In a season with the Mets taking many punches to the gut, Wednesday’s night’s loss may have been the most difficult to absorb.
Sure, the games don’t mean a whole lot now considering the Mets don’t have any playoff implications on the line, but on a night when Matt Harvey was masterful and with David Wright hitting the go ahead home run in the 6th inning, it would be have been a good sendoff for Harvey in his final start if the Mets could have held on and given the home faithful something to get excited about.
That was not to be the case on this evening, as Ryan Howard of the hated Phillies clubbed a two-run home run off Josh Edgin with two outs in the 9th inning to put the Phillies ahead 3-2. Jonathan Papelbon would then slam the door in the 9th and that was all she wrote. It would have nice for the Mets to play spoiler, but they let the Phillies live to see another day in their playoff quest while simultaneously twisting the knife further into the hearts of Mets’ fans.
I’m not one who likes to pile on ( I really do consider myself an eternal optimist), but I’m desperately trying to find some silver linings in September, but I find myself coming up empty. The Mets are certainly not doing anything to entertain their home base as their wretched play at Citi Field is reaching embarrassing levels. The Mets have dropped eight in a row at home and are now 4-24 in their last 28 home games. The Mets have not scored more than four runs in a game at home since August 12.
Have you seen Citi Field lately? It looks like a ghost town. Attendance has been abysmal. The Mets are lucky to draw over 20,000 these days. About the only draw to come to the park these days is to see R.A. Dickey, who is trying to achieve 20 wins while perhaps capturing the NL Cy Young, pitch. But even that couldn’t help the attendance all that much, as on Monday only 20,527 came out to the ballpark to see Dickey pitch. Compare that to when the Phillies came to town on July 3rd when the Mets were in the midst of playing their best ball when 42,516 came out to the ballpark.
The Mets should be thankful that many in attendance this week were fans of Philadelphia. Just imagine how bleak it will look when the Marlins and the Pirates come to town in the coming days.
As we all strive to be positive, it’s just so disheartening that the Mets can’t put up a better fight at home. While the Mets will finish under .500 once again, it would have been nice to have some momentum heading into 2013 if they could finish on a high note, but between injuries, inconsistency and now Harvey being shut down, there is little hope these days.
Hey, but at least there are six more road games this year!
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Last night, I thought I was gazing in a crystal ball into the future. Harvey the ace and Edgin the closer. 2K’s, then only one strike away and I then heard, “not so fast my pretty” and a walk and HR and I even felt I lost “my little dog too”. Kicked like dogs, again because of no hitting. You can’t be competitive with the bottom three in the order automatic outs and parts of the middle of the order so inconsistant over a full season. Since August we have seen too many well pitched games wasted. This may be the real Mets future in 2013, well pitched games and losses. 2014 may change IF Bay/Santana money is reinvested but then are we going back to long term high priced free agents that rob the draft choices? I’m not sure I like that idea either. Pretty discouraging when the battle cry is a stuttering wait until next next year.
Realistically, Matt Harvey should have been 6 -2 to go along with his fantastic ERA and strikeout rate, had he been given run support. He ‘lost’ 2 games for us.
I wish the offense could get “losses” and “wins”
Isnt that just the saddest truth of all for Harvey? He must be chomping at the bit to figure out a way to get the hell out of a Mets uniform. Who could blame him.
I really don’t think there is really any “momentum” for the players from the end of one season to the next. If you’re batting in 2013, will you suddenly remember that Edgin gave up a 2-run bomb to Howard on September 20th?
However, i do believe there is “momentum” for us, the fans. Each negative thing that happens at the end of this year will be harped and carped by the media. Negative media attention is very detrimental to the ballclub, just look at the offseason before this year. In my opinion, it is unfair and unwarranted because each season begins anew and anything can happen. More often than not, the so called “experts” and “anaylsts” are wrong(just look at the standings for this year).
So while each loss hurts me more and more, at least i know that all these pains will be erased opening day 2013.
Name, interesting post. We really do rehash this stuff over the off season.
Chris, I hope that Harvey is glad to be here, especially since where he grew up. I think as a young player, it can be exciting to be part of a rebuilding where he has to know he will get opportunities. Having said that, his 8 starts show that he could get a shot for even a first place team with a strong pitching staff. He is that good.
I hope so too Peter. I know he grew up a Yankee fan, or so the reports have said. He’d already be the #3 guy in the Bronx. At least the 78 people at Citifield last night gave him a standing O on his last trip to the dugout in 2012.
Doesn’t it seem that all this close, last couple of innings losses are preceded by someone making the third out with two or three runs on base?
This team can’t put games away anymore and I’m not sure if it’s talent or desire at this point.
Regarding playing at home… driving to ‘work’ to play a game there this month is like working at Attica.
Every player in that clubhouse would give their September paycheck back if the season could end yesterday
Wow that so stark…and so sad.
Well yeah,you can’t score 2 runs and expect to win.Still,the Phillies had 3(3!!) damn hits!
At 16-1 it crashed.
To quote Amazin’ Avenue on facebook, just when you think it can’t get any nut-punchier. Yikes!
Missed you on chatter metsense. The end was pretty lonely tonight!
Mack, maybe you can shed some light on the following topic. When I see the press conferences and read the reports from front office, all I hear is utter delusion. TC commenting on how hard/good the team is playing, that they havent quit, that Warthen (in particular) and Hudgens are doing a great job, that Sandy has done excellent in acquisitions. Exactly where on Earth does this patently and obviously false drivel come from when talking to reporters and the fan base? I mean, the Titanic has HIT the iceberg and shes listing and people are leaping (sorry for the melodrama, but its where Im at after watching the last 4 innings last night), the situation is critical. System failure is everywhere. Why isnt a single soul on the Mets standing up and telling us (1) that they recognize what is happening, and (2) that something will be done to fix it — whatever it is. Why havent the junior coaches been fired? Warthen is terrible. Hudgens is terrible. Geren is terrible. Hell, even TC is bad. This is headed to be the worst second half ever in the history of MLB.
Already the Marlins are making it clear Beinfest’s folly was a disaster…and he is out. Guillen will be gone. Im already more excited for the Marlins than imagining the same delusions that the Mets are 1 or 2 pieces from a WC. The Mets suck almost from top to bottom, and Id just assume hear that there is a 4 year plan. I mean there was 1000 people there last night. Everyone sees the obvious and yet they keep telling us something totally different or obfuscating on hard questions. AAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH.
Help me someone(s).
Chris
When important problems in our lives put us in despair we should go to a therapist to help us. This blog is our therapist. Here we can vent as we realize that the Mets have, once again, brought great despair to our lives. So, Chris, don’t hold back. Keep venting. It’s better than taking it out on your loved ones.
🙂