Daily Archives: April 24, 2008
Binghamton (AA): 8-5 loss to Trenton
RHP Jake Ruckle allowed three runs on five hits and a walk in five innings, striking out six. LHP Edgar Alfonzo tossed a scoreless inning, dancing around a hit and a walk.
OF Fernando Martinez continues to hot up, going 1-for-4 with a walk and a run. DH Mike Carp went 3-for-4 with a run, a walk and two RBI. 3B Danny Murphy was 2-for-4, and 1B Nick Evans finished 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.
St. Lucie (A+): 5-4 loss to Daytona
LHP Eric Niesen took the loss despite pitching well, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks in five innings. RHP Tim Stronach blew the game open by surrendering two runs on three hits and a walk without recording an out in the seventh.
SS Ruben Tejada was 2-for-3 with a double, a run and an RBI, while OF Ezequiel Carrera finished 2-for-5 with a double and. DH Lucas Duda was 1-for-4 with an RBI.
Savannah (A-): 4-0 loss to Charleston
Tagged Minors |RHP Angel Calero also got pegged with a loss despite pitching well, allowing three runs, two earned, on just two hits and a walk in 6.1 innings. He struck out four.
The Gnats recorded just four hits on the night. 1B Jose Jimenez was 1-for-2 with two walks, and C Francisco Pena was 2-for-4.
In addition to working with MLB.com, Harold Reynolds has joined SNY as a baseball analyst during the Mets pre- and post-game show featuring Lee Mazzilli and Matt Yallof.
Reynolds’s first appearance on SNY will be in-studio on Friday, April 25 at 6:30 pm when the Mets face the Braves.
…i like this…i like his on-air work…i don’t always agree with him, and i’but i like that he has fun and enjoys the game, and enjoys the fact that he’s talking about baseball…he doesn’t take it too seriously, like some analysts, who tends to forget they’re covering baseball and not war and peace…welcome aboard, harold…
…added to by Regis Courtemanche…
…i like reynolds a lot and haven’t watched baseball tonight nearly as much since his departure…good pickup SNY…
Tagged SNY |…by the way, Anthony De Rosa and Brian Bassett will be live blogging the NFL Draft on their respective blogs, 
GiantsFootballBlog and theJetsBlog, starting around mid-day on Saturday…
…we’re hoping to get interviews, Q&A, video, etc, from SNY on-air talent, newly-drafted players and, of course, from anthony and brian as well…
…also, at SNY.tv, Sunil Joshi will be live blogging his experience from inside the draft, at Radio City Music Hall…
…it should be an interesting day, so check it out…
During his appearance yesterday on WFAN’s Mike and the Maddog, Willie Randolph acknowledged that Carlos Delgado is ‘struggling,’ adding that Delgado does not mind hitting sixth, ‘because he wants to win.’
According to Randolph, he has not considered using Moises Alou at first base when he returns from the disabled list.
Randolph also admits that the team has been a bit inconsistent this season – however, he says, the team is playing hard, and, “I really believe and have confidence that this team is gonna play real well this season.”
Randolph says he will continue to hit Luis Castillo behind Jose Reyes, as long as Castillo is healthy, because, “He’s one of the best number-two guys in the league,” adding, “Jose Reyes is our catalyst and Luis knows what to do when Jose is on base.”
Lastly, when asked if he ‘picks on’ younger players more than older players, Randolph got stern and said…
“That’s so ridiculous…First, I like young players more than I like older players, because you can mold them. Most of the older players are stuck in their ways. I talk to my players; I don’t yell at them. I talk to them like men, with respect. You don’t get anything out of yelling at grown men.”
…i just had this argument with some one the other day…i think it’s popular fan opinion that randolph prefers veterans over young players…however, i think that is a manifestation of an organization that feels a) it must win now, and b) must compete with the Yankees in the media market place…and so, there is not a whole lot of time to wait for a young player to develop, unless it is an extraordinary talent like David Wright, Jose Reyes, Aaron Heilman, John Maine, Mike Pelfrey, etc, all of whom are young players who the Mets stuck by…i mean, it’s not like they’re sitting on some gem of a position prospect, and starting Jose Offerman instead…that said, while i may have preferred they keep Lastings Milledge, the mindset was, ‘Yes, Lastings will be good, but we just don’t have time to wait,’ and i think those decisions get put solely on willie, when it should fall on him plus Omar Minaya plus every one else in the team’s management…
…however, i sense a shift in this philosophy and a renewed dedication towards developing younger players, which we’ll likely see more of in the years to come…
Randolph also talked about the Phillies, playing small ball, and Duaner Sanchez, among other things.
To listen to his entire interview, go to WFAN.com.
Tagged Willie Randolph |During last night’s win over the Nationals, Johan Santana allowed two runs and seven hits while striking out three through seven innings, while also going 2 for 2 at the plate.
Santana had the following to say after last 
night’s game, speaking about ‘pitching,’ his catcher, and the difference between the National League and American League…
“The National League is a little bit different than the American League. You work by innings, and you’re trying to set everything up, and you’re trying to see who is coming up the next inning – and that’s what we’re trying to do. At the same time, the pitching coach is going to let you know what’s going on. Brian Schneider did a pretty good job, he knows these guys and we’re trying to stay on top of the game at all times – and we’re trying to set everything up hitter by hitter and inning by inning…[Schneider helps] a lot. I’m new here in this league and so far everything has been good. He’s a pretty smart guy. He has a lot of knowledge of the game. He knows the league pretty good. He makes your job a lot easier because he knows how to call a good game.”
…oddly, the 7–8–9 hitters were 5 for 7 against johan early in the game…usually, it’s the other way around…the pitcher dances around the top of the lineup, some times even allowing them to reach base, knowing he can just mow through the bottom…
…that said, i love knowing it is all strategic with santana…i’m sure he must enjoy this, in that, in the American League, it’s simply about getting this batter out, the next batter out, etc…in the National League, as he explained in the quote, there is a bigger picture in place, because of the weaker lineups and how they are stacked, plus knowing the opposing pitcher will eventually be pulled in favor of a pinch hitter…i can only assume this is more fun for a guy like santana, who clearly enjoys the art of pitching…not just throwing…also, it’s a lot of fun to watch…
For more on Santana, read David Lennon in Newsday.
To watch Gary Cohen and Ron Darling on last night’s exclusive Post Game Extra for SNY.tv, click here.
To watch Johan Santana’s post-game comments, click here.
To watch Willie Randolph’s post-game comments, click here.
To watch Brian Schneider talk with Kevin Burkhardt after last night’s game,click here.
For other highlights from last night, go to SNY.tv.
Following last night’s win over the Nationals, Willie Randolph had the following to say while speaking to reporters about:
…Johan Santana, and whether he earned his money tonight…
“Well, no, he should have had the cycle…(laugh)…he would have really earned his money then…He did enough. He pitched a good ball game, settled in and did a superb job.”
…Carlos Delgado, who hit sixth in the batting order…
“CD hit the ball sharp. You know, every one really needs to be guarded when they start talking about guys being finished and done and slumps of that nature. We’ve talked about this before, in that, it’s not always the end results, it’s not always 0–for-this and 0–for-that. He’s hitting the ball pretty well, so it was a good night for him. He’s gonna heat up. He’s gonna have a good year for us.”
…playing a more small-ball style tonight…
Tagged Willie Randolph |“Tonight we manufactured some things. We used our speed. I had the guys on contact in normal situations, because sometimes you’ve got to just force it a bit. We’re always gonna come at your with speed, but tonight we just tried to push it a little harder…Sometimes you’ve got to do that to get yourself going.”
Moises Alou and Ramon Castro both played in extended spring training games today in St. Lucie.
However, prior to tonight’s game, Willie Randolph said there is still no official time table for either player’s return.
Tagged Moises Alou, Ramon Castro |According to Metstradamus, last night’s win was just what the doctor ordered.
In a post to Faith and Fear in Flushing, Jason concludes that 
the Mets are just an average team – except for every fifth day, when Johan Santana takes the mound.
By the way, Santana hit two doubles for the Mets. To learn more about the other six pitchers in Mets history who have hit two doubles in one game, go to Mets Walk-offs.
Lastly, if you still care about Tom Glavine, and gossipy news from his time with the Mets, check out Adam Rubin’s blog for the Daily News, in which he reveals that Glavine asked the Wilpons for the Roger-Clemens treatment, which comes courtesy of John Feinstein’s new book about Glavine and Mike Mussina.
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