Monthly Archives: June 2008
In the four games played with the Yankees on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Carlos Delgado had four hits in 15 at 
bats, three of which were home runs, including 10 RBI while striking out two times.
Interestingly, Delgado was 4 for 9 in the two day games, but hitless in six at bats during the other two games.
This is not an isolated trend, though.
In 30 day games this season, Delgado is batting .293, while averaging one home run every 10 or so at bats.
However, in 49 night games this season, Delgado is batting just .190, while averaging one home run every 50 at bats.
…that…is amazing…i’m not one to put a whole lot in to stats like this, but, wow, that one is hard to ignore…
To put this in to perspective, at that rate, with those stats, if the Mets were to play 162 day games, apparently Delgado would hit .290 with roughly 45 HR and 130 or so RBI.
…hat tip to the Lets Go Mets blog for a heads up on the splits…
Ryan Church returned to the lineup yesterday and had two hits in four at bats while starting in right field.
Church told reporters after the game that he has not experienced any post-concussion symptoms in a two weeks, noting that he was a bit fatigued, but that that is expected.
…the key will be how church reacts following the team’s flight to St. Louis…if all goes well, i think he’s in the clear…
Church is batting .304 with 10 HR and 35 RBI in 51 games played for the Mets this season.
Tagged Ryan Church |In a win yesterday against the Yankees, Oliver Perez let up just three hits and one run, while walking nobody and striking out eight, with 106 pitches in seven innings.
…this is the first time all season that he did not walk a batter…
Prior to the game, pitching coach Dan Warthen explained that he and Perez had recently worked on making changes to the pitcher’s delivery, such as letting Perez pitch from the center of the rubber, which is something Rick Peterson would not allow.
…also, he changed the start of his windup, instead of stepping to the side and returning to center, now he’s stepping directly back and coming forward, which he said gives him more power…
…the by-product appeared to be more confidence throwing inside, and so he also threw more fastballs in general, which looked outstanding…also interesting, as Brian Schneider acknowledged after the game while talking with Kevin Burkhardt, perez was working more back and forth, i.e., changing speeds, than side to side, i.e., painting the corners…
Perez, talking to reporters after the game, said:
“Today was the real Ollie…I was having fun, but at the same time I was focused…Before, I was trying to be a different pitcher. Right now, it’s me…I was really there, and I’m happy for what I did today and I have to keep going…Before, I was trying to be too perfect, I was trying to be a different pitcher, but today was the real me.”
Manuel, on Perez, talking to reporters after the game, said:
“Everybody has tried some different things with him…What has happened in the past is that they last for one inning, two innings, but this adjustment that he made today seemed to carry him throughout the game, which we should expect next time he takes the ball. He should be the same way.”
…next time he takes the ball…excellent…keep going, ollie…
Dan Warthen, as quoted by the Star-Ledger:
“That’s all part of it, all part of Ollie being Ollie. It’s great. These are the things he was able to take from the bullpen to what he did today, with a lot of freedom, a lot of Ollie freedom, which is stuff he wants. If he wants it, then he’s going to feel comfortable.”
…i have said this a few times already, but, the way it was explained to me, warthen is a total 180–degree turn from peterson, who had a master philosophy about pitching and he expected all pitchers to subscribe to it…whereas warthen has no philosophy, other than throwing two of your first three pitches for strikes…instead, warthen works with each pitcher and tries to maximize that specific pitcher’s strengths…as my colleague Ted Berg has explained, perez comes from the Mexican League, where personal style and creativity is valued asset…so, maybe by letting ollie shed ‘The Jacket,’ so to speak, and, instead, just be who he is, he’ll return to form…time will tell…
Tagged Oliver Perez |The Mets (40–41) defeated the Yankees (44–38) by the score of 3 to 1 in Shea Stadium.
The Mets won four of the six games played between the two teams this season.
For a recap, boxscore, stats, etc., go to SNY.tv.
…i just got in from the game…oooh, boy, talk about traffic…
So, in case you missed it, watch the following:
The Mets will begin a four-game series against the Cardinals tomorrow at 7 pm, with John Maine (8-5, 3.73 ERA) taking on Kyle Lohse (9-2, 3.94 ERA).
The Mets actived OF Ryan Church from the disabled list today and will take the roster spot occupied by OF Trot Nixon, who was placed on the 15-day disabled listed with a strained groin.
Church is in today’s lineup playing right field and batting sixth.
Tagged Mike Nichols, Ryan Church, Trot Nixon |The Game:
The Mets (39-41) continue their three-game series against the Yankees (44-37) today at Shea Stadium, starting 1:10 pm.
The Lineup:
- SS Jose Reyes
- 2B Luis Castillo
- 3B David Wright
- CF Carlos Beltran
- 1B Carlos Delgado
- RF Ryan Church
- LF Endy Chavez
- C Brian Schneider
- P Oliver Perez
The Pitchers:
LHP Oliver Perez (5-5, 5.29 ERA) starts for the Mets.
RHP Darrell Rasner (4-5, 4.50 ERA) starts for the Yankees.
How To Catch It:
Today’s game can be seen locally on CW11 and nationally on TBS 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 |
In today’s Sunday Q&A for the New York Post, Steve Serby talks with OG Jerry Manuel about a variety of topics, from his favorite movie to why he loves managing in New York to his respect for Gandhi to his shouting match with Frank Thomas to why today’s players trust him.
Manuel, as quoted by Serby, when asked if he has a message for Mets fans, said:
“Keep being yourself…keep being what you’ve been all these years…and keep pushing us, keep pushing us. When we don’t perform let us know.”
To watch a portion of Serby’s talk with Manuel, courtesy of 
, click the play button below:
Johan Santana let up four hits, four walks and three runs, while striking out eight, in six innings pitched during a loss yesterday at Shea Stadium against the Yankees.
Santana is 0–4 with a 2.53 ERA in his last five starts, during which the Mets have averaged two runs per game and are 0–5. Meanwhile, in that same time, only three other National League starting pitchers have a better ERA than Santana.
…though, it should be noted that, in his previous start to yesterday, he allowed a grand slam to the opposing pitcher, on which all runs were considered unearned thanks to an error by David Wright, even though he, santana, let up the home run…
Jerry Manuel, on Santana, talking to reporters after the game:
“I don’t know if he can pitch any better than how he’s pitched lately. Us not scoring runs puts a lot of stress on every pitch. He feels like he can’t make a mistake…What an ace has to do is give you a chance to win every night, and that’s what he does…He’s keeping us in games, but we’re just not getting the job done offensively.”
Santana, following yesterday’s game, said to reporters:
“I’m doing my job. Other than that, there’s nothing else I can do. I can’t go out there and do the things that my teammates have to do.”
….zing…ouch…the thing is, he’s mostly right…i keep reading people comment on how he has not been an ‘ace,’ whatever that means…fact is, only a few pitchers have been better than him, so, short of hitting a home run or two, i’m not sure what else he’s supposed to do…
Santana’s 3.00 ERA is fifth-best in the National League this season, while his 103 strike outs are fourth-best.
Only Tim Hudson, Aaron Cook and Cole Hamels have thrown more innings in the National League as a starting pitcher.
The Mets (39–41) lost to the Yankees (44–37) by the score of 3 to 2 in Shea Stadium this afternoon, complete with two rain delays.
For a recap, boxscore, stats, etc., go to SNY.tv.
In case you missed it, know that Johan Santana looked great through three innings, but came unglued in the fourth inning, albeit with no help from the ump, letting up two runs; by the way, three of the four people walked by Santana eventually scored today, hell he even had a balk; meanwhile, Andy Pettitte pitched six innings, however he put a ton of runners on base, of course the Mets continue to strand runners in what feels like every inning, including in the fifth inning today, when Jose Reyes got picked up off of second base to end the inning with two runners on and David Wright at the plate; lastly, Carlos Beltran struck out four times; and Carlos Delgado is 0 for 6 since his offensive explosion on Friday afternoon.
The Mets conclude their three-game series with the Yankees tomorrow at 1 pm in Shea Stadium, with Oliver Perez (5-5, 5.29 ERA) facing Darrel Rasner (4-5, 4.50 ERA).
Following last night’s game, Pedro Martinez told reporters that he would need to review tape of his last few starts to determine exactly what he has been doing wrong of late.
Sure enough, during today’s broadcast on FOX, Ken Rosenthal said Martinez told reporters today that he was clearly telegraphing his change-up to Yankee hitters yesterday by widening his glove while switching his grip.
Rosenthal talked with a Yankees coach, and a few players, all of whom confirmed Martinez had been tipping his pitches, just as the pitcher suspected.
Martinez, after last night’s game, said:
“I’m not doing my job and that’s something to worry about…It’s time for me to start getting better, not getting worse. It seems like I’m getting worse.”
In his last two starts, Martinez allowed 12 runs and 21 base runners in 10 innings pitched.
In his previous three starts, Martinez was 2–0 with a 4.23 ERA.
Tagged Pedro Martinez | ← Older postsNewer posts →
