Daily Archives: August 30, 2007
Tonight, on The MetsBlog Podcast, I talked with the Press & Sun Bulletin’s Brian Moritz, who covers the 
Mets Doube-A affiliate, the Binghamton Mets.
Moritz and I discussed B’Mets RHP Kevin Mulvey, OF Fernando Martinez, and 1B Mike Carp and Brett Harper, among other players as the Double-A season draws to a close.
To listen to this interview, use the audio player in the site’s left-hand column, and be sure to check out Brian’s work covering the B’Mets for the Press & Sun Bulletin.
To subscribe to The MetsBlog Podcast, and receive new and old editions directly to your iPod, use this url, or simply search MetsBlog on iTunes and click subscribe.
This Friday, August 31, MetsBlog.com will host MetsBlog Night at McFadden’s, which is located on 
42nd St. and Second Avenue in New York City.
The bar will feature the Mets game against the Braves in Atlanta, with available audio from SNY’s broadcast, as well as an optional, but recommended $20 drink special, i.e., unlimited domestic drought beer through the game.
My friend, Phil, who is a Phillies fan, sent in the following text message to me a few moments ago…
“Nervous yet?”
My other friend, Noah, who lives in Philadelphia, also sent in a text message, that read…
“Don’t worry, there is always the Wild Card.”
…my phone is now off…
Paul Lo Duca, talking to WFAN’s Joe Benigo and Evan Roberts, both of whom are Mets fans, yesterday afternoon, regarding fan reaction to Tuesday’s loss to the Phillies…
“You two guys, (laughing) you should be Philadelphia Phillies fans…You guys are the biggest pessimists I have ever seen. Why do you root for this team, why are you Mets fans if you don’t believe in us (laughing), you’re unbelievable (laughing). You lose two games in the season and your season is over…Believe in your team, guys…
“You’ve got to have faith. If you love your team you’ve got to have faith.”
…or, put another way, ya gotta believe…
To listen to Lo Duca’s entire interview, go to WFAN.com.
…this is funny to me…i’ve just been sent seven e-mails within the last 10 minutes from people ripping Willie Randolph for using Billy Wagner in a six-inning save, preferring that he only pitch one inning…unreal…
…so, let me get this straight, randolph is wrong to use wagner for two innings, but his starting pitchers can’t go more than five, and yet every one else in his bullpen ‘stinks,’ according to these same critics…i mean, what is the guy supposed to do…who is supposed to pitch…
…it’s a huge game, we all agree on that…so, if he doesn’t use wagner and a guy like Aaron Heilman blows the game, then what…will these same seven e-mails praise willie for not using wagner, or will they just replace wagner’s name with heilman…i just don’t get it…it’s a huge game, and the manager took it seriously…so much so he went with his best bullpen arm to try and get the win…had he not used wagner, and another reliever blew it, you could bet my laptop he’d be getting ripped for not taking the game too seriously…
…he’s damned no matter what he does, i guess…
…i can’t believe i’m about to write this…
The Mets (73–60) lost to the Phillies (71–62) by the score of 11 to 10 in Citizen’s Bank Park today.
For a recap, and boxscore, go to Yahoo! Sports.
…this is a devastating loss, if for no other reason then because it appeared Charlie Manuel was doing everything within his power to give the Mets a win, and they still lost…not too mention the Phillies are now two games back…two…i mean, screw Pittsburgh, this game, this one right here was the most painful loss of the season, despite the team ‘still’ being in first…
…so, the Phillies led the game 5 to 0 in the third, at which point they were simply out-playing the Mets…i mean, Orlando Hernandez made a few mistakes and paid for it, Carlos Delgado was picked off first, and the team looked generally dejected, as i was too having watched the team lose the previous three games…in fact, SNY did a great job to get reaction shots from every starting position player, all of whom looked annoyed, upset, depressed and confused…just like me…
…but, in the top of the fourth, in desperate need of fight, wright led off the inning with a double, which was a huge, huge hit at the time…he eventually scored…more runners got on base, and instead of hitting el duque, Willie Randolph sent Lastings Milledge to the plate, who had struck out in 12 of his previous 19 at-bats…but, milledge hit a single over the head of Jimmy Rollins, Shawn Green scored and by the following inning the game was tied…however, in their at-bat, the Phillies sent eight men to the plate and scored three more runs to re-gain the lead…easy come, easy go…
…yes, willie took out his starting pitcher in the fourth for a pinch hitter because the moment was that important…so, i no longer want to hear from willie about how every game is equal, because, obviously, they are not…
…how great is the Mets bench, though…Marlon Anderson hit a two-run, pinch-hit double to close the gap to one run in the eighth inning…after which the Phillies intentionally walked Jose Reyes, to load the bases for Endy Chavez, who ripped a single up the middle to tie the game…
…with momentum on their side, the Mets do a double steal, but as reyes slide head first in to third, the ball dribbled by the bag and in to left field allowing him to get up, look back and rush home for the lead run…hey, hey, look who’s awake…
…given how sad the Mets bullpen has been of late, willie chose to use Billy Wagner for a six-out save in what he clearly felt was a very, very important game…wagner allowed a home run to, yep, you guessed it, Pat Burrell, another run in the ninth, and then for whatever reason he ignored Jayson Werth, who stole second and then stole third without so much as a look over…i can only think wagner and Paul Lo Duca determined that the game was to be won at the plate…the only problem is that while they were trying to win at the plate, the Phillies were winning it by running around the bases…at any rate, Chase Utley ripped a bullet below the glove of Carlos Delgado and the throw to the plate was not in time, Tad Iguchi slide home safely and the game was over…the Phillies completed the sweep…
…despite the loss, please give a game ball to David Wright, who was the hardest working man on the field today…he was 3 for 4 at the plate, made several great plays in the field, he was pumping his fist when the team was down, and essentially did his best to will his team to victory…david will not give up…frankly, the entire team played hard after the fifth, but it takes ‘nine hard outs,’ as willie likes to say…
…man, i’m exhausted from this game…i can only imagine how the players feel…frankly, this game felt like a microcosm of this entire hi-wire, roller-coaster of a season…good play, bad play, down, out, dejected, hopeless, up, winning, hopeful, then, bam, the carpet is yanked out and i’m sitting here confused, looking at the scoreboard wishing it would change…
…well, enjoy the drama, folks, because the Mets have a pennant race on their hands with just 29 games left in the year…
Tonight, at 9:30 pm EST, I will be a guest on Siruis Satellite’s The Scott Ferrall Show, which air’s on Howard Stern’s channel 101.
To subscribe to Sirius Satellite Radio, go to Sirius.com, where you can also sign up for a free, three-day online trail.
The Game:
The first-place Mets (73-59) try to salvage a game vs. the Phillies (70-62) this afternoon at Citizens Bank Park, starting at 1:05 pm EDT.
The Lineup:
SS Jose Reyes leads off, followed in order by LF Endy Chavez, 3B David Wright, CF Carlos Beltran, 1B Carlos Delgado, RF Shawn Green, 2B Ruben Gotay, C Mike DiFelice and starting pitcher Orlando Hernandez.
The Pitchers:
RHP Orlando Hernandez (9-4, 3.07 ERA) starts for the Mets. El Duque was solid yet again in his last start vs. the Dodgers, yielding two runs on four hits (including two homers) over seven innings while striking out seven. He hasn’t lost a decision since July 4th at Colorado. He has struck out at least seven batters in five of his last six starts. In two starts vs. the Phillies, this year, El Duque is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA. He threw six scoreless innings against them on June 6th.
RHP Kyle Lohse (7-12, 4.47 ERA) looks for the sweep for the Phillies. Lohse is coming off a strong start vs. the Padres where he allowed only a solo home run over 6.2 IP. He has went at least 6.1 IP in each of his last four starts. He hasn’t lost a decision since July 20th at Florida. The Mets roughed up Lohse on July 15th, scoring five runs on six hits over 4.2 innings vs. the right-hander.
The Notes:
The Mets have won each of El Duque’s last nine starts.
CF Carlos Beltran is 13-for-24 (.542) with four homers and 10 RBI vs. Lohse.
The Phillies swept the Mets at Shea Stadium earlier this season (June 5-7th).
Yesterday was the first time this season that SS Jose Reyes was caught stealing twice in a game.
SS Jimmy Rollins is batting .344 (21-for-61) with six homers and 11 RBI vs. the Mets this season.
For more insight on the Mets, check out Blogger Beat featuring Jason Weitzel of Beerleaguer.
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…
Yesterday, on The MetsBlog Podcast, Anthony talked with Sidd Finch, from Hot Foot and the Metwork.
To listen, use the audio player located in the left-hand column of this site.
To subscribe to The MetsBlog Podcast, and receive new and old editions directly to your iPod, use this url, or simply search MetsBlog on iTunes and click subscribe.
…the 2007 Mets continue to feel like a high-wire act…
…i keep hearing about big picture, ups and downs, ying-yang, balance, etc, as though the team is walking slowly, balanced, step by step, way, way up on a wire, trying to make it to the end, on top, inch by inch without falling flat on their face…
…but, every once in a while, like in June, or against the Braves, or this series against the Phillies, or any time Guillermo Mota steps to the mound, every once in a while the team says, ‘woh,’ and begins to wobble, they start to lose their balance, the floor is in sight, the fans panic, we all hold our breath, and then, again, they return to balance, all is okay and they continue to inch, step by step, ever so slowly, yet carefully towards October…
…yes, my nerves are shot…
