Mets Game 49: Loss to Marlins

Marlins 7 Mets 3

The Mets had a 3-2 lead in the second inning, but the Fish scored four runs in the third to go up 6-3 and bury the Mets.

I’m not sure why they bothered playing the last six innings — it was a complete waste of time for everyone. Everyone playing the game, watching the game, listening to the game, and within 50 miles of the game, knew the game was over after that four-run third by the Marlins.

True to form, the hapless, lifeless, brainless Mets stuck their heads right up their collective butts immediately after falling behind, and did a team-wide sleepwalk through the remainder of the game.

The only offense in the entire game came from Jose Reyes, who hit two solo homers in the first two frames. Oh, and “team leader” Carlos Delgado managed to hit a lazy fly ball for a sac fly in the third. In the past week, he’s been producing just enough to support the Mets’ front office’s illusion that he can be productive.

Mike Pelfrey was terrible, as usual, looking like the AA pitcher he is. Perhaps someone with power inside the organization will finally speak up and recommend his demotion. The kid simply is not ready, and won’t be, until he has an opportunity to build confidence in his stuff in a pressure-free environment, and develop an off-speed pitch. This isn’t my opinion, it’s a fact that anyone with two eyes and ten minutes’ of baseball experience can see 100 feet away.

Notes

I brought it up before, I’ll bring it up again: TAKE A STRIKE WHEN YOU’RE LOSING. Rallies rarely occur as a result of a collection of first-pitch hits. They happen from a batter walking, the defense losing their concentration, an error occurring, etc. The Mets were down by three for most of the game, yet still were swinging from their heels with nobody on and no strikes on the count. Carlos Beltran just LOVES to do this — his first-pitch flyout following the four-run top of the third was reprehensible — he gave Ricky Nolasco a free pass. Beltran later swung away in the seventh with no one on and a 1-0 count — again, completely unacceptable. David Wright did the same thing two pitches earlier. Guess what? That’s called an epidemic. One guy does it, gets away with it, everyone else thinks it’s OK — worse, a great idea! Terrible baseball.

To be clear, smart baseball — i.e., “fundamentals” — say it’s OK to swing with no strikes when you’re down IF a) there are runners on base who you can advance or drive in; b) you know what’s coming; c) you are on an unconscious hot streak. Otherwise, it’s DUMB baseball, a.k.a., losing baseball (this is the opposite of winning).

One bright spot was Aaron Heilman’s two innings of spotless relief. It’s amazing how relaxed he looked, pitching early in the game and without pressure. Ding ding ding ding ding! Is the light bulb on? Anyone? Is it possible he doesn’t have the chutzpah to pitch in the pressure cooker five days a week? Keep stretching this guy out and put him in the rotation.

At first, while watching SNY’s SportsNite, I thought Lee Mazzilli had shaven his head. However, it turned out to be Darryl Strawberry.

Next Loss

The Mets will lose to the Marlins tomorrow in a game scheduled to begin at 7:10 pm. Johan Santana will have another excellent outing go to waste as the Mets bats are befuddled by Andrew “Koufax” Miller.