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June 11, 2009 Mets 2009 Games Joe Janish

Mets Game 58: Loss to Phillies

Phillies 6 Mets 3

Based on the starting pitching matchup, we thought for sure this game would be a high-scoring, barn-burner. Instead, Tim Redding and Jamie Moyer produced the best-pitched outings of the series.

Redding lived up to his billing as a Phillies killer, going seven strong innings, allowing only three runs on six hits and no walks, striking out six. Jamie Moyer was nearly as good, allowing three runs on eight hits in six innings.

However, neither starter figured in the outcome, as the game remained deadlocked until the tenth inning, when Raul Ibanez pulled out his nine-iron and lifted a Ken Takahashi sinker over the right-field wall to put the Phillies ahead for the first time in the game.

Notes

Bobby Parnell was charged with the loss, as he allowed a single to Shane Victorino before being lifted for Takahashi. Somehow that doesn’t seem fair.

Though Parnell didn’t give up any runs while on the mound, he did give up another very deep fly ball — one that would’ve been out of any other park other than maybe San Diego’s Petco. That makes four big flies saved by the cavernous Citi Field in two days if I’m counting right. I shudder to think what his immediate future holds on the road — particularly in the Bronx’s “Coors Field East”.

Fernando Martinez: 20 years on planet Earth. Jamie Moyer: 22 years in MLB.

Luis Castillo had three hits and three runs scored from the leadoff spot. Carlos Beltran drove him in all three times, twice with productive outs.

David Wright went 3-for-4. He’s now leading the NL with a .362 average and 17 for his last 26. Note: that’s hot.

Next Mets Game

The Mets take the #4 train to the Bronx to face the mighty Yankees. Livan Hernandez faces Joba Chamberlain. First pitch is 7:05 PM. Buckle up.

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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. Follow Joe's baseball tips on Twitter at @onbaseball and at the On Baseball Google Plus page.
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  1. upson June 11, 2009 at 10:31 pm
    Again, this one is on Manuel. Putting Takahashi with his brutal reverse splits against 3 lefties was bound to end up bad. Can somebody explain to Jerry that Takahashi is a specialist against righties? I know that there were not many options in the bullpen left, but Green or Nieve should have got the call.
  2. Andrew Vazzano June 11, 2009 at 10:36 pm
    Lefties were hitting .440 against Takahashi coming into the game.
  3. joejanish June 11, 2009 at 10:45 pm
    Easy on Jerry. I’m certain that no one has told him about Fernando Nieve. He probably thinks Nieve is a new Citi Field security guard or something.
  4. upson June 11, 2009 at 11:12 pm
    joe: you’re probably right, but doesn’t he already think the same about Stokes?
  5. joejanish June 11, 2009 at 11:25 pm
    upson, I don’t understand … what exactly is it that you’re “stoked” about? The Mets just lost a series to the Phillies … jeez!
  6. gary s June 12, 2009 at 1:28 am
    turn out the lights, the party’s over.if u look up choker, u will find a picture of 25 ny mets wearing baseball uniforms.everytime i watch ibanez throw out a met from left field on a ball off the wall and hit a homer, i think of the front office passing him up and putting the marv throneberry clone (dan murphy) in left field.good decision guys..same thing with takahashit..too cheap to sign a real lefty free agent who could actually retire lefties.. the wilpons make me sick..also fernando m. has no discernible skills to be in the bigs right now.another hype job by the front office??
  7. isuzudude June 12, 2009 at 9:02 am
    Firstly, I’ll say that if Redding can have 4 or 5 starts like this against the Phillies, he’ll have earned his salary for the year, even if he can’t keep his ERA under 4.50 against the rest of the league.

    Secondly, I don’t question Jerry’s decision to put Takahashi in the game there at all. People, mentioning that Takahashi has poor splits vs lefties is only reporting half the story. Lefties are hitting .344 off Stokes this year, so he was no better option. Nieve started the year in double-A and, in an extra inning game, I’m saving my long man for last in case the game drags on into the early morning hours. Maybe you have a case for Green, who’s been hot lately and is good at inducing groundballs. But still, when Takahashi came in the Phillies had Utley, Howard, and Ibanez all coming up. And all 3 have better splits vs RHP than LHP. If Jerry used that as the tiebreak, what’s the problem? I’m willing to bet my economic stimulus check (although I haven’t come across that in the mail yet) that if Green came in the game there and gave up the go-ahead runs, the same people up in arms about Jerry bringing in Takahashi now would have been up in arms about not going to Takahashi then. Also, were my eyes decieving me, or did Takahashi strike out Howard for the 2nd out of the inning? I’d say that’s a good job, but Takahashi gets no credit for that big out. And review the pitch in which Ibanez hit the home run on. It’s not like Takahashi fell behind Ibanez 3-1, and Ibanez sat on a hanging slider or a fat fastball…in fact, it was a 1-1 pitch out of the strikezone below the knees that Ibanez managed to get good wood on. In other words, a good pitch.

    If there’s one thing I can’t stand it’s unjustified criticism. Jerry’s made his fair share of mistakes and questionable decisions this year, I’ll be the first to tell you. But putting Takahashi in the game against the Phils’ big 3 lefties is not one of them. That was a solid choice that just didn’t work out. Football season isn’t for another couple of months, so what’s with all the Monday morning quarterbacks in the room?

    I also find it amazing how people couldn’t wait to rail on the offense for stranding 16 runners on base on Wednesday, but have nothing to say today about last night’s pitiful display. You want some fair criticism, how about bringing up how the Mets managed just 2 hits from the 6th inning on. 5 innings, 2 singles, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts. The only runner during that span to get passed 1st base was Castillo in the 10th on a 2-out defensive indifference. Pathetic. But no, blame Jerry for opting to go with his lone lefty against the meat of the Phils’ lineup for the loss. Come on now.

    Gary – I’m with you all the way until you start jumping on FMart. Do you think he’s the first rookie to look silly by Jamie Moyer? How about giving FMart more than 1 start in a 3-game series before declaring he has “no discernible skills.” If he goes 3-for-4 tonight against the Yankees, will he suddenly be worth the hype again in your eyes?

  8. Wendy June 12, 2009 at 9:20 am
    dude, agreed on all counts, Redding showed his stuff last night, the offense was dreadful. another case of 3 hits by David Wright were pretty much for naught, granted, he should have stayed at first, but Ibanez nailed him fair and square. The stolen base was not helpful either, but at least it did put some pressure on the pitcher and defense to not let him score.
    Tak was the good choice, it just wasn’t meant to be, but i would like to see Stokes used more often, but i have to trust Jerry on that judgement.
  9. upson June 12, 2009 at 10:50 am
    ‘dude: Just for the record, I was not second-guessing putting Takahashi into the game, I was `first-guessing’ it. He and Stokes just both have terrible splits against lefties. Also, I would not have questioned putting Green (or Nieve) into the game instead of Takahashi (even if they ended up blowing the game) just as I was not blaming putting Green into the game a day before. Finally, I was not blaming Takahashi for his outing. He did his best, just as Green did the day before.

    I understand your point about unjustified criticism, but in my view, this involves all the bunting decisions yesterday. I do not understand the people criticizing Jerry for this, I personally do not second-guess any of those decisions.