Our State of the Mets column is back for its 11th installment with a sweep of the Baltimore Orioles but a crushing weekend with two losses to the rival Yankees, including R.A. Dickey getting roughed up just the second time all season. As always, we want to hear what you have to say about your favorite (or least favorite) team below in the comments section. And check back next Sunday night for the latest from the Mets.
Opening Statement
The Mets had a great chance to not only make another move in their quest for the postseason, but to stick it to the Yankees and win the weekend series at Citi Field. With R.A. Dickey on the mound, the man with the 11-1 record and five straight games without allowing an earned run, everything was set up perfectly for the Mets Sunday night. Winning the game would move their record this week to 5-1 and, best yet, get a measure of revenge for the Yankees sweeping them at the Stadium a couple weeks back. But the great run by Dickey this season came to a crashing end, as the Yankees scored five runs against the knuckleballer, including a three-run home run by Nick Swisher in the third inning, and the possibility for a series win turned into losing two of three. So, that's not at all what the Mets and their fans wanted from the weekend. But, with that written, it was still a successful week for the Mets. They went 4-2, including two straight 5-0 shutouts against Baltimore on Monday and Tuesday, with Dickey and Johan Santana on the mound. Also, the 25-game stretch from hell has come to an end, with the Mets going 12-13. That's not good, but it's not bad either. The Mets survived and can now settle in for the final weeks of the regular season. They're five games over .500 at 39-34 and second place in the NL East, 3.5 games behind the first place Washington Nationals. They're also one of three teams, including San Francisco and Pittsburgh, tied atop the wild card standings. |
| R.A. Dickey got roughed up by the Yankees. (AP photo) |
The High Point
Friday night's game against the Yankees got a late start, after an almost hour delay because of rain, but the Mets didn't waste any time once they finally got on the field. The Mets scored five runs in the first inning, including a three-run home run by Ike Davis (with a little help from Swisher, who knocked it over the fence on a missed catch), and they were on their way to a victory over Andy Pettitte and the Yankees. It was the team's fourth win in a row and quickly ended the season domination by the Yankees this season. It also was needed for the fanbase after the idiotic comments made by closer Frank Francisco, who called the Yankees "chickens." The Mets and Francisco needed to win to save face, and after a tense ninth inning with the closer putting runners on first and second, they did just that. It also allowed the Mets to have fun with the comment, even bringing a live chicken into the locker room. To realize how big the win was, all you have to think about is what would have been said and written if Francisco blew the save that night.
The Low Point
We touched on it above, Sunday night's game against the Yankees was key in so many ways. But in the end, in turned out to be a loss that became more frustrating because of the way the game unfolded. The Mets fell behind 4-0 and 5-1 with Dickey getting roughed up. But the Mets came all the way back against CC Sabathia and tied the game with a run in the fifth and three more in the sixth. The crowd, which had been taken over by Yankees fans, was recaptured by Mets fans screaming their approval. Two innings later, however, Robinson Cano hit a monumental blast to center field, landing past the apple, off Miguel Batista and the Yankees bullpen closed the door from there. The loss meant the Mets have lost five consecutive series against the Yanks since May 2010. |
| Frank Francisco is on the disabled list. (AP photo) |
Three Up
David Wright: The Mets third baseman continues to hit this season, going 10-for-25 this week with two doubles and four RBI. He went 5-for-13 against the Yankees and is currently riding a 14-game hit streak. He leads the NL in batting average (.360), is second in OBS (1.020) and third in walks (44).
Johan Santana: He put together the first good performance since his no-hitter Tuesday night against the Orioles, throwing six scoreless innings and striking out five in a 5-0 victory. More importantly, it looks like Santana has regained his no-hitter form.
Bobby Parnell: The Mets relief pitcher has become a go-to guy in the bullpen. He pitched in four games this week, 3 1/3 innings, allowing no runs, one hit and striking out three. He picked up three holds and has 15 for the season. Now, with Francisco on the disabled list, Parnell should become the temporary closer.
Three Down
Frank Francisco: His comment about the Yankees being chickens was just plain dumb, especially considering Francisco has been anything but consistent himself this season. He did get the save Friday against the Yankees, but he found himself on the disabled list Sunday with a leg oblique strain. Bottom line, if you're going to talk smack, you have to at least be able to play the game yourself. And an ERA lower than 4.97 would help too.Miguel Batista: Let's see, he pitched twice against the Yankees, totaling three innings, and allowed four hits, three runs and two home runs, including the game-loser to Cano Sunday night. He has a 4.10 ERA for the season.
Scott Hairston: He went 3-for-19 this week including 0-for-10 against the Yankees.
What's Next?
On paper, the Mets get a breather in the form of the Chicago Cubs, who play hosts for three games starting tonight. The Cubs are 24-48 on the season, making this a series the Mets could easily sweep. Then, it's off to Los Angeles to take on the Dodgers, the team with the best record in the National League, for four games over the weekend. The Dodgers are struggling however, going 3-7 over their last 10 games.
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