1
2012
Despite Solid Effort, Harvey Gets No Defense or Run Support In Mets 4-1 Loss
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Despite a solid effort by Matt Harvey, the Mets combined sloppy defense and little run support to saddle their rookie with a loss as the Mets (50-54) fell to the Giants (56-47) by the score of 4-1 Tuesday night in San Francisco.
Matt Harvey gave up three runs, only two earned, on four hits, three walks and seven strike outs in six innings pitched.
After loading the bases in the second inning with nobody out, I loved watching him navigate through this. Harvey nailed the lead runner on a come-backer to the mound for the first out. Then he made the perfect pitch inducing the double play grounder, but after shortstop Ruben Tejada took Daniel Murphy’s throw for the first out, he threw it past Ike Davis allowing two runs to score. So instead of an inning ending double play, the Giants took the lead 2-1.
“He should have wiggled out of it,” manager Terry Collins said afterward.
In the sixth inning, Harvey loaded the bases again with no outs and again induced a double-play ball — this one had the desired result and he ended up allowing just the one run to cross the plate.
“I don’t like to lose,” Harvey said. “Whether I’m pitching or whether I’m not, I don’t like to lose. It’s how I am. In my world, I would have thrown up more zeroes and kept us closer.”
Harvey now has more strikeouts than any other pitcher in Mets’ history after two games to start their career with 18 whiffs.
Scott Hairston remained a Met and went 2-for-4 with a run scored, and Justin Turner stick around after the trade deadline as well and went 2-for-3 with one RBI.
The Mets had a chance to blow the game open when they loaded the bases in the seventh inning, but pinch hitter David Wright struck out looking on a Tim Lincecum curveball to leave all three runners stranded. He’s got that loop in his swing again from last season. You know the one.
Bottom line is that this game was all about the evolution of Matt Harvey and loved what I saw. I loved how he never imploded during the two times he got into bases loaded jams. Instead, the kid bore down and knew just how to induce that groundball to put out the fire. It’s something we don’t see enough of from Mets pitchers.
I also loved hos Harvey took control of the inside part of the plate. It was his and he owned it. He notched seven more strikeouts because of it and they flailed on his fastballs outside of the plate and twice on his changeup which he’s still developing. He oozes with all kinds of great things, and wouldn’t you know it – the kid’s got the swagger to go with his top of the rotation arsenal.
“It was a very well-pitched game by him,” Thole said. “Seeing what he did the other day in Arizona, you’re excited. And what he was doing in Arizona, he was doing here.”
It’s too bad that it took injuries to Gee and Santana to get him here, but I’m glad he’s finally here in the majors where he belongs and that we could silence the “we’re rushing him” faction. Harvey belongs here in the majors.
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.
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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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this is good. I did not realize how good his slider was or how hard he threw. I think I saw him twice before. But his stuff is way better than any other met starter, and I think Niese has good stuff. The first two batters should never even have gotten on in the second. What was Turner doing in the cutout? Expecting a bunt from the 5 hitter in the 2nd inning? Crazy. When wheeler gets here next year they will have two guys, albeit young, with dominating stuff, and a guy with a virtually unhittable knuckler. I think the future is shaping up, pitching-wise. They do have to go out and get a consistent bopper for the outfield.
Harvey looked great. Not so Ike and Spin when a lefty throws sliders. But maybe tomorrow we’ll get them! LGM.
Advice to David — keep bashing first ball fast balls. When Lincecum dropped the hammer on him with two strikes, it was almost unfair.
Even that Jam wasn’t even his fault. The first hit was off a misplay by Spin in center, the “dbl” was hit past a drawn in Turner who would’ve been back off the grass it the first out was made.
Not puting the blame on either guy, Spin is learning a new position and it’s only the 2nd time I’ve seen his inexperiance cost him a play he should have made.
Once again the bats have failed to offer any support…
love this website that i just found today! why not put valdespin at shortstop? guys playing out of postition are a continous problem for this team. how about second base? a real infielder for a change of pace.
welcome andrew!
here is something I have noticed lately regarding Tejada…
He seems to be a bit afraid of the hard slide after getting spiked!
Thats why he has those throwing errors recently.
Harvey pitched better than his final line. Valdespin 1st and then Tejada who usually makes that play let him down in that as he should of got out of it unscathed.
Lincecum was Lincecum last night and his breaking ball was just nasty. All the more reason that the Mets could ill afford to give the Giant bats extra outs. Follow that with Ramirez who has been a disappointment this season give up a run and if coming back from 3-1 especially after Wright k’d with the bases loaded then at 4-1 it was just about game over last nite.
I now turn off the game as soon as I see ramirez enter it. I know once we get to that point the game is pretty much lost!
Spin has been tried at SS and failed miserably.
Putting players in position to feel un-comfortable has happened again, Spin does not have instincts for CF, no arm but Tejada’s play at SS lately leaves a lot to be desired.
I thought he was going to make me forget Jose, he hasn’t and now Jose is on a tear, still miss him, then you have misplays on certain DP balls over the last 2 series.
Harvey did not let his inept defense and the Single A lineup put out there distract him, he should of been supported by his team but….
David does have that loop in his swing and he’s not hitting line drives like before, so time for a visit to the tape room, I don’t see this as hard to fix, hopefully the day off allowed him to think about his approach because w/o him Mets have no power from right side other than bench player Hairston turning into the savior for this team on road trip.
I am befuddled by the inconsistency by Ike, how many at bats does it take to get your hitting stroke back, not power one, he has 341 at bats so far this year. How many does it take to make up for missing just about all of last year?
No hits since his 3 HR game in Arizona, maybe he needs a mental day off, cause he’s having a hard time making contact and his back to striking out again.
What is up with Tejada and his defense lately?
Jose has higher OPS, less strikeouts than BB, Tejada has 46 K vs 14 walks.
Jose .277 AVG, 7HR, 31 RBI, 52 R, 37 XBH, 25 STEALS, 6 CS, 43 BB, 41 K, .761 OPS, in 102 games.
Tejada .315 AVG, O HR, 16 RBI, 35 R, 15 XBH, 1 STEAL, 1 CS, 15 BB, 46 K, .729 OPS, in 59 games
Jose and Tejada have similar FPCT . but Tejada does not have Jose’s arm.
Almost 1/2 games for Tejada vs Jose but you see the trend Tejada might hit for avg but where are the XBH?
He has almost the same RBI as Thole.
I guess since Torres started out so bad plus not hitting good from LH side put Tejada in leadoff spot since you had no one else but why should he stay there, he has no speed, has no power, he is hurting the lineup when he can’t even take an extra base base for lack of speed.
He is not hurting Mets in the leadoff spot but he is not helping either.
Just my two cents on this area.
How can you put Spin leading off when he is a hacker? Until he adjusts his swing to get hits and not that wild looping one he will not progress as a starter, now coming off bench he is awesome because BP arm come in throwing strikes so his swing is more tuned into that so he needs to work on that but he does bring the flair, exhuberance that Jose was scolded for but did help team.
Too bad Torres was hurt last night because I have to say his defense lately, especially in these big parks has been great.
Is Bay playing again tonight?Lets hope he needs more healing time and Baxter can play for him.
Tejada is a nice player who should be batting 2nd or 8th.He is a singles hitter with no speed.Not really who you want playing ss for the next 5 years.He is a good glove but not great.He would have been a great as a supersub to play second and some ss in a mix with Reyes and Murphy but our owners and GM were more into saving money that having a playoff team this year.