Mets Game 122: Loss To Padres
Padres 4 Mets 3
Can’t blame Matt Harvey for this one.
Mets Game Notes
Harvey pitched fairly well. Not exactly the dominant Matt Harvey we’re used to — especially against a AAA lineup like San Diego’s, and especially on a lazy Sunday afternoon. He was hitting all four quadrants of the strike zone — as per usual — but with slightly less precision than he had in the first half of the year. For example, his fastball would be letters-high when it needed to be shoulder-high, or his change-up would be middle-out instead of painting the black. But still, he was as effective as he needed to be, allowing 2 runs on 6 hits, walking none, striking out 6, in 6 innings.
Liked seeing great fundies and a great bunt laid down by Harvey.
The game came down to the bullpen — one that is without closer Bobby Parnell and never had a backup plan. The turning point of the game was Chase Headley‘s tremendous at-bat in the eighth against Gonzalez Germen that resulted in a double. Even if Will Venable didn’t hit that leadoff, walkoff homer in the bottom of the ninth, my bet is that the Mets would have lost the battle of the bullpens in extras. So don’t get too upset with Pedro Feliciano — the quick gopher ball may have put all of us out of the agony of watching several frames of offensive ineptitude on both sides before putting us out of our collective misery.
Another extra-base hit for Andrew Brown, who came in as a pinch-hitter and hit a double. Despite the fact lefthander Eric Stults started the game for San Diego, there was no room for Brown in the lineup. Why, again, is he buried at the end of the bench?
Next Mets Game
The Mets move up to Minnesota to play a make-up game starting at 2:10 PM. Dillon Gee faces Kyle Gibson.
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. Follow Joe's baseball tips on Twitter at @onbaseball and at the On Baseball Google Plus page.
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I don’t think anything of Pedro Lopez — I have no opinion as I haven’t watched him in action.
Also, curious to hear your thoughts on d’Arnaud’s receiving. He looks pretty quick back there to me, moves his body side to side well, is willing to block a ball, doesn’t stab with the backhand.
I’m reserving judgment on d’Arnaud for now. I want to watch several more games first. Catching is really, really difficult when you aren’t familiar with pitchers. I want to see him after he’s caught a few guys a few times and can start anticipating the movement of their pitches, their tendencies, strengths and weaknesses, etc.
Been saying that about Brown for two weeks. EY is ice cold, give him a game or two off. Murphy has disappeared. Mets land.