Daily Archives: May 31, 2008
The Mets (27–27) defeated the Dodgers (27–28) by the score of 3 to 2 today in Shea Stadium.
For a recap. boxscore, stats, etc., to go SNY.tv, but, in case you missed it, know that:
Mike Pelfrey still isn’t throwing his fastball enough, though he did not just enough to wiggle out of a few tricky situations, helped in part by visits from every one and their brother, from position players to the manager to the pitching coach, multiple times per inning; Jose Reyes flipped snazzy double play, off a tipped ball from Pelfrey; Tim McCarver is sort of right when he says, ‘nothing good can come of a lead-off walk,’; the Mets look good when they wear their old-school pinstripes; Southern Tier’s Yeti Imperial Stout is a great beer on tap; the Mets stranded a lot of runs between yesterday and today, but Carlos Beltran tied the game in the eighth with a two-run home run, which was followed by a game-breaking RBI from, you guessed it, Fernando Tatis; Billy Wagner, who struck out the side for a save, is nasty; and, lastly, this is a big win, considering that you and I were probably worried last night, thinking the goodwill of the previous three days may have come to end…instead, the good times roll.
The Mets finish their four-game series with the Dodgers tomorrow on ESPN at 8 pm, with Johan Santana facing Hiroki Kuroda.
According to FOX’s Joe Buck during today’s broadcast of the Mets-Dodgers game, Mike Piazza has ‘hinted’ that he hopes to wear a Mets hat if inducted in to the Hall of Fame.
Tagged Mike Piazza |
The Game:
The Mets (26-27) continue their four-game series versus Dodgers (27-27) today at Shea Stadium, starting at 3:55 pm EST.
The Lineup:
- SS Jose Reyes
- RF Endy Chavez
- 3B David Wright
- CF Carlos Beltran
- 1B Carlos Delgado
- 2B Damion Easley
- C Brian Schneider
- LF Fernando Tatis
- P Mike Pelfrey
The Pitchers:
RHP Mike Pelfrey (2-6, 5.33 ERA) takes the hill for the Mets.
RHP Chad Billingsley (4-6, 3.68 ERA) starts for the Dodgers.
How To Catch It:
Today’s game can be seen locally on FOX 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 |The Mets officially announced yesterday that Pedro Martinez will remain in New York, travel with the team and start for the 
Mets in San Francisco on Tuesday against the Giants.
Martinez talked with reporters prior to yesterday’s game, and said:
“We’re due to win. We owe something to the fans, to the people in New York. I hope we can all pull it off together…I think we’re due to do something great here, and I hope we do it soon. I hope all the adversity that we have to face is already gone.”
Martinez also told reporters that he hopes Willie Randolph remains the team’s manager, and that the two will end the season in an October parade through New York City.
Tagged Pedro Martinez |
Following up to yesterday’s comments by Jon Heyman on WFAN, in which he stated that the Mets do not view Aaron Heilman as a starter because “… he’s a two-pitch pitcher” and also because they think his “high elbow” throwing mechanics are conducive to injury. Heyman also added “…there is the fact that he does not have a great breaking pitch.”
I have several issues with these statements, and not sure whether to direct them to Mets officials or to Heyman. But here goes.
First, Heilman’s best two pitches are his sinking fastball and changeup. However, he also throws a forkball and a slider. That’s four pitches by my count.
Second, it’s true that Heilman’s mechanics are unusual, and they do look similar to the ever-injured Mark Prior’s. However, Heilman’s throwing motion also compares to those of Don Drysdale, who pitched for 14 seasons in MLB. (Yes, Drysdale did have shoulder issues, but he also threw 270 innings or more 9 times in his career. So was it the motion, or overuse?)
Finally, Heilman may not have a “great” breaking pitch, but he has a decent one — the aforementioned slider. It’s not a John Smoltz slider, but it’s certainly more reliable than Mike Pelfrey‘s.
Which brings me to another point. If the Mets truly think Heilman can’t be a starter because he is a “two-pitch pitcher”, then I want to know the thought process behind forcing Mike Pelfrey into the starting rotation. Last I checked, Pelfrey is also a “two-pitch pitcher”, and his second pitch — the slider — is not “great”. Pelfrey also does not have an offspeed pitch, while Heilman throws two (changeup and forkball).
Maybe Heilman and Pelfrey should swap roles.
Tagged Mike Pelfrey |
Luis Castillo left last night’s game with what the team called a ‘strained left hip flexor,’ although Castillo later told reporters that he hurt his left quadricep.
Castillo will be examined today, with a trip to the disabled list remaining a strong possibility.
Meanwhile, Ramon Castro was hit by a pitch on his left elbow in the ninth inning and underwent X-rays after the game.
