Game #46 vs. Phillies
Next up are the Mets’ real rivals, the Philadelphia Phillies, who lead then by five games in the National League East.
The Mets are feeling better about themselves these days. Can you imagine how good they’ll feel if they swept?
Because Boston knuckleballer Tim Wakefield baffled the Phillies Saturday, the Mets are hoping the same will happen tonight behind R.A. Dickey.
“When you haven’t seen it, basically what we were doing was popping it up,’’ Phillies manager Charlie Manuel. “It wasn’t like we were striking out a lot, we were popping balls in the air, and at times, we weren’t very aggressive with it.’’
Well, now that the Phillies have seen the knuckleball, it makes one wonder if they might adopt a different approach with Dickey, who says Wakefield shouldn’t have much of a bearing on his start.
“I don’t think it has much to do with my outing,’’ said Dickey, who is taking John Maine’s spot in the rotation. “It’s good that he threw a shutout instead of giving up 15, I’ll tell you that.’’
Dickey planned to talk with Wakefield prior to this start. Dickey is coming off a no-decision last Wednesday against the Nationals in which he gave up two runs on six hits in six innings.
The Mets are hoping to feed off the good feelings generated from Johan Santana’s strong start Sunday night against the Yankees.
“You see the atmosphere around here,’’ Santana said. “Everybody’s happy. Everybody’s excited.’’
They might be happy now, but Jamie Moyer has put a damper on them before. The Phillies have won 13 of their last 16 games against the Mets, and have won six of their last eight in games started by Moyer.
NOTEBOOK: Jason Bay is sizzling, going 10-for-15 – including two homers – with eight runs scored in his last four games. … David Wright is 21-for-50 (.420) with four homers lifetime vs. Moyer. However, he has 32 strikeouts since May 3. … Luis Castillo was back in the line-up at second.
Jerry Manuel said again today Jenrry Mejia would stay in the bullpen. Agree? Disagree? Post your comments here and vote in our poll. Thanks.-JD
FIRST INNING: 1-2-3 for Dickey in the first. It seems as if he’s keeping the knuckler down.-JD
didnt we just have a poll on this? I know we had a discussion. I dont see them changing anything now. they will send him to winter ball. Big series for the mets. if there can be one before memorial day.
FIRST INNING: Always like it when Reyes hits the ball on the ground. He’s a much better hitter that way.-JD
Ray (3): Let’s put it this way, if the Mets get swept it could put them in a deep hole they might never climb out of. I think this is a fairly important series.-JD
SECOND INNING: Free-agent-to-be Werth. Love to see this guy here next year. But, they’ll have to go after pitching first,-JD
Phillies appear to have figured out Dickey. Shorten your swing and go up the middle and to the opposite field.-JD
Bases loaded, no outs and he gets out of it without a run scoring. Could be a significant moment in this game.-JD
dickey gets the dp and out of the inning unscathed. Delcos where did all of your posters go? its getting mighty lonely around here.
Ray (9): You’re here. They’ll be around.-JD
lets hope. did you see the report that omar is telling people he has no money to spend to upgrade the team?
Ray (11): That’s contrary to what they’ve been saying. It sure would hurt around the trade deadline.-JD
THIRD INNING: He missed that call. If it were tipped Victorino wouldn’t have moved toward to first.-JD
Ray (11): If the Mets hang around, they have to be buyers at the trade deadline. It would be shameful after not doing anything over the winter to not do anything during the season when they have the chance.-JD
FOURTH INNING: Wright’s pop-up drops. You take you breaks where you can. That’s what the Mets have done lately.-JD
Three manufactured runs. Love to see that in an offense.-JD
luv it that jose is bunting and running again.
on Mejia
I want him in the minors learning to pitch.
I dont see that happening. I see him being traded this year to save the jobs of the incompetent.
he is pitching well, but we need starters and he should have been down with a target of 11 or 12.
so i guess bay is starting to hit.
and run…
dave (17): Two hits, two steals and two runs scored. Sounds like a good leadoff hitter to me.-JD
dave (18): I don’t see the Mets dealing him. They might not be using him properly, but he has been productive in a role the Mets need.-JD
i think ill call him and david gets under another one.
yes he has.
but i see them dealing to save their jobs. who are you gonna deal? fmart – the i am always on the dl prospect – or a prospect that everyone luvs who actually plays?
what happened with straw?
dave (23): Mejia has too much potential to deal, unless you get an All-Star name in return.-JD
yeah
i agree. but would you be surprised if they dealt him this year? all star or not?
I wouldnt
Strawberry visited the Mets’ clubhouse and was a little too forceful in his encouragement.-JD
dave (26): Yeah, I’d be surprised.-JD
nice play ike
thanks john
what happened to ray?
ill have to leave soon.
nice pitch
while we are here.
what would you do about this 100 pitch count, out by the 6th, blow out the pen structure that is modern baseball?
SIXTH INNING: Six scoreless innings from Dickey. That’s more than I expected. Probably more than anybody expected.-JD
dave (33): I don’t know. What I do know, is that it won’t change. Pitch counts are here to stay. Only a select few will throw significantly more than 100. … One thing I can think of is a roster expansion of another pitcher.-JD
when does taki pitch again?
dave (36): Tomorrow.-JD
is one more pitcher enough? i dont think so. also most of these guys suck anyway. that is why they are in the pen.
the starters too.
i dont know if it is a fair comparison or not, but in the 80′s el sid was the 4 or 5 guy. he would be a one or two today.
off the plate too
john(37)
good. looking forward to see if he can really pitch for us.
dave (38): It was a different time, and it wasn’t all that long ago, either. … The owners probably wouldn’t go for it because of the extra major league salary.-JD
he just chucked that up there
have to shut down the computer
its getting hot
night
SEVENTH INNING: Not a good start by Valdes. Interesting point was made that because of his five-inning relief job of Maine he might not have had his normal throwing routine. …. You know this score won’t stand.-JD
Sweet play by Wright to save a couple of runs.-JD
EIGHTH INNING: They are talking about Beltran returning as if it is an imminent thing.-JD
I just wanted to say how mad I am about them letting Figueroa go. I’ll never forgive them.
Not the most exciting, but this might be the Mets’ most complete game of the season.-JD
No strikeouts tonight.
Tiffany (49): Best situational hitting game this year.-JD
Think about when Valdes struck out Utley and Howard with runners on second and third and no outs — and then think of those back-to-back flyballs from Barajas and Frenchy to plate a run. The strikeouts do matter.
Tiffany (51): You are absolutely right. Strikeouts do matter. They are wasted outs. The Mets scored their first four runs when they had a runner on third with less than two outs and got him home. … Strikeouts drive me crazy.-JD
Also, the Phillies stranded 13 runners, in large part because they struck out 11 times.-JD
A QUICK WRAP/Game #46
FINAL: Mets 8, Phillies 0.
RECORD: 23-23.
THUMBNAIL ANALYSIS: In easily their most flawless game of the season, the Mets’ situational hitting was exceptional and there were no errors by the defense. The fundamentally efficient offense supported knuckleballer R.A. Dickey.
ON THE MOUND: Dickey escaped two bases loaded jams. He gave up seven hits and three walks in six scoreless innings. … Raul Valdes struck out Chase Utley and Ryan Howard with two runners in scoring position.
AT THE PLATE: Jeff Francoeur drove in two runs with a single and sacrifice fly. … Jose Reyes scored three runs. … For the fourth time in five games Reyes had at least two hits, and also stole two bases. … Chris Carter delivered a pinch-hit RBI single. … Valdes doubled home a run.
IN THE FIELD: David Wright made a diving stop of a Jayson Werth grounder to save two runs and end the seventh.
LOOKING AHEAD: Hisanori Takahashi makes his second start tomorrow.-JD
heard 7th inning on while driving through the mountain. Sounds like we have a great game. people are starting to wake up from the bad dream.