Daily Archives: May 23, 2008
Jose Valentin was 2 for 3 with a double, RBI and a walk during a minor-league rehab game with Single-A St. Lucie tonight.
…thanks to Bill M for the tip…
Today on The Mike & Murray Show on SIRIUS Satellite Radio, hosts Mike Yam and Bruce Murray with Gary Carter, who is currently managing the Orange County Flyers of the Independent Golden League in California.
Carter, when asked if he is interested in managing the Mets, should they fire Willie Randolph, said:
“Boy, I’ll tell you what, I would love that, guys. When I saw that on ESPN today, Mike & Mike, they were talking about it and immediately I got on the phone and I called Jay Horowitz and I asked, ‘Should I try to call Mr. Wilpon?’ If there is this going on I just want them to know of my availability. I’m only a phone call away because my contract allows me to leave the ball club. I could be in New York tomorrow, if necessary, because if there’s anything at the major league level I can leave this job…The comments that David Wright made saying that, you know, there’s no spark, there’s no fire, if anything I would love to bring that to the table because you know me, guys. I love the game, have a great passion for it and you know my enthusiasm, and hopefully I would be able to bring that to maybe help turn that ball club around. There’s way too much talent there for them to be a game under .500 and to lose four in a row to the Braves. That’s just kind of uncalled for and I think that they’ve just become complacent in some ways and ever since their demise of last year. And if you look at Willie’s record it is right around .500 since June of last year. And when you have that much talent there are a lot more expectations than where they’re at right now.”
The Game:
The Mets (22-23) begin a three-game series versus the defending National League champion Rockies (18-29) tonight at Coors Field in Denver, starting at 9:05 pm EST.
The Lineup:
- SS Jose Reyes
- 2B Luis Castillo
- 3B David Wright
- CF Carlos Beltran
- 1B Carlos Delgado
- LF Marlon Anderson
- C Brian Schneider
- RF Endy Chavez
- P Oliver Perez
According to John Delcos of the Journal News, Ryan Church is not in tonight’s lineup due to dizziness.
The Pitchers:
LHP Oliver Perez (4-3, 4.25 ERA) takes the hill for the Mets. Perez earned a victory in his last start on May 18 versus the Yankees surrendering two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out four over 7.2 IP. He leads the National League with an .094 batting average against left-handed batters this season. Perez is 4-4 with a 5.04 ERA in 12 career games, 11 starts, versus the Rockies.
RHP Greg Reynolds (0-1, 3.09 ERA) makes his third career start for the Rockies. In his last start on May 17 versus the Twins, Reynolds allowed no runs on three hits while striking out two and walking two. This is his first career start versus the Mets.
…i shudder every time i write, “this is his first career start versus the Mets“…
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.
…enjoy, and as always, Let’s Go Mets…
Tagged Mike Nichols |Willie Randolph, Omar Minaya and the Wilpons are scheduled to meet in person next week in New York.
However, according to multiple reports, Minaya will join the team tonight in Denver.
…in other words, get your stories straight, guys…
In a post to his blog for the New York Times, Ben Shpigel writes, “I can’t recall Minaya making a 
trip out here since I took over the beat, in August 2005. Because he can, Minaya will usually pick cities like Miami, San Francisco or Washington, but I can guarantee you that he is not here, on Memorial Day weekend, because he wants to try the Vesta Dipping Grill.”
Meanwhile, at his blog for the Journal News, John Delcos says, “I think the Mets are making a mistake with how they are dealing with Randolph…If they want him, then say so. Letting him twist is wrong, and it doesn’t help in the clubhouse.”
For more on Minaya’s trip to Denver, check out the Bergen Record, New York Post, and the Daily News.
Tagged Omar Minaya, Willie Randolph |In a post to his blog for Daily News, 
Adam Rubin explains why Omar Minaya deserves a lot of blame, adding that it’s too easy to just scapegoat Willie Randolph.
In a second post to his blog for the Daily News, Rubin turns his attention to Pedro Martinez, writing…
“Let’s face it: He isn’t a savior. In fact, players such Martinez actually are harmful to the Mets in a way, and ultimately speak poorly of GM Omar Minaya’s soon-to-be-fleeting tenure…Martinez is a poster child for the Mets’ frailty.”
…go rubin…go rubin…go, go, go rubin…
Tagged Omar Minaya, Pedro Martinez, Willie Randolph |
In mid-April, with the Mets at 12–11, a fellow fan said to me, “Well, it can’t get any worse than this.”
Last night, listening to WFAN, reading e-mails, comments and watching SNY, I heard lots of people say that this – 22–23 – must be ‘rock bottom’ for the Mets.
Asked if this is the lowest point of the season yet, Carlos Delgado told reporters last night, “I certainly hope so, we still have four months left.”
Folks, it can certainly get a lot worse than this, which is exactly why some sort of change needs to occur. Maybe it’s the manager that must change, maybe it’s the roster, maybe it’s the overall team culture, or maybe it’s all of the above.
The point is, like I wrote a few weeks ago, it feels like there is a clog in this team’s drain and it desperately needs to be removed, because this is currently not working and has not worked in a while.
As noted on Faith and Fear in Flushing, the Mets are 76-79 since Memorial Day 2007. And, as Jason R, a reader from MetsBlog, pointed out to me in an e-mail, the Mets are 27–35 since September 14 of last season.
Willie Randolph, following last night’s loss, said:
“This is one of those tough spots in the year where you’ve got to fight through it and not overreact and keep fighting and working to get back – and we will.”
Is Randolph speaking to his team, or is he speaking through reporters to his bosses regarding his job?
He’s right, though, the Wilpons should not overreact, but they do have to react. Because, unlike in the early 90s, or the late 70s, the Mets as a business have way too much to lose now, with a television network and a new stadium on the horizon – much of which teeters upon a fan base that I sense is starting to feel like it’s being teased and taken for granted.
At Page 2 on ESPN.com, Paul Lukas (a self-proclaimed lifelong Mets fan) writes an interesting piece, to say the least, about 
why he hopes Mike Piazza will not be enshrined in the Hall of Fame as a New York Met.
…in my opinion, lukas should stick to writing about uniforms because he is definitely out in left field about this one…
His reasons range from utter ridiculousness, from Piazza’s response to his heterosexuality, to just plain stupid, such as, “Mike Piazza can’t slide.”
…last time I checked, players get into the Hall of Fame on their career numbers, records and accolades, not on athleticism…
…put aside his career numbers with both the Dodgers and Mets, his athleticism or lack of, whether or not he gave first base a shot, and think about where this organization was before he arrived…
…i will never forget the countless memories he left us, and as a Mets fan, i hope in five years that he will don a Mets hat in Cooperstown…
By the way, Adam Rubin of the Daily News reports that the Mets hope to honor Piazza at Shea Stadium this season.
Tagged Mike Piazza |…shoot me…shoot me, now…’collassily,’ with an egg in my shoe…
…well, this should be interesting…have fun…
Please answer the following question, while considering the team’s ownership, current management, talent, minor-league system, new stadium and network, etc:
[Poll=101]
Tagged Poll |
As I wrote last night, a lot of frustrating moments occurred during last night’s game, but what I felt the worst about was David Wright.
He made a tremendous statement the night before, as quoted by MLB.com, in which he talked honestly about emotion, wanting to win, his teammates, etc., and then played an absolutely horrible game.
In fact, it looked like he was trying to do too much.
He had a rough night at the plate, in the field and on the bases, getting doubled-up on first base in the ninth inning on a line drive by Carlos Beltran to end the game. I’m not picking on Wright. I mean, every one is entitled to a rough game. I’m just saying, it’s crazy how finally this team gets a player to say the right things, and then that very player struggles on the night. It’s like, they just can’t get it together, even when they’re trying their hardest and doing and saying the right things.
Wright also ended the sixth inning by grounding out in to a double play. He ran through first, flipped his batting helmet to the side line, looked up at the sky, exhaled, and – for a brief moment – looked like a man on the verge of tears.
Honestly, the more I re-read them, I’m starting to think Wright’s statement from the previous night, as quoted by MLB.com, were less a call to his teammates and more of a cry for help.
Then, last night, he told the Daily News that his quotes in MLB.com were a bit misrepresented, adding, “I take it hard, and I think other guys take it hard as well.”
Frankly, I bet most fans feel he had it right the first time.
To listen to Wright’s post-game comments from last night’s game, click the play button below:
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