Daily Archives: August 9, 2007
The Mets lead the Braves today by two runs, then trailed by four, rallied to score three in the ninth and lost by one.
In the bottom of the ninth, with the Mets down one, Carlos Delgado hit a deep fly-ball to left field, over the wall, but it was robbed and brought back in for a catch, Endy-Chavez style, by Braves OF Willie 
Harris.
Willie Randolph, on the catch, series and rally, while talking to reporters after today’s loss…
“He got up there good. Great athletic play, it looked like that ball got out of the ballpark…I thought it was out for the second there…
“I’m always proud of my team. We battle back. we let a couple runs slip away there at the end of the game there, which would have been huge there for us, but we kept fighting back. I wanted it really bad there today, but, you know, we made some mistakes there early…but, the bottom line is, it was a good series, we’d have loved to have won two out of three, but we’ll just get ready for Miami now…
“We turn the page well, we’ve done it all year.”
The Mets (64–50) lost to the Braves (61–54) by the score of 7 to 6 in Shea Stadium this afternoon…
For a recap and boxscore, check out Yahoo! Sports.
…damn…i mean, that’s really all i keep saying to myself…the thing is, the Mets didn’t need to win this game, you know what i mean…don’t get me wrong, i wanted them to win, obviously, but it’s not like this game was an absolute must win…they lost, and yet they are still in first by four games in the loss column…so, with this being the case, why do i keep saying damnit when i look at the boxscore…i guess i just hate losing to the Braves, and am getting so sick of it…first place, last place, whatever, i just want to know my favorite team is better…and while the standings may tell me the Mets are better, it still bugs me that the Braves can keep pushing the Mets around…in the grand scheme of things it doesn’t matter, i suppose…i mean, the Mets can certainly win this division, and even get to the World Series, by never beating the Braves ever again…and i’d take that, but i’d still feel like they have our number and, for whatever reason, that bothers me…
…on to the game…
…i am happy to see this team make a play in the ninth…they showed a little fight…they could easily have packed it in on a hot day…but, instead, Ruben Gotay got a hit, a double by reyes, and a home run by wright to bring the game within one…and had Willie Harris not eaten his Wheaties, the game would have been tied off the bat of delgado…
…i love Jose Reyes getting on base, Luis Castillo moving him over, and one of David Wright or Carlos Delgado knocking him in with a single…it happened twice…actually, in one case, reyes lead off with an out, and castillo filled right in…
…the problem today, in my opinion, was less about John Maine, who allowed six runs through five innings, and who came a bit unglued again, but i am more concerned about how the Mets were unable to continue on those reyes-castillo-wright-delgado rallys…it seemed like on a few occasions that the Mets had Tim Hudson on the ropes, and then they weakly grounded out to end the inning, keeping the Braves within reach…
…also, just out of curiosity, but why were the Mets conceding a run down three in the seventh…strange…and, the thing is, the Mets ended up losing by one…so, yeah…i’m just saying…
…again, tough loss…i’m not angry, just annoyed…i’d still rather be us then them, of course, …but, still, ‘damn,’ you know what i mean…
The Game:
The first-place Mets (64-49) look for the victory in the rubber game vs. the Braves (60-54) this afternoon, starting at 12:10 pm EDT.
The Lineup:
SS Jose Reyes leads off, followed in order by 2B Luis Castillo, 3B David Wright, 1B Carlos Delgado, LF Moises Alou, RF Shawn Green, C Ramon Castro, CF Marlon Anderson and starting pitcher John Maine.
The Pitchers:
RHP John Maine (12-6, 3.27 ERA) starts for the Mets. He unraveled in the third inning of his last start vs. the Cubs. He ended up responsible for six runs on four hits over two and a third innings while walking three and striking out just one. The six runs were the most Maine has allowed in any start this season. Largely because of his last start, Maine now has a 5.68 ERA in 25.1 IP since the All-Star break (spanning five starts). Maine is remarkably consistent against right-handed and left-handed batters (.217 with 7 HR respectively) and in home (3.26 ERA) and away (3.28 ERA) starts this season. Strangely, Maine has never faced the Braves.
RHP Tim Hudson (12-5, 2.95 ERA) takes the hill for the Braves. He was brilliant vs. the Rockies in his last start, pitching seven shutout innings while allowing only five hits and striking out seven. Hudson has pitched 14 consecutive scoreless innings. Hudson has won six consecutive decisions. The Braves have won eight consecutive games in which he has pitched. Hudson has only allowed four home runs in 158.2 IP this season. He has pitched seven innings or more on 17 occasions this season. Hudson shut the Mets down earlier this season at Shea (April 20th) hurling eight shutout innings.
The Notes:
1B Carlos Delgado is 14-for-46 (.304) with three doubles, five homers and eight RBI vs. Hudson lifetime.
The Mets are 15-6 in one-run games this season.
Yesterday’s home run by Moises Alou was his first at home this season.
2B Luis Castillo has nine hits in his last 16 at-bats.
LF Willie Harris has been caught stealing 10 times in 26 attempts this season.
3B Chipper Jones is 5-for-9 with two doubles, a triple, three runs and two RBI in the series.
For more insight on the Braves, check out Blogger Beat.
The Bleachers:
To chat during the game, head over to The Hot Foot Bleachers. If you are IRC savvy, log on to irc.echo34.com and enter channel #metsblog.
…enjoy…and as always, let’s go mets…
On Sunday, August 12, the Mets and the Baseball Tomorrow Foundation will be collecting new and used baseball or softball equipment outside of Shea Stadium on behalf of the Greater New York Sandlot Alliance, which supports local youth baseball and softball leagues.
…great program…if you’re going to the game, do these kids a favor and pick up a ball, or donate an old bat, glove, helmet, etc, as i am certain it will be appreciated…
Despite allowing the bases to get loaded in a one-run game in the ninth inning last night against the Braves, Billy Wagner got Jeff Francoeur to ground in to a fielders 
choice, and got Andruw Jones to hit in to a game-ending double play without allowing a run to score.
Wagner, talking to reporters after the win…
“I sucked…but, you’re always a pitch or two away from getting out of a situation, and tonight I proved that theory true…
“Nothing comes easy when we play the Braves. Tonight we weathered the storm, and our pitching…well, I’ll say El Duque and Aaron…were fantastic…and if it wasn’t for Mo getting that home run, I mean, it was a 96–mpg fastball up and in…I guess the guy didn’t get the memo about Mo and fastballs…but, they were key hits and big situations and we really needed that…That was a big win.”
…i love it…only wagner could save a huge game against the Braves, yet say he sucks…this is what i like most about him…
…meanwhile, i think what i enjoyed most about last night’s game is that it was the typical game the Mets lose to atlanta…you know how it goes, Mets have a lead, they blow it, they rally, tease us, and then the bullpen gives it up to chipper and the Mets lose…last night, though, in what was shaping up to be the standard script, alou came through, and wagner, in total non-franco, non-benitez fashion, actually got it together to close out the game…and to do it in such an important game makes it all the more meaningful…
During last night’s win, Luis Castillo tied up the game in the eighth inning on a single with the bases loaded.
…i still can’t get over how releaved he looked when reaching first base, letting out a huge clap, fist pump and a big smile…
Castillo, while talking to reporters after the game…
“That was a big hit. Now I feel much better, like I’m on the team…
“When we play the Braves, we’re excited like we’re in the playoffs. We know we can fight and compete with any team in the league.”
…we…nice…welcome to the Mets, luis…
The Mets are 13–6 when Orlando Hernandez starts this season. They are 8-1 during his last nine starts.
Hernandez is 6–5 against teams that are over .500.
…it’s still too early to begin plotting about who will pitch where and why when Pedro Martinez returns from the disabled list…i mean, let’s let pedro get back first…but, of all the current starting pitchers who i trust most out of the bullpen, it would be el duque, which stinks, because he is also the starting pitcher i trust most as a starting pitcher right now…
Mets GM Omar Minaya told reporters that Endy Chavez could return within the next few weeks.
Chavez was initially placed on the disabled list on June 7 with a strained left hamstring.
Last night for Single-A St. Lucie, Pedro Martinez tossed 63 pitches, 44 for strikes, he reached 88 mph, allowed five runs on six hits, including two solo home runs, while walking none and 
striking out five, through three innings.
Later, Martinez threw 17 more pitches in the bullpen.
…from what i understand, the two most important things to look at here are a) he feels good, and b) his walk-to-strike out ratio, because it shows that he has good control, which means his mechanics are strong, which means his shoulder is good…the home runs, etc, are meaningless…that becomes an issue in the one or two starts before being promoted…
Martinez, talking to reporters after the game…
“Don’t worry about the results, because I’m, healthy and that’s what they want. They know I’m gonna make adjustments, and this is not normal for me. I’ve been away for 12 months now and it’s not easy to just come back and be sharp and be the Pedro that they’re used to seeing…
“I can’t wait for the next five days to be over, so I can get back in there and make the adjustments I need to make to actually get back to New York. I’m bored, i don’t wanna be in Florida no more.”
…buzz from florida is that he’ll pitch again in florida, either on the road with st. lucie, or back at tradition field with the gulf coast league team…again, though, the key is to see how he feels today and tomorrow, after which the team will set a follow-up agenda…
Jack, a long-time reader of MetsBlog, has posted some great photos, here, of Martinez’s outing.
…that first shot is outstanding…as some young guy just sits observing pedro, who is clearly focused, praying, etc, prior to one of the most meaningless, yet most meaningful, games of his career…great photo…
…i’m having some issues with posting to MetsBlog this morning…in fact, several posts, including last night’s post-game continue to be hung up in queue…i am working on it, and all should be fixed soon…thank you for your patience…
