N.Y. Mets ~ One Amazin' Win Away From Silencing Doubters

From the desk of:   HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

NEW YORK METS:  Pitching Continues to be Amazin!

Mets One Game Away From Proving Their Nay-Sayers Wrong

It took R.A. Dickey all of two hours and seven minutes to dispatch the Orioles.  Monday's game was his ninth straight win, and eleventh of the season, which leads the Major Leagues. Overall this season, the Mets' starter is pitching at historic levels; not just by Mets standards, but in Major League history.  Back-to-back one hitters isn't exactly Johnny Vander Meer like.  But R.A. Dickey's last two efforts are about as close as we'll get in my, or our, lifetime, to accomplishing that age old feat.


In his last two starts, he has thrown eighteen innings, allowed two hits, walked two, and struck out twenty-five batters.  Monday night, he struck out thirteen Orioles to set a new career best.  Monday marked the fourth time this season R.A. has stuck out double digit batters.  He now leads the National League with 103 K's.  R.A. also leads the National League with an even 2.00 ERA.


In his last nine starts, he failed to pitch beyond the sixth inning only twice.  And the most remarkable statistic during R.A. Dickey's stretch, would be his 42.2 consecutive innings pitched without allowing an earned run.  Since breaking Jerry Koosman's club mark earlier this month, only one unearned run has been scored against him.


This pitching run is being spoken about in the same conversations, not only along with the previously mentioned Johnny Vander Meer, but along with the Mets' very own Dwight Gooden of 1985, Fernando Valenzuela of 1981, and Mark Fydrich's 1976 season.  I've witnessed all three of those seasons.  And so far, R.A. Dickey's run most definitely compares favorably with those.  What makes Dickey's campaign even more remarkable, is that he is a knuckle ball specialist, who throws his  specialty pitch with control, and with a certain degree of power.  In that respect, he's one of the most unique knuckle ball pitchers in history.


As far as the game itself, Monday's game was won on the strength of Dickey's arm, but more importantly, victory came off the bat of Ike Davis, who connected on the first grand slam home run of his career.


In Tuesday's affair, Lucas Duda supplied the power.  His two run home run in the sixth inning was Duda's eleventh, which came along with his forty-first, and forty-second, RBI of the season.  Jordany Valdespin had himself a nice game, going 2 for 4, with two RBI.


Johan Santana pitched six innings and earned his fifth win of the season.  He allowed four hits, walked two, while striking out five.  Of greater noting, Johan, Bobby Parnell, Miguel Batista, and Jon Rauch, combined on the Mets' eighth shut-out of the season, which leads Baseball.


More important than just the last two games, Johan Santana and R.A. Dickey have established themselves as the most lethal starting duo in the division; if not the National League.  That's not a stretch considering the Washington Nationals have let it be known, they will be shutting down Stephen Strasburg at some point this season.  In the mean time, between them, R.A. and Johan have pitched four complete game shutouts this month, while accumulating six wins.


Johan Santana and R.A. Dickey have now provided an answer to getting swept by the Reds.  The Mets are now 9-9 over this stretch against above .500 teams which started back against the Cardinals; the series in which Johan Santana authored the Club's first no-hitter in history.  Wednesday, the Mets will attempt to sweep the Birds with Dillon Gee, and improve their record to a game over .500 for the stretch.  It might just be the difference of one game, but should they pull off a victory in game three of this series, the narrative on the New York Mets' season deserves to change dramatically, for they continue to AMAZE.  If you remember, this was the stretch many in the media said the Mets would be lucky to end with a .500 record.




Mike.BTB

N.Y. Mets ~ Nats Outlast The Amazins

From the desk of:   HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

NEW YORK METS:  Washington Takes Game One.

Nationals Barely Out-Last the Amazin's Tenacity.

N.L. East

1) - Nationals  -  *

2) - Marlins  -  1

3) - METS  -  1.5

4) - Braves  -  2

5) - Phillies  -  5

Tuesday was the opening game of a battle for first place against the Washington Nationals.  As such, I have a thing about winning first games.  They send messages; whether big or small; they send messages none the less.  Although, this game said a little more than I think we Mets fans cared for.

I didn't like what I saw from Josh Thole Tuesday night.  This was his first negative showing since returning from a concussion.  In the bottom of the twelfth, as in the tenth inning, Josh Thole failed to block a pitch in the dirt, which put the winning run on third, with one out.  It looked like the Mets were going to escape the inning, but Bryce Harper singled home the game winning run in the home twelfth.

Josh Thole was failing to drop to his knees and squaring his body to the pitch.  As a result, pitches in the dirt ate him up.  And visually speaking, the effort looked poor.  He's my dude, but I have to call it like I see it.  Within the inning, he corrected himself though; but too late.  The damage was done.  The Mets also suffered mightily at shortstop.  Omar Quintanilla (1), and Jordany Valdespin (2), committed a series of untimely E-6's as well.

Between Chris Young's return to the mound with five innings of work, and Bryce Harper's game winning single, the Mets held three different leads which, A) - the bullpen shouldn't receive too much blame for blowing on three separate occasions, because B) - the Mets got handcuffed on a series of infield dinks, thus forcing the defense into several unfortunate donuts.  Sometimes that's baseball.

Tim Byrdak and Bobby Parnell were victims of odd play that ensued between the eighth and twelfth innings despite pitching fairly well.  Frank Francisco, at worst was hittable.  In light of the recent DFA's Sandy Alderson initiated within the bullpen, and now having Jon Rauch's and Ramon Ramirez' injury status to consider, it is just plain unfortunate Buffalo call-up, young Elvin Ramirez was pressed into pitching a second inning of work.  By then Coach Terry was on his fifth reliever of the evening.  And the fact Elvin was even in that position (12th inning) demonstrates how dire the Mets' bullpen situation really is.

So, against their leading competition Tuesday evening, instead of seizing the day, the Mets faults were exposed.  With Thole behind the plate, and a consortium of infielders misplaying several chances at shortstop, the Mets showed their weakness up the middle.  There is no sense in continually harping on Daniel Murphy's defense.  And while Andres Torres is quite capable in center, it is clear the Mets are still defensively inefficient in the key positions up the middle.  And then, yes, the bullpen also continues to be a season long liability.

On the positive side of this game, Terry Collins managed this contest terribly well..., again.  His Boys continue to be resilient, and play with a never say die attitude.  AND, they hit with power again.  On Tuesday, the Mets tapped into their comeback abilities multiple times and held three different leads, as mentioned.

The secret is now out.  When Clark Kent isn't fumblin' around the coffee maker at the office, he's busy moonlighting as a home run hitter for the New York Mets.  When the call for Truth, Justice, and the Metropolitan Way sounded again Tuesday night, Scott Hairston stepped up and hit his eighth home run of the season in the top of the twelfth inning, to give the Mets a (then) 6-5 lead over the Nationals.

Before you knew it, Terry's Kids looked like they were going to do it again.  Well, not so fast.  This took extra innings, and they did lose.  Regardless, sometimes we don't even know how the Mets do it.  But we all know by now, Terry Collins doesn't allow his Kids to ease up for a second, even when things aren't exactly going according to plan.  Even in defeat, it is clear, the team, and their skipper, are engaged together with a tremendous amount of mutual respect.  And that's half your battle.  With yet another eye-opener, Terry's Kids are easily reviving an old Flushing mantra which has everyone calling this year's Mets, AMAZIN', once again.  And for a change, it's a pure, unpolluted, expression of the fans, and not contrived or forced by the Media.

And maybe Chris Young has shown he can be this season's answer to the Mets fifth spot in the rotation.  He allowed two earned runs and six hits in five innings.  He walked one and struck out two. If that's what we get in his first game back, then I guess there's hope for the fifth spot after all.  At least, let's agree to call the situation, promising.

Now, I don't believe in moral victories.  But I will gauge how much of a fight a team puts up in defeat.  Sometimes a team's ability to be competitive, and Baseball's Law of Averages, just clash with each other.  Like this game.

Being Amazin' again is cool.  But "Ya Gotta Believe" - that comes way later.



Mike.BTB

N.Y. Mets ~ Failed Opportunity

From the desk of:   HEAD BUTTING MR. MET

NEW YORK METS:  Two Opportunities Lost.


Opportunities lost indeed.  With no Roy Halladay to face, the Mets had Cole Hamels right where they wanted him Monday.  Wednesday night, the Mets similarly had Cliff Lee right where they wanted him as well.  In both cases, the bottom of the bullpen fell out.

Monday's meltdown centered around Manny Acosta.  And it cost him his job.  After seeing what happened to D.J. Carrasco prior to that, the word is out - Sandy will cut you; no other descriptive needed.

Wednesday night, everyone who stepped out of the bullpen got roughed up.  Bobby Parnell took a second tumble this series.  Along with Parnell, Tim Byrdak and Jon Rouch, I believe are just matters of usage.  So I won't harp on a loss with regards to them.  And for the moment, it's not fair to pick on Chris Schwinden either. 

So that leaves us with Ramon Ramirez, who took his turn at folly Thursday evening.  He surrendered only his second home run this season, to Jimmy Rollins.  Thing with Ramon Ramirez is, when he's on, he's good.  When he's off, he's really off.  And he's terribly streaky.  So I hope this isn't about to begin a new string of troubles for him, and us.  This would be the absolute wrong time for that.

Guys like Ramirez and Miguel Batista just became more important to the Mets.  After all, there are only so many appendages Sandy Alderson can amputate from the bullpen, before Buffalo, and Binghampton run out; if they haven't already.  And quite obviously, what we can reasonably expect from Chris Schwinden, is negligible.  Which is to say, we have a real precarious situation on our hands, as this schedule begins to test the Mets.

For a night, or a series, Bobby Parnell, Tim Byrdak, and Jon Rauch, at least I feel, we all victims of over-use heading into Wednesday night.  And not just lately, but over all this season.  Sometimes over-use manifests itself at different times, even on the heels of recent, long and strong performances by Johan Santana and Dickey.

Losing two out of three games to the Phillies was an opportunity lost on the Mets.  In the face of mystifying offensive accomplishments, the Mets still betrayed their own timely hitting and decently strong pitching with an array of confounding bullpen performances.  These two losses to the Phillies are the kinds that haunt.  These are the ones you rue not winning.  This was a series designed to seize the moment.

What is still undeniable about these Mets however, is their ability to, if not staying in against strong opposing starting pitchers, but they also have shown they can indeed out-last them.  This was the second time against Cliff Lee this season, and they had him where they wanted him too.



Mike.BTB

N.Y. Mets ~ Amazins Have Much Hinging on June

From the desk of:   HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

NEW YORK METS:  Sandy Alderson Wastes No Time; Continues To Address Bullpen Issues.  Manny Acosta Gets Designated for Assignment After Game One of Most Competitive Stretch in Amazin's Schedule So Far.

Mets Must Generate Power To Stay Cool This Summer.

Popular Opinion has it the Mets will not be able to sustain this level of play through the summer.  If the Mets keep getting injured at this rate, the Opinionated might be right.  If the Mets stumble, and fall during this next 19-game stretch; including Monday's loss to Philadelphia, the Opinionated might again, be right.  Nineteen games from now lands the Mets in a series with Baltimore, then it's right back against the Yankees again in the Citi Field portion of the Subway Series.

In other words, it's time to sink or swim boys.  Moving forward, they will be defined by June.  Not April or May.  Because that's what happens when you're only (for now) five games over the .500 level.  And that's what happens when the Braves hit a horrific stretch and suffer eight consecutive losses heading into Tuesday's games.  And that's what happens when Philly gets ravaged by Met-Like high end injuries.  Make what ever you will of the Marlins.  But now that Memorial Day has passed, no one will remember all the Feel-Good the Mets gave us for the first two months of Spring.

Right off the bat, Monday night, I feel the Mets failed to seize the moment.  They had Cole Hamels on the ropes, and damn near out-lasted him, hitting two, two-run home runs off the Philly hurler.  Jon Niese did little however, to help his own cause with five walks in five innings pitched.  Even then, the bullpen, namely Manny Acosta, couldn't keep the Phils where they were.

This season, the 31-year old Manny Acosta, was in a word, terrible.  In twenty-two innings pitched, he possessed a still escalating 11.28 ERA.  He gave up thirty-five hits and walked another fifteen.  And in those twenty-two innings, he gave up six dreadful home runs.  Like D.J. Carrasco before him, Manny Acosta was designated for assignment by Sandy Alderson Tuesday.  Chris Schwinden was recalled to fill the roster spot.

With offensive statistics starting to paint a very grim picture for the upcoming Mets' Summer, every lead is precious as you can imagine.  Especially since the Mets are still somehow defeating the odds.  So, Sandy Alderson decided he can't have Acosta polluting his bullpen a single game longer.  And say this for the Mets' General Manager - there is no such thing as paralysis through analysis with him.  He's fair, but when it comes time to cut the cord on someone, Sandy does not hesitate.  He wields his scythe swiftly.

Luis Castillo, Oliver Perez, and the Purge, were different matters.  I'm taking about the move he made last season at second base, when it was clear Brad Emaus wasn't the answer there.  He promptly DFA'd him, and we moved on nicely at second base since then.  If only we can have some of that fortune rub off on the bullpen.  Because this makes two arms Sandy has jettisoned now, due to lack of performance.  At least Frank Francisco is looking like he might have some staying power.

Back to matters of injury, add Justin Turner to the list of wounded.  No one is about to say shortstop is now haunted, but talk about having some horrible luck at the position this season.  Tonight, they sported shortstop number four, or even five.  I lost count.  The Mets might finally catch a break however, once Ruben Tejada returns.  But even he is having a tough time getting back on the field.

All these factors exist to test the Mets' resilience, and maybe even their temerity.  After all, there is something to youthful exuberance.  It's what the Mets have been relying on.  How much longer will it last?  If Scott Hairston is answering that question, he'll say all season long!  He had a pinch hit home run for the Mets Tuesday night - his sixth of the season.  He now leads the Mets.  David Wright, Lucas Duda, and Ike Davis, are all behind him.  There's an obvious problem there.

As with the problems Sandy Alderson is having plugging the fifth spot in the rotation, he will not easily pluck someone from the farm system for instant power either.  That sort of tact may work with the bullpen for now.  But unless Sandy can find that fifth starter other than by utilizing some of the burgeoning talent the Mets have percolating in the minors, the only other solution to the Mets problem in the back end of the rotation, and with their dearth of hitting power, are simply, player production.

Tuesday night, the latest fifth starter made his third start as a Met.  For a night, Jeremy Hefner made Sandy Alderson look like a smart man.  Not only did the kid hit his first MLB home run to help his own cause, he left on the winning side of a 6-3 game.  Jeremy allowed three earned runs on six hits.  He walked none and struck out four.

Then.., about that bullpen - Bobby Parnell pitched a scoreless seventh.  In the eighth, John Rauch allowed a lead-off single to Jimmy Rollins.  A couple of batters later, the rains came and interrupted the game.  But for the purposes of this post however, I do not need a final score.

It's enough to say - if the Mets regular power hitters can just show up, like Jeremy Hefner did in Game Two versus the Phils Tuesday, they'll succeed in making many June games, important ones.



Read my articles on the New York Mets at Rising Apple.com




Mike.BTB

N.Y. Mets ~ Late Scoring Makes Dickey a Six Game Winner

From the desk of:   HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

NEW YORK METS:

It's Time To Start Talking About R.A. Dickey the All*Star.

After seven full innings pitched in Pittsburgh, R.A. Dickey achieved his career high for strikeouts in a game with eleven.  R.A. surrendered but five hits, one earned run, and walked none.

In the top of the eighth, Coach Terry was faced with leaving Dickey in the game, as he only had thrown eighty-nine pitches to that point, or pinch hitting for him, because the Mets were tied with the Pirates at one, with the pitcher due to lead off.  Buc's starter, James McDonald, was equal to the task with seven innings of one run baseball as well.  He allowed four Met hits, walked two, and struck out eight.

The scoring re-cap is easy.  Mike Nickeas singled home Daniel Murphy back in the second.  And Pittsburgh scored on a sac-fly in the sixth.

Coach Terry sent up Andres Torres to pinch hit, who promptly struck out.  So much for strategy.  Mike  Baxter then lined a double to straight away center field.  Kirk Nieuwenhuis did well to work out a walk which brought up David Wright.  But the (now) .403 Kid struck out too.  So up stepped Lucas Duda looking for a clutch two out hit.  And you know..., he came through.  He pulled righty Juan Cruz' offering past first base for an RBI single.  Baxter scored from second on the hit.  James McDonald's line was now complete and would be marked by a no-decision.

The Bucs brought in another righty, Chris Resop, to face lefty Daniel Murphy with two outs and Nieuwenhuis on third.  An E-5 put Murphy on first, and allowed Nieuwenhuis to score for a 3-1 Mets lead.  Ike Davis, who was 0 for 4 on the night, with two strikeouts, ended the threat.

Then, in came the Mets' bullpen.  After suffering the loss in Monday's game, Jon Rauch was first.  A one out double by Jose Tabata to right was followed up with a fine play by Nickeas, 2-3 for the out.  Tabata moved to third on the play and scored when Daniel Murphy couldn't make an over the shoulder catch on a flair to short right.  The game was now 3-2 Mets, with the tying run on first.  Out went Rauch.  In came Tim Byrdak to face Pedro Alvarez.  Andrew McCutchen stole second to put the tying run at second.  Then on a 1-2 pitch, Tim Byrdak struck out his man and preserved the Mets lead.  The book on R.A. Dickey wasn't closed yet.

Frank Francisco began to muster in the bullpen while the Mets took their at-bat in the top of the ninth.  Once they failed to tack on any insurance runs, the big righty entered the game in search of his eleventh save, or his fourth loss, or his third blown save.  We never know these days.

A grounder to Murphy, and a strikeout, left Pittsburgh down to their last at-bat.  Rod Barajas popped up that opportunity a mile high and Kirk Nieuwenhuis squeezed it for the last out.  And so Frank Francisco's eleventh save indeed, came without incident.  R.A. Dickey is now a six game winner versus just one loss.

Scott Hairston is still the only Met to hit a home run on this road trip.  Pittsburgh barely has more than New York.  After tomorrow's rubber game, the Mets will host the San Diego Padres - the only team with less home runs than the Roosevelt Avenue Scrappers.

In lieu of power, the Mets have five, two-out RBI, against Pittsburgh so far.  And unlike their paltry .179 batting with RiSP against Toronto, the Mets are now 4 for 13 (.308) with RiSP this series.

Even with no power to speak of, everything the Metrs aren't getting accomplished against a string a good starting pitchers this month, they've done well to take out on relief pitchers.  The Mets continue to outlast many quality starts, and score late against team's bullpens.  James McDonald's was just the latest good start and Pittsburgh's bullpen was just the latest to implode against the Mets.

Such style of Baseball is tough on starting pitcher's baseball card.  But unlike last season, when a preponderance of R.A. Dickey's quality starts were relegated to no-decisions, or toe-tagged with a blown loss, this season, the Mets are doing a better job getting R.A. wins.

His continues to be a remarkable story.  Signed out of the ether by Omar Minaya to a minor league contract over the winter of 2009-10, he's become the Mets' most reliable, and consistent starting pitcher.  While improving his staff leading record to 6-1, he also lowered his ERA to a 3.45 in nine starts.  He leads the Mets rotation with 57.1 innings pitched, by far offering the Mets bullpen the most respite.

I think it's time we starting talking about R.A. Dickey in the same sentence with All-Star Game.

The Mets came back to split two games and will play the rubber match against the Pirates tomorrow in an early afternoon matinee, before returning home.  After dropping two of three to Toronto, they can end this road trip (2-3), and bring their overall road record (11-12) this season to .500 with a win Wednesday.





Mike.BTB

N.Y. Mets ~ Twice As Nice

From the desk of:   HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

NEW YORK METS:  So Far, Bullpen Helping Amazins Avoid Last Season's 5-13 Start.

R.A. Dickey Finally Gets Run Support and Lights-Out Bullpen Work

How About That?

Former Brooklyn Cyclone Favorite Kirk Nieuwenhuis

Makes His Mets' and MLB Debut.

Timing is everything I guess.  Had I posted after Opening Day's victory, I would have most surely said Johan Santana's five inning start was the story of the game considering he was making his first  appearance since September 2010.  Then the bullpen's work would have been a close second.


Well, after two games in the books and a pair of victories under our belts, by far, the top story has to be the work of the bullpen.  After pitching seven of the first eighteen innings of the 2012 season, five relievers have combined to give up a mere four hits; issue one walk; allow no runs; and have struck-out seven batters.  Jon Rauch and Frank Francisco have pitched in both games.  Rauch earned a second Hold, and Francisco now has two Saves.


The work of Johan Santana should not go under-spoken however.  His was a very promising start to say the least.  Five innings is hardly the stuff Cy Young could relate to.  But in Mets Town right now, surrendering two hits; issuing two walks; while allowing no runs and striking out five was more than enough.  The hope now is he that he recovers well between starts and continues to build up his stamina without any setbacks.


Both Johan Santana and the rebuilt bullpen combined to shut out the Atlanta Braves 1-0 last Thursday  in front of the largest crowd to attend a game at Citi Field so far.  Dare I say, there's hope for Mr. Wilpon yet.  Did I squeeze that in there?  The game-winning RBI went to David Wright.  Both Josh Thole and Daniel Murphy had multiple hit games.


In Saturday's game, the Mets' offense looked like it wanted to reconcile with R.A. Dickey after hanging him out to dry on so many no-decisions last season.  In season Game Two, the Mets' Lumber Co. showed up early; midway through; and late in the game to provide enough offense for R.A. Dickey's first win of the season.  David Wright got things started early with a first inning home run.  Then Lucas Duda gave the Mets a 2-0 lead with a blast in the home fourth.  In the seventh, Lucas Duda provided an important insurance run by homering for a second time and gave the Mets a 4-2 lead.  As with Game One, the bullpen took care of the rest to secure a 4-2 final.




HELLO, KIRK NIEUWENHUIS:   ONE PLAYER'S INJURY IS ANOTHER PLAYER'S OPPORTUNITY.   Mets' Center Fielder Andres Torres Placed on DL.


During Game One, CF-Andres Torres pulled up lame while chasing down an Atlanta Braves triple.  He strained his calf once again.  Outfield farm hand, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, was called up from Buffalo to fill Torres' spot on the roster and promptly had two hits in four at-bats Saturday afternoon.  But before getting carried away, he was hit-less in two at-bats with runners in scoring position.


But as far as I'm concerned, his call-up is a pleasing development and a case of   -  Ask and Ye Shall Receive.  I do not wish injury on anyone.  But, quite frankly, I think Andres Torres is a waste of our time, and would much rather give the job to Nieuwenhuis outright.  It's just where I am with this team.  Guys like Torres only delay opportunities.  I call them human Pause Buttons.  And after all, we're supposed to be rebuilding right?  Not with Andres Torres we're not.


Hello Kirk Nieuwenhuis, and welcome to the team.  You have my patience and full support.  Go win the day.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON BASEBALL

GAME THREE of THREE

Mets lead series 2-0

Atlanta Braves

vs.

NEW YORK METS

Starting Pitcher - Jonathan Niese

From,

CITI FIELD

Roosevelt Avenue, Flushing

Mike.BTB