Mets Game 160: Loss to Marlins
Marlins 6 Mets 1
With both the Brewers and the Mets entering the last three games of the seasons with identical records, the 162-game season was distilled into three. Unfortunately, the Mets find themselves a game behind with two to go.
Mike Pelfrey did his job, hurling six strong innings and allowing just three runs. However, no one else on the team did theirs, and as a result the Mets found themselves on the wrong end of the final tally.
Once again it took seven relievers to cover the last three innings of the game, and that crew allowed another three runs. But their ineffectiveness didn’t matter much in the end, since the offense was non-existent. The Mets managed to place 11 runners on base, stranded nine, and scored one — on a fielder’s choice.
Notes
What’s there to say? The bullpen is completely spent — has been for weeks — and now the offense feels a swelling in their throats. Two games to go, and the Mets are one behind. If the Brewers can win their next two games, there’s nothing the Mets can do.
Next Game
Saturday’s game is scheduled for 1:10 pm, and Johan Santana is insisting on taking the ball against Ricky Nolasco. I’m hoping for rain.
About the Author
Joe Janish began MetsToday in 2005 to provide the unique perspective of a high-level player and coach -- he earned NCAA D-1 All-American honors as a catcher and coached several players who went on to play pro ball. As a result his posts often include mechanical evaluations, scout-like analysis, and opinions that go beyond the numbers.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed.
Hi Joe-
This feels like the end for this year… I hate to say it as Mets fans are always the ones who ‘believe’… but where do we go from here? Even if we do sneak in it seems to me that the pen and inconsistent offense will do us in against the cubs in round one. Where does the team go from here? The obvious answer is big expenditure, but is that the route we really want to be taking? AJ, Sabathia, Tex, Giambino, DLowe… are any of these guys the ONE piece that will put us over the top? Or do we need a bigger retooling?
hey wohjr – you have good points. Even if the Mets get in, it would appear they’d be staring at a quick exit from the postseason. If Oliver Perez was pitching like he was in July and August, I might think differently, because the Mets would truly have three starters to match up with anyone. But having at least one question mark in the rotation, and a dozen in the bullpen, and an offense that hasn’t been hot enough … well, it would take a miracle.
As for re-tooling, we’ll have plenty of time to discuss that here … and it appears that discussion will take place sooner than any of us would like.
I’m echoing wohjr’s sentiments, although I came out with this same mentality after Tuesday’s loss to Chicago: The Mets do not deserve to make the playoffs, and even if they sneak in, they’ll be swept out by the Cubs so quickly we’ll be left to wonder if it was even worth it. I’m still pulling for a Florida sweep so the pundits can jump on the “September collapse” bandwagon again and prompt the Mets into an offseason overhaul, which was supposed to happen last winter but never did.
By the way, I haven’t watched one second of either game since Tuesday’s loss, and I’m happy to see I’m not missing much. I will continue to boycott this team until 2009, when I hope and pray they get their heads on straight and make some well-overdue roster moves to make them the contender we’re all paying dearly for.