11
2010
Johan Flops As Mets Fall 5-2, The Manuel Watch Begins
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This one was over in the first inning, after Johan Santana served up a grand slam to Josh Willingham. The Mets lose back to back series to two teams that most consider to be cellar dwellers, however it’s the Mets who occupy that spot to begin the season.
Game Notes
Johan Santana came into todays game with a 6-1 mark against the Washington Nationals, but got totally owned by a Nats lineup that didn’t include all-star Ryan Zimmerman. After a bases clearing triple in the first was overturned into a grand slam by Josh Willingham, the Mets were pretty much cooked, and so was Johan. He lasted five innings allowing five earned runs on five hits and three walks. Shake this one off Johan!
Before the game, the Mets called up reliever Raul Valdes who made his MLB debut and did a fine job holding the Nats scoreless for two innings The Bullpen continues to do a great job. It figures right? I mean we finally get the bullpen fixed and everything else goes to hell in a hand-basket.
The Mets showed some signs of life in the ninth inning when Frankie Rodriguez hit yesterday’s villain Willie Harris with a pitch in the ninth inning. I don’t believe it was a purpose pitch, but Harris seemed to think it was and reacted with some choice expletives. K-Rod responded with a profanity-filled volley of his own, but before things could get worse both benches cleared, but mostly to break things up. No punches were thrown.
Mike Jacobs provided he only offense for Mets when he blasted his 100th career homer, a two-run shot off Brian Bruney in the eighth. He would bring the Mets to within 3 runs, but the Mets would go quietly in the eighth and ninth innings without so much as a peep.
I want to add that I’m loving what I’ve seen so far from Rod Barajas this season. He brings a toughness behind the plate that I haven’t see since Lo Duca left. I love the way he got right back up after being steamrolled by Adam Dunn in the first inning, and then got even when he tagged Dunn out later in the game with the throw to the plate from Francoeur. He’s as tough as nails (no no that Nails). And despite the bad luck, he has hit some balls right on the button only to have them caught including another hard hit ball today.
Former Met Livan Hernandez threw seven shutout innings against the Mets. Wouldn’t it be great if we can get one of our starters to throw seven innings at all? Who knew that Livan would actually outshine every Mets pitcher in the first week of the season?
The Mets end their first homestand of the season with a 2-6 record after losing their first two series of the season to both the Marlins and Nationals. This was not the fast start everyone was looking for in April.
Let the Jerry Manuel watch begin.
Turning Point
The turning point became painfully clear when Josh Willingham turned on a 88 mph Santana fastball and made the score 4-0 in the first. Ironically, if the Mets hadn’t lowered the centerfield fence, the ball wouldn’t have been a round tripper. At least that renovation paid dividends for somebody… too bad it wasn’t the Mets.
Game Ball
Jeff Francoeur gets the nod again with two more hits, including his first triple and another walk (he has four now). He also made a powerful 300 foot throw to the plate; an absolute laser that was right on the mark to nail Adam Dunn at at home for the inning ending double play (watch it here). He is batting .476 with a 1.544 OPS, but he still finds himself batting sixth in the lineup. Why God, why?
On Deck
The Mets head west to take on the Colorado Rockies beginning Tuesday with John Maine on the mound to get things started. Strap yourselves in for some mile-high excitement.
LGM
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
Went to my first Mets game, a Mayors Trophy game at Shea, in '73. We beat the Yankees 8-4 and I was hooked. I marched in two Banner Day parades, and before the Grand Slam single, there was the "Hendu Can Do" grand slam - I was there. I've collected Mets memorabilia all my life and started Mets Merized Online to feed my addiction.
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It’s depressing, but we do have 156 games to go. i am worried about Santana. IF he’s not the ACE, the 18 – 20 win guy, then folks, we got problems. He’s gritty & savvy; i hope he’s healthy. His low velocity concerns me. Pelfrey will be a roller coaster WITH velocity; Ollie a puzzle; Maine a 5 inning adventure; Niese, a nice surprise.
We don’t look too good yet, but ya never know: LGM!
But it is the pattern, BobL. The same give-up we saw last year. The same horrible offensive performance against less than mediocre starters AND relievers. It is mental. That is the scary part.
hopefully Franceour will bat cleanup in the Rockies series or until he cools down because Mike Jacobs isn’t effective and Bay still doesn’t have an RBI
Something is not clicking with the ABs. I am noticing an inability to work pitchers deep and lots of pop ups and ground balls. Painfully little in the way of rallies. The team seems constructed to hit well.
Livan made us look stupid. Wright and Bay need to start hitting. I am more or less convinced that Mathews Jr.is a complete joke.
Lousy beginning, but panic is not on the horizon…yet.
Pitching actually isn’t that bad. Santana was better than the five earned runs, and I am more bothered when his control is iffy–like today–than his slightly declining velocity.
Nice job by Valdez–El Exigente!
It’s the start of a long season but as I did over the winter, I have concerns. Talk of a ‘watch’ is a bit too early. However, if the scales of justice aren’t rigged, and a move must be made, it’s not Jerry who should go, but his boss, the general manager.
I believe frenchy needs to hit higher up in the order. He has shown excellent patience and is hitting the cover off the ball. He is stepping up when we need him too and maybe a day off will help some of the other guys get into it.
U can’t blame anyone but the players right now. Jerry is making the right moves, pitching wise, but maybe he needs to start shuffling the lineup around a bit. I won’t be too hard and its only one week of a long 6 months but there is improvement needed by many. Johan had a rough first and u can brush that off because of what he has done. Oli got better as his day was ending and Pelf did a fine job the other day. Niese was decent and Maine needs to throw more purpose pitches.
All in all, I’m glad baseball is back and I can let this slow start go but I want to see how the first roadtrip goes, should be good.
LGM!!!!!
a day off? they had 3 months of rest plus all of those days on the disabled list last year. it’s only 6 games into the season and they already need a day off??? you gotta be kidding me. what they need to do is start swinging the bats and pitch effectively.
Francoeur has been a pretty good run producer since he came over. He gets guys in form third with less than two out—-something that seems to be anathema to met batters. He should never hit behind a meathead like Jacobs. Jerry even had him behind GMJ ealer in the year. Makes no sense.
Jerry watch? go for it. Omar watch double go for it. I nominate myself to manage the Mets. I couldnt do worse than Jerry.You have my email address. i’ll be waiting. and I can work for much less.
Francouer is fine in the #6 or #7 spot.
It’s all about the pitches Francouer is getting. If Francouer hits any lower than #6 no way he is getting the same pitches to hit that he is geting now hitting #7.
Jacobs NEEDS to deliver POWER! The way I see it Jacobs has three weeks to either produce runs or the Mets will be forced to make a move to fill 1st base until Jacobs returns.
I’m hopeful, we should all be hopeful that Jacobs will produce!
Today was a good first step! Hopefully going on the raod and the thin air in Colorado will help Jacobs.
Ideally Jacobs should hit #4 sandwiched between Wright and Bay.
I’m ok with Jacobs hitting #5 until his confidence returns however he sure as hell isn’t doing Jason Bay any favors by hitting behind him!
Just a thought here but if the Mets knew Castillo would be out for 5 days with not place him on the 15 day DL to make sure he’s fully “healed” and ready to go. Couldn’t Tjeda have stayed uo and played 2nd while Castillo takes his little two game into the season siesta?
Livian Hernandez!!!!! 5th!!!! starter for the Washington Nationals!!!!! throws 7 scoreless!!!!!! innings against the Mets!!! You have got to be kidding me!!! While out ace gives up a grand slam in the 1st inning. 2-6, last place, what a start…….
Exactly! People don’t either see or understand how a major league baseball team goes about the business of winning a game instead fans foucs on the itty bitty things such as,
“Francouer should hit #4 or #5 casue he’s way better than Jacobs Man!”
Who gives a shit! Both are not long term consistnet middle of the order players!
Think of a maor league pitcher this way… A pticher does not want to let certain hitters beat him in a gven game so….. that means other players in the lineup WILL see pitches to hit.
Right now Francouer, and Barajas are seeing good pitches to hit while Wright and Bay and for the most part Jacobs are seeing shit. Why? Because teams know that beside Wright and Bay the Mets literally have no slugging.
That’s why it is critical that Jacobs provide POWER. If Jacobs can at least be a power threat in the middle of the lineup teams will be forced to NOT pitch around Wright and Bay.
Who cares if Francouer hits 30 home runs! If Francouer is hitting 30 home runs that means Wright, Bay and Jacobs have failed.
I don’t believe Santana is fully recovered from the sergery. I just have a funny feeling from what I see there hidding something. Just a gut feeling.
I think this team already has to climb uphill because of Jerry Manuel’s managing. I think he actually makes it HARDER for this team to win. When a manager makes it harder to win because of his poor decision making (poor lineup construction, head scratching in-game decisions), that’s a guy who needs to go.
Ahh, first of all joe d we’re 2-4 not 2-6, although it looks as if we were, is too early to tell, beltran is coming back in a month and who knows where we’ll be by then, but this team just looks flat, and I thing is due to the same pressure we were put in when randolph was here, that team felt as if they needed to win everyday or the manager would be fire, after 6 games there’s a watch on manuel??? Then if the players feel that way they gonna put more pressure on themselves to perform therefore having more chance at struggling then succeding, honestly after last year I would’ve not brought manuel AND minaya back, coz I rather them by let go during the offseason then having to wait and see during the season to see if they be let go pending on team succes..
Either way is early, reyes is back, but now maine niese and pelfrey are gonna face the rockies at colorado while having to stop a 2 game AND series losing streak.. yikes!!
What’s really wrong is how this organization accepts mediocracy.
They want a super sub to be a starter at 1st in Murphy instead of bringing up Ike Davis….who is a game changer.
They talk about Perez going 5 innings and giving up four runs and 4 walks like sandy Kofax pitched. His contract needs to be eaten…literally…. by Miniya and shoved down his throat.
Maine belongs in the bullpen or off the team and Mejia should be a starter. Jerry..that was a bad call man. You got to go.
At least you got your house built in Cali….and you should be a millionaire, so I can’t feel too bad for you Bruh.
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