Dick, E.

In my opinion, that sucked.

The Mets offense had plenty of chances today to put Jair Jurrjens away. After Ike’s HR in the 2^nd inning, the Mets had 1^st and 2^nd with 0 outs and couldn’t score. After Wright’s RBI double in the 3^rd inning, he got thrown out trying to score on Ike’s single. After Wright’s RBI single in the 5^th, the Mets had runners on the corners with 0 outs and couldn’t score. After Kirk’s RBI single in the 6^th, the Mets had two on with Murph and Wright coming up and couldn’t do anything. Two guys got thrown out at home. 

So frustrating. I haven’t hated Tim Teufel this much since Game 1 of the ’86 WS. I’ve been bitching about the LOB number since Opening Day. Bay left 3 on today, Duda 4, the team itself left 11 on base.  You have to find a way to get those runners home.

And not that it mattered because every time the Mets scored, the Braves not only answered but DOUBLED what the Mets scored that inning. If the Mets scored once, the Braves put up two runs. If the Mets scored twice, the Braves put up a 4-spot.

As for Dickey, his knuckler didn’t have it today and that’s the problem with a pitch like that. When it’s on, it’s nearly unhittable. When it’s off, the batters tee off.

And from a fantasy standpoint, if the Braves were going to win, why could Jurrjens stick around for the W?

Oh - and fucknut Bay made another error. So there's that.

This was a winnable game and a really frustrating one to lose.

Fuck.

Game 12: Braves 14, Mets 6

Mets 2012 record: 7-5

One of These Nights

Yup. One of these nights in Atlanta tonight.

Not much to say when Johan Santana had the shortest start of his career and only got four outs.

I was going to mention something about the Mets starting pitching being pretty solid before tonight. Dating back to Santana's start against the Boner, the Mets' starters turned in five solid starts in a row before the wheels came off tonight.

Anyway, not much you can do about tonight. Just come back tomorrow and take the series.

On a side note, the Mets are going to honor Jose Reyes during his return to NY next week. I'm OK with it, to a degree. After all, he did leave for a division rival in the prime of his career (and in a way I wasn't crazy about), so it's not like Piazza coming back with the Padres or something like that. But he was an exciting player when healthy and spent 9 years in blue & orange, so that's what matters. It's not like he was a division rival on his farewell tour...

Game 11: Braves 9, Mets 3

Mets 2012 record: 7-4

Oh Em GEE!

This was one of the rare Mets wins where I don't know what made me the happiest.


Let's start with Ike Davis. That's two HRs in consecutive days. My fantasy team thanks you.


Dillon Gee handcuffed a very solid Braves offense. Seven innings, one runs, four hits, one walk, and five strikeouts. Not bad for your 5th starter. And I fucking LOVE that goatee.


And let's end with Jason Bay. I know he won't be the hitter he was in Pittsburgh and Boston but if he can be even HALF of what he was there, I'll take it. That's two HRs in the span of four games... and a really nice catch to boot.


BTW, that's four in a row against the Braves.  Bitches.


Game 10: Mets 6, Braves 1

Mets 2012 record: 7-3

Two Out of Three Ain't Bad

Well... at least Ike showed up.  That's about all I have to say about today's game.

Shitty defense + shitty bullpen = bad combo. Both showed up today and you're just not gonna win any games by giving the other teams extra outs. 

Pelfrey looked decent, you just never know what you're going to get from him.  Outside of Ike's HR, no one was touching Hamels today. He looked really sharp...for a fuckstick, I mean.

A sweep would have been nice but I'll take 2 of 3.

Game 9: Phillies 8, Mets 2

Mets 2012 record: 6-3

Niese Game, Pretty Boy

Wow.

What else can you say about today's game? Just when you thought David Wright was DL-bound, he returns the lineup in a major way. He went 3-5 including a first pitch HR in the first inning.

The rest was left up to my twin, Jon Niese. Fresh off his dominating start against the Braves, Niese handcuffed the Phillies today. 102 pitches (still a little high for not getting out of the 7th), 5 singles, no runs, 1 walk, 5 Ks. Yes, the Phillies look absolutely awful without Utley and Howard but that line in that bandbox is impressive, no matter who's playing.

A few weeks ago, I predicted 13 wins for Niese on my podcast Wait 'Til Next Year. Well, two starts... two gems. His real test will come later this year since he's never been able to stay healthy. If he can, he's looking at a fantastic year.

I don't know when I should be officially worried about Ike. He went 1-5 today to raise his average to .071. Yes, it's still early. Yes, he's still coming off a lost season and the whole Valley Fever scare in the spring. I'm just wondering when you broach the idea of moving him out of that cleanup spot.  Just something to think about.

Great win, now let's go for the sweep tomorrow. I know this is all house money but a sweep in Philly would be fucking sweet, April or no April.

Game 8: Mets 5, Phillies 0

Mets 2012 record: 6-2

SAY HEY, BAY!

Well, fuck my ass and call me Nancy.

If you weren't watching tonight's series opener between the Mets and Phils, you missed something special. No, not R.A. Dickey's 14th straight quality start. Not the fact that the Phillies got old in a hurry (they really did).

You missed Jason Fucking Bay going OPPOSITE FIELD off Cliff Lee.

HO. LEE. SHIT.

Aside from the obvious, the Mets need his bat more than ever, with David Wright likely (and rightfully so) heading to the DL. If Bay and Ike (1-23 now) can get going, the loss of Wright won't be as bad.

Even then, they're not going to outslug anyone, so it's all about timely hits and good starting pitching like they got tonight. I wouldn't have lifted Dickey after 100+ pitches, but I like the idea of going from soft Dickey to hard Parnell...that's what she said.

Game 7: Mets 5, Phillies 2

Mets 2012 record: 5-2

Chipper Groans

When I heard the news of the Mets possibly honoring Chipper Jones this year, my reaction was just like Jake Blues when Elwood said they had to visit the Penguin.

"No. Fucking. Way."

That's right, the team that gave the pitching rubber to Mariano Rivera after his 500th save and built a stadium as tribute to a team that left New York in the 1950s is paying homage to one of their biggest rivals. Hey Mike Schmidt owned the Mets too, where was his JumboTron celebration in '89?

I'm not against showing respect to someone who had a great career. During the last game, Chipper can come out and the fans can choose to applaud him but that's it. I respect opposing teams and players (except Bonds, Clemens, and A-Rod to name a few) but I don't think a team should go out of its way to honor someone who never played for them, especially one who made a habit of beating them.

Would the Red Sox do this for Jeter?

Would the Jets do this for Brady?

And lest we forget THIS fucking gem from Chipper after the '99 NLCS:

"Now, all the Mets fans can go home and put their Yankees' stuff on."

And really, it's a slap in the face that Chipper Fucking Jones gets any kind of celebration at all while this stubborn and out of touch franchise refuses to retire the numbers of Davey Johnson, Dwight Gooden, Darryl Strawberry, Keith Hernandez, or Gary Carter. And with all due respect, don't get me started on Jackie Robinson.

You had a great career, Larry. You're a first ballot Hall of Famer. But if anyone should honor you, it should be the Atlanta Braves. Period.