Mets Game 29: Loss to Giants
Giants 7 Mets 6
Another one-run game, another loss.
Mets Game Notes
R.A. Dickey didn’t pitch all that well, allowing 6 runs on 7 hits and a walk in 6 innings. Even though he walked only one, he didn’t have great control of the knuckler; it was all over the place, and Josh Thole was having trouble catching it. To counteract the issue, Dickey threw his fastball about 25% of the time; when he has good command of the knuckler, that number is usually around 10%. The biggest problem was that a few knuckleballs floated high and in the middle of the plate — and a few is too many against MLB hitters.
It was nice to see the Mets fight back with two runs in the bottom of the third to re-take the lead after Dickey allowed 4 in the top half, and fight back again in the 6th to tie it up. Though they didn’t win the game, at least the Mets kept the game interesting.
After seeing Mike Fontenot hitting in the three-spot, I was not expecting the Giants to score 7 runs.
Jose Reyes had three hits, walked three times, stole a base, scored a run, and drove in a run. He was also eaten alive by a sharp grounder off the bat of Nate Schierholtz that was ruled a hit. Schierholtz stole second, went to third when Josh Thole’s throw veered into right field, and scored on a swinging bunt by Emmanuel Burriss. Little things …
Carlos Beltran also had a good day at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a walk. His three-run homer to give the Mets an early lead was nice to see. He got a pitch at the knees over the heart of the plate and he jerked it into the right-field seats.
Ike Davis also hit another homerun — it was just short of Shea Bridge. Who does he think he is, Adam Dunn?
The Mets have 18 homers at 14 games in Citi Field and 7 homers in 15 games on the road this year. I don’t know that we can expect that ratio to continue throughout the year.
Next Mets Game
The Mets and Giants do it again at 7:10 PM on Wednesday night. Chris Capuano pitches against Tim Lincecum. Why don’t I feel good about that matchup?
Dickey coming to ground this season is not exactly shocking but it isn’t actually helpful. I’m still not enthused at Gee being in the pen, but he basically did what he had to. That is, given them some outs at a key part of the game.
Going 1-4 after a winning streak is also not helpful.
2. Thole looks awful behind the plate lately, and I hope he gets himself together. The struggles with the stick (few hits last night, sure) — coupled with tough times behind the dish = a lot on the brain.
Would have been nice to see him do anything but what he did with the sacks full in the 9th.
3. Not gonna KILL Reyes, but I don’t love him standing idly at 1st in that 10th inning. Huge lead to the cut-out, good chance to swipe the bag the second he saw Wilson’s left foot make any kind of movement whatsoever — not sure why he was still there. (That kind of cat-mouse game….will he/won’t he run plays havoc with the hitter at the plate….and the Mets needed to get something going there with 2 outs.)
4. Bunt attempt aside, I still like Ike.
5. Amazing that this team is getting so much out of Beltran, yet still can’t find a way to win. Can’t truly complain about the health of the starting lineup yet — and they’re still 5 games under .500.
Getting over that Bi-Polar streak where some Met fans get fooled into thinking good things — it’s still gonna be a long season, folks.
Takahashi’s getting his tits lit.
Dickey’s coming back down to earth at a rapid rate of speed.
Newsflash: Dan Warthen’s no miracle worker.
Let’s trade Reyes, Beltran, and K-Rod and get the rebuilding plan in full swing.
If Pelfrey can pull it together and anyone wants him, let’s ship him out too.
1. 9th inning, I had Paulino up to hit for Thole in that situation. With intent to have Paulino catch in xtras. That said I think paulino probably drives in that run.
2. The pitching needs a break. I think the game calling, pitch calling and pitch coaching needs changes.
2. What sort of “break” are you talking about? Dickey gave up six runs, not his first suspect outing. How would you change that? Or, is he just pitching to his true journeyman (a perfectly okay but flawed part of good teams) abilities?
While I do feel that this is the time to let Thole wet his beak, and get familiar with our pitching staff/grab as many AB’s as he possibly can — you just hope he rights the ship at some point.
Another thing so many fans were quick to “observe” about Thole in ST? His “developing power”. . . . .
One thing you learned really quickly about coming back North after a Floridian spring was. . . .friendly jet-streams down there, where the ball jumped out of the yard.
That doesn’t happen very much during the first few months of the season in the Northeast; especially for guys that don’t have much power to begin with.
Definitely should have pinch-hit Paulino last night, regardless of the hindsight — a few innings more after a full day off wasn’t going to kill anyone.
Tons of “burnin’ the bench” goin’ on with Collins last night. He couldn’t PH for Duda fast enough in the 5th inning (Hairston). . . . .then again for Hairston (with Harris) in the 7th.
Paulio pinch hits for Izzy in the 8th, and you’re left with. . . . .Chin-Lung Hu (surprise, surprise) to hit in the 10th inning.
Weak bench to begin with.
5-5 game in the 5th. . . . .why the hell is Duda being pinch-hit for there?
Guess it’s along the lines of what I was thinking, in seeing Ike Davis sky a foul infield pop-up on a bunt attempt.
Smarten up, Terry!
1. Note: Buster Posey has been said to be struggling too. too much too young?