Mets Game 12: Loss to Rockies

Rockies 6 Mets 5

Ooof. Punch in the gut.

The Mets grab an early lead, lose it, fall further behind, then mount a riveting comeback in the bottom of the ninth. With the bases loaded, two outs, and a full count, David Wright swats a long fly to right that gets swallowed by cavernous Citi Field. Game over, Mets lose. Sigh.

Mets Game Notes

Dickey had a crazy knuckler but couldn’t control it, resulting in 4 walks in 6 1/3 innings. He also allowed 8 hits and 5 runs, and struck out 4.

The Rockies had Dickey on the ropes in the third inning, but R.A. miraculously got out of it — using his fastball. With the bases loaded, Troy Tulowitzki at the plate, and R.A. unable to throw the knuckler for a strike, he instead threw 5 straight 86-MPH fastballs, and on the last one, Tulo hit a broken-bat grounder to short that Jose Reyes played perfectly, sped to second to get out one, then zipped the ball to first for an inning-ending double play.

Reyes also made a stellar, run-saving play in the 6th ranging far up the middle to cut off a grounder headed to center.

Only hours after a “team meeting” in which Terry Collins reportedly focused on execution and fundamentals, Dan Murphy ran to third base on a ground ball hit directly to the third baseman. Maybe Dan thought there were two outs; I can’t think of another reason why he would do what he did. Murph very nearly avoided the tag, but even if he did, the umpire might’ve called him out for stupidity (if not for running out of the baseline). Poor Murph; he is finally hitting well, healthy, and looking decent in the field, and he does this. I imagine this is sort of what it was like to root for Marvelous Marv Throneberry.

Speaking of fundies, the second-most baffling moment of the game came in the fourth, when Troy Tulowitzki was covering second base on an attempted steal with Josh Thole at the plate. Shame on the Rox advance scouts — or the Rockies for not reading the scouting report — because Thole is predominantly an opposite-field hitter. Add to it that he was being pitched away (again, why?), and it was hardly a surprise when Thole shot a grounder into the hole vacated by Tulo to cover second.

The sun wreaked havoc on the outfielders for both clubs in this ballgame. Was the sun that bright or are today’s players simply not used to playing under it, as there are so many night games these days?

While on the subject, Scott Hairston misplayed a fly ball in the top of the sixth that resulted in two runs scoring. I’m not sure if he lost the ball in the sun or thought he was closer to the wall than he was, but it looked like he “gave up” on the ball too early. Gone are the days of Pete Reiser running into concrete walls to catch fly balls.

Offensively, Hairston finally did something. He was 2-for-4 and hit a dramatic two-run homer in the ninth to give the Mets a chance. I think I mentioned earlier that he could be this year’s Rod Barajas — take that as you will.

Next Mets Game

The second game of the doubleheader begins immediately. Chris Capuano faces Jorge De La Rosa. Or is it Oscar de la Hoya?

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. NormE April 14, 2011 at 4:07 pm
    Joe,
    A more serious problem is coming into view. Media is turning to Buffalo (can Binghamton be far behind?) where
    Jenry Mejia, Ruben Tejada and others toil. As our Mets sink further and further, will dwindling attendance force the powers-that-be to stimulate sales by reaching out for the developing youngsters? One hopes that the plan of allowing
    Mejia and the others a chance to hone their craft will not be cast asunder for the sake of a few immediate dollars. How desparate are the Wilpons?
    • Joe Janish April 14, 2011 at 4:21 pm
      Good point Norm. The Wilpons are incredibly desperate. I’m going on a limb and guessing that Mejia lands on the DL before they have the chance to promote him.

      We’re definitely looking at a mid-season fire sale, though.

      • John April 14, 2011 at 5:57 pm
        I can live with the fire sale but please don’t rush these young guys. I can’t stand watching major league players who can’t execute basic plays. Let the young guys learn the game in the minor leagues where they can work on areas of their game without worrying about the final score.
      • Joe April 14, 2011 at 5:59 pm
        How far would this fire sale go?
  2. Joe April 14, 2011 at 4:07 pm
    “Hairston finally did something.”

    Yes, teasing the Mets after they fell into a hole partially of his own making, after two great defensive plays were made in front of him. Net benefit: 0.

    • Joe Janish April 14, 2011 at 4:23 pm
      The shame is that the Mets talk about Hairston’s value being in his ability to hit HRs. So if he hits 9 more of these and continues to give away runs on defense, he’ll be considered a success at the end of the year.
  3. Connor April 14, 2011 at 4:30 pm
    If the Mets can’t win these one-run games, they just can’t win. The Phillies or another top team would have completed that ninth inning rally. This game just proves to me that the Mets can’t win late. If they fall behind in the seventh or later, it’s over. It’s really a shame. They come so close, but close doesn’t cut it.
  4. wohjr April 14, 2011 at 5:02 pm
    Seriously though, how much better is Tulo than DW? This guy has murdered the metsies these last few games, shades of Pat the Bat back in the day. When was the last time young David took a whole series from a team? He’s a drummer or bassist, he aint no kind of lead guitar.
    • wohjr April 14, 2011 at 5:21 pm
      He may well be the Bonzo of drummers, but he’s no Jimmy Page. What’s with the one handed, off to the side, head-turned away scoop in Game 2? Is that just for show or some sort of legitimate fielding method??
  5. Mic April 14, 2011 at 6:01 pm
    What would dave wrights value be in trade ….say to the Orioles?
  6. gary s. April 14, 2011 at 8:05 pm
    i just got home from the doubleheader amd i watched the first 2 games of the series.They gift warapped 2-3 runs every game of this series with mental mistakes or errors.They should have won the doubleheader today but thanks to that new clown at 2nd base emaus they give the rockies SIX unearned runs!!!After Castillo i was ready to give emaus a lot of rope.Well he’s just about hung himself 12 games into the season.The doubleplay ball he messed up has to be made 100 per cent of the time at this level.Plus he stands 4 feet off the plate and can”t hit.We have replaced a second baseman who couldn’t hit or field with TWO guys who can’t hit or field.How is this possible?Plus the fly ball that Wright hit 390 feet in the bottom of the ninth on the first game is a bases loaded walkoff homerun in every park in baseball but this monstrosity that the Wilpons erected.But al least Jeffie made daddy happy by putting in an overhang in right field to remind him of tiger Stadium.You can’t make this crap up if you tried.The SHIP BE SINKING FOLKS!!!Time for a team meeting.Oops i forgot.They played like this AFTER A TEAM MEETING!!
    • Joe Janish April 15, 2011 at 1:01 am
      You couldn’t say anything nice about the lovely weather?
      • gary s. April 15, 2011 at 10:46 am
        Sorry Joe, the weather was great.So were my stubhub seats.Got some nice pics.I bought 2 flex packs, so i’ve got 12 more games to go..OH THE PAIN!!!
    • John April 15, 2011 at 2:06 pm
      Didn’t seem like the Rockies had any trouble hitting the ball out of the monstrosity. Only the Mets have trouble hitting there.
  7. Izzy April 15, 2011 at 9:10 am
    Was yesterday Casey Stengel’s birthday? It sure looked like 1962 in the Polo Grounds. By the way, why did the do an overhang like Tiger Stadium and not like the Polo Grounds?
  8. MarathonMet April 15, 2011 at 11:38 pm
    I have a question for coach janish:
    how would you rate wright’s last at bat?