Mets Chat Room: Going for the sweep.
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- April
- 20
The Mets kicked away several chances to sweep the Phillies tonight.
They climbed out of a four-run hole with four in the sixth, but Pedro Feliciano gave it up in the seventh. Still, Pelfrey had no chance against Chase Utley and the offense, despite the rally, went 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Most of those came before Luis Castillo botched a sacrifice in the ninth.
So, where to you think the game was lost? Pelfrey? The offense? Feliciano? Somewhere else?
IN A NUTSHELL
Missed opportunities and no clue as to how to handle Utley.
FROM THE CLUBHOUSE
David Wright on the series: “We had a golden opportunity to pick up three games on them, but we let it slip through our fingers.”
Mike Pelfrey on the second homer he gave up to Chase Utley: “I was going inside and I left it out over the middle of the plate. He’s such a great hitter. You can’t make mistakes with him.”
Willie Randolph’s summary of the game: “It was a good ball game. But, we didn’t execute the way we needed to.”
IN-GAME ANALYSIS
1st INNING: Easton has no problems, but like most pitchers, Pelfrey can’t solve Chase Utley. Philadelphia 1, Mets 0.
2nd INNING: Pelfrey doing a good job, but they don’t even have a sniff of Eaton.
5th INNING: Utley goes deep again. Philadelphia 4, Mets 0.
7th INNING: Big time rally, but did Pedro Feliciano throw it away? Philadelphia 5, Mets 4.
This entry was posted
on Sunday, April 20th, 2008 at 7:20 pm by John Delcos.
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Hi John, didn't realize Eaton was so dominant against us.
Just one inning so far. The guy that's hurting them is Utley.-JD
Utley needs to get drilled…ditto for Burrell.
But of course, nowhere in today's game does that ever happen.
Utley would look great in a Mets uniform, but thats a pipe dream
I cant take Morgan and Miller announcing, they dont ever shut up.
Obviously early is an understatement for this game, but why the Mets don't pound the holy piss out of Eaton is mind-boggling to me. The guy is the very definition of horrible.
Ditto for Moyer, who has allowed four runs in 12 ip v the Mets this season and about 9 in 8 innings v everyone else.
John, can you please ask Willie after the game why for God's sake he would move Castillo up to the 2 spot? Why? Church was doing just fine there.
And Castillo just flat out sucks right now. He is a black hole.
I think, because of the type of hitter he is, Castillo's numbers will be Castillo-esque come season's end…but he goes up there almost LOOKING for a walk and then just slaps at the ball when the count is full or he's down.
It's fine to try and get on base anyway possible, but he is so passive with the bat, particularly from the left side, it's very frustrating to watch.
I can't take those closeups of the Pelfrey mouthpiece – does ESPN think that is appealing????
Joe D: If I had my pick of any NL position player to add to the Mets it probably would be Utley. Of course, with the way Carlos Delgado is going at first, I might have to consider Albert Pujols.-JD
JD- I would love for you to do a feature on an AB by Carlos Beltran and get his input into how he goes about it. Seriously, it would accomplish two things:
1) be a very interesting piece
2) satisfy my bewilderment at how someone can stare at so many pitches that cut directly over the plate.
Who told Joe Morgan that Hanley Ramirez is good at defense. From what our announcers say, it seems to be that he is bad at defense.
Spider-If you like 50 errors in '06 and '07…he's your new Wizard of Oz.
JD- Question about Pelfrey and the umpire. Apparently my friend listening to the radio said Pelfrey went over to have words with Greg Gibson after the third inning but no mention by our idiot announcers on ESPN.
Fill us in?
Joe just loves to talk. Doesn't matter what comes out, he just loves to talk.-JD
It is a real chore watching Luis Castillo swing the bat these days. Some would call it hitting. I wouldn't.
KP – Do not confuse ESPN with good sports broadcasting -
Can't go crazy because of how well they've played, and because there is 1/2 a game left…but the fact that this team cannot hit this guy is a downright embarrassment.
I mean, the Mets could 55 games ahead of the Phillies and have won 20 games in a row, and losing to this complete piece of garbage would still piss me off.
Eaton just plain sucks yet this team treats him as if he's Pedro in his prime.
JD,
I'm pretty sure Tim McCarver compared Charlie Manuel to the Southern Civil War generals yesterday, so you know, Joe Morgan is not gonna walk away with the inanity in broadcasting award without a fight.
JM: One of the great things about sitting in the press box is that the sound is off on the monitors.-JD
damn, they really loaded the lineup with lefties…
JM – Yeah, it's been a tough weekend. The two national color announcers have been worse than usual! Morgan just keeps rambling about who-knows-what.
Who has a good feeling about this at-bat?-JD
Jorge Sosa tonight folks, lots of Jorge Sosa.
Is anyone else thinking the the Milledge trade actually may have been a good one? I'm really starting to like Church.
Well, this game is over. Somebody forgot to tell the Mets that the guy on the mound is not Cy Young. Delgado and Beltran are a joke. They hit little cheap grounders or pop ups every at bat.
I'm never comfortable being down four runs…but in this park, that is nothing.
Until you see that the Mets are facing Eaton and the lead might as well be 10-0.
JD, ask them why it's so hard to hit a batting practice pitcher?
I'm lovin Church…
clm,
I will take it to the grave. I have said it before and I will say it again, Milledge will never be a super star player. Milledge will be a average player, decent hitter and an average fielder, nothing special.
The Mets can get 4 or 5 runs, be it off Eaton or the Philly pen. I'm more concerned that there is no way the Mets can hold them at 4.
Oh and another thing…it's time to split Beltran/Delgado up…like yesterday.
Wright needs to bat cleanup for awhile, until Beltran can get going.
Good start.
Luis! Be still my beating heart.
Im sick of the inability of these starters to go more than 6 innings in a start. Santana aside, these guys all have to seemingly limp thru 5 and maybe make it to the 6th. Does Peterson teach these guys to throw 20 pitches an inning or something???? If this keeps up this Bullpen will be shot by the all star break
Mike Ive been advocating that since the off season. Actually wrote a blog about it two weeks ago. 3-4-5 should be beltran, wright delgado…
I said it from the start, I like Church. By the way, they did not stop the game to give Castillo the ball after his hit. Just in case you were wondering.-JD
Mike: Totally agree on the Beltran/Delgado thing. They are both like blackholes in this lineup. Right now they are two automatic outs – generally a K followed by a weak grounder to the right side of the IF.
http://metsmerizedonline.com/blog/2008/04/should_we_go_back_to_a_345_of.html
I made a strong case as to why we should bat beltran ahead of wright.
David Wright just does not care who is throwing. He was sent back in time from the year 2027 to hit baseballs.
new ballgame
I love the fight!
John – I almost always mute the TV baseball games and listen to the radio voices instead – they are so much better informed than the TV talking heads. Plus you can always hear all that noise that the stadiums insist on blasting forth these days.
Get the brooms out!
It looks like the Mets read my post that the game was over. I don't mind them making me look like a jack a@@ and it is about time they started hitting that rented mule.
Beltran hit a curveball
It's reverse psychology.
Chad Durbin, a right-hander, in to face Carlos Delgado. Where's the respect, man?-JD
Durbin is another bum, the Mets should smack him around also.
The Phillies only have one lefty in the bullpen I think, Romero who they like to use later in the game and even as a setup guy now and then.
Rock and roll, Ryan.
Oh yeah baby! That's the way to Church it up!
Joe D – OK, we're tied now, but it is still too early for those brooms
If the Mets go on and win this thing, I can hear Willie right now talking about dropping Church down to the sixth spot in the order.-JD
This is the stuff we saw in '06…now let's see if the bullpen follows suit.
Me thinks I'll start going back to Church!!! Lastings who!?!?!?
JD,
You are assured an "I know my players better than anyone" platitude, no doubt haha.
Means nothing if they can't get some outs. Not sure who's gonna get 'em, but if that doesn't get their blood flowing then nothing will.
JM: Yeah … I have that quote saved on my cut-and-paste key.-JD
on paper the mets should win this game because it's now the battle of the bull pens and the mets have a better bull pen in my opinion.
no doubt tomg
Huge inning from Sosa. Don't even let 'em sniff the momentum.
JD: I think moving Church to #6 should not be viewed as "dropping" him in the order. In the long run, I think this lineup will work best if Castillo can get going in the 2 hole.
However, since Schneider and Pagan were not playing this game, having a bottom four of Cassanova, Endy, Castillo, and Pitcher would be pretty pathetic. I really think this was done in an effort to keep the lineup a little more balanced and get a run-producer towards the bottom of the lineup.
All bets are off when Alou gets back.
Basket catch! Who's that guy?
Let's see what this next 1/2 inning brings.
Joe D if Willie bats Wright in the cleanup spot he is not going to get good pitches to hit with a declining Delgado hitting behind him. Maybe if Alou comes back I might do it but not with Delgado hitting behind him.
Hey mackey, you ever figure out that throwing to the pitcher glitch? :-)
@Joe D: Nope… I still can't even toss things in my garbage can.
Wright makes his own magic, Beltran needs the protection more than Wright. Beltrans best season were as a 3 hitter, including 2006 for the Mets. Wright has the best eye and patience at the plate. Beltran's biggest asset his speed is virtually gone with Beltran at cleanup and his numbers at clean up pale in comparison to his stats as a three hitter. I fully expect Church and Alou to bat ahead of Delgado in very short order.
How many f@@@ing times I got to see beltran stare at a call strike three in a big spot with runners in scoring position, beltran is a compiler, not a money player. Than he wonders why met fans boo him.
To Mackey: That makes sense for the line-up change. Dropping might be a poor choice of words as it might imply a demotion. Let's say ``moved down.'' But, you're right. Church gives something to the bottom of the order.-JD
Not going to scream, not going to yell, not going to get mad. He delivered tonight.
But Beltran…this has got to stop.
What pitch was Beltran looking for????
Eddie Coleman was reporting earlier today that Alou is due back at Shea on Friday for the Atlanta series.
Do we really want to move David Wright in the lineup when he is raking? Plus, Beltran was very successful in the 2nd half last season when he was moved to the 4-spot, so he will get going eventually. Delgado, on the other hand, is not long for this sport.
Feliciano now in for the Mets.-JD
Nice going Feliciano. Way to keep runners off base for Utley and Howard!
Ughh.
It's official, Feliciano is a situational lefty, and Heilman is a situational righty, put Duaner in at setup, Joe Smith as your short reliever, get rid of Schoeneweis and bring up Eddie Kunz.
If they aren't going to knock Utley down, why don't they stop wasting everybody's time and just put him on?-JD
Bring in Joe Smith for Burrell!
I have to admit the umpire is looking like he is squeezing Feliciano, but, Felciano looks indifferent.
JD,
A game-winning homer at Shea notwithstanding, Feliciano has handled Utley very well. But you're right, they can't get him out.
well, so much for the mets bull pen being better than the phils, that's why on paper means nothing.
Utley, Burrell and Chipper should fear Mets pitchers, not the other way around. Knock em' down!
Time for some Mets magic! :-D
Prediction:
Delgado looks like a little leaguer against Romero.
Well…the result would have been the same, at least!!
LOL
Delgado has hit the ball hard twice tonight. Nothing to show for it.-JD
wow, Mets on ESPN again tomorrow night. When's the last time that ever happened?
They normally would run for Casanova, but Brian Schneider can't throw. It might take at least a triple to score Casanova from second.-JD
Is Mike Piazza still available?
speaking of available I was surprised to see the Jays waive Frank Thomas today…
It looks like Pagan is finally coming down to earth. I've noticed recently he is hitting lazy fly balls and pop ups. We need Alou back, he is a hitter.
Can Frank still play first??? I do not think he has touched a mitt in a while.
Available as in does he have leisure time?, yes. Available as in does he belong on a baseball field anymore?, no.
tomg,
Moises Alou might have been a HOFer had he been able to stay healthy for his career (500 ABs only 6 times in 16 seasons, still almost 1,300 RBI), so I totally agree, we can preempt any fan complaining that Angel Pagan will have to sit when he comes back.
Agreed JM. Was just wondering when he last touched a mitt. Turned out to be only 4 games in 2004. He is definitely not a fit other than being a name.
Well, are they going to come back?-JD
They'll walk Wright if he puts this bunt down.-JD
I'm thinking of all those lost chances…
Even though they were losing almost the entire night, I have this feeling they let this game get away from them.-JD
Beltran can't buy the big hit either; just missed it!
So this game's "in the book" and it's the end of the mini-streak. A new one starts tomorrow when the Maine Man takes the mound. Safe travel to all.
Castillo's failure to bunt cost them tonight. Randolph talks a lot about execution. It is time for him to stop talking and start taking action. Nice play by Bluntlett, but the Mets still need to execute advancing the runner.
If Castillo gets that bunt down, Beltran comes up with the bases loaded and even if he hits that same exact shot, he beats the relay to first and the Mets tie the game.
Castillo's known for his bunting but he has to get the ball down there, I'm glad they fought back but they the lost b/c they couldn't execute the fundamentals.
where was the game lost? Well, as much as we'd all love to win them all, that just ain't going to happen. We had our chances, but it doesn't always role your way. Good series win though.
Home runs will be hit in the Philly Smallpark.
The game was lost on Castillo and Delgado's bats, on their not being at 7 & 8 in the order and on being stuck in a situation where they have to start for this team at all.
Castillo getting that bunt down might not have made a difference. Because it's 2nd and 3rd with one out instead of 1st and 2nd with one out. And Easley probably can't score anyway on Wright's pop-up. So there's two outs there. And Beltran still makes the 3rd out.
A real difference could have been made by Delgado. But then that's the case with almost every game this year and most of last year. Unfortunately, he seems to have regressed even further from last year. When Alou gets back, Willie needs to put him behind Beltran. Drop Delgado to 6th. Put Church in the 2nd spot. They need to consider sitting Delgado against lefties as well. Maybe give him until mid-May until the weather warms to see if his bat heats up too a little. But they can't wait too long.
It will always baffle me how so many Mets fans are critical of Beltran. I mean, what else do you want the guy to do?
To the person complaining about pitchers only going 5… the Mets have recently had Figgy, Pelfrey, and Johan go 7 innings. In Maine's last start he went 6.2. The starting pitching has been solid lately.
Nights like last night are going to happen. You can't win them all. Think about how far Pelfrey has come that we're being critical of him giving up 4 runs to Philly in Philly.
I'm a little saddened about this post JK. I thought you were one of the little metsies who wasn't "despicable" as you very aptly described your fellow little metsies. But now this dictatorial post making demands without anything behind them to back them up. My gosh. You have become a "despicable" metsie!!!!! Willie "needs" to do these things??? What are you going to do about it if he doesn't listen to your "despicable" demands? Do you have the power to fire him? Can you take away his meal money. Its so sad, I thought a couple metsies weren't "despicable" But only little keith and clm are good metsies. Don't come to DC. "Despicable" little metsies shoud stay in that dirty little parking lot that the metsies have to play in because nobody wants them to ruin their neighborhood. No wonder there are so many more Yankee fans than metsie fans. Metsie fans are "despicable" ... Boo the team, threaten the manager…. Where will it end??? Poor Delcos. Its worse than being stuck in Philly land…... No wonder poor omar has to overpay crappy ball players to come and play for him. the metsie fans are just "despicable"!
I'll take winning 2/3 from Phils every time.
Utley is the best lefty hitter in the game now.
Keith: A few times last hight I thought Pelfrey was going to lose it and have a meltdown like he would last year when he got into trouble, but he worked through it, except for the HR to Utley. When you lose to Utley, though, you can't be all that upset. So, yes, Pelfrey has come a long way.
I'm wondering if it would have been a little different with Schneider since the two work well together. It'll be interesting to watch as the season goes on. I don't believe in personal catchers and Willie has said the same thing, but he should make an exception with Pelfrey if he continues to thrive with Schneider.
Oh Mr scoopy: While you have made a very correct statement about the great Mr Utley do you know what you did? You have irked all the "despicable"ittle metsies by saying something nice about a non metsie. I will add you to the very short list of nor despicable little metsies now you clm and keith and Annie are good little metsies and all the others like metsfannot and jk are "despicable" little metsies.
By the way little metsie jk, your whining about the catcher is very infantile. What if Rollins played do you think the phillie offense would have sucked like metsie offense? Wah wah wah…. crying over who didn't play is worse than being "despicable" It is pathetic. Now I have to list despicable and pathetic little metsies. how many lists do I need to keep. Wah Wah Wah ... Act like a man little metsie….. wah wah wah…. even girls know there is no crying in baseball wah wah wah
Now that is reason # 1,000 why there are so many yankee fans and hardly any metsie fans in NYC. Wah Wah Wah… the metsie crybabies wah wah wah our catcher had a booboo so our little baby pitcher couldn't do good. Wah wah wah….
NYYANKEES # 1 in NYC FOREVER!!!!