Stopper my ass… Johan Santana provided no relief for a Mets team that continues to reel in what looks to be another disappointing season at best. The Mets have already been declared dead by Braves beat writers, and Mets beat writers might not be ready to print it, but they are certainly whispering it among themselves.
The Mets lost to the Braves 4-2 and in doing so, got swept in a four game series for the first time since July of 2003. Santana was hit hard right from the start and he needed several nice plays from his defense to keep him from having a total disaster on the mound. Earlier today, MetsBlog cited an ESPN report from Buster Olney, in which he states that Santana’s velocity is down 3-4 MPH from a couple of years ago. Today he allowed 12 hits, the most he has ever allowed in his career, and it could have easily been 15 hits. He only struck out one batter tonight!
The Mets offense came out banging against Tim Hudson when Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado hit back-to-back homers off of him, but that would be all the scoring for the Metsies tonight.
The Mets were schooled by a superior Atlanta Braves team who showed them how the game was meant to be played. They played crisp baseball and delivered timely hits. In the field, they were absolutely brilliant including a half dozen highlight reel plays that you’ll be certain to see on ESPN’s Web Gems tonight.
The Mets pitchers had a 7.50 ERA in the series. They made a dozen misplays in the field and continue to be fundamentally flawed with no grasp of basic baseball skills.
The Mets have now fallen under .500 with a 22-23 record and with the news that Moises Alou was placed on the DL, things continue to fall apart for a team that had the life sucked out of them this week.
Willie Randolph could only watch in stunned disbelief as Mark Kotsay made a remarkable catch to end the game amid the thunderous roar of Braves fans. Turn out the lights, this party’s over!
The Game Ball goes to Ryan Church who came into the game and delivered a pinch hit in the eight inning, however any chance of a Mets rally was snuffed out by the goat of this series Luis Castillo, who continues to diffuse Mets rallies including striking out with the bases loaded in last nights game.
