Mets Game 83: Loss to Yankees
Yankees 5 Mets 2
Jose Reyes left the game with a “tight hamstring” and will have an MRI taken ASAP. Anything else that happened on this particular afternoon is secondary in importance to Mets fans.
Mets Game Notes
Dillon Gee was cruising along through the first five frames, blanking the Yankees on a pair of hits. He did not have command of his curve, but he showed it, and had the Bronx Bombers swinging and missing at his change-up, which was especially effective both inside and outside the strike zone. However, it all came apart in the sixth, when the Yankees erupted for four hits and four runs. What happened? I think it was a combination of the Yankee hitters getting a “feel” for Gee and some questionable pitch selection by Gee / Josh Thole. For example, why are you throwing a 90-MPH chest-high fastball over the outside half of the plate to Alex Rodriguez on an 0-2 count? We went over this in the last game recap: you can get A-Rod to chase up and out of the zone IF your heater is in the mid-90s. To add, you probably will prefer to put it middle-in, not middle-out, where he still has an extra fraction of a second to catch up to it.
Meanwhile, Bartolo Colon looked like his old self — meaning, the guy I remember throwing 95-MPH BBs at the knees back in 2005. How that happened and whether it can be considered performance-enhancing is up for debate.
Where did all the offense go? The Mets are hitting .125 with RISP in their last three games. They didn’t score until the ninth inning, When the Yankees brought in newly reacquired reliever Sergio Mitre, who, with a 5-0 lead, proceeded to walk the first batter he faced on four pitches. If Mitre keeps up those kind of habits, he will not be long for the pinstripes.
With this loss, the Mets drop to a game below .500. In contrast, the first-place Phillies are 22 games over .500, and the Wild-Card leading Braves are 13 games above .500. But hey, there is a lot of season left.
Next Mets Game
The final game of the Subway Series will begin at 1:10 PM on Sunday afternoon. R.A. Dickey goes to the mound against former Met Freddy Garcia.
About the Author
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.
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Can’t score with bases loaded, one out, leaving him in to hit, and then he gives up four runs. This is one reason to watch the game at home: the beer (not light) is cheaper.
I know everyone hates the DH and all that, but I’ll never understand why I have to watch a pitcher hit when they are completely inept. It’s ugly, its not entertaining, and it killed the Mets today. Gee should be capable enough as a professional to lay down a but to a guy who really cannot field his position at the moment. It’s better than hitting into an inning ending double play. Killing your best chance at getting a lead. I’m not sure why I, the fan, should have to be in the position of watching that garbage once every nine batters. If MLB wants their pitchers to hit, then make them hit in both leagues and make them actually put some effort into it. You want to talk about specialization ruining the game, how about pitchers who have no idea how to hit or even lay down a bunt. Yeah, the NL has a bit more strategy because of it, but I also have to watch 6 ugly at-bats.
Clearly you don’t remember Rey Ordonez or Charlie O’Brien.
Using the DH because pitchers can’t hit is lazy thinking and treating the symptom rather than going to the root of the problem and fixing it. There are plenty of pitchers who CAN hit, just like there are plenty of Gold Glove-caliber shortstops who can hit and plenty of good catchers who can avoid embarrassing themselves.
Why can’t pitchers hit in general? Because for reasons unknown to anyone, the minor leagues use the DH. Also for reasons unknown to anyone, no MLB teams require pitchers to take batting practice on a daily basis. And further, few if any pro teams consider pitchers’ offensive abilities a true priority.
Starting pitchers throw on one day and then do next to nothing for the next four. How about hitting off a tee? How about taking BP? How about getting in the batting cage under the stands and working on bunting? Pitchers also spend three hours a day in spring training workouts and then go play golf while the rest of the team continues working on their skills. Again, how about pulling the pitchers off the course and sending them to a cage to hit?
Actually Joe, this is pretty much my point. Either have pitchers take pride in hitting or get rid of it entirely. I’d rather watch professional hitters hit and professional pitchers pitch. If pitchers are to also be hitters, then they should learn to hit.
Nova laid down a bunt. I don’t know why the Mets’ pitching staff can’t bunt this year, but it’s not the fault of the DH.
You could say the same thing about the Mets:
I know everyone hates the Yankees and all that, but I’ll never understand why I have to watch the Mets when they are run like a small market team. It’s ugly, its not entertaining, and it killed the Mets today. Gee should be in AAA but Sandy didn’t get enough pitching in the offseason. He’s got 8 wins, but so did Aaron Small, Terry Leach and the list goes on and on. I’m not sure why I, the fan, should have to be in the position of watching that garbage every night. If MLB wants to have a New York franchise in the National League, then make them spend money and actually put some effort into it. You want to talk about specialization ruining the game, how a team run by MLB’s very own Sandy Alderson, slashing payroll to save Fred Wilpon’s legacy. Yeah, the NL has a bit more strategy because of it, but I also have to watch this crap every night.
In the future if u want to whine, complain about Pelfrey .Dillon Gee is the one bright spot on the team.Killing the guy for hitting into a dp is really bad whining too.How do you know if Tejada would have gotten a hit?This is a mediocre team with one guy (reyes) carrying them.Look for a lot more 5-1 or 5-2 losses the rest of the year.