Opening Statement
A week ago we were writing about the Mets possibly beginning the trek back to what we all thought they would be entering the season, where mediocre would be welcomed. But the Mets put the three-game sweep to the Astros behind them in a big way, taking two of three from Arizona, then sweeping the Phillies, before splitting the first two games against Miami. The Mets won five straight games from Saturday through Wednesday, with the streak breaker coming only after a blown save by Frank Francisco Friday against the Marlins. After Saturday's win over Miami, the Mets are 19-14 on the season, good enough for third place in the tough NL East. The National (21-12) and the Braves (21-13) lead the division. Fans couldn't have asked for a better start to the season than the one the Mets have given so far. |
| David Wright gets his fourth hit Saturday afternoon. (AP photo) |
The High Point
The Mets not only swept their three-game series with the Phillies in the middle of the week, they did so in dramatic fashion. In the first game, the Mets first erased a 2-0 deficit to tie the game in the sixth. Then, in the top of the ninth inning off Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon, the Mets pushed across three runs to take home the opening win. In the middle game, the Mets came from behind again, scoring four in the seventh and two more in the ninth to clinch a 7-4 victory. In the series finale, you guessed it, the Mets came back once again. They scored three runs in the seventh, four in the eighth and one in the ninth to win 10-6. The three-game sweep was the Mets first in Philadelphia in six years. The three wins also pushed the Mets five games over.500 for the first time in nearly two years.
The Low Point
There wasn't a lot to choose from, but the Mets' loss to the Marlins Friday night definitely stands out. The Mets were just three outs away from not only winning their sixth straight game, but also their fourth straight in comeback fashion. But Francisco couldn't shut the door in the bottom of the ninth inning, allowing the tying run and then the winner on a two-out single by Greg Dobbs. It was Francisco's second blown save in 10 chances this season. He has a 6.59 ERA. The game was also the 8,000th in Mets' history, the most games ever played without a team throwing a no-hitter. |
| Ike Davis celebrates his home run against Philly. (AP photo) |
Three Up
David Wright: More often than not, Wright is showing up in this spot each week. The Mets third baseman had four hits, including a home run, in Saturday's road win over the Marlins. It was his fourth straight multi-hit game. Wright leads the National League with a .402 batting average and a .489 on base percentage.
R.A. Dickey: The Mets starting pitcher picked up two victories on the mound this week, beating the Diamondbacks last Sunday and then the red-hot Marlins Saturday afternoon. Dickey one run on four hits in eight innings of work against Arizona, then went six innings against Miami, allowing two runs on nine hits. He improved to 5-1 with the pair of wins and has a 3.65 ERA on the season.
Daniel Murphy: The Mets second baseman is riding an eight-game hit streak, going 15-for-35 over that span. He put up five RBI this week with a double to increase his season numbers to .321 batting with eight doubles and 12 RBI. He is still looking for his first home run, however.
Three Down
Justin Turner: The Mets infielder had an opportunity to impress with the injury to Ronny Cedeno, which opened up a spot for Turner to get a lot of playing time. It didn't go so well, however. In 40 at-bats this season, Turner could muster just a .200 average with four RBI. Cedeno returned at the end of the week and will be back to his starting slot at shortstop. Turner will be return to a backup role.
Frank Francisco: The Mets closer could have made it a perfect week Friday night if he could have shut down the Marlins, but he blew the save and ended the Mets' five-game win streak along the way. That is enough to get him on this list even though he closed out two other games this week. Francisco has saved eight of 10 games and has a very high 6.59 ERA on the year.
Johan Santana: We've written a lot about that one loss to Miami Friday night, but that's what happens when it's the lone blemish on an otherwise fantastic week. Santana has to be given some of the blame for that loss as well, even though the Mets could and should have won. He allowed three runs, including a two-run home run, in the top of the first to put the Mets behind right away. That's not how anyone would want to start a game, especially with the ace on the mound. To Santana's credit, he didn't allow a run over his next five innings of work.
What's Next?
The Mets get their first taste of interleague play next weekend, but first it's the third game of a three-game set against the Marlins this afternoon. From there the Mets return home for a pair of quick, two-game series against Milwaukee and Cincinnati. Then it's across the border for the Mets, as they travel to Toronto to take on the Blue Jays for a weekend three-game set.
David Wright is the man! 400 is definitely a possibility.
ReplyDeleteNo way he keeps up the .400 pace.
ReplyDelete400 or not, this has been a great start to the season for the Mets. Didn't see it coming, but loving it.
ReplyDelete