Game Recap: Mets 8 – Phillies 0

Make it three.

The Good

Dickey power.  R.A. Dickey’s process wasn’t phenomenal, but the end result was just fine.  Six innings, allowing seven hits and three walks, but striking out a career-high seven and getting out of two bases loaded situations.  Again, not the best way to go about a game, but a win is a win is a win.

RAUUUL.  Mr. Valdes turned in three solid innings in relief, allowing two hits and walking two.  He struck out four.  He also went 1-1 with an RBI double.

The offense.  Every starter but Dickey and Ike Davis had a hit.  Six different players drove in runs.  Six different players scored.

Jose Reyes went 3-5, driving in one and scoring three times.  He tripled in his RBI.  He also stole two bases.

Jeff Francoeur had a very nice game, going 2-3 with a double, 2 RBI and a run scored.

The Mets did not strike out.

The Bad & Ugly

The Phillies left 13 runners on base.  Ouch.

Game Ball

Dickey and Jose.

On Deck

Same teams, same park, tomorrow night at 7 p.m.

Jerry wins, Jerry stays

It’s a simple process.

Players these days are evaluated hundreds of different ways.  From the basic batting average and RBIs to xFIP, WAR and BABIP, there are so many ways to show whether a player is helping or hurting his team.

But for managers, it’s a different story.

It’s pretty much all boiled down to wins and losses.  Sure, Manuel could do 15 stupid things in one game, but if the Mets win, how many will still be complaining?

Yes, there are many out there – myself included – that even though the Mets may win, will still gripe about that pinch-hitter in the 7th or bunting in the 8th or the bullpen choice/use throughout the game.  But for the ones that matter – Omar Minaya, Jeff and Fred Wilpon – if he wins, he wins.  If he loses, he loses.

Bullpen management and in-game switches and strategy can be discussed.  Players on the roster are a topic to which they can argue.  But wins and losses are cut and dry.  Either Manuel and the Mets win or it will be someone else at the helm.

With the new statistical culture around baseball these days, I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before they develop VORM (value over replacement manager).  But before VORM comes about and begins to be used and understood by front offices and those with the power, it’s simply split between two columns.  Wins and losses.  That’s all that matters.

Manuel’s Musing

“Probably selfish on my part, but that's how I feel.”

-Jerry Manuel on keeping Jenrry Mejia in the majors

Game Recap: Mets 6 – Yankees 4

Two out of three…is pretty darn good.

The Good

Names starting with J.  Except you, Jeff Francoeur.

Johan Santana turned in a stellar performance, allowing just one run over 7 2/3 innings.  He allowed six hits and walked three, but only started to get wild at the end.  He struck out five.  Probably his best performance this season.  I love you, man.

Jason Bay hit not just one, but two home runs off CC Sabathia, bringing his season total up to three.

Jose Reyes is heating up.  He went 2-5 today, and is 4-10.  I like this trend.

Ike Davis continues to stay toasty, going 2-4 with a run scored.

Alex Cora drove in two, as well.

Pedro Feliciano entered with the bases loaded in the 8th and got Robinson Cano to pop up to end the inning.

The Bad & Ugly

The bullpen.  Yeesh.  Yeah, Pedro did his thing, but Ryota Igarashi didn’t fare too well in his first game back.  A walk and two singles while only recording one out.  Francisco Rodriguez came on and made things more interesting, allowing two inherited runners to score before quietly shutting the door on the game.  Oh yeah, it was an A-Rod strikeout, but it should have never come to that point.

Jeff Francoeur with another 0-fer.  He did walk once, though.

Game Ball

Johan and Jason.

On Deck

Monday is an off day, and I’m going to see Rachel Ray with the girlfriend, her mother and my mother.  Apologies for the light posting schedule tomorrow.  The Mets resume play Tuesday against the Phils.

Game Chat: NYY @ NYM

Mets option Acosta to Buffalo to make room for Igarashi

After the game, the Mets optioned Manny Acosta to Triple-A Buffalo.  This cleared a roster spot for Ryota Igarashi to be activated off the disabled list.

But Acosta?  Not Elmer Dessens?

Acosta struggled early, allowing four earned runs in his first five games (three in his first appearance).  But since May 11, Acosta has pitched 6 2/3 innings, walking four, striking out eight and not allowing a run to score.  Though, three of his four inherited runners scored, but still.

Dessens, mind you, was just called up when John Maine was placed on the DL.  In his 2/3 of an inning of work on Friday, he allowed two hits and one earned run.

Game Recap: Mets 5 – Yankees 3

The bullpen made it interesting.

The Good

Big Pelf.  Six innings of six hit baseball.  Pelfrey allowed one run while walking two and striking out five.  I know it’s just a title, but is Pelfrey the Mets ace?

Jason Bay went 4-4, scoring three runs.

…which was thanks to David Wright and Angel Pagan combining to go 5-8, driving in four runs.

K-Rod had to make it interesting, allowing two hits, but completed a five-out save to finish out the game.

The Bad & Ugly

Jeff Francoeur is ice cold.  Ice.  Cold.

Pedro Feliciano started the eighth inning, allowing two hits and hitting a batter before being removed without recording an out.  Fernando Nieve, of course, came in and walked in a run before K-Rod entered.

Gary Matthews Jr. is still on the team and was double-switched into the game.  Uh…

Game Ball

Wright and Pagan.

On Deck

Sunday night baseball on ESPN, 8 p.m.

Game Chat: NYY @ NYM

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Game Recap: Yankees 2 – Mets 1

Too little, too late.

The Good

Hisanori Takahashi.  He tossed six scoreless innings, allowing five hits.  He walked only one, striking out five.  Well done, Taka.  Well done, indeed.

Bay and Davis in the ninth.  Back-to-back doubles plated the Mets only run.  Yipee.

The Bad & Ugly

Four hits.  Four.  Two of them – the only extra base hits – came in the bottom on the ninth inning.

5-6-7 of the Mets order – Wright, Pagan, Barajas – each struck out twice.

Elmer Dessens.  Coming up for the DL’d John Maine today, Jerry Manuel turned to Dessens as the first out of the bullpen and two runs later, partly thanks to an error, the Mets were down and couldn’t recover.

Game Ball

Taka

On Deck

Tomorrow night, a 7:10 p.m. game.

Game Chat: NYY @ NYM [Game 43]

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