Hunter Pence Bites Mets With Venomous Fangs, Giants Still Lose

Hunter Pence in a normal baseball position

Hunter Pence does some of the most bizarre things you will ever see on a baseball diamond, and it was fitting on his first game as a Giant was a kooky masquerade of absurdity. I don’t know much about Pythagorean records, but I’m pretty sure the Mets record should be 194-2 after this game. The Mets had 20 base runners in this game. Here are 20 weird, strange facts about the game:

1. It was Jerry Garcia night, so 3/4 of the crowd was high

2. It was Hunter Pence’s debut, so the other 1/4 were Martians there to support the family.

3. Matt Cain did not pitch a perfect game

4. Ruben Tejada hit his first home run in 706 PA. 

5. On the first pitch of the game. 

6. Against Matt Cain.

7. Matt Cain gave up 10 base runners in 5 innings.

8. Just 2 of those scored.

9. The Mets had 5 base runners in the 8^th inning. 

10. None scored.

11. The Mets had 8 base runners in the final two innings

12. None scored

13. Melky Cabrera did not have a hit.

14. Josh Thole was hit in the back with a baseball while running to first, and called out for runners interference. 

15. Brad Penny had a successful baseball play

16. Brad Penny made an impressive baseball play.

17. Brad Penny had a reason to fist pump.
18. 20 Mets reached base. 2 scored.

19. 19 Mets reached base without hitting a home run. 1 scored.

20. The Mets won.

Here are the not weird parts of the game:

1.  The Giants offense struggled.

It was a hilarious, whacky, silly, wonderful baseball game from the Giants perspective during the top of the 8^th to the top of the 9^th inning. Then Dr. Buzz Kill injected reality into the Giants during the bottom of the ninth, and the team lost its  5^th game in its last 6. Hunter Pence should eat Dr. Buzz Kill.

*****

The Giants had one 1-2-3 inning the entire night. That was the 7^th inning, pitched by George Kontos. Here’s how George Kontos ranks among Giants relievers:

ERA: 1^st

FIP: 1^st

K/BB: 1^st

K%: 2^nd

BB%: 1^st

He’s pitched about half the amount of games as most of the other relievers, but the point remains that he’s been outstanding. He was the first man out of the bullpen tonight, which implies that Bochy still values him fairly low on the bullpen totem pole. He should be pitching in higher leveraged situations, rather than a long man for when the starting pitcher throws 150 pitches by the 5^th. Leave that to Brad Penny.

Speaking of Brad Penny, he was chosen over Sergio Romo during the 8^th inning with the bases loaded. Romo had two bad outings, and suddenly he’s Matt Herges with a beard. It’s not as if Penny looked all that good today. Ryan Theriot saved a stopped a potential base hit in the 8^th which would have plated two with a nifty diving stop. Penny subsequently loaded the bases in the 9^th when Jason Bay hammered one up the middle that went literally right into the glove of Brad Penny, who was able to turn a double play. That’s our Brad Penny!

I agree Bruce Bochy, Sergio Romo had two bad outings, so that should totally discount the other 208 innings he pitched in his career.

*****

Hunter Pence went 0-4 tonight, so I predict the offense is doomed. I miss Burriss :(

*****

Gregor Blanco should be starting it centerfield over Angel Pagan. Their bats have similar value and Blanco is far and away a better defender. He also takes pitches, whereas Angel Pagan's career BB% is on line with Pablo Sandoval. Blanco has a chance to be a decent leadoff hitter, and a very plus defender. Tonight's catch was on par with the perfect game catch, which should automatically win Blanco 50 gold gloves and starting centerfield job.