Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Mr. Wrong
Some days you just shouldn't get out of bed. Today was one of those days for Mets' 3B David Wright. With the team trying to win game 3 against their arch-rivals, the longtime Eastern division-champion Braves (they split the first two games), Wright went wrong, making three errors, two in the 8th inning that led to the Braves' second, and as it turned out, game-winning run.
Tom Glavine and Tim Hudson matched zeroes until the 7th inning when Glavine stubbornly pitched to Andruw Jones. On a 2-0 count, Glavine offered him a change-up away and Jones, who'd already hit 3 HRs in the series, went with it all the way over the right-field fence. With two outs and no runners on, Glavine should've walked him (like Hudson did Delgado with 1 out in the bottom of the inning).
Hudson throughly handcuffed the Mets' lineup that again didn't include Carlos Beltran and Cliff Floyd. The first 15 batters went down without a hit or a walk. But then in the 6th, Ramon Castro singled, Endy Chavez reached on an error and Glavine bunted them over. Reyes flied to short left, but Matt Diaz threw a strike home, cutting down the slow-footed Castro.
In the Braves' 8th, Tony Pena grounded to Wright, who threw wildly to 1st. Three batters later, with Pena at 3rd and 2 out, Wright muffed another grounder, allowing the unearned run to score. It was sadly fitting that, while the Mets got to Hudson in the bottom of 9th on Jose Reyes' double and Chris Woodward's RBI single, Wright made the last out, futilely bouncing out to short to end the game and give the Braves the series. Wright was for 0 for 11 against the Braves. So much for his hot start.
What happened to the Mets' star 3B? Does the word "choke" fit the situation? Strangely, Wright, who struggled in the field last season, was perfect until today's big game against the Braves. He'll certainly have a lot to think about on the long flight to San Diego, where the Mets' start their 10-game road trip tomorrow night vs. the 6-8 Padres.
The Mets (10-4) are 3 games ahead of the Braves (8-8). But their streak of 4 consecutive series wins is over. Now the real season begins. Hold on to your seats, Met fans...
Next game: Thursday, April 20 in San Diego, 10:05 pm start on SNY & WFAN, Steve Trachsel (1-1) vs. Jake Peavey (1-2)
For more on the Mets: CLICK HERE
AROUND THE HORN
* The Yankees (7-7) prevented a sweep in Toronto, beating the Blue Jays 3-1 behind Mike Mussina (2-1). Alex Rodriguez belted his 5th HR. The Yanks, who are 3 games behind the Red Sox, host the Orioles this weekend. Friday night's match-up is Chien-Ming Wong (1-0) vs. ex-Met Kris Benson (1-2)
* Ex-Met catcher Mike Piazza is hitting .244 with just 1 HR and 4 RBI in 10 games with the Padres. Mike Cameron, traded to San Diego for Xavier Nady, has yet to play a game this season (he's been on the DL).
Tom Glavine and Tim Hudson matched zeroes until the 7th inning when Glavine stubbornly pitched to Andruw Jones. On a 2-0 count, Glavine offered him a change-up away and Jones, who'd already hit 3 HRs in the series, went with it all the way over the right-field fence. With two outs and no runners on, Glavine should've walked him (like Hudson did Delgado with 1 out in the bottom of the inning).
Hudson throughly handcuffed the Mets' lineup that again didn't include Carlos Beltran and Cliff Floyd. The first 15 batters went down without a hit or a walk. But then in the 6th, Ramon Castro singled, Endy Chavez reached on an error and Glavine bunted them over. Reyes flied to short left, but Matt Diaz threw a strike home, cutting down the slow-footed Castro.
In the Braves' 8th, Tony Pena grounded to Wright, who threw wildly to 1st. Three batters later, with Pena at 3rd and 2 out, Wright muffed another grounder, allowing the unearned run to score. It was sadly fitting that, while the Mets got to Hudson in the bottom of 9th on Jose Reyes' double and Chris Woodward's RBI single, Wright made the last out, futilely bouncing out to short to end the game and give the Braves the series. Wright was for 0 for 11 against the Braves. So much for his hot start.
What happened to the Mets' star 3B? Does the word "choke" fit the situation? Strangely, Wright, who struggled in the field last season, was perfect until today's big game against the Braves. He'll certainly have a lot to think about on the long flight to San Diego, where the Mets' start their 10-game road trip tomorrow night vs. the 6-8 Padres.
The Mets (10-4) are 3 games ahead of the Braves (8-8). But their streak of 4 consecutive series wins is over. Now the real season begins. Hold on to your seats, Met fans...
Next game: Thursday, April 20 in San Diego, 10:05 pm start on SNY & WFAN, Steve Trachsel (1-1) vs. Jake Peavey (1-2)
For more on the Mets: CLICK HERE
AROUND THE HORN
* The Yankees (7-7) prevented a sweep in Toronto, beating the Blue Jays 3-1 behind Mike Mussina (2-1). Alex Rodriguez belted his 5th HR. The Yanks, who are 3 games behind the Red Sox, host the Orioles this weekend. Friday night's match-up is Chien-Ming Wong (1-0) vs. ex-Met Kris Benson (1-2)
* Ex-Met catcher Mike Piazza is hitting .244 with just 1 HR and 4 RBI in 10 games with the Padres. Mike Cameron, traded to San Diego for Xavier Nady, has yet to play a game this season (he's been on the DL).
