18
2012
Dickey Gives Up 3 HR, Mets Lose to Braves 14-6
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In a steady rain, R.A. Dickey had a poor outing, the bullpen struggled and the Mets lost the rubber game of the series, 14-6
Recap
R.A. Dickey came out today and looked stellar in the first inning, but after that, the knuckleball went north and his results went south. Dickey struggled, giving up six runs between the second and the third before finally escaping the fourth without a crooked number. However, the fifth inning would not be so kind, seeing R.A. give up another two-run homer. His final line would be four and one-third innings, allowing eight runs on eight hits, with two walks and five strikeouts. Three of those eight hits were home runs, and they were all two-run shots. The weather + the knuckleball = bad.
Miguel Batista came out on what would become another bullpen day and pitched two-thirds of an inning, striking out two. Bobby Parnell came out, and on a tough-play, Ronny Cedeno, filling in for Ruben Tejada made a poor throw to first that found its way into the stands. Chipper Jones smoked a drive to left field that Jason Bay had sized up, but then inexplicably lost and lead to an RBI. Parnell’s final line was one inning, three strikeouts and two unearned runs. Parnell was turning up the velocity again, routinely clocking his pitches at 98-99 MPH and his curve at 83-84 MPH. Tim Byrdak went two-thirds of an inning, giving up two runs on three hits, walking one and striking out two before giving way to Jon Rauch to finish off the seventh. Frank Francisco, seeing his first work in a few games came out for the eighth and gave up two runs on three hits, striking out none.
Today was just a poor pitching day period. If I were to say before todays game which reliever will pitch the longest without allowing a run, I doubt Miguel Batista would’ve been the choice. At least the Mets pen can rest with tomorrow’s off day.
The offense looked good in the first two innings, specifically Ike Davis’ second home run in the series, third on the season. David Wright tacked on two more runs in the second inning on a long-double over the head of Michael Bourn, bringing him one RBI from tying Darryl Strawberry to become the Mets all-time leader in RBI’s. David would not let that record hold much longer, after a crazy infield single in the fifth, tying for the lead. Kirk Nieuwenhuis, on top of a good game hit an RBI single in the sixth. Captain Kirk doubled in the eighth, then score on a Daniel Murphy RBI single.
The Mets, who only stole one base to this point on the season, stole two today, with one each by Jason Bay and Kirk Nieuwenhuis.
Player Of The Game
Kirk Nieuwenhuis – The rookie’s first game in the leadoff spot, and he goes 3 for 4 with an RBI, two doubles, three runs and an SB. It is always good to have options for the leadoff spot.
Game Notes
The Mets lost two runs at the plate, on a poor baserunning call by third base coach Tim Teufel to send David Wright in the third, and Daniel Murphy in the fifth.
The error monster came to visit the Mets again, with a poor defensive day. A Cedeno scored error, and a Jason Bay play that was difficult, but that he normally makes.
Mike Baxter had another good pinch-hitting effort today
On Deck
The Mets have off tomorrow, and travel home to begin a series on Friday against the San Francisco Giants. Jonathon Niese is scheduled to go to the mound for the Mets with Barry Zito going for the Giants. 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
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Hard to watch except for Wright and Kirk N.Turned it off after 5 innings.I’m sure it won’t be the last game that becomes unwatchable after 5 innings this year,Darling chided Murphy from the booth about running on contact from third with no one out.Murphy can do one thing well.Swing the lumber.Should have moved him in offseason to AL.He was born to be a DH.Between him missing ground balls and not being able to turn doubleplays and Duda missing fly balls, the pitching staff will cave in down the road.Too many innings giving the other team 4 outs will kill you.
We keep saying Murphy is a DH but honestly in the AL how many decent teams have guys like Murphy at DH? Most are either looking for more pop from DH or are even phasing out the position in general and using it as a roaming get your rest spot.
Oomff, Rough game to watch.
The last thing the Mets needed after Santana went just 1 1/3 last night was a short outing by Dickey today. 8 runs 6 of which came on 3 2-run homers. I can’t recall the last time that happened to Dickey.
Bay with another ball he fails to get back to and catch. Historically these are balls that Bay normally catches so I am gonna hope this was just a fluke and pray it doesn’t become a trend.
9 runs last night and 14 today the Braves got revenge for the 1st 4 games they lost to us.
Toughest inning for me was the top of the 5th. After Wright got the infield hit that scored Kirk to cut it to 6-4 putting the tying runs on the corners with nobody out and have it followed with Davis,Bay and Duda go down 1,2,3.
On the positive side how about Capt Kirk? 3 for 4 1/BB 2/2B 1/RBI 3/R 1/SB out of the leadoff spot. If he continues to play like this he will force Collins to rethink his earlier statements about Torres.
Congrats to David Wright on tying Darryl Strawberry for the Mets ALL-Time RBI Leader. He continues to hit well going 2 for 5 with 3 rbi’s today.
Collins just said on WFAN with Francesa he is not sure what will happen when Torres comes back regarding Capt Kirk.
Like I said with Collins nothing is set in stone.
it really can’t be, considering Torres is what, 2 weeks away at least?
and really, any plan like they has to be considered tentative, or “at this moment”. And subject to change.
I do understand the whole deferring to a veteran, not losing your job on the DL stuff. But that is for established guys, not a 4th OF that only played a few games for the Mets.
Yea at least 2 weeks if I had to guess.
If Torres had hurt a finger bet we’d be all clamoring to get him back into the lineup.
Especially when the guy holding the position down was supposed to take it over this eyar anyway.
Kirk is playing well. He’s hitting some ropes and has CF covered.
Wr have one outfielder on the roster who can actually catch a fly ball and is hitting close to .400.Let’s send him to triple a.Wake up Collins!!!!
He changed his tune then. Last night Gary Cohen said when Collins was asked what happens when Torres returns from the DL, he said Torres is my CFer and Kirk goes back to AAA. Reason being is Torres’ speed. Maybe his boss told him not so fast Terry we’ll make that decision when the time comes like he should’ve said to begin with. I don’t know how you justify sending him back down if he continues to hit this well, while playing a flawless CF. Torres for all his speed is a 4th outfielder at best and is only here to keep the position warm until Kirk was ready anyway.
It’s why I didn’t get bent out of shape when it was reported what Collins had said originally. By the time Torres is scheduled to come back who knows where the team will be at that time or what Kirk is doing. Collins said he didn’t want Tejada leading off but yet Tejada is leading off. Collins can always reconsider his position based on the circumstances at that time.
I think Teufel said go to Murphy on that play.
If he did that is 2 runs Teufel cost us today.Like Murphy and Duda, Teufel is learning on the job also.Did not matter in the end.
If you watch the replay, it doesn’t appear Teufel had anything to do with Murphy going there. I saw Teufel just standing there with his hands on his hips when murph took off.
He doesnt have to wave the player that is on third. He can just say go and some signal by mouth.Its different than when player is coming at him.
I say that if Torres returns + Cap Kirk is hitting then let the rook play, he looks comfortable out in CF and has some speed on bases; my worry is that as with all hitters the league will figure out how to get you out and how tolerant will Mets/Terry be with him if he doesn’t?
He looks like the player I thought he would be but unless he is to play a majority of games then send him back to AAA, hopefully the injury bunny won’t find him there.
Terrible game to watch, both teams had to play in the rain but our pitcher was the only one who’s pitches are affected most by rain but with knuckleballers cold weather, rain, too much wind you hopefully have a neutral weather day.
Lately the BP that started out decent has been terrible, Ramirez looks bad, Batista should not be used unless as long man in games like today.
Yup defense bites Mets pitchers again, hopefully it doesn’t become a big issue while Duda and Murphy get better acquainted with their positions.
Teufel’s agressiveness has cost a runner in a recent game and today, what is the idea with sending Wright home on a ball into gap between 2B and 1B while he is at 2B?
Hopefully he learns from this cause this team will need those runs when the eventual slump comes.
Tough game to lose, R.A. got plenty of run support but couldn’t get his “floater” to float
Dickey was quoted to say that the baseball felt like “wet water balloons”. Talk about painting a picture. They acted like balloons also as they flew over the wall.
Like I said the knuckle ball is a weather sensitive creature and hopefully R.A. will get better days, offense was not a problem today.
How about if there is rain, snow, heavy winds in the area we switch R.A. with the next day’s pitcher so he won’t have an issue?
Just kidding.
By the fourth inning I was praying for heavy rains and a washout.
I’m almost glad I didnt have to watch this game. Almost because in reality I hate missing any Mets game. Honestly I didn’t have a good feeling about this one when I heard Tejada had the day off. I’m not blaming it on that, just saying it gave me a bad feeling.
I liked what I saw out of Kirk batting leadoff. Now if only Tejada was there to bat 2nd. Why did he even have the day off?
Since in less than 24 hours the 2012 Mets have reminded us of their counterparts from fifty years ago, can use this opportunity for a little self promotion.
There will be a 50th Mets Anniversary celebration at Hofstra University the last week of April in which I will be participating in. I will be one of a few panel members talking about memories of the early Mets and later will serve as the moderator on a Met memorabilia discussion One of the panelists will be Marc Gold – the Gold of Gold’s Mustard “the official mustard of the New York Mets”. I’m going to tell him how much we love his horseradish.
A friend of mine who is also a Met blogger, author, etc. was working on the conference and asked if I would like to participate. In fact, last week I got in the mail a book about the 1962 Mets in which he had written the introduction. Inside was a note saying I should turn to certain pages in his introduction – sure enough, he started talking about his friend Joe who proudly proclaims himself as an original new breeder and some of the stories I’ve told him.
So I’ve gotten the biographical information on the three panelists and putting together my notes and presentation. My first public speaking since college so Just hope I don’t clam up, even though as you know, it’s hard for me to shut-up!
If anybody is going to be there let me know so we can catch up with each other