April 29, 2009
Johan can’t blame Murphy for this one
The Bitter Bill, NYDN

The last time Johan Santana lost a 1-run game to Josh Johnson, he pinned the loss on Daniel Murphy. Following Wednesday’s disaster at Citi Field, Santana took the team approach, saying stuff like these things happen, and a few other losing cliches like that.

Maybe he learned not to point fingers, or maybe he didn’t have enough time to blame the responsible parties for the loss. But I do, and there is plenty of blame to go around. Here are the culprits (in no particular order):

J.J. Putz: Doing his best Aaron Heilman imitation, Putz walks the first two guys he faces and after a sac bunt, gives up a two-run single that turns out to be the game-winning hit. Hey, maybe he didn’t want Sean Green to feel bad about Tuesday night.

David Wright: This guy is looking like a cross between Dave Kingman and Jason Tyner: He strikes out too much and can’t hit home runs. It’s clear Mr. Wrong is trying way too hard, perhaps trying to make up for the last two Septembers with one swing of the bat. He’s swinging at bad pitches, not working the count, and putting himself in holes he can’t get out of. Wednesday, after Matt Lindstrom walks Carlos Beltran and Gary Sheffield, Wright swings at the first pitch - which was out of the strike zone. Maybe getting away from Citi Field will be good for him. All we can really do it hope he snaps out of it, because we all know he’s the face of the franchise. Unfortunately, that face looks like the picture on the right .

Jerry Manuel: A few days ago, I wrote that Omir Santos - not Ramon Castro - should stick around when Brian Schneider comes off the DL. Manuel clearly agrees with me, but yesterday he let those feelings dictate his end-of-game decisions. Instead of giving Castro - who was 2-for-4 - a chance to be a hero and cement his spot on the roster, Manuel gives Santos the shot to lock up his roster spot. It’s a questionable move if Santos had been swinging a bat in the tunnel for a few minutes, but since Santos had to run down from the bullpen, grab a bat and step up to the plate, it’s an awful move.

Omar Minaya: Even Santana had to know the bullpen wasn’t the lone problem of the 2008 Mets, but yet that’s all our wonderful GM fixed. He didn’t add a bat we sorely needed. It’s funny how Minaya isn’t such a genius once the Wilpons close up the checkbook.

Himself: Santana wanted the big payday and in doing so, forced himself out of Minnesota and into Queens. I wonder on days like this if he asks himself “what did I get myself into?” Plus, the Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Mets has to learn he can’t give up two runs if he expects to win a game.

At 9-12, the good news for the Mets is the month of April is over. The bad news is they start May with a three-game set in Philly. This could get real ugly, real fast, or they can man up and take it to the defending champs.

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I don’t know if WFAN runs podcasts of Richard Neer’s show, but if so, try to catch his intro from Wednesday night. He went to Wednesday’s games and absolutely hated Citi Field. He hated the sightlines, the outfield walls, everything. It was an interesting listen.

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Speaking of Citi Field, check out this T-shirt. I bought a few the other day.

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I stopped at my local A&P on the way home from work Wednesday night, and Springsteen’s “My Hometown” was playing. I hadn’t heard it in a long time. My goodness it’s an awful song.

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That’s all for tonight. I’ll preview the Yamphy Bowl late Thursday.

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