Rounding Second

Daniel Murphy & Miguel Batista 3, Milwaukee 0

Miguel Batista has submitted his bid for the 5th starter role. Against the Brewers, Batista scattered four hits across seven innings of shut out baseball while giving up one walk and striking out five.  Not bad for your 41 year old long man out of the pen.  

Batista went toe-to-toe with Milwaukee’s ace, Yovani Gallardo, who surrendered only two hits across his six innings of work.  Both hits were by Daniel Murphy, who continued his hitting streak and is hitting well over .400 over the last couple weeks.

Murphy also scored a run on a suicide squeeze by Ronny Cedeno, who is filling in admirably for the injured Ruben Tejada.  Cedeno and Murphy executed the play perfectly, including a bluff on the previous pitch.  Murphy left third early enough to be well on his way home before first baseman Taylor Green even picked up the batted ball.  

Gallardo also walked six, giving the Mets a much greater potential to do some damage, but instead stranded seven.  There were a lot of 0’fers in the lineup.  

Other than Murphy, David Wright pitched in with a big insurance run.  Wright hit a double off former Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez in the 8th and scored on a fielder’s choice, hit by none other than, Daniel Murphy.  Murphy hit a ground ball to second baseman, Brooks Conrad, on a drawn-in infield and Wright forced the issue, scoring on a botched rundown by Aramis Ramirez who dropped the ball while transferring from his glove to his throwing hand.  

The Mets keep finding ways to win in these tight games, even when the team struggles. They now sit 2 games behind Washington in a very tight NL East at 20-15, five games over .500.  The Mets go for the series win over Milwaukee on a rainy Tuesday at Citi Field.

Mets Bring Brooms to Philly

The Mets continue to push around the Phillies this season and keep them down in the cellar.  Despite facing both Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee this week, the Mets manage to leave Philadelphia with three wins and 22 runs scored.  Each day the Mets put up more runs than the day before.  Five on Monday, seven on Tuesday and ten on Wednesday.  This was the first sweep for the Mets, in Philly, in six years.

In today’s game, Shane Victorino misjudged a couple fly balls (including the above), each leading to extra base hits.  In the 8th, the normally akward looking but steady Hunter Pence dropped a routine pop up worrying that the speedster, Scott Hairston, was going to try and tag up and go to third.  These are just a couple examples of the way the Phillies played this week behind their aces. 

The relief corp wasn’t much better.

On Monday against Halladay, the Mets won on a pinch-hit home run off Phillies closer, Jonathan Papelbon, by Jordany Valdespin to notch his first career big league hit.

In the second game, the Mets hung the go-ahead run on another reliever, Chad Qualls, and then tacked on a couple more against Michael Schwimer in the 9th.

In the conclusion, Wednesday, the Mets managed to put up a pair of runs against Lee to tie the game before he exited after 6 complete.  Once he left, the Mets offense exploded, putting up three in the 7th and four in the 8th, including a bomb from Ike Davis that hit the facade of the second deck.  In the 9th, Andres Torres swatted one into the left field seats to tack on one more insurance run.

Philly starters gave up 8 runs in 17.2 inning, 2 apieces for the aces, Halladay and Lee and 4 for Joe Blanton.  The bullpen allowed the remaining 14 runs in just under 10 innings.

The Philadelphia bullpen was not great this week, but the Mets offense worked hard and scored late.  They continued to be patient at the plate and work the pitcher into a favorable count.  This team waited out the starters, chipping away a bit at a time and then clobbered the lesser-knowns.  This was the Mets 11th come from behind win of the season, putting them 5 games over .500 and 13-5 in division.

Enjoy the off day, see you in Miami on Friday.

David Wright - New Mets All Time RBI Leader

The Mets are 2-0 against Jose Reyes and the 7-10 Miami Marlins after Wednesday’s 5-1 victory.

The Marlins and Mark Buehrle held the Mets scoreless until David Wright’s 7th inning 2-run homerun but their pitching kept them in the game.  RA Dickey went 7 innings, giving up 3 hits and a run.  The lone Miami run scored on a long homer by Omar Infante, his fifth of the young season.

A week ago, Wright tied Darryl Strawberry for the all time Mets RBI record at 733.  Tonight, Wright passed Straw as Baseball Brother, Jose Reyes watched from the other side of the diamond.  

On the play immediately preceding Wright’s go-ahead two run homer, Reyes was unable to turn a double play, throwing high to first turning a Daniel Murphy groundball into a fielders choice instead of an inning ending double play.  Reyes doesn’t get charged with an error because you can’t assume the double play.  With the miscue, the inning continues.  

Reyes’ throw may have sailed a bit because he had to jump to make the throw with “Captain Kirk”, Kirk Nieuwenhuis sliding hard into second to break up the double play.  Another nice play by the rookie, another time the rookie foils Reyes, having taken away extra bases from Reyes the night before.

Reyes has been peppered by the media this week with questions regarding his feelings about the Mets not offering him a contract and potentially choosing Wright instead.  Reyes has artfully dodged the questions, stating that signing Wright would be a good move for the franchise.  To have that kind of a sequence unfold, an immediate Wright vs. Reyes comparison, can help fans feel better about the decision but just adds more pressure to Reyes who has not been playing well under his big new contract.

Letting Reyes walk was no easy decision, but so far this season Ruben Tejada has looked good on defense and continues to knock doubles around the ballpark; today slapping one to right field and scoring an insurance run in the eighth.

After the game, Wright was his typical self, swatting away questions about records and his place in franchise history, not admitting that this record might be a big deal for a kid who grew up a Mets fan.  Wright will always tell you go-ahead RBIs are what he wants, but winning is the ultimate goal.  For a young man who may have an opportunity to play his whole career in New York there are a lot of records ahead of him, win or lose.  Next up, Jose Reyes’ record for Runs scored.  Reyes record is 735.  After tonight’s game, Wright sits at 707 and should get there this summer.

The Curse of Nolan Ryan

Well, it’s happened again.  Another former Mets pitcher threw a no hitter today.  Wearing Tom Seaver’s #41, Chicago White Sox pitcher Phil Humber threw the 21st perfect game against in major league history today against the Seattle Mariners.  Fifty seasons and 7973 games and none for the Mets.  

There have been seven players to throw no hitters after leaving the Mets.  Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver, Mike Scott, Doc Gooden, David Cone, Hideo Nomo and now Philip Humber.  Nomo has the unique distrinction of having thrown one before and one after pitching for the Mets.

Prior to today, Humber was most famous for being included in the Johan Santana trade.  Certainly the Mets got the better end of that deal so far, but it sure would have been nice to have Humber throw his perfect game in blue and orange.

Today was the first complete game of Humber’s career and his first win of the season.

Congrats to Phil Humber, third overall pick of 2004 and now member of one of sports’ most exlusive clubs.

Pinch Runner Wins the Game

The Mets won this afternoon’s game against the San Francisco Giants on a veteran play by third generation major leaguer, Scott Hairston.  Hairston slid home in the 9th with the deciding play, but did not score the run.  Instead, he came in hard and took out catcher Buster Posey’s back leg, spinning him around, causing him to throw the ball wide to first base.  The ball went into right field and Ruben Tejada came around to score all the way from second.

It looked like it may be another 9th inning with a game saving play for the Giants drawn-in infield as first baseman Brandon Belt fielded the ground ball and threw home to get the force at the plate for the second out of the inning.  For a moment, it appeared that Posey might complete the 3-2-3 double play and escape the inning.  Instead, the veteran pinch runner, Hairston came in hard and stole the win.  Had Terry Collins left in Lucas Duda to run for himself, there’s no telling what happens. 

The Giants protested the slide, looking for an interference call, but Hairston was all over home plate and well within his right to take out the infielder.  The play is similar to breaking up a double play at second base.  As long as the runner has a reasonable opportunity to touch the base, they are free to slide into the infielder.  

Posey has to make that play almost like a first baseman attempting to throw out a base stealer.  He needs to take an extra step inside the baseline and make a good clean throw.  This gives him room to clear the runner heading to first while simultaneously getting him out of harms way of the base runner coming into home plate.

Setting up the bases loaded game winner was a ground ball by Justin Turner to shortstop Emmanuel Burriss that should have been an inning ending double play.  Instead, Burriss fielded the ball cleanly and looked to second base where no one was covering.  By the time he recovered and threw to first, Turner had hustled down the line for the infield hit.  Second base was abandoned by emergency second baseman, Aubrey Huff, playing there for the first time in his career.  As the ball was put into play, he broke for first as he always does on balls hit to the left side.  A bad break for the Giants, but a stroke of luck for the Mets.

Prior to the exciting bottom of the 9th conclusion, the Mets defense betrayed them in the top half of the inning.  With two outs and the Mets up, Jon Rauch induced a sky high fly ball.  With Kirk Nieuwenhius playing a deep no-doubles defense he anticipated Ruben Tejada ranging back to make the play.  Tejada was looking for his center fielder to take charge and call him off the ball.  Instead it dropped in and the game was tied.

Going into the 9th inning, the Mets looked like they were on the verge of winning a clean crisp game where Mike Pelfrey controlled the Giants offense for 8 innings, giving up 6 hits, 1 walk and a run while striking out 3 batters and even dropping down a successful sacrifice bunt.  Pelfrey has pitched three games this season and could easily be 3-0.  Instead he has been unable to notch a decision while posting a 2.29 ERA.

Homegrown Dramatics

The Mets won their fourth in a row Monday night against the Nationals when they started eight homegrown players.  Everyone but Jason Bay began their career with the Mets, including staring pitcher, Mike Pelfrey who recorded a no decision.  The Nats put up three runs against Pelfrey early but the Mets bullpen was able to hold steady, throwing 3.1 innings of no hit relief.  Mets relievers have allowed 1 run in 11 innings so far on this young season.

Pelfrey gutted out 5.2 innings, allowing 10 hits but kept his team in the game. 

In the bottom of the third, Pelfrey helped himself when he lined a double to left field.  Three batters later, David Wright pulled a ground ball through the left side to drive home the run.

In the following inning, recent call-up Kirk Nieuwenhuis launched a two run, two out home run into the Mo’s Zone to tie the game.  This was Nieuwenhuis’ first career home run and he deposited it just beyond the new fence in right field.

The dramatics in the 9th inning were provided by homegrown and hometown.  Queens native, Mike Baxter walked to lead off the final frame.  Ruben Tejada attempted to sacrifice him to second but Washington reliever, Henry Rodriguez, threw the ball wildly to first allowing both Tejada and Baxter to take an extra base.

Dan Murphy came up with two on and nobody out knowing he would get a pitch to hit with Wright behind him and first base open.  Murph poked a single to right field to bring home Baxter and the Mets fourth consecutive win.

This week the New York Mets turn 50 years old.  A fitting week for a no hit bid by the team’s newly minted $25 million man.

On Niester Sunday, Jon Niese attempted to become the first member of the New York Mets to toss a no hitter.  Niese took the no hit bid into the 7th inning and it came apart following a 10 pitch at bat with Dan Uggla.  Uggla worked a walk and Niese promptly threw a strike over the meaty part of the plate to Freddie Freeman.  Freeman wrapped a single through the right side to break up the party.  The Mets faithful gave Niese the ovation he deserved.

From there, Niese’s afternoon fell on some hard luck.  

Matt Diaz followed Freeman’s single with a fly ball to right field. Lucas Duda lost the ball in the sun, allowing Uggla to score and Freeman to advance to third.  Jason Heyward doubled to center bringing both runners home and suddenly the Braves had three runs on the board.  Niese was unable to get an out in the 7th and Terry Collins had an easy decision to sit the young man as he topped 100 pitches.

Niese looked good in his first start since his new contract.  He did not appear concerned that he needed to prove his worth.  He kept the Braves hitters on their toes all afternoon and even dropped his arm slot to mix it up.

After Niese exited the game, the bullpen came on strong with Manny Acosta going 1.2 and giving up 1 hit and 1 run and Frank Francisco pitching a perfect 9th inning for his third save in as many games.

While Niese was working hard on the mound, the Mets’ offense began to click.  Ruben Tejada had a career day at the plate in his second game at the leadoff spot, pulling two doubles to left field and adding two more base hits.  Tejada scored twice and knocked in two while continuing to look at home at shortstop.

Good guy, David Wright, continued his hot streak going 1-1 with 2 BB, raising his three day league leading batting average to .667.  While Wright continued his tear, Dan Murphy continued to look consistently good at the plate in the two hole.  Murphy went 2-5 with 2 RBI and advanced Tejada to third with a ball to the right side in the first inning.  Exactly what you want out of your two hitter.  Even Jason Bay got in on the offensive action going 1-2 with a walk, a run, and an RBI.  Yes, Jason Bay brought home a run.  His first RBI of 2012, including all of spring training.

The Mets are clicking offensively and on the mound.  It’s a nice way to get out of the gate and now they need to continue to do the same against the visiting Nationals this week.  Terry Collins has been reminding these guys that they are “professional baseball players” and they seem to have taken it to heart.

Another Opening Day Win for the Mets

Opening Day kicked off with the typical floral horseshoe presented to the manager, followed by introductions of both teams with a guest appearance by Ralph Kiner to read the home team’s starting nine.  This season also included a moment of silence for Gary Carter, who passed this off season.  The Carter family was on the field for the first pitch and unveiling of the logo to honor the catcher on the left centerfield wall.

No flyover following the national anthem this year though, probably wasn’t in the budget.  Apparently neither was a full right field scoreboard as the video monitor has shrunk in favor of more ads for Brooklyn Burger, LIU and others.

At least it’s always great to see a win and every year the Mets seem to deliver.  No reason to get too high or low on the team just yet, they played well, but there were some obvious flaws.  The Mets played “crisp” baseball as Dan Murphy said after the game.  

Johan Santana looked good considering we haven’t seen him in a year and a half.  I had forgotten what it was like to listen to Carlos Santana at the ballpark, but Johan was only able to hang on for one AB.  After working himself into a jam in the 5th by walking the 8 and 9 hitters, and getting his pitch count up, he managed to get out of the inning on a ground out, 1-3, that he almost threw over the head of Ike Davis covering first.  Good thing Ike is 6’4”.  

Johan wanted to stay in, pitch another inning and hit for himself, but TC made the right call and let the bullpen take over.  Unfortunately Mike Baxter, hitting for Santana, did not take the bat off his shoulder and took three strikes with two men on base.  The Mets were unable to put a run on the board while Santana was still the pitcher of record.

The Mets managed to put up just a single run against Tommy Hanson and the Braves.  Hanson looked good, throwing his big curveball for strikes, especially to the lefties.  Davis and Lucas Duda seemed stumped, combining on an 0-8 on the day, stranding 11 runners.

If the Mets are going to do well this season Davis and Duda need to hit.  They will also need to lean on (no surprises here), David Wright and Dan Murphy.  Both of whom had two hits on Opening Day and Wright knocked in the lone run of the game.  Wright looked good with his hands a little lower and maybe crouching a bit more than usual.  

Surprise offensive force, Josh Thole went 2-3 on the day with the Mets 7th hit coming from Scott Hairston, who replaced Andres Torres in the 7th inning.  Hello and goodbye, Andres Torres, placed on the DL after straining his left calf.

Hall of Fame catcher, Gary Carter, passed away at 4:10 Thursday afternoon.  I was at work and received a breaking news email from a radio station alerting me to the inevitable.  My heart sank.  Gary Carter’s death was not unexpected, but it was certainly disappointing.

Gary Carter was part of our extended family.  I was only a child when he played in New York, but each night when we turned on the TV to watch the Mets, there he was.  Every pitch I saw, there he was to receive it.

Carter caught more games than just about anyone, 2056, good for fourth most all time behind both Pudges, Rodriguez and Fisk, and Bob Boone.

I was seven years old when Gary Carter was released by the Mets, but the influence he had is undeniable.  Watching Carter’s unbridaled exuberance behind the plate every night rubbed off.  I wanted to be a catcher.  Carter made it look like fun.  

When I was eight or nine, playing CYO Baseball, I got my chance.  My parents bought me my own tools of ignorance, and I learned to use them.  At that age, kids don’t throw a lot of strikes, so I learned to block balls in the dirt just like Gary Carter.  I was even barreled over by a couple of runners trying to score.  It was a great time, but I learned that I’m not as tough as Gary Carter.  Big surprise.

Emotions displayed on the field translate well to a kid watching on TV and Carter was a rare athlete that a young fan could look up to and aspire to emulate both on and off the field.

Thanks for the memories, Kid.  You will be greatly missed by not just your actual family, but also your baseball family.