Gnome of Defeat crashes family celebration, Rockies beat Mets 18-9

How about that Scott Hairston? 

Hit for the cycle and everything. 

Too bad no one is going to remember it because the Mets allowed the Gnome of Defeat to crash an otherwise nice family celebration. 

The 18-9 disaster in Denver included an 11-run fifth inning where the team committed four throwing errors and gave up two three-run homers.

Just because we’re commemorating the 1962 Mets this season doesn’t mean we have to play like them. Actually, that might not be fair because as bad as the 1962 team was, I don’t think it ever had an inning like that one.

Andres Torres, take your time

Any remember Andres Torres? 

He was the Opening Day center fielder for about six innings before gimping off the field.

Kirk Nieuwenhuis is doing his best to make sure that when Torres returns, possibly on this road trip, he enjoys the view of the game from the bench.

Kirk led off Thursday’s series finale against the Marlins with a triple – passing Jose Reyes on his way to third – and scored on a sac fly.

Things looked grim in the bottom of the ninth with the Mets down 2-1 and expensive Marlins closer Heath Bell on the hill. But the Mets loaded the bases, and Justin Turner battled Bell for 14 pitches, earning a walk to force home the tying run.

The brought up Nieuwenhuis, who smacked a game-winning RBI single to broom out the Marlins for the Mets’ second sweep of a division rival so far this season.

Hey, Andres. Take your time. We're letting Kirk hoist the Flag of Victory again.

Mets top Marlins, Wright tops Strawberry

No need to fear the Fish! It’s not like the Marlins owners spent a bunch of money on new players.

Oh, wait.

The Mets hoist the Flag of Victory for the second game in a row against the rival Marlins, though the game was closer than the 5-1 final score would indicate.

Kudos to David Wright. His third homer of the year finally allows him to overtake Darryl Strawberry to be the team’s all-time runs batter leader.

Wright already holds the team record for career doubles, and could even catch Ed Kranepool for the lead in hits.

Jose is back? Mets salute former friend with Flag of Victory

I confess that after the Giants series and the number of Mets added to the disabled list this week, I wasn’t sure we’d see the Flag of Victory any time soon.

Things didn’t look good on paper, to be sure. The newly named nemesis from South Florida was making its first pass through town with the shortstop we know and used to love. Their ace hurler was on the mound and our better hitters still looks lost.

Heck, Ike Davis doesn’t look lost, he is lost. 

Shame on me for doubting. Johan Santana threw a gem. Not that he got any run support, mind you. But the Marlins bullpen gave the Mets a run, and Lucas Duda ripped a drive off a Fish pitcher to bring in the go-ahead run.

Frank Francisco remembered what closers are supposed to do, and we can hoist the flag proudly with a 2-1 win.

Twin defeat at the hands of Giants means a double dose of Gnomes of Defeat

Well, the only thing uglier than the Mets Saturday victory over the Giants was the double-butt-kicking dispensed by the Giants on Monday.

Hey, remember when we used to have a winning record? Now we’ve seen the Gnome of Defeat as many times as the Flag of Victory.

In the first game, Miguel Batista made a rare start, and made it perfectly clear why his starts should be rare – or non-existent, even.

On the bright side, and there aren’t many in a 6-1 loss, newcomer Jeremy Hefner came on after Batista and did not stink up the joint.

The second game wasn’t any better. Dillon Gee pitched as if he wanted to see how high he could get his ERA.

A 7-2 loss makes for a double dose of gnomes, but at least the Giants are headed out of town.

Sheepishly flying the Victory Flag as Mets beat Giants

Sometimes you proudly fly the Flag of Victory, and sometimes you sort of sheepishly but it out there and say, “Oh, we won. Hey, look over there!”

Mike Pelfrey got hosed, plain and simple. He pitched eight strong innings and was pulled in the ninth with a 4-1 lead because, well, you have to use a closer in a save situation no matter what.

Except, for the second night in a row, the bullpen stunk it up. It had help. Kirk Niewenhuis overran a fly ball, allowing it to drop in and the tying run to score.

Kirk redeemed himself in the bottom of the ninth. Sort of. He came up with runners on second and third and one out, tapped one to first base. Brandon Belt threw the ball to catcher Buster Posey for an out, and Posey’s throw back to first was knocked ajar by Scott Hairston’s slide.

That allowed Reuben Tejada to score the winning run, snapping the three-game losing streak and sending the Gnome of Defeat into hiding.

Jason Bay, friend to Gnomes of Defeat

We’re getting a little too friendly with the Gnome of Defeat.

The Mets newfangled bullpen has been in a bit of a funk, and managed to throw away a fine bottom of the ninth comeback on Friday against the Giants.

The team was down 3-2 and managed to get a run home, only to have Frank Francisco give it right back in the top of the 10^th inning.

The bottom had Daniel Murphy and David Wright leading off to fill second and first, moved over by Ike Davis.

That left men on second and third, with one out and Jason Bay at the plate. A fly ball ties it, and if there’s something Jason Bay knows how to do, it’s hit pop flies.

Alas, this time he strikes out.

Lucas Duda worked the count and fouled off a bunch of pitches before ending the game, and not in a good way.

Well, the Gnome of Defeat is still making the rounds in Lansing. Looks like he’s getting closer to the state Capitol.

Roaming Gnome of Defeat means Mets struggled mightily in Atlanta

The Gnome of Defeat apparently likes to hit the road, making his way around Lasning this week.

Sadly, his appearance means the Mets again fell to the dreaded Braves, 14-6. R.A. Dickey's knuckleball apparently can't flutter in the rain. And do you know what you call a knuckleball that can't flutter? Usually a double, if not a dinger.

On the bright side, David Wright tied Darryl Strawberry in the Mets' all-tme runs batted in ranking. And Kirk Nieuwenhuis batted leadoff, reached base four times, scored half the team's runs and is making sure Andres Torres regrets that Opening Day injury.

Gnome of Defeat makes an Atlanta appearance

Well, you knew the Mets wouldn't get through the Atlanta House of Horrors without the Gnome of Defeat making at least one appearance.

Johan Santana just didn't have it, through he wasn't helped by the Mets defense, which has not been spectacular outside of Jason Bay's Endy moment on Monday.

Johan lasted just 1.1 innings, giving up 6 runs on 4 hits.

On the bright side, David Wright continued his hot hitting, with a little bit of a streak going there.

Ike and Gee send Braves, Gnome packing

Ike Davis seems back -- and chases the Gnome of Defeat away.

The Mets bounced back from Sunday's bullpen meltdown to beat up the Braves 6-1.

Dillon Gee was sharp, taking a 1-1 battle against Tommy Hanson into the sixth inning.

But Hanson apparently didn't see the highlights from Sunday's game in Philly and thought he could get one over on the previously slumping Davis.

That wa a three-run mistake, as Davis deposited one over the fence. Josh Thole continues to swing well, and Ruben Tejada made up for his skunky day in Citizens Bank Park with a double and a RBI.

So the Flag of Victory flies proudly and the Gnome of Defeat is sent packing, possibly for a road trip to Lansing.

Gnome of Defeat tells us that Mets fail to sweep Phillies

Living in Michigan, I’m surrounded by people who might not be able to hear quickly whether the Mets have won or lost.

Oh, there are lots of places they hear about the Tigers. And it’s possible that many of the neighbors care more about the team from Motown instead of our Big Apple-based heroes.

But, well, they should care about the Mets, too.

I like to help my neighbors. They’re nice people, even the one around the corner who never waves back. So since Opening Day I’ve developed a system that allows them to see instantly whether the boys in blue and orange – and only occasionally black – emerged victorious from that day’s contest.

On those days, the mighty Flag of Victory flies proudly outside the Mets Guy home, alerting all that they can rest that night that good things happen and the world is in its rightful orbit.

Then, on the rare days when the Mets are not entirely victorious, the Gnome of Defeat appears. The gnome, a gift from my mother, is not entirely sad. He knows that there is usually another game tomorrow and reminds people to keep their chin up and hope for better things and injuries to the Phillies.

While the flag is anchored to the house, the Gnome of Defeat roams freely and there’s really no telling where he is going to show up. There’s an alternative Flag of Victory, too, that might go mobile.

I’ve been posting photos of the flag or gnome on Facebook after each game, but my colleague Angela suggested that I post them somewhere else with a quick recap. She’s one of those Tigers people and Brandon Inge likes her. She also might not like her Facebook news feed cluttered with flag and gnome photos.

So we’ll start with today’s 8-2 loss to the dreaded Phillies. The Mets had a nice performance from Mike Pelfrey, who held the Phils to just run through six innings. Sadly, there were three more innings, and Terry Collins brought in the bullpen.

Ruben Tejada picked today to do bad things, and wild pitches, bases-loaded walks and bumbled plays by out-of-position outfielders did not help.

But Ike Davis got out of his funk and launched one that darn near landed in Bull’s Barbecue.
So, the flag comes down and the Gnome of Defeat is roaming freely on the lawn.

Trying to embrace the Randy Myers year, but without the nastiness

The Mets are loudly celebrating their 50th season this year, but I’m being a little more sedate in celebrating my 48th, which arrives today.

Looking at the list of Mets who have worn No. 48 is not inspiring -- though it gives us some hope for the year ahead.

The essential “Mets by the Numbers” by John Springer and Matthew Silverman tells us that the team has issued the number 18 times, all to pitchers and coaches who used to be pitches – with the exception of Red Kress, a former shortstop who did, in fact, appear in four games as a pitcher.

Kress was a coach during the 1962 season and promptly died at its conclusion, becoming the first late Met.

Joe Nolan was a catcher with No. 48, but be never made it into a game during his very short stint with the team, so he doesn’t really count.

Others with 48 on their back included Nino Espinosa, Randy Tate, Juan Berenguer, Pete Schourek, Pedro Martinez – but not the one you’re thinking of – Glendon Rusch and Ed Glynn, who was perhaps more famous for being a Shea hot dog vendor before taking the mound.

Dan Murray’s 1999 Mets tenure was brief, but he’s one of three Murrays to appear on the team and offers hope that there’s an affordable, game-worn Murray Mets jersey out there.

Aaron “Bleeping” Heilman’s bad pitch to Yadier Molina is the reason I witnessed the Cardinals in Game One of the 2006 World Series in Detroit and not the beloved Mets. So we're not going to dedicate the year to him.

That leaves reliever Randy Myers. Famous for wearing camo when not clad in pinstripes, Myers had a couple fine seasons in the Mets pen, including 26 saves and a 1.72 ERA in 1988.

Fans were sad to see him go when Myers was traded to Cincinnati for John Franco, who became a Mets Hall of Famer.

Myers became one of Cincy’s fearsome “Nasty Boys” bullpen that was key to the team’s World Series win. And he set a then-National League record with 53 saves for the Cubs in 1993.

So I’ll try to navigate this year without the pain of Heilman, because we’ve had enough already. But I’ll take the lesson of Myers to heart. It might seem like things are going well, but a change of scenery might be what it takes to bring out the very best in me. But I’d like to avoid the camo, if possible.