Mets Game 99: Loss to Dodgers

Dodgers 1 Mets

For the fourth time in ten days, the Mets were shut out.

What else is there to say?

Game Notes

R.A. Dickey was outstanding, allowing no runs on 2 hits and no walks, striking out 6, through 5 2/3 innings. However, he slipped on a pitch to Russell Martin, prompting Jerry Manuel and trainer Mike Herbst to visit the mound to inquire on his condition. This is the way it was described on MLB.com:

Dickey was dominant through the first five innings, surrendering just two hits, but he fell to one knee after a pitch to Russell Martin, prompting manager Jerry Manuel and a team trainer to visit the mound.

Dickey appeared to be fine after the brief visit and subsequently retired Martin and Clayton Kershaw without any obvious difficulties.

The two outs didn’t seem to convince Manuel, and Dickey was pulled prior to Xavier Paul‘s at-bat.

Dickey appeared unhappy with his manager’s decision to take him out of the game.

First off, Dickey did not “appear to be fine” and though he did retire Martin and Kershaw, the difficulties were apparent if not obvious. Dickey was definitely favoring his left leg and looked a bit stiff after the slip.

That said, I can’t really get on Jerry Manuel for forcing R.A. from the game — he is, after all, the second-best pitcher in a rotation that cannot afford to lost another starter. If I am to criticize Jerry it will be for leaving him in after his first visit to the mound. Manuel has said that Mike Pelfrey needs to “pitch with more conviction”, but he should take his own advice and manage with more conviction.

In the end, it didn’t matter that Dickey left, because the Mets continued their anemic effort at the plate. Clayton Kershaw scattered 7 hits in 8 innings but didn’t allow a run. The ninth inning was ably handled by Kenley Jansen, a 6’6″ rookie from Curacao who was a AAA catcher this time last year. Though, we can’t be surprised that the Mets couldn’t do anything against a catcher-turned-pitcher — they struggled against Felipe Lopez after all.

In all seriousness, Jansen looks like a tough customer. He was bringing it at 95 MPH and had a pretty nasty overhand curve. At this point he is far ahead of Jenrry Mejia, to provide a comparison.

Luis Castillo was the only Met with more than one hit, going 2-for-4 including his third double of the season. Third. I know he’s missed some time but, wow.

Next Mets Game

The Mets cannot leave the Left Coast fast enough. They take a day off on Monday to return home to beautiful Flushing and begin a three-game series against the Cardinals beginning on Tuesday at 7:10 PM. Jonathon Niese heads to the mound against Jaime Garcia.