Mike Nichols

preGame: Mets vs Braves (Game Two)
By Mike Nichols - Apr 26, 2008 11:58 am

The Game:

The Mets (11-11) continue their three-game series against the Braves (12-11) today at Shea Stadium, starting at 1:10 pm EST.

The Lineup:

The Pitchers:

RHP John Maine (1-2, 3.57 ERA) starts for the Mets. Maine earned a loss in his last start versus the Cubs on April 21, surrendering two runs on five hits while striking out six and walking two through six innings pitched. In four career starts versus the Braves, Maine is 1-2 with a 4.84 ERA.RHP Tim Hudson (3-1, 2.93 ERA) takes the hill for the Braves. In his last start versus the Nationals on, Hudson earned a win, allowing one run on 10 hits while striking out three and walking two over 6.2 IP. In his previous 13 career starts against the Mets, Hudson is 8-4 with a 3.68 ERA.

The Notes:

David Wright is 8-for-37 (.216) with 1 hR and 4 RBI versus Hudson in his career.Jose Reyes is batting .218 (12-for-55) with a 1 HR and 6 RBI against right-handed pitchers this season.

How To Catch It:

Today’s game can be seen locally on CW11 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

207 Responses to “preGame: Mets vs Braves (Game Two)”

  1. JAMMQ says:

    No Church in the two hole? Man, is Delgado killing them.

    • LoDuca says:

      The Mets (regulars) are hitting .266 as a team with a combined 11 HOMERUNS (1.37 each), and 88 runs batted in (11 RBI each). They’ve hit 36 doubles (4.5 each) as a team and have stolen 18 bases (2.25 each).

      For a full writeup on the offensive production so far go to:

      http://www.metsprospectus.blogspot.com

    • Jaded1983 says:

      Ok how about some positive thinking here?
      1. Church is an excellent defender and has far and away exceeded everyones expectations at the dish
      2. Schnieder calls a great game and is also a great defender, i attribute both of pelfreys wins directly to schnieder. pelf clearly has the ability, schnieder brings it out
      3. santana. enough said.
      4. castillo seems to be coming around
      5. everyone knows that wright, reyes, and beltran will not continue their current hitting streak all season
      6. Figgy, who else gets really excited to see one of us [fans] pitch for our Mets??
      7. Pagan, all though coming back to earth some has been a great and effective member of the team thus far
      8. duaner sanchez is back and thus far looking strong
      9. wagner looking good in his limited appearances
      10. willie finally using show in the correct circumstances
      Those are just 10 quick positives to think on, i know there is more. I’m just as frustrated as the rest of you, but for all of our struggles no one else in the division is stellar either. Not that its an excuse, but rather the opportunity for the mets to find their groove and realize their potential is not lost. i’m not going to say its early or anything of that shenanigans since we all know that game #22 is just as important as game #162. but have faith guys, we arent in a hopeless situation like the pirates or orioles, etc. we will be a competator for years to come, how quickly we forget how the team looked just a few short years ago.

      That said, LETS GO METS!

      • andyglass1 says:

        Sure hope you are correct; have to immediately disagree about #4…. no kid on a high school or weekend team is going to stick around too long if hitting the ball beyond 90 feet is a moral victory. bases loaded and you have to hope a squibber finds it way between the p & nearest defender; gmafb !!!!!!

        Frustration imho, stems from the deficiencies that have haunted the team for at least 2 yrs… an excessive dependence on injury prone OLDER players, when it is so apparent that there is an absolute tendency for injuries to increase as a player hits age 35,36,37 …… You have to respect their dedication and hard work in getting back out there and going all out like a 25 yr old, but when it repeatedly fails, dont you have to try and restock ? Luis got 4 yrs guaranteed; would any one out there applaud a guaranteed 2 yr deal to big game el duque ?? how about moises ??? That said, lets win one team !

      • deloid says:

        Nicely stated Jaded.

  2. Phantaroth says:

    People will whine about this line up, but really

    The reason the mets line up isn’t very good is because they don’t have enough good hitters to make it good.

    • Gina says:

      Pretty much. They can’t leave Delgado right behind Beltran or no one will ever pitch to Beltram. So until Alou comes back Church should probably stay similar to this.

      • Gina says:

        Apparently my brain and fingers had two separate ideas. Until Alou comes back Church should be batting 5th.

  3. cafuq says:

    On the bright side, at least the game isn’t on Fox. The game goes slow and the announcers are awful.

  4. Darryl Strawberry says:

    I hate to say it, but it doesn’t matter who’s playing for us right now. This is the middle of a long losing streak. I wish they would start posting the other teams lineup as well as ours pregame.

    • GuaynaboMets says:

      Wow, WHAT A FAN…it took a two game losing streak to make him a pessimist….thank god the real darryl strawberry didnt give up after two cancer diagnoses….

      • anditsouttahere says:

        they are actually 1-5 over the past 6 games right now so technically its more than just a 2 game losing streak.

  5. gipper91375 says:

    It will begin today, maybe tomorrow, perhaps next week but very soon nonetheless, with the diehards in the Upper Deck. The working class fans will start it. The guys who have been coming to Shea since `64 and have never even sniffed the field boxes but have ever been True to the Orange and Blue.

    It will swell gently at first. It will seem almost a mild rebuke and a sad protest on the part of this most loyal fanbase that has endured so much over the decades. A protest and a rebuke to the Collapse and to the dismal hangover that has enveloped this franchise ever since.

    Slowly but surely it will build like the incoming tide at the beach. Gradually, almost subtly, it will begin rolling down our big and beloved old concrete horseshoe of a stadium that is groaning under the funereal weight of its final year.

    But by the 6th or perhaps the 7th inning this afternoon, or the next, or some evening next week, but very soon nonetheless, as the pen surrenders yet more runs, it will be echoing loudly across all levels from the red Upper Deck Reserve seats all the way to the deep blue Metropolitan Box seats on the field level just behind home plate and throughout all the gloriously garish green, blue and bright orange seats in between.

    It will reach such a crescendo by late in the game today, or tomorrow, or next week but very soon nonetheless that it will seem like our cherished old stadium will not need wrecking balls, cranes and dump trucks to tear it apart. Nay, the sheer reverberations from the beseeching, almost prayerful, chants of the embittered Shea faithful will threaten to burst the grand old purplish-blue paint and neon light festooned lady at her seams.

    In fact, it will be so loud at Shea this afternoon, tomorrow, next week but soon nonetheless that I will almost hear it way out here on the west coast.

    There it will be, rustling in the wind through the evergreen trees way out here in Oregon all the way from Flushing Meadows…can’t you hear it? Listen close….shhh!…there it is…..

    “Fire Willie!” [clap, clap, clapity-clap]

    • trippingac says:

      Jeez, could you be any more dramatic?

      This team is underachieving for sure, but they are not overrated, as many people are saying. There are too many talented individuals on this team for the “overrated” charge to be true.

      The great and beautiful thing about baseball is that every day gives you a new chance to turn it all around. Today sounds like a good day to me.

      Let’s Go Mets.

      • jimyager says:

        WILLIE MUST GO !! Lets look at Bobby V. The first full season as manager we finished in 3rd. then we clinched the Wild Card and lost in game 6 to the Braves in the NLCS and in his third year we clinched the WC and went all the way to the WS to loose in 5 games to the Yankees. Bobby V. had players like Timo Perez, Todd Pratt, Benny Agbayani, Ricky Henderson, Jay bell and Rey Ordonez. His pitchng staff was centered around Al Leiter and his closer was Benetiz. He also had a revolving third base and the only superstar he had was Mike Piazza. Now look at Willie. He went to game 7 of the NLCS, collapsed like never before and now is playing crap for baseball. He also hassome of the best players to work with, Glavine, Pedro, Santana, Wags as closer. And an outfield that has been centered around Beltran with Wright and Reyes. Clearly Willie has had it better, and yet, cant get it done. I dont know what the manager does behind closed doors, but, whatever Bobby did it worked GREAT and whatever Willie is doing is NOT working.

    • MacD81 says:

      I’m not sure how firing Willie gets Reyes on base more, or takes 3 years off Delgado’s age, or keeps Heilman’s pitches in the park, or keeps Wright from going 0-18.

      He’s not a great manager, but in my opinion he’s lower on the list of problems with this team than all the things I’ve listed above.

    • mr.gee21 says:

      Gipper, that was pretty hilarious.

      Totally worth the read just to get to the punchline. Thank you for making me laugh today before I watch this game!

      :)

      • jimyager says:

        Somebody has to called out for the collapse and so far it has been nobody and its more of buisness as usual. Make a statement and fire WILLIE!! Put the team on alert and let them know that this will not be acceptable. If they want to see Willie keep his job, start playing up to potential. We need to turn the page and move on and we are not doing that. We cant afford to wait and get into a self loathing funk. After the way 06 and 07 ended we NEED to win and proove it was not a accident in 06 and that 07 was a fluke. The only message we are sending now is that we are not over 07 and that we are not a good team. 500 at best. we will never win this series against the Braves this weekend playing like we are. Face it. Are you gonna waste your time and watch this crap over the weekend? I have better things to do then waste my time watching a team that cant win and wont try. Good lucks guys, your gonna need it.

      • gipper91375 says:

        You’re welcome Mr. Gee. Thanks for taking it the way it was intended..

  6. Sasseroni says:

    Endy in the two hole with his non existent OBP while Church and his .380 bat 5th…….

    The team reeled off how many wins in a row with Church batting 2nd? Way to use your head, Willie.

    • coke234 says:

      You want Carlos Delgado and his .195/.287/.268 line protecting Beltran?

      There is NOBODY that should be batting fifth right now for the Mets except Church.

      You can’t have a lineup of…..

      Delgado
      Easley
      Molina
      Chavez
      Pitcher

      and expect to win on a consistent basis.

      Wait until Alou gets back. If Church isn’t inserted back into the 2-hole when he comes back, then you have a beef.

      • Don Logan says:

        Castillo will hit 2nd when Alou comes back. Church will hit 6th. Delgado 7th. Or Church 5th still and Alou 6th.

        • coke234 says:

          Well, if Castillo keeps on hitting the way he has lately, then that order wouldn’t even be that bad.

  7. cafuq says:

    I do not like Willie, but last night was all on the players. One of our biggest rivals and we get TWO HITS!! Willie didnt use Delgado, Heilman, or Sosa, and we still got beaten. Hell, the other manager gets thrown out of the game, their pitcher just about looses it, and we get TWO HITS!! And one of those was by ‘Nova. It is not all Willie. The players suck right now. Except for leaving Slappy in the two hole, Willie did almost everything we wanted, and we got two hits.
    I dont know what my point is, but just because Willie sucks, well right now the whole team sucks. And i dont think anyone can change that.

    • jimyager says:

      THAT THE POINT!!! Willie is NOT bringing this team up or helping them play at there potential. He is just set on cruise control. Willie has to make sure that when a rookie pitcher is walking in 3 runs and the bases are loaded we take pitches. We had the guy and let him off the hook. That is Willie and his coaching staff. The Braves waited on Pelf and made him throw strikes, because, they are a good team. Willie is letting the team get into bad habits that are going to be hard to break. Reyes looks like hell at the plate and swinging at everything and not taking pitches. WILLIE sees this and knows it and is letting it happen. Sit them all down and let the bench get some work. If we are going to loose anyways. Run the back-up guys out there and bench the bums.

      • twassel says:

        Um, what are you talking about. They did take pitches. The took three walks. Pagan was called out looking at a third strike. I’m not sure they could have taken any more pitches. They just didn’t hit any.

  8. ABSeabra says:

    Our Mets desperately need a leader. Beltran’s too soft, Wright’s too young, Reyes doesn’t speak English well enough. Willie, this is your job and if you can’t do it I’m sure the chumps in the Bronx will take you back. “FIRE WILLIE DUH, DUH, DUHDUHDUH. FIRE WILLIE”

  9. keystonetom says:

    Where did Gustavo Molina come from?

  10. ABSeabra says:

    Are the Mets a cursed franchise, maybe there is a jersey currently buried under Shea?!

  11. C Dubb says:

    Your talent as a writer suggests a keen thoughtfulness. Your actual message betrays it.

    Don’t confuse our blue and orange with that of the Knicks, please.

    How about you use your powers of persuasion to give Shea a home-field advantage for the team to which you claim to be “True”?

    With all due respect, I wouldn’t expect someone of your age and intelligence to be among the “fans” who attend a game only to berate the team they supposedly support. How’s this for a “protest”: Stay home.

    • C Dubb says:

      Sorry…this is obviously in response to Edgar Allan gipper.

      • gipper91375 says:

        Sorry, I just disagree. Willie simply does not equal “the team [we] supposedly suuport”.

        I don’t question your loyalty to or support of the team just because you disagree with me. You and others may wish to accord me the same respect. Indeed, you may be, the tone of your comment was quite reasonable.

        Frankly, I spend thouands of dollars per year in airline tickets, hotels and premium 5th row behind the dugout type seats via StubHub or the like to see (and yes cheer on!) the Mets when they are on the road on the West Coast nearer to me. In the last few years, I have been among the many Mets fans clad in a mets jersey and outcheering the home fans in Seattle, Arizona, San Deigo, San Franciscoo, LA, and of course on my trips back to NY to see family and friends.

        As for protesting by staying home…I am sure that will start to happen among some fans if things continue to spiral downward. As for me, my home is 3,000 miles from Shea yet I still manage to support our team. I just happen to think supporting this team at this juncture starts with ridding it of Willie “Brains” Randolph - indeed I think it should have been done the day after the end of The Collapse. You and some others don’t. That’s fine.

        • C Dubb says:

          Fair enough.

          I appreciate your atypically (for this board) rational comments.

          Where I differ from you is that I don’t think your post on Metsblog, or even a chant at Shea Stadium is going to run Willie out of town midseason. And if it does get him fired while his team sits at or around .500, then shame on the Mets.

          Instead, I would love to see the fan base rally around its struggling team…FOR ONCE! We’ve seen what happens when the boo birds take over the stadium when the team can’t get its act together. For the sake of experimentation at the very least, and the sake of teaching our younger fans good sportsmanship at the most, I wish the fans would try exclusively cheering.

          I realize it’s a pipe dream, but maybe not for intelligent fans like yourself.

        • gipper91375 says:

          I understand that perspective. i just think that may be a bit much to ask of this fanbase after the Collapse and after nobody was held accountable for it. Generally, while we do have the “Sisk Sucks!” history, I do think this fanbase is very supportive and had been patient over the years. But, I get what you are driving at. I suppose I just don’t think that a day or two or whatever of really cheering everybody as they come up to bat will alter the overall prodcution of the team.

          Anyway, it was nice discussing this with you…and, the Mets won, so we can all go spend the rest of our Saturday happy.

  12. AWH says:

    Hmmmmmm. It’s a long season. The steMs, err Mets are a little beat up and playing uninspired baseball. Delgado is slumping and hurting his team (but so is Ryan Howard), and Moises Alou isn’t even in the lineup.

    Yet, the genius steMheads (that’s a Mets fan for you slower NYrs) are callin for the firing of their manager 22 games into the season, as though he hits for Delgado, pitches for Perez, and runs for Alou.

    You are the anti-geniuses of the baseball world, and wonder why we call you steMheads. Sheesh.

  13. InsaneMetsFan says:

    Come June we’ll have nothing to watch. The Mets will be 10 games under .500 and 12 games back. Making matters worse is the fact that there isn’t one prospect to call up and follow to at least make it interesting.

    This is a 75 win team. Game, set, match

    • rockets212 says:

      shut up!!!!! this is a good team with a lot of talent thats in a slump right now i dont even know if u deserve to be commenting on this sight

      this sight is for fans not braves trolls

  14. erik says:

    What the fans should do is start applauding when someone comes up to bat. Loudly. Show some support. Booing doesn’t achieve anything. Fans should try to motivate their team. Not try to boo them out of the park. Save that for the opposition.

  15. MikeinSS says:

    If the news hasn’t reached NY yet, both Chipper Jones and Yunel Escobar are scratches today. Chipper with back spasms (while putting on his uni, apparently) and Escobar with a contusion on his finger, on the bunt last night.

    3 rookies, Prado (I think he’s still a rookie), Blanco and Lillibridge, in the Braves’ lineup today.

  16. Let’s Go Mets!!!

  17. rockets212 says:

    attack the zone maine!!!!!! 1st pitch balls kill your pitch count and you always start behind

  18. Mingo says:

    The Mets need protection in their lineup. There is nothing there at all.
    Sign Barry.
    Screw what the fans think. The object is to win and I’ll take Barry’s .500 OBP any day. If you need to platoon him with Alou, do it.
    I don’t care what the fans think of him, if they win, they will like him.
    You think anyone will pitch around Beltran with Barry behind him? Nope.

  19. Dirtysanchez says:

    DAMN MLB EXTRA INNINGS this sux the never have day saturday games……

    • Don Logan says:

      It’s not MLB Extra Innings’ fault. It’s MLB’s agreement with Fox that is at fault. No out of market games can be aired until 7 p.m.
      Essentially on Saturdays Bud Selig and the Fox network decided to go back to 1950 and only allow people to 1 game all day long. God forbid we spend our Saturday watching a game other than what Joe Buck & Tim McCarver announces.

  20. ABSeabra says:

    I like Delgado as a player but in his prime. The Mets wanted him 4 years ago and he took a backloaded deal to play with scrubs in South Beach. Then he comes to NY earning over 16 per year and has two dreadful seasons. I mean if I was a Blue Jays fan and he was slupping after an amazing career in Toronto, I would still show him support/respect. However, he’s here to produce and he’s no Metslifer, so we need to move on. Out with Delgado formerly known as DelGot-it

  21. Darryl Strawberry says:

    Typical. High pitch count and Braves score with two outs and nobody on. Now Hudson will go to work and get our lineup to ground out one after another with a low pitch count.

  22. nrmax88 says:

    I cant even watch the Mets anymore. I mean, I obviously will, but I am past anger with this team, I feel like I lost a friend I can count on. Guys, this team isnt good, and I reall think the lineup doesnt matter, and we are in for a season closer to 2004 then 05,06, or 07. Hate to say it but I am starting to believe it. This team just simply isnt very good.

    • wrightstuff08 says:

      i agree with you nrmax88 and i have been saying that since last year. This team isnt good enough to compete for a WS title and it is the bitter truth. This team is an old, lifeless bunch compared to the Braves and Phillies. The Braves lineup is solid from 1-8 and are mostly young players that havent reached their prime yet. Their pitching isnt as good as ours but they can score a ton of runs in a hurry with that lineup. Same thing applies to the Phillies. Our lineup struggles in situational hitting, RISP etc. and it is very inconsistent. David Wright and Carlos Beltran are the only 2 hitters that you know will put up the numbers year in and year out. I also feel that it is critical that Omar and his scouting staff have a really good draft in June this year. This year’s draft could really set up the future of this organization for many years. I still love the Mets and will root for them but i am a realist.

  23. rockets212 says:

    can any mets pitcher throw a strike? (except for santana) becuse i cant think of one who has this year (could it be because of rick peterson?)

  24. jimyager says:

    I have a question for all the REAL METS fans out there. When is it NOT EARLY anymore? How many games to we loose before we have a right to be upset? How many games under 500 to we go before we worry? We are still in first place didnt help us win last season. We as fans are still suffering from 06 and 07 and that wont go away with a 5 game winning streak and then a six game loosing streak. I think we want to see the team show the same fire and feeling for that game that we do as fans. Get out on the field and play hard and show heart. When we get behind by a run or 2 ITS OVER! Its like the hitters are waiting for someone to get a hit and nobody steps up and gets it. We are NOT playing as a team and we roll over at the first bump, like we did in the end of 07. That is what scares the fans the most. We are seeing a continuation of the CRAP from the end of 07.

    • Dirtysanchez says:

      they are only down a run…

    • Hernandez_1B says:

      It would be early if they were losing tight games but playing crisp ball. It’s not too early when the offense and defense is garbage along with most of the pitching staff right now. I think im more frustrated than anything. I haven’t lost hope because most of the division has been inconsistent as well

    • Gina says:

      Who says fans who aren’t whining in every topic aren’t upset? I’m upset, but bitching about it doesn’t change anything. There’s nothing we can do but hope. We could fire Willie and all the coaches and everyone in the front office and it won’t make our players any better. This is the team we have right now and I’d rather just root for them than worry about things that can’t be changed.

    • Mingo says:

      I live in Alabama. When the Mets play the Braves we only get the Braves feed (which sucks by the way). However they brought up a point which is dreadful for the Mets.
      They are the only team in the NL this year who has not overcome a 2 run deficit to win a game this year.

  25. Hernandez_1B says:

    Can Jose please hit the ball on the ground. I can’t stand how many fly balls he is hitting. As a side note, that one run the Braves scored is probably all they are gonna need today. That’s how bad the Mets are right now

    • Mingo says:

      He is pulling his front shoulder out. He needs to concentrate on going up the middle with line drives and he will be okay. When you see him hitting fly balls the other way, its obvious he is pulling out on balls.

  26. Don Logan says:

    Is it because of Spring Training and the last game of Maine’s season last year that made people think he could actually be a number 2? I seem to remember a pretty putrid second half from him last year and a 5+ ERA.

    • rockets212 says:

      most of that people thought was because he was tired from a full year pitchin. But it might have been because of an amazin run and now hes come back to earth and it only decent

  27. rockets212 says:

    good strong inning for maine we need a lo more of them today from him

  28. andyglass1 says:

    sweet; it’s only the 2nd and we have a hit already; from the 2b none the less…… and it reach the OF. ya gotta believe !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  29. metsmets17 says:

    Could’ve been worse

  30. Stems says:

    can the mets starters get their friggin heads in the game?!?!

    giving up hits to pitchers, walking batters, now a wild pitch to score a huge run ..

    so friggin frustrating..

  31. DoYouSeeInHD says:

    Reyes AB- four pitches, four swings.

  32. metsmets17 says:

    Welcome back DW! :)

    • andyglass1 says:

      carlos I did something… nice ! he’s been only slightly better than carlos II so far. Way to go Ryan !!!!!!!!!!!!! can delgado knock one in, SF, FC whatever !!!!!!!!!

  33. metsmets17 says:

    Triple for Church…..Wow!! :)

  34. gipper91375 says:

    Man, Ryan Church has really been a very bright spot!

  35. metsmets17 says:

    The hitting is contagious. Hudson is such a weird pitcher against the mets. Either he kills us or we touch him up.

  36. Stems says:

    this is the perfect setup for a heilman meltdown…

    cmon i know u guys are thinking the same thing..

    sorry ive been pretty cynical recently…

    • Dirtysanchez says:

      cmon man its a new game we just went up 2

    • metsmets17 says:

      Heilman’s gonna have to be given a chance eventually. The starters need to pitcher more efficently…….which is well-known. I wouldn’t like to see Heilman until tomorrow. Too many appearances already..

      • rockets212 says:

        i think heilman should get until monday off, 2 days in a row will help a lot

      • Nate W. says:

        probably today, they still have 15 outs to get and if Maine gives them more than 3 more I would be surprised…

        Heilman has only pitched once in the last four games, so there is no reason he shouldnt pitch an inning today. Well the two run lead would be a reason, but other than that…

  37. metsmets17 says:

    I like ya Ruben but we cant have u getting a hit.

  38. metsmets17 says:

    Work the count a little after the pitcher hits……jeeez.

  39. rockets212 says:

    has any team been so dependent on any player than we are so dependent on reyes’s offense?

    • metsmets17 says:

      I think we’re the only 2 in here….lol

      I kinda tired of hearing about how when Reyes doesnt hit we dont do well.

      Willie even said during an interview that when “Reyes goes, we go.” True but no one player can make it happen often enough to carry the team for the season. The players of course realize this but a still immature Reyes may think a little differently.

  40. breadclock says:

    Jose Reyes needs Rick Down like Bruce Dickinson needs more cowbell.

  41. GregB says:

    Well, the Mets have had their inning and gotten the lead. Anyone think they’ll score again?

    • Nate W. says:

      It’ll either end 5-4 Braves or 14-12 Braves.

      The offense will only score just enough to not win.

      • GregB says:

        yeah, that’s kinda my thinking too.

        hope i’m wrong.

        oops, thought Delgado’s shot was going score a run, but no…decent shot though…VERY nice baserunning by Wright.

  42. marvelousmarv says:

    SIX PITCHES. SIX PITCHES. SIX PITCHES. WHAT BS IS THAT.
    SIX PITCHES. SIX PITCHES. SIX PITCHES. WHAT BS IS THAT.
    SIX PITCHES. SIX PITCHES. SIX PSIX PITCHES. SIX PITCHES.
    SIX PITCHES. WHAT BS IS THAT.ITCHES. WHAT BS IS THAT.
    SIX PITCHES. SIX PITCHES. SIX PITCHES. SIX PITCHES. SIX PITCHES. WHAT BS IS THAT.PITCHES. WHAT BS IS THAT.
    SIX PITCHES. SIX PITCHES. SIX PITCHES. WHAT BS IS THAT.
    SIX PITCHES. SIX PITCHES. SIX PITCHES. WHAT BS IS THAT.
    SIX PITCHES. SIX PITCHES. SIX PITCHES. WHAT BS IS THAT.
    SIX PITCHES. SIX PITCHES. SIX PITCHES. WHAT BS IS THAT.
    SIX PITCHES. SIX PITCHES. SIX PITCHES. WHAT BS IS THAT.
    SIX PITCHES. SIX PITCHES. SIX PITCHES. WHAT BS IS THAT.

  43. metsmets17 says:

    With these schizo bullpens around baseball……scoring again is more likely.

  44. Nate W. says:

    Isnt that how Maine reacted back in 2006 when he hurt his hand… something in one his knuckles, right?

  45. Dirtysanchez says:

    hey how come hudson isnt pitching right now?
    he got yanked?

  46. metsmets17 says:

    Hey Rocket….Heilman is warming up.

    Willie loves giving these guys their own inning. No rest for the weary.

  47. metsmets17 says:

    Things are testy in St. Louis today. Astros and Cards are throwing at each other according to mlb.com.

    Im rooting for Houston….what can I say.

  48. Gina says:

    Way to let me down Delgado.

  49. domosnacks5 says:

    Mark Kotsay with a Benny Agbayani moment.

  50. mr.gee21 says:

    And now we hold our breath. Lets go Heilman.

  51. metsmets17 says:

    Cox loves his bullpen too. I’d take a complete game over homeruns.

    Heilman getting some love from the Shea faithful. Way to go…ugh.

  52. Mingo says:

    5 Full innings and Maine is pulled?
    This is Willie’s problem. I don’t care if he puts Goose Gossage in his prime in. He is misusing his bullpen.

  53. metsfaninmd says:

    Are we that afraid that John Maine can’t pitch six full innings? This is ridiculous. Starters should really be able to pitch 6 or 7 innings, it’s not like he was getting rocked or anything. I’m just pissed I can’t watch it because MLB extra innings is precluded from showing anything until 7:00. Did Maine look tired?

  54. Prismo says:

    Oh lord…here we go…

  55. darkstar73 says:

    not sure what Willie is thinking, he really needs to challenge Maine there and let him go back out for the 6th, i don’t care if he’s at 100 pitches, let him pitch. As for Maine, guys needs to not walk people, or somehow learn how to limit his pitch count in some way, 100 pitches in 5 innings is not getting it done.

    • Wright88 says:

      And if Maine gets shelled people would have wanted Willie to go to the pen. Right now with Maine and Perez, I trust the pen a little bit more until they can prove they can cut down on the walks.

      • darkstar73 says:

        no, you go with Maine and the first sign of trouble, you bring in a reliever, its pretty simply actually

        • Wright88 says:

          Cox must be a pretty bad manager then for taking out Hudson

        • darkstar73 says:

          did i call willie a bad manager? man, on both sides of the aisle here people just don’t get it, its not black or white, its all gray. In my opinion, thats what i would have done, thats all i’m saying. Does that make willie a bad manger? No, it doesn’t.

        • Nate W. says:

          Normally I would be up in arms about Maine being pulled, but I cant really say anything because he had that hand pain/cramp/etc and its smart to play it safe with injury especially with such a heavy workload per inning.

          Maine and Perez (and Pelfrey) have to learn how to get through innings on less than 20 pitch average. Otherwise they will have to go 115+ almost every time out.

  56. metsmets17 says:

    Those were loud boos for Aaron if I might say.

  57. Mingo says:

    I think the boos were for Willie as well.

  58. metsmets17 says:

    I know the fans are mad but it was a bit overdone.

    Heilman wasnt horrible today. He got out of his own jam.

    The boos wouldnt be so bad if it were a weekday.

  59. Dirtysanchez says:

    was pagan out by a long shot?

  60. metsmets17 says:

    Does SNY have better mics near the fans?

    You look at a Yankee game and it’s much more quiet.

  61. Mingo says:

    Pagan could have been out.

  62. Dirtysanchez says:

    all right
    we are up one run
    sanchez and wags both havent allowed a run in their innings worked
    the heart of the order comes up next inning
    we just gotta get thru the 7th
    cmon mets

  63. metsmets17 says:

    Nice to see Delgado help Heilman. These things go on in the clubhouse Im sure……but it was just nice to see.

    • cafuq says:

      yes it was nice, i just wish it was santana helping heilman

      • metsmets17 says:

        That would be better. Not sure about Santana’s personality yet.

        Would it be out of line to expect Pedro to stay with the club till he pitches in rehab? Some of these guys could use a sage like Pedro.

        • rockets212 says:

          santana probably ill do stuff like that but itll take a while until he his completely integrated into the team, remember hes only known these guys for 2 months

        • metsmets17 says:

          That’s why i was wishing pedro would still be around. He’s having a little Mango and Egg back at home.

        • cafuq says:

          i was just saying santana because he is right now the most veteran pitcher in the dugout with wagner and the other relievers being in the pen

  64. Dirtysanchez says:

    cmon show!!

  65. metsfan119 says:

    Does anyone here actually think the Mets are going to win this game? I mean seriously, have you WATCHED the Mets since last season?

    • Dirtysanchez says:

      man….please go root for another team bro

    • blains2000 says:

      No, I think they are going to lose this game and every game for the rest of this millenia.

      Yes, we are all frustrated. We would love for the team to be 22-0 and leading this game 10-0 but they aren’t. But it’s not even May yet.

      You are entitled to your opinion and to do whatever you want but the constant negativity it tiring.

    • Nate W. says:

      They do make it just about impossible to feel comfortable about a 4-2 or 4-3 lead. We’re trained to expect it to go the other way.

      I wonder how many small leads they have held vs. blown since last August 1st. It might be about 50/50.

  66. Prismo says:

    The Show delivers!

  67. metsmets17 says:

    Scho looking pretty good. :)

    These guys will have hiccups through the year.

    Gotta stay even keeled otherwise you’ll go nuts.

    • washtiger says:

      Reyes, 2 for last 26 (.077)
      Delgado, 4 for last 40 (.100)

      With Reyes it’s just a matter of time and he’ll break out of it (I hope!). Delagdo is done.

  68. Wright88 says:

    Show finally getting some deserved love.

  69. Nate W. says:

    Looks like Feliciano is Willie’s new whipping boy..
    Third day in a row for him.
    At least Willie is going for matchups in the 8th inning, which is a different idea for him.

  70. Dirtysanchez says:

    cmon dirty gettem

  71. Darryl Strawberry says:

    Does anyone really think this bullpen can hold this lead? God, I hope they can, but I have a bad feeling this game is going to look a lot like the rest have lately.

  72. domosnacks5 says:

    ATTA BOY DIRTY!

    Vernon Gholston to the Jets… BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

  73. Nate W. says:

    Dirty restoring some order to the late innings, gotta love it!!

  74. Dirtysanchez says:

    YEA BABY DIRTY COMES THRU

  75. bringtheapple...leavethecowbell says:

    DIRTY is the man !

    Now its Billy’s turn.

  76. GregB says:

    Double play! Yea! Mets Win. METS WIN!

    what?

    there’s another inning?

    damn it.

    ok.

    LET’S GO METS!

  77. metsmets17 says:

    Delgado will hit a homerun

  78. metsmets17 says:

    Lillibridge looks like he’s 15

  79. domosnacks5 says:

    notice how there’s like 5 of us here when we’re winning, and about 250 when we’re losing?

  80. GregB says:

    Nice.

  81. Prismo says:

    Wagner’s been so amazing this year.
    What an amazing player, I love him!

  82. Dirtysanchez says:

    GOOD WIN GUYS

    to all the negative people
    lets have some faith on our team
    one game at a time

  83. gomets6091 says:

    PERFECT GAME!!!!*

  84. washtiger says:

    Thank goodness!

    We needed that one. Now let’s build on it..

  85. metsmets17 says:

    A nice little win today.

    Billy is in a nice groove.

    Man I sound like Willie :/

    Nice win…..Lets Go Mets

  86. NY Cuban says:

    Wow, we won a game. I’m happy we won, but this will prolong the Willie firing…thats the downside.

    • metsmets17 says:

      That theory applied to the Knicks over the past few years. I don’t see us getting to that level right now.

      • gomets6091 says:

        it’s different in basketball, where 1 player can completely turn a franchise around in a hurry (look at Chris Paul and Lebron or even Garnett). It’s not like firing Willie is guaranteed to make the team start winning, or make the the team more talented.

        • metsmets17 says:

          Of course the nature of the game is different.

          I was referring to the reaction of a Knick fan after a win. Even myself, I would think that Isiah’s job was saved. To apply this though with the Mets is not a good thing to do.

          That’s my point. Just to clarify: Im 4 keeping Willie.

    • gomets6091 says:

      oh stop. I’ve been moving over to the Fire Willie bandwagon over the past few weeks myself, but to see a downside to losing is ridiculous. I’d much rather see them win with Willie than not win and have to fire him.

      • NY Cuban says:

        Read my post again…I said I’m happy we won. But there is a downside. 66-67 in the past 133 games isn’t exactly a slump…its a way of life. And this team is too talented to play this lackadaisical. Something has to spark them.

        • gomets6091 says:

          fair enough, but I’m just saying that I’m never gonna be upset by a win under Willie, b/c even though I think they could possibly be better without him, I still think they can be good with him

    • bringtheapple...leavethecowbell says:

      Brooklyn FIG helps take the series tommorrow

  87. khmustache says:

    how did they look today? i missed the whole game. was it a good win, or more garbage?

  88. CitizenSnips says:

    Glad to see some offense that’s not the result of errors by the other team.

  89. Church says:

    Im lovin dirty back in the 8th

  90. Hernandez_1B says:

    Good win today. I would have liked to see a few more tack on runs but this game is something the build on. For the exception of Heilman the bullpen looked real good today. Good to see Wright snap out of it and Beltran drive in a few runs. Now only if Reyes can get it going. Lets beat Smoltz tomorrow and I’ll be in a good mood.

  91. sheabren says:

    To all real Mets fans:
    Whatever happens tomorrow, please cheer and applaud those boys. this is OUR TEAM and we must show support. If we boo them shame on us.
    Watching all the ugly ,booing faces on TV I feel really sad that New York fans have stooped so low.

  92. cyclone says:

    Was at the game today…the fans torched Delgado with boos before he even picked up a bat, as he was bood during the player intros. Heilman got his boos. What I really didn’t understand were the boos for Schoenweis, who hasn’t been that bad this year out of the pen. I know he sucked last year, but how long are we gonna kill the guy for last season….Reyes is also starting the hear some boos with his Willie Mays Hayes impression, popping up every pitch…

    Oh well…winning cures the booing….at least for a day…

  93. ghobot says:

    lets go mets! willie randolph forever! i hope they hire willies son to be manager after they freeze him only to thaw him out when they find out what killed him!

    lets go mets!

  94. Bluewater3272 says:

    I don’t know WHAT to make of this team, but one thing’s for damn sure; Reyes’ approach is totally wrong. Unfortunately, I think the Mets need a “batting coach” change. I love HoJo, but he has to go.

    Lastly, I’m further convinced that in order to provide a spark for this dead-looking team, Omar needs to make a move and dismiss Willie before the next homestand.

    • Lightweis says:

      This is like deja vu from last year. The Mets hitters stuggled and the fans were calling for Rick Down’s head, and they eventually fired him….

  95. jimyager says:

    TruDat !!!! So we win today and loss Sunday. That still only makes us a 500 team, We need more than win 1 loose 1 win 3 loose 2 win 5 loose 3. We need to won 6 loose 1 win 5 loose 1 win 6 loose 2 to make any headway. FIRE WILLIE !!! B4 Its too late. I hate turning off the tv when we are behind and rolling my eyes when Heilman enters a game or Delgado is at the plate, but, thats what the team has shown us. When they start to play up to potential we wont expect a loss or a weak ground out. We might even expect a HR once in a while :} Do you think this team is underachieving or are our expectations as fans to high? I love this team, I just hate explaining to people on the streets why we lost a game or why this and that was done. I also tired of making up excuses for the collapse of 2007. Lets win and put that crap to rest, ok ? LETS GO METS !!!