Daily Archives: July 2, 2008
The Game:
The Mets (41-42) continue their four-game series against the Cardinals (48-37) tonight at Busch Stadium, starting 8:15 pm.
The Lineup:
- SS Jose Reyes
- LF Endy Chavez
- 3B David Wright
- CF Carlos Beltran
- RF Ryan Church
- 1B Carlos Delgado
- 2B Damion Easley
- C Brian Schneider
- P Pedro Martinez
The Pitchers:
RHP Pedro Martinez (2-2, 7.12 ERA) starts for the Mets.
RHP Joel Pineiro (2-4, 4.33 ERA) starts for the Cardinals.
How To Catch It
Today’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 |
I wrote a column on Pedro Martinez today at SNY.tv. The gist of it was this:
Pedro Martinez is the most dominant starting pitcher of all time. Repeat after me: Pedro Martinez is the most dominant starting pitcher of all time. I won’t say he’s the best ever because that’s unfair to great pitchers with longer, healthier careers like Lefty Grove and Walter Johnson. But based on ERA+, a stat adjusted to account for the leagues and parks pitched in, Martinez in his prime and across his career is a significantly more effective hurler than anyone who’s ever picked up a baseball.
So needless to say I’m expecting a big turnaround from Pedro, provided he can stay healthy. I won’t promise it’ll happen tonight, but Pedro Martinez is too good a pitcher to continue performing nearly this poorly. Maybe his struggles this season are a result of pitch-tipping, as Carlos Beltran and others have suggested, or maybe he rushed his hamstring rehab a little too much. Either way, if Pedro’s healthy, expect him to contribute — especially if he’s throwing in the low 90s.
That conclusion might seem a bit obvious to some, but I’m getting tired of hearing so many people say Pedro is finished. He’s 36 and fragile, sure, but I won’t be willing to say he’s done until he either retires or pitches this poorly for a much longer period of time.
Tagged Pedro Martinez, Ted Berg |
Through their first 83 games of the season, the Mets have committed 58 errors – the third-highest total in the NL. Startlingly, the infield is responsible for 43 of them. Add in the catchers and pitchers, and the total swells to 52.
Taking it one step further, according to the Hardball Times, the Mets’ infield has a “Revised Zone Rating” (RZR) of .742, which is dead last in all of MLB (the league average is almost 40 points higher, at about .780).
Without getting too technical, “RZR” is the percentage of balls fielded cleanly. So, in other words, around 26 percent of ground balls, line drives and pop ups have fallen safely through or around the Mets’ infield. Again, the league average is about 17 percent making it through.
Whether you swear by fielding stats or not, the bottom line is that the Mets’ infield defense can be described as “porous,” and is a bigger factor in their inconsistencies than many people realize.
… added to by Ted Berg…
Say what you will about the Mets’ infield defense, that same page of stats shows their outfield defense as among the best in the game. My guess is that this has something to do with Endy Chavez and Angel Pagan getting more playing time in left than anyone would have guessed and Ryan Church being a better fielder than a lot of us expected. It doesn’t hurt that Carlos Beltran has been statistically one of the very best defensive center fielders in the game for several seasons now.
Mets outfielders boast an RZR of .916, third best in the Majors, and they’ve made 144 plays out of their zone (OOZ), the highest tally in the bigs.
Mets RHP Claudio Vargas cleared waivers and reported back to Triple-A New Orleans yesterday.
The 30-year-old Vargas pitched in 11 games, including four starts, for the Mets after being called up from New Orleans on May 13.
He was 3-2 with a 4.62 ERA in 37 innings.
Carlos Delgado is on pace to hit around .235, just under 30 home runs and 90 RBI this season, which would be quite similar to his totals from 2007.
However, his batting average, on base percentage and slugging percentage will all likely drop for the fourth consecutive season.
In 30 day games this season, Delgado is batting .293, while averaging one home run every 10 or so at bats.
Meanwhile, in 49 night games this season, Delgado is batting just .190, while averaging one home run every 50 at bats.
Delgado is batting .214 with runners in scoring position.
He has already made eight errors this season. He made eight errors total in 2007, as well as in 2006.
[poll id="136"]
According to the doctor, though I am required to be on crutches for two to three weeks, I have been cleared to blog from flat ground.
So, while posting from my laptop may be sporadic, I will not require any significant time on the disabled list.
…seriously, though, thank you for the kind words of support, which i appreciate…also, hats off to Ted Berg and Mike Nichols for seamlessly stepping in to the rotation…
Hanley Ramirez is the only starting shortstop in the National League to committ more errors this season than Jose Reyes.
However, at the plate, Reyes is on pace to 
hit roughly .290, with 20 home runs, 70 RBI, 15 triples, 40 doubles, 120 runs scored and 55 stolen bases, which is essentially the exact-same season he had in 2006.
As you may recall from 2006, the last shortstop to hit .300 with 50 stolen bases, 20 doubles, 15 triples and 10 home runs was Honus Wagner in 1908 for the Pirates.
[poll id="135"]
From June 1 to June 23, David Wright had seen his average drop from .293 to .276, hitting only one homerun during that 21 game span.
However, since taking the day off on June 24, Wright is hitting .480 (12-for-25) with 4 HR, 9 RBI and 6 Runs in his last seven games.
…i like Jerry Manuel’s philosphy in giving his starters regular rest…however, the balance of giving regulars time off will be a delicate matter for this team searching for offensive consistency and trying to break the .500 barrier…
Tagged Mike Nichols, Stats |Brian Moritz, who covers the Binghamton Mets for the Press and Sun Bulletin, will be participating in a live chat at pressconnects.com from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. today.
He’ll answer all your questions about the Teenage Hitting Machine, Jon Niese and the trio of corner infield prospects in Binghamton.
For more on the Mets’ Minor League system, check out Toby Hyde’s MetsMinorLeagueBlog.com.
Ramon Casto was 2-for-4 with 3 RBI, including the game tying double in the fourth inning, during the Mets 7-4 victory over the Cardinals last night.
Castro, speaking to reporters after the game:
“I just want to win. I’m glad I played good today. Every time I play more, I feel better. I just want to help the team win, especially now, when we need it. Every time they put me out there I will play my best.”
…i think the time has come for the Jerry Manuel to go with a platoon situation behind the plate…castro is too good of hitter to only be playing one or two games a week, especially with Brian Schneider struggling against lefties and castro hitting southpaws at a .400 clip…
Tagged Mike Nichols, Ramon Castro | ← Older posts
