Mets Game 7: Loss to Rockies
Rockies 11 Mets 3
Different time, different place, same story. And not a good evening for John Maine.
The excuse tonight was? Hmm … stomach ache? Lightheaded from the thin air? Too much rest? Slick ball? Dry ball? Near-beers? Lack of preparation? Or simply poor execution and lack of mental toughness?
If you thought things couldn’t get any uglier, or more bleak, after Sunday’s debacle, then this game surely sent you to the edge. Or is it the ledge?
Game Notes
John Maine allowed 8 runs (7 earned) on 7 hits and 3 walks. He did strike out 4, though, so there’s that. At no point in the contest did he look comfortable or in command (of pitches or focus). His velocity was poor, and the best pitch he threw was a change-up that occasionally resembled a dying quail off the left side of the plate. But with his horrid mechanics that’s the only spot he can safely hit with that pitch.
Rockies starter Greg Smith pitched 7 full innings, allowing 2 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks, striking out 8. It was his first MLB win since 2008. I guess he, like Livan Hernandez on Sunday, “pitched a gem”.
Bob Ojeda, in the postgame, specified Maine’s inability “to repeat his delivery” as the crux of his problems. I disagree, strongly. In fact, the fact he repeats the same BAD delivery is his problem. By over-rotating from the beginning, he will never be able to hit any spot consistently other than up and away to LH hitters / up and in to RH hitters.
David Wright blasted his second homerun of the season in the sixth to bring the Mets within a touchdown. Unfortunately, it had no impact on the game nor the Mets’ psyche. Wright also walked two more times and went 2-for-2 on the evening.
Jason Bay drove in his first RBI of the year. Yippee! He also saw more pitches (21) than any other Mets hitter.
In addition to Maine’s incompetence on the mound, the Mets defense was disappointing. Jose Reyes flubbed another one, Angel Pagan did not take charge on a ball to left-center that dropped for a double, and at first base, Fernando Tatis looked like he was wearing concrete skates on his feet and an iron glove on his hand. Maine didn’t help himself, either, throwing away a comebacker that led to an unearned run. Doesn’t seem right, does it, that a pitcher’s error can result in an unearned run?
Luis Castillo was thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double with the Mets losing 8-0. Not a joke.
Mets pitchers struck out 11, but walked 9, and allowed 10 hits.
Next Mets Game
Unfortunately, the Mets are required to play the Rockies again on Wednesday night at 8:40 PM EST. Jon Niese goes to the mound against Aaron Cook.
you truly are the king of kings.
I concur with what Frank said above. I turned this one off after Hawpe got his 2-run double in the first. The game was over by that point.
Over the last 2 contests, Livan Hernandez and Greg Smith have combined to limit the Mets’ offense to just 2 runs over 14 innings. And here we thought the starting pitching was the biggest problem. If the lineup can’t muster anything against #5 starters, what is going to happen when the team faces top-of-the-rotation starters?
Record in games Maine/Perez have started now stands at 0-3.
In the long run, Maine may come out of this skid a better pitcher. He’s throwing sliders and change-ups, which I have never seen him do before – and they’re not all bad pitches.
I think he may need to hit the weight rack and do some strength training to put more juice on his fastball. Weight training and pitching are not incompatible, if done properly. Look no further than Nolan Ryan’s Pitchers Bible for instruction.
During the interim, we have some alternatives such as bringing up Pat Misch or stretching out Mejia or Valdes.
Maine’s struggles is a prime example as to WHY I was BEGGING this team not to cut Figueroa. He could’ve jumped into Maine’s spot in the rotation seamlessly and provided competent, if not lock-down, pitching. At the very least, Figgy doesn’t pitch scared.
As long as this team relies upon the likes of Castillo & Tatis, I have very little expectation that they will compete for anything but the bottom of the division. So…I watch the games for the enjoyment of baseball and root for individual players to perform well. That’s how I get through a Met game without throwing a hard object at the TV.
Gary Cohen’s response to the callers who phoned-in for their “this is a blowout game” segment: “It’s early Met fans; don’t go jumping off any bridges.” [Though I think he and Keith were very busy with off-the-mic conversation the entire night.]
Fans who know better see:
– De La Rosa on Thursday
– Carpenter (vs. Ollie) on Friday
Wainwright (vs. a TBD Bum, in place of Maine) on Sunday
And a mish-moshed lineup and bullpen (that’s being used at an alarming rate in this just the start of Week 2) — beautiful roster construction this year, I must say.
Tidbits from last night – Beltran is behind schedule, and Murphy’s at least 10 days away; only running in a straight line.
As someone who tore his MCL in college, figure Murph to have been out a full month or more by the time he returns — and the real test will be putting pressure on the knee in the batter’s box. Not that Murphy’s the answer, but I’m just saying — he might even be worse for a little while, until he feels comfortable.
This team is an absolute mess; and I fully expect another summer of “Who’s Your Next Met Manager?” and “Who Would You Hire To Replace Omar?”
Unfortunately, The Wilpons have already made those decisions (IMHO) — barring an absolutely shocking announcement…
The highlight of my night was hearing Keith tell Gary: “Oh….I’m no braggard/megalomaniac,” in response to his status as a former ballplayer.
Johnny Rocket can’t go on like this….not with the Mets, not with any other organization where he doesn’t learn a thing about pitching. Last night’s performance was even worse than his usual 5 inning stinkers.
My ballplayer attitude about the Mets? “Yes, it’s early” — however, it seems to be heading South quite rapidly….and what might ensue would be all-too-familiar a process for the fan base.
Memo to The Wilpons: step outside your fortress of clueless solitude, and start hiring some real baseball minds within your organization.
Otherwise, you’ll be selling “The NEW Mets”, and “WE BELIEVE IN LYING TO YOUR FACE” slogans for years to come.