16
2011
Justin Turner Overdrive, Mets Ground Astros 7-4
An article by 
Chris Capuano grinded through five innings, and Justin Turner had a huge day with five RBI and the Mets won the last game, and the series against the Astros 7-4.
Game Notes
Chris Capuano went out today and pitched a great game, but getting himself into trouble as most Mets starters have been doing this year. Cap gave up two runs in five innings on six hits, striking out six and walking three. While Capuano seemed to be struggling with location, the Astros seemed to want Capuano to succeed from the start, when Michael Bourn was picked off of first after he singled on the first pitch. Capuano faced a primarily righty lineup and didn’t seem too phased, but he did have to work hard and apparently.
The bullpen got a lot of work today. Taylor Buchholz pitched two innings, allowing one run on two hits, while walking one and striking out two. Taylor has been great, but some long-ball tendencies are beginning to be seen, allowing four home runs in 21 2/3 innings. Tim Byrdak made his first appearance since May 10th, and gave up a double and a walk before being pulled. Jason Isringhausen would stop the bleeding, but not before allowing an RBI double to end the frame. Byrdak’s line – 0 IP, one run on one hit with one walk, Izzy one IP, one hit, one strikeout. K-Rod came out for his fourth save attempt in five days, and nailed it down with a clean inning, notching his twelfth save of the season.
The bullpen bent a little bit more today, but two five inning outings back-to-back can do that to a bullpen. Byrdak was the only completely fresh arm, and he is a LOOGY, as he has been ineffective against righties.
The offense today can be renamed “Justin Turner” as the Red One went 2 for 4 with a home run, the first of his career and five RBI. The other RBI was knocked in by Jason Pridie. In an awkward play in the fifth, after a late move by catcher J.R. Towels to throw out Jose Reyes on a stolen base attempt, Jason Pridie broke home without Bill Hall ever noticing there was a play at the plate, stealing a run. The Astros overall sloppy play seemed to kill them today, with everything falling apart in the fifth, and then the wound just being opened further in the sixth.
Daniel Murphy – 1 for 3 with two runs, and the rare 3-ball walk. Just an error overall, but Murph still will take the free BB any day.
Carlos Beltran – 0 for 4 with a strikeout – not sure if the eye was an issue, but love the grit.
Reyes, Thole, Wright – 0 for 9 with four walks, three strikeouts and two steals. The patience is great, but David Wright is third in the league in walks – and near the top in strikeouts. This problem is only getting worse.
Hairston/Harris – 0 for 2. At least no Hu appearance.
Turning Point
When Carlos Lee dropped the fly ball in the infield and the Mets pushed across four in the fifth.
Game Ball
Justin Turner. Big day, first MLB home run and five RBI. He isn’t going to make the decision easy when Ike comes back as to who is the starter.
On Deck
The Mets will travel back home to face the Marlins tommorrow at Citi Field, in a rematch of the Opening Day starters, Josh Johnson and Mike Pelfrey for the Mets. Game time is 7:10 P.M.
About the Author: Sean Kenny
Sean Kenny is a student/writer currently attending school at the City College of New York. For more Mets news, notes and thoughts follow him on twitter @TheSeanKenny
31 Comments + Add Comment
Recent Comments
- Connor O'Brien: on Sandy Disappointed With Some Of His Moves And The Team’s Performance: Expos made their mistakes under Minaya as...
- gorgeguy: on Mets Need More Time To Get Better Understanding Of Ike Davis?: ..you mean Josh Satin's, Angelo? Don't know...
- Fernando Nieve: on Mets Need More Time To Get Better Understanding Of Ike Davis?: Folks...valdespin is not the answer...If Ike goes...
- Fernando Nieve: on Mets Swept After Ike Davis Blunder Ignites 7-4 Reds Win: David Wright is the best position player...
- Joey D.: on Wheeler Pitches Five Innings, Shakes Off Some Rust: Hi Mitch, I will have to hold out...
Need Tickets To The Mets Game?
Check Out These Great MLB Links!
Photographs From Gordon Donovan
5384 Fans Follow Us On Twitter!
1269 Fans Like Us On Facebook!
2341 Fans Read Our Feed!
1702 Fans Subscribe via Daily Email!
Sean, I’ve been waiting for you recap since the game ended. I’d like some opinions on this. Why oh why is Terry sending Turner up to bunt in the 5th inning with none out against the team with the worst bullpen in all of Christendom? No harm, no foul in the end, but I was praying for him to NOT get the bunt down and have to swing away. Swing the bat, folks.
agreed, but Terry seems like he would rather play smallball sometimes
I wish I knew why, especially in this scenario. The Mets had this kid on the ropes, two on and none out and a good hitter comes up with two lefties on deck (at the time, the plan was to pinch hit F-Mart) who have exhibited a little bit of power recently. I don’t get giving up an out there. Did anyone catch the post-game? Did someone ask Terry about this?
prevent the GIDP? Thats about the only logic. or to hopefully get up to a lefty hitter who could look for something to pull.
It’s logic, yes, but it seems flawed. They had the potential for a big inning (which they ended up having because Turner didn’t give up an out), and it seemed like Terry was content with baby-stepping back into the game. I just don’t get it.
*shrug* Sometimes the calls and decisions by management make me wonder what exactly the Mets play for sometimes.
I can tell you why…Not sure I agree with it but I understand what Terry is trying to do.
Recently we have not gotten that one hit that would drive the runner in so he is trying to manufacture some runs to compensate.
I think the idea may be counter to what he wants to achieve but I do understand the reason he is trying to do it.
Look at all the LOB on this trip.
He is hoping that if he at least gets one base closer that will mean one less LOB.
I personally say let the batter swing!
I don’t think David Wright is exhibiting “great patience” as Sean likes to point out. Sean likes to mention things like “plate discipline” and patience, and walks a lot when in fact that type of approach could HURT a team more than help especially if you’re taking too many pitches when you’re supposed to be driving in runs.
Keith Hernandez pointed out that David Wright could be walking more because he’s swinging and missing so much and that his average would be higher if he was making contact on those pitches he’s now swinging and missing on.
Good point, Keith.
Wrights increase in walks has less to do with “patience” and more to do with seeing more pitches because he’s swinging and missing too much.
But it’s easy, very easy to say someone is getting more walks because of this “plate discipline” talk. Anybody can say it. You don’t even have to be a baseball fan to understand don’t swing at bad pitches. too bad there’s a HELLUVA lot more to the story and game than that.
“…and that his average would be higher if he was making contact on those pitches he’s now swinging and missing on.”
Or they could find gloves and his average could be lower. Great point. So all players have to do is make contact, and they’d get hits. It’s a wonder hitters don’t swing at everything! Or, wait. Some do. And they’re considered bad hitters.
No,
This was just Keith Hernandez talking about David Wright.
Instead of coming into a game recap thread and reciting your insight-less Magna Carta for the nine billionth time, which is apropos of nothing about the game, why not reply to my above post and actually have a game discussion. Prove you know something about baseball, not just what you hear Keith and Francesa say.
Can’t help it if a lot of the things they say I agree with. Yes I disagree with Francesa on a lot of things but most of the time i agree with him. Same with Keith.
Just happens to be that way.
yeah that’s it. I know nothing about baseball like you just said. Don’t even know why i’m here.
You don’t need any help from me to make yourself look bad.
So then talk baseball for a change. Did you agree with Turner trying to bunt in that situation?
No I did not.
Did you happen to catch a post-game interview or a quote from Terry explaining why? This is like pulling teeth. Would you rather not talk baseball, and we’ll just argue more the next time you rally against OBP? Would that suit you better?
i missed the post game i was out
Its discipline and honestly, David just not swinging until he is in the hole 0-2, 1-2, 2-2. By then he is getting a much more difficult pitch to hit, which right now seems to be anything over 90MPH.
He’s getting into those 0-2, 1-2 holes because he’s swinging and missing like he’s never done before.
It’s not his “discipline”
Makes sense to me. I think Keith Hernandez just may be right saying that’s the reason he’s walking more. If Wright was walking LESS and making more contact his average is probably higher and he’s driving in more runs helping us to win more ballgames.
But you love your walks and plate discipline even though it could HURT the team when it comes to scoring runs.
he isn’t swinging at outside pitches early in the count, and later in the count he swings at pretty much ANYTHING. The league must know something, because lefties and righties are just throwing fastballs by him, from 90mph UP and David is LATE.
and if he was taking more pitches and getting into a hole like that than the “discipline” is working against him. Maybe he’s having such a bad year because he’s changing his approach. Maybe he should go back to attacking the ball and becoming a hitter again. He’s not paid to lead the league in walks, when you’re hitting in the middle of the lineup you’re paid to drive in runs
That’s true. David’s approach when he was a stud was great. If you consistently put up a .300/.400/.500 slash line, then you’re doing something right. If he’s changed something, then he should change it back.
Another win for the good guys. After watching the Astros, the thought came to me they are probably the most undisciplined team in the big leagues. They make mistakes, one after another. Just give them a chance and they will run themselves out of a good inning, or they will make a dumb play in the field and let their opposition get ‘free’ runs. It’s really more like watching Triple A baseball when they play. Bill Hall can’t hit a curve and defensively he makes some bonehead plays. Terrible. Compounding their problems is the awful third base coaching of Dave Clark. He is often indecisive and makes bad decisions.
Ike who? Role players stepping it up in Davis’ absence.
http://tiny.cc/kz77s
Glad there winning but internally the front office has to be more than concerned about David Wright. That swing is way too long. He cant make contact. He needs to cut it down and hit line drives in the right field gap like he used to at Shea.
any win is a good win especially when trying to get your head above water. in this case water being .500
one quarter of the way through the season and record wise the mets are about where i thought they might be. a team fighting to be .500
more importantly for me was the continued growth & development of players that may play a part in the mets future. something that still is a work in progress but one early positive obviously has been ike davis.
being a mets fan is never easy but i wouldn’t trade them for any other team.
LETS GO METS!!!
I too fellow Metsies am concerned with David’s ineffectiveness against lefties or righties.
Saw this link on metsblog pointing to post on espnnewyork that might help us understand what is happening with David.
http://espn.go.com/blog/new-yorkmets/post/_/id/22693/simonwright-not-yet-right-vs-right
Check it out very interesting me thinks.
Bach Turner Overdrive reference appreciated!
Are there any good sources about what Mets hitting coach is doing better/differently/worse than HoJo?
On the one hand, pleased that Mets really seem to be able to score lots of runs most days–+4 is very good.
Reyes has been great mostly, but he’s another guy who I wish exercised a little bit more discipline in working counts.
Incidentally, Murph was not wlked on three pitches: everyone seems to have missed the fact that the pitcher was licking his fingers too close to the mound, and I believe the second base ump changed the count to three balls on this basis. Scorekeeper in Houston must have been asleep. It was a bona fide walk under unconventional circumstances.
Yeah, that wasn’t confirmed by any sources until this morning actually. The announcers and I believe even yahoo was confused as to how Murph walked.
Right, if you look at replays, you can sense (w/hindsight) that the home plate ump gets the message from behind second, and he then holds up three fingers to indicate ball three. Managers and coaches must have known, otherwise someone on Stros would have raised a ruckus, I think.