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August 3, 2009 Mets 2009 Games Joe Janish

Mets Game 105: Loss to Diamondbacks

Diamondbacks 6 Mets 5

A split would’ve been so nice … but at least the hometown boys gave us a ballgame!

The game appeared over within minutes after it started, as recent callup Nelson Figueroa allowed 6 runs on 10 hits in his 1 2/3 innings. So much for taking some strain off the bullpen.

However, the bullpen kicked it up a notch and allowed just one hit and no runs after the third inning, and Dan Haren was having an off night. That combination of unusual circumstances gave the Citi Field crowd their money’s worth.

Haren struggled with his command, and actually walked a batter, and allowed five runs on eight hits and that walk in seven innings. But, Jon Rauch threw a scoreless eighth and Chad Qualls a perfect ninth to earn his 20th save.

Notes

Tough night for Nelson Figueroa — so bad that one wonders if the Mets will give him another shot. Shame, since Figgy has put up some great numbers at AAA this year. Either it was an off night or the D’backs somehow knew what was coming — maybe he was tipping his pitches? The Arizona batters looked way too comfortable.

Angel Pagan went 2-for-3 with a walk, a triple, a run, and an RBI. However, he held up at second base on a Luis Castillo RBI single in the fifth when he probably should have moved on to third. As a result, only one run scored when David Wright followed with a single and the inning ended moments later on a double play.

Pagan now has 6 triples, tied for fourth place in the NL. (D’backs Stephen Drew and Gerardo Parra are tied for second behind Michael Bourn with 7 each.)

Jeff Francoeur was the only Mets starting position player without a hit.

The Mets are now 8 games behind in the Wild Card standings and 10 behind the Phillies in the NL East.

Next Mets Game

The Mets play a quick two-game series against the Cardinals that begins on Tuesday night at 7:10 PM. Two-time Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana faces Joel Pineiro, who pitches like Cy Young against the Mets.

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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. Stephen Greene August 4, 2009 at 8:22 am
    if the Mets had a 7 1/2 game lead in 07 that would
    mean all the Mets have to do is pick up a 1/2 game
    in a month to have a chance in September for the
    wild card!
  2. isuzudude August 4, 2009 at 9:17 am
    Is it safe to qualify Figueroa as a AAAA player yet?

    Losing 3 out of 4 at home against the Diamondbacks this late in the season only further solidifies the idea that the Mets are not making the playoffs this year. It’s over. It’s been over. And I’ll stick out like a sore thumb and commend Omar for not making a kneejerk trade earlier this season or at the deadline to improve the team from bad to mediocre by trading prospects. But it is time to tell Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran to shut it down. What is the big rush to get them back, anyway? To get the Mets from 8 games out to 6? At this point their contribution is much more important for 2010 and beyond than 2009. And have we not learned our lesson from rushing guys back from injury too soon yet? Ahem, Ryan Church. Ahem, John Maine. Ahem, JJ Putz. If Beltran is still reporting pain in his knee after all this time, then it’s time to tell him to go home. Or get his knee scoped, or something. Anything to be 100% by the time 2010 arrives. Because any activity the Mets force him into this year will just make his availability for next year that much grimmer. Same for Reyes. The guy still can’t run around the bases. So stick a fork in him. Am I right or am I right?

  3. Wendy August 4, 2009 at 9:35 am
    dude, I think Beltran will at least try to come back and contribute if for no reason but to test his knee and see if microfracture surgery is needed.

    If Reyes can’t run then there is no point in bringing him back, but I am concerned about Cora and his thumb, something to think about when the roster expands to the 40 man in September.

    If They can’t play,so be it, but i’m sure they both want to try to get back, if more for themselves than for the team.

    At this point, no player is 100%, no matter what they tell you, its a question of what’s in the best interest of the team and the invidual’s pain tolerance.