Jun
14
2011

3 Up & 3 Down – At the Confluence Edition

An article by Gregg Hopps

Anytime we can use the word confluence in an entry, we should, I think. Of course when we mention the confluence, we’re talking about the Mets playing the Pittsburgh Pirates, who once upon a time played at Three Rivers Stadium, where the three rivers met, and flowed together, creating a confluence. The Good Guys wind up splitting the four game wrap around series with the Pirates, and here the 3 Up & 3 Down.

3 Up

1) Fantastic Starting Pitching: Mets starters pitched awesome in all four games, sadly a real solid job by Mike Pelfrey went to waste on Monday night. Chris Capuano was superb on Sunday afternoon, and Dillon Gee remains undefeated. R.A. Dickey delivered his usual steady outing. A very nice job by the starting staff this series.

2) Jose, Jose, Jose, Jose: Just how hot is Jose Reyes? Sunday he had another multi-hit game including a home run. If you haven’t cast your All Star ballot yet, vote early and often for Jose Reyes at shortstop. Also, lets not be so fast to write Reyes off. I think ownership is going to make an all out attempt to re-sign him.

3) Dinks, Doinks, Dunks, Bloops & Flairs: This team has very little power, but has been piling on the base hits. On Monday night they sputtered a bit, but how about all those two out hits in the eight inning on Sunday? All little hits, but they were timely and clutch hits.

3 Down

1) Wasted Efforts: Mike Pelfrey and R.A. Dickey pitched well enough to win their games this series, but the Mets offense came up short. That’s too bad, better luck next time, you just hate to see the effort go to waste. Nice outings by both guys though.

2) Base Running: Two unusual plays on Sunday & Monday. Sunday we have Angel Pagan getting called out at second on a sacrifice fly because he rounded second base, but on his way back to first he didn’t step on the bag! Monday night Lucas Duda got called out for leaving first base too soon on a fly ball in the eighth inning. Sadly Duda’s blunder killed a late game rally by the Mets. I do like the aggression on the base paths, but the guys just need to follow the rules and play smarter.

3) Off To Atlanta: The Mets head to Atlanta and a three games series at the house of horrors known as Turner Field. The Mets are playing real good baseball right now, lets hope they can win this series against a divisional rival that’s in front of them in the standings.

About the Author: Gregg Hopps

Gregg lives on Long Island, and has been a Mets fan since Bud Harrelson and Pete Rose slugged it out in the 1973 playoffs. "Keith Hernandez is the best defensive first baseman to ever have played baseball."

9 Comments + Add Comment

Metsr1 June 14, 2011 at 10:02 am

Looks to me like this blog has a a bias towards Murphy. Why is he not listed under 3 DOWN:Baserunning for his wonderful baserunning skills. How many times does he have to kill us on the bases? This is little league crap this guy pulls. Yeah, Pefrey missed the bunt, but GEEZ! He wasn’t listed on a prior article/thread about last nights game either, but Duda is listed.
- gregga June 14, 2011 at 11:40 am
  
  Bro, I am 100% an unabashed Daniel Murphy fan. Murphy breaks his butt on a daily basis, and is a true warrior, unlike a lot of guys on this team. Unlike the clowns on SNY and WFAN, I give Murphy every benefit of the doubt. There’s got to be balance somewhere, and the pro-Murphy guy.
Metstheory22 June 14, 2011 at 10:11 am

Ralph Kiner used to love to mention the confluence on Met visits to Three Rivers.
I thought on the ball was a trap on 1st seeing LF catch ball.
Russell Zanca June 14, 2011 at 10:41 am

Base running is a problem, no doubt. Some of these guys need a clinic or two.

Jason Bay is really harshing my mellow. Can’t stand watching him at the plate.
will June 14, 2011 at 11:46 am

“The Mets are playing real good baseball right now” how is splitting the series vs the pirates real good baseball? i love the mmo bias. the mets are 32-34 and 8 gms out. i guess this is why we will always be losers. 4th place is real good baseball in some peoples eyes. i think annie has taken over your brain
- alex68 June 14, 2011 at 12:10 pm
  
  right now.. that’s the key word. remember, the mets are 27-21 since that horrendous 5-13 start. patient my friend.
  - Even Flow June 14, 2011 at 3:54 pm
    
    He doesn’t know the definition of that word. Don’t mind him.
- Gregga June 14, 2011 at 1:36 pm
  
  Doesn’t the banner onthis website say a “site for die hard Mets fans?” Sure we could stamp our feet, jump up and down, whine and complain about how bad ownership is, and how unfair it is that Ike, David Johan, and Chris Young are all injured. Or we can say “wow, these kids are doing okay, I never expected the team to this close to .500, heck even the so called experts said the Mets sucked.” It’s relly a matter of perspective, no?
larry b June 14, 2011 at 12:52 pm

So where do you think the new park is?

MMO Mets Chat

Need Tickets To The Mets Game?

Check Out These Great MLB Links!

For wholesale prices on New York Mets gifts and equipment, check these stores out!
Mets Autograph Signings
Mets Fan Apparel
Mets Autographed Baseballs
Baseball Card Supplies
Baseball Equipment

For the best seats and lowest MLB ticket prices, go to PurchaseSeats.com. Get your Mets Tickets now and follow them on the road with Yankees Tickets, Phillies Tickets, Nationals Tickets and Braves Tickets!