May 30, 2006 at 11:26 pm
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by Matthew Cerrone
To make room for OF Lastings Milledge on the team’s 40–man roster, the Mets have moved RHP Brian Bannister from the 15–day disabled list to the 60–day disabled list, making it most likely that he’ll return to action around early July…
…the word from florida is that things are touch-n-go for bannister these days, as he is limited to basic physical therapy routines at this point…this could be a good thing for him, though, in that he now has no choice but to take it slow…
May 30, 2006 at 10:09 pm
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by Matthew Cerrone
The Mets lost to the D’Backs by a score of 7 to 2 at Shea Stadium tonight…
For a full recap, check out the immortal Associated Press…
…a few thoughts…
…Alay Soler has the ability…no doubt…but his command just comes and goes…one inning he has his fastball working, but he can’t get over an off-speed pitch…the next inning, it’s the other way around…he allowed 13 runners to reach base in five innings, and also chucked two wild pitches…that can’t continue, obviously…especially if he’s not going to be striking out a ton of batters…i have faith in him, though, because he seems to have the goods…he just needs to get in a groove, as willie likes to say…ya know, find his rhythm…
…congratulations to Lastings Milledge, who recorded his first major-league hit with a double in the seventh inning…i am quite excited about this kid…he has a little attitude to his game, which i like…also, that chain around his neck reminds me Otis Nixon, which, of course, makes me laugh…man, can you imagine how nervous he had to be coming to the plate with the crowd cheering him on…unreal…as it stands, he’s up for a short time, until Xavier Nady makes it back from the disabled list…however, while appearing on SNY during the game, Mets GM Omar Minaya said, “probably next year,” when asked when milledge will be called-up for good, which is something Cliff Floyd may find interesting…
…Darren Oliver looked awful…not on the mound, where he actually looked pretty good…i mean his face…dude, get some sleep, or take a pseudephed…wow…the man looks exhausted and like he has a cold…get some sleep, buddy…
…actually, lets hope they all get some sleep, and get back to winning tomorrow…can’t win them all, right…take two of three and we’re back to being golden…
May 30, 2006 at 6:08 pm
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by Matthew Cerrone
May 30, 2006 at 5:18 pm
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by Matthew Cerrone
At Newsday.com, Ken Davidoff reports that free-agent RHP Roger Clemens will soon announce that he will return to the Houston Astros…
According to Davidoff, Clemens will likely earn roughly $3.5 million per month…
…the buzz around baseball has been that clemens will use july 1 as his return date…however, that was based on him not making an announcement until mid-june…it would seem he will now return to action sooner…
May 30, 2006 at 5:04 pm
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by Matthew Cerrone
The Game…
The Mets (31–19) take on the D’Backs (29–21) for the second game of a three-game set continuing at Shea Stadium tonight at 7 pm EDT…
The Pitchers…
RHP Alay Soler (0–0, 3.00 ERA) starts for the Mets … Soler is making the second major-league start of his career … Last week against the Phillies, he allowed three runs on five hits with five strike outs over six innings …
RHP Miguel Batista (4–2, 4.60) starts for the D’Backs … The D’Backs are 7–3 when Batista starts … Left-handed batters are hitting .365 against him this season … In 16 at-bats against Batista, Cliff Floyd is batting .375, while Paul Lo Duca is just .179 in 39 career at-bats. No other Met has more than six at-bats against Batista …
The Notes…
The Mets are 11–4 with two ties in their 17 series this season…
The Mets have 15 one-run wins this season, tops in baseball…
The Mets are 12 games over .500 for the second time this season, which is their high-water mark…
The Mets, who have at least one home run in 10 of their last 11 games, are second in the league in home runs, and tops in stolen bases with 49…
The Mets have won seven of their last eight games against Arizona…
Carlos Delgado has not hit a home run since May 21. However, Cliff Floyd has a hit in seven of his last eight games, during which he is 10–for-28 with three homers and four RBI – he is batting .333 over his last 14 games…
Heath Bell has not allowed a run in his last 5.1 innings pitched…
The under/over on how many times an SNY announcer references how ‘smart’ Batista is, typically by relaying how many books he reads in the locker room, is two…
The Bleachers…
To chat during the game, go to HotFoot’s Bleachers … or, to access the chat room through IRC, go to server name irc.echo34.com and channel #metsblog…
…enjoy…
May 30, 2006 at 4:54 pm
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by Matthew Cerrone
The Mets have signed free-agent C Mike DeFelice and OF Jacob Cruz to minor league contracts. Both players have reported to the team’s extended spring training complex in Port St. Lucie…
Cruz, 33, bats left-handed and sports a .241 average following 729 life-time at-bats…
DeFelice, 37, hit .118 in 17 at-bats last season with the Mets. He is a career .238 hitter and will serve as insurance to C Ramon Castro…
May 30, 2006 at 3:06 pm
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by Matthew Cerrone
…the buzz around new york is that Lastings Milledge will certainly be in uniform during tonight’s game against the d’backs…he is expected to arrive in time to start, bat eighth and play right field…
…milledge has been added to the team’s 40–man roster…as of now there has been no announcement as to whose slot he will take…my guess is that it will either be one of the many so-so relief pitchers, or a guy like Brian Bannister, who could be moved to the 60–day disabled list, since his progress from a strained hamstring has been slower than expected…
May 30, 2006 at 1:31 pm
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by Matthew Cerrone
Mets OF Xavier Nady was forced to have emergency appendectomy surgery and will be out for roughly four weeks…
As such, the Mets have promoted…
…wait for it…you know it’s coming…
…be patient…
OF Lastings Milledge…
…the buzz from shea is that milledge may not be at the stadium tonight…however, if he is, or whenever he arrives, he will be the team’s starting right fielder…
…the team will not call up milledge, and then sit him…so, like with David Wright in 2004, and Jose Reyes in 2003, milledge will be told he has a month to play in the bigs, and will return to triple-a when nady returns, i am sure…this way there is less pressure…however, this kid, like reyes and wright, knows what’s up, and will look to take the job from nady…if he does well, i suspect nady will become a fourth outfielder…if milledge struggles, he’ll go back to norfolk, and nady will get the job back, no harm no foul…
…i’ve been a little draggy today…not too excited to be back writing after a long, summery weekend…but now i am giddy…thanks, omar…
May 30, 2006 at 12:41 pm
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by Matthew Cerrone
SportsNet New York has put up a variety of funny billboard-ads on the platform at the Willets Point subway station at Shea Stadium…
To check them out, go to our friend Sandy’s weblog, where she posts each ad and comments accordingly…
…good stuff…i miss the old mr. met ads, though…
May 30, 2006 at 12:23 pm
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by Matthew Cerrone
According to Tim’s MLB Trade Rumors, A’s LHP Barry Zito accidentally appeared on the Mets 40–man roster, in place of Alay Soler, on MLB.com’s roster page…
…hmm…drunken, silly webmater…or, prelude of what’s to come…
May 30, 2006 at 12:05 pm
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by Matthew Cerrone
…for those unhappy with Kaz Matsui, and lack confidence in Jose Valentin…
It appears the Angels are finally looking to trade 2B Adam Kennedy, according to the Toronto Star…
In 155 at-bats this season for the Angels, Kennedy is batting .277 with two HR and 21 RBI, along with 30 strikeouts, five stolen bases and 14 walks, batting mostly from the ninth spot in the batting order. He has made three errors this season…
According to the Star, Toronto had a deal in place for Kennedy, in exchange for Shea Hillenbrand, which appears to have fallen through…
May 30, 2006 at 11:51 am
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by Matthew Cerrone
Over at the Mets Minor League Report, Toby recaps the night in Mets minor league action…
Among other comments, Toby writes of strong performances by Tides LHP Evan MacLane, who allowed one run on four hits while striking out four; RHP Mike Pelfrey, who allowed one run over six innings after missing a start on Saturday with a stomach ache; and RHP Mayque Quintero, who struck out nine in six innings in a win for St. Lucie…
…toby provides a mets minor league report after each night’s action…thanks, toby…
MacLane, 23, is 4–0 in five starts for Norfolk with a 1.93 ERA. He has tossed at least seven innings in three of his five starts…
Since joining Double-A Binghamton, Pelfey is 0–1 in six starts with 3.49 ERA sporting 30 strike outs in 28.1 innings pitched…
Quintero, 28, has started two games and appeared in relief once for St. Lucie and is 1–0 with 0.82 ERA in 11 innings with 13 strike outs…
