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October 4, 2012 Mets 2012 Games Joe Janish

Mets Game 162: Win Over Marlins

Mets 4 Marlins 2

Wait till next year!

Mets Game Notes

The Mets salvage the final game of the series to avoid a season-ending sweep. They lost 7 of their last 9 series, finishing the year with a 74-88 record — 14 games under .500. Ouch and yuck. In case you forgot, the Mets’ 2011 record was 77-85. But hey, sometimes you need to take two steps back to take one step forward.

It was an encouraging start for Pat Misch Jeremy Hefner, who pitched a strong 7 1/3 innings. I’d really, really like to say that this outing by Hefner means something, but, in reality, it doesn’t.

Similarly, it doesn’t matter that Andres Torres hit a homerun. I noticed Andres taking some very healthy cuts over the last week, and I imagine he was “airing it out.” And why not? He’s not a stupid man, and realizes he will be non-tendered. When you have nothing to lose, you may as well play that way, and swing from the heels.

Ike Davis hit his 32nd homerun of the year, an opposite-field shot. Again, what does it mean? Not much more than Bobby Parnell gaining his seventh save of the season. This was the ultimate giveaway game; two teams playing out the string and a bunch of players looking to pad their stats. Ho hum.

In non-Mets news, Miguel Cabrera won the AL Triple Crown. Wow. As in, WOW.

Another Miguel — Miguel Batista — is going to the postseason (with the Braves). Wait, what? Wonders never cease.

There’s more to say, I’m sure, but I’m spent. Sound off in the comments.

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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 October 4, 2012 at 8:05 am
    You had a much better year than the Mets and especially that horrid excuse for a GM. Thanks for making a pathetic season a little entertaining!!!
    • Joe Janish October 4, 2012 at 9:42 pm
      Izzy, thanks, and thank YOU for sticking with me and keeping the conversation going all year. This was not an easy season to endure, and I definitely would have bagged the blog if not for the fun back-and-forth with you and everyone else who participated in the comments.
  2. DaveSchneck October 4, 2012 at 8:08 am
    Joe,
    Pitchers and catchers report Feb. 13. That gives Alderson and his dream team about 130 days to improve the team enough to interest fans besides those that love baseball and will watch no matter how lame the ownership is. Comments yesterday were not encouraging, more Ivy League speak that is backing off more aggressive comments made just a few weeks ago. It should be an interesting winter, but I will be referring the the GM as Sandy Wilpon until his actions prove otherwise. Thanks for the efforts and recaps which help to make even bad baseball enjoyable, I look forward to the offseason analysis.
    • Joe Janish October 4, 2012 at 9:43 pm
      Dave, thanks very much for the kind words and for hanging here and providing your take. I’m with you on all points, and also looking forward to the banter.
  3. AC Wayne October 4, 2012 at 8:16 am
    Disappointing season to say the least, the Mets need to look at what they have in terms of trading chips and get some new faces in here (the Andres Torres’ of the world are not cutting it), free agency is out of the question since Alderson has already warned Mets fans that there is no extra money to be spent in the off-season, why not explore options in trading guys like Duda, Valdespin, Hefner for some MLB-ready outfield and BP help
  4. david October 4, 2012 at 8:26 am
    A friend of mine Met an ex-MLB player who put it best – the Mets will never win until the Wilpons sell the team. This season will be remembered bitter with a twist of sweet. Highlights abounded, but the teaser of playoffs or at least a winning season were snuffed out cruelly by the post All Star game collapse. Is it because the team made no moves? Dumped guys underperforming or even better, overperforming? Either the 3 GMS are dumb as dog-doo or ownership held them back. I believe the latter. Final comment – Phillies fired 3 coaches after going .500. Mets bring em all back after 14 games under .500. You work it out.
    • Izzy October 4, 2012 at 9:50 am
      Nice catch about the Phils firing their coaches and showing Collins what accountability really means. They dumped Victorino for pouting and playing like he didn’t give a crap when Manuel batted him down in the lineup, now the coaches. Collins version of accountability is…….. 3 innings for Duda on the bench. The Mets could have dumped just one little GM After all how many GMs do you need to do nothing!
  5. NormE October 4, 2012 at 8:48 am
    Joe,
    I would like to thank you for giving it a great effort during the season. Your perspective is always enlightening.
    I’d also like to thank your regular commenters for their thoughts. They helped make this blog entertaining.

    We all know that Izzy has nothing good to say about Sandy A. and he might prove to be correct, but I tendto agree more with david about the ownership.

    Let’s all inhale deeply (collective sigh?) and enjoy the playoffs.

    • Joe Janish October 4, 2012 at 9:44 pm
      Thank YOU for consistently offering your opinion. That’s what makes this blog so much fun – talking baseball, kvetching, and sharing in our collective pain as Mets fans!
    • Izzy October 5, 2012 at 7:53 am
      Hi Norm, when Sandy, i mean IF Sandy ever makes a good move, I will cheer from the highest hill. I just can’t cheer bad moves, bad signs, bad drafts and most especially bad teams with bad records. Sandy has only earned F to date on all accounts.
  6. Crozier October 4, 2012 at 10:12 am
    Joe,

    It takes tremendous dedication to document season after season of mediocrity, so I salute your tenacity. There were entire weeks where I had to avert my eyes and walk away. Oftentimes I found your cynicism and invective misplaced, but given your undertaking (double-meaning), I can’t really blame you.

    I had predicted 75 wins, excellence for Dickey, and a breakthrough year for Ike, and I was mostly correct (Davis did break through…rock bottom, that is, in June). I see no reason to hope for better things next year, but I hope I’m wrong.

    • Joe Janish October 5, 2012 at 8:57 am
      HA! LOVE the “undertaking” double entendre!!!!

      You were spot-on, Crozier. If you predict that well all the time, I hope you’re using that skill to fatten your wallet!

      Like you, there were days/weeks/months(!) when I wanted to look away, but my inbred insanity forced me to continue on. I do believe the cynicism has been a developed — and now ingrained — attitude that began back in 2007 / 2008. Watching the team so closely every single day, and seeing the execution not coincide with the messages, makes it hard to see things optimistically.

      Thanks for sticking it out with us and providing your special flair. I’ve enjoyed bantering with you and look forward to continuing to do so in the future.

  7. Rob October 4, 2012 at 11:01 am
    Joe: Thanks for all that you do on this site. Always a pleasure to come back and read your thoughts. With all of that said, can you focus an entry on exactly what caused the Mets to collapse after the ASB? I know people will simply say “lack of talent” or “lack of depth,” but I really want to know the specific factors that contributed. Pitchers going down to injury, hitters going into extended slumps, etc. Perhaps a top ten contributing factors entry might be fun to read and analyze. I know that not spending money in the off season probably contributed to the swoon…or prevented the team from coming out of it in any reasonable period of time….but really…what specifically contributed to the swoon in the first place?

    Again, thanks for your great work. Now that the offseason is upon us and the hotstove is just around the corner, I’ll be sure to spend more time reading and hoping for miraculous acquisitions and strategic reductions….or as Adam Rubin so callously puts it…take or trash time.

    All the best,
    Rob

    • AC Wayne October 4, 2012 at 7:35 pm
      the Mets this season just didn’t have the right makeup to play consistent baseball throughout, to win 90-95 games, you have to commit yourself to the long haul, the Mets gave you three good innings, five good at-bats, four good innings, there were too many mental lapses on defense, on the base paths, from their BP, plus their offense was over-matched against LHP, no power, not much speed, and Collins eventually seemed complacent with the overall performance of his team, I remember after the Mets lost to the Phils, 16-0, Collins finally woke up, unfortunately, it was too little too late
  8. derek October 4, 2012 at 11:08 am
    great season joe….looking forward to talking about the winter moves here…..
    • Joe Janish October 4, 2012 at 9:47 pm
      Thanks Derek. And thank you for visiting and offering your evaluation. I’m not sure everyone here is aware that you are a former pro pitcher and a highly regarded baseball coach / instructor — you bring excellent, unique value to the conversation, and I appreciate it greatly.

      Time to warm up the hot stove!

  9. Steven October 4, 2012 at 12:01 pm
    Thanks Joe. Enjoyed following you this season. You still owe us an analysis of why Pelfrey got hurt. I agree with Rob’s request for a real critical analysis of the second hand collapse. My votes go to 1) Poor OBP from CF and Catcher and 2) David Wright is a good player but no superstar.
    • Joe Janish October 4, 2012 at 9:49 pm
      Steve, yes, I promise I will eventually get to Pelfrey’s issues; I think it’s important for youngsters and youth coaches to be aware. And we definitely will address the other topics.

      Many thanks for participating all year.

  10. jerseymet October 4, 2012 at 1:04 pm
    Excellent job Joe! Kudos to you calling Dickey’s 20 game season early in the season. I should never have doubted your wisdom. Thanks for the fun.
    • Joe Janish October 4, 2012 at 9:50 pm
      jerseymet, thank YOU for contributing to the conversation all year. Did I call the 20-win season? Wow, I’m definitely getting old … that’s part of the reason I blog — so when I forget things I experienced, I can look them up!
  11. Steve S. October 4, 2012 at 1:49 pm
    Thanks, Joe, for a great blog! And thanks to Wright, Santana, Dickey, Davis, Tejada, Murphy, Niese, Harvey, Baxter, Hairston, and Duda (once!) for some great moments!
    • Joe Janish October 4, 2012 at 9:51 pm
      And thank you for helping create great moments in the comments!
  12. Joe October 4, 2012 at 2:57 pm
    Congrats for gutting it out. Looking pretty tired thru the dog days of the second half.

    The season win/loss wise was about as expected overall. Some even predicted a “100 loss” season. The true loser here is the Marlins. There was some expectation that they would do well. They did worse than the Mets. “Feel good story” Pittsburgh won a handful more games. Low expectations. Didn’t dig the hole deeper. Look at the closer. Mediocre. But, look at the alternatives. See, e.g., Heath Bell.

    I never thought Pat Misch was a credible major league pitcher. Now and then, Hefner looks like one. Someone to fill in a few games in on a double header. Cf. Colin McHugh (if he will be, he isn’t yet). Anyway, like Batista last year, he had a job to do yesterday, and he did it. Give them a lot of innings.

    The Mets had a watchable team the first half that kept their head above the water. Totally sunk come July. Expect 75-85 wins next season too. They are going in the right direction. The turn in the road is next summer with Dickey/Wright and finding some credible short term option at CF in the winter. Getting rid of Bay would be nice too. Sorry guy, time to go.

    • Joe Janish October 4, 2012 at 9:53 pm
      Ha! Dog days they were!

      Joe, thanks for keeping me in check and balancing out the conversation. Looking forward to arguing with you all winter!

  13. argonbunnies October 5, 2012 at 8:40 am
    The sports internet is overstuffed with stats and opinions. From fWAR to grittiness, it’s hard to find anything out there that isn’t just a rehash of what some other number or talk show host already said. Mets Today is a rare exercise in observation beyond the obvious. A pitch selection here, an arm slot there, a defensive technique over here… it’s another take on the Hows and Whys behind the results. Caring only about results is reactionary fandom, and it’s easy, and it can only survive winners. Loyalty to a crappy team like the Mets demands that we care about process, about reading the plays and the players for deficiencies to address and signs of hope to nurture. I don’t know if that’s what motivates you, Joe, but regardless, keep it up, man!
    • Joe Janish October 5, 2012 at 9:01 am
      If there is ever a book about MetsToday, I think you just wrote the foreword!

      Yes, you’ve captured — exactly — the point and essence of this blog and one of my motivations.

      I’ll keep it up as long as you keep coming here and adding to the conversation. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed our discussions and arguments; if such a thing existed I’d sign you to a long-term, no-trade, commenting contract.

      Thanks very much.

  14. Dan B October 5, 2012 at 10:59 am
    The opposite of love is not hate, it is apathy. I hated these Mets this year. I saw where they could of improved but didn’t. I listen to them say one thing but do another. I worry about when they will ever be good. But I already miss watching them, even when they lose. Because I have and will always love the Mets. Joe, I felt like you understood that. Thanks for being an Internet shoulder I could lean on in bad times and hopefully celebrate with in good.
    • Joe October 5, 2012 at 4:04 pm
      If you “hated” them this year, including the first half, what about the last few years? Years w/o a 20 game winner or a no hitter? I guess the love/hate relationship was there then too? If not, not sure why.
      • Dan B October 7, 2012 at 9:51 am
        I don’t hate the players, I hate the owners and front office philosophy
  15. Mike B October 5, 2012 at 3:14 pm
    Great job as always Joe, Looking foward to a hot stove at the bargain basement scrap yard.
  16. gary s. October 6, 2012 at 10:46 am
    The problem with the Mets the last 2 years is very obvious.The talent is ok.The manager is ok.The season is too long!!!! We need to play in a league with a 85 game season.Anything over that total leads to collapses.
  17. chris October 8, 2012 at 2:13 pm
    Thanks for the blog! Down here in Miami I dont get much interaction with Mets fans so reading your thoughts each day, plus the comments, makes me feel plugged into part of something. I went to the last series which was more fun than it should have been, especially the last game. Maybe they should play every game like it’s the last of the season.