Mets Game 17: Loss to Astros
Astros 6 Mets 1
The game was actually a lot closer than the final score. The Mets were in it until the top of the 8th when Bobby Parnell balked with the bases loaded and then served up a two-run single to let the game get away.
Mets Game Notes
Though he allowed only 2 runs, Jonathon Niese wasn’t really on his game. He walked 5 and gave up 7 hits for a total of 12 baserunners in his 6-inning stint. You could say he did a great job of hanging tough and keeping people for scoring — and I’d agree. But when you allow two baserunners per inning, eventually it catches up with you. In this case, it kept Niese from going further in the ballgame; he was removed after 113 pitches.
Also, I noticed right from the beginning that Niese was delivering with his “flat” release point. I can’t put my finger on what he’s doing to cause his arm angle and release point to drop just a few inches, but it’s definitely taking the bite out of his curveball and the sink from his fastball and changeup. When he doesn’t have that good 12-6 curve as an “equalizer”, it makes it difficult to keep hitters honest, and in turn results in long at-bats because Niese doesn’t have another “put away” pitch.
Meanwhile, Wandy Rodriguez continued his mastery of the Mets, mixing four effective pitches — particularly a sharp curve. Going into the game, he had a 3.22 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 6 career starts vs. the Mets; he lowered both of those numbers this evening. It all started in July 2005.
Justin Turner made three poor throws in the ballgame, though none were truly his fault. I hope Terry Collins isn’t keeping count or has a number of throws in his head that Turner will be allotted before being demoted.
In the eighth inning, the Mets nearly mounted a mild rally that was thwarted when David Wright hit a double-play grounder. Except, Billy Hall dropped the ball, so it should’ve been two men on and no one out. Except, the umpire called the out anyway. Terry Collins went out to discuss the matter with the umpire for a few moments, then walked away, like a gentleman, fully in control of his emotions. You know what? That’s unacceptable. At this point in the season, with the Mets in the cellar and showing no signs of life, I want to see some emotion there. I want some entertainment, for goodness sakes. I want Terry Collins looking like he’s going to rip the umpire’s throat out for making such an awful call, and I want to see him tossed from the game. I realize it was a five-run game at that point, and likely wouldn’t have made a difference, but it would have been nice to see some frustration released. As a fan, it would have been great to live vicariously through Collins. As a player, I want my manager out there pleading my case, and I want to see my manager so ticked at the situation and so bottled up with anger and emotion that he’s dumping it out on the umpire to show me how much he cares about winning. Maybe that’s me being old-school or immature but I’m not alone — I distinctly remember Willie Randolph getting crucified for being too calm in situations like this, yet even he was tossed from a few games when it was warranted.
Though, as DailyStache mentioned on Twitter, “on Planet Collins, he threw the umpire out of the game”. I believe the Mets are 12-3 in that solar system as well.
The Mets were held to four hits and were 0-for-6 with RISP.
OK let’s talk about the positive. Carlos Beltran belted a solo homer. That’s all I got.
Next Mets Game
The Mets and Astros do it again at 7:10 PM on Wednesday night in Flushing. R.A. Dickey faces Bud Norris.
Beato had another good outing though Hairston traded another on base appearance with a flub in the field, leading to a run.
I’m tired of Parnell.
I neglected to mention Beato, thanks for bringing him up. Agreed, Beato continues to look good.
Parnell has “discomfort”, whatever that means, so he’ll likely be out of action soon enough.
I mean, at least they have a “fiery” manager. Oh wait …
I mean, at least the batters are taking pitches and getting on base. Oh wait …
I’m running out of spin here ….
There is no Dana. Only Sandy.
– Niese allows 12 base-runners in 6 innings….2 runs, but was saved from a third by Angel Pagan [throw] and Josh Thole [tag at plate].
– Scott “Don’t Call Me Bobby Abreu” Hairston costs the Mets with another embarrassingly bad defensive play, approaching the wall in LF (in lieu of the warning track in RF…..he holds no prejudice).
– Lefty “Specialist” Tim Byrdak gives up another hit to a left-handed hitter.
– Bobby Parnell balks in a run with the bases loaded; then gives up an 0-2 laser to RF – allowing more runs to score.
– Met hitters had 1 hit until the 7th inning, when Beltran homered.
– Terry Collins fittingly caps off the evening…by firmly entrenching his tail between his legs, and takes it all, on a blown call by the umpire.
Why bother leaving the dugout to say 2 words, then walk back? Maybe the 2 words were: “SERENITY NOW!!!”
(Of course, we all know that excessive usage leads to “INSANITY LATER” — special thanks to Lloyd Braun.)
This team is awful. I may head to the park once this summer, just to see if I can hear myself on the microphones later on via DVR.
To the parent of the kid in the stands chanting “Let’s-Go-Meeehh-eetts” — to the tune of Let’s Go Yankees….please do a better job of parenting.