Jun
17
2011

Mets Must Put The Balk-Off Loss Behind Them

An article by John Delcos

No matter how you slice a baseball season, a team figures to win 60 games and lose 60 games regardless. The remaining 42 determines the success or failure of that season.

Some losses, of course, hurt more than others and last night’s 9-8 balk-off heartbreaker in 10 innings could be one of those games if the Mets cave into the negative expectations thought of them coming out of spring training.

However, I don’t look at sweeping the Braves in Atlanta as much a sign of progress as I do how they bounce back from last night.

It was clear R.A. Dickey was off his game and for much of the night it appeared they would simply go down at the hands of Chipper Jones – the real owner of the Mets. However, Jason Bay got a couple of hits and drove in a run and Scott Hairston tied the game with a homer.

All of a sudden, we were looking at a new Mets team, one of grit and fight. Amazingly, the Mets were going to sweep, but Francisco Rodriguez coughed up the lead, and well, you know the rest.

To lose on D.J. Carrasco’s balk was one of those things you never saw coming, yet something not surprising with how things have gone the past few years. Right, typical Mets.

OK, what next?

They could either look at last night as devastating, and now that they are below .500 again, slide into obscurity and take the summer with them. Or, they could demonstrate the resiliency they’ve shown the past three weeks and regroup.

Baseball teams aren’t often fueled by emotions as teams in football and basketball, but the Mets have an opportunity as they come home to feed off the anger and disappointment from last night and continue their building. The season is far from over, but for the Mets the season will be defined by the next six weeks.

If they stumble, management could pull the plug and begin the fire sale. In the back of our minds, that’s something we’ve anticipated all along. Even now, with Jose Reyes playing so well, half the fan base is waiting for him to be traded.

However, should they recover and play well, this team could stay intact and try to make a run at a wild card. No, there doesn’t figure to be any serious acquisitions because of the Wilpon’s legal and financial issues, but there could be enough tinkering to make this an interesting, enjoyable and unexpected summer.

About the Author: John Delcos

I am an active member of the BBWAA and have covered Major League Baseball in several capacities for over 20 years, including ten in New York working the Mets' and Yankees' beat. I covered the Baltimore Orioles for eight years and the Cleveland Indians before that. I currently serve as an editor and senior staff writer for Mets Merized Online. Follow me on Twitter @jdelcos.

10 Comments + Add Comment

MetFan Lou June 17, 2011 at 12:02 pm

Yeah that 500 mark will get you everytime. We all know this is a 500 ballclub right out of spring training. No big loss, they are playing to their potential and talent,nothing more,nothing less. Why do we try to fool opurselves about this team?
- Bayonne Mets Fan June 17, 2011 at 12:15 pm
  
  Yep,
  
  Great analysis of a team that has yet to have all their players healthy and playing at the same time.
  
  Real good one there buddy
  - MetFan Lou June 17, 2011 at 12:58 pm
    
    We are playing better now than when Wright and Davis were in the lineup. This does not mean I don’t want Wright and Davis to be playing. It means guys like Turner and Pridie and Tejada when gicen a chance are proving they want to stick. Without a healthy Santana, this is our fate for the rest of the season. Of course it remains if we can keep Beltran.
    - Bayonne Mets Fan June 17, 2011 at 1:30 pm
      
      Oh okay,
      
      So what’s our fate for the rest of the season? What is it? Maybe you come to this conclusion after last night’s tough loss because of a balk? Maybe you think different tonight if we win a big game with an exciting finish?
      
      Which is it?
      
      Maybe this is a team that gets better as the season progresses? NOoooooo that can’t be it can it? Of course not.
      - MetFan Lou June 17, 2011 at 7:28 pm
        
        When we came out of spring training I posted this was a 500 team and so far I am right on.
        
        Bayonne Mets Fan June 17, 2011 at 7:44 pm
        
        Yep, on June 17th without the regular lineup you are right.
        
        I just like to enjoy fighting with the team and trying to figure out what we can do to get better.
        
        Hopefully you won’t be right in 3 weeks and we’re 7 games over
        
        MetFan Lou June 17, 2011 at 8:34 pm
        
        I’ve been with the Mets since ’62 and I know a 500 Met team when I see one-I’ll stick with this one.
Bayonne Mets Fan June 17, 2011 at 12:16 pm

it’s a lousy way to lose but forget about it, it’s over

Today is a new game and they’re playing well, they could even be back at .500 in a few hours so everybody relax
- Metstheory22 June 17, 2011 at 12:45 pm
  
  Exactly. Some positives to look at, contributions from Hairston and Bay finally. I believe.
alex68 June 17, 2011 at 1:03 pm

tough loss, but again guys, mets are 29-22 since that 5-13 atrocious start.. give them credit, this team past year would’ve fall behind 6-2 and the game was over!!!
now, they grind it out, score runs here and there and come back.. good sign if you ask me.. ohh, and btw, reyes 3 more hits including a triple, MVP anyone? anyone?

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