New Ways To Lose: Orioles 5, Mets 4

by Eric Simon on Jun 19, 2009 1:17 AM EDT in Aftermath Comment 25 comments

For a little while there it looked as if the Mets would creep to within two games of first place in the NL East. Using equal parts grission and actual baseball ability, the Mets battled back from 2-0 deficit to plate two runs apiece in the sixth and seventh innings, carrying a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the eighth. The bullpen took over for an impressive Livan Hernandez, and Pedro Feliciano and Sean Green conspired to allow a run on two hits as they watched the Orioles trim the Mets' lead to 4-3.

I'll let my inner monologue take it from here...

Alright, our usually-reliable bullpen coughed up a run there. No problem, the Mets will just get that run right back in the top of the ninth. Castillo's leading off, eh? He's pretty lousy, but has done a decent job of getting on base this season. Everyone hates him, but I secretly love him. Err, I mean I have faith in Li'l Louie.

L Castillo singled to left.

A-ha! A leadoff single! Take that, haterz! Now we've got Cora and his .387 on-base percentage. There's a pretty good chance he'll get on here and push that insurance run into scoring position with nobody out. No way he's gonna bunt; that would be completely retar... ooooohhhhhh JEBUS NOOOOOOOO!!

A Cora sacrificed to pitcher, L Castillo to second.

Why oh why do we always bunt? Playing for one run in the top of the ninth isn't really a bad idea, but Cora has been uncharacteristically decent this year and I'd prefer he take a shot there. Double ugh. Oh well, Murph, Voltron and Wright coming up, we can still get this run in. Alright Blue Collar Dan, take some pitches here. Wait for something good. Bleah, curveball for strike one. That wasn't your pitch anyway. Let's go, pick up thy lunchpail and knock in this run.

D Murphy flied out to right, L Castillo to third.

Aaaand a just-missed flyout to right, Castillo motors to third, but who really cares because we still need a hit to get this run in. Good thing Voltron's up. He'll clean up this mess. Albers can't find the strike zone here. What a bum; this guy suc...

C Beltran intentionally walked.

Oh, he's intentionally walking him. Figures. I wouldn't want to pitch to Voltron, either, what with his leonine appendages and got-served-itude. Wright up, and he thrives in these big pressure situations. Close and late, I think Karl Ravech calls them. Wait: is Wright good in these situations? I feel like he used to be, but now I'm not sure. I know he strikes out a lot. Let me just quickly check B-Ref and we'll see wha...

D Wright grounded out to shortstop.

Ah crap, groundout to short. That Cora bunt paid off as usual. Whatever, who needs an insurance run? Frank's coming in to nail this one down. It'll be the old one-two-three, scream, fingers-to-the-sky and we're back within two of the Philths. Aaand, go.

M Wieters doubled to left center. F Pie ran for M Wieters.

Not the start I was hoping for. Putz I expect this from. Frank The Closer, you're better than this. Alright, a couple of whiffs and a lazy fly and we're on the plane to Queens.

N Reimold hit for R Andino. N Reimold walked.

Just setting up the force play, or something. No big deal, this game is still very much in control. As long as nobody does anything stupid here we'll be fine.

B Roberts sacrificed...

A bunt! Who does this guy think he is, Jerry Manuel? Let's go, Santos L. Halper. Grab the ball and take the sure out at first. Whatever you do, don't do something crazy like throwing to thir...

...into fielder's choice to catcher, F Pie to third, N Reimold to second.

!@^$*&!@ [unintelligible]. Being aggressive has its place, but when the opposing team gives you a sure out in a situation like this, you take it. The lead runner doesn't win the game, so just be smart and play it by the book. But noooo. Just being lousy at the plate isn't enough for you, is it? Alright, now we're in trouble. Bases loaded, none out (thanks, Halper!), and Frank's a little spotty with his control. Well, he has Adam Jones quickly 1-2 after the youngster waved uselessly at two changeups. Just one more strike and we're back in business.

A Jones walked, F Pie scored, N Reimold to third, B Roberts to second.

*catatonic*

N Markakis struck out looking.

One down. A double-play and we'll go on to win this one in extra...

A Huff singled to right, N Reimold scored, B Roberts to third, A Jones to second.

......................................................

Swag Contest

Swag contest results can be found here and the next game's swag form already available. You can read more about the swag contest here.

SB Nation Coverage

* Boxscore
* Amazin' Avenue Gamethread
* Camden Chat Gamethread

Win Probability Added

Big winners: Carlos Beltran, +30.8% WPA, Livan Hernandez, +17.7% WPA
Big losers: Francisco Rodriguez, -79.1% WPA, David Wright, -16.4% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Murphy RBI double in seventh, +19.9% WPA
Teh sux0rest play: Wieters leadoff double in ninth, -24.4% WPA
Total pitcher WPA: -61.0% WPA
Total batter WPA: +11.0% WPA
GWRBI!: Aubrey Huff

Game Thread Roll Call

Nice job by Jadden Hopkins; his effort in the game thread embiggens us all.

Num	Name	# of Posts
1	Jadden Hopkins	127
2	MetsGeek	112
3	Evan_S	90
4	aparkermarshall	79
5	Michkin	64
6	JoshNY	43
7	wobatus	40
8	gomets12	36
9	pingel	32
10	Prince	29

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Comments

Seriously, Manuel needs to be fired.

I literally screamed when Cora bunted. My dad (who watched the game with me today) turned around and asked me why I did that. I said, “Because it means the inning is over”.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Jun 19, 2009 1:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

And Brian Stokes needs to hit Santos in the stomach for 2 consecutive hours with a basball bat.

Without catchers gear, ala Ramon Castro’s dream with Manuel.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Jun 19, 2009 1:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Feliciano leads the Majors in games pitched

including coming into a 6-0 game a couple of weeks back. I know he’s our only legitimate LOOGY, but it would be nice for him not to be burned out by August.

by Mount17 on Jun 19, 2009 2:06 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Maybe it's my blind hatred

but I think Santos is the reason for that loss. Obviously Frankie sucked, but second and third one out is a much easier situation to get out of than bases loaded, no outs (unless the mets are batting). All things equal, Huff’s hit ties the game, doesn’t win it. Now we all know things wouldn’t have turned out the exact same, meaning he may have given up a hit to Jones, maybe he strikes him out, but throwing to third is just idiotic. Frank didn’t have it, but he could have gotten out of it if freaking Santos gets out one.

"We must win and we must know how to win rather than win because we have statistical people."

by Evan_S on Jun 19, 2009 3:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Let me just clarify

I think Santos was a part of the loss not the main reason. As I said, obviously Frankie was terrible and if he was on, Santos wouldn’t have even been in that position. Omir just didn’t help the situation.

"We must win and we must know how to win rather than win because we have statistical people."

by Evan_S on Jun 19, 2009 3:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

When Omar took over, we had problems in 2nd base and right field

Now, five years later, problems in right field and second base.

And Omir had nothing to do with losing this. It wasn’t the smartest gamble in the world, but it was not a stupid move.

Nothing can get by him; especially in a small room: Mike Francessa

by GenJackRipper on Jun 19, 2009 3:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We also have problems at:

catcher, first base (now and after this year. We’ll see if/when Delgado comes back) and right field

Third base, shortstop and center field are all really strong though. Omar is the reason for one of those

"We must win and we must know how to win rather than win because we have statistical people."

by Evan_S on Jun 19, 2009 3:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

meant left field not right

"We must win and we must know how to win rather than win because we have statistical people."

by Evan_S on Jun 19, 2009 3:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If only we could build a team exclusively through big-time FA signings, Omar would be fine!

Nothing can get by him; especially in a small room: Mike Francessa

by GenJackRipper on Jun 19, 2009 3:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If only. I do think Omar is a good scout though.

I love what he’s done for our low minors. F!, Mejia, Flores all big time signings and Mejia wasn’t a well known player when they signed him I think. He did a good job picking Holt, and Havens and Davis can be good. I don’t know how much he had to do with all of those moves but I’m guessing he was a major part of it. I just don’t think he’s a good overall GM and we haven’t had any good player to compliment Wright, Reyes and Beltran because of the decisions Omar made.

"We must win and we must know how to win rather than win because we have statistical people."

by Evan_S on Jun 19, 2009 3:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He didn't draft Wright or Reyes.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Jun 19, 2009 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know

I said he’s responsible for one of Wright, Reyes and Beltran

"We must win and we must know how to win rather than win because we have statistical people."

by Evan_S on Jun 19, 2009 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oops, sorry

Misread you there, thought you said all three.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Jun 19, 2009 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nah, it was pretty stupid.

He’s not WHY we lost, but he contributed greatly.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Jun 19, 2009 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was furious when this happened

But Frankie was bound to blow one eventually. This was just a bad time for it with all of the heartbreaking losses that we’ve had lately.

Has any team ever had as many gut-wrenchers as we’ve had in less than a half season? It feels like September in June.

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but Jerry abuses the privilege.

by AnthonyR on Jun 19, 2009 10:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I consider this is first real blown save

Since the first one charged to him was because of Castillo’s error.

by TheBigStapler on Jun 19, 2009 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This was definitely the worst loss I've ever been to

I’ve never seen a walk off hit against the Mets. Previously the worst loss I had seen in person was May 5, 1999 when Jeff Bagwell hit a 2 run 8th inning homer off Armando Benitez to give the Astros a 1-run lead*.

*It’s funny how memory works though – I was sure that happened in the 9th inning and that it was Biggio who had gotten on base ahead of Bagwell. Apparently it was Scott Spiezio, and apparently that was before Franco went down and Benitez became the actual closer.

by cjmulrain on Jun 19, 2009 11:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

sigh

I’ve got tickets to tonight’s game and I almost don’t want to go. Well, at least I get a chance to see two of my fantasy studs (Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria).

Somehow, a chain of events unfolded that put Steve Phillips in a professional broadcast booth Sunday night so he could rip Carlos Beltran. Try to explain that in any other terms.

by Greenpoint Ian on Jun 19, 2009 12:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm going too!

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Jun 19, 2009 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Livan is Number 1

Livan, while ugly, was great last night. For a number-five starter, he is perfect. I also like that in the 7th, he asked Cora to stretch his arms. He need to be wound up or something. It was great.

I was ten kinds of upset leaving the Yard last night. What the hell was that? The Os fans were all excited, but unlike Philly or Red Sox fans, they are not jerks about it. I think they understand a blown save, and were happy as hell to win a series. Or maybe they just don’t care. I don’t know, but the walk to the car was quiet, I tells you.

Grission and Husart - that is either the non-union Mexican equivelant of "Starsky and Hutch" or the key to winning the World Series.

by IanB in MD on Jun 19, 2009 12:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

"We'll see how he does after the All-Star break"

Rob Neyer insists.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Jun 19, 2009 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Neyer has issued warnings...

…about Livan and Dub. Both will regress a bit, I suppose. Dub was terrible the last two games. Soemthing was wrong. Strike outs and pop ups. Sure, he drove in a run last night, but a 2B would have been better.

Grission and Husart - that is either the non-union Mexican equivelant of "Starsky and Hutch" or the key to winning the World Series.

by IanB in MD on Jun 19, 2009 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Neyer said about David

that overall, he won’t regress. His batting average will drop, but he’l hit more homeruns and his plate discipline will improve. And his defense should be better.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Jun 20, 2009 1:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I got yelled at by a few Orioles fans

but then I noticed they were hanging out with a group of Phillies fans, so it made sense.

by cjmulrain on Jun 19, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I meant to ask

anyone watching on SNY last night, did Keith, Gary, or Ron make any mention of the Seinfeld thing they did on the scoreboard in like the middle innings, where they had each Oriole say which character (George or Kramer) they liked better, then showed clips from the show, including a bunch from the Keith Hernandez episodes, and then at the end they put present day Keith up on the scoreboard and he gave a little wave. It was pretty funny

by cjmulrain on Jun 19, 2009 3:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs