Mets Get Swept to Begin Second Half

Added by Eddie Utley on July 16, 2012.

Terry Collins' club was swept by the Atlanta Braves to open the second part of the season.

It was tough to come up with a title for this one. “Mets Crap The Bed?” or “Mets Come Out Flat?” or maybe “Here Comes the Freefall?”

This was just an ugly weekend for the New York Mets. Very ugly.

The choice to come out of the break with Chris Young on the mount was a mistake, as I’ve stated already. While the Braves sign a guy like Ben Sheets, who when he wasn’t injured, was very good. Chris Young was only okay at best and he’s still not right.

The guy throws 84 MPH. They could have signed Jamie Moyer for that. This is the problem I have with Sandy Alderson’s signings, they aren’t players who were very good before they got here. And now he probably has his cover so he doesn’t have to make trades, though we all know he wasn’t anyway.

Ramon Hernandez? Come on.

R.A. Dickey never seems to pitch well in Atlanta, probably a result of the humidity. I probably would have held him back to start the Nationals series. At least the Mets put up a fight in the game that Dickey started but Bob Geren showed he’s a true AL manager with his bullpen management after Collins got tossed from the game. Geren put Bobby Parnell in a tough spot. He probably should have put Ramon Ramirez in and if he let up a walk or hit then pull him and then put in Parnell. Either way, tough loss.

Johan Santana was given way too much rest again, watch him come out hard the next start. They really are babying him too much. There was some questionable umpiring which could have kept this game to the pitcher’s duel that it was. Miguel Batista got in this game which should hopefully put him out of the running for Wednesday’s start.

There were two highlights of the series. Josh Edgin was really good and may be the answer to the Mets lefty problem. Then you have Jordany Valdespin who looks like a seasoned outfielder, he had an outstanding play that turned a usual double into a single.

Up next is the Nationals, freefall here and it’s probably over. Right after this series comes the Dodgers and then the return of the Nationals. This could be an interesting week and a half.