Daily Archives: September 26, 2007
The Mets lost to the Nationals by the score of 9 to 6 in Shea Stadium tonight – coupled with a win by Phillies, the Mets lead in the National League East is now down to just one game with four games left to play.
For a recap and boxscore, go to Yahoo! Sports.
…look up, see that gigantic object, it’s the sky, and it’s falling…
…i don’t have much to say, since we hosted a live, in-game podcast through tonight’s game…all i know is that it is what it is: a total foot race now, a fight to the finish…and with a one game lead, and Pedro Martinez on the mound, i am oddly confident…the thing is, he’s gonna have to pitch nine innings, because, if he doesn’t, who knows what will happen…
…i have never seen a bullpen kick a team in the ass like this, and what’s worse, they’re not being helped out by the team’s starting pitchers, who, regardless of age and experience, seem incapable of lasting beyond the fifth inning…
…it’s a lethal combination, which is poisoning every effort made by the team’s offense…for pete’s sake, the bats staked their pitchers with a five-run lead tonight, yet the team lost 9 to 6…unreal…in the last week the they have scored four runs or more in 12 straight games, yet they’re 4–8 during that time…i mean, what else are those guys supposed to do…they can’t drive in every single run…it’s not human…yet, at this point, that’s essentially what it has come down to, because they’re getting no help from the mound…
…you can blame willie, you can blame rickey’s card game, you can blame the hitting coach, the defense, the occasional missed opportunity at the plate, etc, you can even blame omar’s lack of options, and we can believe all we want, and the bats can believe all they want, but, at the end of the day, eventually, a starting pitcher must throw a quality start and a relief pitcher must get through a tough spot…because, at the end of the day, the best coach, the best hitter, the best GM, and all the faith in the world from fans will not be able to play out the worst hand…i mean, not even rickey can win that card game…the pitchers have to execute, or this is not going to end well…
…come on, guys, it’s now or never…you’ve gotta to believe, at this point…the rest of us are all just waiting and watching…
During his interview this afternoon with WFAN, Willie Randolph said that Orlando Hernandez will most likely pitch from the bullpen this weekend, assuming he feels good after his simulated game tomorrow afternoon.
Tagged Orlando Hernandez |
…tonight on The MetsBlog Podcast, anthony and i will be doing a live commentary throughout the entire game tonight…
…we expect some friends to call in and hang out for a bit, like WFAN’s Evan Roberts, who will be at the game; followed by John Sickels from MinorLeagueBall.com, who will give his take on Phil Humber’s first-ever start; and, of course, DJ.Short and Regis Courtemanche from MetsBlog, and John from Metsradamus will stop by…
To call in during the show, dial (718) 664-6795.
…lastly, the phone line will remain open for you to call in, as well…so, if you have a complaint about an in-game situation, or just have a question, or comment, etc, please, dial away, as we’ll be taking calls on and off throughout the entire game…
To call in during the show, dial (718) 664-6795.
To listen live at 7:10 pm click the icon below.
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.
Tagged MetsBlog |
The Game
The first-place Mets (87–70) look to salvage one vs. the Nationals (71-87) this evening at Shea Stadium, starting at 7:10 pm EDT.
The Lineup
- SS Jose Reyes
- 2B Luis Castillo
- 3B David Wright
- CF Carlos Beltran
- LF Moises Alou
- 1B Carlos Delgado
- C Paul Lo Duca
- RF Carlos Gomez
- SP Philip Humber
The Pitchers
Philip Humber makes his first major league start for the Mets tonight. In two relief appearances this season, Humber has allowed a run over three innings. In 25 starts with Triple-A New Orleans this season, the 24-year old Humber was 11-9 with a 4.27 ERA. He was fifth in the Pacific Coast League with 120 strikeouts. Opponents hit .244 vs. Humber — lefties hit .230 while righties hit .256.
Mike Bacsik (5-8, 4.76 ERA) starts for the Nats. Bacsik hasn’t started since September 11th at Florida, when he allowed five runs on eight hits (including three home runs) over 2.2 IP. Righties are hitting .288 with 17 homers off the southpaw this season. In three appearances against the Mets this season (one start, two in relief) Bacsik is 1-0 with a 1.74 ERA (2 ER allowed in 10.1 IP).
The Notes
The Mets have lost four out of their last five games against the Nationals. The Mets are in danger of dropping six straight at home for the first time since the 2004 season.
Moises Alou carries his club-record 29-game hitting streak into tonight’s game.
Carlos Gomez has just one hit in 13 at-bats (.077) this month. He hit a sacrifice fly on Monday.
Five of Austin Kearns’ 16 home runs this season have come against the Mets, including one in each of the first two games of this series.
The Bleachers
For a live chat, head over to The Hot Foot Bleachers.
…enjoy…and as always, let’s go mets…
In his latest column for ESPN.com’s Page 2, Jeff Pearlman proclaims SNY’s Mets broadcast team is the best in baseball.
According to Pearlman, Gary Cohen, Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez are, “funny, insightful, and — most importantly — brutally honest.”
…sounds like he is writing for a movie poster…
Pearlman details the iconic rise of Darling and Hernandez while playing with the 1986 Mets and their bitter end as Major Leaguers and how they translated that into broadcasting. Hernandez as quoted by Pearlman…
“I’ll always be a baseball player first, an announcer second, but for me, this is joy. It’s like being on the couch, kicking back with Gary and Ronnie and talking baseball.”
…unfortunately, living out of state and not with in the SNY broadcast area i don’t get to listen to gary, ron and keith’s broadcast as much as i would like…and i can tell you after being stuck listening to various broadcast teams across baseball, they are without a shadow of a doubt the best in baseball…i’ve learned so much more about the ins and outs of baseball by listening to ron and keith…those living within the tri-state are, consider yourselves lucky…
…by the way the photo of keith used in the article is priceless…it screams, “I’m Keith Hernandez”…
Tagged Mike Nichols, Ron Darling |In the New York Times, Jack Curry does a great job detailing the work being done by Howard Johnson to help get Jose Reyes back on track.
Since August 14, Reyes is batting .232, during which the Mets are 21–18.
Curry followed Johnson and Reyes through their pre-game work yesterday in the batting cage, which led to a two home-run night for Reyes, including four RBI.
HoJo, as quoted by Curry…
“We’re trying to simplify him. Really just take his body out of it. Let him relax. Let him feel comfortable. Level his swing out. Keep his hands back and through the baseball without too much extra movement. He’s such a big part of our offense. And when he’s not going well, then we’re not going well.”
…now, if hojo could only figure out why reyes is making so many mental mistakes on the bases and in the field, and we’ll be all set…seriously, did you catch how willie stared him down from the dugout last night, after jose nearly got picked off of first…it was such an ice-cold look coming through the television, i thought even i was about to get grounded…
Prior to yesterday’s game, Mets GM Omar Minaya explained to reporters that Fred Wilpon called a meeting at Shea Stadium to gather members of his front-office staff, including Minaya and his assistants, as well as the team’s manager, Willie Randolph, to make sure every one is focused and working together 
during the final week or the season.
…as i wrote last night, great job, fred…way to grab the wheel…from what i can gather, the idea was to get his top guys together, including willie, to air out a few issues, and to make sure every one is on the same page, publicly and privately, and so all parties know that ownership is behind them 100 percent, in what is a pretty pressure-packed time of year for this team…
…last week it was a players-only meeting downstairs…this week it was a management-only meeting upstairs…
…ok, great, so, are we all cool now…can we please ditch the drama and just get back to playing good, crisp baseball again…
Minaya, talking to reporters before the game:
Tagged Omar Minaya, Willie Randolph |“I will say something about Willie and I told Willie this today: As a manager, who’s been through a pennant race as a player and as a coach, who’s been through a lot and understands that, I think he is right on the top of the list. I, myself, believe the experience that Willie has helps out here as we go through this. I saw it last year in the playoffs, how he handled those type of situations…We support the man, you better believe it.”
The following is Mike and the Maddog singing Meet the Mets, during their afternoon radio show for WFAN today…
…basically, the told listeners that, instead of criticizing the Mets, they would sing Meet the Mets in an effort to be more positive…they’re clearly mocking the Mets, but they’re at least having fun while doing it…thanks, guys…i think…
Tagged MetsBlog |ESPN.com is asking their readers to vote on who they think will win the National League’s Most Valuable Player Award.
Currently with 18,098 votes cast, 45% of their readers believe Brewers 1B Prince Fielder will win the MVP, followed by Rockies OF Matt Holliday (22%), Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins (17%), and Mets 3B David Wright (14%).
…i would love wright to get the mvp, but i believe if either the Brewers or Rockies make the post-season, fielder or holliday will win it…
Tagged Mike Nichols |
According to MLB, finalists for DHL’s Delivery Man of the Year Award are Francisco Cordero, Trevor Hoffman, Jason 
Isringhausen, Takashi Saito and Jose Valverde.
Billy Wagner was left off the list.
By the way, Wagner has four more saves, 29 more strikeouts, and six less walks than Isringhausen, in just four-and-one-third more innings pitched.
Fans can vote at MLB.com.
Tagged Regis Courtemanche | ← Older posts
