NY Mets: A Look Back at the Weekend Subway Series

Added by Eddie Utley on June 25, 2012.

The Mets dropped two-of-three to the Yankees at Citi Field over the weekend.

This weekend was Subway Series Part 2 for 2012. Unfortunately it ends on a sour note for the New York Mets.

The Mets looked better this time as opposed to the three game series at Yankee Stadium a few weeks ago. This series, at Citi Field, didn’t start off with a massive blowout loss. It actually started with Jon Niese looking like a younger version of his opponent Andy Pettitte.

The Mets jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the 1^st inning on Pettitte and didn’t look back. Frank Francisco who made news this week for calling the Yankees ‘chickens’, got to close out the game and in his usual fashion, made it an adventure.

Game 2 looked like the Mets were going to cruise to another win but Terry Collins left Chris Young in too long. I’m surprised that Young lasted as long as he did but thought after 6 innings, get him out and throw some heat at the Yankees to contrast the 84 mph fastball of Young. But instead, after two guys squared up the ball well, he left Young in. Raul Ibanez blasted a 3-run homer to tie the game. Then, in comes Jon Rauch to give up a homer to Eric Chavez and give the Yankees the lead and eventual win. Rauch has been as inconsistent as anyone in the Mets bullpen this year.

After the game we were told that Francisco may have an oblique problem. Sunday it was confirmed with him landing on the DL.  In his place, it looks like Bobby Parnell will be the closer. It’s now his chance to show what he’s got. Parnell has been good this year unlike the rest of the pen so hopefully he can keep it going.

Jordany Valdespin  was sent down so the Mets could take Ruben Tejada off the DL. Valdespin looked like he was ready to take off but he needs to play everyday and with Ronny Cedeno and Tejada and Daniel Murphy, he wasn’t going to get much playing time. If Murphy heats up and teams look at him again like they did during the winter, then Valdespin may get his chance because I think the possibility of Murph being moved is getting higher by the day.

Also called up was Ramon Ramirez, though he looked horrible in rehab and has been horrible all year. The Mets Should have brought up a lefty for the bullpen, would have made the Chris Young decision easier if they had another lefty or guy who gets lefties out since it was going to be a matchup thing.

Game 4 was expected to be a Clash of the Titans type contest. The Battle of the Initials. R.A. Dickey vs. C.C. Sabathia. Battle of the potential All-Star Game starters.

Well, the game turned out to be a bust. Dickey had little control of the knuckleball and CC was not sharp either. Both got a no decision after giving up five runs, though CC only had one earned against him.

The game was won by the Yankees on a Robinson Cano homer off Miguel Batista. There were several errors in the game which hurt the Mets but they didn’t get blown out or beat down. They hung in there every game of this series.

Now, it’s on to Chicago to take on the Cubs who are calling up super prospect Anthony Rizzo. The Cubs are pretty pathethic so hopefully the Mets can get back on track again.