9/16/13

Ernest Dove - Mets win a pitchers duel.... 27 years later.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAWell, here's a new way of looking at things. It took exactly 27 years, but the Mets did it right this time in extra innings of a 0-0 game, with the bases loaded.
27 years ago today, the Mets were involved in a pitchers duel. Maybe Dillon Gee was reincarnated as Ron Darling on this night. It was (actually) Ron Darling who threw a masterpiece on this day in 1986. (well, he did have 4 walks, but we're talking about Ron darling, here).
However, with nobody able to score, Roger McDowell channeled his inner Ron, and just kept walking people, until ulitmately he walked Curt Ford with the bases loaded to end the game, and the Mets lost to the Cardinals.
But 9-15-13 belonged to Travis d'Arnoud. Decades after Gary Carter went 1 for 5, d'Arnoud went 2 for 5. And it was the second hit that did the trick. He got it done an inning earlier then that fateful game years ago. And he did it with the bases loaded.
Also, by some strange coincidence, Gee, like Darling, even managed to get a hit in such a limited scoring affair.
However, it was a differnt time back then. Jesse Orosco not only pitched 2 innings of shutout relief, but he also went back out there the next day, pitched another 2 and 1/3 innnings, picked up a save. Meanwhile, in 2013, especially with TC and the current coaching staff, everyone pitches, every night, coming up with every matchup imaginable, one batter each at a time.
Maybe this is the reason why David Wright wants to get back into the lineup. Maybe it's because he sees a team that keeps on fighting. Maybe we have an 80s team in the making (minus the drugs, alcohol, etc.)
So what else can we take from this game. Well, first of all, it was nice to win an extra inning game agains the Marlins. Secondly, there was another rookie out there who didn't look too bad either. Vic Black, technically, closed out a game, and ends up with his first win with the Mets. Daniel Murphy is still hitting. And Gonzalez German stat line was: 2 innings, 1 hit, 5Ks.....nice....Jesse Orosco eat your heart out.
Obviously, all is not well New York City. Tejada is still not hitting. And little team that could still can't manage to score many runs, with the Mets other rookies not named Travis going 1 for 11.
But a win is a win. And Dillon Gee keeps dealin. And before the offseason begins, and Mets (and their fans) look toward the future and what kind of talent will be added, we still have some reason watch.
I will give Terry Collins credit. Those 1 for 11 rookies were out there starting. If Ike Davis can have so much time to work things out, then the least they can do at this point is continue to play d'Arnoud, Flores, den Dekker and Lagares every game for the rest of the season.
Oh, and, not for nothin, but Wally Backman had a hit in that game 27 years ago today. Too bad he couldn't have been in the dugout this time around.

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