Mets Game 84: Win Over Reds
Mets 3 Reds 0
Perhaps tired of leaving things in others’ hands, Johan Santana said, “I’ll do it myself”.
Santana pitched all nine innings, shutting out the Reds on 3 hits. Not only did he refuse help from the bullpen, but he also supplied all the runs he needed via a solo homer — the first of his MLB career.
The offense did give him a couple insurance runs, but he did not need them. He is a man!
Game Notes
It was all about Johan Santana, who was masterful and pitched like a true ace for the first time in a long time.
Santana’s homerun came after seeing a dozen pitches in a hard-fought at-bat vs. emergency starter Matt Maloney, who had filled in for the ailing Aaron Harang. Harang is dealing with a chronic back issue.
Jose Reyes returned to the lineup and went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Jason Bay drove in the other two Mets runs with a two-out single in the sixth.
Next Mets Game
The rubber match begins at 7:10 PM on Wednesday night. Jon Niese goes to the mound against Bronson Arroyo.
Truth is, even if his velocity is fading with age, he’s still a great pitcher. The guy should have 9-10 wins this year. Glad to see him get a W he deserves.
gary: I don’t think we’re ever going to understand each other when it comes to this argument about CitiField’s dimensions. The ball Wright hit to dead center last night likely would have been a home run in most other ballparks, yes. But harken back to Monday night when Jay Bruce hit an opposite field double to left field that hit high off the wall. This also would have been a home run in most other parks. So the Mets (and David Wright, specifically) are not the only victims of Citi’s big outfield. I think you fail to grasp that concept. For every home run Citi robs from the Mets, it is also robbing a HR from the opposition. It is an equal opportunity robber. However, the Mets can use (and have been using) the dimensions in their favor by assembling an athletic outfield that can cover a lot of ground, and by building a team that hits line drives and has speed, thus producing a plethora a triples and instances of taking extra bases while the opposition hits long flyballs that die in the outfield. It’s really tough for me to understand how you can complain about the Mets’ home field when they have one of the best home records in baseball. They are obviously taking advantage of the dimensions and are using them to exploit other teams’ weaknesses. If you bring in the fences, or lower the wall, all you are doing is giving the opposition a better chance at beating us at home. Is that really what you want, as long as Wright is hitting more home runs?
btw, does the person who pleaded the Mets to trade Wright for prospects still hold their same opinion now? it is clear Wright has performed a total 180 from last season, and is back as one of the top 5 players in the game. do we still think trading this type of player for unknown commodities is a wide idea, or have we backed off this notion?
The reason certain teams perform well in “bandbox” type stadiums is because those teams are built around power. Their outfielders need not be fast or strong defensively, because there’s much less room in the outfield to patrol. Instead, those 3 positions can be filled with home run guys, who will hit 30-40 home runs padding their stats in a bandbox (see Pat Burrell, Raul Ibanez, Nick Swisher, etc.) However, the current Mets team is built around speed and defense. Jason Bay has shown the ability to hit 30+ home runs in a season, but he’s also showing the ability to hit triples, steal bases, collect his RBI, and hit for a respectable average at CitiField. How do you figure the dimensions have “wrecked havoc” with Bay? He’s still on pace for close to 40 doubles, over 10 triples, close to 100 RBI, close to 100 runs scored, close to 20 SB, and his batting average is right around his career mark. Aside from hitting home runs, he’s doing pretty much what the Mets could have expected from him. You are far too infatuated with home runs. You don’t pay big money for free agents just so they can hit home runs, and teams don’t win games exclusively based on the number of home runs they hit.
CitiField is currently ranked the 4th hardest ballpark to hit a home run at. One of the ballparks where it’s even harder to hit one out is the Twins’ new home, Target Field (0.594 home runs per game, opposed to 0.635 at Citi). Yet, the Twins at 26-17 at home using an athletic outfield, line drive hitters, and strong team speed. Like the Mets, they are showing there are other formulas to winning games besides playing home run derby in a small ballpark.
And by the way, the Phillies are 21-16 at home this year, which is far from a “dominant” record. They were also only 9 games over .500 at home last year, opposed to 15 games over .500 on the road. Seems to me like playing in a bandbox worked less in their favor than playing on the road in some bigger stadiums. What do you have to say about that?
Yes I am still here, and I still say the same thing I have said. As enjoyable as this team is, and they certainly are, I still say they cannot win the world series as currently constituted. This is the typical good-enough-to-put-butts-in-the-seats team the Mets always put out– just intriguing enough to get people on the 7 and buying them $9 czechvars.
If that’s what you’re excited about, great. I am saying that if the team cannot win with this core then you start looking at who can bring value in return. Dwright would bring the most, without question. You are the one bringing emotion into this, I like Dwright fine– you’re the one who is head over heels. But hey, you never know, Niese could go 6-0 in late September/October and I’ll look like a fool…. but you realize that’s what it’ll take, right?!
gary give it up many you are focusing on the wrong things and your ego is the only thing keeping you from admitting it.
http://www.metstoday.com/4693/mets-2010-games/amazin-speed-intentional-or-accidental/
And Reyes is not going to the HOF. Wright might… Too early to tell. So don’t put all your eggs in the “I’ll trade a WS ring to see Wright/Reyes inducted into the HOF as Mets” basket.
Wait a minute… ARE YOU JEFF WILPON?
Meantime, the back and forth banter here is nauseating. It pits one guy who wants to trade the best player on the team for prospects in the middle of the playoff hunt, against another guy who cares more about home runs than watching his team win. What a riveting debate.
-Pagan was supposed to be backing up GMJ
-Castillo has been on the DL or banged up most of the season and signing him was a disaster
Which brings us back to Wright and Reyes. Both were drafted/signed in 2001 and 1999, respectively.
The team’s speed is largely an accident, as I laid out in that post, yet it is a big reason why they have an edge at home. And don’t forget the pitching.
By the way, I am not saying Wright or Reyes should be traded right now. I know you know that, but I just want to make it clear.
-Beltran was brought in by Omar and was counted on having a big season until he opted for surgery in January
– Pagan was penciled in as GMJ’s backup by Jerry, not Omar. He was also acquired by Omar from the Cubs for pennies, and not traded during the offseason when there was pressure to do so
– Castillo still represents speed and was another piece put in place by Omar. His contract may or may not be a “disaster,” but if he was putting up his 2009 numbers in 2010, somehow I don’t think you’d be saying that. Plus there’s still half a season to go, so let’s not be hasty.
That’s nice that Reyes and Wright were drafted way back when, but fact is they were re-signed for less than market value by Omar. They were also kept as core players and not traded by Omar.
You put me in the uncomfortable position of defending Omar, who I feel has made his fair share of blunders. But let’s take off the blinders. The Mets are one of the speedier teams in the league, and all of these speedy players were acquired or retained by Omar. And the fact of the matter is that their speed is a big reason for their home success, which I’m glad you admit.
I’d rather go all in with Reyes and Wright, and not be guaranteed to win a title, than to trade them and have like a 90% chance in one year. I think these players have at least another 5 years to try and win a championship. Call me crazy but if they continue to add players and put a good rotation together each year this team can win a championship. And it would mean more to me, and most fans, if it was Wright and Reyes winning it and not some combination of hired guns.