Mets Post Game: Mets 8, Astros 2

Box Score

3 Standout Performances:

  1. R.A. Dickey had the best day on the mound as a Met so far this spring. He gave up 1 hit over 6 1/3 innings, walked 3, and struck out 4. He did not allow a hit until the 6th inning of play. 
  2. Ruben Tejada hit a long homer today. 
  3. Omar Quintanilla hit a 3 run double to put this game out of reach. 

I was watching Tejada hitting balls in BP last week and he was killing the ball. He was hitting balls like the homer he hit all through his BP session. He is much stronger than he was last year. 

R.A. Dickey was sensational today. There is no other way to put it. Simply sensational. He could have gone 9 if this was a regular season game. 

Vinny Rottino has caught fire these last few days. He could be a good back up player in triple A in case someone goes down. 

Grade for the Game: A

Mets Post Game: Brewers 6, Mets 1

Box Score

3 Standout Performances:

  1. Angel Pagan went 3 for 4 tonight.
  2. Ruben Tejada went 2 for 3.
  3. Mike Pelfrey gave up 3 earned runs in 5 innings of work. He walked 4 and struck out 4.

I am tired of Mike Pelfrey…he has no out pitch. He has a great sinker/fastball but all of his other pitches are crap. I don’t know if he can be good again.

Tejada and Pagan hit well tonight…so that’s a good thing.

Oh and by the way, what Fielder did was ridiculous. Don’t charge Byrdak.

That felt WAY longer than the west coast games that we played earlier.

Grade for the Game: D

The Mets have a Shortstop Issue

Who would have thought with Reyes playing how he is this season, I would have to write an article called, “The Mets have a Shortstop Issue.” The only thing is, I was in shock that Nick Evans was called up when Reyes was put on the DL. The Mets only have 1 shortstop on the Roster, Tejada. I was ok with that when it was just a few days that Reyes would be out, but now when he needs 3 weeks to be healed, there is a problem. Don’t get me wrong, Tejada is a great player but, he also has to play every single game at short until Reyes comes back and if he is injured, they have no replacement. The logical emergency shortstops are Turner, Harris, and Murphy. Turner, I believe, is way too big  and slow to be a shortstop, Harris can play 3rd but he is an outfielder by trade, and Murphy can barely play 3rd, 2nd, and 1st so a position that he has never played before is out of the picture. I am worried with Tejada playing out there every day and personally, I think the Mets need to send Evans down, and get someone who can play short, offense is not an issue here, just defensive backup.

Mets Post Game: Dodgers 6, Mets 0

Box Score

3 Standout Performances:

  1. Dillon Gee went 5 2/3 innings and let up 5 hits, 6 runs (5 earned), 1 walk, and 2 strikeouts.
  2. Ruben Tejada went 1 for 2 with 2 walks and his first stolen base of the season.
  3. Daniel Murphy had 2 hits.

Dillon Gee had control issues tonight. He didn’t have anything with the walks, but he threw 4 wild pitches tonight. I would be shocked if he had thrown 4 all year. His curveball looked like he could not control it. Good work though 5 today though, everything fell apart in the 6th inning.

Ruben Tejada did a real gutsy thing today and stole third down 6 with 2 outs. He made it safely, but you can’t steal 3rd down by 6. You never want to make the first or third out of an inning at third base. It is something he has to learn and I’m sure TC will talk to him about it.

Murphy has been a hits machine since he has had a full time starting job. I really like what he has done this year.

Grade for the Game: D+

Mets Post Game: Mets 5, Dodgers 3

Box Score

3 Standout Performances:

  1. Jon Niese pitched 7 strong innings letting up 3 runs on 5 hits and striking out 6 Dodgers. He only walked 1 on the night.
  2. Ruben Tejada hit a 2 run double off Kuroda which proved to be the winning run for the Mets.
  3. Lucas Duda had 2 hits including an RBI double.

Jon Niese was great tonight. He kept hitters off balance with his curve and cutter and was impeccable with his control. He is a great left handed pitcher.

Carlos Beltran is now the NL leader in doubles. One of my good friends who is a Phillies fan was arguing that Victorino deserved it more than Beltran. That one stat proves Beltran is an all-star.

Bobby Parnell has some of the dirtiest stuff in the national league. He throws 100MPH fastballs and throws a slider at 90-92 with great movement. If he gains control over all of his pitches, he can be a dominant reliever.

If Ruben Tejada can hit at all in the big leagues, he will be a great everyday starter.

Grade for the Game: B+

Mets Post Game: Pirates 3, Mets 1

By the Numbers:

  • Mike Pelfrey went 7 innings, let up 4 hits, 2 runs, 0 walks, and 6 strikeouts.
  • Jose Reyes was hitless with a sac fly.
  • Daniel Murphy had 2 hits and is now hitting .305 on the year.
  • Tejada and Duda had a hit each.
  • Byrdak walked in the 3rd run with the bases loaded.

Mike Pelfrey was so good tonight, he retired 21 of his final 22 batters after giving up 3 hits to the first 3 batters of the game. He really settled down only giving up 1 homer to Brandon Wood.

Jose Reyes was robbed of a hit on his Sac fly, Duda ran the Mets out of the inning as he was doubled off first.This stopped the rally the Mets had going only resulting in 1 run for the inning.

Daniel Murphy just keeps hitting, and hitting, and hitting.

Tejada got another hit and made another great defensive play tonight, he is really playing well for the team.

Grade for the Game: B-

Mets Post Game: Pirates 3, Mets 2

By the Numbers:

  • Dickey started and threw a complete game loss giving up 3 runs on 8 hits. He walked 2 and struck out 4.
  • Jose Reyes had ANOTHER multi-hit game as did Ruben Tejada.
  • Beltran and Murphy had RBI hits.
  • Lucas Duda hit a double.
  • Bay and Paulino had a hit each.

Dickey did not deserve the loss that he got tonight. He gave the bullpen a night off and really only deserved to give up 1 earned run. His year ERA is now below 4.

Jose Reyes gets multi-hit games every night it seems.

Bay actually got a hit! He is really messed up right now though.

Lucas Duda only had 1 hit, but he is killing the ball since his re-call.

I am now a believer in the hitter that Ruben Tejada can be. Really doing a good job for this team.

Grade for the Game: B

Mets Post Game: Mets 4, Brewers 1

By the Numbers:

  • Jon Niese started and went 7 2/3 innings letting up 3 hits, 1 run, 4 walks, and 8 strikeouts.
  • Ruben Tejada had 2 hits including an RBI single.
  • Angel Pagan had 2 hits, an RBI single and a Triple.
  • Beltran and Turner had 2 hits each.
  • Murphy and Pridie had a hit and RBI each.
  • K-Rod got a 4 out save, striking out 2.

Jon Niese was great tonight tying his career high in strikeouts, working efficiently, and getting out of jams. His only problem was the 4 walks tonight and the RBI double by Fielder. He threw a career high in curveballs which was the key to his success tonight.

It’s kinda funny that Jose Reyes was the only hitless Met position player tonight.

The Mets are winning during this power outage because of key hitting, stealing bases, and their starting pitching. Entering the game since May 20th the Mets are 1st in batting average and 3rd in average with RISP. Homers mean nothing, runs do.

Ruben Tejada looks like a different hitter from last year, he is no longer overmatched at the plate and is showing that he could take the starting 2nd base spot when Wright and Ike return.

The Mets took 2 of 3 from the team with the best home record in baseball…now that is a statement.

Grade for the Game: B+

Mets Post Game: Pirates 9, Mets 3

By the Numbers:

  • Chris Capuano went 6+ innings, let up 8 hits, 5 runs, 1 walk, and 2 strikeouts.
  • Justin Turner hit a homer tonight, that is bigger than it sounds.
  • Ruben Tejada had 2 hits and 2 RBIs.
  • Beltran and Murphy each had 2 hits also.
  • Beato let up 3 runs in one inning while Dale Thayer had a scoreless outing.

Chris Capuano pitched SO much better than  his line. Once again he had a shutout through 6 innings and then just fell apart in the 7th.

Justin Turner’s homer ended a 10 game drought for the Mets today If you think about it they is at least 97 homerless innings.

Ruben Tejada has produced so well offensively for him, he has been great all year.

The Mets are just going through one blow up inning per game. It was the 7th and 8th tonight. Our bullpen just flat out sucks lately. They need to get their act back together.

Grade for the Game: C

Mets Post Game: Phillies 6, Mets 4

The Numbers:

  • Chris Capuano went 6 great innings, gave up 4 hits, 2 runs (1 earned), 1 walk, and 8 strikeouts.
  • Justin Turner went 4 for 5 with an RBI.
  • Reyes, Beltran, and Paulino had 2 hits each.
  • Angel Pagan made his return tonight and had a 2 hit game.
  • Izzy gave up a run in the 8th and K-Rod gave up 3 in the 9th.
  • Ruben Tejada went 0 f0r 3 with  16 pitch walk.

Capuano was spectacular again tonight holding the Phillies to 1 earned run while striking out 8 men in just 6 innings. He only threw 77 pitches but was pinch hit for in the middle of a rally.

The at-bat by Tejada was amazing. 16 pitches and drawing the walk is just the type of pesky hitter that he needs to be. I am very happy with his production so far.

The Mets made some amazing diving catches in the outfield today, but also botched a few balls. One was an error by Beltran and one was a ball that Murphy should have caught at first, but it got by him.

Justin Turner is a great hitter so far. I don’t know how you can take both him and Tejada out of the lineup once Wright returns. That is going to be a tough choice to make.

Angel Pagan looked like the man from 2010 today getting 2 hits in 4 at-bats. He needs to be back to that form for this team to be succesful.

Grade for the Game: B