Bad defense and a lack of timely hitting doomed the Mets to a 5-4 walk-off loss to the Yankees (BoxScore). The Yankees completed their 3-game sweep of the punchless Mets in the Bronx. The Mets have now lost 6 of their last 7, and are now looking more like the last-place team everyone thought they would be.
The Mets jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second, on an RBI single by Vinny Rottino and a 2-run double by Jordany Valdespin.
In the seventh, Andruw Jones reached on a throwing error by David Wright with 2 outs. Russell Martin made him pay with a “home run” that bounced off the top of the right field fence, and into the hands of a fan who reached out over the field. No word if his name was “Maier.” It was a Cheap Yankee Stadium Home Run (TM). Don’t ya know.
There are a lot of similarities between Andy Pettitte and Jon Niese. They’re each left-handers who throw a fastball, cutter, curveball, and changeup, and they both have prodigious noses. Today, they pitched similar games.
Pettitte had one bad inning, the second, in which he allowed 3 runs, 2 earned, and struggled with his control. But he cruised the rest of the way, baffling the Mets with his curveball, until he was lifted after 6 innings.
Niese had one bad inning, the seventh, thanks mostly to Wright’s error, and Yankee Stadium’s little league dimensions. The 2 runs were unearned. Niese struck out 6 and walked 1 in 7 strong innings of work.
With the Mets holding a 1-run lead after seven innings, the game came down the the bullpens.
Bobby Parnell came in to pitch the eighth, and got Derek Jeter to tap weakly to short – a ball that promptly went right through Omar Quintanilla, allowing Jeter to go to second. Three soft hits later, and the Yankees had tied the game. Then Alex Rodriguez hit what would have been a routine popup to shallow right field, but since the infield was playing in, the ball dropped beyond the reach of Jordany Valdespin. Not to make excuses for Parnell, but he didn’t give up a hard hit all inning, and pitched into some bad luck.
Tim Byrdak and Jon Rauch got the Mets out of the eighth without further damage.
Lucas Duda led off the top of the ninth with a screaming double over the head of Curtis Granderson off of Rafael Soriano (BS, 1). Ike Davis followed with a clutch RBI double to right-center field to tie the game at 4. Omar Quintanilla showed bunt on the first two pitches that he saw, but then swung away and grounded to short. Jayson Nix wheeled and threw to third and gunned down Ike Davis. Should Davis have run? The by-the-book rule is to run if the ball is hit at you or to your left. To me, it looked like the ball was hit at Davis. I don’t necessarily fault him for going, but Nix executed his throw perfectly. Have to give credit where credit is due.
The next batter, Daniel Murphy singled to right, sending Quintanilla to third, but Boone Logan (W, 1-0) came in to strikeout Josh Thole, then got Kirk Nieuwenhuis to ground out to second.
The Mets left the bases loaded in the second, and men on first and third in the ninth. Two situations where they absolutely had to add on but couldn’t – and they would regret it.
Leading off the bottom of the ninth, Jon Rauch (3-6) threw one too many sliders to Martin, who hit another “home run” on a 3-2 pitch.
The Mets continue their slog through the American League East as they begin a 3-game set against the Rays in Tampa on Tuesday at 7:10 PM EDT.
39 comments
Stick
6/10/2012-4:45pm at 4:45 pm (UTC -4)
this park really is silly.
but still, the mets played there too.
and I really have had enough of Rauch. Good to know that Parnell basically did his job again and was victimized by the D, as opposed to getting hit (well, I guess last night they hit one good, but what the hell, they were losing anyway).
but man, we know the pen is shaky, but they just can’t keep giving teams wins by not making routine plays.
gategem
6/11/2012-4:28pm at 4:28 pm (UTC -4)
I’ve been to that park a few times and outside of the playing field dimensions it is magnificent. The history there is overwhelming. They actually built the park to the same dimensions as the old Yankee Stadium (not the ancient one where it was something like 467 ft. to left center while you could fart it out down the right field line) but for some reason the ball travels much better in the new park. But with today’s parks built to resemble days of yore the dimensions fit right in and the Yankees tailor the team to fit the park.
darknova306
6/10/2012-5:13pm at 5:13 pm (UTC -4)
Of all the weekends to be at meetings and BBQs where I couldn’t watch any Mets games, this was a good one.
I hate the Yankees. I hate seeing the Mets lose to the Yankees. I want to forget about this weekend. I’m sick of Daniel Murphy. Sick of Jason Bay. Sick of Ike Davis. Sick of [insert bullpen name here].
Stick
6/10/2012-5:23pm at 5:23 pm (UTC -4)
I am with you there. Though I still like Ike, just want him to go away for a while to get straightened out. Bay, he should never be allowed to put on a Met uniform again.
and murphy, nice guy, tries hard, but to the corn field with him. Damned your ribs Reese Havens!
darknova306
6/10/2012-5:47pm at 5:47 pm (UTC -4)
I’d be all aboard the Reese Havens train if he could stay healthy for once. And I’m just sick of Ike in the majors. He’s gotta go to AAA.
darknova306
6/10/2012-5:16pm at 5:16 pm (UTC -4)
Unless your starting rotation gives you the kind of crazy numbers they did for a couple weeks recently (what was it, 9-1 with ~2.6-ish ERA over 14 games?), then it’s really hard to win with an awful defense, a bullpen that can’t pitch, and an offense that leaves a million guys on base.
kingman 26
6/10/2012-5:50pm at 5:50 pm (UTC -4)
Hey, they aren’t that good. They try like hell, but don’t have anywhere near the talent the Nats or the Yanks do.
If they finish this 22-game hell stretch (now 4-6 Stick) above .500–which would mean going 5-7 the next two weeks–at 37-36, they then have a much easier two weeks before the break.
A team with their negative run differential, atrocious fielding and bullpen, and utter lack of power and speed has no business being over .500.
Still appreciate their effort, but Collins is playing with a deck that is short of many cards.
gategem
6/10/2012-6:35pm at 6:35 pm (UTC -4)
If the Mets had a strong defensive right fielder Martin’s HR may have been caught.
The differential in talent between the Mets and Yankees brings to mind the Grand Canyon. They now play Tamp Bay and fellow Mets fans it doesn’t get easier.
Mr North Jersey
6/10/2012-6:56pm at 6:56 pm (UTC -4)
I’m sure all Mets fans feels the same after watching the Yanks beat us pretty thorough for 3 games.
Niese gave the Mets a good outing got 3 double plays and had 1 bad inning. Problem was Petite pitched well also.
Sigh, for whatever good Rauch did early in the season he has been just as bad since. His last 16 games coming into today his line is 0-5, 1/sv, 2/bs, 2/hld with a 7.90/ERA and a BAA of .361. Again sigh.
Happy to see Ike get a hit. All I can do is continue to hope he can put together a stretch of games offensively of the type we have been waiting for all season.
As far as waiting goes I’m tired of waiting for Jason Bay to have a solid stretch of games. If he gets a hit great. I’ll think I’ll just treat as I do when a pitcher gets a hit, happily surprised.
After this series with the Rays I don’t know what the Mets will do with the lineup. You have until proven otherwise basically 3 automatic outs in the lineup with Bay, Davis and the pitchers spot. Say what you will about Torres but he did hit .333 during our last home stand and he hit .333 his 1st 10 games back from the dl as well. I’d take Torres over Bay at this point based on this seasons production alone.
On to Tampa and trying to salvage something from the road trip by possibly ending it on a strong note.
LGM!
Stick
6/10/2012-7:23pm at 7:23 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t think Bay will ever get a hit. Honestly, he could play the rest of the season, and there is really no reason he would get a hit.
NJstuckinTX
6/10/2012-7:32pm at 7:32 pm (UTC -4)
Curses on No-Han. Baxter goes down so he can get the no no. I would love to have Baxter every day in LF vs. Bay. Ah the ramblings of me…
You said it correct. 3 given outs in the lineup. Uff da.
kingman 26
6/10/2012-9:20pm at 9:20 pm (UTC -4)
Rauch sucks. He’s not good, and has been alternating between decent and horrible since 2008. It really is just not his fault that Sandy signed him and basically put his fingers in his ears and shouted “NANANANANA I am not listening!” when others tried to tell him that Rauch is NOT a serious 8th inning guy.
Mr N I agree 100% on Torres—throw in badly needed defense and speed and it is a no brainer between Torres and Bay.
Cannot imagine Terry continues to play Bay.
Ike MIGHT get better.
Bay WILL NOT get better.
And while I agree that you cannot trade Parnell because he will go somewhere and become Heath Bell, Parnell just is a revolting disappointment. And has been at every level since high school.
Stick
6/10/2012-10:40pm at 10:40 pm (UTC -4)
agreed for sure on Bay.
rauch? I’m sure they knew this was a real possibility, but they also knew there weren’t enough in-house options, so they had to roll the dice on a vet like this, even if it was a bit of a long shot.
Like real has said, if he did OK while they brought up some young arms, trade him. But if he craps out, you lost some money on the deal, but it was 1 year deal, and you cut bait and move on.
srt
6/11/2012-9:29am at 9:29 am (UTC -4)
‘Bay WILL NOT get better.’
Don’t think there is one Met fan out there who would disagree with you here, Kingman. Which of course, does not bode well in the ‘can we unload that contract’ sweepstakes.
Stickguy
6/11/2012-9:33am at 9:33 am (UTC -4)
I am pretty confident that what you are seeing is what you will get.
if they can actually trade him without taking a worse contract back, even the Core(tm) might have to give the FO some credit.
TRS86
6/11/2012-9:40am at 9:40 am (UTC -4)
Hey how about Bay for Chone Figgins? It actually does 2 things. You can send bay back to Seattle, get him out of a crowded OF and then put Figgins at 2B and move Murphy to 1B if you send Ike down. If not then Murphy becomes the utility guy making sure Figgins vesting option doesn’t kick in.
He’s owed 9 this year, 8 next year with a vesting option for 9 in 2014 if he gets to 600 PA in 2013.
NJstuckinTX
6/11/2012-9:43am at 9:43 am (UTC -4)
Bay for Soriano?
Stickguy
6/11/2012-9:45am at 9:45 am (UTC -4)
I don’t even care what Figens is doing right now, I would make that deal.
I am pretty much over Murphy as a 2B anyway.
and they can both end up as utility guys if you want.
srt
6/11/2012-10:39am at 10:39 am (UTC -4)
Actually, I’d like to just unload Bay for the money – even having to eat all but say 5MIL. That 5 MIL can hopefully get us a decent BP arm then?
TRS86
6/11/2012-10:50am at 10:50 am (UTC -4)
That’s basically the thought with Figgins. He is a lot cheaper than Bay so maybe you pick up some of Bay’s contract and still save 5-8M in the process and Bay gets to go home. Don’t we all want him to go home?
FREE JASON BAY!!!
NJstuckinTX
6/11/2012-11:05am at 11:05 am (UTC -4)
If you love something you should set it free.
If you don’t, you kick it to the Canadian border.
Stick
6/11/2012-12:15pm at 12:15 pm (UTC -4)
admit it Tex. You just liked the Figgens Idea so you can go see bay in person more often!
NJstuckinTX
6/11/2012-12:38pm at 12:38 pm (UTC -4)
if the rain and the clouds isn’t depressing enough… I bet the city would veto the trade, for fear of increased suicides.
Mets in 2017
6/11/2012-12:59pm at 12:59 pm (UTC -4)
I think Bay will turn it around when Vancouver gets eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Oh, wait.
Mets in 2017
6/11/2012-1:33pm at 1:33 pm (UTC -4)
RE: Bay for Soriano
Amazingly enough, I think Chicago would want a boat load more. Interesting though. I’d take a shot with Soriano at 2B. He’s having a very nice season so far.
srt
6/11/2012-7:31am at 7:31 am (UTC -4)
That was one brutal weekend to be a Met fan. Watched all 3 games – can’t say I was all that surprised at the outcome of each. Even the ‘Johan is rusty’ Friday night game.
IMO it comes down to this: The Mets were predicted to finish under .500 and in the cellar this season. Anything above that is gravy. I’m just going to enjoy it while it lasts.
It’s hard to consider this team a contender when:
– the BP is in the shape it’s in (agree with others here on Rauch).
- losing this many IFs and bench players to injuries, who were contributing when they went down – and trying to plug in holes. We’re on like our 5th SS. Not that Q hasn’t filled in admirably, but when we’ve got this many fill ins – some for an extended length of time – and this many guys playing out of position, well…the defense is gonna suffer.
- too many black holes in the lineup.
Lots of baseball left to play and anything can happen. I’m not betting on a post season berth but it’s still within striking distance, if they can get some issues straightened out. Talent wise, I think we just fall a little short of that this season though.
Prismo
6/11/2012-9:25am at 9:25 am (UTC -4)
I have to say, so far this season it’s the defense that scares me the most.
The bullpen can be fixed (and adding guys like Mejia and Beato doesn’t hurt), we have enough offense in the organization that it should improve at the big league level. Also, our team is very young and they should develop more offense.
But defense doesn’t develop like offense, and yikes is it bad… I have no clue how to fix it, aside from finding someone who can actually play 2B.
Stickguy
6/11/2012-9:31am at 9:31 am (UTC -4)
moving on from Murphy would be a big step. I think it needs to happen.
If you get Tejada back, and go with say hairston/bay/kirk/torres for LF and CF, then only 2nd base is really weak.
Catcher has been OK, Duda is actually getting the job done overall, 3rd/1st/short are solid.
also, getting the regular guys playing, together, every day goes a long way to fixing the issues.
TRS86
6/11/2012-9:36am at 9:36 am (UTC -4)
I just noticed they optioned Beato back down for Young. I swear I don’t understand these moves. A kid coming back from injury needs work so you bring him up to sit and then send him back down.
Stickguy
6/11/2012-9:43am at 9:43 am (UTC -4)
I think he was just the emergency guy in case they needed him. It was only for a few days, so had to be someone on the 40 man. So him or Carson? And pretty sure that whoever they called up was lost for 10 days after that (unless someone went on the DL).
still a bit odd, but I assume it means they still considered him on rehab.
Mets in 2017
6/11/2012-12:56pm at 12:56 pm (UTC -4)
Keeping my eye on Wilmer Flores. They played him at 2B last night. He has been absolutely raking this year in St. Lucie. He may have a AA promotion in his future and I wouldn’t be shocked to see him get some ML at bats this year if he kills it in Bingo.
TRS86
6/11/2012-1:14pm at 1:14 pm (UTC -4)
Hey, welcome to TRDM.
I think it’s interesting that Flores has been moved to play 2nd some. Most likely it’s because they want him in AA and 3B is already taken there. However, I wonder if it’s also a judgement on the state of 2B in the Mets organization?
Mets in 2017
6/11/2012-1:20pm at 1:20 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks for the welcome. I actually was on here when this site was born back in the day. I was part of the rebellion against Mattsblog.com, but can’t remember my handle at the time. I think it was similar to this – though the difference being we are inching closer to 2017 than we were at that point : – ).
I say this without having ever seen Flores play, so you can take it with a grain of salt if you wish. With the overly left-handedness of our lineup, if we can get a competent defensive 2B in there with the potential to be a big bat in the lineup for years to come – i’m all for it. This could be yet another one of Omar’s guys who ends up contributing.
By the way, anyone see how well FMart has done in AAA this year for OKC? Pretty amazing. He was called up and hasn’t done much, but suffered a concussion. I hope he gets his career on track. Certainly not too late at 23.
TRS86
6/11/2012-1:22pm at 1:22 pm (UTC -4)
I was not sure if that was you or not so Welcome back.
I agree that maybe they are seriously considering Flores as a 2B guy. Considering Murphy can’t play defense and Havens has yet to show any promise this year and health as a full-time concern there is not a lot of depth there.
Mets in 2017
6/11/2012-1:31pm at 1:31 pm (UTC -4)
Has anyone here seen Flores play?
I like Murph. I don’t think he’s a long term solution at 2B though. I noticed Murph’s approach has changed with his slump. He seems to be overly concerned about 0HR next to his name. He should be in the 2-hole acting as a 2nd leadoff hitter and getting on base. That’s his strength. Patience and serving the pitch where it’s thrown.
SaltyGary
6/11/2012-3:53pm at 3:53 pm (UTC -4)
I was wondering if that was you, good to see you again. I think is was “Mets in 2033″ lol. Recently the site had it’s 3rd anniversary and it showed some of the original threads and you were in there.
Stick
6/11/2012-4:36pm at 4:36 pm (UTC -4)
FLores at 2B would be a huge, huge step forward. Especially if they extend Wright, and 3B is not going to free up.
I too am not feeling Murphy as a LT solution, and with all the LH OF bats coming, another RH guy would be wonderful. Much easier to swallow an all LH batting OF if you have a productive RH bat at 2B,
ML Abs this year? Real long shot, but he is on the 40 man, right?
Now, winning a job out of ST? Wide open. So get him to AA for at least 1/2 the year. Though more likely, it is AA, ST in the big camp, start at AAA and call up in May (best case, if he keeps up the raking).
I do really love they are tyring him at 2B. If kent could do it, why not Flores? Hey, he actually was a pretty good ST, just not quite quick enough, so 2B is nto far fetched.
Mets in 2017
6/11/2012-12:59pm at 12:59 pm (UTC -4)
Is anyone else floored that Zeile’s didn’t make it over the wall but Martin’s did?
gategem
6/11/2012-4:50pm at 4:50 pm (UTC -4)
Even though this park was built to the same dimensions as the refurbished old one the ball just carries better in this park. If Zeille had hit it in this new one it would have carried out.