Mike Nichols

preGame: Mets vs. Nationals (Game Three)
By Mike Nichols - Apr 17, 2008 6:06 pm

The Game:

The Mets (7-6) look to sweep their three-game series against the Nationals (4-11) this evening at Shea Stadium, starting at 7:10 pm EST.

The Lineup:

…as mentioned earlier on MetsBlog, Carlos Beltran is out of the lineup due to a stiff neck…

…interesting clark starts instead of Endy Chavez…my guess is Willie Randolph didn’t want to flood the lineup with lefties…i also like casanova catching tonight as he and figueroa seemed to work well together in figgy’s last start…

The Pitchers:

RHP Nelson Figueroa (1-0, 4.50 ERA) makes his second start of the season for the Mets. In his last start versus the Brewers on April 10th, he allowed two runs on two hits and two walks, while striking out six over six innings pitched. This is Figueroa’s first career start versus the Nationals. In four career starts versus the Expos, Figueroa is 1-1 with a 2.81 ERA.

LHP John Lannan (0-2, 6.75 ERA) takes the hill for the Nationals. Lannan earned a loss in his last outing versus the Braves on April 12th, allowing six runs on nine hits, while walking four and striking out two. In his only career start versus the Mets on August 18, a loss, Lannan allowed five runs and eight hits over 5.2 IP.

The Notes:

Nationals starters are 2-10 with a 5.16 ERA in 82.0 IP so far this season.

Ryan Church is batting .310 with a homerun, 4 RBI and & 7 runs in 29 at-bats during the homestand.

For more insight on the Nationals, check out Blogger Beat.

How To Catch It:

Tonight’s game can be seen locally on and heard locally on WFAN.

The Bleachers:

For a live chat, head over to The Hot Foot Bleachers.

…enjoy, and as always, Let’s Go Mets

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434 Comments »

Comment by metsmets17
2008-04-17 18:08:57

Beltran off today??? Come on Willie. You could’ve given Delgado off. You had to give Beltran off after his good day yesterday.

No killer instinct at all. Yes Im pissed.

Comment by metsmets17
2008-04-17 18:10:58

i just noticed stiff neck……..ugh

Comment by m00kie
2008-04-17 18:13:39

i just noticed you just noticed. Sorry for snapping… it’s been a long week ;)

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Comment by m00kie
2008-04-17 18:12:39

how do you know there isn’t a reason beltran is off? Oh, that’s right, you don’t.

Carlos Beltran is out with a sore neck/shoulder. Brian Schneider is just taking a day off.

says john delcos. This whole “willie has no killer instinct” is an irritating narrative, don’t perpetuate it without even knowing what is going on. Why after 15 games, should Willie risk an injury to Beltran if he’s sore or stiff? He shouldn’t is the answer there.

 
Comment by Nightlife
2008-04-17 20:24:35

Can we ban the the following words/phrases from this blog; “heart”, “killer instinct”?

Comment by Nightlife
2008-04-17 20:25:43

I should specify, ban from the comments section.

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Comment by JohanMartinez
2008-04-17 18:09:41

I hate to say this but, EWWWW , Clark in CF??? not lookin good..maybe its just the bold print..I do like Casanova thought, gives B Schneid a chance to keep workin on his glove…LETS GO FIGGY , LETS GO METS!!

Comment by yagottabelieve
2008-04-17 18:43:36

I might have preferred Pagan in CF and Clark in left.

Then again I don’t see them in defensive drills…

 
 
Comment by JohanMartinez
2008-04-17 18:10:33

Ryan Church , finally a MET that hits good in Shea!!

 
Comment by Steal Home Jose!
2008-04-17 18:23:35

Is it really worth quoting his stats vs. the Expos?

 
Comment by Bill Buckner
2008-04-17 18:24:50

We better hope for a lot of production from 1-4 tonight, because there most likely won’t be much punch 5-9. Here’s to another huge game from Wright/Reyes.

 
Comment by Midtown
2008-04-17 18:31:10

YUCK!

Comment by gipper91375
2008-04-17 18:34:06

That’s a pretty brutal lineup….but the 29 Yankees couldn’t beat the Nats today - what with the Pope being at their home stadium and all. Too much good karma for the Nats on this day, to confuse religious metaphors.

Comment by Midtown
2008-04-17 18:43:47

Willie should just bench the entire team and play all 9 positions by himself. The result would be the same anyway. They have GOD on their side.

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Comment by gipper91375
2008-04-17 18:50:42

Well…some mojo at least. ;-)

 
 
 
 
Comment by gometzies_18
2008-04-17 18:49:37

Yeah….I don’t really care about too many lefties, I want to see Endy Chavez in there as the fourth OF no matter what at least until Alou comes back

Comment by m00kie
2008-04-17 19:05:51

it does seem like Endy should be in there in center..Willie must be “trying to get Clark going”. We shall see!

 
Comment by jws366
2008-04-17 19:09:38

Heres to Omar for bringing in that right handed power bat off the bench. Oh, wait…

 
 
Comment by metsfan704
2008-04-17 19:09:09

******XM RADIO LISTENERS*******

Does anyone know why XM doesn’t broadcast mets pregame shows or postgame but will play every other teams’?

 
Comment by gipper91375
2008-04-17 19:10:35

Figgy with the Slim Shady music.

 
Comment by the_other_matt
2008-04-17 19:14:10

Too bad the Nats don’t have a catcher named McCartney. Would have made a nice battery: Lannan / McCartney

 
Comment by CaseStreet
2008-04-17 19:14:29

Clark did well enough in ST to take the trip up North. He did have a hit on Sunday, even though he misplayed the base running. I think they’ll do fine.

 
Comment by Mookie 1986
2008-04-17 19:15:00

Figgy with the personal catcher!

Sweet.

Looks like Endy is really gonna get the shaft this season. Doesn’t help that he’s a lefty off the bench in a line-up flooded with lefties.

 
Comment by backinbusiness
2008-04-17 19:19:57

Did they only make 4 of those Figgy t-shirts for his family? I want one!

 
Comment by gipper91375
2008-04-17 19:22:07

Jose is back.

Bienvenido!

 
Comment by jose--jose-jose-jose
2008-04-17 19:22:47

I’ve missed this José. Great to have him back!

ps. Someone really needs to get Beltran a Tempur-pedic pillow or something, lol.

 
Comment by gipper91375
2008-04-17 19:23:33

Oh god…now he’s limping

 
Comment by the_other_matt
2008-04-17 19:27:58

someone please update …

Comment by gipper91375
2008-04-17 19:29:20

Jose didn’t seem too concerned nor did I see the trainers going to him. Everybody noticed he cane up limping a bit after scoring on Church’s hit. Gary was terrified (you could hear it in his voice)…we’ll see.

Comment by gomets6091
2008-04-17 19:30:40

maybe he was just doing his Luis Castillo impression?

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