Saturday, June 12, 2004
Royals 4, Mets 3
David Weathers is nothing if not committed. The Mets and Royals played a tight, ugly game through seven innings and wound up tied at two. Then Art Howe made the inexplicable but entirely predictably move of giving the ball to Weathers, despite having at least two right handed relievers in his bullpen who have been more effective that Weathers this year, as well as Tyler Yates, who at least hasn’t been given the chance to fail as a major league reliever yet. Weathers came in and got a pair of outs, but then he walked perhaps the best base stealer in the game, Carlos Beltran, on four pitches. Beltran then proceeded to steal second and score on a single by Mike Sweeney.
But in the top of the ninth, the Mets miraculously rallied for a run on a single by Mike Cameron and a pinch hit double by—guess who?—Todd Zeile. But after Zeile stupidly got doubled off of second on a Kazuo Matsui flyout to end the inning, Howe sent Weathers back out, and he continued his determined effort to give this game away.
Weathers then gave up a single to the first batter he faced, botched an attempted sacrifice on which he should have been able to get the lead runner and then allowed a single to Angel Berroa to end the game. The Mets’ offense wasn’t pretty today, as they once again went hitless in three at bats with the bases loaded, although they did manage to drive in runs with a bases loaded walk and a bases loaded groundout. And in addition to Zeile’s base running blunder, Matsui, who was on base four time with two walks and two singles, ended a potential threat in the seventh when he ran too far around second base and got tagged out trying to get back. Still, they got another effective starting pitching performance from Al Leiter, who allowed just two runs through seven innings on three hits and three walks while striking out four. And they eventually managed to put three whole runs on the board, on eight hits and eight walks, in support of him. And once again Howe’s reliance on veteran relievers who have proven ineffective time and time again cost the Mets the game in the end.
Hopefully this weekend will dissuade the Mets of the idea that they are anything other than sellers at this year’s trading deadline, especially if they’ve got the idea in their head that what they need most is another hitter. Until the Mets can put together the kind of offense that can score enough runs to overcome Art Howe’s Bullpen Follies, they are no kind of contender. Days like today, which have happened over and over again to the 2004 Mets, should illustrate the point that starting pitching is not even close to being their biggest concern. If the Mets’ front office think that Kris Benson or Freddy Garcia is the key to turning this season around, they’re even more clueless than they’ve already shown themselves to be.
Tomorrow the Mets try to avoid their second consecutive series sweep and send their ace to the mound to get it done. Tom Glavine (6-3, 2.21) gets the ball against young Royals phenom in waiting Zack Greinke (1-1, 1.73). Should we start making bets as to how the Mets will manage to blow Glavine’s excellent start? I’ll take Mike Stanton in the pool.
¶ joe | 6:22 PM |
David Weathers is nothing if not committed. The Mets and Royals played a tight, ugly game through seven innings and wound up tied at two. Then Art Howe made the inexplicable but entirely predictably move of giving the ball to Weathers, despite having at least two right handed relievers in his bullpen who have been more effective that Weathers this year, as well as Tyler Yates, who at least hasn’t been given the chance to fail as a major league reliever yet. Weathers came in and got a pair of outs, but then he walked perhaps the best base stealer in the game, Carlos Beltran, on four pitches. Beltran then proceeded to steal second and score on a single by Mike Sweeney.
But in the top of the ninth, the Mets miraculously rallied for a run on a single by Mike Cameron and a pinch hit double by—guess who?—Todd Zeile. But after Zeile stupidly got doubled off of second on a Kazuo Matsui flyout to end the inning, Howe sent Weathers back out, and he continued his determined effort to give this game away.
Weathers then gave up a single to the first batter he faced, botched an attempted sacrifice on which he should have been able to get the lead runner and then allowed a single to Angel Berroa to end the game. The Mets’ offense wasn’t pretty today, as they once again went hitless in three at bats with the bases loaded, although they did manage to drive in runs with a bases loaded walk and a bases loaded groundout. And in addition to Zeile’s base running blunder, Matsui, who was on base four time with two walks and two singles, ended a potential threat in the seventh when he ran too far around second base and got tagged out trying to get back. Still, they got another effective starting pitching performance from Al Leiter, who allowed just two runs through seven innings on three hits and three walks while striking out four. And they eventually managed to put three whole runs on the board, on eight hits and eight walks, in support of him. And once again Howe’s reliance on veteran relievers who have proven ineffective time and time again cost the Mets the game in the end.
Hopefully this weekend will dissuade the Mets of the idea that they are anything other than sellers at this year’s trading deadline, especially if they’ve got the idea in their head that what they need most is another hitter. Until the Mets can put together the kind of offense that can score enough runs to overcome Art Howe’s Bullpen Follies, they are no kind of contender. Days like today, which have happened over and over again to the 2004 Mets, should illustrate the point that starting pitching is not even close to being their biggest concern. If the Mets’ front office think that Kris Benson or Freddy Garcia is the key to turning this season around, they’re even more clueless than they’ve already shown themselves to be.
Tomorrow the Mets try to avoid their second consecutive series sweep and send their ace to the mound to get it done. Tom Glavine (6-3, 2.21) gets the ball against young Royals phenom in waiting Zack Greinke (1-1, 1.73). Should we start making bets as to how the Mets will manage to blow Glavine’s excellent start? I’ll take Mike Stanton in the pool.
¶ joe | 6:22 PM |
