In a game neither team deserved to win, the Mets escaped with a 2-1 win in 11 innings, claiming their third straight victory and evening up their extra inning record at 2-2.
- It took 11 innings and bad defense but the Mets scored a run without a homer. With the bases loaded and one out, Matt Reynolds hit a liner up the middle. Jonathan Villar looked like a hockey player, knocking the puck to the ice. But instead of a puck, it was a ball he should have caught in the air. So, instead of a DP, the Brewers only got one out as Asdrubal Cabrera scampered home as the Brewers got Kelly Johnson out twice.
- Matt Harvey had another good outing, allowing just 1 ER in 6 IP with 8 Ks.
- Yoenis Cespedes homered for the Mets’ first run.
- It was not a good night for Kevin Plawecki, who failed in both the 9th and 11th innings when he came up with the bases loaded and no one out. He also threw wildly on a steal attempt that Johnson was unable to corral, which put a runner on third base. And he had another bad throw to third base but Reynolds made a nice stop (and potentially a Kent Hrbek push tag) to avert disaster.
- With a shortened pen due to Logan Verrett getting a spot start and Addison Reed unavailable, Terry Collins asked Jim Henderson to pitch a second inning after a high-pitch, high stress inning. It didn’t work out well and Henderson was removed after a visit to the mound by the trainer. Jerry Blevins came out and put out the fire, retiring two righty batters.
- Jeurys Familia had a clean inning with two strikeouts to clinch the win.
Wondering why nobody (booth, blogs, etc.) haven’t mentioned that the bigger faux pas (than Villar dropping the LD) was Gennett not tagging Wilmer first, then stepping on the bag for the 3rd out. No runs would have scored.
Villar made a bad toss and Gennet’s back was to the bag. By the time he realized Flores was right there he had already touched the bag.
You’re talking about a confusing play with split second decisions. Almost everyone’s first instinct would be to step on the bag.
Brian, you must have a typo. You said Blevins was summoned to face two Righty batters. We all know Collins would never do that.
Stealing a win once in a while is good for the soul. Every team needs them.
It’s amazing that Collins insists on using the scrubs as often as the better players.
How do you complain about Terry Collins after that game? How is that possibly the takeaway? Were there awesome players on the bench that I didn’t see?
I get that TC is flawed. I get that fans might have legitimate concerns about game management. But there should be a distinction between a clearly bone-headed move compared to a reasonable decision. There’s also a day game today. When every game focuses on the stupid manager, it weakens the credibility of the complaint. Sorry, my two cents. Mets won in extra innings and bullpen gave up 0 runs in five innings of work on a night when two pitchers were unavailable and another broke his fingernail.
Jim,
Plawecki, hit in the ninth with the bases loaded and no outs: He popped to first. With Rivera sitting next to him, why would he let the same thing happen again in the eleventh inning? But yes, he did. Even if it was Rivera himself, who has been quite clutch.
Jim, you seem to me to be one of those people that likes to enjoy a game. I admit, that I enhale a game. The whole game. While there are differences of opinion always, in all the time I have watched baseball – aside from his edict last year that if you hit you play – I have never seen a manager do less to help his team’s chance of victory than Collins.
So Gus, I think a lot of folks would put questions on decisions TC makes, but we never see the complete picture by definition. So while we would make decisions that are different at face value, its with a limited amount of info. All I can say is, I think there is a limit to how the skipper impacts the game. My last thought is, recall that quite out of the blue, we are reigning NL Champs with Collins on the bridge. He gets that credit too.
There were enough odd plays to last a month in this one. Captain Kirk’s catch of the would-be HR was a spectacular play though.
How about that Wilmer Flores? So nice to see him play well and grab this opportunity.
There’s so many ways it could go for this player, ranging from a complete fizzle to being a key cog in the 2017 season.
One scenario is the Mets let Walker walk . . . Dilson comes up, and struggles . . . and Flores becomes the Mets everyday 2B. He might be the insurance policy the Mets need in order to give the club confidence to try Herrera next season.
And, yes, it could be that Flores turns out to be the better option.
Or, you know, that Flores fizzles. I honestly don’t know, but I’m not eager to give up on this kid.
Doubles in back-to-back games have gotten his ISO into triple digits, so that’s a start. He doesn’t look like he’s going to be a high average hitter, so he’s going to need to show more XBH ability to be worthwhile.
Not sure how I feel in the Kelly Johnson-Flores playing time question. Easiest thing would be to run a platoon but TC made comments that made it sound like Johnson would play all over, so who knows. What did TC say last year – he’ll play the guy that produces.
One thing that I think is fair to wonder is if the play at third base in the 10th inning, the one where Reynolds handled the bad throw and got the out on the attempted runner advance — would Flores have made that play? Reynolds just came in on the double switch that inning.
I am not sure about Wilmer’s inability to hit for high average. I like the way, when he is going right, when he pokes outside pitches to the opposite field.
I actually think he could hit .300, sure. I don’t see why not.
Everybody talks about how they hate Bastardo and the $6 million, but I like him. He’s hard to hit and he’s endured the full season rigor for a number of years.
And there’s this: The club actually needs professional ballplayers on the roster.
We’ve seen what the scrubs of the world — see Ty Kelly, Eric Campbell, etc — get a team. Same is true with bullpens. Yes, there are famous cheap options. But it’s also true that many cheap options fail utterly.
I like Bastardo in the pen, and I think TC is getting the hang of how to use him. He’s one more weapon.
Your last comment appears spot on.
In his first 14 games, Bastardo came on in situations with a LI of 1 or greater eight times. In his last 10 games, Bastardo has come on in situations with a LI of 1 or greater only two times.
He’s moved him from more important situations to less important ones. That’s the way to use him.
Bastardo had a nice year last year when he had the fifth-highest leverage index of Pirates relievers.
When the Mets signed him, there was talk of him battling Reed to be the team’s primary setup guy. Now he’s clearly behind Reed and if Collins has a choice between a rested Bastardo and a rested Henderson, he’s picking Henderson.
His contract did not prevent the team from re-signing Cespedes, so it’s hard to bag on it too much. But I think it’s a sub-par use of resources to spend that much money on your fourth-best reliever. And if the Mets would be open to letting Blevins be a real reliever, then Bastardo might be their fifth-best one.
Again, though, what are the options? There’s nobody in AAA that’s any good. Or at least, reliable in that role. Bastardo has more than one good season under his belt, and he’s endured many seasons. He can do it. Guys like Edgin, to me, are a joke. He’s never, ever completed a full season without injury or without failure. Sure you save money making that gamble, but it might cost you dearly.
I know that Gilmartin is an interesting arm, but I think he’s a spot starter, long man, potential rotation guy. He has never demonstrated an ability to be a situational reliever or late-inning arm. He’s failed in his (admittedly few) opportunities.
Sometimes you just have to pay the sticker price. Because, again, the Mets actually need Major League ballplayers if they hope to win.
No, you don’t have to pay the sticker price.
Player A: 4.33 ERA, 10 K/9, 5.33 BB/9, 1.67 HR/9
Player B: 3.15 ERA, 9.17 K/9, 6.82 BB/9, 1.57 HR/9
One guy cost 6 mil per year and the other would have been free this year.
Player A is Bastardo. Player B was what Alex Torres did last year before we ran him out of town.
Sandy has signed 4 Free Agent Relievers to guaranteed deals since becoming GM.
Franky Frank, Jon Rauch, DJ Carasco, and Antonio Bastardo.
Only 1 player was not a complete disaster.
It may be disloyal, but I am very happy to see Kirk Nieuwenhuis getting a chance. I still believe he could put up okay numbers if he got regular playing time against righty’s (only); and he certainly is no pain in the ass like Carlos Gomez.
I don’t think it’s disloyal at all. I’m always rooting for old favorites.
Kirkkkkk is a lot better in a backup role than De Aza, largely because of the glove. However, I don’t see him as an everyday player.
Maybe he’s a starter on what we used to call a second-division club.
In the end, he’s done very well for himself carving out a useful career. He sure does swing and miss a lot. Wow. Last night Robles burned him with three straight high fastballs that Kirkkkkk knew were coming.
I don’t see any reason to root against Kirkkkkk . . . after today.