The score pretty much says it all for this game. The Mets got rocked! These games will happen during the season. But Johan Santana got demolished for 9 runs in 3 innings. He pitched in the fourth inning but didn’t get an out. The Yankees scored 9 runs in that inning.
Santana has been slipping since May 16 when he gave up 4 runs in San Francisco. He hasn’t been nearly as good as he was for the first month and a half of the season. I’m hoping that he isn’t injured. But you have to wonder what the reason for the drop off in performance is.
I won’t really get into the Mets offense because there really wasn’t any. The only good thing is that Gary Sheffield is back hitting again. He went 2 for 3 today and had 2 home runs in the series against the Yankees. He’s back up to hitting .270 for the season, which is about where I’d expect him to be.
The Yankees injured relief pitcher Brian Bruney and Mets closer K-Rod have a minor war of words going this weekend. Surprisingly, it was started by Bruney after Friday night’s game in which K-Rod got a blown save when Luis Castillo dropped a pop-up allowing the winning run to score.
It’s actually kind of shocking that a guy with 13 wins and 13 saves over parts of six seasons in the majors would attack K-Rod in the media. I could see him having a problem with K-Rod and expressing it to friends and teammates privately. But Bruney just doesn’t have the resume to go after K-Rod publicly. Come on! K-Rod has 24 wins and 224 saves including the all-time single season record.
“Unbelievable. I’ve never seen anything like that. I have, but in high school,” Bruney told reporters in Trenton, N.J. “It couldn’t happen to a better guy on the mound, either. He’s got a tired act.”
After converting a save, Francisco Rodriguez often pounds his chest and points to the sky while letting out a roar.
“I just don’t like watching the guy pitch,” Bruney said. “I think it’s embarrassing.”
Of course, when K-Rod was told about it he didn’t even know who Bruney was.
“If it comes out from somebody big like Mariano [Rivera], somebody who has been around and who is good at what he does, I would respect that from him,” the Mets’ reliever said. “But some guy that I don’t even know who it is, hasn’t maybe played a full year in the big leagues, always been hurt …”
“He better keep his mouth shut and do his job and not worry about somebody else,” Rodriguez said. “If it came out from somebody big, I might pay attention to it. But somebody like that, it doesn’t bother me.”
On Saturday Bruney seemed to back off his comments somewhat when he realized that doesn’t have pitching chops to comment on K-Rod.
“I’m not going to get into a media war with K-Rod. He’s had a great career. He set the save record and besides, he doesn’t know who I am. So it doesn’t matter what I think,” Bruney said in the Yankees’ clubhouse after Saturday’s loss.
“I stand by what I said. I don’t know that it makes any difference, since the guy’s never heard of me. He may be a great dude, I don’t know. I’ve never met him,” he added. “I was taught to play the game a different way and you won’t see me doing those kinds of things.”
I’m surprised that Bruney hasn’t gone after his teammate Joba Chamberlain for his antics. Chamberlain is alway screaming and fist-pumping on the mound. I’d like to hear what Bruney’s thoughts are on that.
What to watch: The Mets and Yankees play the rubber game of the series today and you have to give the edge to the Mets in the final game with Santana. Burnett got rocked for 5 runs in 2.2 innings in his last start in Boston. So far, he’s been somewhat of a disappointment since signing with the Yankees as a free agent. Santana has been on a bit of a down-tick for him lately as well. He’s allowed at least 3 earned runs in his last five starts. I have a feeling that he’s going to turn up the intensity for the Yankees today though.
Don’t forget to visit The Mets Report Live Game Chat during the game to chat with other Mets fans!
I think the biggest surprise for everyone in this game is that Fernando Nieve was outstanding in his first start as a Met. He hasn’t started a game in the majors since 2006. He really shut down the Yankees with a good mid-90’s fastball and a solid slider. Nieve went 6.2 innings giving up 2 runs to a really good Yankees lineup. He’ll certainly rival Tim Redding for his spot in the rotation when John Maine comes back from the disabled list if he can keep this up.
The Mets pounded the Yankees pitchers for 17 hits, 12 off Andy Pettite who only went 5 innings. Omir Santos and Gary Sheffield hit homers and Fernando Martinez went 3 for 4. David Wright was also 2 for 5 raising his average to and eye-popping .365.
It was a nice game for the Mets but the biggest factor is that they didn’t show any hangover from last night’s brutal loss. I think part of their ability to recover is due to Jerry Manuel’s openness about these things. He doesn’t sugarcoat tough losses or shut down to the media like Willie Randolph did. I’m sure he’s the same way with the players too.
Here are all of the local New York TV and radio calls from last night’s debacle in the Bronx. Watch the video because there’s nothing more that I can say. I’m still speechless a day later.
New York Mets (32-28 Road: 14-17) at New York Yankees (35-27 Home: 19-12) 1:05 pm
The Mets Report 