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September 11, 2013 Mets 2013 Games Joe Janish

Mets Game 143: Loss To Nationals

Nationals 6 Mets 3

When did Citi Field become a launching pad?

Mets Game Notes

Well, it’s only a launching pad for the Nationals, apparently.

Dillon Gee wasn’t terrible, but he wasn’t excellent, and when your team scores only three runs you need to be excellent. Gee allowed 4 earned runs on 9 hits in 6 1/3 innings — and that’s too much in the post-PEDs era.

The Mets did manage to squeak out three runs, though there were opportunities to score more — they were 2-for-9 with RISP and left 7 runners on base. The game was actually quite close until former Met Scott Hairston belted a two-run homer off of Tim Byrdak in the ninth to ice the ballgame for the Nats.

On the bright side, Justin Turner remains hot, going 2-for-3, and Travis d’Arnaud also had two hits — though neither came when they were needed. Matt den Dekker, however, did come through with a clutch single to drive in two, so there was that.

Next Mets Game

Game three of four begins at 7:10 PM on Wednesday night. Zack Wheeler faces Dan Haren. Haren could be the right guy to help get the Mets bats going. We’ll see.

Mets Item of the Day

Considering the Mets’ failure in key situations, today’s item is a clutch. Click on the image to purchase from Amazon for only twenty bucks.

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. Izzy September 11, 2013 at 8:01 am
    Dan Haren shows how the game has changed. He’s been truly horrible, yet, due to youngster inning limits, he doesn’t get replaced despite being one of the worst in the game. I wonder if the Nats wish they had tried to keep Edwin Jackson, who hasn’t been good, but a heck of a lot better than Haren.
    • DaveSchneck September 11, 2013 at 8:34 am
      True. But, hey, the Nats are just trying to get their $10 million worth of innings from Mr. Haren. I sure hope this isn’t the type of veteran that Alderson chases this winter.
  2. DanB September 11, 2013 at 9:06 am
    It used to be you needed that one veteran who ate up innings to save the bullpen even if he wasn’t that good. Now teams need a veteran to pitch at the end of the season when all of these young pitchers hit their innings limits. I could see 3/5ths of the Mets starting staff on inning limits next year.
    • Izzy September 11, 2013 at 1:50 pm
      Excellent DanB…… The game sure has changed quickly. Only a few years ago the baseball world made fun of Girardi and his Joba rules. Now every kid has his own Joba rules.
    • DaveSchneck September 11, 2013 at 1:52 pm
      Yep. And Niese and Gee, most likely the 2/5 that will not be on pitching limits, both have tears in their rotator cuffs, and Gee has suffered from elbow tendonitis for part of this season. This is why I strongly prefer to keep all the young arms and to bring in a couple of FAs to bolster the lineup. That is also why these remaining games are very meaningful – to secure a bottom 10 record and protected #1 pick in 2014. Throw DiceK and Harang on 3 days rest each for the rest of the season.