Daily Archives: June 24, 2008
Following tonight’s 11–0 loss to the Mariners, Jerry Manuel told reporters that his team needs to figure some things out, as a staff, ‘to get on track and stay on track,’ adding:
“We might have some tough decisions to make…We can’t continue to go play good, don’t play good, and not find a consistent formula. We have to find a consistent formula at some point, and we have not found that yet. So, we’ve got to do what we can. It could mean some tough decisions…Could be lineup changes, could be rotation changes, could be all types of changes, we have to do what we have to do to get this team on track. We have such great fans, and they’re just waiting, they’re waiting, they’re waiting, they’re waiting, they’re waiting for us to do well, just hoping we do well and we’re not giving them anything and that’s not fair to them.”
According to Manuel, he and Omar Minaya have not yet talked about potential trade acquisitions, however he says they soon will, ‘No doubt about that.’
The Mets (37–39) lost to the Mariners (28–49) by the score of – wait for it – 11–0 at Shea Stadium tonight.
For a recap, boxscore, stats, etc., go to SNY.tv.
However, in case you missed it, know that Oliver Perez continues to be a total mess; it’s weird 
seeing David Wright on the bench; Jose Reyes was the only player in the Mets starting lineup under the age of 30; Luis Castillo lost the handle on a ground ball that could have ended the inning, but instead let two runs score; the Mets offense can not get on balance; Fernando Tatis and Brian Schneider are the only one’s capable of hitting a knuckle ball; and the most entertaining part of the game was not the game, but when Jerry Manuel got ejected defending Carlos Beltran, who was baited in to an argument about balls and strikes by the umpire, who then ejected Beltran.
The Mets are 3–4 since Jerry Manuel replaced Willie Randolph.
The Mets conclude their three-game series against the M’s tomorrow night at Shea Stadium, with John Maine (7-5, 3.78 ERA) facing Miguel Batista (3-9, 6.26 ERA).
The Game:
The Mets (37-38) continue their three-game series against the Mariners (27-49) tonight at Shea Stadium, starting 7:10 pm.
The Lineup:
- SS Jose Reyes
- 2B Luis Castillo
- CF Carlos Beltran
- 1B Carlos Delgado
- LF Trot Nixon
- 3B Fernando Tatis
- C Brian Schneider
- RF Endy Chavez
- P Oliver Perez
The Pitchers:
LHP Oliver Perez (5-4, 5.06 ERA) starts for the Mets. He is 1-1 with a 4.41 ERA in three career starts versus the Mariners. In six home starts this season, Perez is 2-1 with a 4.99 ERA.
RHP RA Dickey (1-3, 5.57 ERA) starts for the Mariners. The knuckleballer is 1-1 with a 5.29 ERA in six games, 1 start, on the road this season. This is his first career start versus the Mets.
The Notes:
The Mets have averaged 7.24 runs per game in games started by Oliver Perez this season.
Carlos Beltran is hitting .318 (27-for-85) with 5 2B, 6 HR and 19 RBI in the month of June. He is 4-for-13 (.308) with 1 HR ad 4 RBI in his career versus Dickey.
The Mariners are 6-1 all-time versus the Mets, including six straight wins.
How To Catch It:
Tonight’s game can be seen locally on SNY 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 Jon Heyman at SI.com, the Mets have agreed to terms with first-round pick 1B-OF Ike Davis, agreeing to a signing bonus in the range of $1.5 million.
…the buzz from Shea Stadium is that davis will join Single-A Brooklyn, along with Reese Havens and Brad Holt, as soon as the deal is officially announced…
In the latest Ask the Booth for SNY.tv, Ron Darling is asked why John Maine gives up so many foul balls, which ultimately expedite his pitch count, to which Darling says:
“I don’t think there is anything that you can do about foul balls…I believe that since John throws a lot of high fastballs, those tend to be fouled back instead of being put into play. As John’s secondary pitches get better, so will his percentage of swings and misses.”
…i feel like this is a trend that started toward the end of last season, though…i don’t recall him letting up so many foul balls prior to that…
Among other things, Darling also answers questions about why he wore No. 12, his first day in the big leagues, and the difference between a cut fastball and a regular fastball.
Prior to yesterday’s game, Mets GM Omar Minaya also acknowledged that there is a lot of baseball left to be played, adding, ‘If any one knows about ‘not over yet’ it’s us, because of how we played last September.’
Regarding the trade market, Minaya said it is still too early to tell how the market will shape up, though, he feels it’s going to be active, adding, about the market as a whole, “I think some trades will be made – and I think there will be some good players moved at the deadline.”
…i am just starting to peel back what can or cannot, may or may not happen at the trade deadline…the short of it is, there are teams who are very willing to move players, teams who need players, and a whole lot of teams who have yet to decide what to do, like the Pirates, because they’re hovering around .500 and it’s important to keep their fans positive, even if they believe there is no chance that they’ll make the post season…
…that said, from what i understand, minaya has been working the phones very hard…i feel there would be major changes on this roster, but it just isn’t possible…fact is, there are lots of other teams who can offer more than the Mets, no matter how badly minaya wants a new outfielder, first baseman, another relief pitcher and an infielder and power bat for his bench…
Tagged Omar Minaya |Understandably, the Mets only scored one run on two hits against Mariners RHP Felix Hernandez, who entered the game 
with a 2.83 ERA having allowed just three runs in his previous 28 innings pitched.
However, after Hernandez left the game with an injury, the Mets could only muster two hits and three walks, and no runs, in 4.1 innings against a bullpen that had been described as ‘beleaguered,’ ‘decimated,’ and ‘broken down,’ according to the previous day’s reports.
Jerry Manuel, following last night’s game, when asked if he is surprised his team did not score more runs against Seattle’s depleted bullpen, said:
“No question, I think that’s where we are gonna have to have our focus, is on our offense. We swung at some balls outside the strike zone – we haven’t managed that very we’ll…We’ll probably have to sit down with HoJo and have a different plan of attack than we’ve had. We got to really identify some thoughts individually and work on those things religiously – not just one time here, one time there. We have to find a way to get the best out of our players offensively, and that’s going to be a difficult task, but I think we have the people to do it.
“It appears to me that they’re getting us out outside the strike zone and that’s a problem…We have to make some adjustments as far as strike recognition and we’ve got to come up with some programs, some plans and some thoughts because we’re getting ourselves out. That’s when mediocre pitching can be good, if you’re outside the strike zone – and we have to address that.”
According to MSNBC’s Countdown with Keith Olbermann, Bart Hubbuch and the New York Post are among yesterday’s Worst Persons in the World:
Ryan Church took batting practice and took part in the team’s pre-game workout prior to last night’s game.
Church told reporters that he hopes to start a rehab assignment with Single-A Brooklyn on Wednesday or Thursday.
…if all goes well, he could return to Shea Stadium as early as this weekend when the Mets play the Yankees…
…when church gets back, i have to think Carlos Delgado will end up batting much lower in the lineup, maybe even seventh, so to split up the left-handed bats…which is a good thing…for a variety of reasons…
Tagged Ryan Church |
In his first game back from a hamstring injury, 19–year-old Fernando Martinez was 1 for 3 with a strike out as the designated hitter on Sunday for the Single-A GCL Mets.
…the buzz from Shea Stadium is that he’ll rejoin Double-A towards the end of the week…at which point, the kid needs to start hitting…for a guy who is so highly-touted, he has yet to really do anything to set himself apart from other prospects…ever…
…Update…10:29 am…
…my point is that, although he is young and it’s more than understandable that he needs time to develop, the kid has been labeled the Teenage Hitting Machine and is considered the team’s top prospect – head and shoulders above the rest – all while being listed among the best prospects in baseball…
…and so, if he’s going be so highly regarded, and considered a potential starter as early as next season, he may went to start separating himself from the pack…
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