Daily Archives: April 9, 2008
The Mets (3–4) defeated the Phillies (4–5) by the score of 8 to 2 in Shea Stadium tonight.
For a boxscore, check out the new-and-improved 
…i am so proud of Mike Pelfrey…here it was, time for him to step up, take hold of his spot in the rotation, and lead this team to a much-needed win, and he looked sensational…for starters, he looked very, very comfortable…i believe he will only get better the more he pitches, because he will grow more comfortable and confident…i initially suggested this maturation should occur in Triple-A, but if duty calls here in the big leagues, great…go get it, mike…trial by fire works just as well…tonight, he did exactly what he had been saying he needs to do, which is pound his fastball low, and in, and keep his slider away…he never faltered…what’s more, after Jose Reyes bobbled a ball and botched a double play, pelfrey kept his cool and worked out of the inning…
…the third inning was just this team needed: a full-participation, merry-go-round of hits and runs from more or less every one in the team’s lineup all within a 10–minute span…it also helps when the opposing team makes three errors, but, whatever…i’ll take it…exhale, friends…
…i hate to be picky, though, but, the Mets also left eight men on base…i’m just saying…
…nice job by Jorge Sosa, who threw two scoreless innings in relief of pelfrey…however, jeez, Pedro Feliciano, make it a bit closer will you…it’s funny, because so many of us, me included, were screaming for feliciano yesterday – as though he was the save-all, be-all to relief pitching – yet today he comes out and puts three men on base, before getting Pedro Feliz to pop up and end the inning…yikes…of course, he did get the two big lefties out, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, so, you know…
…by the way i love that Shea Stadium is using the organ more this season…it just makes the ambiance more authentic…
…lastly, i think Shave Victorino wears roller skates while playing in the outfield…he’s all over the place…seriously, because of the way the game is filmed, it feels like he plays all three outfield positions at the same time…
…again, nice job, Mike Pelfrey, who clearly gets the game ball and, hopefully, and added shot of confidence as well…
During tonight’s game, Mets GM Omar Minaya told SNY that he is very encouraged 
by Duaner Sanchez, who will pitch for Triple-A New Orleans on Friday and Saturday.
In his third rehab appearance for Single-A St. Lucie last night, Sanchez threw two scoreless innings, allowing two singles and striking out three.
During his weekly appearance on WFAN, Willie Randolph didn’t down play the importance of beating the Phillies, but he did reiterate that they are just like any division rival, adding, “We need to play better against those guys and we will.”
Later in the interview, he said, “We don’t like losing to the Phillies, we don’t like them at all.”
…none of us do, willie…none of us do…
According to Randolph, he is aware of the fan’s frustration based on talk radio and from the booing during yesterday’s game, adding, “We just gotta play better and that will take care of itself.”
Randolph says he took Oliver Perez out of yesterday’s game because he was struggling at the time, adding, “I wasn’t mad at him as some reports said, I had to do what was best for the team at the time, and it worked.”
Regarding Aaron Heilman, he said, “I gotta trust him. Right now he is my eighth-inning guy…Don’t wanna mess with him.”
Regarding Jose Reyes, Randolph said, “He’s gonna catch fire and have a good year. He had a strong spring. It’s only six games. He’s just a little jumpy. He wants to redeem himself for last season. He’ll settle in and have phenomenal year for us.”
Lastly, asked if the team is feeling any pressure based on how last season ended, he said, “I don’t sense that in the clubhouse…I think we feel like we would like to get off to a good start so we don’t have to answer those questions. So, maybe there’s a little urgency in our minds but I think we’ve turned the page.”
…thanks to the great Peter Wade for the quotes…
To listen to Randolph’s entire interview, go to WFAN.com.
Tagged Willie Randolph |According to Ken Rosenthal at FOXSports.com, the Mets are close to signing free-agent RHP Claudio Vargas.
The New York Post writes that a deal could be done as soon as tomorrow, while citing the player’s agent.
Last season, Vargas went 11-6 with a 5.09 ERA in 29 games for the Brewers, who released him during spring training.
…now that el duque is in a boot, and sidelined 
for at least two more weeks, though likely more, and with Pedro Martinez out with a hamstring injury, signing vargas is a no brainer…
The A’s have designated 1B-OF Dan Johnson for assignment, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
The A’s have 10 days to either trade him or put him on waivers.
In 318 games, spanning four seasons for the A’s, while playing first base and right field, the left-handed hitting, 28–year-old Johnson is batting .249 with 42 HR and 157 RBI.
…if only johnson was a right-handed hitter…the thing is, johnson hits lefties and righties more or less the same…the problem is that, so far in his career, he has hit neither well and with any consistency…but he plays outfield and first, which is nice…
As noted during my Live Blog yesterday, Darryl Strawberry has signed on with SNY to appear roughly 60 or so times during the network’s pre– and post-game show.
…in other news, i will be on the pre-game show every Wednesday, though i some how bet this is less newsworthy…
The Game:
The Mets (2-4) continue their home opening series against the Phillies (4-4) this evening at Shea Stadium, starting at 7:10 pm EDT.
The Lineup:
- SS Jose Reyes
- LF Angel Pagan
- 3B David Wright
- CF Carlos Beltran
- 1B Carlos Delgado
- RF Ryan Church
- 2B Damion Easley
- C Brian Schneider
- P Mike Pelfrey
The Pitchers:
RHP Mike Pelfrey (0-0, 0.00 ERA) takes the hill for the Mets in his season debut. Pelfrey was 3 – 8 with a 5.57 ERA in 15 appearances for the Mets last season. Pelfrey had a 8.14 ERA in six spring training starts. In his only career start against the Phillies last July, Pelfrey took the loss, allowing three runs, on four hits over 5.1 innings pitched while striking out three and walking one.
RHP Kyle Kendrick (1-0, 7.20 ERA) makes his second start of the season for the Phillies. In his season debut, Kendrick allowed four runs on eight hits over five innings pitched in a win over the Reds. Kendrick won his only career start against the Mets last season, allowing two runs on six hits over 6.2 innings pitched.
…as interested as i was with Oliver Perez‘s start yesterday, i’m even more interested in pelfrey’s start tonight…with Orlando Hernandez and Pedro Martinez not due back anytime soon, it’s time for big pelf to step up and show some confidence in his raw talent…Brian Schneider seems to be calling games more aggressively than his predecessor and in turn, my hope is, this helps pelfrey be more aggressive with his fastball, instead of relying on his secondary breaking pitches…let’s go big pelf…
The Notes:
Dating back to September 15, 2007, Jose Reyes has not stolen a base in 21 consecutive games. The Mets are 7-14 in those games.
…hat tip to D.J. Short for the stat…
Carlos Beltran, who leads the majors with seven doubles, is hitless in two career at-bats versus Kendrick.
The Mets are first in the National League with a .354 on-base percentage.
How To Catch It:
Tonight’s game can be seen locally on
and nationally on ESPN2 and can be heard locally on WFAN.
The Bleachers:
For a live in-game chat, head over to The Hot Foot Bleachers.
…just as i think pelfrey needs to be aggressive on the mound tonight, the Mets offense needs to be equally aggressive at the plate and on the base paths…this team thrives when they have shown that ability to be patiently aggressive, but unfortunately we haven’t seen that from them in nearly a full season…we can lay blame on the Willie Randolph and his external message, but what it really comes down to is the players ability to execute…i still believe this team can show that killer instinct thats been missing, but it’s time we stop making the manager the scapegoat and time for the players, like Jose Reyes, to start playing up to their abilities…
…enjoy, and as always, let’s go mets…
Tagged Mike Nichols |
Orlando Hernandez is back in a medical boot, this time with a strained tendon, and will be sidelined for two weeks – at which point he’ll be re-evaluated.
Hernandez returned to New York from St. Lucie yesterday for an MRI.
…i hope he makes it back…i do…because he can be an effective pitcher…the thing is, i am no longer holding my breath…and, i’m starting to feel like the Mets should approach their pitching staff as though el duque, as well as Pedro Martinez, will not return…which is not to say they will not…and i hope the eventually do…i just think it’s safer to operate under the former…for security purposes…plus, this way, they can save money on medical tape…
Tagged Orlando Hernandez |The Empire State Building’s tower lights will be illuminated in orange and blue tonight to honor the Mets final night home opener at Shea Stadium.
…last may the empire state building was also illuminated in orange and blue, when the Mets two of three from the Yankees in first subway series…
Tagged Mike Nichols |During his third rehab appearance for Single-A St. Lucie, Duaner Sanchez threw two scoreless innings last night, allowing two singles and striking out three.
…he has still not pitched on back-to-back days, but certainly two innings is an improvement over his previous efforts…
Tagged Mike Nichols |
...my biggest concern about the early going is that despite the acquisition of Johan Santana, i feel no sense of urgency with this ballclub…ultimately, i fear that his acquisition may be a band-aid on a bigger problem…i hope i’m wrong…
…i’m not gonna lie, even i have found myself dismissing a loss here or there by saying, ‘It’s only April,‘ or ‘No worries, we’ll get ‘em tomorrow’…needless to say, it’s easy to get caught up the verbiage of a team’s manager…however, this kind of attitude is a big reason why the Mets underachieved significantly in the second half of last season and ultimately collapsed in September…this attitude, or the perception of it, regardless of what Willie says behind closed doors, must be changed…a game in April or June is just as important as a game in September…Willie shouldn’t underestimate or insult the intelligence of New York baseball fans by hedging like that…we’ve been around for a while, and so has he…this passive attitude is palpable and it reflects with what we are seeing, hearing and reading with the fans…
…before you think i’m all doom and gloom, remember that i know the Mets are good…the pieces, though some flawed, are certainly in place to contend…i only want to see them fight for it instead of wait to be crowned…
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