(AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
The Mets fell to St Louis by a score of 5-4 today, failing to sweep them in New York for the first time ever.
This game would be filed under the good pitching performance folder, with every other game of this series, as Dillon Gee pitched 7 innings of 3 run (two earned) ball, while striking out eight and walking just two batters. He really used his two-seam fastball to set up his other pitches today, throwing it 40% of the time (according to MLB.com pitch f/x). Gee was able to work out of a tough spot he created for himself in the seventh, with Terry trusting him to work out of a tough spot.
The Mets were able to score four runs on six hits today, as Lucas Duda was able to continue his torrid power streak that he has been on for the last week or so. The home run he hit ended up in the Pepsi Porch in right field, finishing a few rows deep. In the bottom of the 7th Scott Hairston hit a pinch-hit two run home run to draw the Mets even with St Louis at 3. Andres Torres would hit a sac-fly in the 8th to pull the Mets to within one run.
The one thing that we forgot about during that three game stretch of delirium was that our bullpen is really horrendous. Jon Rauch came in and would surrender a two-run homer to Allen Craig, giving St Louis a 5-3 lead, on a high fastball that wasn’t even a particularly bad pitch.
Here are some notes from today’s game.
I love Carlos Beltran, I love his stance, his swing, how he fields, and how he carries himself. He is probably my favorite player ever and can’t fathom why any Mets fan doesn’t worship him for putting this team back on the map in 2005.
Scott Hairston has really become someone that I trust in big spots, and with Baxter now out for a significant period of time Hairston will need to step up and take on big pinch-hit opportunities such as that one today.
Dillon Gee just continues to pitch well, and get screwed over in some fashion. Today he was able to work his way out of a real tough spot there in the 7th, showing composure to be able to work through multiple types of hitters and only surrender two runs.
On the sac-fly that Andres Torres hit in the 8th inning, if he had taken a full swing instead of the half one that he took, it would have most likely been a three-run homer. Torres really hasn’t been all that bad at the plate this year, although that batting average could come up a few points.
I love that Duda has a set way that he approaches hitting, follows it, and is now getting results. I really like what I am seeing from El Dude and hope that he can keep it up moving forwards.
Here are some discussion points.
- With Jon Rauch struggling again, at what point do you turn to the young guns like Egbert and Ramirez?
- With Wright about to pass Reyes for the Mets run record, where do you think they rank among Mets all time?
- What do you expect from the team in Washington and in the Bronx this upcoming week?
- What kind of “intermediate” trades would you expect the team to make? What would you do if you were Sandy? Where’s the balance between short term and long term?
The Mets will continue play tomorrow in Washington at 7, with Chris Young making his season debut. Also keep checking back in to the site for a Draft Preview written by yours truly.
21 comments
Stick
6/4/2012-3:51pm at 3:51 pm (UTC -4)
this was quick!
frustrating game. Damned Rauch. Really getting tired of him. Need to demote him to early or mop-up duty, and see what someone else can bring to the table. Free Elvin! Fre Egbert!
coming up, I expect them to be competitive. But, .500 (3-3) is very reasonable. Really, if they can play .500 the rest of the way through the tough part of the schedule (what, another 21 or so games)? that would be great.
and they should try to get some more BP help. And a 1B that can hit to replace Ike, so send him down.
but your “intermediate” moves? Already known.
Bay
Tejada
Young.
and other RH bat, a better SS (though Omar has been pretty darned OK), and a SP upgrade, freeing up someone to help in long relief.
SaltyGary
6/4/2012-3:56pm at 3:56 pm (UTC -4)
Ken Rosenthal (not that I listen much to him) via MLB Trade Rumors, threw out the name “Brett Myers” he has a 10m option for 50 games finished and has finished 19 so far. If he is used as a setup man the option would never kick in. Probably take something to get him, he is having a very effective season but he can sure help right now.
Trades are probably going to be hard to come by this year. More teams will be in it so the bidding wars on a guy like Myers may get out of control quick.
Prismo
6/4/2012-4:05pm at 4:05 pm (UTC -4)
Brett Myers can go **** himself. No wifebeaters on my team please.
Stick
6/4/2012-4:48pm at 4:48 pm (UTC -4)
I will take the counter point to Pris. If he can help the team, and has “paid his debt to bud selig” (or whatever passes for MLB society) then he can join the Mets.
SaltyGary
6/4/2012-6:03pm at 6:03 pm (UTC -4)
He has a sub 2.0 ERA. Completely forgot about the wife incident. I get the character issue, but maybe hes done counseling. who knows I just want BP help.
srt
6/4/2012-3:52pm at 3:52 pm (UTC -4)
Little better defense and a little less Jon Rauch and this game might have ended in a Win.
– With Jon Rauch struggling again, at what point do you turn to the young guns like Egbert and Ramirez?
Today
- With Wright about to pass Reyes for the Mets run record, where do you think they rank among Mets all time?
If I’m not mistaken, Wright has passed, right?
– What do you expect from the team in Washington and in the Bronx this upcoming week?
Nats are going to be tough, even missing Strasburg. Plus we’re throwing Young and Hefner.
What kind of “intermediate” trades would you expect the team to make? What would you do if you were Sandy? Where’s the balance between short term and long term?
Too early right now for me to be thinking about this. We might be buried in last place by mid July or could be 5 games in first. It’s anyone’s guess right now.
But for the love of all baseball gods, Fix The Bullpen.
Mr North Jersey
6/4/2012-4:19pm at 4:19 pm (UTC -4)
“Little better defense and a little less Jon Rauch and this game might have ended in a Win.”
This.
Gee pitched well even though he hurt his own cause with that bouncer he threw to 2nd in his last inning. Rauch on the other hand just stunk it up AGAIN.
Very inconsistent over his last 15 appearances. H e will give you 2 good appearances and 1 bad one. The 1 thing that has been consistent is hitters have hit well against him. Over the last month coming into today he has posted a .353/BAA. Yes the walks are down but .353/BAA is not gonna cut it for your 8th inning guy.
As far as the game goes we fought back. Hairston who pinch hit for a struggling Davis with a huge HR and continues to fill in nicely in Jason Bay’s absence. Lucas Duda with another HR as well. Atta boy.
Positives for me is Gee continuing the streak of good pitching by Met starters.
LGM!
srt
6/4/2012-5:14pm at 5:14 pm (UTC -4)
I believe Rauch has more losses than any of the SP do.
He’s just not getting it done.
srt
6/4/2012-4:00pm at 4:00 pm (UTC -4)
Oh, according to TC, Rauch has some ‘tenderness’ in his arm. They’re going to have it looked at.
This is one guy I won’t mind hitting the DL.
srt
6/4/2012-4:07pm at 4:07 pm (UTC -4)
Also, Bay is sick so he will not be activated tomorrow.
Rotation upcoming:
Tue: Young
Wed: Hefner
Thr: Dickey
Fri: Johan
Sat: Gee
Sun: Niese
For whatever reason, they’re flip flopping Gee and Niese right now. Breaking up the lefties.
Prismo
6/4/2012-4:17pm at 4:17 pm (UTC -4)
Wow so Johan get two extra days rest for throwing 20 extra pitches. Seems excessive. Oh well.
Stick
6/4/2012-4:50pm at 4:50 pm (UTC -4)
well, it also lines him up for the yankees not the Nats, so don’t discount that factor.
srt
6/4/2012-7:40pm at 7:40 pm (UTC -4)
Here was Terry’s reasoning:
They were not allowing Johan to pitch on regular’s day rest. They wanted to give him at least an extra day.
RA said he could have pitched on Wed, allowing Johan to pitch on Thursday. Problem was Terry couldn’t find anyone else but RA who thought it was a good idea for him to pitch on short rest.
Terry did not want to pitch Johan on Thrs and Dickey on Fri, therefore – again – altering Dickey’s routine for getting ready to pitch on normal rest. Not with a guy who has a 8-1 record.
Johan didn’t want to disrupt RA’s schedule either. He said he was fine with the 2 days extra rest and going on Friday. He said this year, with the off days, etc., he has felt better with the extra rest. As long as they didn’t skip over his start completely, Friday was fine with him.
Paul Festa
6/4/2012-6:08pm at 6:08 pm (UTC -4)
Rauch started the season with 11 straight scoreless appearances, so it would be reasonable to assume he’s been pitching hurt lately.
Stickguy
6/4/2012-6:20pm at 6:20 pm (UTC -4)
If so, hit the DL and let someone else have a shot.
Prismo
6/4/2012-4:02pm at 4:02 pm (UTC -4)
I expect 2 out of 3 in Washington. We’re missing both Strasburg and Gio, no excuse not to win 2 of 3, especially with their floundering of late.
Today’s game was rough – very difficult to come back THREE times from deficits. Really, it was the defense in that one inning that cost us the game. Obviously Rauch screwed up, but when you never have the lead in a game, I tend to blame the offense too.
kingman 26
6/4/2012-6:07pm at 6:07 pm (UTC -4)
Geez, did not realize we were missing Stras AND Gio–that is excellent!
Hey, 3 of 4 against the Cards, and as you point out we came back twice to tie it up. All in all, a great series, and a magnificent start to the 22-game death march.
gategem
6/4/2012-9:36pm at 9:36 pm (UTC -4)
I have no idea what to expect out of Young while unfortunately I do out of Hefner. Obviously their best chance of beating the Nats will be on Thursday. I would not be shocked if they lost two out of three nor do I think it will put a damper on this season.
gategem
6/4/2012-5:04pm at 5:04 pm (UTC -4)
Three out of four is great but now the fun starts. I expect the team to go 3-6 against Washington, Yankees and Tampa Bay.
Stickguy
6/4/2012-6:22pm at 6:22 pm (UTC -4)
I will say 4-5 or 5-4.
I think they can do 2-3 from the Nats.
so that means 2-4 or 3-3 Vs. the other 2 teams, which is doable.
darknova306
6/4/2012-8:39pm at 8:39 pm (UTC -4)
Mets bullpen strikes again! This game kinda felt like some of the ’06 NLCS games with how quickly things kept going back and forth, with one team scoring and the other coming right back.