Games #15 & #16: Giants 6-7, Mets 1-2

David Wright flips his bat in frustration after striking out in a loss to the Giants Monday. (NYDailyNews.com)

It was a double dose of fun for fans of San Fran. For New York fans, it was twice the nightmare, plus having to put up with a sickly alliterate sentence like that first one.

Miguel Batista got rocked and the real Tim Lincecum finally stood up as the Giants took the first game of a twin bill, 6-1. It was more of the same in the second game as Madison Bumgarner outpitched Dillon Gee to give San Francisco a doubleheader sweep of the Mets, 7-2.

The Bad Stuff:

• Where to even begin? Let's start with starters, who it seems both tried to outdo each other in terms of badness. Spot-starter Miguel Batista gave up 6 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits in 3.2 innings of the first game, while Dillon Gee allowed 7 runs to cross on a whopping 12 hits in 6.2 innings of the night game.
• The Mets' bats couldn't do much either against the vaunted Giant starters: "Big-Time Timmy-Jim" and "Maddy-Bum" (doubt they call him that) gave up 1 run each in a combined 12 innings of work, striking out 12 Amazin's between them.
• David Wright had one of the toughest games at the plate, combining to go 0-7 with a walk and a run. Wright finished the series 1-14, bringing his batting average down way under .500.
• Also continuing to struggle at the plate is Ike Davis, who went 0-4 with 2 Ks in the first game and struck out pinch-hitting with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 8th of the second game. Davis is now hitting .136 in 2012 with more strikeouts than total bases.
• Thanks to special rules allowing additional callups for doubleheaders, Jordany Valdespin made his debut in game two, pinch-hitting in the bottom of the 8th; he popped out to short with the bases loaded after swinging at the first pitch.
• The injury bug bites again: Jason Bay bruised his ribs in the second game; fortunately x-rays were negative.

The Good Stuff:

• The bullpen stopped the bleeding in both games, combining for 5.1 scoreless innings in the first game and 2.1 innings in the second.
• The shining star of the first game was doubleheader callup Jeremy Hefner, who went tossed 3 scoreless innings.
• Bobby Parnell also had a good day, tossing 2 scoreless innings between the two games and striking out 4.
• Daniel Murphy picked up 2 hits in the first game and drove in a run with a sac fly in the second.

Final Analysis:
Ouch. It's back to reality for Mets fans: after starting out 7-3, the team has dropped 5 of their last 6 to fall back to .500. Things are going south fast for this young team, and they'll need to find a way up north against the Miami Marlins tomorrow. Hopefully a visit from their old mainstay at shortstop is just the thing to revive the Amazin's.

MM

Game #14: Mets 5, Giants 4

Kirk Nieuwenhuis can’t come up with a fly ball in the ninth as the Giants rally for three runs to tie the game. (NYDailyNews.com)

Some wins go down like a steak dinner at a 5-star restaurant, others go down like bad roadside McDonalds. This was one of those McDonalds endings to a game, but it all ends up the same in the W-L column.

A bad blunder in the 9th cost Mike Pelfrey the win, but the Giants evened it up blunder-wise in the bottom of the frame, resulting in a "what just happened?" 5-4 win for the Mets.

The Pre-9th Good Stuff

• Today's 9th inning deserves a category of its own, so we'll get to that later on. Let's start Good Stuff with what we can actually understand, shall we?
• Mike Pelfrey was ordained the team's Ace last year, but with the pressure of that label off his back, Big Pelf has been pitching like a real Ace in 2012. Pelfrey went 8 innings and allowed only 1 run on 6 hits, walking 1 and striking out 3, all in just 102 pitches. His ERA in 3 starts this season is an outstanding 2.29, and he earned the W he would've gotten today.
• In his first game batting 8th since Opening Day, Ruben Tejada tied the game in the 5th on a fielder's choice. Then after Jason Bay's leadoff single, Lucas Duda's walk, and Josh Thole's first sac bunt in the 7th, Tejada laced a double down the third base line to score both and make it 3-1. It was Mr. Clutch's 7th double of the year and would've served as game-winning hit.
• New York added one more in the 8th after Daniel Murphy's infield hit (he went 3-4 with a double), David Wright's reaching first on an error (sending Murph to third), and Ike Davis's nubber of the bat for an RBI infield single.

The Pre-9th Bad Stuff

• Of the Mets' 13 RISP at-bats, 11 came in the first 8 innings, and they were only able to convert on 2 of those at-bats.
• David Wright's hitting streak and reaching base twice streak came to and end today with an 0-4, 2 K showing. His batting average was knocked down to "only" .439.
• It could have been more than just 4-1 after the 8th, as the Mets had none out, runners on first and second, and Jason Bay at the plate. But Ike Davis was picked off and David Wright caught stealing third, so Bay's groundout to short resulted in the third out of the inning instead of the first (and probably second...but you never assume the double play).
• After an eye-popping game last night, Kirk Nieuwenhuis was spent this afternoon, going 0-5 total (0-4 before the 9th) with a couple strikeouts. But his biggest blunder would come in...

 The 9th Inning Bad Stuff (or: "Holy Luis Castillo")

• Despite pitching strong and a 3-run lead, Terry Collins elected to send Frank Francisco out to get the save. Buster Posey led off with a single and Aubrey Huff grounded him over to second. After Nate Schierholtz walked, Emmanuel Burriss singled home the first run. Collins came out and gave Frank the hook, electing to send Tim Byrdak out to turn Hector Sanchez, a better lefty hitter than righty, around. Byrdak struck him out swinging and Jon Rauch was brought on to get the 27th out. He appeared to get it, too, forcing Brandon Belt to pop up to shallow center. But a combination of the ball's placement, the outfield's prevent positioning, and the ghost of Luis Castillo haunting both Tejada and Nieuwenhuis resulted in Kirk overrunning the ball, which dropped harmlessly beyond his reach and allowed San Francisco to tie the game at 4.
• So it appeared that New York had choked away a sure win and made a new A-Rod out of B-Belt. It seems like that sort of thing happens every year, but it doesn't make it any easier to swallow. Fortunately, the Mets gave the Giants their W, and San Fran being the happy place it is decided to say, "Nah, you keep it."

The 9th Inning Good Stuff (or: "Some Kind of Redemption, I Guess?")

• Lucas Duda singled to lead off against Clay Hensley and Josh Thole sent him to scoring position with his second sac bunt of the day. Ruben Tejada drew a walk and Jeremy Affeldt was brought on to face lefty Mike Baxter, who was quickly pulled for Justin Turner. Le Grand Orange Jr. hit a groundball to short that should've been the inning-ending double play, but Aubrey Huff, displaced to second base for the first time of his career, forgot to cover the bag, and Emmanuel Burriss was forced to go to first with the throw, which got there late.
• Up came Kirk Nieuwenhuis, looking to redeem himself for the blunder in the top of the 9th with his first walk-off. He got it, but not the way he expected. Captain Kirk hit a soft groundball to first which Brandon Belt sent home for the second out. Buster Posey was about to throw to first for the Giants' second inning-ending double play of the inning, but Scott Hairston, the lead-pinch-runner, stuck out his leg on the slide and clipped Posey's right ankle and caused the throw to go into right field. The desperation throw home was late, and Ruben Tejada was in with the winning run on the Giants' 3rd error of the afternoon.

Final Analysis:
Um...okay. In the span of about 20 minutes, the Mets went from cruising along to flailing and failing to celebrating the end of their 3-game losing streak. It's the kind of win you've probably never seen before (the first-ever Met win on an error by the opposing catcher) and may never see again. What do you take from that? I'd say you take all the good from the first 8 innings and see the 9th as an even balance of mistakes that gave the W to the team that had earned it in the first 8 frames. Since the Mets were ahead, they get that W. But the fact that they could make a blunder like that and still end up winning is the most Amazin' accident of them all.

MM

Game #13: Giants 4, Mets 3 (10)

Lucas Duda flies out for the game's final out in the Mets' 4-3 loss in extra innings. (NYDailyNews.com)

Deflation was the story at Citi Field tonight. If this game had a sound effect, it would probably sound something like this.

The Mets rallied to send the game to extra innings but Frank Francisco couldn't hold the fort and the Giants prevailed in 10 innings, 4-3.

The Bad Stuff

• Jon Niese was solid for most of the game, but in the span of 14 pitches in the 3rd inning he went from looking like Tom Glavine to Oliver Perez, allowing 3 runs on 4 hits and a wild pitch, the first being a solo home run allowed to former Met Angel Pagan. These 3 runs were the hill New York had to climb all game until they finally reached the top in the 9th...
• ...Only to have to turn around and do it again in the 10th after Frank Francisco gave up the go-ahead single to San Francisco with 2 on and 2 out. There would be no coming back this time, even after New York had the first 2 on in the bottom of the 10th. Ike Davis grounded out to advance the runners, Jason Bay went from hot-earlier-to-cold-now and struck out, and Lucas Duda fought a few foul balls before ultimately flying out to deep center. Game over. Cue sound.
• Ike Davis took a step back in terms of progress at the plate. After smashing 3 home runs in 4 games, Ike went 0-5, striking out twice and leaving 7 men aboard.
• Speaking of leaving men aboard, that continues to be the Mets' biggest problem at the plate: the team went a dismal 1-10 with RISP and left 9 on to end innings.

The Good Stuff

• Despite the loss some good stats will appear in tomorrow morning's boxscore. Take out those 14 pitches in the 3rd and Jon Niese had a good outing, allowing those 3 runs on 7 hits in 6 innings.
• The bullpen also held the fort nicely before extras, with Ramon Ramirez, Jon Rauch, and Tim Byrdak combining for 3 scoreless innings in relief.
• David Wright continued his hot streak, going 1-3 and walking twice, giving him 10 straight games of getting on base at least twice to begin his 2012.
• Despite failing in the 10th, Jason Bay had a very good outing, going 2-5 with a solo home run in the 4th (the Mets' first hit) and starting the game-tying rally in the 9th with a single. He also made a tough catch running towards the wall in the 6th.
• But the biggest bright spot of the day was the continuing development of "Captain" Kirk Nieuwenhuis. In one of his first chances against left-handed pitching, the young centerfielder blasted an opposite field solo home run in the 5th of Barry Zito. He also made a couple very nice catches out in center field and drew a walk in the bottom of the 9th that set up Josh Thole's game-tying single. He was eventually gunned down trying to sprint home on a Mike Baxter groundball, but all-in-all a very good night for Nieuwenhuis, who is growing into a permanent major-leaguer right before our very eyes.

Final Analysis:
Not the best of results on the scoreboard tonight, but this is one of those games you can take more good from than bad. Especially coming off the the two rough and ugly losses in Atlanta earlier this week, tonight was a step in the right direction.

MM

Game #12: Braves 14, Mets 6

R.A. Dickey’s stretch of 14 consecutive quality starts comes to an end Wednesday, as the Braves chase him after 4-1/3 innings. Dickey takes the loss and allows eight earned runs. (NYDailyNews.com)

Throughout the afternoon, it seemed like the Mets were battling the baseball equivalent of the hydra: when they cut off one head from the Atlanta lead, two more grew in its place. It wasn't pretty for Hercules when he tried it, and it wasn't pretty for New York either.

R.A. Dickey's consecutive quality starts streak came crashing down and the Mets couldn't capitalize on all their chances, falling to the Braves 14-6 in their road trip finale.

The Bad Stuff

• Since last July, the name R.A. Dickey has meant "quality start" in the eyes of Met fans. He had 14 straight going and the offense was good enough today that it would have gotten him his 7th win in those 15 starts. Problem was on this day, it was Dickey who came up short. Maybe it was the wet conditions tampering with his knuckleball, or maybe was just overdue for a dud. Whatever it was, it wasn't typical R.A., who allowed 8 runs on 8 hits in 4.1 innings, including 3 home runs, his most since joining New York in 2010. I would classify this as nothing but a blip, but it was a shocking blip, no doubt.
• The rest of the pitching didn't live up to its season-opening standards either: Bobby Parnell, Tim Byrdak, and Frank Francisco each allowed 2 runs in their time on the mound; it was the first runs that crossed on Byrdak's and Francisco's time all season.
• The most remarkable aspect of today's game was how the Mets gave up runs: in every single inning they scored, the Braves scored double that in the bottom half of the frame, plus 2 more in the 7th when New York didn't score. I've never seen anything like that; it was just like something out of Greek mythology.
• While they managed 6 runs on the afternoon, with 14 hits the New York offense should have plated more. They hit 7-18 with RISP (a good batting average but my goodness, to only score 1/3 of a run for every at-bat? Not great) and stranded 11. They threatened in just about every inning, but once they got a run across, the engine stalled enough for the Braves to get a handle on them.

The Good Stuff

• With 6 runs and 14 hits, you're gonna see some guys with good numbers. The most encouraging line came from Ike Davis, who went 2-5 and hit his 3rd home run in 4 games in the top of the 2nd.
• David Wright went 2-5 and drove in 3 runs, tying Darryl Strawberry's franchise RBI record with 733. This also makes it 9 straight games to start the season in which Wright got on base at least twice; the last time that happened in the majors was in 2002 when Mike Cameron did it for the Seattle Mariners.
• Every regular starter got at least one hit today. The most notable were:
• Kirk Nieuwenhuis, who started his first game in the leadoff slot and went 3-4 with 2 doubles, a walk, 3 runs, and an RBI. Captain Kirk is hitting .375 in his first stretch in the majors, and with Andres Torres still struggling to get to rehab, there's a chance he has played his way into the centerfield role for good.
• Daniel Murphy, who went 2-4 with a run and an RBI.
• Jason Bay, who went 1-3 but drew 2 walks and didn't strike out. He's now hitting above the Mendoza line for the year.

Final Analysis:
Definitely not the way you want to end a road trip. The team's stellar honeymoon of a start appears to be over after 4 series and a 7-5 record. Still better than expected, I'll give you that. But recent numbers may be cause for alarm: in the last 4 games, New York has given up 32 runs; they gave up just 22 in their first 8 games.

An off day tomorrow before the next homestand is just what this team needs. The reality of the long season is beginning to set in, and we now have two pictures of what the Mets can be in 2012: the solid team of young players all doing their part, or the inexperienced team that is in over its head. We're about to find out which one is true. If it's the first, we're in for a treat. If it's the second, we're in for a long 5 months.

MM

P.S. So long, Dick Clark.

1929-2012

Game #11: Braves 9, Mets 3

The Mets' Johan Santana reacted after giving up a run against the Atlanta Braves in the second inning. (NYTimes.com)

The Mets were praying for the rain tonight, but the only rain that came was a flurry of Braves runs.

Johan Santana was blasted by Atlanta hits and New York errors, resulting in the shortest start of his career and the Mets' first loss to the Braves, 9-3.

The Bad Stuff

• Before tonight, the shortest outing of Johan Santana's stellar career was 3 innings. He wouldn't even make it through half that before getting the hook. Santana went just 1.1 innings and allowed 6 runs (4 earned) on 4 hits and a walk. Perhaps it was ghosts of Turner Field past (this was the place he blew his shoulder out at in 2010), but whatever it was he didn't have his stuff tonight. I suppose it's to be expected with the nature of his recovery, but to see a former 2-time Cy Young winner knocked out by a mediocre offense after managing just 4 outs is still a jarring sight.
• It didn't help either that the Met fielders were jarred from making good plays. Jason Bay's error on the first Atlanta batter of the game led to the unearned run in the 1st, and Ike Davis's throwing error on a sac bunt in the 2nd let another run cross.
• The reverberations from Santana's rocking must have shaken through the New York bats as well. The Mets hit 3-11 with RISP and left 10 men on base. Ruben Tejada, Davis, and Lucas Duda were hit the hardest, each going 0-4.
• While the offense wasn't particularly helpful, the bullpen wasn't much better in keeping the damage down to a reachable level. New York got 1.2 scoreless innings out of Miguel Batista, but Ramon Ramirez let in 2 runs in his 2 innings and Manny Acosta let one more through in his 3.

The Good Stuff

• Despite 2 strikeouts, David Wright continued his hot start; the league's leading hitter went 2-5, which actually lowered his average to "only" .517. This makes it 8 straight games for David that he got on base at least twice, a phenomenal streak to start the year.
• Daniel Murphy also did well at the plate, going 2-5 with an RBI. The other runs were driven in by Josh Thole and pinch-hitting Mike Baxter.
• Kirk Nieuwenhuis also went 2-4 and Jason Bay had the team's only extra-base hit of the night, a double in the 4th that led to a run.

Final Analysis:
Whereas everything went right for the New York Mets last night, everything went wrong tonight. That's alright, though. Baseball is a funny game: even the very best teams only win about 60% of the time; even the best teams have nights like these. The question for the 7-4 Mets is whether tonight's result is closer to the norm of what the team will be or just a hiccup in the road. Only time will tell.

MM

Game #10: Mets 6, Braves 1

Jason Bay robbing the Braves’ Jack Wilson of a home run. Bay hit one himself in the ninth. (NYTimes.com)

For years, Chipper Jones made New York his punching bag. In early 2012, the Mets are returning the favor.

Ike Davis's 3-run homer in the 6th highlighted a strong night at the plate, and Dillon Gee was bold and strong at the plate as the Mets took their fourth straight over the Braves, 6-1.

The Good Stuff

• He's baaa-aaack! After taking some time to get going, Ike Davis has hit 2 home runs in the last 2 games. Last night's gave his team an early lead, tonight's gave them a lead they would not let go. With the score tied 1-1 and one out in the top of the 6th, Ruben Tejada smacked a double against the wall (his 6th of the year). Daniel Murphy grounded out to advance the runner, and then things start to get interesting. Rather than pitch to a red-hot David Wright, who already had a hit in the game, Atlanta starter Tommy Hanson, a right-hander, decided he'd rather try his luck against left-handed Ike Davis. So Wright was given the IBB and Davis was given 4 straight curveballs, something Ron Darling noted could backfire on Hanson. Like half a minute later, Hanson's fifth curveball landed in the right field stands after being sent like a rocket off of Ike's bat. The Mets were up 4-1 and whatever momentum was left in a sparse Turner Field crowd was snuffed out.
• Let's not forget the man who follows Ike in the batting order also had a heck of a night. If they kept track of this sort of stat (and they probably do but I'm not in the mood for alphabet soup tonight), Jason Bay would be +2 in terms of runs tonight. One run comes from the home run he took away from Jack Wilson on a terrific snag in the bottom of the 5th (watch Web Gems tonight; that was a legit home run!). The other came as insurance in the top of the 9th when he belted a Livan Hernandez sinker into dead center.
• Ruben Tejada also picked up an RBI on a groundout in the 3rd and Josh Thole scored on a wild pitch in the 7th.
• With Giants' beardmaster Brian Wilson done for the year, Dillon Gee officially takes over the title of Coolest Facial Hair in Baseball, a title he followed up with a stellar performance on the mound. Gee went the standard 7 innings and allowed 1 run on 4 hits, walking 1 and striking out 5. His most impressive frame was his last: with none out and 1 on, Gee got a double play ball out of Jason Heyward, but Thole was called for catcher's interference, turing 2 out and none on into 2 on and none out. As cold as ice, The Goatee struck out Eric Hinske on a 3-2 fastball, made a nice play on a tough Jack Wilson groundball, and went after Juan Francisco with a 2-2 fastball to end the threat.
• After Dillon made his exist, the bullpen took care of the rest, with Jon Rauch keeping his spotless ERA in the 8th and Tim Byrdak going 1-2-3 in the 9th to make it 4 in a row against the noodle-armed tomahawk chop.

The Bad Stuff

• Daniel Murphy and Lucas Duda were the only Met starters (pitcher notwithstanding) to go hitless, each going 0-4.

Final Analysis:
I'm getting used to this winning thing! So are the Mets, as they appear to have found a winning formula. If the starter turns in a strong performance (check), if Tejada and Murphy set the table and get on base (not so much tonight but in general yes), if someone from the middle of the order makes the delivery (Davis and Bay did so tonight), and if the bullpen comes in to slam the door shut (check), most of the time New York will have a W next to them in the morning papers.

The key part of that equation is the production from the middle of the order. The 3-4-5-6 guys are key to New York's success at the plate this year. They've got 4 guys who have power potential (each has at least 2 home runs with Duda at 3 now). If just one of them goes yard or delivers a big extra base hit, it goes a long way to winning ballgames. They've been able to take turns coming up big this year, and it has paid solid dividends.

Most people would have thought the Mets would be 3-7 at this point, not 7-3. They've risen to #10 in this week's ESPN Power Rankings. This team is winning and they're starting to turn heads. All they have to do is keep consistent and they'll turn a lot more.

MM

Game #9: Phillies 8, Mets 2

Mike Pelfrey gives the Mets six solid innings Sunday, but the bullpen implodes in Philadelphia, giving up seven runs in the final three frames. (NYDailyNews.com)

The door to the broom closet was opened up again, but the bats of Philadelphia slammed it shut.

The Phillies offense blew up for 7 runs in their last 2 innings as the Mets' early lead evaporated into an 8-2 loss.

The Bad Stuff

• It was only a matter of time before the Mets' rock-solid bullpen was going to show a few cracks. But even if inevitable, it wasn't pretty. Up 2-1, Ramon Ramirez allowed the go-ahead runs to score in the 7th, wiping out a W for Mike Pelfrey (who we'll get to in Good Stuff). In the 8th, Philly took out a massive insurance policy, tapping Manny Acosta for 4 runs and Miguel Batista for 1 more. But it wasn't just the bats that did the relievers in: Ramirez's wild pitch put runners on second and third with 1 out and Acosta walked 2 straight with 2 out to force in a run before Ty Wigginton delivered the final blow with a bases-clearing double.
• After putting 2 on the board in the 1st, the New York offense shut down at the hands of Cole Hamels, who went 7 innings and allowed no more runs on 6 hits, walking 1 and striking out 10. Chad Qualls allowed a hit but managed the 8th, and Jonathan Papelbon loaded the bases before striking out Justin Turner to end the game.
• The Mets played shorthanded once again, this time with Jason Bay sitting out with a jammed right middle finger, apparently from sliding into first base, similar to what David Wright did on Monday.

The Good Stuff

• The Mets wasted a fine outing by Mike Pelfrey, who went for 6 innings, allowing 1 run on 8 hits, walking 2 and striking out 2. He walked a fine tightrope and got into jams in the 1st, 2nd, and 4th, but managed to get out of them with little damage done.
• The only offense New York got on the day was in the 1st inning when Ike Davis hit his first home run of the year, a 2-run blast off a Hamels cutter. An encouraging sign for Met fans, perhaps Ike has finally caught up after missing most of last year and dealing with his valley fever. He finished the day 2-4.
• David Wright scored on Davis' home run and had another strong outing at the plate, going 2-4. He was picked off of first by Hamels in the 6th, but because he (presumably) kept his fingers in tact this time, it goes under Good Stuff.
• Lucas Duda also had 2 hits on the afternoon.

Final Analysis:
A sweep in Philadelphia would have been nice and this loss is disappointing, especially since the bullpen had been so stellar. But when you look at the big picture, you see the Mets won the series and are 6-3 a week and a half into the season. They're still performing above expectations and a series win over the five-time defending NL East champs is an encouraging sign. They just have to get back on top of things tomorrow in Atlanta and keep the ball rolling.

MM

Game #8: Mets 5, Phillies 0

David Wright’s ability to play Saturday had been questionable because of a fractured pinkie, but he erased all doubt with a home run in his first at-bat. (NYTimes.com)

"I guess his hand's okay."
--SNY play-by-play man Gary Cohen with the understatement of 2012.

David Wright homered on the first pitch he saw coming back from a broken pinkie, providing the difference for an unbeatable Jon Niese and giving the Mets a 5-0 win over the Phillies.

The Good Stuff

• In a stunning turnaround, it was announced 2 hours before game time that David Wright would play despite breaking his right pinkie finger 5 days ago. Concern around the blogosphere was that he was rushing back too soon and would either get hurt worse or hurt the team by not contributing. Wright buried those concerns with one pitch and one swing, blasting a Vance Worley fastball to the deepest part of left center for his 2nd home run of the year. And he didn't stop there, going 3-5 with 2 runs and making a couple plays in the infield.
• Any question as to whether David Wright wasn't the face of the franchise ended with that pitch. Playing through what I'm guessing is excruciating pain, Wright showed his toughness and his desire to help his team win. Reports earlier this week indicated the Met front office was concerned about his injury-proneness and they were holding off on his contract extension. I'd like to hope Sandy Alderson was finishing up the paper work by the time David rounded second base. Let's make this guy a Met for life.
• The offense ignited again in the 4th when Daniel Murphy walked, Wright singled, and Ike Davis singled to load the bases with none out. After Jason Bay grounded into a double play to bring one home (*sigh*, perhaps it was black magic), Lucas Duda blasted a first-pitch fastball into the right field stands to make it 3-0. He also had a double in the 6th and has broken out of a long slump.
• The last run came in the top of the 9th when Mike Baxter walked, stole second (our first stolen base!), and was driven in by Ruben Tejada, who went 2-5 and is hitting .333 from the leadoff slot (and he's only 22!).
• All the extra offense was great, but in reality, it was checkmate for Philadelphia 4 pitches in when Wright smashed his home run. Because Jon Niese continues to earn that 5-year contract extension of his, going 6.2 scoreless innings, allowing 5 hits, 1 walk, and striking out 5 for his second W in as many tries. Bobby Parnell finished up the 7th and the 8th and Jon Rauch slammed the door shut in the 9th to give New York their second shutout win of the year.

The Bad Stuff

• Um...I'm sure David was in a lot of pain?

The More Good Stuff

• The best painkiller in the world is winning.

Final Analysis:
Games like that don't come around very often. When they do, as fans, you can't help but celebrate. Today as Mets fans, we saw spectacular pitching, good solid hitting, and the 2012 version of Roy Hobbes. Oh, and did I mention it was against our fiercest rivals? And that it puts us at 6-2 and a half game out of first place? Yes, it's one afternoon, and there's still 95% of the season left, and yes, Red, "Hope is a dangerous thing." But through 5% of the season, this Mets team is giving its hope-starved fan base a reason to believe. How long it will last, I don't know. What I do know is you take it one game at at time and enjoy the ride when you're on a high point. This is a high point.

MM

Game #7: Mets 5, Phillies 2

Jason Bay hits a home run in the first inning against the Phillies to give them an early 1-0 lead. (NYDailyNews.com)

Terry Collins must have fed his team Lucky Charms before game time, because that Friday the 13th curse was nowhere near the orange and blue on this night.

Jason Bay's 2-run homer highlighted a 3-run 1st and R.A. Dickey pitched masterfully once again, giving the Mets a much-needed 5-2 win over the archrival Phillies.

The Good Stuff

• Before this game, Cliff Lee had allowed one earned run in three career starts against the Mets. He wouldn't even make it out of the 1st inning without blowing up that stat. Ruben Tejada led off with a double (his 5th of the young season) and Daniel Murphy doubled him in mere pitches later. After Justin Turner struck out and Ike Davis grounded Murph over to third, Jason Bay stepped up and blasted a shot into the right center stands of Citizens Bank Park.
• Was it just black magic on Friday the 13th? Or was this the game that finally gets him jump-started? Most have given up hope that he'll ever be what he was in Pittsburgh and Boston, but I'd like to believe Jason Bay finally has it figured out. Only time will tell, but it was a step in the right direction tonight. (At least he can still field - made a nice play in the 2nd to gun down John Mayberry Jr. at second base.)
• There wasn't too much more offense after that explosion (not that pitching needed it; see below), but Scott Hairston provided an insurance run in the 5th with a solo blast to left off a Lee snailball (74 mph). The last run came in the 9th off a Lucas Duda sac fly.
• The only question was whether R.A. Dickey could get run support. He did on this night, and it was more than enough for Mr. Knuckleball. Dickey turned in his 14th consecutive quality start, going 7 innings and allowing 1 run on 9 hits, walking 1 and K-ing 7. The lone run against him came on a Freddy Galvis solo jack in the 3rd; otherwise, Dickey got out of every single jam and earned a well-deserved second W.
• Bobby Parnell came in and pitched a solid 8th, then turned it over to Frank Francisco, who allowed an unearned run and struck out 3 Phillies to end the ballgame (that makes it 4 appearances by Francisco and 4 games finished with Ks...that'll do).
• Also, how can you not sing the praises of New York's new road uniforms? These things are classic, classy, and gorgeous. They should have removed the black trim a looong time ago, but better late then never, and nothing can beat the team grays this year. Simply fabulous.

The Bad Stuff

• Ike Davis's struggles at the plate continued as he went 0-3, dropping his average to a dismal .043. The only plus was that he didn't strike out.
• Aside from his sac fly, Lucas Duda didn't do much either, also going 0-3 and striking out twice to drop his average to .120.
• The game would have been over one batter sooner if not for a ball that went through Daniel Murphy's legs Bill Buckner style with 2 outs in the 9th, allowing the second Philadelphia run to score.
• The only time the Friday the 13th curse struck the team was in the top of the 2nd when Josh Thole's brain took a brief vacation (we have unconfirmed reports it was spotted in Argentina). Thole was on first after as single, and Dickey laid down the perfect sac bunt to advance him. But Thole misread Jimmy Rollins's hands-up signal at second as "foul ball" instead of "don't slide," and started jogging back to first. The ball was tossed over for an easy double play, and what could've been a runner on second with 2 outs turned into the end of the inning. It's been speculated that whenever Josh catches R.A.'s knuckleball it throws him off for a few days with other pitchers; perhaps it threw off his common sense in the 2nd inning tonight.

Final Analysis:
Who needs David Wright? Okay, we do, and it appears he and his swollen-beyond-gripping-ability finger may be headed toward the DL. But with great pitching like the Mets had tonight, all it takes is for one guy to step up and contribute in his place. Ruben Tejada and Daniel Murphy had been doing it all season, and tonight Jason Bay got in on the action. Just a bit of offense combined with excellent pitching from R.A. Dickey and the rest of the staff, along with a little luck (Philly scored 1 earned run on 11 hits...who was cursed tonight?), and the New York Mets will whether the storm caused by Wright's absence.

MM

P.S. We've reached a milestone on Midwestern Met: you've just read Post #200!

Game #6: Nationals 4, Mets 0

Stephen Strasburg gave up two hits over six innings, walked three batters and struck out nine. (NYTimes.com)

On the Mets' 50th birthday celebration, it was the visiting team who enjoyed a cake-walk.

Stephen Strasburg outdueled Johan Santana and the Nationals, aided by 10 walks, took the rubber game from the Mets, 4-0.

The Bad Stuff

• The Amazin' offense was anemic today against one of the premiere pitchers in the game. Stephen Strasburg held the Mets to 2 hits in his 6 innings of work, walking 3 and striking out 9 to pick up the W. The Washington bullpen was just as stellar, holding New York to 1 hit the rest of the way. Not even Terry Collins' shall we say "spirited" appeal to the umpires could light a spark on the Mets this day.
• At 4-0, the final score doesn't look too horrible. Then you take a look at the number of baserunners the Nats had today and you realize 4-0 was a lucky occurrence. New York pitchers gave up 9 hits and issued an astounding 10 walks. 3 of them were from Johan Santana, who had control problems in the beginning of the game, but 7 of those walks came in the final 4 innings of the game: 3 from Manny Acosta, 2 from Ramon Ramirez, and 1 each from Miguel Batista and Tim Byrdak. Had Washington not hit 1-14 with RISP and stranded 14 men, this game would've been closer to the Mets' very first game in 1962, an 11-4 loss in St. Louis, than a seemingly harmless 4-0 affair.

The Good Stuff

• Despite his control problems early, Johan Santana wasn't horrible in his second start of the year: 1 run on 5 hits in 5 innings, 3 walks and an impressive 8 strikeouts (he probably would have gone much longer if those BBs and Ks didn't eat up his pitch count).
• Ike Davis got off the schnide, picking up his first hit of the 2012 year, a single in the 7th which helped fuel the Mets' last chance at breaking the shutout.

Final Analysis:
Maybe it was the bad vibes from the '62 team, or a tricky strike zone, or the disappointment ringing from David Wright's pinkie problems. Whatever it was, the Mets couldn't solve Davey Johnson's puzzle in the finale of their first homestand.

Still, New York heads on the road with a respectable 4-2 record, certainly better than the 2-4 or 1-5 most of the "experts" thought we'd have by now. The team will get an off day before their series in Philadelphia, which gives Wright more of a chance to heal his finger. David said he was feeling better this morning and Terry's still optimistic we'll see him on the field Friday night. Let's hope so: while R.A. Dickey will give them a fighting chance against Cliff Lee, it'll likely take the Face of the Franchise to put them over the top in Citizens Bank Park.

MM

Game #5: Nationals 6, Mets 2

Mets third baseman David Wright (r.) talks to Ike Davis and Terry Collins (l.) in the dugout after jamming a finger on a slide Monday night. X-rays show the finger is broken on Tuesday. (NYDailyNews.com)

All good things must come to an end, and New York's undefeated season is no exception.

A makeshift lineup and less-than-stellar pitching combined to doom the Mets, who suffered their first loss of the 2012 season, 6-2 to the Nationals.

The Bad Stuff

• Dillon Gee was looking to get off on the right foot to start his sophomore season. Three pitches in, that chance was down the tubes. Ian Desmond led off with a home run and Washington never looked back. Gee picked up the L with 4 runs (3 earned) on 8 hits in 5.1 innings, walking 1 and striking out 6.
• The so-far rock solid Met bullpen also began to show a few leaks in the wall (where's that little Dutch boy with a finger when you need him? Oh that's right, Kirk Nieuwenhuis is all grown up). Bobby Parnell and Miguel Batista each allowed a run in their combined 3.2 innings of work to put it out of reach in favor of Davey Johnson's ballclub.
• Spectacular in the field yesterday, Daniel Murphy reminded everyone of why ordinary plays are extraordinary when he makes them. Murph had a rough go of it at second base, committing an error and ruining at least a couple double plays. He also faltered at the plate, going 0-4 and striking out twice in the 3-hole, where he was put after David Wright was scratched with a fractured pinkie finger (his timetable to return is unclear...oy vey, more injuries!).
• The rest of the New York lineup was also ineffective at the plate. Jason Bay and Lucas Duda combined to go 1-8 with 3 Ks.

The Good Stuff

• A last-minute replacement at third base, Ronny Cedeno had a good game at the plate, going 3-4 with a double and an RBI.
• The Mets' other run was driven in by Justin Turner, who got his first career start at first base.

Final Analysis:
Well, you can't win 'em all. Especially not in baseball. You knew it would happen, but it's still disappointing knowing the Mets are not, in fact, invincible. But hey, 4-1 after the first 5 games? I'll take that.

What I won't take is the news about David Wright. Before the game I just thought his finger was jammed, and now to find out it's broken? Disheartening. Terry Collins says he might be back on Friday, but knowing the Mets' medical staff, he'll probably go on the DL. I just hope I'm wrong.

MM

Game #4: Mets 4, Nationals 3

Daniel Murphy (28), with David Wright (5) and other teammates after driving in the winning run in the ninth with a single. (NYTimes.com)

In New York's previous 3 games, Daniel Murphy was removed in the 9th inning for a defensive replacement. Tonight he wasn't, and he made his presence known...but in a good way!

Murphy's diving play at second base got his team out of the 9th and his RBI single gave the Mets a 4-3 win over the Nationals.

The Good Stuff

• There was never any doubt that Daniel Murphy had a bat. It was his glove that concerned the Mets going into 2012. But a crash course in second base over the offseason has paid big dividends 4 games into the young season. Murph's been error-free so far, and his diving stop and flip to second on a Ryan Zimmerman groundball in the top of the 9th got the force out and got his team out of a mini-jam.
• In the bottom of the 9th, Mike Baxter led off with a walk and Ruben Tejada laid down a perfect 2-strike sac bunt to advance him to second. But Washington pitcher Henry Rodriguez was so impressed by Ruben's skill at the plate, he decided Baxter deserved an extra base, so his throw to first got way away and put men on second and third. Up came Big Murph, who slashed a 1-0 fastball into right field for the game-winning RBI single.



Daniel Murphy gets hit with a celebratory pie by Justin Turner after his game-winning hit Monday night. (NYDailyNews.com)

• Murphy finished the day 2-5, bringing his 2012 numbers up to 7-18 with 3 doubles and 3 RBIs.
• On a related note, as SNY's Kevin Burkhardt was interviewing Daniel after the game, Met fans finally had their most pressing question of the offseason answered. Quick as a fox, a streak of red hair came in to deliver a shaving cream pie to Murph's face. Yes, Justin Turner, Le Grand Orange Junior, is New York's new cream pie boy! I'm sure Daniel will appreciate this long after the stinging in his eyes stops, but right then, all he could do was grab Burkhardt's jacket and clean up his face.

• In other non-Murph news: "Captain" Kirk Nieuwenhuis launched his first career home run, a 2-run blast in the bottom of the 4th that tied the game at 3-3. I'd be sweating if I were Andres Torres: it appears he may be on the way to being, as some people have referred to it as, "Wally Pipped."
• David Wright also continued his blistering start, going 1-3 and driving in his 4th run in as many games.
• On the pitching side, Mike Pelfrey made his season debut on the mound, and while he wasn't spectacular, by Pelfrey standards, he was pretty good: 5.2 innings, 10 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk, 8 Ks. Those aren't the numbers you want out of an ace, but this year Mike Pelfrey doesn't have to be an ace, just a reliable fourth starter. He was that tonight.
• The Met bullpen continues to be stellar, turning in 3.1 innings of scoreless, hitless relief against the National bats. Miguel Batista got out of the 6th, and Ramon Ramirez got out of a jam in the 7th when Batista walked the first two batters. Jon Rauch then came in for 2 innings and picked up the W.

The Bad Stuff

• Ike Davis's struggles at the plate continued: Ike went 0-4 and is still looking for his first hit of 2012.
• The team's hitting with men on base wasn't as good as it could have been: 2-11 with RISP and 10 men stranded on base.

Final Analysis:
Who are these guys? Written off before the season even began, the Mets are 4-0 for the first time since 2007 and have the best record in the National League. How long will this winning streak last? Only the baseball gods know. But the New York Mets are winning, and they're winning the right way. Let's just enjoy the Amazin' ride.

MM

Game #3: Mets 7, Braves 5

Jonathon Niese carries a no-hitter into the seventh inning Sunday at Citi Field, but his bid for the Mets’ first no-no is broken up by Freddy Freeman in the seventh. (NYDailyNews.com)

The Amazin' broom closet is opening up earlier than it ever has before.

Jon Niese took a no-hit bid into the 7th and Ruben Tejada broke out for 4 hits as the Mets took down the Braves 7-5 to complete the 3-game sweep.

The Good Stuff

• 6 innings into the game and Jon Niese was on pace to do something no Met had done in 7970 games. Then in the 7th, Game 7971 became like every other. No, Jon Niese did not achieve the first no-hitter in Met history, but he did earn the win by allowing 4 runs (2 earned) on 2 hits, walking 4 and striking out 7. He ran out of steam in the 7th, but for those 6 innings he made that contract extension look awfully good.
• On the opposite side of the plate, New York exploded for 7 runs on 11 hits, led by Ruben Tejada, who made up for a previously 0-for-the series with a 4-5, 2 double, 2 run, 2 RBI performance in the leadoff slot.
• Daniel Murphy also had a monster day, slicing out 2 doubles and driving in 2 runs.
• Also making a slash at the plate were: David Wright (1-1, sac fly in the 1st), Jason Bay (1-2, 1 RBI), and Scott Hairston (RBI double).
• The team as a whole also did much better in key hitting situations, going 3-9 with RISP.
• Once Niese made his exit, the Amazin' bullpen took care of business, once again, with Manny Acosta, Tim Byrdak, and Frank Francisco combined to stop Atlanta's offensive surge, with Francisco picking up his third save in 3 days, once again striking out the last Brave to end the game.

The Bad Stuff

• Ike Davis had another rough go of it, going 0-3 with a strikeout. Davis finished the series 0-11 with 5 Ks.
• The Braves would have not gotten as close as they did without Lucas Duda's error in right field in the 7th, which led to 2 unearned Atlanta runs on Niese's record.
• While 7 runs will do any day of the week, it would have been more without a couple baserunning miscues. In the 4th, Jason Bay's bases-loaded sac fly became a double play when David Wright messed up on the way to third. In the 7th, Scott Hairston's line drive to third was knocked down; thinking it was caught, Ike Davis was tossed out at home, and a diving-into-second Bay was forced out at third to end the rally.

Final Analysis
Boy, you couldn't ask for a better opening series than that. Three quality starts from Santana, Dickey, and Niese. Three days of clutch hitting and effective offense. Three days of rock-solid relief from the new-look bullpen. The result was the Mets' first-ever 3-game sweep of a division opponent to begin a season.

It's early, I know, but this team looked awfully good this weekend. If they keep this up, the Mets may have a real shot this year. Why not us, you know?

MM

Game #2: Mets 4, Braves 2

NY Mets right fielder Lucas Duda rounds the bases after his seventh-inning homer at Citi Field Saturday afternoon. (NYDailyNews.com)

Baseball's newest power plant may reside at Citi Field, and the ol' Home Run Apple is getting its work in early into the 2012 campaign.

Lucas Duda slugged 2 home runs and David Wright added another, providing a cushion for R.A. Dickey and giving the Mets a 4-2 win over the Braves.

The Good Stuff

• David Wright picked up where he left of Thursday, drilling a solo homer to right center in the bottom of the 1st. He finished the day 3-5 and would've had a double in the 8th if not for a great defensive play by Juan Francisco at third base. Wright has 5 hits in 8 at-bats so far and is looking great at the plate. He also had back-to-back nice putouts in the 7th.
• Also looking great at the plate was one Lucas Duda. The Big Dude had the first longball of the new Citi Field, a solo jack in the 4th, and he added another on a line drive in the 7th that would've been out everywhere in the majors.
• Also making a splash with their bats were Josh Thole, who went 2-4 and drove in the go-ahead run in the 6th, and Kirk Nieuwenhuis, who went 2-4 in his major league debut.
• All that offense meant smiles after the game for R.A. Dickey, whose 13th consecutive quality start gave him his first W of 2012. The majors' last knuckleballer went 6 innings, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits, walking 4 and striking out 3. His lone mistake was an errant fastball in the 5th to Martin Prado, who turned it into a 2-run homer.
• After Dickey's departure, the revamped Mets bullpen took care of the rest: Bobby Parnell and Jon Rauch were each perfect in the 7th and 8th, and Frank Francisco buckled down to pick up his second save in as many games.

The Bad Stuff

• The only negative on today's game was New York's inability to turn 13 hits into more runs: they hit 1-8 with RISP and stranded 12 men on base.

Final Analysis
Just another solid day at the, *erhem*, "bandbox" that is the new Citi Field. Great hitting + great pitching = win #2 and a happy ending for the 39,526 who came out to Meet the Mets.

MM

Game #1: Mets 1, Braves 0

Johan Santana made his first major league start for the Mets since September 2010. (NYTimes.com)

And then it was back to baseball. Everything else going on in the organization finally took a backseat to the fact that it was Opening Day at Citi Field. And like most Opening Days in Flushing, this one gave the fans a reason to cheer.

David Wright's RBI single in the 6th inning was all the offense Johan Santana and company, as the Mets' ace and four relievers combined to blank the Braves, 1-0, to kick off the team's 50th Anniversary season.

The Good Stuff:

• He won't get it on the stat sheet, but Johan Santana deserves as much credit for this win as anyone. In his first game in 573 days, the 2-time Cy Young winner pitched 5 scoreless innings on 84 pitches, giving up 2 hits, 2 walks, and striking out 5. He got himself into trouble in the 5th, allowing a double and walking the bases loaded, but in true Johan fashion he buckled down and got to the dugout unscathed.
• Anyone who spent last year away from planet Earth and lost track of baseball wouldn't have noticed anything different about Santana: he looked darn near close to the superstar the Amazin's picked up in free agency in 2008. He baffled the Braves out there, at one point retiring 12 Atlanta hitters in a row. He ran out of steam and began missing the plate in the 5th frame, but you can attribute that to the long layoff from regular season action. He'll build up his stamina as the year progresses, but the most important thing right now is that Johan Santana just started Opening Day for the Mets in 2012.
• Not too much in the way of offense today; it was a good, old-fashioned pitchers' duel. New York did break through in the 6th: Andres Torres led off with a walk and went to third on Daniel Murphy's single. Then David Wright, now the definitive face of the franchise, laced a single into left to give his team the lead and eventually the win.
• Wright finished the day 2-3 and walked once. Daniel Murphy and Josh Thole also had good days at the plate, picking up 2 hits apiece.
• With a unit that ranked 28th in baseball last year, Sandy Alderson had to use the limited resources he had this offseason to shore up a creaky bullpen. So far, it's paying dividends. Ramon Ramirez picked up the win after Santana's departure, and he, Tim Byrdak, Jon Rauch, and new closer Frank Francisco combining for 4 innings of shutout ball in relief, with Francisco slamming the door on Jason Heyward in the 9th inning to seal the deal and send 42,080 Met fans home happy.
• But before festivities began on the field, the team paid tribute to a fallen icon with a moving ceremony honoring the late Gary Carter. The team will wear black "KID 8" patches on their sleeves the whole season, and a larger version of the patch was revealed on the new left field wall before the game, right next to the 50th Anniversary emblem. The Mets also kept Carter's #8 jersey in the dugout throughout the game. The Kid may be gone, but his spirit will live on in this New York team.

The Bad Stuff:

• It appears not even the festive atmosphere of Opening Day could keep the injury bug away from the orange and blue. New centerfielder and leadoff man Andres Torres came up lame in the 7th chasing after a Tyler Pastornicky triple and was promptly replaced with Scott Hairston. He was diagnosed with a left calf strain, and a DL stint looks probable. Now one weakness the Mets have to deal with this year is a lack speed. It was no problem last year with Reyes and Beltran, but both those guys are gone. Torres was supposed to make up for some of that lost speed, but now that he's gone there is a real lack of basestealing ability for the NY 9. It also means Ruben Tejada, who was supposed to hit 8th this season, will become a 22-year-old leadoff man in the biggest city in baseball. Remember when I said we'll be watching Tejada grow up this season? He's gonna need a heck of a growth spurt.
• They didn't need it today, but a lack of offense and missed opportunities plagued the Mets this afternoon. The team hit 1-9 with RISP and left 8 men on base. What stands out the most is the combined numbers of Ike Davis and Lucas Duda: the two lefty sluggers combined to go 0-8 with 4 Ks and strand 11 Mets.

Final Analysis:
You won't find many better ways to start your golden anniversary season. Great pitching and clutch hitting from their biggest star allowed the Mets to start the 2012 campaign the way they have 33 times in the last 43 seasons: with a capital W and a 1-0 record. Now THAT'S Opening Day like it oughtta be!

MM

2012 Season Preview: Best and Worst-Case Scenarios

189 days have passed since Miguel Batista's 2-hit shutout gave the Mets a 3-0, season-ending win over the Reds. That was Game 162 in 2011, but tomorrow, a new chapter begins with Game 1 of the 2012 New York Mets season.

With less than 24 hours till the first pitch at Citi Field, it's time to cover the best-and-worst-case scenarios for the Amazin' 50th Anniversary season, followed by the official prediction by Midwestern Met as to how Terry Collins's boys will fare this year.

Let's begin with some optimism.

The Best-Case Scenario
Johan Santana pitches like a former Cy Young winner. The rest of the staff shows improvement over last season. Andres Torres embodies not just the spirit but the physical abilities of Jose Reyes, steals 30 bases and bats .300. Daniel Murphy finally finds a home at second base. Wright, Davis, Bay, and Duda all figure out the new Citi Field and hit 25+ home runs. 22-year-old Ruben Tejada plays like he would at age 25. Bobby Parnell gets it together and becomes closer. Rest of bullpen runs middle of the road instead of the bottom of the barrel. Phillies' walkers give out, team falls and can't get up. Marlins lose their buzz when they realize they still have only 9 fans. Braves' collapse continues into this year. Nationals are good but aren't there yet. Mets win 86 games and grab second Wild Card slot, Johan pitches New York to the playoffs against St. Louis in the play-in game. Oh, and this web site suddenly needs to find a new niche.

The Worst-Case Scenario
Johan Santana pitches like a guy who missed a whole year, struggles to stay on the mound. Through injury and sick luck, Mike Pelfrey becomes de facto ace. Andres Torres embodies the fragility of Jose Reyes, misses 2/3 of the season. Wright and Bay get distracted by the pretty blue walls and hit 15 homers each. Ike's Valley Fever acts up and he has to follow Carlos Beltran's early-2011 plan of sitting every day game. Turns out Parnell's Spring Training ERA was so good because he spent all his good pitches in Florida, he gets rocked like a hurricane. Phillies hire the bad guy from The Incredibles to give them super abilities, win 110 games and the World Series. Marlins gain 4 more fans and the magic of a baker's dozen (if there is such a thing). Braves rebound from last year's collapse and Ted Turner funds Chipper Jones's successful quest for the Fountain of Youth, Larry sticks around to kick our ass for 10 more years. Stephen Strasburg embodies the spirit of Walter Johnson and the future is now for the Nationals. Mets commemorate their lovable 1962 season with a not-so-lovable 100+ loss campaign. No, Mr. Stengel, "can't nobody here play this game." (Please excuse that awful syntax.)

Obviously, none of the above scenarios are very likely. Everything would have to go right for New York to make the playoffs, and everything would have to go wrong to lose 100 games. A little more realistic is this:

Midwestern Met's Prediction for the 2012 New York Mets
Johan, while not up to classic form, is a decent starter and wins 10+ games. R.A. Dickey resumes his role as ace, become a true leader. Pelfrey is closer to 2010 Pelf than 2011 Pelf. David Wright turns in a vintage year with 30 home runs, Ike Davis and Lucas Duda each hit 20+. Jason Bay rebounds a bit to hit 18 longballs. Bobby Parnell becomes more consistent and really does compete for closer. The team plays hard right to the end of the year, making Terry Collins proud. In their golden anniversary season, the New York Mets finish an even 81-81, good for 4th in the NL East, ahead of the Braves and just behind the Nationals. A solid foundation is set in place for the future, and with all that pitching in the pipeline, a bright future is finally within our sights.

Oh, and if this web site goes out of business, R.A. Dickey is the man to do it.

If we can finish .500 and everyone turns in a respectable year, I can live with that. This may not be a World Series year, but hopefully it can be one that reminds us all why we're here, why we root for our boys. And whatever happens, it's still Mets baseball, and we've got six months to enjoy it, starting with Game 1 tomorrow.

Interestingly enough, it turns out that at .640, the Mets have the highest Opening Day winning percentage in MLB history, more than 50 points above the next-highest franchise. Let's hope that's a good omen for tomorrow.

Finally, it just wouldn't be Mets baseball if we didn't begin April by singing that greatest of all baseball fight songs:

We'll see you tomorrow for Game 1 at Citi Field!

MM

Five Mets to Watch in 2012

The 2012 season is merely two days away. So with less than 48 hours till Johan Santana delivers the first pitch to an Atlanta Brave, let's take a look at five Mets to watch during this upcoming season. Keep in mind, these men won't necessarily be the best players on the team in 2012, but they are players who will need to (and can, potentially) make a big impact in the Amazin' effort to stay afloat in the National League.

1. Jon Niese, LHP
At 25 years old, Jon Niese is still on the way up, and as the youngest left-handed starter in the rotation, the Mets will need him to have a breakout year in order to contend. While injury and stamina problems forced him to bow out after just 26 starts in 2011, Jon is healthy and his Beltran-funded new nose should help him to keep energized deep into September.
Sandy Alderson recently gave Niese a long-term deal with options for 2017 and 2018, and ESPN New York's Adam Rubin says the deal is similar to that of Texas southpaw Derek Holland's. Holland, who is the same age as Niese, went 16-5 last year with an ERA under 4.00 and 4 shutouts and is likely to improve this season, so it's a good assumption that Alderson sees the potential for Niese to have those kinds of numbers.
Jon went 11-11 last year with an ERA of 4.40 and 138 Ks in 157.1 innings of work. The ERA is a bit of a concern, but with the Mets' offense being best in the NL East, it wasn't as much of a concern. This year, without Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes, an ERA like that will be a handicap, but you'd be fair to assume Niese will get better as he gets older and stronger. When he's on he's got good stuff, and I think it would be fair to expect an above-.500 season with an ERA around 3.75.
I like Jon Niese's potential, and even Michael Baron of MetsBlog.com sees him as the potential leader of a future staff with Harvey, Wheeler, Familia, and Mejia. For the Mets to have a good 2012, the future will have to be now for Jon Niese.

2. Ruben Tejada, SS
The biggest hole that popped up in the offseason was the departure of Jose Reyes to Miami, a loss that provoked many experts to resign the Mets to the cellar of the NL East. But those experts are forgetting about the man who filled in for Reyes at shortstop multiple times in 2011.
Ruben Tejada played in 96 games, more than half a season, and started 41 of those at shortstop. His hits stats, while obviously a step down from Reyes' batting title-worthy numbers, were still major league-worthy: .284 BA, .360 OBP, 15 doubles. He didn't show much power (.335 SLG), but as the presumed 8th man in the order, he doesn't really need to. What Tejada also showed last year is that he can be Mr. Bases Loaded: multiple times he came through in clutch situations, including towards the end of the season when the Mets nearly ruined the Cardinals' playoff chances.
But here's the biggest upside Ruben Tejada has to offer: he did all those things last year as a 21-year-old. The man is just a couple years older than I am, and here he is as a starting shortstop in the big leagues. Remember last year when experts were talking about the travesty of the Mets unloading Reyes, who at age 27/28 was just about to enter his prime? Tejada still have 5-6 years before he gets to that prime. Which means he'll have 5-6 more years of experience as a starting shortstop in the big leagues before he reaches his full potential. He was good at age 21 last year, he could be very good at age 22 this year, and in a few years he could be great. We've got the chance to watch a potential All-Star develop right before our eyes, and that development will continue in 2012.

3. Andres Torres, CF
With Reyes, Beltran, and Angel Pagan gone, newly-acquired centerfielder Andres Torres will become basically New York's only source of speed in 2012. His 162 game average is 23 stolen bases, so you know he has some speed and can provide in the leadoff position.
Torres's problem is durability: he's never played a full season and only suited up for 112 games for San Francisco in 2011, and at age 34, you'd be fair to assume he's breaking down further. His batting average last year was also a very pedestrian .221 (with an OBP of only .312). What Torres does offer is leadership: he became a clubhouse leader when the Giants won the World Series in 2010, and he was a fan favorite by the Bay. Beltran was a leader last year and Reyes provided a spark, but both are gone, and Pagan never really felt comfortable as a leader or in the leadoff position.
Even though Pagan is younger, I applaud Alderson for making this move; sometimes intangibles play more into the equation than stats. If Torres can stay healthy and find a balance between his 2010 and 2011 campaigns (hopefully leaning towards '10), he will be able to help the Mets in 2012.

4. Bobby Parnell, RHP
At age 27, Bobby Parnell is about to enter his prime. He's had a fabulous Spring Training, in part thanks to the mentoring skills of Jason Isringhausen and the great Sandy Koufax. While Terry Collins has come out and said Parnell's role will remain in the bullpen, he has not specified what that role will be.
Parnell has always had good stuff (64 Ks in 59.1 innings in 2011); his biggest issue has been control and nerves (his ERA ballooned last year after he collapsed in the closer's role). Despite those fragile nerves, I still want to believe Parnell has the potential to be a finisher. When he's on, his 100 mph fastball is darn near unhittable. You would assume time with Izzy and Koufax has made him more mature, and if new closer Frank Francisco's pains are any indication, Bobby will probably get another audition sometime early this season. If the Mets are going to raise some eyebrows in 2012, Parnell will have to become the face of an as-of-now faceless bullpen, and I think he will be up to the challenge.

5. Justin Turner, INF
Although not a starter, Justin Turner will likely play an important role this year. He can play every infield position, so if someone goes down, he'll be the next man up. You could also see him as the primary defensive substitute when the team has a big lead (I'm thinking second base would be the primary concern; Daniel Murphy, bless his heart, never seems to look right in the field).
But Turner could help with his bat as well: he had a breakout year at age 26 last year and even won Rookie of the Month in May. His batting averaged dipped in the second half and ended up at a pedestrian .260, but Justin has a knack for coming up with big hits at big moments in the game. His 30 doubles also tied for second on the team, one below Reyes.
He won't get the fanfare that other players will, but Le Grand Orange Jr. will play an important role for the Mets in 2012.

There are other more obvious choices (Santana, Wright, Davis, Duda, etc.), but at this point it's common knowledge that those guys will have to play a big role for the Amazin's this season. These five players are ones that, should they have big years, will help propel the team to relevancy. If these five Mets have career seasons in 2012, there could be some excitement at Citi Field come September.

Check back tomorrow for Midwestern Met's final preseason post: Season Expectations.

MM

Offseason and Spring Training Recap

With opening day three days away, it's as good a time as any to catch up on the last six months in Met land. Here now is some of the Good Stuff and Bad Stuff that happened over New York's offseason and Spring Training.

The Bad Stuff

• Clearly, the worst part of the winter was the reappearance of a very familiar (albeit shorter-haired), agile, oft-injured shortstop in a Miami Marlins' uniform. Let's leave it at that.
• With the financial strains of the front office still in effect, Sandy Alderson wasn't able to go out and make any major splashes in the free agent market. While he made a few key acquisitions (see Good Stuff below), there wasn't anything headline-grabbing like picking up Jason Bay was.
• Speaking of Mr. Letdown, it appears the optimism of last September has all but evaporated in the warm air of Port St. Lucie. Bay is hitting under the Mendoza line with no RBIs this Spring Training, and the situation is so volatile that he could be platooned for by May. You feel that this keeps happening, but I'm almost at my final straw on Bay as well. Halfway through his contract, he's got a $3 million buyout next year based on plate appearances; if he hits in the low .250s again, I'd say you'd almost have to look at keeping him under that PA threshold.
• As was the issue that sunk the team last August and September, the injuries piled up this March, the most recent coming to new closer Frank Francisco, who will have an MRI on his left knee today. Hey, it's better to get all the dent and dings out of the way before the actual season starts, but the team's brittleness this spring keep reminding fans just how fragile they are: a couple key injuries, and they really could be looking at the cellar of the NL East.
• But nothing puzzles and concerns the Amazin's more than the blindside diagnosis of Ike Davis with Valley Fever. It's still difficult to pinpoint how it'll affect him: it could be nothing, it could be something that plagues him throughout the whole season. If it does, perhaps Mr. Unspeakable Owner was right about his team being snakebitten.

Well. That seems like a lot of Bad Stuff. You'd think you could keep digging under that Bad Stuff and never find any Good. But if you dig deep enough, there's always a diamond in the rough.

The Good Stuff

• For one thing, Mets fans now have the phrase "Access to Mr. Met" in their lexicon. I dare you to find me a phrase more fun to think about than that.
• While Sandy Alderson wasn't able to make any huge acquisitions, he was still able to shore up the bullpen by adding the aforementioned Francisco, as well as Jon Rauch and Ramon Ramirez. Let's face it: the Mets' bullpen ranked 28th out of 30 last season. Pretty much anything would make it better than that. Sandy was also able to unload Angel Pagan and get speedster and vocal leader Andres Torres for centerfield and the leadoff spot. If he stays healthy, he'll be an asset.
• Speaking of the bullpen, fireballer Bobby Parnell appears to be back on track and can now throw a curveball, thanks to the guidance of Jason Isringhausen and the legendary Sandy Koufax. I still have high hopes for Parnell: the guy can reach 100 and if he stays locked in can really mow them down. The closer audition unnerved him last year, but he appears to have that behind him. It also appears he could be making a transition soon: should there be any problems with Johan Santana, Parnell appears to be the frontrunner to get his position in the rotation.
• But it appears Santana's problems are all but behind him. He's had a crackerjack spring and made progress no one thought he would. So much progress, in fact, that Terry Collins named him Opening Day starter. If the Mets are going to have any chance of contending this year, he's got to be solid, as does the rest of the rotation.
• Staying on the rotation for a human interest story, R.A. Dickey has had quite the offseason. In January, he climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise awareness for human trafficking in Mumbai, India. He also wrote an autobiography, Wherever I Wind Up: My Quest for Truth, Authenticity, and the Perfect Knuckleball, which came out last week. There's some pretty heavy stuff in it, but I'm sure Met fans will appreciate him even more for opening up like that. It's definitely on my summer reading list.
• This could go in Good and Bad: our bonehead owners settled with Irving Picard for $162 million. Bad because they'll still be our owners for the foreseeable future (unless Magic Johnson has another $1.5 billion to burn), but Good because the distraction that was brought to the organization since Madoff's arrest in December 2008 may finally be over. We'll put this in good because with the circus that's been surrounding Citi Field may finally be packing up and heading to...
• ...the Meadowlands. Speaking of circuses: Tim Tebow, 'nough said. This has literally nothing to do with baseball, but it does mean that the Jets are now officially the most dysfunctional team in the New York metro area. We've got our problems, but it appears we are no longer the Bluth Family of the Big Apple.
• Finally, while the expectations for the 2012 Mets are, to put it lightly, not very high, the core of guys from that 2011 team are still around, and Terry Collins is still the manager, so you know this team won't quit. First place or last, you'll still see an honest effort from the 25 guys in the dugout. And in the end, isn't that what Mets baseball should be about?

So there's six months all rolled into one convenient post. Check back tomorrow as I shine a spotlight on a handful of players to watch in 2012.

MM

MM's 2012 Awakening: Hope Springs Eternal

It's been a long winter, one filled with departures, welcomings, injuries, and litigation. But in a few days, it will all be behind us, and the 50th Anniversary season of New York Mets baseball will be underway. And out of hibernation comes a beacon of Amazin' orange and blue in a sea of Cubs, Reds, and Tigers.

Welcome back to Midwestern Met. A strenuous academic schedule at Hope College in Holland, MI has kept me from writing over the off-season, but luckily I'm not the only source you have! (And if I am...I suggest you take another look at that "Internet for Dummies" book.) But with the season kicking off with Game 1 against Atlanta on Thursday, this blog is officially re-opening to bring you Amazin' Analysis from 760 Miles Away.

Like last year, I'll be bringing you game recaps and analysis from a a somewhat serious, somewhat humorous tone, in which I'll be panning through (I'm guessing a LOT of) the bad to find you nuggets of good. After all, everyone needs some hope. That's what I'm here for, and being so far away from the loudness of negativity in the Big Apple will help.

So dust off the glove, grab a drink, grab a seat, and get ready for another season of New York Mets baseball. It's about time.

MM

Reyes to Marlins: Post Mortem

Much like the team this blog covers, Midwestern Met has been largely dormant since the start of the offseason. Since Game 162, we've seen a few free agents leave Flushing Meadows for greener grass: Nick Evans, Chris Capuano, you will be missed. But tonight, as their struggling franchise watched from the dugout, Mets fans experienced something they knew was all but inevitable.

If you're reading this, you know by now: with a 6-year hook of at least $102 million, the Miami Marlins fished Jose Reyes away from New York.

The Bad Stuff:

• File this one under "Duh": the Mets lost their prized shortstop...to the Marlins. I won't paint this one over: it hurts to lose a free agent; it hurts worse to lose him to a team that's been near the bottom of the payroll rankings for the better part of their existence. Not to mention a division rival; if Met fans are disappointed now they'll go nuts when Jose slashes a triple into the right corner of Citi Field next year and shoots across the base paths in Miami's rainbow colors. Ever since that first report that the Fish were interested about a month ago, I've been saying to myself: Not the Marlins. Anyone but the Marlins. Well...sorry, month-ago-self.
• Building off how low-budget the Marlins typically are, the loss of Reyes even further cements how bad a shape the Amazin' front office is in. "Bleeding cash?" Yep. For a big-market team to lose a home-grown superstar to a smaller market...has it ever happened before? There have been signs of it throughout the last few years, but being unable to resign Jose is perhaps the first major casualty of the post-Madoff era.

I could belabor the point, but by now I'm sick of thinking about it as you are. But you know what they say: one door closes, another door opens. In this case, one door slams shut right in your face, busts up your nose, and gives you a concussion on the way down, but another door opens, complete with tissues for your bloody nose and a pillow and CAT scan (thankfully, one not run by Mets' team doctors).

The Good Stuff:

• Thanks to Jerry Seinfeld, there is at least one Jose Reyes still in New York.
• I saw a few tweets in this regard earlier tonight: "it's the beginning of the Ruben Tejada era." Yes, I realize these were of a sarcastic nature. I'm not that guy. But Ruben Tejada proved in 2011 that he can be a very good everyday shortstop. In the final 42 games of the season, Tejada hit .327 with an OPS of .802. He's a smart ballplayer who understands the game, he can hit in the clutch, as evidenced earlier this year when he became "Mr. Bases Loaded," and barely into his 20s (he just turned 22 in late October), he's still got a long way to go before he maxes out. Sure, there's gonna be a dropoff from Reyes to Tejada. But I believe in the upside of Ruben Tejada, and I believe he will make a fine shortstop for the New York Mets of tomorrow.
• Speaking of tomorrow, there's still the matter of free agent season. Now that Jose is gone, Sandy Alderson has a lot more money to spend elsewhere. Instead of committing it to one guy, he can spread it out and try to fix the other gaping holes in the Met lineup: the bullpen obviously needs the most help, and catcher and center field could use touch-ups. The team will also need a new leadoff hitter; as good as Tejada can be, he'll never be lightning fast enough to bat first. Point is, instead of locking up Reyes and trying to do the best with whatever was left, now Alderson can address the team's other more glaring problems.

Final Analysis:
As my friend and fellow blogger JB said in his post on JBMets, you really can't blame Jose for choosing to sign with Miami. It was a choice between staying in New York for less money or going to a re-branded franchise with a new stadium and high hopes for the future (they've already locked up Heath Bell and are still planning to go after Albert Pujols). Plus, Miami is much closer to his home in the Dominican Republic, has a high-proportion Spanish-speaking population (not that New York was ever Brookston, Indiana), and gives Jose those intangibles he values so much, like the hot nightlife and a chance to advance his music career. Loyalty can only get you so far, and the rest of the Mets' offer just didn't stack up to what Jose could get in Miami, which is why he decided to take his talents to South Beach (just be glad he didn't go LeBron on us with his Decision...one more reason why New York beats Cleveland at everything).

It will be rough watching him step up to the plate in a Fish cap, but I still wish Jose Reyes the best. He gave us thrills for nine years, he'll give similar thrills to Marlins fans...all nine of them.

As for Reyes' former team, it's time to move on. Yes, Jose is gone, but David Wright is still here. So is Ike Davis. And Johan Santana. And Lucas Duda. And R.A. Dickey, and Daniel Murphy, and Ruben Tejada. And yes, even Jason Bay. Part of the beauty of baseball is that it is a team sport: no one man makes or breaks it. The Mets may have lost their sparkplug tonight, but that only means that one more roster spot has opened up. The only question is who will step up and fill it.

MM