One thing that's become clear in the first two months of this season is that Jerry Manuel has a doghouse. Players who fall out of favor with the manager aren't going to see the field, something that Daniel Murphy has learned over the last couple of weeks. Ryan Church also spent a little time there earlier in the season, and after Tuesday night he appears to be headed back in that direction.
Church failed to touch third base on his way home in the 11th inning, a brutal mistake but hardly something he did intentionally. He got absolutely no support from his manager, however. Manuel turned his back on Church when he came back to the dugout, didn't bother to argue the call and then slammed the right fielder during his postgame press conference.
"Uhh, a guy missed third base," Manuel said. "That’s unbelievable. I can’t explain why or how or anything. But, he actually missed the base… To me, it’s just hard to miss third base. I’ve known some guys to miss first, because they’re looking for the ball and misstep, but I have rarely, I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a guy miss third base in a situation like that. I don’t know, I don’t have any explanation."
Church looked like there wasn't a deep enough hole he could crawl into following the play. It was genuinely tough to watch, and the last thing you'd think to do was twist the knife deeper into the back of a player who was already tearing himself apart. As bad as Church's play was, it was a brutal night all around for the Mets. So bad, in fact, that Dodgers announcer Vin Scully said it was a reminder of the 1962 Mets.
Manuel's response, though, made it easier for Church's teammates to join in the fun.
"I never seen anything like that," Carlos Beltran said. "I don't know what happened. I didn't ask Church what happened. It's bad."
Manuel doesn't have a problem standing up for his players. Angel Pagan, who didn't yield to Beltran on a fly ball, didn't get such a harsh reprimand for a play that was just as crucial to the Mets' eventual loss. That kind of error, one where the player should and does know better, is equally worthy of a tongue lashing but none was coming from Manuel.
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As mentioned, this isn't a new thing between Manuel and Church, and, as long as Pagan keeps hitting, you have to assume Church will find it hard to get back into the lineup. With Murphy also riding pine and the Mets needing a first baseman, it begs wondering if Church will be sent packing in a deal to bring in a replacement for Carlos Delgado. It may be for the best, because neither player nor team is served by having a player who isn't going to get a bit more support from his club.
Josh Alper is a writer living in New York City and is a contributor to FanHouse.com and ProFootballTalk.com in addition to his duties for NBCNewYork.com.
