What a loss. We get good starting pitching again, and the pen blows it. Johan recovered nicely from his rough first inning, got through 7 without giving up any other runs, and then the Putz walks the first two he faces and costs the Mets the game. What a shame. Checking facebook after the game, I saw that one Mets fan is going to start rooting for the Phillies, and one has given up completely. I know it’s early in the season, but it’s hard not to share those feelings. Since Adam Wainright dropped in the dirtiest curve ball anyone has ever seen to end Game 7 of the NLCS in 2006, it’s been heartbreak after heartbreak watching this team. It’s been awful. When someone who’s not a fan tries to understand how you can be so upset 21 games into the season, they can’t get it. I recently had an English friend asking how it could matter so much this early into the season, and he’s partly right. This is a marathon and not a sprint. That’s not the point. As a die-hard fan that’s spent the previous two season finales watching the Mets blow the game and miss the playoffs by that one game they needed to win, I know that every win counts. Even in April. You freaking Putz.
As much as Putz will take full credit for the loss, the truth is the lineup had two shots to bail him out in the bottom half of the 8th and 9th. In the bottom of the 8th with the go ahead run on 2nd and 2 outs, Alex Cora grounded out to the 2nd baseman. In the bottom of the 9th, Sheffield and Beltran walked to start the inning, Wright went down looking (yet again… at what point do you just try and get him to lay a bunt down in a clutch situation?), and Church grounded out moving the runners over. Fernando Tatis was hit by a pitch only because Matt Lidstrom didn’t feel like throwing four intentional balls to load the bases. Then in a move which reinforces the fact that Ramon Castro has probably lost his job as back up catcher when Brian Schneider comes back, Jerry Manuel pinch hit for Castro with Omir Santos. I would be lying if I said I didn’t think about pinch hitting for Castro before he got to the plate. He hasn’t hit well all season, and his bat looks particularly slow. Not a recipe for success against Lidstrom’s blazing fastball. Santos popped out to 2nd, leaving the go ahead run a single away for the 2nd straight inning.
Sure it seems like the pitching is a problem, but it’s not the only problem. The lack of hitting with runners in scoring position has been the problem since the 2006 Playoffs. It’s something that needs to be addressed immediately. Good thing Manny isn’t on the team. He’s not a very good hitter.
