Mets Game 88: Win Over Phillies
Mets 4 Phillies 2
I have to admit, it looked to me like the Mets were destined to lose this one.
However, they hung tough, somehow preventing the sluggin’, fightin’ Phils from stealing away the ballgame.
Oliver Perez was absolutely outstanding, pitching seven shutout innings of 4-hit ball. He was in trouble from inning one, but never got flustered, kept his cool, and did a miraculous job of working out of tough jams. While his last start against the Yankees was his most dominating, this outing was his most impressive. Ollie was presented with every possible concentration-disrupting situation, and he remained both focused and confident. I have no idea what he’s been eating for breakfast lately, but I want some. This is the Oliver Perez we’ve been dying to see since the 2006 postseason.
Ollie didn’t need much support, and received all he needed from a Carlos Beltran solo homer in the third. Beltran drove in an insurance run in the top of the ninth — but unfortunately the Mets needed a better policy. While the bridge to Billy Wagner did its job, Wagner did not, blowing his sixth save of the season. Wags gave up a two-run homer to Jayson Werth with two outs and a 1-2 count to tie up the ballgame.
With the way balls tend to fly out of Citizens Bank Park, and the number of homerun hitters on the Phillies, it seemed only a matter of time before someone in the Philly lineup lofted one beyond the fence in the bottom of a frame. However, Scott Schoeneweis retired the lefties and Joe Smith spun 2 1/3 scoreless innings to keep the Mets in the ballgame.
Finally, in the top of the twelfth, Carlos Delgado led off with a walk and was sacrificed to second by Damion Easley (an excellent bunt, by the way). Fernando Tatis followed with a deep fly to left center that found the seats to put the Mets ahead 4-2. Smith phinished ophph the Phillies in the bottom of the twelphth to secure the victory.
Notes
Beltran finally hit in the clutch, coming up with the homerun and the clutch single in the ninth. He and Jose Reyes were both 3-for-6 on the evening.
In 12 innings, the Mets left 14 runners on base. As individuals, the Mets batters stranded 23.
It took three pitchers — Pedro Feliciano, Aaron Heilman, and Duaner Sanchez — to get through the eighth.
Is it me, or does it seem like the Mets are always getting burned by not the Utley-Howard-Rollins trio, but Jayson Werth, Shane Victorino, or Greg Dobbs?
Speaking of Werth, he jumped on that 1-2 slider by Wagner like he knew it was coming. Either he was guessing slider or Billy is tipping his pitches. In my humble opinion, Billy needs to start humming that fastball inside and making the batters move their feet when he gets ahead. Wagner’s fastball is no longer in the upper 90s, but rather around 94, so he needs to make some adjustments in his approach.
While we’re on the subject of making batters move their feet, Joe Smith came up to bat for only the second time in his young career. He stood about six feet away from home plate, and was bailing out on every pitch. To his credit, he did take a couple of hacks en route to an ugly strike out.
Next Game
The phour-game series in Philly concludes on Monday at 7:05 pm. Pedro Martinez goes against Adam Eaton. Personally, I won’t be concerned if the Mets lose. By winning two games, they have at least treaded water against the Phillies — which to me is better than falling behind. My hope is that eventually, the Mets will go on a tear after Pedro figures things out, Ryan Church and Moises Alou become regulars in the lineup, Johan Santana has his trademark dominating second half, and someone among Beltran, Reyes, and Wright goes on an extended hot streak. Yes, I am spouting optimism — though guarded. If the Mets can just stay close until the All-Star break, they have a fair shot of making a strong run at the division title. Let’s hope it’s an exciting summer.
And, Sabathia will not be pitching his home games in CBP–yeah, it was remote, but the chance was still there. The chances of Sabathia staying with the Brewers after the season are zero, and with Ben Sheets probably leaving for free agency, the Brewers could have five of the first 35 picks in the draft next year.
SK, smart remarks regarding Sabathia. The Phils were rumored to have some interest in acquiring Sabathia, and with the way Adam Eaton and Brett Myers have pitched this year I’d say they were pretty justified. So not only am I thankful CC is not a Philly, I’m equally elated that the Yankees lost out on the lefty as well. They’ll probably still land some top-of-the-roatation starter this summer from somebody, but at least now their choices are a bit fewer.
NIce play by J. Smith to end the game, he kept his cool in a high-pressure spot.
1. In the trade analysis this AM one point was that the Brewers wanted CC in anticipation of a playoff match up against teams including the Mets….
2. Isuzu: As the All star break approaches the Mets are .500 kinda similar to the Phils and Rocks last yr. also note the coompetition. Yes with a win tonite the Mets are 2 losses back of the Phils (despite a handfull of really sickening losses), But look at the West. Arz leads with a .500 record ? sounds like parity is a buzz word for the NL this yr. With Ollie “fixed”, Santana, Maine and the new ‘pel’ i like our chances.
The issue isuzu is pitching. Santana has a sub 4 ERA. But if Ollie is on, maine can be decent and Pel continue to do well it will carry the offense.
The 2nd issue is defense. Del IS an issue here. Tatis has been an UPGRADE and he has all of ten games experience at 1st. You yourself were in Castillo’s corner but Easley and Tatis have been a huge lift. Church and Alou could really put us over the hump.
You make a great point though. I think del, wags and even alou would make interesting trade bait. I would re-tool with say a trade of Jed lowrie for alou or Del (an example) , then let the chips fall.
Straw vs. Beltran: Mic, don’t open that can of worms. Yes, Beltran is better defensively, but that’s where it ends. Beltran in KC vs. Straw, Beltran wins. Beltran in NYC vs. Straw in NYC, no contest. Straw had many flaws, but the man loved the NY stage and flourished on it. His stats were similar or better than Beltran’s, at a time when there were only 12 teams in the NL and the pitching was better. If you sabermetrically correct Straw’s stats and Beltran’s stats (Baseball-Reference.com), Straw is a much better producer.
On trades: Mets won’t sell, so Delgado, Wags, et al will remain.
2. Del: del’s power intrigues, but consider omar once dealt for floyd and Colon only to deal them later. I’d deal del to an AL team looking for a DH. Then I’d pick up Richie sexson (salary dump).
I might keep alou, but he is going to retire after the season and i think he and el duque will fetch something. The flipside is Alou is going to hit, and i’d only trade for a sure thing. el Duque intrigues as a potential closer.
I’d trade schneider too at the right price. I see Cancel/Casanova/castro as a nice platoon. Schneider to the Sox? Another trade partner tampa…the warm weather and alou might fit.
History: remember SP’s FIRST trade…Yes it catapulted the mets OUT of the WC race and put the cubs in the race.
1. Wags: is going nowhere.
2. Del is hitting in the .230s. No one wants him. The Mets would get at best a couple of fringe A-ball players in return. AT BEST.
3. Alou and Duque are useless in a trade while on the DL. If healthy, they might be worth more than the aforementioned package for Delgado. Not much though.
4. Why would any contender want to trade for Schneider? Tampa? They have an All-Star catcher and a fine backup. Which Sox? Neither have any use for Schneider. Tampa Bay also doesn’t need Alou.
Reality: anyone the Mets have as trade bait, is worth more to the Mets than to anyone else. There will be no huge deadline deal for the Mets, because they simply have no one available that is coveted by anyone else. The team “is what it is”.