Nelson drove in the only run of the game with a single in the eighth.
OK, let’s forget about the score for moment. Let’s concentrate on a positive.
After pitching at every level in the Mets’ minor-league system, 25 year-old Collin McHugh finally made it to the big leagues, as he made his debut at Citi Field today against the Rockies. And he was nothing short of outstanding.
McHugh showed a polished two-seam fastball and curve to go along with his low-90s four-seamer. He showed good command of those pitches as well. As Wally Backman said, McHugh “knows how to pitch.” It’s a cliché, but it’s usually applied to a young pitcher with good command.
One could observe the poise that Backman (who managed Collin at AA and AAA), Sandy Alderson, and Terry Collins saw in McHugh throughout his minor league career in the Mets’ system. With a runner at third and one out in the first, McHugh struck out Jordan Pacheco, and then one of the best hitters in the game, Carlos Gonzalez.
McHugh’s 9 Ks were the second-most in an MLB debut by a Met. Who struck out the most? Matt Harvey, who struck out 11 in his debut this year.
In all, he went 7 innings, threw 98 pitches, walked 1 and struck out 9. He allowed no runs on 2 hits, and completely carved up the Rockies lineup.
Between McHugh, Harvey, and the likes of Zack Wheeler, Jeurys Familia, and Jenrry Mejia, the future of the Mets’ starting rotation looks good.
Now to the game. The Rockies completed their 4-game sweep of the Mets at Citi Field, winning 1-0 (Box Score).
After McHugh left for a pinch hitter, Bobby Parnell (L, 2-3) entered the game in the eighth, and promptly gave up a triple to Tyler Colvin. He scored on a single by Chris Nelson, giving the Rockies a 1-0 lead.
The Mets followed a familiar script. Get good starting pitching, make dubious baserunning decisions, make mistakes in the field, and fail to get clutch hits.
For a change, they didn’t commit an error. However, the Mets’ ponderous baserunning continued, as Mike Baxter was forced at second on a bloop to center field by Ruben Tejada in the bottom of the second. Baxter got a bad read on the ball hit to center, hesitated, and was thrown out at second by the Rockies center fielder Colvin.
At the plate, the Mets were 0-10 with runners in scoring position, and as a team, left 12 runners on base. Just more of the same from a group of guys who look like they’ve been swinging wet, rolled-up newspapers since the All-Star Break.
Rockies starter Tyler Chatwood lasted just 3 innings, throwing 65 pitches. The Rockies have a 75-pitch limit on their starters as part of their modified 4-man rotation. He was replaced by Brooklyn native and RHP Adam Ottavino. He pitched 2 scoreless innings. ”Doctor” Rex Brothers picked up the win in relief (8-2).
The Rockies deserve credit. They played tight baseball and got clutch hits all series long, and seemed to capitalize on every mistake the Mets made.
Up next, the Mets will try to avoid more embarrassment as they welcome another dreadful team, the Houston Astros, to Citi for a weekend series.
19 comments
srt
8/23/2012-4:45pm at 4:45 pm (UTC -4)
Great ML debut by young Collin McHugh.
Too bad the offense didn’t seem to want to join the party.
SSDD – Same shit, different day.
‘For a change, they didn’t commit an error.’
Might not have read as an error but Spin’s misjudge of that ball in CF lead to the only run. Kind of hard to get on him for that seeing as the OF is new to him.
darknova306
8/23/2012-5:12pm at 5:12 pm (UTC -4)
It’s on management to to put players in the spots they’re suited for, and Spin is NOT an outfielder. He has no business playing there.
Stick
8/23/2012-9:04pm at 9:04 pm (UTC -4)
so what does that leave, back to 2B? He can’t play SS, and if the OF isn’t going to work, that is about all that is left.
actually, I would not discount him being OK in CF, but the real answer was put him in Buffalo to play CF every day if that is what they wanted to work toward.
darknova306
8/24/2012-12:17am at 12:17 am (UTC -4)
Ugh, honestly I don’t even want Spin in the majors. His approach at the plate and limited defensive ability make him more disagreeable to me than Murphy, and I already think Murphy is vastly overrated by a lot of fans. I don’t know. This team is a ridiculous mess of crap.
Mr North Jersey
8/23/2012-4:46pm at 4:46 pm (UTC -4)
Very impressive debut for McHugh. It is a shame the Mets bats have been kidnapped and are nowhere to be found.
11 games below .500. sigh
SaltyGary
8/23/2012-6:16pm at 6:16 pm (UTC -4)
Great recap Paul. Great to see there was a silver lining in a pile of dookie today.
Mr North Jersey
8/23/2012-7:08pm at 7:08 pm (UTC -4)
Dookie Ha!
Cue the Pampers commercial.
oleosmirf
8/23/2012-6:20pm at 6:20 pm (UTC -4)
Best rant of all time by Francesa. He is so on the money too…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgyRKcEXYtI
Mr North Jersey
8/23/2012-7:05pm at 7:05 pm (UTC -4)
Mike has always been very entertaining. Fun listen.
kingman 26
8/23/2012-11:19pm at 11:19 pm (UTC -4)
Blah. Piling on by a mediocre jackass who plays to the stupidest people in the room just as Glenn Beck does.
Blah blah blah.
We all know Thole and the rest of the Mets suck.
This was something of note?
A screeching idiot ranting about things that have been obvious for weeks or months?
Francesa is a loudmouth ass.
darknova306
8/24/2012-12:30am at 12:30 am (UTC -4)
Ding ding ding! We have a winner! The only people this Mets suckitude is news to would be Rich Coutinho a select few online commenters. This was obvious months ago. Hell, the rotation had a 2.48 ERA in June but they were only 2 over .500 for the month. It takes a pretty bad team to do that. Once Wright came back to earth and Duda and Kirk flopped, it was all a matter of time…
gategem
8/23/2012-6:40pm at 6:40 pm (UTC -4)
The one positive I take from this series is the starting pitching. It was excellent in all four games and most major league teams receiving this type of starting pitching usually wins the series not get swept.
McHugh appears to be a Gee type of pitcher with perhaps a little more talent.
Stick
8/23/2012-9:06pm at 9:06 pm (UTC -4)
certainly if he can be that, it gives them a lot better option for next year.
Hazmet
8/23/2012-9:31pm at 9:31 pm (UTC -4)
You sir are correct but consider the Rockies are running out a AAA team so their starting Pitching should have looked good.
Oklahoma Met
8/23/2012-9:03pm at 9:03 pm (UTC -4)
What a pile of sheet this has been over the last month. Glad I missed today’s game, but on the other hand, it sounds as if McHugh was fun to watch.
Oklahoma Met
8/23/2012-9:04pm at 9:04 pm (UTC -4)
And by “this” in my original post, I meant the Mets. Not this site. Sorry, I noticed after I posted it that it was possible to take that wrong.
Stick
8/23/2012-9:07pm at 9:07 pm (UTC -4)
oh, I am pretty sure everyone got what you meant.
Paul Festa
8/24/2012-12:18pm at 12:18 pm (UTC -4)
LOL. Thank you for clarifying that.
Hazmet
8/23/2012-9:30pm at 9:30 pm (UTC -4)
At least a pile of sheet serves a purpose in life in evacuating one’s bowels. The Met’s do not even serve this purpose. I say place them in a paper bag and light them on fire and leave them outside Fred’s door.