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July 5, 2012 Mets 2012 Games Joe Janish

Mets Game 83: Win Over Phillies

Mets 6 Phillies 5

This was a game that — in any year from 2007 to 2011 — the Phillies would have won dramatically instead of the Mets. Yet another sign that the tables have officially turned.

Mets Game Notes

R.A. Dickey did not have his good knuckler, but hung in there for seven innings. He battled, and wasn’t by any means successful — he allowed five runs on 11 hits and a walk — but Dickey on a bad day is better than any of the bullpen options. Even though he was hit so often (at least one hit allowed in every inning), he somehow kept his pitch count down — he expended only 99 pitches (70 strikes!).

When the bullpen did finally take over, it took four relievers 33 pitches to complete the final two frames. Talk about lack of efficiency! But at least they managed to prevent the Phillies from scoring.

So … where would the Mets be without David Wright? This game is a microcosm of Wright’s value to the club this year — he drove in four of the six runs, including the game-winning one.

Further, where would the Mets be without the startling power by Scott Hairston, who hit — yes — another home run. His power output is so crazy it’s suspicious; is it possible he accidentally opened one of his brother’s “vitamin” packages? That would explain a lot …

The Mets were charged with no errors, but they made several defensive mistakes. One of the most glaring was the methodical “ball gathering” — it kind of resembled an Easter egg hunt — by Lucas Duda on Jimmy Rollins “triple” in the sixth, as well as the ensuing relay throw from Duda that was dropped by Ike Davis. Do bunglings like this somehow factor into advanced fielding statistics?

I know, I know — I’m being a negative Nellie when I should be euphoric after such a dramatic win. But I wrote this after I pinched myself back to reality: that this was a game the Mets really were supposed to win, and nearly gave it away.

Next Mets Game

The final series of the first half starts on Friday night at 7:10 p.m. in Flushing against the Cubs. Johan Santana goes to the hill against Travis Wood.

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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.
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  1. NormE July 5, 2012 at 10:47 pm
    I know that it turned out okay, but I still think having Thole sac
    bunt in the 9th is not a good idea.
    • gary s. July 6, 2012 at 12:26 am
      The Thole bunt drove me nuts.Why give up a contact hitters turn at bat so a guy who strikes out all the time can try to get a hit?Collins shoukd thank Murph and DW for saving his butt
    • argonbunnies July 6, 2012 at 2:25 am
      Agreed. The manager’s got to know the players he’s working with and not just use the strategy you’d use with a real hitter up next. Kirk versus a guy who can throw 92+ is virtually a guaranteed K right now.

      Kirk up, man on 3rd, all I could think was “Can he bunt? Would Cedeno score on a safety squeeze? Do we have any pinch-hitters left? Would a pitcher be better?”

      One of the worst strategic calls of the year, IMO.

    • argonbunnies July 6, 2012 at 2:34 am
      Much as Dickey and the line score both said that he stunk, I thought he pitched fine. 1 walk, 7 Ks, and a whole ton of bloops and grounders falling in for hits. Rollins ripped two pitches, but the other 9 hits were simply well-placed.

      If we play the 2B or SS up the middle against Victorino and Pence, and Ike holds onto the relay and nails Rollins at 3rd, then Dickey allows 2 runs in 7. Or if Polanco, Fontenot and Hamels’ bloops make it to outfielders: also 2 runs in 7.

      I do wonder if our opposite-field OFs should play shallower with Dickey pitching. He gets a lot of weak contact.

      • argonbunnies July 6, 2012 at 2:36 am
        Oops, wrong place. Re-posted below.
  2. Joe July 5, 2012 at 11:58 pm
    The eighth was the difficult inning. Parnell did it himself w/o too much drama in the 9th. Hopefully, Beato will continue to do his job. As to the fielding, such is the path for imperfect teams. Hairston had a couple big HR runs a few years back. (17) Were their rumors then?

    Beat Papelbon again. Misplays duly noted, but thirteen hits. Unless you are the Twins, that many hits, not sure how much they were bound to win it. Took some good at bats at the 9th. Have P. have a clean inning and erase the most blatant miscues, close to balancing out.

    • HobieLandrith July 6, 2012 at 1:32 am
      Theres a fine line between good atbats and the umpire giving close calls to the hitter.

      There were at least three pitches that could’ve been strike three called in the bottom of the 9th that weren’t. Papelbon wasn’t great but looked to me like he was being squeezed.

      • Joe July 6, 2012 at 11:05 am
        You do seem to stretch to find something to diminish Mets play. Even if a few calls went their way — these things tend to balance out — they had to take the close pitches, stay alive in other cases and get the hits that won the game vs. a top notch closer.
  3. Joe July 6, 2012 at 12:02 am
    Just got to laugh:

    And he’s off…

    On June 2nd he was waived by the Mets and claimed by the Toronto Blue Jays.
    On June 6th he was released by the Blue Jays and claimed by the Cleveland Indians.
    On June 29th he was waived by the Indians and claimed by the New York Yankees.
    On June 5th he was waived by the Yankees and claimed by the Mets, AGAIN. He’s been optioned to AAA Buffalo.

    http://www.opposingviews.com/i/sports/mlb/mets-chris-schwinden-goes-around-mlb-35-days#

  4. argonbunnies July 6, 2012 at 2:35 am
    Much as Dickey and the line score both said that he stunk, I thought he pitched fine. 1 walk, 7 Ks, and a whole ton of bloops and grounders falling in for hits. Rollins ripped two pitches, but the other 9 hits were simply well-placed.

    If we play the 2B or SS up the middle against Victorino and Pence, and Ike holds onto the relay and nails Rollins at 3rd, then Dickey allows 2 runs in 7. Or if Polanco, Fontenot and Hamels’ bloops make it to outfielders: also 2 runs in 7.

    I do wonder if our opposite-field OFs should play shallower with Dickey pitching. He gets a lot of weak contact.

    • Joe July 6, 2012 at 11:09 am
      9 hits well placed? That’s a lot of good placement. Why don’t other teams well place so many of them?

      I agree bad luck was involved here but that can be said for a lot of not so pretty lines. Commend consistency there, when it’s provided, I guess.

      • argonbunnies July 6, 2012 at 4:52 pm
        Not saying that a bit of bad luck is a major event or something. Dillon Gee’s been dealing with it all year, Niese all of 2011. Dickey’s definitely been on the other side in some games this year, with every ball finding a glove.

        But yes, I do think that with average luck last night, half or more of those 9 hits are outs, and Dickey probably only allows 2 runs.

  5. DaveSchneck July 6, 2012 at 9:22 am
    Joe,
    I agree with others – don’t like the Thole bunt at all, Dickey wasn’t as bad as his line, and the D on the Rollins double was awful. That said, this was a huge win, and there were some great ABs in the 9th. Any way the beat the Phillies is good by me. This weekend it is time to finish up strong and put some heat on management to find some upgrades that don’t sacrifice any key pieces for the future.
  6. Crozier July 6, 2012 at 11:13 am
    “This was a game the Mets really were supposed to win”? With all due respect, Joe, there isn’t a team in baseball that’s “supposed” to beat Cole Hamels. I went to last night’s game figuring it was a 50/50 proposition, and the odds got much worse when it was Papelbon with a ninth inning lead. You want to focus on Duda’s lame performance in the field — as if that’s ever going to change as long as they trot him out there — as opposed to the fantastic ninth inning at bats that gave the Mets a truly memorable win, have at it. Me, I’m still smiling.
  7. Quinn July 6, 2012 at 12:59 pm
    Kirk should feel happy his teamates bailed him out because he deserved the L if they didnt win. wether the bunt was the right call or not man on 3rd less than 2 outs you have to get the run in every time. That is a very poor job of hitting
    • argonbunnies July 6, 2012 at 4:46 pm
      Well, to be fair, the average major leaguer gets that run in only 51% of the time (in 2012, anyway; I think it was 59% in 2009).

      But yes, Kirk never even gave himself a 1% chance with that late swing.

  8. Chris July 6, 2012 at 2:58 pm
    “One of the most glaring was the methodical “ball gathering” — it kind of resembled an Easter egg hunt — by Lucas Duda…”

    That made me laugh.