Mets Game 41: Win Over Yankees
Mets 11 Yankees 2
The Mets scored, then they scored, and then they scored some more, in spanking the last-place Yankees (gawd I loved typing that).
Yes I hate interleague play and this Mets-Yankees thing is getting old, but I do enjoy watching the Yanks get spanked by the orange and blue. That 2000 World Series still stings.
The Mets jumped on ace Chien-Ming Wang for four runs in the fourth, but it should have been six. Carlos Delgado hit the cheapest homerun of his career to make it six-nothing Mets, but the third base umpire changed his mind and called the fair ball foul. Eventually, Delgado singled in a run to make the score four-zip, but there is a BIG difference between a 4-0 lead and 6-0 lead; the latter demoralizes a team, the former lets them think they still have a chance.
The score means a lot in baseball, which as Yogi Berra once eloquently stated, is at least 70% half-mental. Baseball is all about momentum, and when you can score six runs in one inning against the other team’s ace, your opponent tends to bury its head in its hands and go through the motions the rest of the game.
And as it turned out, Delgado’s lost tater didn’t matter, because the Mets exploded for another six runs in the eighth to put the game out of reach.
Lost in all the offensive excitement was the dominating performance by Oliver Perez. O’Pea allowed only three hits and two runs in 7 2/3 innings in shutting down the A-Rodless Yanks. He was totally focused on the mound, brimming with confidence, and showing similar body language to his 2006 postseason appearances. Now if only he can turn that “on” more often, he’d be on the top level of NL lefthanders.
Notes
Willie Randolph should have gotten himself thrown out of the game when Delgado’s homerun was overturned — it would have been an ideal time to erase his image as too-calm guy who doesn’t fight for his players. He was steamed, for sure, but not steamed enough to get tossed. Just once he should lose his mind, get ejected, and quiet the critics — the Bronx was the perfect place. Instead, bench coach Jerry Manuel was thrown out of the game. Believe me when I tell you I don’t think a manager has to get thrown out of games to be effective — but right now, Randolph’s future is tied directly to public perception. So, if he needs to get tossed to appease the fans, the pundits, the talkradio morons, and thereby save his job … well, pull an Earl Weaver, will ya?
Ryan Church hit an absolute bomb in the sixth, depositing a ball into the “batter’s eye” (a.k.a., the “fake” bleachers in centerfield). The blast was reminiscent of Reggie Jackson’s fifth homer of the 1977 World Series (and third straight of Game Six) hit off Charlie Hough. I bring up Reggie Jax because he turned 62 on Sunday.
Yankee Stadium was loud as heck after Reyes deposited the ball into the right field bleachers. Nice.
Next Game
The makeup game won’t happen on Monday because a) MLB won’t make enough money on the two NYC teams with a spur-of-the-moment Monday night game; and b) the Mets have a double-dip on Tuesday in Atlanta. So, Monday remains an off day, and on Tuesday we’ll see John Maine face Tom “Undevastated” Glavine at 1:05 pm, and Claudio Vargas vs. Jorge Campillo in the nightcap at 7:05 pm.
When he ran out of the dugout to protest the reversed call, I immediately said “get yourself thrown out here, it’s worth it.” I wouldn’t have just gotten myself thrown out- I’d have made a complete scene out on the field, throwing stuff onto the field, and even stealing 3rd base. In fact, I’d probably go DOWN to the foul pole, drop the base there, and tell the umpires to take a hike. And then formally protest the game.
The end result would have been a clubhouse that would have Willie’s back, and he would probably have walked off free from any suspension, because the Umpires blew the call (and have now blown 3 home run calls on the season for the Mets).
Willie is damn lucky the Mets won- his actions could have cost them the game. And Minaya and Wilpon must be sitting there, thinking and wondering “What would Bobby V do here? Or Backman?”
Willie doesn’t have to change who he is, he merely has to act out of character just once or twice — that’s all it will take to quiet the critics. On national TV, at Yankee Stadium, on a call where he was in the right … gosh, that was the golden opportunity and he would never have to leave the dugout again.
However, in this situation, Willie definitely should have gone out there to argue that call. I’m not sure exactly how it works, but I’ve heard of teams playing games, “under protest.” This was a perfect situation to do that. If those 2 runs had been the difference in the game, the “Fire Willie Bandwagon,” would have doubled in size.
I can’t wait for the Mets to light up Tom Glavine on Tuesday. I’m really, really, hoping for an extended winning streak, but I’m not holding my breath.
I originally thought that both Willie and Jerry Manuel had been tossed. Gusee not. I’d be willing to bet that the Wilpons will be for using instant replay of HR calls in the owners’ meetings. That’s the second one this year the Mets have been screwed on, no?
What we should be arguing for right about now is INSTANT REPLAY IN BASEBALL. This is at least the second time the Mets have had the umpires rob them of a home run (the other I recall happened in Florida when Beltran hit one off a railing beyond the wall). If MLB continues to drag their feet on instant replay, the message they send to fans is that they’re more concerned about protecting the umpires’ ego than getting calls correct. Wait until a play of this magnitude takes place in the 9th inning in a close game during the World Series and we’ll see how many people start lobbying for instant replay. It is long overdue in baseball.
Willie Randolph is the manager of the Mets- the buck stops with him. And with the recent problems he’s been having, everything he does (or does not do) WILL be magnified. He had a perfect moment to show to the team, the fans, and the media that he does care, and that he can play with emotion. Instead, he crawled back into the dugout, and waited for the Mets to save his bacon.
There’s a reason the Mets didn’t make the playoffs and Lou Pinella’s Cubs did, last year. This is one of them.
I think there’s also a reason why Lou Piniella is on to his 5th managing job. His antics get old real fast. And I’m sure that the reason the Cubs made the playoffs last year had nothing to do with the talent they place on the field, it’s all because Piniella is good at blowing his lid every so often. And by the way, the Cubs won 85 games last year, the Mets won 88. So that fact the Cubs made the playoffs last year instead of the Mets is because they played in a weaker division. If the Cubs were in the NL East, they would have finished behind the Mets in the standings.
my point of view is somewhat mid-stream. Right now it shows. But I just wanted to interject that there is arguement for both sides.
Isuzu: I also like your point on Pinella. Interesting that different managers get different gigs for different reasons.
To get tossed or not to get tossed: again glass half full-half empty. Who knows what Willie says in the dug out? also willie HAS gotten tossed before…..and its hardly a fascimile of an Ozzie Guillen tirade.
I was angry after the 5-3 loss and angrier after the 1-0 loss. But i saw alot of blood and guts in all the games: I mean the greatest catch I have seen of late saved that 1-0 game for the Nats and robbed Del again. Also Pel gave up 1 run into the 8th? – how can you not be happy? The fill in 5th starter was also great in that 5-3 loss. I’d offer to you all that the BIGGEST cloud is Aaron right now. Church is STILL at .308, Wright is himself, and Beltran and Del ARE hitting the ball well enuff—-just not always into the holes. BUT as I saw on Metsgeek the pitching woes are waaay overblown as the Mets are getting NL avg performances in length of start. And the BP is not near as bad as we thought it would be. Smith, Sho and Wags have been great.
I have been a HUGE critic of Willie. But given the game prep, line up, and strategy calls I still say this is Willie ‘s best performance.
BUT IF WILLIE ‘argued’ the call i think there is some statement made. But then again Willie is not that type, he picks his battles more selectively…his comments on the umpire, and umpiring in general (per Metsblog) were interesting….ces’t la vie.
As for the Willie arguing / not arguing: IMHO, the public perception of Willie is more important right now than it has ever been. It might have helped his image a bit to get heated on national TV vs. the Yanks and get tossed.
I know he picks his battles, etc., but has he EVER been ejected? Maybe it means nothing, but maybe it does. I’ve been looking at all the WS champions throughout history and it’s hard to find one with a manager who’s never been tossed. Gil Hodges maybe?