Mets Game 26: Loss to Diamondbacks

Diamondbacks 5 Mets 4

Both starting pitchers did well, save for one bad inning. In the end, it was relief pitching and defense that made the difference in the ballgame. On this particular night, strong defense and relief pitching by the D’Backs overtook shoddy defense and poor relieving by the Mets.

Mets Game Notes

Have to like the fight in Dillon Gee, who deserved better fate than a no-decision. His stuff is mediocre at best — really, only a slight step above that of Chris Schwinden. But he refuses to give in to batters, attacks the strike zone, mixes speeds well, and seems to turn it up a notch in the face of adversity. Imagine if you could put Gee’s head and heart into Mike Pelfrey‘s body? You’d have Roy Halladay.

Wade Miley is a similar pitcher in that he doesn’t have much beyond a big heart and some savvy. Though, I was surprised that he pitched around David Wright in the third, which to me was the key moment of the inning. At the time, Miley had a two-run lead and six innings to play; challenge him for goodness sakes! Part of my astonishment came because it seemed out of character for the wily Miley, but also because I can’t believe a player under Kirk Gibson‘s guidance would ever duck a challenge; I wonder if Gibby gave him an earful after that inning or after the ballgame?

Scary moment early in the ballgame when Ike Davis‘ ankle gave out after hitting a ground ball. It’s the same ankle he had issues with last year, and I imagine he’ll be doing some strengthening exercises for it going forward, and/or wearing some kind of a brace. With Ike finally getting back in the groove, the Mets can’t afford to lose him for any length of time.

Strange play in the fourth. Snakes had a man on first and Miley popped up a bunt. Thole let it drop instead of catching it on the fly, which is a good idea if you can get the lead runner at second. Thole could have done exactly that, as the runner stayed close to 1B. Instead of throwing to 2B, however, Thole threw to first. To compound the stupidity, Daniel Murphy stepped on the 1B bag instead of first tagging the runner, who was heading back to first. Once Murphy touched the bag, the runner had the right to stay at first, and he just stepped back.

What was more stunning was Keith Hernandez admitting that he would not have known what to do, either. Really? In what universe would anyone think that a runner who was forced would somehow be safe from being put out by standing on first base? As soon as the batter hits a ball on the ground, the runner on first has to move forward to the next base; he can’t stand on first base and be safe from being tagged out — this isn’t the kids game called “running bases” or “pickle,” it’s MLB. This is really simple stuff, and though I’m not terribly surprised that both Thole and Murphy royally botched the play, I’m truly astonished that Hernandez was befuddled by the situation.

In the eighth, there was some bad defense and worse relief pitching that let the D’Backs take the lead. One play that could have been much worse came when Scott Hairston let a ball practically bounce off his foot. I guess he didn’t dive because he wasn’t sure how close to the wall he was, but he didn’t necessarily need to leave his feet — all he had to do was keep moving and reach his glove out. Reminded me of Bobby Abreu. As it was the Snakes didn’t score as a result, but it still bugged me to see the play develop that way — for the amount of money MLBers make, I’d like to see a little more effort, even in the face of “danger.” Firemen get paid peanuts in contrast, and they think nothing of running into burning buildings.

Andres Torres very quietly collected three hits. Still, I don’t like the idea of Kirk Nieuwenhuis spending most of the evening on the bench. I suppose it makes sense to let Torres flourish with the idea of trading him for a few young warm bodies at the end of July.

Great at-bat by Lucas Duda to lead off the bottom of the eighth, working the count full before taking a walk. Ridiculously boneheaded move by Terry Collins to call a bunt in the next at-bat with Hairston hitting. Are you kidding me? No outs, man on first, down by one, and the guy at the plate’s main tool is an ability to occasionally jerk one over the fence, and you have him bunting? Wow.

Josh Thole also put together a great at-bat in the eighth, and rapped a hard liner to left that was snared by Jason Kubel.

Every time I hear “Kubel” I think of my aunt’s noodle kugel.

In the last 7 games, the Mets bullpen has allowed 24 earned runs in 25 innings.

Next Mets Game

The Mets and Diamondbacks do battle again on Saturday afternoon at 4:05 p.m. Johan Santana goes to the mound against Patrick Corbin.