Mets Game 48: Loss To Diamondbacks

Diamondbacks 2 Mets 1

At first, this seemed like it would be a high-scoring game. Then, it seemed like no one would ever score again.

Mets Game Notes

There may be worse offensive teams in MLB, but so far, we haven’t seen them. But, we’ll see the San Diego Padres in a few weeks.

Chris Owings hit a solo homer in the top of the initial inning, David Wright drove in Juan Lagares in the bottom, and then that was it, offensively, for the rest of the ballgame.

Rafael Montero pitched brilliantly against an aggressive Arizona club, striking out 10 in 6 innings. However, the Mets couldn’t get another runner to cross the plate against Bronson Arroyo nor any other Arizona pitcher, so the teams remained tied through the next seven innings.

Neither team lacked baserunners — but neither could get the big hit to drive them home. The Mets ground into 5 double plays, a crazy amount on its own, but even more remarkable considering that the Mets went into the game grounding into the second-least amount of DPs in the NL, and hitting the second-least amount of ground balls in general.

Just when you think Daniel Murphy is about to take a stride forward defensively, he fails to execute something fairly simple. Maybe David Wright threw a hard slider to Murphy? It was the second dropped throw from Wright to Murphy in a few days.

Jenrry Mejia‘s method of intentionally walking a batter is a bit scary. It reminds me of Dave LaRoche throwing the blooper pitch, or, “La Lob.”

I don’t know how Alfredo Marte made it this far with his approach and swing. Though, I’m not sure swinging at everything can be described as an “approach.” With the wild swings he takes at pitches outside the strike zone, and the way he pulls his head out, it’s remarkable he ever makes contact against a Major League pitcher.

Next Mets Game

Dice-K takes on Zeke Spruill in the latter half of this double-dip.

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.
  1. meticated May 25, 2014 at 5:53 pm
    Joe you’ve got to admit that we are scraping the bottom of the ugly barrel to find inventive ways to lose…it’s encouraging that we have the influx of youth and their potential, but the fundamentals …High school teams in Alaska execute better than us..and this hitting approach is from crazyland. ..can’t we hire some new blood, this just ain’t workin’…yesterday the commish released a memo about the Cubs lack of investment and commitment. .you could merely substitute Mets for Chicago in the language. ..it’s a travesty at this juncture. ..let Jay Z buy the team even!…install puff daddy as gm and snoop dogg as manager
    • Joe Janish May 25, 2014 at 10:28 pm
      I don’t understand how the MLBPA is “watching” the Cubs yet looking the other way when their eyes glance over Flushing. They have to be kidding me.
  2. meticated May 25, 2014 at 5:55 pm
    …and implement a promo day giving away free blunt wraps with Mr met embossed on them!!
  3. meticated May 25, 2014 at 5:58 pm
    …For medicinal usage only..of course
  4. The King May 25, 2014 at 7:15 pm
    The margin of error is too thin; Murph’s antics in the field can no longer be tolerated. There has to be an AL team that would cough up the proverbial ham sandwich for a decent LH DH.
  5. david May 25, 2014 at 7:22 pm
    Ham sandwich, inventive promos, this is getting interesting. On the positive side Montero is the real deal and I am very excited about his future. Beginning to think Abreu = Farnworth, just another veteran off the scrap heap blocking the path of someone better. Perhaps Den Dekker makes that catch in RF in the top of the 9th? Grandy sure has a better shot than old man Bobby. Is the Plawecki clock ticking yet?
    • Joe Janish May 25, 2014 at 10:26 pm
      Montero has pitched well thus far but I’m reserving judgment for a while — partially because the Diamondbacks are not the real deal, and in fact are one of the worst three offensive teams in all of baseball.
  6. argonbunnies May 27, 2014 at 3:39 am
    For Montero to do what he did as a 1-pitch pitcher was stunning. A 91-93 mph fastball that’s mostly (but not 100%) on the knees usually won’t net you 10 Ks in 6 innings. Or, well, 9 Ks; Montero did throw one good slider. I don’t think he threw a single change-up that wasn’t taken low for a ball.

    The 91 mph pitches seemed to run more than the 93 mph ones; maybe his 4-seamer has late hop and his 2-seamer has late sink? I think it’s a pretty good sign that he could be special if he ever develops some secondary pitches. At the same time, the lack of secondary stuff makes me think he’s not as MLB ready as the hype had claimed.

    He’d probably be better served spending 2014 throwing sliders and change-ups in AAA, and coming back to MLB once he’s got that down. This being the Mets, of course, that will never happen. He’s probably headed the John Maine route, where teams eventually learn to time his fastball and then he has no way to keep them off it.

  7. argonbunnies May 27, 2014 at 3:53 am
    By the way, I’d say this game is the prime example of what it’s like to be a Mets fan. Going out and being out-hit and out-pitched by a more talented team is one thing. It’s dispiriting, but as long as there’s some sort of help on the horizon, you can hold your head up and trust the reinforcements to make a difference. Combine the untalent with choking, though? It’s hard not to feel hopeless and disgusted.

    At least most Mets continue to play hard… not all bad teams do that.

    I have to mention, though, that Murphy cost the Mets the go-ahead run on the 1-2-3 DP by jogging through the plate instead of sliding at the catcher.

    Murph also failed to go first to third on a single by giving up on the play and coasting into second rather than making a hard turn and watching the play as the OF bobbled the ball. He also hasn’t stolen a base in two weeks and is looking worse in the field. Time for a day off…

  8. Colin May 27, 2014 at 4:51 pm
    I was at the doubleheader and I went solely for the Bartolo Colon poster. And it was worth it.

    Still keeping the faith.