Mets Game 139: Loss to Marlins
Marlins 9 Mets 3
The game started out ugly, and got uglier with each succeeding inning.
Mets Game Notes
For the first time this season, Chris Capuano failed to complete five innings. Considering that he pitched only 106 innings last year (between MLB and minors), and missed 2008 and 2009 due to Tommy John surgery, I’m going to go on a limb and guess that he’s exhausted after pitching over 160 innings this year. In the game recap after his last start I mentioned a breakdown in his mechanics, and I’m continuing to see the issue (losing balance toward 1B at the leg lift). The fact the Fish have seen him so often over the last few weeks can’t help, either. Capuano allowed 6 runs on 8 hits and a walk in four innings.
Meanwhile, the Mets could not do anything against Javier Vazquez, who allowed just one run in seven solid innings. It wasn’t until Chris Hatcher — who was a catcher this time last year — took the mound that the Mets offense showed a little life and had three extra-base hits, scoring two runs.
Does it surprise you that Gaby Sanchez had three hits, including a double, two RBI, and two runs scored? Emilio Bonifacio, Jose Lopez, and Logan Morrison all had three hits apiece as well.
On the bright side, Jason Bay hit a bomb off Hatcher in the ninth; he also hit a single earlier in the game. Nick Evans had two hits, including a 9th-inning double. Ruben Tejada and Angel Pagan had two hits apiece.
Also on the bright side, little Danny Herrera threw a clean inning. He has yet to allow a baserunner while wearing the orange and blue. In contrast, Ryota Igarashi struck out three in his one inning of work, but also walked two in a 30-pitch inning. Iggy has not done anything to make me think he’s a MLB pitcher in a long, long time. Similarly, D.J. Carrasco consistently looks to me like a mop-up man, and he did nothing to change that opinion after seeing him pitch in this ballgame.
Next Mets Game
The Mets and Marlins do it again on Tuesday night at 7:10 PM. The starting pitchers will be Miguel Batista and Chris Volstad.
Miguel Batista wasn’t a “September call-up.” He filled Niese’s spot in August. As to “exciting,” I put it aside, but yeah, I don’t mind watching someone with a pretty interesting life/long career pitch a pretty good game. I don’t know if he’s pitching tonight, but Collins left that open.
Darn if (again) the “never any good” (except when killing the Mets in the field) Harris produced, putting aside that sure, it would have been nice for Satin to have a shot there. Oh, as to call-ups, what about the two pitchers? Does counting that ruin your whining?
As to Collins overall, if the team given to him performed all year the way they did in April and August, it would not be a surprise. Instead, they over and over again played competitive baseball, including the much maligned bargain basement bullpen.
Did Collins make some bad moves? Sure.