likely anyway. Everyone knew it was on purpose.
srt
5/7/2012-8:25am at 8:25 am (UTC -4)
Suspended too? Well, I guess the Phillies really did want to send a message if they were risking that. Or…Hamels could have just denied hitting him deliberately but I guess that kind of defeats the purpose of the deliberate message they wanted to send.
TRS86
5/7/2012-8:26am at 8:26 am (UTC -4)
Yeah but usually for SP it’s no more than just pushing them back a day.