Daily Archives: May 19, 2008
Pedro Martinez tossed 4.1 innings against St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers in an extended spring training game in St. Lucie.
Martinez will throw a simulated game under the watchful eye of Rick Peterson 
in Atlanta on Wednesday.
According to Ted Berg, at SNY.tv, Martinez threw 77 pitches, 54 of them strikes, while striking out five batters and topping out at 90 on the radar gun.
…from what i can gather, Claudio Vargas will likely get at least one more start following tomorrow’s double header…however, it is possible that pedro slots in to the rotation the next time around, which could mean he is back around the first week of June…frankly, i’ll believe that when i see it…nevertheless, go pedro…
For more on Martinez’s start, check blogs from the Daily News and the New York Post.
Tagged Pedro Martinez |
To watch a clip from The WheelHouse, during which the Star-Ledger’s Dan Graziano discusses the Mets, Billy Wagner, Willie Randolph, ‘lighting a fire under the Mets,’ and their coming trip to Atlanta, click play below…
The Mets announced that they have signed IF Abraham Nunez to a minor league contract, who will be assigned to Triple-A New Orleans.
Nunez batted .235 with 16 RBI in 252 at-bats for the Phillies last season.
Tagged Mike Nichols |
At his ESPN.com blog, Buster Olney writes that Carlos Delgado‘s blown home run call by home-plate umpire Bob Davidson was one more example why instant replay should be used.
Olney explains:
“The Mets wound up smoking the Yankees and so the blown call was not pivotal, but so often disputed home run calls can be pivotal. I don’t think instant replay should be used broadly in baseball, but for home runs — why not? Hopefully, the general managers who are reviewing the possibility of instant replay will advise the commissioner to implement replay for 2009, and hopefully the commissioner will act”
…i disagree with olney…if instant replay were to be used in baseball, it should include the close plays on the bases which can determine the outcome of a game just as much as a home run…
…i understand the baseball purist in all of us don’t want to see the game slowed down anymore with instant replay timeouts…but if every tv broadcast can magnify the close plays, why shouldn’t the umpires be afforded the same technology to get the call correct…
…added to by Regis Courtemanche…
…umpires should definitely be able to use instant replay for hard-to-judge home runs, but that’s all…it’s a slippery slope once replay is used for anything more than home runs, i mean, where would it end…just like Carlos Beltran‘s home run should not have been revoked on April 2nd, delgado’s never should have been called foul…neither resulted in a loss, but it’s only a matter of time until it does…
In a post to Clubhouse Cancer, Kristin posts photos of Jerry Seinfeld wearing a Cubs hat at Wrigley Field this weekend.
…say it ain’t so, jerry…say it ain’t so…
…thanks to Tom G for the link…i guess…
According to Brian Moritz of the Press & Sun Bulletin, the Mets have signed 27–year-old OF Eric Reed to a minor league contract.
Back in 2005, when Reed was still a top prospect with the Marlins, John Sickels of MinorLeagueBall.com wrote of his skillset: “Speed demon, stole 40 bases between Carolina and Albuquerque…Lack of power and weak on-base skills limit his value.”
In 41 at-bats with the Marlins in 2006, Reed hit .098.
…from what i recall, he’s mostly known for his speed…he has gap power at best…he has very little plate discipline…however, he does play very good defense…
Tagged Minors |In his last start on Saturday versus the Yankees, Johan Santana allowed three homeruns for a total of 11 this season. However, only three of his 11 homeruns allowed this season have come with runners on base.
Currently, Santana is on pace to allow a career-high 40 homeruns this season.
…being a fly ball pitcher i’d expect johan to always have a propensity to give up the long ball, but not at the rate he is…at least the majoriy of his homeruns are of the solo variety…
…some may be alarmed about this, but i’m not, typically johan is a slow starter and his homerun rate decreases as the season progresses…
…added to by Matthew Cerrone…
Santana is 48–29 with a 3.57 ERA when starting before the All-Star Game, but is 50–17 with a 2.79 ERA when starting after the All-Star Game.
Tagged Mike Nichols |
In a report for the Bergen Record, Ian O’Conner talks with Willie Randolph about the manager’s image among fans.
Randolph, on not being helped by SNY, as quoted by O’Conner, who pens a fascinating column about the skipper:
“(The television producers) are the artists, I’m the canvas. They paint the picture the way they want to. They want to show me when somebody gives up a home run or somebody makes an error, so they want to see me [using profanity]…Well, my players are watching the monitors in the bullpen going, ‘Look at Skip, he’s cursing us out.’ That’s not how I lead. But when the game is over, I’m [on them]. ‘And why don’t you turn over a couple of [food] spreads?’ I’ve done that. You might not know it.
“Why [isn’t] SNY shooting me when I’m ready to go down the dugout clapping my hands and patting guys on the butt, schooling them during the game? I’m on the top step every game…Why don’t you show that side of me so people can say, ‘Wow, jeez, Willie’s fiery’?…You watch any manager in baseball, you see him look like a bump on the log sitting there. They don’t move, they don’t talk. I’m as animated and as demonstrative and as involved and as intense as any manager in baseball.”
…the above is just a sample…so, you should read o’conner’s entire column, as they discuss some interesting topics…
In Sunday’s New York Post, Ryan Church was asked to compare the managerial styles of Randolph and Manny Acta, who he played for in DC, and said:
“Similar. You see those managers out there who get up in your face and scream in front of the camera and all this other stuff – they’re not like that. But, they have that in them…behind closed doors.”
Speaking of ‘behind closed doors,’ Lee Mazzilli had the following to say about the subject during last night’s post-game show on SNY:
Tagged Willie Randolph |“What happens behind closed doors is the most important thing, that we as outsiders never get to see or hear. When we’re allowed in there, we see a different type of clubhouse. It’s behind closed doors when those leaders stand out, that’s the most important thing.”
Marlins (24-19, Tied First):
Mike Phillips of the Miami Herald, citing a ‘major-league source,’ reports the Marlins are on the verge of signing OF Jacque Jones.
Jones was batting .165 with 1 HR and 5 RBI in 79 at-bats this season before being released by the Tigers.
Over at Fish Stripes, Craig analyzes the Jones signing from a defensive prespective.
Phillies (24-21, 2 LB):
Jim Salisbury of the Philadelphia inquirer says Brett Myers‘ stubborn use of his fastball is costing him this season.
Chase Utley does the “little things,” writes Tom Goyne of Balls, Sticks & Stuff.
Braves (22-21, 2 LB):
After feeling more discomfort in his shoulder following a Saturday Bullpen session, Johm Smoltz‘s late May return may be in doubt, writes David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Nationals (19-26, 7 LB):
Tagged Mike Nichols, Nationals, Phillies |Ben Goessling of the Washington Times says the loss of Nick Johnson, who led the team with a .415 OBP, leaves a big hole in the Nationals lineup.
As I said earlier, the best part of yesterday’s win over the Yankees was seeing their stadium be dominated by Mets fans, after most Yankee fans fled the scene down 11 to 2.
Ryan Church, talking to reporters about hearing ‘Lets Go Mets’ cheers, while playing in Yankee Stadium:
“It is nice…We gave them something to cheer about, and that’s important. We’ve always said we appreciate the support.”
Yankees OF Johnny Damon, said:
← Older posts“They had a reason to be out there cheering. They ended up kicking our butts. It was pretty embarrassing.”
