Mike Nichols

preGame: Mets at Phillies (Game Three)
By Mike Nichols - Apr 20, 2008 6:32 pm

The Game:

The first-place Mets (10-6) look to sweep their three-game series against the Phillies (8-10) tonight at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, starting at 8:05 pm EST.

The Lineup:

…as mentioned earlier on MetsBlog, Brian Schneider is out of tonight’s lineup with a bruised forearm…

The Pitchers:

RHP Mike Pelfrey (2-0, 1.50 ERA) starts for the Mets. In his last start, Pelfrey tossed seven scoreless innings in a win versus the Nationals. He has only allowed two earned runs through his first 12 innings pitched this season. Pelfrey is 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA in two career starts versus the Phillies.

RHP Adam Eaton (0-0, 4.12 ERA) takes the hill for the Phillies. Eaton earned a no-decision, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks, while striking out three in his last start versus the Astros. In eight career starts versus the Mets, Eaton is 5-0 with a 2.90 ERA.

The Notes:

Jose Reyes is batting .435 (10-for-23) with 2 2B, 1 3B and 2 HR in his last five games.

The Mets are second in the National League with 57 runs allowed.

David Wright is 11-for-25 (.458) with 2 HR and 10 RBI in his last six games.

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

How To Catch It:

Tonight’s game can be seen nationally on ESPN 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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756 Comments »

Comment by jose--jose-jose-jose
2008-04-20 18:35:04

oh boy… Here they come. If we lose tonight, Willie haters will have a field day, and I hate to say it, but they probably will have good reason to.

Comment by Slippery Pete
2008-04-20 18:40:12

Beacause Pagan’s getting the night off? I think he’s been in every game, and his bat’s slowed down recently — give the kid a night off to come back fresh tomorrow.

Let’s just hope Endy can get the ball out of the infield.

Comment by vinluvr
2008-04-20 19:06:22

castillo in the 2-hole. church gets rewarded for his and reyes’ torrid hitting by getting bumped back down to 6th.

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Comment by jose--jose-jose-jose
2008-04-20 19:38:57

No, its about Castillo being in the 2 hole. I gotta say, I don’t really turn against our own except for extreme circumstances (Mota, Benitez) and I’ve supporeted alot of very unpopular guys (Beltran in 05) but Castillo is going to drive me crazy for the next 4 years.

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Comment by metsrule77
2008-04-20 19:44:08

willie has said that Castillo is his 2 hole hitter and this is the first pitcher we are facing that is right handed. Castillo is a much better slap hitter from the left side so it makes sense to have him bat 2nd and put church behind Delgado for some RBI chances. We’ve faced 5 straight left handed starting pitchers, I expect castillo to be hitting 8th against lefties and 2nd against righties whether pagan is playing or not.

 
 
 
 
Comment by QnsNative718
2008-04-20 18:36:36

ESPN…ugh…I cant wait for Morgan’s words of wisdom and the other guy referring to Beltran as Bel TRAN… They $uck.

Comment by kowalski69
2008-04-20 18:42:25

odalis perez

Comment by QnsNative718
2008-04-20 18:47:21

Yes, Odalis Perez indeed…

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Comment by professor met
2008-04-20 19:19:07

That’s how you pronounce his name in spanish, accent on the second syllabus.

Comment by metsfan119
2008-04-20 19:29:33

Yeah, but Jon Miller really comes off as a self-serving a#$hole when he does it.

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Comment by Steal Home Jose!
2008-04-20 19:47:43

Actually, it’s Bell-TRON. Even Wright doesn’t get that one correct.

 
 
Comment by johnolerud
2008-04-20 18:36:45

castillo batting secondddddddd????!?!?!?!

Comment by QnsNative718
2008-04-20 18:38:17

I dont understand it either…

Comment by Mike Parrish
2008-04-20 18:41:53

i guess willie din’t want too many automatic outs in the bottom of the lineup. i mean seriously it will look like a joke with castillo there.

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Comment by trippingac
2008-04-20 18:43:09

I think it makes sense here to bat Castillo second, since Angel Pagan is not in the lineup. Willie is probably thinking that without Pagan in the lineup, if Church bats second, who protects Delgado in the 6 hole? We need to get Delgado back on track, and having Church in the 6 hole rather than Chavez or anyone else tonight is probably a wise idea.

And if anyone starts to flip out on Willie or in general if we lose this game… Seriously, people. Get a grip.

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Comment by johnolerud
2008-04-20 18:40:03

why would he take chruch out of the two hole… oh wait, he must of had, “listened to his gut.” this is pathedic, and how is church hitting below delgado? He has become the ultimate sac fly 5th hitter… you know, the guy who hits a sac fly then the whole team gives him a standing ovation. nice .311 slugging delgado.

 
Comment by Koko
2008-04-20 18:42:24

My excuse? Protection for Delgado. With Pagan slowing down, Schneider out, neither Casonova, Castillo, or Chavez provide any protection for the 1st basemen. Now the bottom half of the lineup doesn’t look as bad as having Casonova, Castillo, and Chavez. At least there is a legit type of bat down there.

But yes I still want Church hitting second. I wanted Church hitting second after the 1st week of the season.

 
Comment by DMAT89
2008-04-20 18:42:33

no, im pretty sure church is there to protect delgado..endy chavez..raul casonova and luis castillo arent protecting delgado…so church is the only solution…so quick to act stupid..

Comment by metsrule77
2008-04-21 00:06:38

the only reason church was batting 2nd was because we were facing left handed starting pitchers. Having Church behind Delgado would put 2 lefties back to back so having him bat second seperates them. Castillo is a much better slap hitter from the left side and more of a liability from the right side, so against lefties church will bat second and castillo will bat 8th, against righties castillo will bat 2nd and church will bat 6th or 7th.

 
 
Comment by ruiz2k5
2008-04-20 18:42:53

oh no Schneider is out…i hope is doesnt screw up pelfrey i am afraid very afraid

Comment by jose--jose-jose-jose
2008-04-20 19:41:59

Good point.

 
 
Comment by johnolerud
2008-04-20 18:45:29

let us hope that you guys are all right about church protecting delgado. but let us remember ladies and gents, this isn’t earl weaver writing this lineup… it’s willow. mccarver (for what it’s worth) said on the fox broadcast that willie told him that luis was, “still his second baseman.” can you believe that? Church was in a grove, the offense was in a groove, and, correct me if i’m wrong…wasn’t the team undefeated with church in the 2 hole?

Comment by johnolerud
2008-04-20 18:47:06

“not second baseball”… I meant “second hitter”

 
Comment by Gina
2008-04-20 18:50:46

I’d rather just keep telling myself this is a one game thing.

Comment by metsdude13
2008-04-20 18:53:14

Heck, why not Endy Chavez in the 2 hole. I don’t get it.

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Comment by johnolerud
2008-04-20 18:54:58

hey, why not church in the two hole, and marlon anderson in left field?

 
 
 
 
Comment by metsfan119
2008-04-20 19:08:19

I knew it was only a matter of time before Willie’s stubborness would do something stupid. Castillo back at 2nd and Church at 6th to be protected by Crapanova? Unbelievable. Hey Willie, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

Comment by AlreadyMissShea
2008-04-20 19:17:15

Well the good news is this time next year we will have a manager who actually EARNS the right to the position, instead of the guy we got.

 
 
Comment by metsfansince1992
2008-04-20 19:09:06

Too many managers, not enough authority!