Livan Tanks, Dodgers Roll, Mets Keep Sinking

An article by Joe D    6 Comments

The Mets lost yet another series as the Dodgers pounded them 11-2 last night at Citi Field and took the series two games to one.

The Mets have now lost eight of their last nine series…

Livan Hernandez started for the Mets (if that’s what you want to call it), and lost his fourth straight decision only this one was his shortest and worst outing yet.

Even before the Mets took their first licks in the first inning, they were already down 4-0 and you knew it was going to be one of those nights. Hernandez wasn’t just bad, he was god-awful. In four innings pitched he was torched for eight runs on eleven hits and four walks. His ERA in now 5.19 and he now faces the possibility that he will be booted out of the rotation and replaced by Jon Niese in the second half. Manuel didn’t say that much, but he admitted that there would be drastic changes to the rotation after the All Star break.  I only wish that there were drastic changes to the ownership group as well.

Hernandez was not the only Mets pitcher stinking up the joint, Tim Redding pitched the final two innings and allowed three more Dodgers runs on six more hits and a walk. Redding’s ERA is now 7.14 for the season, but don’t blame Omar or him, it’s that high because of all the injuries. He was actually a brilliant signing… yeah right!

The Mets, fresh off their rare offensive outburst the night before, were back to their usual anemic output. 

Dan Murphy who had been one of the heroes in their only win in the last six games, was out of the lineup for no apparent reason other than Manuel’s sheer and obvious incompetence in the last six weeks. The Mets left nine on base and went 1-10 with runners in scoring position. Wright and Sheffield did have two hits each, but not when it really mattered.

The Mets went into this season knowing fully well that John Maine was a huge question mark after shoulder surgery. They made the unfathomable decision to make Mike Pelfrey the team’s number two starter. They signed one of the most erratic pitcher in baseball who led the league in walks to a lucrative three-year deal. And instead of going after a real number two starter, they opted to sign Tim Redding and bring in Freddy Garcia and Livan Hernandez to battle for the final spot in the rotation.

This was the Mets plan… To go into 2009 with a rotation consisting of one ace and four number five starters.

Don’t blame the injuries for this debacle, blame Omar and blame the Wilpons.

And now with arguably one of the best starters in baseball on the trading block in Roy Halladay, the Mets won’t even make a play for him, while the crosstown Yankees and rival Phillies are both on the horn trying to acquire him.

Fast forward to 2010, the Mets will start the season with Johan, Pelfrey, Perez, Niese and whatever else the dog drags into the house.

The Mets should start their hot stove season today, and get Halladay in the house for the 2010 rotation. And who knows, the move may even end up salvaging the 2009 season in the process.