Mets Game 74: Loss to Yankees
Yankees 4 Mets 2
That whisking sound is coming from a broom brushed against a floor.
The Yankees retrieved bragging rights to New York City by sweeping the Mets in their home park and dominating them in five games out of six. And despite the fact that it was a close game for most of the nine innings, it never once felt as though the Mets had a chance.
Livan Hernandez was certifiably good against a tough Bronx Bombers lineup, going seven innings and allowing three runs on three hits and an uncharacteristic five walks. For a guy who barely made the roster out of spring training, and is supposed to be a fifth starter, that’s not too shabby.
Mariano Rivera joined Trevor Hoffman as the only pitchers to save 500 games, as Mo notched his 500th on this evening. So although the Mets lost, at least we were able to witness history. Yee ha.
Notes
Is Livan the Mets #2 starter? (Fernando Nieve doesn’t count until he makes at least six starts.)
Gary Sheffield stroked two of the Mets’ four hits. Luis Castillo (single) and Fernando Martinez (double) collected the others. Sorry, I meant five Mets hits … Danny Murphy fisted a bloop into left in the final inning.
In case you missed it, Frankie Rodriguez intentionally unintentionally intentionally walked Derek Jeter to load the bases in the ninth inning, then walked Mariano Rivera to force in a run. It was Rivera’s first career RBI.
500th save and first RBI. Not a bad night for Rivera.
Speaking of K-Rod, Luis Castillo did NOT botch a pop fly while he was on the mound. But Alex Cora did.
Danny Murphy (.310 OBP, zero footspeed) was the leadoff batter in this game. Perhaps Jerry Manuel is buying in to my belief that Murphy will one day evolve into Mike Hargrove.
Murphy has really looked great at first base. Except for the dropped balls and poor decisions in regard to chasing grounders and throwing balls across the diamond. But hey, those minor defensive issues are excusable when you have a powerful, productive bat such as his in the lineup.
Tonight’s words of wisdom from my father-in-law:
“I think it’s time we became Yankee fans”.
Tempting …. tempting …
Next Mets Game
The Mets travel to Milwaukee to face the Brewers on Monday night at 7:05 PM. Fernando Nieve faces Braden Looper.
Concerning the lineup, I gave up arguing it a month ago. I also do not mind all the bunting decisions the Mets make. But the thing that made me wonder was pinch-hitting Livan by Reyes to bunt. I’m pretty sure Livan would deliver Castillo to 2nd base easily.
On a positive note, as much as getting swept by the Yankees hurts, the upcoming series against Brewers and Phillies are more important. After running into Sabathia and Burnett with no Santana, the Mets now have an opportunity to take advantage of favorable match-ups and go at least 5-2 next week.
At this point in the season, I don’t know that any series is more or less important than any other. The bottom line is, the Mets need to lose less than everyone else, no matter who they’re playing.
2. Bob Parnall: Yes I would trade him. But not for Mark Derosa. Niese, Meija, Parnall are the best we have. Right now Omar is scrambling to raise the stock of his other pieces through, reassignments and promotions. Antonini is nw in the Pen, kunz is ‘finishing’ in AAA.
My bet is Kunz, Murph, Nick Evans, Antonnini, Shawn Bowman, Lucas Duda..possibly BObby P. are who he will part with, but i have NO idea who he wants.
3. Today greatly emphasises how much another bat could make a difference, and D murphy is trying too hard. I’d recommend Nick Evans pschologist.
By the way, I agree that every single game is important. Nevertheless, the Brewers and the Phillies are very likely Mets’ direct opponents for a play-off spot and hence each game against them counts twice. Hence, it’s good to know that the match-ups against them look much more favorable than the ones against the Yankees.
Is it true that they were actually playing the YES network in the bathrooms and concourses throughout the first 5 innings of yesterday’s game (Center Stage/Replay of a Yankee World Series win over the Mets) — as some have alluded to on WFAN?
Could this POSSIBLY be true?
….or is someone trying to rile people up. I simply can’t believe that….and if so, may think about disbanding for awhile.
2. What could Adam Dunn do? provide help/power. CB and DW are #3 hitters, providing gap power. Del is the masher, anther righty masher ala sheff could help.
3. i think he has eyes for Jason Bay to slot in LF.
4. Yeah Upson, we get to set our #1 and #2 guys on the Brews…but we STILL need offense. Joe you said the Yanks were 1 hit away…i think the Mets with one swing of Adam Dunns bat might have changed many outcomes too.
To Mic I think it’s going to be really really hard for Jason Bay to leave Boston. The Red Sox can go really high on the price and they are starting to negotiate with him now. My bet is that they would hammer something out during the All-Star break.
Mic – the Yankees’ “one hit away” was a single. Your version of the Mets / Dunn “one hit away” is a homerun. Much harder to hit a ball 400+ feet than a single.
The Bosox will re-sign Bay before the end of the season. That boat sailed this time last year, when the Mets had the opportunity to acquire Bay from the Pirates but passed. Just like the Mets had opportunities last winter to sign Dunn, Raul Ibanez, Orlando Hudson, etc., etc.
Nieve will hopefully give them a good game and the offense will wake up and get to the Brewers early.
Gary: I agree that injuries are a part of the game, but I think losing 3 allstar position players, 2 starting rotation pitchers, and a top setup man qualifies as a little more severe than what a team can endure and stay successful in spite of it. Imagine if the Phillies had lost Howard, Utley, Ibanez, Blanton, Myers, and Madson. Would they still be as good as they are now? Furthermore, would they be willing to trade away every last prospect they had to fill all the gaps and cast caution to the wind when it came to safeguarding the future? This is exactly what you’re asking the Mets to do. It’s simply not possible, so just accept it already. THE METS ARE NOT GOOD THIS YEAR BECAUSE THEY HAVE SUFFERED TOO MANY INJURIES. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THEY WILL NEVER EVER BE GOOD AGAIN. IT JUST MEANS THAT 2009 IS GOING TO SUCK. BUT JUST BECAUSE 2009 SUCKS DOESNT MEAN THE TEAM HAS TO LOSE ITS MIND AND MAKE KNEEJERK TRADES THAT JEOPARDIZE THE FUTURE.
– but thanks for showing us (again) that JM is closer to Art Howe/jeff torborg than Bobby Valentine.
– ‘Mets have 6-7 good prospects’..Maybe this is that oppurtunity as Joe said to trade (say Delgado) for a bunch of prospects….
-PS: o-dog, Manny, Dunn et al are (potentially) FA this offseason.