10
2011
Left On Base; Left In Last. Mets Lose 2-1 To Rockies
An article by Former Writers
Game Summary
Both Mets and Rockies had limited runs and hits for them but a Rockie HR put the Mets away in 2-1 loss. Capuano had another nice start, bullpen was lights out, but once again, the offense fell flat.
Game Notes
So when both teams only get five hits each in a game, both starting pitchers go into the sixth inning with one or two runs scored against them, and only one player from each team having two hits, what made the difference between the Rockies scoring two runs and the Mets only scoring one run?
The answer relies on one small number found on the box score. Team LOB. The Mets had a 10 on their side, while the Rockies only had 4 on theirs. This has been the Mets major problem this season, players left on the basepaths, leaving runners in scoring position, and just the lack of clutch hitting from the star players.
The pitching from fill-in number five starter, Chris Capuano, has improved over his last few starts. Going 6.2 innings with two runs on five hits, three walks, and one solo homerun. He also racked up four strikeouts. Of the twenty-seven batters he faced, he threw a first pitch strike to eighteen of them, thew 98 pitches and lowered his ERA to 4.93. Capuano will prove to be very effective in the ‘pen once/if Santana returns. Cap gets his fourth loss though.
Former Rockie, Taylor Buchholz with a hitless inning and a strikeout. Tim Byrdak retired the one batter he faced.
Ike, Wright, Murphy, and Willie Harris are the only ones to get a hit for the Mets, with Ike getting two. They were all singles, and Bay was the only one to get an RBI. The Mets had more walks (6) than hits (5) in the game. But the ten runners left on base is still a concerning number that continues to plague the Mets.
Turning Point
Iannetta’s solo homerun.
Game Ball
Chris Capuano with another good start.
Up Next
Mike Pelfrey tries to tie up both the Rockies series and his own win-loss record as he goes up against the Rockies who have Jason Hammel on the mound for them. Game time is 8:40 PM on SNY.
About the Author: Former Writers
8 Comments + Add Comment
NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 24 | 18 | .571 | - |
| Nationals | 23 | 20 | .535 | 1.5 |
| Phillies | 20 | 23 | .465 | 4.5 |
| Mets | 16 | 24 | .400 | 7.0 |
| Marlins | 11 | 32 | .256 | 13.5 |
Last updated: 05/18/2013
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On the play at the plate, Murphy looked safe to me. I wonder why neither he nor Terry didn’t protest the decision. It was a game-changer.
I agree Des he beat the ball but I don’t believe his foot was down to touch the plate.
It’s another case like Pagan or at least it looked that way to me.
And I am starting to wonder if the head first slide would not be better as it presents a lower target and it is much easier to slide away from the tag while still touching it with your hands.
I know it’s dangerous to do that but if your not going to knock the Catcher to kingdom come and avoid contact you might as well avoid it by going in head first and using your hands to ensure you touch the base as you go buy it. The hands naturally go downward on a slide. The feet naturally go UP when you slide feet first. Simple laws of physics as the body is meant to react that way to break a fall!
It would have tied the game…but I still think Harris cost us that game with that ill advised steal that took the bat out of Wrights hands. Especially considering how well he has always hit at Coors…
Good reply, Metsie. A couple of points. Was Harris insane with his attempted steal while one run down? He must have done it on his own, but I’d like to know what role, if any, Mookie Wilson or Chip Hale had in the attempt.
Also, Metsie, the head first vs. feet first slide argument you made is a good one. I think pitchers should never slide hands or head first and with ‘touch’ defensive players like infielders, it’s debatable. When used for getting back to the base on pickoffs, the hands first is better. Accidents and injuries can happen with both kinds of slides, though many announcers in the booth often ridicule the head first kind. Way back when, Giants players like Hank Thompson, Monte Irvin, Don Mueller and Bobby Thomson (with another team I think) had ankle injuries resulting from feet first slides. I’m not certain though. As a result the breakaway bag became popular.
Des I have to admit I could have phrased my statement about the steal better as the way it came out it sounded like I was laying all the blame on Harris. I can’t say if they gave him the go, or he decided to go on his own but really no matter WHO is to blame for the decision it was a poor one with a poor execution.
I’m sure there are probably good reasons in the BOOK for doing it. Trying to get the guy in scoring position when you need one to tie on the road might suggest you try.
But I believe in that situation, why trade a potential out if you need another hit to score him anyway?
Get the HIT and at least allow the guys who are supposed to drive in runs do it!
At the time of the steal David Wright would have got up in every situation but that of the double play.
and they prob would have got that anyway when you look at what happened.
Murphy’s hit probably would have been a DP if you didn’t steal no matter which way you decided.
SO no matter what rule you ascribe to you couldn’t win because it was either an awful jump from first on the pitcher or the slowest 90Ft he has ever run because they nailed him..
As for the Sliding:
It’s safer from a health standpoint to slide feet first, Our legs are meant to hold up our full body weight so it’s built for the purpose of absorbing energy.
Sliding Head First is only really good for throws that look like they are going to be close and where you need to avoid a tag.
Even a Hook Slide would be good but no one seems to know that skill anymore.
Again it’s not a good rule to slide in head first to home, one of the most dangerous things to try…
But there are circumstances where it might make sense.
This directly ties into the big attendance drop at Citi Field. Why would a hard working stiff pay money to see this team. The Wilpons, Alderson and Collins better do something quick or that 8.5 games out of first will turn into 38.5 games. Winning 2 games for every 5 losses cries out for change and NOW!
Another evening of munching broken glass!
They just look like a team that desires to suck. Rockies announcers–a couple of positive drips–were saying how the Rockies don’t aspire to be good but great.
Chacin couldn’t have done more to hand that game to the Mets, but the Mets acted their typical role of the over-polite guest who will accept no freebies from his host.
SO many horrible ABs, and bail outs of Rox pitching that would have put more runners on base…they’ve now beaten us five times in a row.
Capuano couldn’t have done much better to give us a chance to win.
When the hell is this line up going to click consistently?
Thole is very dissappointing. For someone who the world was saying was going to be a catcher with great contact skills, albeit low power, he has been regressing.
Last year he was not the primary catcher on a bad team and this year he was handed the job off a good year on a bad team and now he is the starter on a team trying to prove it can compete, more pressure trying to catch and also making a difference in the 8 hole.
He needs to get his head together cause he has the talent but catching and hitting can overwhelm even vets and he is only a 2nd year catcher being expected to hold together a patch work rotation.