On 50-year anniversary, Mets' play also turns back...

On 50-year anniversary, Mets' play also turns back...

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Larry Vanover hears earful from Terry Collins before ump tosses Mets skipper in seventh inning Wednesday, at least sparing him from watching rest of his team's forgettable performance.

A las, the glory and passion that was 4-0 was simply too short-lived, rudely blunted by David Wrights broken pinkie and the harsh reality of the defense and depth deficiencies that dont figure to be rectified anytime soon.

Throw in the dual malaises of Ike Davis and Jason Bay and, on this 50th anniversary of the franchises first game, it did appear we were watching th e 62 Mets on Wednesday.

You could just feel the pall once again settling in over Citi Field as all the dire prognostications for this Mets team seemed back on track. Ordinarily, a 4-2 home stand in which Johan Santana turned in two strong, almost vintage, though abbreviated outings would be cause for optimism if only all the things Terry Collins privately worried about hadnt reared their ugly heads so quickly.

Following up on his Opening Day five shutout innings against the Atlanta Braves, Santana limited the Washington Nationals to just one run the result of his own wild pitch while striking out eight over five-plus innings. He left trailing, 1-0, but it felt like 10-0. This is what happens when your hitters have 15 strikeouts and your pitchers have 10 walks.

Those were the most glaring deficiencies that manifested themselves. Others, more subtle, were apparent in both losses to the Nats in which the Mets, with Ronny Cedeo, who is no Wright at third base, managed all of two runs. Tuesday night, Daniel Murphys inability to make a double-play throw to first and Lucas Duda taking a bad route on Wilson Ramos fly ball to right-center led to two undeserved (if not unearned) runs against Dillon Gee in the sixth inning. Then Wednesday, Josh Thole was having a heckuva time holding onto the ball behind home plate, with two passed balls and the wild pitch by Santana, while rookie center fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis misjudging of Ian Desmonds rising liner in the seventh resulted in a double and led to the Nationals second run, which came across on Manny Acostas bases-loaded walk to Mark DeRosa.

Just one of those days, said Thole.

It was in that inning that Collins got himself tossed for questioning home plate umpire Larry Vanovers strike zone. This was prompted by Vanover ringing up Bay with runners at first and second and one out the inning before. Bay rarely argues a call but is obviously reaching the height of frustr ation with a 3-for-19 start that includes eight strikeouts and just one RBI, and he spoke out, prompting Collins involvement.

I admit I got a lot of guts to argue balls and strikes when our pitchers are walking 10 batters, Collins said. But Jason doesnt ever say anything to anyone and I have to protect my players.

Even though its only the first week of the season, the loss of Wright, who was off to a sizzling .583 start with a team-leading four RBI, was devastating in that it laid bare the woes of Bay and Davis.

It should be noted that by poking a base hit into right field in the sixth, Davis avoided the ignominy of equaling Todd Pratts club record for the longest (0-for-19) schneid to lead off a season. Is it, in fact, the residue of Valley Fever? No one dares to suggest it. But theres no getting around the fact that, even with Wright, theres been a gaping hole in the middle of the lineup, and no one seems to be able to explain whats wrong with Davis and Bay.

I will say were taking too many pitches, Collins said. The last two innings, we took pitches right down the middle. You cant do that when youre struggling.

I actually feel pretty good, said Bay, which is probably more than Davis can say. Im seeing the ball good as opposed to guessing.

Collins remains cautiously optimistic that Wright will be somehow back in the lineup Friday in Philadelphia. One suspects, however, that the manager took in enough over the past two games to wonder if what he saw over the first four was the best its going be for this version of the 62 Mets.