Mets go south out West, return North to face AL East

The Mets trip West started in the North with three wins. A loss in the final game of the series against the San Francisco Giants sent them South along the coast, where they continued to loss three more times to the Los Angeles Dodgers, leaders in the National League West. Heading south in the National East standings, the Mets flew North to face the American League East Boston Red Sox injured, off course and searching for an exit strategy.

At those crossroads is where we meet Jerry Manuel, compass in hand, navigating through the storm.

Injuries

The roadmap through Boston will be a challenge for the Mets, who will face Daisuke Matsuzaka, Josh Beckett and Tim Wakefield, with a makeshift lineup. There will be no Carlos Delgado (hip/torn labrum) launching lasers off the Pesky Poll bordering the short right field porch, no Jose Reyes (calf tendinitis) at the top of the lineup sucking up ground balls and no Alex Cora (thumb/torn ligament) to spell the Mets starting shortstop.

Ineptitude

With the Mets “A” and “B” plans sidelined, the team has recalled 36-year old Ramon Martinez from Buffalo. Plan “C?” In the immortal words of Dr. Phil, “How’s that workin’ out for ya’?” Martinez went 0-for-12 against his former team, the Los Angeles Dodgers He committed two errors in the team’s five-error nightmare Monday, which had the media comparing the ’09 Mets to the ’62 Mets.

It may be the only time in baseball history that a team who lead 3-2, lost 3-2. In the tradition of Marvelous Marv Thronberry and the lovable losers led by Casey Stengel, the Mets found a new way to loss when Ryan Church missed third base trying to score on an extra base hit by Angel Pagan. How do you miss third base?

“It’s hard to miss third base,” Manuel told the media in the post-game press conference. “I don’t know if I ever remember seeing anyone miss third base in a situation like that. I don’t have any explanation for it.”

Inexperience

With Delgado out for 10 weeks, at least, Manuel started Jeremy Reed in Los Angeles Monday. You can literally count the number of starts Reed has made at first base (three) in his six-year major league career. With the game tied at two and the bases loaded for the Dodgers in the 11th, Reed fielded a routine ground ball and made an errant throw to home. E3. Mets lose 3-2.

With Reed back at first on Tuesday, Daniel Murphy started in left field. The Mets defensive inexperience was, once again, exposed. Murphy erred in the first inning, allowing the Dodgers to score first, and you know what that means? Dodgers win 5-3.

After Wedneday’s 2-1 loss, the Mets boarded a flight for Boston riding a four-game losing streak. The Mets were 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left 11 men on base Monday, 2-for-8 RISP and six LOB Tuesday and 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position with nine LOB Wednesday. The ugly totals: 3-for-30 (.100) hitting with runners in scoring position with 26 men left on base.

On defense, six errors against the Dodgers, 32 in 40 games this season (second only to the Washington Nationals).

Just two months ago, Manuel and the Mets were strolling through the Port St. Lucie clubhouse, watching plasma screen video replays of the Mets “greatest opposite field hits.” The fundamentals were laid out for all to hear: situational hitting, smart baserunning, and team defense.

But injuries exposed a lack of depth and experience. And discipline … the “fundies” as Keith Hernandez would say … great question.

The Mets could salvage the road trip by finishing their hot and cold streak with one more hot streak. For that to happen, Manuel can ditch the compass for a stethoscope.

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Mets vs. Red Sox …

Pitching Probables vs. Boston Red Sox
Friday: Mets (Johan Santana, 4-2) @ Red Sox (Daisuke Matsuzaka, 0-1)
Saturday: Mets (Mike Pelfrey, 4-0) @ Red Sox (Josh Beckett, 4-2)
Sunday: Mets (Tim Redding, 0-0) @ Red Sox (Tim Wakefield, 5-2)

Red Sox on the web:
RedSox.com
Blog: OvertheMonster.com
Boston Herald Blog: Boston Herald
Blog: Cursed to First
Boston Globe: Extra Bases Blog
TV: NESN
Radio: WEEI.com

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