Tuesday, June 8, 2004
This quote is from the Associated Press story of last night's Mets game:
"Obviously it's upsetting," said Matsui, through an
interpretor, about his 12th error of the season. "That error was
one of the key plays and might have cost us the game."
Might have? MIGHT have!??! It most certainly DID, pal. Up until now I've given Kaz Matsui the benefit of the doubt. But this is getting ridiculous. Something good might come of this, though. Up until now, the bad play has been criticized by some fans, but hasn't really been written/talked about by the media. Even the misplay (should have been an error, but was ruled a hit) in the eighth inning could have slipped by unnoticed when the Mets got out of the inning without it resulting in a run. But Kaz Matsui cost the Mets the game last night, without a doubt...and it's being talked and written about. I don't blame Ty Wigginton, Jason Phillips, or Vance Wilson for the final play of the game - that play should never have happened. Yes, Wigginton maybe should have held the ball, Phillips maybe could have made a better throw, and Wilson maybe could have picked the ball better - but the fact remains Matsui should have turned the double play and ended the inning one batter earlier.
Anyway, Kaz Matsui cost the Mets the game, and he knows it, Art Howe knows it, and the team knows it. They'll either rally around this loss and bounce back, or they'll fall apart. At least we know where we can point the finger.
The Twins are the most dangerous team the Mets are going to play from the AL Central. Brad Radke, last night's starter, was the best starter the Mets will face this series (Johan Santana and Kyle Lohse are next, and they're having awful years). The Mets blew a chance to get the first game of interleague play, and now must bounce back instead of continuing a winning streak. Minnesota is a very good late-innings team - the Mets need to jump out to an early lead and bury them, and win these next two games.
Other things I noticed about last night's game - the Mets bats seemed to be a little off. I hope the off day didn't cool off the players who were hitting well.
Also, in the fifth inning, the Mets ran the bases really, really well. Ty Wigginton started the inning with a single to left-center, which he stretched into a double. Then, after an out, and a Mike Cameron walk, Vance Wilson singled up the middle to score a run - and everyone moved up a base. Of course, if the Mets would have been able to further capitalize that inning, they wouldn't have lost the game, but the aggressive baserunning was good to see.
Another thing that stings about last night's game is that while the Mets were losing a game they should have won, the Marlins won a game they should have lost, putting the Mets 4 and a half games out. The Marlins were down 5-4 in the ninth, when with two out, Miguel Cabrera homered off the foul pole to tie the game. Then after a walk to Jeff Conine, Damion Easley also homered off the foul pole. At least the Marlins did that off the same Indians bullpen the Mets will soon face. But what the hell is going on with Damion Easley?!?! Why is he experiencing a re-birth all of a sudden?!
Finally, lock up your belongings: the Mets called up Gerald Williams yesterday and sent down Danny Garcia. You might remember Gerald Williams from his days with the Yankees, where he started his career back when they sucked, and was shipped out when they started to win championships. He is best known in my mind, however, for two reasons. He brawled with the Red Sox and Pedro Martinez as a member of the Devil Rays when Pedro hit him with a pitch a few years back - and the coup de gras from his second stint with the Yankees, in 2001-02...Gerald Williams was released for stealing items out of teammates' lockers (Derek Jeter, to name one) and selling them to memorabilia stores. Nice to see another quality "character" guy on the Mets' roster.
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