Just what the doctor ordered. After back-to-back series losses, the Braves and their bullpen came to town and the Mets took advantage, winning the opening game, 4-0. With the win, the Mets’ magic number was reduced to seven.
- The Mets jumped on top of Shelby Miller early, getting a gift run on a botched DP ball in the first and a Michael Conforto homer in the second. That put the Mets on the way to the win and sent Miller to his 15th-straight loss.
- Jon Niese righted the ship and pitched a strong game, giving six shutout innings. That allowed Terry Collins to use the back end of his bullpen going from Addison Reed to Tyler Clippard to Jeurys Familia. Clippard struggled some in his first game back, he allowed a runner to reach third on two wild pitches, but kept the Braves off the board.
- After dropping four of their last five games, the Mets were sending some fans back to Panic City. Hopefully a shutout win brings them back without too much long-term damage.
1. Can the Mets play the Braves and Phillies in the playoffs because they are bullies to the patsies but pansies to the big boys?
2. Daniel Murphy Can make a Mets fan confused about how to feel about him.
3. Niese pulled after 88 pitches, how lame. Gary and Ronnie were very disappointed as well.
One more from Chris F.:
– hit and run with Wilmer Flores running and Jon Niese hitting, LOL!!!!!!!! Who’s idea was that??
Nice bounce-back start from Niese. It obviously means little due to his opponent, but hopeful it will get his confidence back for a potential postseason roster spot.
Today, this minute, I give him a spot over Gilmartin.
A strong win over a terrible opponent. Isn’t that what they are supposed to do?
Niese pitched a good game. TC was right pulling him after six on a positive note especially with his recent tendancy of giving up the big inning. Niese has always been on my post season roster (over Gilmartin).In the post season, because of off days, Reed-Clippard-Familia, should pitch in any close game.After those three, if the game is tied, you need innings. Niese is a better pitcher than Gilmartin and can go longer. In the clubhouse, how would it go over leaving off a teamate that has contributed since 2008 for a pitcher that has not had many high leverage situations? Niese has experience. In 2016, Niese will probably be the bridge to Wheeler since he will be paid $9m. They shouldn’t mess with his head by keeping him off the roster.They will need him for 2016.
TC could pull Niese because Sandy traded for Clippard and Reed. Nice moves Sandy. The 7th inning achilles heel was mended and is now a strength.
I agree with all that reasoning. I just needed to see the “good” Niese appear again. The only other factor to the negative was that he’s been a starter all along, and that with Colon they will already have a long man, and that Gilmartin is familiar with the pen and the role.
I personally go with 11 pitchers and 14 regulars. The position players are all useful and deserving. To go with 12 pitchers would require cutting one of either Uribe, Lagares, or Johnson, which I would not do.
Honestly, with the way the Mets wasted offensive opportunities earlier, I thought being Niece back to pitch the 7th would have been an invitation for disaster. Niece lives on the margins; when it goes for him multiple runs often result.
Glad as anything that he had a good outing but give me Reed and Co. to finish this one.
When the pen succeeds, managers look smart.
I thought it was the right call, too.
Niese Night! I feel a T-shirt campaign.
Harvey Half-Day!
Halter top?
Ok look, we had “Good Niese” against one of the worst teams in baseball. This game looks very different if that knuckling liner hit by Freeman goes one more inch to right field with bases loaded. He absolutely drilled it, and he’s about the only professional hitter left in ATL. (AJ I suppose as well). If this is the Dodgers, another crooked number goes up. Outside his 2 starts v Atlanta his recent ERA is horrific. Let’s not forget how prone he is to the blow up inning. In my world I can’t see any reason to have him, or Parnell, in the post season. He cannot start, and has zero experience warming up on short notice as a reliever. How can a guy who is so fragile and prone to tantrums make that change? I think that SA tries to unload him, again, this winter and makes a 1 yr offer to Colon.
As for Murph, the blunders outweigh his benefits. Yes, he’s had a few dream hits this season, but that drama does not balance mistake after mistake throwing, fielding, and baserunning (or whatever it is called when he is involved…base watching perhaps?). Murph being Murph is funny and all, but he is one of the sloppiest players in the game. He, thankfully, will not be a Met next year.
Chris, great to hear someone who is being realistic and not just happy with the record.
I like Murphy too as a long time Met although not part of the final solution, but at the time it happened we agreed in the chatter that Murphy would be right back out there today, and sure enough he is and Johnson is sitting. Accountability is no big deal on the Mets so just get used to it Chris. Maybe if these guys were ever taught I lesson they would be more focused, but we will never know.
Love Murph.
There is some unholy sense of obligation to long timers that mystifies me, only 1 of which belongs on a post season team, and maybe even a regular season team. I get David, but seriously, Parnell, Niese, and Murphy (remember Ike?) have been given unending extra chances for no good reason.
Murphy certainly redeemed himself but once again looked like a little leaguer on the base paths running the mets out of an inning. Love the player but don’t see him on the roster next year at $12M per.
A shortstop from the Cubs is still a reality in the off season because they will fall flat on their wildcard faces due to a bad pen. That’s where we can make each team better. Who will be the big bat that we pick up in the office season?