Game #40: Cubs 8, Mets 2

In matches up hapless vs. hapless, it often becomes a sort of contest of generosity: each team is insistent on the other taking their win. I'm a Purdue Boilermaker football fan, so I speak from experience: the Mets and Cubs are playing a game of "you win," "no you win," "no I insist, you win." Today, the Cubs insisted harder. Boy did they ever.

Jeremy Hefner didn't get to the 5th and the Mets couldn't figure out Scott Feldman, falling to the Cubs 8-2.

The Bad Stuff:

(NYDailyNews.com)

• After a string of good starts, Jeremy Hefner ran into big trouble in the 4th inning, giving up four runs in what would turn out to be his last trip to the mound on the day.
• The bullpen didn't fare much better, as Robert Carson gave up a solo home run to Anthony Rizzo and Collin McHugh, fresh up from Las Vegas, surrendered three runs in his two innings of relief.
• Ike Davis went 0-4 in the cleanup slot, the only starter aside from Ruben Tejada not to get a hit.
• The rest of the team didn't fare better in clutch situations, going 0-5 with RISP and stranding seven, including runners on second and third in each of the first two innings.

The Good Stuff:

• Rick Ankiel saved New York from being shut out, blasting a two-run homer in the top of the 9th off Hector Rendon.
• Daniel Murphy had two more hits to poke his average back over .300.

Final Analysis:
Easily believable as that the Mets haven't won any of Jeremy Hefner's starts this season. Harder to stomach is that, even at 0-5 with an ERA set at an even 5.00, Hefner is nevertheless one of New York's better starting pitchers in 2013. So for those of you calling for his head, who do you suggest will replace him in the rotation? Collin McHugh is just as ineffective as he was last year. Jeurys Familia won't do. Zack Wheeler is just one man. Suffice it to say, Jeremy Hefner is here to stay.

Ike Davis, on the other hand, is closer to losing his job than ever before. Hard as it is to believe, he's actually on a worse pace than he was last year. Through 40 games in 2012, he hit .160 with five home runs; through 40 games this season, he's hitting .156 with four home runs. Considering the team is already out looking for his replacement (I'd me more apt to move Lucas Duda back to his natural position), it's fair to expect that Ike Davis will take a Memorial Day trip to Las Vegas...and never return.

MM

Game #37: Cardinals 4, Mets 2

To paraphrase an elderly Michael Corleone, "Just when we thought we were out, they pull us back in."

(NYDailyNews.com)

Rick Ankiel's home run tied it in the 7th but a Scott Rice wild pitch led to the go-ahead run in the next half inning as the Cardinals knocked off the Mets again, 4-2.

The Bad Stuff:

• Tied 2-2 in the 7th, Shaun Marcum got through the first two St. Louis batters with ease. The next few, however, not so much. Daniel Descalso walked and Pete Kozma singled him over to third. Scott Rice was brought on in relief, but his first pitch was a wild one that allowd Descalso to score. Whoops.
• LaTroy Hawkins allowed one more run during a flawed 8th inning in relief.
• On rare occasions when New York had RISP they did not capitalize, hitting 0-4 in those situations and stranding five men on base.

The Good Stuff:

• In spite of the loss, Marcum turned in his best start of the season, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits in 6.2 innings, walking one and striking out three on 96 pitches. He also helped his own cause at the plate with two hits.
• In his second start in center field, Rick Ankiel produced the Mets' runs with a two-run opposite-field home run in the 7th inning that tied the game at 2-2.
• Daniel Murphy went just 1-4, but his one hit was his 11th double on the season.

Final Analysis:
On a better day, the Mets might have won this one. Starting pitching was strong for the first time in what seems like forever (excluding Matt Harvey's starts, of course). Unfortunately, the two other elements failed to show up, as hitting and relief pitching played into the hands of the Redbirds. Marcum and Ankiel were the stars of the day; for New York to get back on track, both of them will have to be at the top of their respective games.

The Mets begin a stretch of four straight day games tomorrow afternoon as they wrap of the series beneath the Arch; they will travel to Wrigley Field for the weekend set with the Cubs.

MM