The Inter-League Tour continued tonight when the Mets travelled to Tampa to get a W. The Mets turned to Chris Young to do it; he pitched with tenacity and grit. Young was opposed by 24 year old Alex Cobb. Besides the game, the highlight of the night was the advertisement for Kieth Hernandez Bobble Head Day. Kieth was hamming it up for the camera and it was a clear hysterical moment.
The Mets got a nice gift run in the bottom of the first when, after a Captain Kirk Nieuwenhuis base hit, Jordany Valdespin hit a nice double play ball but beat out the throw. After a Valdespin steal, David Wright hit another custom made out that was booted and thus the Mets grabbed the lead. David Wright would steal second and advance to third on a errant throw but he would be stranded.
Young had a tough bottom of the first when after a fly out, Young walked Carlos Pena and then gave up three base hits in a row-one with the bases loaded by Matsui which drew the Rays even; a sac fly would give the Rays a lead. Young needed 26 pitches to get out of the inning.
Ike Davis took advantage of a shift and laid down a real good bunt for a base hit in the top of the second. After Bay flied out, Josh Thole hit a nice base hit that advanced Davis to second but the runners would be left on base when Quintanilla hit into a double play.
The Tampa Bay dome helped the Rays in the bottom of the second when Duda lost a ball in the background that put Sean Rodriguez on second but Young clamped down and got out of the inning unscathed. The Mets outfield had an adventure again in the bottom of the third when Nieuwenhuis lost a ball in the ceiling and gave the Rays a chance to break the game open with two men on and no outs: but again, Young battled through getting out of the inning striking out the last two batters.
Alex Cobb went through 9 Met batters in a row before Omar Quintanilla got a single in the top of the fifth, Nieuwenhuis hit him over to third on a double down left field line. It would be DH Jordany Valdespin who would give the Mets a lead with a two out, two RBI bloop single.
Chris Young pitched into the sixth inning and just couldn’t get that third out…..he was lifted after 106 pitches and left a man on first via a walk. John “I don’t have a tender elbow” Rauch came in and got the third out.
The two out magic returned for the Mets in the top of the seventh inning…and it all began with a Nieuwenhuis walk. Jordany Valdespin then hit a double down the first base line scoring the Met fourth run and chasing Cobb from the hill. David Wright was walked intentionally and Lucus Duda hit a cue ball shot up the third base line to load the bases for Dan Murphy, who struck out three times earlier in the game, hit a two run single putting the Mets up 6-2. The inning would hit a high point when, with two men on, Ike Davis went yard. By the time the Mets took the field, they had a 7 run lead.
The Mets would tack on two more runs in the top of the eighth and the Mets cruised to an easy victory.
R.A. Dickey will take the mound tomorrow and try to make it two in a row.
58 comments
srt
6/12/2012-10:37pm at 10:37 pm (UTC -4)
Let’s see:
Ike gets a bunt single and a 3R HR.
Murph gets a clutch hit.
Runz, runz and more runs.
Young pitched a decent game and the BP gave up no runs.
Good to see this kind of game against the Rays – after that debacle at the Stadium over the weekend.
On the negative side:
- Bay still stinks
- Young OFs apparently cannot catch a fly ball in that dome.
RA Dickey on the mound tomorrow – I like our chances.
Prismo
6/12/2012-10:39pm at 10:39 pm (UTC -4)
About time we had a blow-out win! Best part? Ike’s blast.
Mr North Jersey
6/12/2012-10:55pm at 10:55 pm (UTC -4)
2 for 4, 1/HR, 3/RBI, 1/R 1/BB
Hello Mr Ike Davis longtime no see.
It’s a much needed win on what has been a bad road trip. Going to wait a few more starts to better get a sense of Young. I keep thinking about how he was going to pitch 2 more starts at AAA before joining team and then those plans were changed but hopefully he gets stronger with every passing start.
I will say while I am happy for what Ike did tonight (obviously) that bunt single was something I did not want to see. I don’t care about the shift. In the 2nd inning down 1 run I want Ike swinging the bat trying to hit a extra base hit not bunt. I want to believe Collins did not call for that bunt. I’d be disappointed to hear him say he called for that.
Good win now let’s do it again 2morrow.
LGM!
Stick
6/12/2012-11:01pm at 11:01 pm (UTC -4)
well, a few bunts like that may keep down the big shifts. and when you are hitting .169, take whatever you can get!
And I was really surprised to see Young come back out for the 6th, just based on pitch count. So that is probably a good sign.
TRS86
6/13/2012-8:13am at 8:13 am (UTC -4)
I don’t know, leading off an inning against the shift I think it’s a good idea while Ike is still scuffling a little to lay down that bunt and get in the back of the fielders minds. If they want to put a man on base to start the inning then take advantage of it and trust your teammates. I can’t remember what recent slugger it is that is famous for that but I know it’s a rival.
Stick
6/13/2012-8:46am at 8:46 am (UTC -4)
as long as he doesn’t do it with 2 outs, and bay coming up next!
TRS86
6/13/2012-8:56am at 8:56 am (UTC -4)
True, I said leading off the inning. Doing it at any other time most likely would be foolish. But leading off the inning it’s basically like walking the lead off guy. Not something you want to do.
kingman 26
6/12/2012-10:57pm at 10:57 pm (UTC -4)
Great win, and look for a 1-0 or 2-0 win tomorrow night.
Maybe a Wright solo HR.
Let’s get another one up over .500.
And Young really is something. Without the injury history this guy really could have been something. Hell, he is a well-preserved 33. And let’s face it, the guy hasn’t lost a game since 2009!
This team truly should have as its motto the Michael Corleone line from Godfather III-”Just when I thought I was out… they pull me back in.”
Amen. And please keep doing it.
Stick
6/12/2012-11:03pm at 11:03 pm (UTC -4)
I know they have issues to overcome, but never count them out.
kingman 26
6/12/2012-11:17pm at 11:17 pm (UTC -4)
I sure have not and will not.
Love how Collins has handled this team, love adding Young to the rotation, love the possibility of Mejia joining the pen, love a lot of things.
I just want them to finish .500 or above.
I think that after 5 years of second-half garbage to one degree or another, we need 82 wins or more.
Then 90+ next year so we can begin a proud stretch of finishing 2nd to Davey every year.
Stick
6/12/2012-11:35pm at 11:35 pm (UTC -4)
would you really care if they had a run like the red sox (finish 2nd every year, but make the playoffs and win a couple of WS?)
kingman 26
6/12/2012-11:38pm at 11:38 pm (UTC -4)
Making the playoffs is all that matters; of course your scenario would be amazing.
gategem
6/13/2012-12:29am at 12:29 am (UTC -4)
Which manufacturers wax are you using on the float?
Stick
6/12/2012-10:58pm at 10:58 pm (UTC -4)
a blowout at just the right time.
taking this series would definitely help right the ship.
and a positive sign, most of the damage was met Lefties doing it off LHP. also nice to see.
Bay, just nothing more to say. He looks old, weak and slow. slow bat, slow reflexes, etc. He really just looks like a guy that is shot, and probably just going through the motions at this point. They just can’t carry him too long before having to make the “decision”
of, and immediately start platooning him, though there really isn’t a LHB to do it with. Torres should never see a RHP either, and you can’t have Kirk play for both of them!
Sylow59
6/13/2012-12:29am at 12:29 am (UTC -4)
Look at the Cardinals game plan: get close, fill in some missing pieces, get INTO to playoffs, and see what happens.
Wendy
6/12/2012-11:00pm at 11:00 pm (UTC -4)
Great win tonight, i’m sure Bay felt left out of the action, as he was the only one who literally contributed nothing, oh well, maybe tomorrow is his turn #fingerscrossed#
Stick
6/12/2012-11:02pm at 11:02 pm (UTC -4)
Bay is starting to look like a kid on Ritalin or something that numbs him out.
kingman 26
6/12/2012-11:07pm at 11:07 pm (UTC -4)
Not sure I could ever actively root against a Met, but I really want Bay off of this team. I want Torres playing. Bay’s body language is as revolting as his utter lack of skills.
He must go!
Sylow59
6/13/2012-12:44am at 12:44 am (UTC -4)
The arguement for Bay playing is somewhat similar to the innings eater arguement. Who do you replace him with? Consider the following:
Torres sux. He is cheaper and would go before Bay. Assume den Dekker rakes at Buffalo. He replaces Torres. Then who? dD is about the same player as Kirk. Medium power, very high K%, very good to great D. I don’t think either plays at a COF. So if dD rakes it makes sense to trade Kirk.
And there’s the Ike situation. And I’d like to think Valdy replaces Murphy rather than made an OF. Plus there’s too many lefties.
My hand is aching about now do I’ll cut to the chase: Bay is the second or third to go. if that means releasing him for Fred Leeis I’d keep Bay and hope for hope for the best. S/T 2013 is the time for his jettison. Until then we need to live with him.
NJStuckinTX
6/13/2012-7:20am at 7:20 am (UTC -4)
The argument against this is that Bay is offering you about nothing. So filling in about anyone other than Bay is a net gain. Plus, to me, it would be the purging of the last Omar mistake, making this a 99.44% Alderson team, if you get my meaning. I don’t think Alderson would make a decision just to say “This is now MY team completely”, but it would resonate with me as a fan that he’s said out with the old and broken and lets blaze a new path.
I can certainly see it playing out as you say and he’s kicked to the curb in the offseason, but I certainly do not think that would stop Bay from leaving the team, via any means necessary.
srt
6/13/2012-7:29am at 7:29 am (UTC -4)
I’m not sold on Valdespin as an IF player – and apparently I’m not the only one, from what I’m reading of scouts and evaluators.
He’s not a SS, on that I think we can all agree. Playing 2nd a few times this year, he appears to have the skills but his play is what I’d call ‘lazy’, which leads to the errors. That can be corrected, if that’s all it is. Not sure that’s all it is though. Many seem to think he’s better suited for the OF
He’s got some nice power in his bat but no patience at the plate yet. He’s a hacker and when he does connect – b/c of his power – he’s not just slapping the ball out of the IF. Think he could have used more time in AAA but because of injuries, he’s up here now. When Turner and then Ruben return, I believe he gets sent back down.
Stickguy
6/13/2012-7:33am at 7:33 am (UTC -4)
simple answer to this.
Bay should never, ever see a RHP. He is at best a platoon guy (not that he is hitting lefties either now, but at least there he has a small shot).
They already have Hairston for that job.
The problem is, once Baxter went down, they don’t have the lefty platoon partner for either one of them.
Torres also can’t hit a RHP, but overall his #s are OK vs LHP. so he does not help.
so with the roster as it is, Kirk for sure plays against RHP, but you have to play one of the other 3.
given the choice, if they don’t have anyone else, I would still go with Hairston. At least he offers the possibility of a long ball!
Now, if they did call up DD, then vs RHP it would be DD/Kirk/DUda, vs. LHP it would be Duda, Hairston and most likely DD for defense.
Baxter going out really hurt the mix.
TRS86
6/13/2012-8:22am at 8:22 am (UTC -4)
V-Spun reminds me of a Jose Lopez, Jose Valentin type who swings for the fences, will never have a good OBP, but a guy that could thrive in limited chances at the bottom of a lineup. So could you make him into a decent utility guy? Maybe.
srt
6/13/2012-10:13am at 10:13 am (UTC -4)
Utility role is exactly how I see Valdespin’s future.
SaltyGary
6/13/2012-8:47am at 8:47 am (UTC -4)
First of all did anyone just see that Andre Either just scored 85m over 5 years? FA or the threat of is ridiculous. Wright is going to cost the team a handful.
Man I’ve always been such a big fan of Young. The guy is throwing 85, but he is just so methodical in his approach. I really hope he can stay healthy, I would love to keep him on the team for a while but he may definitely get squeezed out.
So over the next year you probably got
Dickey, Niese, Harvey, Wheeler Santana.
The way Wheeler is pitching I imagine he will be up by that May Day (due to arb clock) next season. Gee will be the first squeez and he will do fine in long relief. There is really no room for having 2 guys coming off shoulder surgeries. IF you stays healthy he will not garner a ML callup role again and you got Santana’s last year. This is a great problem to have!
Stick
6/13/2012-9:37am at 9:37 am (UTC -4)
5/85 would be a fine benchmark. Give him a pop for playing 3B, and make it 5/95 + a 6th year option with some team protection.
add the 2013 option, and you get 6/111 guaranteed starting in 2013, with a 7th year option.
If that isn’t going to get it done, then you better hope marte or Flores is ready to come up and make an impact OD 2014!
except of course I know have Flores pencilled in to be the answer at 2B. next year would be fine. Hell, next month would be fine!
oleosmirf
6/13/2012-11:09am at 11:09 am (UTC -4)
I don’t care about the contract. It’s David Wright. 4-5-6-7 years at 15-20 mil doesn’t matter to me…
I only care about contracts when the player is coming from another organization…
oleosmirf
6/13/2012-8:59am at 8:59 am (UTC -4)
If I am not mistaken, Jason Bay has 18.5 million left on his contract, after this season, so the Mets are going to give him every opportunity, and then some to be successful.
That means, if they can’t find anyone to trade for him, he is going to get one last shot in ST to make the team, before being cut.
The issue I have is if they cut him, they will only have 2 RHB in their lineup and one of which is the light hitting, Ruben Tejada. They need to get a RHB to be their #5 hitter, although that is going to be impossible given Bay’s contract.
The only potential solutions are 1) move him and take a bad contract/headache in return like Soriano or 2) let him play and hope for the best.
Cutting him for Matt Den Dekker is not going to happen, unless he has 1 year left on his contract and is outplayed in ST
TRS86
6/13/2012-9:05am at 9:05 am (UTC -4)
If so then they have to platoon him and the problem is that Hairston almost has to get AB’s vs LH as well. That means Kirk is not going to get AB’s vs LH.
SaltyGary
6/13/2012-9:09am at 9:09 am (UTC -4)
I don’t think Sandy has any issue cutting dead weight. The money is already spent and if Bay is in the way they will move him.
When you look at him even Bay knows he is toast. there is nothing left. I would go as far to say that if the DFA’d him he wouldn’t even attempt to go to another team, he would go home and be relieved that it’s over.
NJstuckinTX
6/13/2012-9:13am at 9:13 am (UTC -4)
The Angels DFA’d GMJr and he had about 21.5 million left, so it isn’t unprecedented.
oleosmirf
6/13/2012-9:47am at 9:47 am (UTC -4)
I don’t expect the Mets to keep Bay unless he has a terrific spring and/or the other options in camp are awful. However, don’t expect the Mets to look to replace Bay with someone outside the organization.
Personally, I believe Hairston will be traded and I would look to sign Cody Ross in the offseason, but I doubt the Mets will cut Bay and spend money on top of that.
Stick
6/13/2012-9:50am at 9:50 am (UTC -4)
all goes back to are they still making a run at the WC or not. If so, hairston in important to keep. If not, convert him into talent for the future.
Now, if Lagares had followed up his big year last year with a performance like Den Dekker is having this year, he could be a RH option. But really they don’t have one in house.
But frnkly, isn’t a RH hitting LF with big platoon splits just about the easiest thing to find in baseball?
oleosmirf
6/13/2012-10:03am at 10:03 am (UTC -4)
well ideally they would want someone that can hit RHP as well, be at least an average defender and be more of an everyday player.
The Mets prospects right now are all pretty much identical in that they don’t hit for much power, strike out a ton, don’t have a great walk rate and don’t have any speed.
The Mets lack a speedy OF and a RH #5 hitter and that needs to be addressed before any talk of the playoffs, because this team, as currently constructed, cannot make them.
Oh and that’s not even talking about the bullpen…
Stick
6/13/2012-11:53am at 11:53 am (UTC -4)
Kirk is not slow. Moderate pop I guess, for a corner OF.
But DD is quite speedy, and has a lot of power for a young CF. So I don’t see himin your profile.
the RH #5 hitter that Bay is failing at? Yeah, that would help immensely
oleosmirf
6/13/2012-12:10pm at 12:10 pm (UTC -4)
I’m not that high on Kirk. I think he is a solid player and all, but I don’t see any star potential. If he were a great defensive CF or he had speed, I would be higher on him, but he is a corner OF, and doesn’t have the power that you look for there.
I would have no reservations in moving him if we received something good in return.
TRS86
6/13/2012-10:18am at 10:18 am (UTC -4)
Looking at the FA market for Corner OF, there’s not much there. Honestly Hairston isn’t that old and with the 100 LH we have he’s a pretty natural fit.
NJstuckinTX
6/13/2012-10:21am at 10:21 am (UTC -4)
Well, if my master plan of trading off Santana works, the $ would be there and we’ll have an upgrade to the BP and at C, with some money to spend on a RH bat (even though the Catcher would be a RH bat in my little world).
TRS86
6/13/2012-10:24am at 10:24 am (UTC -4)
NJ I don’t think you even have to trade Johan to have enough money to do that. You are not talking about that much money and considering that the financial cloud should be lifting a little there might be some money to spend. Looking at the FA market to get an upgrade to C, RF and the bullpen you are not even talking 15-20M considering the lack of talent out there.
NJstuckinTX
6/13/2012-10:37am at 10:37 am (UTC -4)
I’m looking for something more than just slight upgrades that aren’t long term solutions, but understand what you are saying.
TRS86
6/13/2012-10:54am at 10:54 am (UTC -4)
My point is how awful the FA market is. I mean the Mets could go out and spend a bunch of money on junk but they would be just wasting their money. There’s not much out there to spend it on is my point.
TRS86
6/13/2012-10:20am at 10:20 am (UTC -4)
I would love to somehow get BJ Upton for CF to add some RH hitting and speed to the lineup and the Rays can’t hold on to him forever but I am not sure we have the position prospects it would take to get him.
oleosmirf
6/13/2012-11:19am at 11:19 am (UTC -4)
I don’t see that happening, but I would be interested in Michael Bourn although there is some danger there.
He’s having a season he’ll likely never replicate and he’s likely never to reach 50 SB ever again. He does bat LH which we have plenty of, but he plays a terrific CF, he has speed and he gets on base which is something likely to translate as a Met, unlike power.
TRS86
6/13/2012-11:21am at 11:21 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, I see the Braves trying to re-sign him pretty hard. I just think Upton will get traded at some point unless they go the Crawford route and with less compensation now they just about have to trade him instead of letting him walk.
oleosmirf
6/13/2012-11:50am at 11:50 am (UTC -4)
well Upton is an impending FA no? I can’t see the Mets willing to spend the money on him.
Other guys of note are Carlos Quentin, Melky Cabrera, Cody Ross, Shane Victorino, Torii Hunter
I think a 1 year deal for Torii Hunter would be the best move as it would be a nice stop gap. I would like to see them trade for a young RH hitter, but our position prospects are pretty weak…
SaltyGary
6/13/2012-12:10pm at 12:10 pm (UTC -4)
Torii Hunter? Boring!!!
Also he is coming off a 18m contract I doubt he is going to drop it to 2m a year at this point.
The FA market is utter crap for next season.
oleosmirf
6/13/2012-12:34pm at 12:34 pm (UTC -4)
well he’s still a good player, but 1 year 4 mil with incentives sounds about right to me. Still a very productive player on both sides of the ball, but going to cost too much given what they are absorbed on Bay.
SaltyGary
6/13/2012-11:39am at 11:39 am (UTC -4)
I don’t think the Rays want to keep him next year but I would imagine they would have to be blown away to trade him mid-season.
They are currently lacking OF depth. He has one year of arb left he is making 7m this season and playing well enough that he will get to the 10m territory. That is not the type of contract that TB can afford. Mets would probably have to give up Kirk in the deal.
Now, would I want him? He would be the best outfielder we have, I think he would play fine in NY. I just see him as another guy where fans would expect so much more than he can give. He’s not going to be an over 20HR guy and is a career 260 hitter. Strikes out a bunch but has good speed. That being said I would welcome him in open arms.
NJstuckinTX
6/13/2012-11:56am at 11:56 am (UTC -4)
Trade for him and put him at 2B!!!!
Seriously, though, if Upton could be had for a Murphy, Kirk, Valdespin + something else, I’d do that. 2/3/4 people for one that is an upgrade is the way to go.
SaltyGary
6/13/2012-12:03pm at 12:03 pm (UTC -4)
I would make that move as long as they intend to try and sign him. IDK but I doubt TB would do it, who knows.
SaltyGary
6/13/2012-12:00pm at 12:00 pm (UTC -4)
I was wrong (thanks oleo) he is a FA next year arb is over….
I dont know if TB would make this move and I don’t know if the Mets would give up anything with no guaranteed years.
oleosmirf
6/13/2012-12:25pm at 12:25 pm (UTC -4)
I think the Den Dekker and Kirk are pretty redundant. I think Den Dekker will be a September call up, so the Mets can have a little time to evaluate him and see which one is their guy.
The question is who could the Mets get for a package of Valdespin, Kirk and Familia?
Prismo
6/13/2012-2:54pm at 2:54 pm (UTC -4)
They may be redundant but luckily there are two open outfield positions in our future.
We could use the defense of the two of them, but if they can hit .290/.350/.400 we can use their offense too. Neither guy is going to be a powers guy ,but in our ideal scenario we get that power from Duda, Wright, and Ike.
oleosmirf
6/13/2012-3:55pm at 3:55 pm (UTC -4)
the problem is we have no power outside of Ike, Duda and Wright.
Thole, Murphy, Tejada, Bay, Kirk etc. are all singles hitters and you can’t win 85+ games with such an anemic offense.
Prismo
6/13/2012-2:57pm at 2:57 pm (UTC -4)
Is there a gas leak or something in here?
The Mets aren’t buyers, that’s just silly. They’re not sacrificing any prospects in a trade. It simply isn’t going to happen.
The ENTIRE PLAN is to build from youth, not trade away young players for some 35 year old outfielder or whatever. You think they’re going to give up the plan because they’re a few games above .500 in June? YEAH RIGHT.
SaltyGary
6/13/2012-3:19pm at 3:19 pm (UTC -4)
True but it doesn’t mean they wouldn’t entertain moving some of them. I am also under the position that many of them don’t have that much value.
They are actually going to run out of slots for the rotation and if they put guys like meijia and familia in the pen they can move some people out too. Or they can move a familia for someone.
I highly doubt any move will be made for just this year and I doubt that anyone is untouchable except for someone like Wheeler or Harvey and possibly Wright.
gategem
6/13/2012-3:13pm at 3:13 pm (UTC -4)
While Young has been impressive in the handful of starts he has made I would like to reserve my opinion about him until the teams start to see him the second time around. He’s had success with San Diego in the past but that was pre-injuries and he threw a little harder back then. Presently when teams see him for the first time after facing pitching with a little more velocity on the fastball the hitters may have a little problem adjusting to him.
SaltyGary
6/13/2012-3:20pm at 3:20 pm (UTC -4)
I would just like to see him make it into August.