Mets Game 40: Loss to Dodgers
Dodgers 2 Mets 1
Apparently, the Mets made like Tony Bennett and left their heart in San Francisco … because they had none in LA.
Livan Hernandez pitched a gem of a ballgame, giving the Mets seven strong innings of one-run ball and allowing just six hits and a walk. But it was all for naught, as the Dodgers squeezed one out of Livan in the first frame, and a second in the eighth off J.J. Putz, while the Mets offense remained anemic.
The Mets managed to stroke seven hits, but unfortunately they weren’t in a row. Carlos Beltran collected two of them, and drove in the Mets’ lone run.
Not much else to describe about this game, so on to the notes.
Notes
This was the most boring close game I’ve watched in a long time. You would think it could be described as a pitcher’s duel, but if you saw it, you would agree that descriptor is inappropriate. Just a lot of lazy ground balls. But then, I may be mistaking boredom for fatigue — these late-night West Coast games are wearing on me.
According to Gary Cohen (I was too tired to check), the Mets have gone 307 plate appearances without a homerun. Even Rey Ordonez popped one every 284 at-bats (I looked up that one).
Danny Murphy was spectacular in his debut at first base. Other than some trouble with his footing on the Mets’ first defensive play of the game, he handled everything that came to him, made NO game-deciding errors, and even jumped up really high once — an absolute natural. I think the Mets have found their first baseman of the present AND future. Hang up the phone, Omar, we’ve got our man!
Oh wait … Omar, get back on the phone. We need a shortstop. Jose Reyes left the game after attempting to beat out a grounder to second, reinjuring his calf. The big question, of course, is, will the Mets take their typical course of action, and play a 24-man roster for a week and a half, or will they do the sensible thing and place him in the DL immediately? Time to inquire on the availability of Bobby Crosby. Billy Beane might be willing to take a pair of nondescript A-ballers, who knows?
Next Game
Good news: the Mets will make like Snake Pliskin and Escape from L.A. The bad news: they’re on their way to Beantown. The weekend series opens at 7:10 PM on Friday in Boston. Johan Santana squares off against Daisuke Matsuzaka. Tomorrow we rest and reflect.
….that is all…..
I’ll just wait for the next time we play the Nats and Marlins — for everyone to break out their blue-and-orange pom-poms again.
Consistently inconsistent*: A Met staple.
* Unless we’re talking about the use of the Disabled List a week late. That’s a given.
2. Wow, Joe, didn’t take you long to fall in love with Murphy all over again…although I may be sensing a bit of sarcasm in your praise for the new 1B. I’m just glad to see the Mets finally giving him a chance. They made the right decision to ditch his OF career and move him to 1B, and at least for one night he looked like he can succeed there. If he can keep making those nice plays, and start getting his average back up around .300, there’s no doubt he should be the favorite to be the starting 1B for 2010 and beyond, and make trading for a Delgado-replacement moot.
3. Ramon Martinez stinks. Jonathan Malo stinks. Ruben Tejada is no where close to being ML ready. And Jose Reyes should be placed on the DL, if for no other reason than precaution. With Cora out and Tatis not the best option at SS, I agree that Omar should be on the horn, or at least be scanning the waiver wire. Miguel Cairo was recently dumped by Phily…are we that desperate?
4. We’re getting swept in Boston and will be under .500 by this time Monday.
Oh and re: Murphy, I wrote that while listening to the SNY broadcast. Guess I got all caught up in the excitement. Now that I’ve slept on it, I vaguely remember similar enthusiasm late last year, and most of this spring.
But he does look a lot more comfortable at 1B than Mike Piazza did.