Friday, July 09, 2004
Phillies 5, Mets 4
If, as is often asserted, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results in the definition of insanity, what exactly is it going to take for Art Howe to be fitted with a straightjacket? Not that his cup is bubbling over with other options, but any choice would provide more drama than bringing Mike Stanton into a game with runners on base while clinging to a one-run lead. Surprising no one but Howe and perhaps his own mother, Stanton coughed up the Mets' 4-3 lead after Ricky Bottalico had started the inning by allowing a walk and a single when Bobby Abreu singled to right. Stanton then got three outs with only an intentional walk mixed in, thanks in part to an inning-ending sliding catch by Mike Cameron, but the tying run was enough to set up Abreu's walk-off home run in the ninth, in part because it was also enough to prevent Howe from using his best reliever, Braden Looper, in the bottom of the ninth inning of a tie game.
Before the bullpen gave away his lead, Matt Ginter gave the Mets an adequate, but not necessarily game-saving performance. He went five innings and allowed three runs on four hits and three walks while striking out three. He was sent to Norfolk to make room for Karim Garcia on the roster, but time will tell if he gets recalled in ten days when the Mets next need a fifth starter.
It was another good offensive day for the top of the Mets' lineup, as Jose Reyes and Kazuo Matsui each had a pair of hits, with Matsui smacking his twenty-fifth double and also drawing a walk. The "bust" of a rookie shortstop is now hitting .273/.342/.415 on the year and ranks second in the National League in Baseball Prospectus's VORP among shortstops. Eric Valent, Cliff Floyd and Mike Cameron also doubled on a day when the Mets managed plenty of hits but failed to get quite enough in the crucial spots. Cameron also added his thirteenth home run of the year and third in two days. The once-struggling centerfielder is now hitting .226/.324/.436, within twenty points of his career marks in all three rate stats and already exceeding his career slugging percentage, having smacked just five fewer home runs than he did last year in twice as many at bats.
It's hard to get too upset about a split with the division leaders in their park, though the Mets certainly had their chances to do more damage in this series. Still, they'll head into this weekend's series with the Marlins right in the thick of the four-team race for the division lead.
Also on Wednesday, the Mets apparently signed "twenty-four year old" Cuban starting pitcher Alain Soler. While statements like "He's a Roger Clemens-type pitcher... Give him a few weeks in the minors and he'll be ready," are not worth taking seriously, if he is as young as he's said to be, it's certainly worth a shot that he can be a good major league pitcher. One of the things that has made the Yankees so successful--and hated--has been their ability to absorb the financial hit when a gamble they throw a ton of money at doesn't work out. And while the Yankees certainly have the biggest stack at the Major League Baseball table, the Mets are certainly among the chip leaders, so to speak, and could reap big benefits if they're willing to similarly risk what they've got on longshot bets. Yes, I am obsessed with poker, thanks for asking. When you need a starting pitcher, and the best guy immediately available is Kris Benson and his 4+ ERA, it's time to get creative, and I applaud the Mets for doing so.
Tonight the Mets begin another important series, this one with the Marlins, and it'll be Jae Weong Seo (4-5, 4.79) taking on AJ Burnett (1-3, 4.74). ¶ joe | 8:37 PM |
If, as is often asserted, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results in the definition of insanity, what exactly is it going to take for Art Howe to be fitted with a straightjacket? Not that his cup is bubbling over with other options, but any choice would provide more drama than bringing Mike Stanton into a game with runners on base while clinging to a one-run lead. Surprising no one but Howe and perhaps his own mother, Stanton coughed up the Mets' 4-3 lead after Ricky Bottalico had started the inning by allowing a walk and a single when Bobby Abreu singled to right. Stanton then got three outs with only an intentional walk mixed in, thanks in part to an inning-ending sliding catch by Mike Cameron, but the tying run was enough to set up Abreu's walk-off home run in the ninth, in part because it was also enough to prevent Howe from using his best reliever, Braden Looper, in the bottom of the ninth inning of a tie game.
Before the bullpen gave away his lead, Matt Ginter gave the Mets an adequate, but not necessarily game-saving performance. He went five innings and allowed three runs on four hits and three walks while striking out three. He was sent to Norfolk to make room for Karim Garcia on the roster, but time will tell if he gets recalled in ten days when the Mets next need a fifth starter.
It was another good offensive day for the top of the Mets' lineup, as Jose Reyes and Kazuo Matsui each had a pair of hits, with Matsui smacking his twenty-fifth double and also drawing a walk. The "bust" of a rookie shortstop is now hitting .273/.342/.415 on the year and ranks second in the National League in Baseball Prospectus's VORP among shortstops. Eric Valent, Cliff Floyd and Mike Cameron also doubled on a day when the Mets managed plenty of hits but failed to get quite enough in the crucial spots. Cameron also added his thirteenth home run of the year and third in two days. The once-struggling centerfielder is now hitting .226/.324/.436, within twenty points of his career marks in all three rate stats and already exceeding his career slugging percentage, having smacked just five fewer home runs than he did last year in twice as many at bats.
It's hard to get too upset about a split with the division leaders in their park, though the Mets certainly had their chances to do more damage in this series. Still, they'll head into this weekend's series with the Marlins right in the thick of the four-team race for the division lead.
Also on Wednesday, the Mets apparently signed "twenty-four year old" Cuban starting pitcher Alain Soler. While statements like "He's a Roger Clemens-type pitcher... Give him a few weeks in the minors and he'll be ready," are not worth taking seriously, if he is as young as he's said to be, it's certainly worth a shot that he can be a good major league pitcher. One of the things that has made the Yankees so successful--and hated--has been their ability to absorb the financial hit when a gamble they throw a ton of money at doesn't work out. And while the Yankees certainly have the biggest stack at the Major League Baseball table, the Mets are certainly among the chip leaders, so to speak, and could reap big benefits if they're willing to similarly risk what they've got on longshot bets. Yes, I am obsessed with poker, thanks for asking. When you need a starting pitcher, and the best guy immediately available is Kris Benson and his 4+ ERA, it's time to get creative, and I applaud the Mets for doing so.
Tonight the Mets begin another important series, this one with the Marlins, and it'll be Jae Weong Seo (4-5, 4.79) taking on AJ Burnett (1-3, 4.74). ¶ joe | 8:37 PM |
