Mets Game 46: Win Over Phillies

Mets 8 Phillies 0

Maybe the Mets were stealing the Phillies’ signs.

The suddenly high-powered Mets offense pounded Jamie Moyer for four runs in five innings, and added another four against the Philadelphia bullpen, to propel the team to their third straight win and fourth in their last five games.

Meantime, the Phillies were phlummoxed by phloaters phlipped phrom the phingers oph R.A. Dickey. Dickey’s knuckleball shut them down cold as he recorded his first MLB win since April 10, 2009.

Game Notes

R.A. Dickey fluttered his way through 6 strong innings, shutting out the mighty Phillies while spreading around 7 hits and 3 walks, striking out 7. He was drilled in the left (non-pitching) elbow by a line drive off the bat of Ryan Howard early in the game, but toughed it out. His elbow swelled significantly and was x-rayed in the clubhouse between innings but no broken bones were found.

While they had the x-ray machine warmed up, Oliver Perez‘s head was scanned. Nothing was found.

Rod Barajas was using an oversized, pancake-shaped catcher’s glove owned by Dickey to aid his attempt at stopping the knuckleball. To me it looks like a softball catcher’s glove, which is kind of like a cross between a catcher’s and first baseman’s glove.

When I caught Jim Bouton’s knuckler (back in the 1990s), he had an oversized catcher’s glove as well, but it was old-school — thick and more like a big pillow than the pancake-shaped one Dickey has. Personally, I didn’t like using the big mitt because it was heavy — and with the last-moment, unpredictable break of the knuckler, I found it more effective to use my own mitt, or one that was lighter and smaller, so I could move my hands quickly. I have no idea if Dickey’s “pancake” glove is lighter in weight, but Barajas seemed to do OK with it, despite a few pitches deflecting off here and there — believe me, it ain’t easy.

Jamie Moyer and R.A. Dickey combined to throw 144 pitches clocked under 80 MPH. Moyer’s fastball was clocked as slow as 77 MPH — and a few of Dickey’s knucklers reached 78 MPH.

Raul Valdez spun a three-inning save (his first as a Major Leaguer) and blasted an RBI double in the bottom of the eighth. I still can’t figure out how the heck he’s doing it.

Jeff Francoeur busted out of his slump, with a single, a double, 2 RBI, and a run scored. Even his two outs were hard-hit.

The Mets have reached Omar Minaya’s goal of .500, but remain in last place. Though, they’re only 4 games out of first.

Next Mets Game

The Mets and Phillies do it again on Wednesday night at 7:10 PM. Hisanori Takahashi goes to the mound against Joe Blanton.

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.
  1. gary s. May 26, 2010 at 4:47 am
    the mets and david wright seem to have an acute case of the hots and colds.they look good for 3-5 games.than they look horrible for 3-5 games.right now we are in the good cycle.don't understand why snoop manuel takes a knuckleballer out with 103 pitches, bit it worked out ok.the phillies have looked horrible 2 games in a row vs. knucleball pitchers..can takahashi throw a knuckler??
  2. @MurphGuide May 26, 2010 at 5:34 am
    Well done, Mets. Dickey & Valdes are this year's Figueroa-type feel-good stories of come-back and perseverance. Sorry to see Nelson get shelled tonight, but suck it, Phillies!

    – I notice Carlos Beltran was moved to the 60 Day D.L. to make room on the 40-man roster.
    – Daniel Murphy tore it up in his A-Ball rehab. 8 hits & 6 RBI in 3 games. Now off to Buffalo.
    – Who is the 5th starter now? They will need one for Saturday.

  3. MikeTomaselli May 26, 2010 at 1:30 pm
    I said the same thing, but Dickey's left arm was swollen and with a 5 run lead using Valdes for 3 innings wasn't the worst thing… especially if he has to start on Saturday. I'd like to have him available later in the series, and maybe he will, but that is my only complaint about using him 3 innings. Perpetual and Nightly have not been used in two days. I wonder if they will stay sharp with all that rest.
  4. John Fitzgerald May 26, 2010 at 1:53 pm
    Misch? I think he'd be on three days rest though. Maybe bring back Dickey on three days and have Misch throw Sunday?

    Or they could start Ollie every day until he agrees to go to Buffalo. Or until his arm falls off.

  5. mets hater May 26, 2010 at 2:53 pm
    That was a lot of offense last night. The Mets might be turning a corner.