Mets Game 102: Loss To Nationals
Nationals 14 Mets 1
Mets start and end the series with laughers. Unfortunately, the Nationals got the last laugh.
Mets Game Notes
Not a good day for Carlos Torres. Similar to his previous starts, he relied heavily on his breaking pitches — mainly the slider. Unlike his previous starts, the opposing hitters were expecting him to rely on sliders, and they stayed back, letting the ball “get deep” before committing. As a result, many of Torres’ sinking sliders were taken for balls as they slid out of the strike zone, while others were poked to the opposite field. In short, Torres wasn’t fooling anyone.
After falling behind 8-0, I was actually a little surprised to see Torres removed. The game was far out of hand by that point, and Torres had only thrown 59 pitches — may as well leave him in there to eat up a few more innings and “take one for the team.”
As it was, reliever Gonzalez Germen was no better — he allowed two runs on four hits and a walk in his two frames.
This game lasted far too long.
Well, at least the Mets scored one. I guess.
The bottom of the Nats lineup provided most of the firepower — slots 5, 6, 7, and 8 went a combined 12-for-15 with 11 runs scored and 11 RBI. Wow.
Anthony Rendon was only 1-for-13 in this series but he hit everything hard. I mean, some blistering shots. He’s also 3 for his last 39, and though I have no idea whether all of his outs previous to facing the Mets were hard outs as well, he doesn’t look like a guy in that deep of a slump. It will be interesting to see what the Nats do with Rendon, Ryan Zimmerman, and Adam LaRoche during the offseason — and where/if Steve Lombardozzi, Chris Marrero, and Danny Espinosa fit into the plans.
Denard Span — who I keep confusing with Ben Revere — hit his second homerun of the season.
Cool seeing Davey Johnson remove Ryan Matteus after the righthander loaded the bases with a 13-run lead in the ninth. That’s no situation to be fooling around — throw strikes, dammit! Johnson had to pry the ball out of Mattheus’ hand, as the pitcher seemed surprised he was being taken out. Son, that’s called delusion, and perhaps the reason you have a 6+ ERA and likely on your way to the minors.
Next Mets Game
The Mets move on to Miami to start a four-game series with the Marlins. Game one begins on Monday night at 7:10 PM. The pitching matchup will be Jeremy Hefner vs. Jacob Turner.
Agreed on ‘t’orres. Collins should have let him take a little more for the team. He is clearly a bullpen pitcher, but
I think he has value there despite today’s bad outing.
I also don’t like the 6 man rotation. I can cut them slack with this post all-star run with no off days for 3 weeks, but once that passes, pitch 5 and find a replacement.
There are no meaningless games for the next two months. They have great significance for the playoff push, in 2014. I hope the Mets management handles them in that manner.
I’d be very curious to know what would have happened if Duda never went on the DL. Would he have taken over at 1B and never looked back?
The worst thing that can happen is Ike get hot in September, giving hope that he’s “back” and then penciled in to the 2014 starting job. If the Mets have all the money they’ve been bragging about when Bay/Santana come off the books, then they should go after a legit first baseman over the winter.
Ike’s 3-run homer in the 9th inning of Friday afternoon’s game matched the Mets’ run total over the next 3 games. Should this be the beginning of a long slide, his homer could be seen as the reverse of Kurt’s 3-run walk off on June 16.
Ike Davis: the anti-catalyst.
Also, good track record with the Rockies. Colin Mchugh didn’t pitch well in his spot start and Jr has been one of our best outfielders. We need to shake things up.
I’m hoping for some deadline deals but highly doubt it. I only watch games our young guns pitch (now include Mejia). Actually I watch more games now than I did in the beginning of the year because of our future pitchers. I could care less if Byrd is on the team. I don’t the Mets to see him play right field. Send him to the Rangers.
The next was a base hit by Desmond into center and Lagares charges and holds Werth at third. The Nats broadcasters were raving about Lagares playing short and charging hits so well. Lagares held the ball a second, then threw it in to a running Davis who was late getting to the mound to field the cut off throw.
The third was a grand slam. Shut it off.
http://metsmerizedonline.com/2013/07/mighty-thor-syndergaard-allows-one-hit-strikes-out-eight-in-b-mets-win.html
Harvey
Wheeler
Mejia
Syndergaard
Montero
Familia
Fulmer
Matz
Robles
deGrom
Niese
Tapia
Mateo
Ynoa
Mazzoni
Verrett
Pill
Gorski
Lara
Taylor
Cessa
Koch
Bowman
Flexen
I agree that while Izzy makes legit points, he is so anti-Alderson that his objectivity is suspect. and, I agree that the Dickey trade has the makings to be a winner, but we won’t know until these guys prove they can do it in the bigs. Yes, the Mets have stockpiled pitching depth in the minors, but I cannot accept it as a given that this will translate into them competing regularly. Tampa is the model here, but Alderson still has a ton of work to do to get to their levle of performance. And, many Met fans look past the fact that the Braves’ “plan” has whooped the Mets for two decades, the Nats have a ton more talent than the Mets and an owner with BILLONS to spend, the Phillies just spent $50 million on the chance that a risky Cuban kid will pan out, and are on the cusp of a TV deal that will provide them with enough money to fund a $200 million payroll annually. There is reason for optimism (Harvey, young ptiching, etc) but there is a great deal of uncertainly, and frankly Alderson has collectively done nothing to separate himself and this regime from any of the other GMs in the division. Heck, the Marlins have stockpiled more prospects than the Mets, and they have a 20 year old ace and the big cleanup hitter to build around, a young closer outperforming Parnell, an outfield crowded with prospects, and no money problems. Why should we think the Mets’ future is any brighter than the Marlins’, no less the Braves, Nationals, or Phillies?
I don’t think the Mets’ future is necessarily brighter than their rivals, although the Phillies are currently saddled with an awful lot of dollars on their payroll, and the team is old. I never count them out, but their future depends on a lot of things going right. The Marlins can’t be depended on to build anything that will last. Washington could go either way; I wouldn’t be surprised to see them bounce back or struggle.
I’m not saying the Mets will build a Braves-type model; only that they’re in a position to compete effectively. If their pitching pans out, it will take much less than many people suspect to get there. But I also I know how much good fortune is required to build and maintain good pitching. So we’ll see.
As to your money comments, I’m certainly not sold on a club’s ability to spend translating to success. For example: $70 million on four years of Ethier? I won’t be impressed. Smart, precision deals will give the Mets all the offense it needs if the pitching is good. I still think Alderson can do it.
Danny Heep was a fine piece on a very good team, acquired by trade. Unfortunately, the Mets have produced many more Dave Schnecks, but nonetheless I remain loyal to him as he was there when I first took interest. Oh, to be a Met fan. You are right, Alderson can still do it, but he is behind schedule and his little margin for error.
Now see? Those were the really dark days.
I was at Vets stadium the night after the Phils beat NY 26-7 (Von Hayes: 2 home runs, 7 RBI in the first inning alone). Danny Heep homered to tie it and later hit a SF to put them ahead for good. One of my favorite just-okay players.
Very very true. Time will tell, and it will take more than a few months and some good AA starts. Ditto for passing on Bourn. I like the look of Lagares, and Bourn has been just ok in Cleveland, but it is way too early to judge on these moves.
Generation K, not X.
That was three minor league pitchers that didn’t have great stuff, but were ballyhooed. On this list of 24 pitchers, 4 are already in the majors. That leaves the other 20 of which to find one, 5%. One out of twenty? I think they will find one.
The Angels want to trade Aybar. I like him. Good defense, good speed, ok bat. You can get him reasonably. I don’t know the other players you are referring to, but always open to a better plan.
Lagares to Kirk? I think you’re wrong, but we’ll see. If he absolutely bombs offensively, defensively he can be Peter Bourjos, and Bourjos is better than Neuwenheis. So, even if he bombs offensively…which, he’s not doing lately.
Mets have some holes to fill and reported money to spend(?). Izzy is the best authority to react to that statement.
We need an rbi bat/LF-RF. Byrd is very solid there, but an interesting name that could fit is …..Carlos Beltran.
We need a good SS. prefereably with speed. good bat. …someone like …..JOSE REYES maybe.
The young guns are great, some may stay some may be packaged…(hopefully well). I see Harvey, Syndergaard. Then comes Gee, Wheeler, Niese, Montero and Fulmer. Who will stick? Niese has suitors every year. But I think a veteran lefty starter with somewhat of a power arm could well get a shot. ….johan Santana? Coming off injury he will be cheaper, he is proven starter as a Met and would probably not need a lot of years. Plus there are all these youngsters coming through.
RE: list above:
How about letting us see them!!!!
-Juan Centeno & Francisco Pena: Playing very well at AAA after starting at AA. It is not like our major league catchers are that great. Pena in particular (TONY PENA’s) son has worked his way through the system.
-Syndergaard. Has done as well if not better than Harvey and Wheeler. Does he need to play AAA ball? Maybe not, but Wally might ask for him so LV pushes for AAA title.
-Wilmer Flores:
OUT: Atchison, Turner, Murphy (?) LaTroy, John Buck/Recker.
MANAGER: Wally Backman: Is there a link between the upswing in performance of Tejada, Jordy, Ike, Satin, Kirk, Duda, et al ewhen they play for him? Is there something about Wally that would give us some clues to this….hmmm