To quote the Bubble Boy from Seinfeld: “How ya doing over there? Not too good!”
This game was really about one thing, Jon Niese and his recent inability to limit damage. In his last 11.1 innings he’s allowed 14 runs, all but two of them were earned. I guess the bright side is that he’s only allowed two home runs during that span. And since he’s only walked two in those games it seems he’s pitching too much over the plate, and without a put-out pitch eventually those pitches are going to get hit. And hit they have been.
Without the luxury of having seen the game, though, I’m just guessing. Tell me if I’m wrong.
The Mets offense continued to struggle as well, which didn’t make the day any easier to take. The Mets had only four hits, one by rookie Darren Ceciliani in his first ever at-bat. Daniel Murphy had a two-run shot in the fourth inning to account for all of the Mets runs. At least they didn’t strike out a ton, doing so just five times. That’s a pretty bleak positive, though. Hopefully the Mets can get some kind of run support for Bartolo Colon tomorrow.
The Nationals will come down to earth, and when they do I hope we stomp them. For those that say that the Mets were only looking at the second wildcard anyway, that was before the season started. Now that we know that we can compete, you have to go for it.
Think the Royals were merely happy to be in the playoffs last year after 29 years? I’m sure they were, but it didn’t stop them from wanting more.
Gut reaction from the game:
I think the clock is striking midnight on some of the guys Alderson was looking to sell high on.
Rare piece of optimism from a Mets fan. Go Gus!
With our current and future starting pitching staff count me in too Gus but…. the bullpen after Familia has to keep developing, the middle defense and corner out field defense is suspect, and the offense needs to produce more runs ….but a superior current and future starting pitching staff can keep you in every game. Come on Sandy, start to tweak this team!
Corner OF offense and defense
Middle IF defense
Bull pen
That still quite a work load for Alderson…while I agree the pitching keeps us in (Niese and Gee notwithstanding), that’s not enough as you note. But SA is holding off for the return of DW and TdA. Will that turn the tide?
Two really bad Baseball PLays last night—and they were essentially the exact same play!!!
Note…no error!!!! There’s not a Stat for that!!!
I have floated the suggestion of BPP: Bad Baseball PLay…. AKA “The Danny”, named for Dan Murphy.
Campbell, and the mets coaching staff, get “Danny’s” flor his decision to creep down the line, aloowing Womg to follow him….giving Wong just 40-50 feet at contact to score.
The second Danny was even more “Magical”– Danny Himself!!!!!… the beauty of that “Danny” was the “Signature Performance” which combined Ultimate Hustle and “effort” with a 35 Pound Cement Head approach.
Note…these were not “Errors”….. I’m not sure that they calculate as “chances” or whether they factor to Range Measurements….
…hey…these are “Eye Test” Measures of Baseball Players and Baseball Teams— and you truly have to see them to appreciate them.
“Danny”…….. BPP…. The time has come!!!
With Flores at SS and Murphy at 2B, it strikes me that Sandy Alderson — through inactivity & inherited players — has placed the club in an untenable position.
We are going plus-offense from both those middle infield positions. Last night, Murphy was the hitting star. Maybe the only hitting star. The Mets offense is poor right now, it is very difficult to downgrade any offense whatsoever.
OTOH, those guys contribute to the club’s defensive shortcomings.
It’s a conundrum, I’m telling ya.
Ideally, I don’t think either guy is the answer at the position. But, again, the Mets aren’t trying to build a great team. They just want to be “in it” in September, and I think they will be.
BTW, I’ve never seen a 2B charge a bunt before. It’s so crazy I can barely wrap my mind around it. Just amazin’.
I still think Lagares is gutting out the injury. Surprised and disappointed that no veteran got rested after the 14 inning game. I guess Terry is going to do rest everybody on Thursday, just because! He plans it all out in advance!
Maybe a sharp eye in the dugout to catch that and tell Campbell? Nahhhh, players win and lose games, the manager and coaches are just there to smile a lot
There’s a reason Jose Oquendo has been the third base coach for years there.
Murphy clearly does not have 2B instincts. I’m not sure he has general baseball instincts. If he didn’t hit .290 he wouldn’t have a job now. At best hes a 2 hole hitting DH…I’m struggling to see who shows interest in him in FA.
Chris, Murphy has been at second base for going on five years. He has made this play many times before. I keep saying that he doesn’t look right. He seems to not be able to concentrate. He look different this year.
Murphy has always been prone to mental gaffes, but you might be right, Gus. Let’s face it, he’s a human being. He reads the papers. He’s facing uncertainty about his future, a new baby, all of that stuff.
Morever, there are ballplayers and there are hitters. Murphy is happiest in the batter’s box. The game is simple there, and he does it well. Wasn’t that said early on in an interview? He was asked his best position and answered, “Hitter.”
The thing is Gus, this isnt a “one off” situation. No second baseman would instinctively charge on a bunt.. His base running gaffes, his mysterious throwing behaviors, his terrible decision making with the ball coming at him or in his hand are all chronic issues. He simply is a negative defender, at a defense premium spot on the field. I dont think he looks different at all defensively, except perhaps at the plate. He plays in NYC, in the toughest media market there is, and he’s heard the same thing year after year. It may be harder coming to terms with whether or not he even get any contract next year, but he’s made millions and is set for life many times over. I think the bigger picture is that the team believes that there is something special about this year…and now his mistakes take on more meaning because playoff teams do not do the things he does.
Dan Murphy’s best position is 3B. He will make a good AL player where he can play 3B,DH, and some 2B and some 1B. He will have a contract next year.
Ideally I would like to see Sandy trade him, move Flores to 2B and get a plus offensive and defensive SS. That trade probably doesn’t exist.
BTW… I am amazed that teh Cards aren’t raided for their coaches and management…. and Oquendo would seem to be a prime candidate
Several years ago the Cards were raided. The Houston Astros hired many front office types from St. Louis starting with former Vice President of Scouting and Player Development Jeff Luhnow, who they made their GM. And now the Astros are in first place and are generally considered to have one of the best farm systems in the game.
Walt Jocketty as well. He presided over many cardinal winning seasons and now GM of Cincinnati.
As for the Astros, being the worst has led to being the best! A few number 1 picks and bam…look out for the Twins too.
The Astros success has very little to do with their farm system. 90% of their roster was traded for or signed.
Of their position players, only Castro and Altuve are purely homegrown.
For their pitchers, it’s just Keuchel and the recently promoted Lance McCullers
I meant farm system.
I have no idea about the makeup of the Astros.
But if they are employing a bunch of guys traded for or signed as free agents since 2011 — the GM should get credit.