Mets Game 52: Win Over Cardinals

Mets 8 Cardinals 0

OK, it’s out of the way. Can we move on, now, please?

Mets Game Notes

Unbelievable to see Cardinals hitters swinging at first pitches in the 8th and 9th innings, down by 8 runs and a no-hitter going. Horrendous baseball like that drives me nuts.

Awesome that Queens-born Mike Baxter made the defensive play of the game.

Nice double down the line by Carlos Beltran. If the umpire called that one correctly, any Mets fan who didn’t already hate Beltran, would certainly have learned to due to hisbreaking up the no-no. What kind of evil irony would that have been?

Next Mets Game

Mets and Cardinals do it again on Saturday afternoon at 4:10 p.m. R.A. Dickey goes for the second no-hitter in Mets history against Lance Lynn.

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. Joe June 1, 2012 at 10:11 pm
    I can think of a few places that first line can be used.
  2. Josh Z June 1, 2012 at 10:37 pm
    Thats it? As a die hard fan i am speechless, he is now NYC icon status
  3. SiddFinch June 1, 2012 at 10:47 pm
    Nice deadpan Joe, but seriously I’m sure you shouted and cheered as loud as any fan after the first Mets no-no in their half century of existence. I’m sure you cried for the Grote’s, Stearn’s, Koosman’s Matlack’s and Swan’s who came before. Congrats to Thole & Johann with an assist from Baxter. It always takes two and sometimes three.

    LGM!

    • Joe June 1, 2012 at 10:48 pm
      or four. 😉
  4. hart June 1, 2012 at 11:01 pm
    I’m a big fan of this site, but your failure to make at least some effort to capture the moment is disappointing.
    • Joe Janish June 2, 2012 at 12:30 am
      Sorry to disappoint. This site is not about me, and it’s not about expressing fandom. It’s about the conversation of the visitors first and passing along some baseball knowledge second.
  5. DaveSchneck June 1, 2012 at 11:03 pm
    Surely a performance for the ages.
  6. wohjr June 1, 2012 at 11:10 pm
    Honored to say I watched it all. I personally thought that if it was going to be this year it was destined to be RA. Its all smoke and mirrors but WTF we are at 29 wins already. YA GOTTA BELIEVE! GO NO-HAN, GO METS!
    • Joe Janish June 2, 2012 at 12:33 am
      I also thought that if it was going to happen this year, it would be R.A.

      Though, there’s no reason we have to wait another 51 years — maybe Dickey will do it on Saturday!

  7. murph June 1, 2012 at 11:20 pm
    Umpires are now 1 and 1 in no-hitters.
    Adrian Johnson’s call on Beltran counter-balances Jim Joyce’s call on Galarraga.

    Did you see the knucklehead fan get pummeled by security after jumping on the pile on the mound?

    • wohjr June 1, 2012 at 11:24 pm
      Hey, whatever you want to say about the Jorts-meister, he got out there and into the pile right quick!
  8. Gary S. June 1, 2012 at 11:30 pm
    Congrats to Johan!!!!!I was amazed that cards kept swinging at first pitches in eight and ninth also.Collins said he hopes Johan can get on mound in five days.I guess we will find out how good Santana’s surgeon was the next few starts.Great nite for Mets fans.
  9. Paul Festa June 1, 2012 at 11:38 pm
    Come on, you can’t take this one away from the Mets or Santana. They missed out on a couple thanks to sloppy official scoring in 1984 and 2001. It’s part of the game.

    And will Johan’s surgery from now on be known as “Johan Santana Surgery?” After all, if the elbow can have a glamorous signature surgery, the shoulder deserves one as well.

  10. Rick June 1, 2012 at 11:38 pm
    Honestly, I don’t even understand why you keep this blog. You try to come across as deadpan, but you’re really just boring. You should be celebrating, not giving reasons why we should disregard this monumental moment in Mets’ history.

    Please note that this isn’t just a spur of the moment comment, it’s been a long time coming. Your writing has simply been going downhill, and I for one, will no longer be reading your blog after tonight.

    • Joe Janish June 2, 2012 at 12:39 am
      Have you ever added to the conversation before? If not you won’t be missed. I publish this blog to discuss with, not talk at, the people who visit. The value of MetsToday is in the readers’ interaction with each other and the authors, so it’s your contribution — not mine — that matters most.
    • Paul Festa June 2, 2012 at 1:11 am
      I may disagree with Joe sometimes, but he’s actually played the game at a high level. He deserves nothing but respect. And he has mine.
  11. Crozier June 1, 2012 at 11:51 pm
    Even tongue in cheek, I don’t get the “any Met fan who didn’t already hate Carlos Beltran” line. What’s to hate? Great player, had some splendid years in NY, didn’t leave voluntarily, didn’t pull himself out of a game to preserve a batting title prior to taking the money and running to Miami…I still root for Carlos to excel.

    If it’s 2006 game 7 you’re referencing, there’s only one goat in that game, and his name is Aaron.

    And I echo the sentiment that there was plenty of interesting material to discuss regarding today’s game, and it’s disappointing that you shortchanged a fabulous night.

    • Joe Janish June 2, 2012 at 12:48 am
      There is a large faction of Mets fans who do not like Carlos Beltran for various reasons — most of them unfair and without valid supporting logic. That’s not my opinion, it’s fact. I turned that fact into a little joke that is similarly based on irrationality.

      As for the “material” re: Santana’s start, I had nothing. To me this was just another game. Would you have preferred I “faked” emotion and wrote 500 words on how glorious a night it was, when the truth is that I’m indifferent to the event?

      I’m glad that you and many, many other Mets fans enjoyed the moment. I’m sorry that you are disappointed that I didn’t share in the elation, but it wouldn’t be right to pretend I did.

      • Jay in Cuse June 2, 2012 at 1:21 am
        The major reason that I love this blog (among my many Mets blogs) is that Joe is always brutally honest. That’s a good thing. Sometimes you really just need someone to agree with you that Pelf stinks and not sugar coat it. If he’s not over excited, that’s fine it’s his opinion.

        Joe’s often over-looked articles on pitching mechanics and catching are a great take that you don’t get often, and he often covers angles that you don’t get elsewhere.

        Also in reference to Carlos Beltran. If he didn’t take strike 3 looking, I probably wouldn’t hold the grudge that I do. But other than that, I do agree a lot of Carlos hate is extremely misplaced.

        • James June 2, 2012 at 1:17 pm
          The hatred of Carlos Beltran is severely misplaced. The fact that he took strike three is not a reason to hate a ball player. The pitch froze him and the only reason to criticize is if you feel that you are ENTITLED by your very fandom to have God intervene and play on the Mets side like He did in 1969 ;-). Even Ty Cobb would have had trouble with that one. My point is this – your desire for Mets winning times beltransnlarge contract does not entitle anyone to anything. It’s all gravy if they win. To criticize a one at bat sample is idiocy inanity naïveté and lack of having a real life personified. That said I love this team! And if David wright makes the last out of the playoffs I will still love him. Get f’in over it and get a life.
        • James June 2, 2012 at 1:25 pm
          The real importance of this game is the go through the wall mentality and leadership inspired by Collins and Santana and wright and being taken up by Baxter and others. This team is different, aided by the disappearance of Jose Reyes. This team could win 90 games IF the bullpen gets better,which will take a roster change. (Jose mejia plus one other surprise). Santana’s no no creates an aura that this team is special like Seaver’s imperfect game in 1969. Collins takes no bs in similar vein to hodges. But without McGraw and Taylor even the 69 mets would not have won.
      • Crozier June 2, 2012 at 4:03 am
        Joe,
        I didn’t suggest you should express elation; I read the blog for analysis, not emotions. If you’re indifferent to the event, I’d think you’d therefore be outraged Santana was allowed to throw 130+ pitches. Instead, your outrage was directed at Cardinals hitters for swinging early in the count. That’s…bizarre.

        As to there being a large faction of Beltran haters: 27,000+ fans is a pretty fair sample, and he didn’t exactly get the Chipper Jones treatment from them.

  12. Steven June 2, 2012 at 12:36 am
    Let’s give Joe a break. It was obvious to me that he’s just being ironic and sarcastic he understands this is the greatest pitching performance in mets history. the words in the column were true and objective. This column was Joe’s head speaking and not his heart I have no doubt we will see another column from Joe’s heart.
    • Paul Festa June 2, 2012 at 1:14 am
      Joe always writes from the heart. Maybe I’m biased, but I love it!
  13. meticated June 2, 2012 at 5:53 am
    ok…but surprising that you are underwhelmed…agreed its like new years eve being its for amateurs and tourists…but its a reason to celebrate and we need to enjoy the moment
    • David June 2, 2012 at 10:50 am
      Joe thinks it’s bad luck to talk about a no hitter after it happens.
      • James June 2, 2012 at 1:38 pm
        Hilarious.
  14. Ben C. June 2, 2012 at 9:40 am
    Always love your perspective, Joe.

    I couldn’t believe Johan managed to work around all those baserunners. Glad Santana doesn’t reach to men on like Pelfrey.

  15. Rob June 2, 2012 at 3:32 pm
    I want someone to talk about the guy in the Carter jersey that got pummeled for being on the field during the celebration. It was actually pretty funny…if you like watching train wrecks.
  16. Joe June 2, 2012 at 6:57 pm
    Maybe, you could have wrote something a few hours after the game. This looks like a response to the celebration.