Mets Game 47: Loss To Diamondbacks
Diamondbacks 3 Mets 2
Mets pitching harkens back to their efforts from the 1970s. Unfortunately, so did Mets hitting.
Mets Game Notes
Zack Wheeler gave the Mets a strong effort, going 6 2/3 innings and allowing 3 runs — 2 earned — on 6 hits and a walk, striking out 7 through 118 pitches. But allowing three runs is usually one too many when the offense supporting you is the 2014 New York Mets.
Though Wheeler’s results were acceptable, the process has me concerned. He’s still slowing down his motion when he throws his curve, so most batters will know it’s coming. The slight drop in velocity — from about 95-96 MPH (touching 97) in the first frame down to 92-93 by the fifth/sixth, indicates some kind of issue, which I believe could be due to mechanical flaws causing him to fatigue prematurely. And finally, there are those mechanical flaws — specifically, that his throwing arm is usually far behind the rest of his body. One indication of the arm behind was the number of pitches that wound up up and away from the lefthanded hitters / up and in to the righties.
I’m not going into details about the rest of the game. Let’s just sum it up thusly: the Mets had several opportunities to score, and blew them. In other words, the big hit never arrived.
Next Mets Game
The Mets and Diamondbacks hook up on Sunday afternoon for a doubleheader. Game one’s matchup is Rafael Montero vs. Bronson Arroyo, and game two pits Daisuke Matsuzaka and Zeke Spruill.