Daily Archives: May 17, 2008
The Mets (21–19) defeated the Yankees (20–23) by the score of 7 to 4 in the Bronx yesterday.
For a boxscore, stats, etc, check out SNY’s Recap Page.
- Johan Santana looked great, minus the three times he allowed a home run. It’s amazing how great he can be, yet allow so many long balls. It’s odd. Anyway, Santana in to the eighth, to Billy Wagner, is always going to be a winning combination.
- Ryan Church picked up a hit in the gap by Bobby Abreu, threw to Luis Castillo, who threw to Brian Schneider, who blocked home plate with his foot, tagging out Johnny Damon, who was trying to score from first.
- Given all the stress around the Mets of late, I am happy they were lead to victory by Santana, and David Wright and Jose Reyes. It only seems fitting to me. Wright was 3 for 5 with a home run, while Reyes was 2 for 5 also with a home run. Nice job by Reyes, running so hard out of the box on his home run, because in most parks that’s bouncing off the wall, that he essentially sprinted around the bases, while trying to hold his batting helmet from falling off. Run, Reyes, run.
- It was clear that Joba Chamberlain would be throwing an inside fastball to Carlos Delgado, with a Carlos Beltran on third in the ninth, and the Mets up two. Yet, he turned on it and ripped a ground ball by the first baseman, allowing Beltran to score and add an insurance run.
- I was not nervous at all, with Billy Wagner pitching and two runners on and no outs in the ninth. Not nervous at all. You’re right, Billy, you can pitch in the eighth. He’s looking more and more like a Cy Young candidate every day.
The Mets face the Yankees tonight at Yankee Stadium on ESPN at 8 pm, with Oliver Perez taking on Chien-Ming Wang.
New Orleans (AAA): 10-8 loss to Nashville
LHP Adam Bostick was lit up for seven runs on eight hits and three walks in 3.1 innings. He allowed two homers to veteran 3B Russel Branyan. With the Zephyrs bats putting them in the lead, RHP Nate Field blew it in the eighth and took the loss, allowing three runs on a hit and three walks.
2B Argenis Reyes went 2-for-4 with a double, run and RBI, while SS Anderson Hernandez went 1-for-5 with a run. OF Val Pascucci was 2-for-5 with a homer and C Raul Casanova finished 3-for-4.
St. Lucie (A+): 3-2 loss to Daytona
RHP Tobi Stoner tossed six innings of one run ball, allowing just six hits and not walking a batter while striking out seven. RHP Ryan Coultas took the loss, surrendering a run on three hits in an inning and a third.
1B Lucas Duda was 1-for-3 with a double, and 3B Levi Ventura went 2-for-3 with a double and a run.
Savannah (A-): 5-4 loss to Greenville
Tagged Minors |RHP Michael Antonini allowed three runs (two earned) on eight hits, not walking a batter while striking out four. RHP Brant Rustich could not stop Greenville’s momentum in the seventh, as he allowed an inherited run and two of his own to score, as he took the eventual loss.
2B Greg Veloz was 2-for-4 with a double and a run. C Francisco Pena was 1-for-4 with two RBI.
Prior to last night’s game, Billy Wagner said 
the following in regards to his comments about teammates speaking with reporters:
“I’m getting all kinds of criticism for calling out a guy and for being racist. It’s a little much. I didn’t even say a name. Now, the fans think I’m some racist bigot who wants to go after my teammates. Like I said, it’s a bit much.”
Well, I’m just one fan, Billy, but, to me, I never inferred that you are a racist from these comments. The thought never once crossed my mind.
In fact, in all of the 316 e-mails sent to me about your remarks, and judging by the comments on my site, I would say very few fans feel this way about you, as well.
What I took away from your remarks had nothing to do with race – it had everything to do with accountability, not language.
Actually, regardless of these comments, and the media whirlwind, my bet is that you are still among the most respected and liked players on the team, as far as the fan’s are concerned.
The Game:
The Mets (20-19) open an abbreviated two-game series versus the Yankees (20-22) today at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, starting at 1:05pm EST.
The Lineup:
- SS Jose Reyes
- RF Ryan Church
- 3B David Wright
- CF Carlos Beltran
- LF Moises Alou
- 1B Carlos Delgado
- DH Damion Easley
- C Brian Schneider
- 2B Luis Castillo
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.
LHP Andy Pettitte (3-4, 4.40 ERA) takes the hill for the Yankees. In his last start on May 12 versus the Rays, Pettitte allowed five runs on eights hits and two walks and five strikeouts over 4.0 IP, earning a loss. Left-handed batters are batting .189 versus Pettitte this season. He is 7-3 with a 3.42 in 16 career stars versus the Mets.
The Notes:
The Mets are 25-35 all-time versus the Yankees during Interleague play.
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 .385 (5-for-13) with 1 HR and 2 RBI in his career versus Pettitte.
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:
Today’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…
Tagged Mike Nichols |
According to SNY’s newsroom, the first pitch for today’s game between the Yankees and Mets will be at 1:08 pm.
Also, tomorrow night’s game is still scheduled for 8 pm and will air on ESPN.
According to Buster Olney at ESPN.com, the 
Mets, Red Sox, Braves, Yankees, White Sox, Rangers and Mariners, are among teams who will likely show up when free-agent RHP Freddy Garcia is able to audition.
…from what i can gather, the Mets will certainly be interested in garcia, who should be ready to pitch in the major leagues around the All-Star Break…he is already throwing from a mound and looking strong, though he still has a lot of work to do before such an audition can occur…
Prior to last night’s game, Willie Randolph told reporters that he talked yesterday with Mets COO Jeff Wilpon about the team’s lackluster play, adding:
“We talked about the team and how we can get better…We haven’t swung the bats collectively as a team and, once we start doing that, it will take pressure off our bullpen and starting pitching.”
…to which i am sure jeff must have thought, ‘Hmm, where i have heard that before.’…
In the Bergen Record, Bob Klapisch suggests that Randolph is quickly turning in to Captain Queeg, adding:
“The manager spoke to his team for 35 minutes and emerged with an assessment of the Mets’ play that can be described, at best, as incorrect. At worst, Randolph was being delusional…Randolph can’t affect repairs if he doesn’t acknowledge there’s something fundamentally wrong with the Mets. To do that, he has to admit his entire managerial style is flawed, which is to say, the Mets have been ignoring him since 2006. No chance Randolph goes down that path. He’s too stubborn, too arrogant for that. Better to look the other way, deny everything – and then cross the fingers. Tightly.”
…as usual, klap has a finger on the real pulse of this team…
…that said, he connected a few dots for me, because i have been hearing the word Stubborn come from people connected to the team, when speaking about willie, for some time now…i never really understood what that was supposed to mean, but coupled to klap’s column, i understand the characterization a bit more now…
…the funny thing is, fans have been calling willie Stubborn since his first season…
Nevertheless, in the Journal News, Rick Carpiniello throws some reality on the fire, writing:
“The perception is that Randolph has lost control of his team, which, of course, is ludicrous. Even if it were true, those who are claiming it to be so have no way of knowing…Likewise, Randolph is painted with a brush of somebody without fire – which is also ridiculous – because he doesn’t blow his top. His team, they claim, is flat, unemotional, uncaring; even if we all know that teams usually look that way when they’re not hitting, not pitching, not fielding or not running the bases particularly well.”
For more opinion and information, I highly suggest you check out John Harper in the Daily News, Ken Davidoff in Newsday, and Joel Sherman in the New York Post, who writes:
Tagged Willie Randolph |“A manager is best served with allies in four areas: 1) clubhouse. 2) front office. 3) media. 4) fan base. Randolph is pretty much 0-for-4.”
At Baseball America, Jim Callis predicts that the Mets will select Stanford C Jason Castro in the the first round of this year’s MLB Amateur Player Draft, which will begin on June 5.
…i assume this is not the same Jason Castro who was on American Idol…i hope…
According to Callis, “New York has the financial wherewithal to spend as much as any team does on the draft, but it apparently will stick to slotting once again in 2008.”
…last winter, i picked up a lot of buzz suggesting otherwise…but, of late, Baseball America and Keith Law have both been saying the Mets will be ‘good citizens,’ which is disappointing to hear…i think it’s time to be a bit selfish…
With their second first-round pick, courtesy of Tom Glavine and the Braves, Callis predicts the Mets will draft Georgia RHP Ethan Martin.
…by the way, if you click on the player’s name above it will take you to their MiLB.com Draft Report page, which includes video and all sorts of details about each player…good stuff…
Click play below, to watch SNY.tv’s Ted Berg talk with Harold Reynolds about how the Subway Series is viewed outside of New York; and whether Billy Wagner’s comments truly impact a team; among other things:
Omar Minaya told reporters yesterday that Pedro Martinez is set to throw a 70-pitch simulated game in Port St. Lucie on Monday, after which he is likely to begin his rehab assignment.
…so, simulated game, two or three rehab starts, and i’m guessing we see him with the Mets again during the middle of June…but, one step at a time…
Tagged Pedro Martinez |
