Mike Nichols

preGame: Mets at Yankees (Game One)
By Mike Nichols - May 16, 2008 5:24 pm

The Game:

Weather permitting, the Mets (20-19) open a three-game series versus the Yankees (20-22) tonight at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, starting at 7:05pm EST.

The Lineup:

    The Pitchers:

    LHP Johan Santana (4-2, 3.10 ERA) starts for the Mets. In his last start on May 10 versus the Reds Santana earned a victory allowing three runs on 10 hits and a walk while striking out five over 6.0 IP. Santana’s 2.27 ERA in Interleague play is the lowest among pitchers with at least 100 innings. He is 3-0 with a 2.66 ERA in eight career games, five starts versus the Yankees.

    RHP Darrell Rasner (2-0, 3.00 ERA) takes the hill for the Yankees. Rasner earned a win in his last start on May 10 versus the Tigers surrendering two runs on four hits and a walk with a strikeout over 6.0 IP. In his only career start versus the Mets on May 19, 2007, Rasner allowed two runs on two hits without recording a out, as he left the game due to injury.

    The Notes:

    The Mets are 25-35 all-time versus the Yankees in the regular season.

    Carlos Delgado’s 138 RBIs during Interleague play ranks him second all-time. He is batting .257 (65-for-253) with 12 HR and 43 RBI in his career at Yankee Stadium.

    Joe Smith has stranded 15 of 16 inherited runners this season. He has 10 strikeouts in his last 4.0 IP.

    David Wright is batting .323 (21-for-65) with 5 HR and 15 RBI in his career versus the Yankees. he is batting .202 against right-handed pitching this season.

    The Yankees have the highest all-time winning percentage (.589) during Interleague play. They are 4-7 versus left-handed starters this season.

    Derek Jeter is batting.381 (94-for-247) in his career versus the Mets. He is 5-for-17 (.294) with 3 2B in his career versus Santana.

    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.

    …like cerrone, i am over this whole subway series carnival and interleague in general…it’s lost its appeal…i know most fans use these games as some sort of bragging rights, but honestly i’d rather the Mets play game within their own division…until fans stop buying tickets to these game, i’m sure we’ll continue to see the Yankees on the Mets schedule six times a season…

    …however, this is an important series for the Mets, as all of the new york media focuses on this series…if the Mets, who i believe have much more pressure on them and have more to prove than the Yanks do this weekend, continue their uninspiring play, all hell could break lose and this team could implode…

    …enjoy, and as always, Let’s Go Mets

    56 Responses to “preGame: Mets at Yankees (Game One)”

    1. metsfan42793 says:

      I know in May there isn’t really must win situations but I really think today with Santana on the mound, the Mets have to win. Hopefully the game doesnt get rained out because it is really hard to sweep a doubleheader if there is one tomorrow.

    2. Danny1986 says:

      “Mets, who i believe have much more pressure on them and have more to prove than the Yanks do this weekend”

      I would agree with that only if Hank Steinbrenner owned the Mets.

      • dave27 says:

        Is metsblog aware that the Yankees payroll is $208MM? When did this become a rebuilding year for them?

    3. dr jones says:

      “Its unfortunate that people that don’t know the game and don’t know what were dealing with, call for peoples lively hoods.”

      Willie Randolph

    4. caraballo16 says:

      Weather report not looking so good. Double Dip tomorrow? Anyone have any information?

      • mackey_sassers_arm says:

        If it is cancelled it will be a day-night tomorrow.

      • jay15 says:

        In the city right now getting ready to leave for the game. Don’t need a weather report. Just by looking out the window I can tell you that there is no way there is a game tonight

    5. RPsJacket says:

      True. For this manager, I think just about every day is must win.

      Wright hits in these series, maybe this gets him going. Church gets to hit in this ballpark, lets score some runs.

    6. deloid says:

      “Joe Smith has stranded 15 of 16 inherited runners this season. He has 10 strikeouts in his last 4.0 IP.”

      Oh yeah! I knew he was great but I didn’t know that statistic.
      He and Wags are phenoms this year…Schoeneweis is coming back as well but I wish he could do a little better with right handers. If Schoeneweis could pitch to rightys then I’d challenge for a better trio in the BP (this year).

      • da burg's greatest says:

        and that is exactly why i was upset two days ago when willie chose heilman, who is terrible with runners on, over smith, who is at his best with runners on.

    7. dave27 says:

      If there is a game, I’m glad Moises Alou will be running around in a wet outfield as opposed to DHing and resting his legs.

      I’m also glad Willie is not content to bat ANYONE #2 except for Church, the guy who has been most productive there.

      • dave27 says:

        I’ll love it even more when Alou’s bat is taken out for defense.

      • da burg's greatest says:

        i think that he should pull johan as soon as he gets a runner on in the 6th or 7th and put in heilman and then leave heilman in for way to long!

      • dave27 says:

        i meant he is content…ugh

      • RPsJacket says:

        Alou didn’t want to DH, neither did delgado per willie. Anderson used to hitting off bench.

    8. mza4eva says:

      At least Castillo is batting 9th….that makes me a happy camper

    9. 0h the ag0ny says:

      wont be a game tonight.

      its bad.

    10. 0h the ag0ny says:

      oh && FIRE WILLIE

    11. dave27 says:

      Can’t imagine Santana loves pitching on 6 days rest.

      • 0h the ag0ny says:

        gotta get used to not having a dome…

      • mackey_sassers_arm says:

        He’s actually said that the more rest he gets in between starts, the better. he isn’t one of those schedule freaks like glavine and moose that rely on everything being the same every time out.

    12. 0h the ag0ny says:

      sold his soul to get an extra day for this stuff to blow over..

    13. irish_eagle says:

      Hoping for rainout. The Mets are much worse in the cold than in warm weather.

    14. HoJoWright says:

      if Willie was really smart he’d use Johan in the 2 hole. he’s one of most consistent bats! who needs a DH with him on the hill, plus with all the rest he’s had he’d be up for it.

      i kid,

      LETS GO METS

      • 0h the ag0ny says:

        well…we know hed actually GROUNDOUT to drive in the tying run in 9th at least…

        • HoJoWright says:

          yeah, it’s weird the one time we actually wanted delgado to ground out weakly to second he couldn’t do it.

          • 0h the ag0ny says:

            oh, he hates us.

            and did anyone see the 3rd basemen? totally could have put a bunt down. A squeeze is a stretch but jesus, what better chance do you have then when the 3rd basemen is playing as a shorstop…

          • HoJoWright says:

            I hear ya, but lets move on. THey need to win tonight! Delcrapo better lay one down tonight if the situation presents itself.

            I’m outta here. LETS GO METS

    15. Danny1986 says:

      I can honestly say that this is the least excited I have been in a Subway Series game since it began.

      Seriously, I was looking forward more to a Matt Ginter-Mike Mussina duel in ‘04.

    16. Don Logan says:

      Wouldn’t the Yankees advocate for a day-night doubleheader when the series is at Shea next month. They love to promote those 1 home, 1 away day-night doubleheaders plus you know the Yankees figure they’d have A-rod back by then and would much rather play us 4 then and only 2 now

    17. drew39k says:

      I motion that Beltran be moved to second in the order. Anyone care to second that?

      He has the natural assets of a guy who would hit in the two hole.

      • dr jones says:

        why not give it a shot.. I’m up for anything at this point

        • Dafatone80 says:

          Beltran was fantastic hitting in the two hole for Houston for half a season. Why not?

          Reyes
          Beltran
          Wright
          Church
          Alou
          Delgado
          Schneider
          Castillo
          Pitcher

          About as good as any other lineup we’ve tried.

      • gomets6091 says:

        you mean he takes a lot of pitches?

    18. mrose says:

      the radar looks as though its gonna clear up in time for the game

      • huge_mets_fan11 says:

        We all thought that would happen last friday and didn’t, so I’m not getting my hopes up.

      • dr jones says:

        they can get this game in.. they will be sort of in the eye of this storm for at least 3 hours and then it might get bad again for a little while

    19. gipper82475 says:

      How bad is the weather? I ask from 92 degree, sunny Portland.

    20. sirk says:

      as of 6:25 PM it is 51 degrees and windy in the bronx…

    21. khmustache says:

      anyone watching this willie interview?

    22. metsfan42793 says:

      the game is rained out. there should be a dh tomorrow.

    23. METS08WSCHAMPS says:

      game ppd

    24. Dafatone80 says:

      According to the FAN, no doubleheader this weekend. Oh well.

      Anyone else feel like we’ve had more rainouts so far this year than the past three combined?

    25. wallybackman'sfire says:

      Maybe someone asked this but with tonite’s rain-out, does any team have more rained-out games than the Mets this year? It seems like that’s one category this team leads baseball in.