Unhappy Recap: Diamondbacks 5 Mets 4

The season is over, this team is through.

I've never seen a worse bullpen.

Two games in row they get great starting pitching, some early runs and a huge blown lead. They're lucky to have won one of those games.

There's really not much else to analyze other than the pitching but I'll say a few more things.

Santana was awesome, exactly the pitcher we wanted when we traded for him and needed to get us back on the winning ways.

Ramon Castro is awesome, I wish he could stay healthy and show up on time.

David Wright is in a horrible slump.

Willie Randolph from now on has to let his starting pitchers pitch until their arms fall off. If he wants to win he has to forget pitch counts and let these guys go as long as they can. He cannot trust anyone in this bullpen.

Now that the season is over Billy Wagner will start saving games again. And when he gets hot, they should dump him to a contender for a good prospect. I'm sure someone would take him, but who needs a closer when your team sucks, especially one who blows every fuckin important game.

Two things in defense of Wagner. First, the umpire was squeezing him. But the same thing happened on Sunday. The umpires made bad calls so he just threw the ball right down the middle on the next pitch. Second, Willie hung him out to dry twice so far this season when he made a comment, and was 100% right, and Willie made him apologize. I doubt that has anything to do with his performance but it's a real example of how Willie has mismanaged this team.

Why did Willie leave Joe Smith in so long, but is so quick to take out his starters who are doing well. Forget the lefty-righty bullshit when a relief pitcher is doing poorly, yank him.

Also, Willie has to stop bunting so much. When Reyes got on to lead off the 9th he needed to have him steal second and let Chavez swing away. A guy on second with one out is not a great position. You still need a hit, might as well let Reyes steal and Chavez swing. Or if Reyes steals second, then you bunt Endy.

I know the Mets got really unlucky in this game on umpire's calls and Diamondbacks defense, but that's no excuse for blowing every single lead.

In the last 4 games the Mets bullpen has allowed 17 earned runs in 15 innings. That doesn't include an inherited runner charged to Pelfrey and does include 4 good innings after the blown lead in Pelfrey's game.

That is just beyond horrendous.

This team sucks.

Happy Recap: Mets 5 Diamondbacks 3

Boy did they need that one.

The Mets were verging on the brink of nuclear winter when that home run by Reynolds went over the wall.

But luckily they got some good relief pitching (after Wagner) from Heilman, Feliciano and Vargas.

And Beltran came through in the clutch. I know he is a popular target for many Mets fans and even I've begun to sour on him but he has hit some huge home runs during his career with the Mets including two in the last 2 weeks.





But I feel bad for Mike Pelfrey, he pitched the game of his life and had nothing to show for it.



In his last 3 starts his ERA is 1.71 (4 earned runs in 21 innings) but he has 3 no decisions. He started the game against the Dodgers, where Beltran's homer put the Mets ahead, he started the game Schoeneweis lost with a walkoff HBP and now this one.

And if you go all the way back to his second start in May, he is 0-4 with a 3.59 ERA. Now that's a decent ERA for a 5th starter (so is 4.24 which is his new season total) but he's been a victim of bad bullpen and bad hitting several times.

Let me repeat. In his last 7 starts, he's allowed 2 runs or fewer 5 times (all in at least 6 innings) and has zero wins to show for it. That's pitching to tough luck. But if he keeps pitching this way, he's going to fulfill his promise. He's shown better mental toughness as well as better command and an increase in his strikeout rate.

But I don't have a problem with the way Willie managed him in this game. I was actually shocked he left Pelfrey in to hit for himself in the 8th inning. Shocked but pleasantly surprised. And I don't have a problem with him taking Pelfrey out after one hit. Even though he seems to blow every big save you can't manage scared of your closer. You can manage scared of your other relievers, but if you're afraid to bring your closer in with a 3-run lead it's going to hurt you more times than it helps.

Thankfully Wagner's blowup didn't cost the Mets, and hopefully this comeback galvanized them to finally get their heads out of their collective asses and start playing winning baseball.

But we should point out that this whole thing might not have happened if not for a bad call that allowed Reyes to reach base in the 4th which led to the Mets 3-run inning. So they did catch a huge break in this one.

Unhappy Recap: Diamondbacks 9 Mets 5

The Mets had been finding new ways to lose, but this time they went back to the same old way. A starter who can't go deep, a horrible bullpen and an offense that can't score run when it needs to.

I understand it was hot but John Maine has to go more than 5 innings.

There's nothing to say about the bullpen. Every guy sucked. Nothing Willie Randolph can do when every guy he brings in gives up runs.

The best thing the Mets bullpen did all night was when Schoeneweis and Wagner helped the grounds crew hold down the tarp.



And the offense pounded 5 runs in 2 innings then completely went in the tank.

I will say Moises Alou helps the offense a lot, but they need Church back too. And they need Wright and Beltran to get hot as well.

The scene before the rain delay was crazy. Shit was blowing all over the field, and I'm not talking about the Mets players.

Happy Recap: Mets 5 Diamondbacks 2

This victory wasn't so much a matter of the Mets taking it, but of the Diamondbacks giving it away, but maybe not as much as you think.

The Mets earned their first two runs, a clutch single by Reyes and a crushed homer by David Wright.

But the end of the game is where the Diamondbacks blew it.

That Chris Burke bunt was such a range of emotions, first I thought Feliciano would throw him out, then I thought he'd be safe at first, then I thought he'd get to second on the wild throw, then I thought he'd be at third with no outs and I thought for sure the Mets were going to lose, then Church made a great play and a great throw and the Mets dodged a bullet.



I actually don't think it was such a bad risk by Burke because as you saw the Mets needed a perfect play to get him. And a runner on 3rd with no outs is almost a guaranteed run. I think that was a calculated gamble that didn't work out, that time.

And the Conor Jackson error on Delgado's grounder did allow Beltran to score, but with 1st and 3rd and one out Schneider hopefully would have gotten the run in, plus they couldn't have been playing for a double play, they would have had to be playing in.

Obviously, both those plays helped the Mets, but it wasn't as much of a gift as it seemed.

Johan Santana pitched well, well enough to win but 10 baserunners in 6 innings is too many, and 116 pitches in 6 innings is way too many. And asking the Mets bullpen to hold a 1 run lead for 3 innings is too much to ask of them.



And three wild pitches? That was strange too.

Jorge Sosa now leads the Mets in wins with 4.

Carlos Delgado might be on a little bit of a hot streak. I was glad to see that after he pulled that homer down the line, he didn't revert to trying to pull everything.

It might be time to jump on Carlos Beltran's back. I have been one of his biggest defenders during his time with the Mets but he has been awful this season. Other than the high walk total, he has done nothing.

Although Beltran is ahead of Delgado in all non-traditional but more important categories, on-base, slugging, Delgado is actually leading Beltran in all 3 triple crown categories.

After a miserable loss to the Pirates it was nice to see the Mets bounceback by taking 2 of 3 from the best team in the majors.

Unhappy Recap: Diamondbacks 10 Mets 4

I think we have enough evidence know that we know Mike Pelfrey is never going to be anything more than a 5th starter in the majors. His stuff is good but he can't throw strikes, he gives up a ton of hits and he gets rattled very easily and melts down.

Pelfrey has made 5 starts this year and the Mets are 2-3 when he takes the mound. And because the bullpen is so bad the Mets can't afford their starters to throw so many pitches that they have to come out of games early.

Here are Pelfrey's 5 starts so far this year:
5 innings, 100 pitches
7 innings, 100 pitches
5 innings, 98 pitches
5 1/3 innings, 99 pitches
5 innings, 102 pitches

And when you do that you have a situation like this game. The Mets were only down 5-4 but if the bullpen has to pitch 3 innings or more they are going to give up runs every time. The only difference here was that Heilman and Sosa survived (barely) without giving up any runs, it was Duaner Sanchez who couldn't get anyone out. So if the Mets, whose lack of timely hitting has killed them this year, were to get a run off the Diamondbacks bullpen (as it turned out, they didn't) it wouldn't have mattered because Sanchez allowed five runs.

Up and down game for Carlos Delgado. First he helps Pelfrey blow an early lead with a piss poor back-handed effort on a ground ball that for some reason was scored a hit. Then he bounced back with what should have been a huge 3-run homer. You can see the plan was to pitch him inside, Webb just got that pitch a little too far out over the plate.

Regardless of how this game turned out I think we are seeing that the Mets need to keep Church in the 2 hole.

Happy Recap: Mets 7 Diamondbacks 2

There's just something about going to Arizona that wakes up the Mets bats.

You can talk about anyone you want, Johan Santana, Oliver Perez, Carlos Delgado, Aaron Heilman, but no one matters as much to the Mets' success as Jose Reyes. When he leads off with a triple, and then adds 3 more hits, the Mets are going to win games. He had a bad game in the blowout loss but in the past three games he's been on base 13 times in the last 4 games.

I think the only thing I enjoy more than watching Reyes leg out a triple is watching Reyes leg out inside the park home run (even if he gets thrown out at home). Do you think Reyes and Alomar knew that he needed a homer for the cycle when they elected to try for the inside the parker? I hope so. Do you think its bad sportsmanship to pursue individual goals like that.

Ryan Church is an excellent number 2 hitter and it will turn out to be a huge positive externaility of Alou's return that Church can now bat second. Willie cannot be stubborn and stick Castillo there. The Mets need someone with power in that spot.

David Wright also had a huge night also falling just short of the cycle.

I like the fact that even though he is struggling Beltran continues to draw walks and has a pretty decent on-base percentage. If he can keep this up with Alou back, it could provide Alou some good RBI chances.

I guess it's an accomplishment that John Maine made it through 6 innings but isn't this the type of game in which a starter should be able to pitch 7, 8 or even 9 innings? Why do all the Mets pitchers hit the 100 pitch mark in the 6th inning?

It's disappointing to have to use 3 relievers to protect a 5 run lead. Especially with the way the bullpen has been overused.

I was disappointed we didn't get to see the real Micah Owings on the mound or at the plate. The Mets walked him twice and pounded him because he has a bad ankle. It will not be as easy against Brandon Webb and Dan Haren.

Unhappy Recap: Diamondbacks 4 Mets 1

In each of his last two starts Oliver Perez allowed 3 runs in 7 innings, which is a quality start, and definitely good enough to keep any team in the game, especially the Mets. But this time, with the Mets offense so short handed, his outing seemed a lot worse.

He started it off with four hitless innings, but it all went downhill in the fifth. He walked the leadoff batter, which is always his death knell, and he's been able to avoid it lately. Then a single, a double and a brilliant double play by Reyes turned into 2 runs. He gave up another run in the 6th after another leadoff walk. He did stick around for the 7th though, throwing 103 pitches.

In the first inning, Reyes singled and then Chavez bunted. This is a horrible play for so many reasons. First of all, outs are a very precious commodity, the gain of a sacrifice bunt is rarely worth giving up an out, other than in certain situations late in close games. Second, you still need a hit to get the man home, and only have two chances. Third, you limit your chances for a big inning, and you're probably not going to win 1-0. Fourth, Reyes should just steal second. After Chavez's bunt, Wright grounded out and Delgado struck out.

It would be a rough day for Delgado who has been hot, but his batting average is still only .225. He did drive in the Mets only run with ground out in the 6th, but a hit there would have given them a chance to get back into the game.

In the 8th, with Reyes and Wright on 1st and 3rd and only one out, Delgado struck out again. Then Easley grounded out to end the inning and that was that.

This was the first series the Mets lost to a non-division opponent.

The Mets had gone 12 games without an error until Reyes made on in the 8th. It was only his third of the year, fewest among full time shortstops.

Doug Davis threw a lot of curveballs. He said his scouting report showed that the Mets over the past couple of years bat under .200 against curveballs.

This will be the last we see of Alberto Callaspo this year.

Ben in the 6th Johnson in Mets history. Howard is the obvious one, I think most of us remember Lance, and I think if you go back about 5-6 years you'll remember a scrub they had named Mark. The other two were both named Bob. One Bob pitched two games for the Mets in 1969 (I wonder if he got a World Series ring) and the other played part of the 1967 season with the team.

Happy Recap: Mets 7 Diamondbacks 1

This game started a lot like the previous game, a home run, a 2-run lead, then breaking the game open with a 3-run homer.

The Mets got behind early when Sosa gave up a home run to promising rookie Mark Reynolds.

Then the Mets answered with a Delgado homer, his 8th, and his 5th in the last 8 games.

Then Castro ripped a single that Drew didn't go after too hard, then a Gotay bloop, and a Newhan slow roller led to two more runs.

Sosa dominated after the homer. He was getting ahead with his fastball and striking guys out with his slider.

It was still 3-1 in the 7th when Joe Smith came on to get Alberto Callaspo. Another great dichotomy between the elegance of Spanish names and the blandess of American names.

After that Wright walked, Delgado doubled and Gotay homered to break it open.

The Mets tacked on another run when Gomez broke a long hitless streak and Reyes tripled. Love watching Reyes triple.

Mets go for another series win with Oliver Perez vs. Doug Davis.

Unhappy Recap: Diamondbacks 5 Mets 1

With Beltran and Wright injured, the Mets started a triple A lineup againt Brandon Webb. Easley was hitting third, and Franco was playing third.

Julio Franco stole second but Reyes was caught stealing, on a pitchout, but still, it his second caught stealing in two games.

John Maine pitched pretty well, his only mistake was giving a Chris Snyder a good pitch to hit on a 1-2 count with the pitcher up next.

Gulliermo Mota gave up a 3 run homer to put this game out of reach.

Unhappy Recap: Diamondbacks 3 Mets 1

Another rough outing for Mike Pelfrey. He did pitch well enough to keep the team in the game but 4 walks and 2 hit batsmen meant he only pitched 5 and a third innings. In that time he gave up 3 runs. He is now 0-4 with a 6.39 ERA. Terrible stats. It doesn't seem to be working out for him at the major league level. I think it's time to send him down and try someone else. I know El Duque is injured but the Mets lost the last 4 times he's pitched. They could do that with Chan Ho Park and not risk damaging a young pitcher's psyche.

After beating Randy Johnson and Brandon Webb the Mets couldn't do anything with Livan Hernandez. They had runners on but couldn't push anyone across.

David Wright went hitless in three games after his 3-run homer in the 9th. He went 1-18 in the series. He batted in several different spots in the order. I understand the injuries to Alou and the lefty starters are screwing up the lineup but nothing is working to get Wright and Delgado out of their slumps.

The Mets finally lost to the Diamondbacks in Arizona, ending the streak 6 short of the record for most wins on the road against one opponent.

Happy Recap: Mets 6 Diamondbacks 2

Jorge Sosa vs. Brandon Webb did not look like a matchup that favored the Mets going into the game. But for some reason the Mets own Brandon Webb. Last year's Cy Young Award winner is 1-6 in his career against the Mets.

Sosa pitched six great innings but got into trouble in the 7th. Joe Smith couldn't bail him out. Smith still has a 0.00 ERA but a double allowed Sosa's two inherited runners to score.

Shawn Green homered and drove in three and continues to be the Mets best hitter not named Beltran or Reyes. With Alou out and Delgado and Wright struggling, his contributions have been very important.

LoDuca also drove in a couple runs (aided by an error), which I didn't think he would be great at batting further down in the lineup.

The Mets have won 13 straight in Arizona by a score of 104 - 29.

Happy Recap: Mets 5 Diamondbacks 3

The Mets continue to own Randy Johnson. His stats for his career against the Mets aren't terrible, but lately the Mets have owned him. Last year in two interleague starts against the Mets for the Yankees Johnson gave up 14 runs in 11 innings.

As for John Maine his ERA actually went up just a little bit by allowing one run in 7 innings. But he improved to 5-0. If the season ended today he would win the NL Cy Young.

Julio Franco became the oldest player in Major League history to hit a home run. A record previously held by Julio Franco.

Billy Wagner got the save but Burgos gave up a home run in the 8th that cost him his spot on the team. At least for now.

Happy Recap: Mets 9 Diamondbacks 4

It took the Mets 8 innings to remember they were in Arizona but when they did it resulted in a great comeback.

Aided by an error, a questionable call on a borderline 2-2 pitch to LoDuca and the subsequent breakdown it induced in Jose Valverde, the Mets overcame a 4-3 deficit with 6 runs in the 9th.

Prior to the season some were concerned about whether The Moustache could repeat his performance from last season. Now that he's injured, maybe Easley can. He has 3 homers in 29 at bats, one in the tenth inning to tie a game, and this one to take the lead in a game they were losing. That's huge production in close and late situations.

And it's only been two games, and I'm still against the move but David Wright now has 2 home runs in the 2 hole and none batting anywhere else. I don't think I'll ever be convinced that the team is better off with Wright batting second because I never suggested his performance wouldn't be stellar from there. My contention was that the rest of the lineup would be weakened. Time will tell.

Glavine pitched well enough to win his 294th career game but every time the Mets scored he gave the runs right back. So he'll have to wait for another day.

Aaron Heilman earned the win with his first good inning in a while. As soon as Gary Cohen said Billy Wagner was suddenly getting a lot of save opportunities, David Wright ended that chance.

The Mets have now won 11 in a row in Arizona's Chase Field (formerly Bank One Ballpark). Over that time they've outscored Arizona by a score of 93-24, translating to an average score of 8-2. Or 8.45-2.18 to appease TallSkott.