Daily Archives: July 16, 2008
According to Jim Salisbury of the Philadelphia Inquirer, citing a ‘baseball source,’ Phillies RHP Brett Myers will return to the team’s starting rotation on July 23 against the Mets at Shea Stadium.
After going 3-9 with a 5.84 in 17 starts this season, the Phillies optioned Myers to their Triple-a Lehigh Valley affiliate.
…let’s hope the shea faithful gives myers the welcoming he deserves…
I wrote a post on the Mets’ upcoming trade deadline decisions and outfield situation today at SNY.tv that goes into much further detail, but I’m hoping to get Mets fans to think about whether Fernando Martinez is really ready for the bigs. An excerpt:
The Teenage Hurting Hitting Machine is batting .294 with a pedestrian .338 on-base percentage in Double-A. People have pointed to the midseason callups of David Wright and Jose Reyes, but there are very few similarities between those and F-Mart’s current situation.
Both players were older than Martinez when they joined the big-league club, and both had proven themselves at higher Minor League levels than Martinez has. Reyes hadn’t done a ton to earn his promotion, but he plays shortstop — a position at which less-than-stellar offensive production is justifiable. Left field, not so much. And neither Wright nor Reyes was thrust into an environment anything like the pressure-cooker the Mets are currently steaming in. If they absolutely must promote F-Mart, they should start by moving him to Triple-A and work from there.
Don’t get me wrong: I like Martinez and I think he’s going to be a good player. Heck, for all I know he’s a Hall of Famer. The sky’s the limit. After all, he’s only 19 years old and he’s the third-best hitter on his Double-A team. On the other hand, he’s only 19 years old and he’s the third-best hitter on his Double-A team. He’s struck out 48 times this year against only 13 walks. If big-league scouts got the book on him, F-Mart would whiff enough to make Adam Dunn look like Tony Gwynn.
Again, not trying to hate on the guy — he’s very advanced for his age. I just get the feeling that a lot of Mets fans are hoping he can provide a lot more in 2008 than he’s currently capable of.
Tagged Ted Berg |
What happened to Jimmy Rollins‘s power? His doubles are in line with 2007, but he’s on a pace to collect half as many triples and one third the home runs.
The fastest Chipper Jones can get back to .400 is to rattle off twelve straight hits.
Sergio Mitre underwent Tommy John surgery Tuesday and will likely miss most of 2009 as well as all of 2008.
Ronnie Belliard leads the Nationals with nine home runs. They are one of three teams (Blue Jays, Giants) without a player in double digits in home runs.
For more real-time information, news, links and stats from around MLB, check out Baseball Musings.
At his blog, NY Sports Dog, Dave asks SNY.tv’s Ted Berg 10 questions.
…hat tip to Ted Berg for the link…you’re so vain…
Joe Janish of Mets Today looks at the Mets second-half from both a glass half hull and half empty perspective.
Over at Bugs & Cranks, Brad Bortone transcribes his recent conversation with his newborn daughter about the finer points of the 2008 Mets.
Mets Merized Online‘s Joe says Billy Wagner‘s performance in last night’s All Star Game proves he is no All Star.
Anthony De Rosa of Hot Foot recaps his time at last night’s MLB All Star party at Webster Hall.
Tagged Mike Nichols |
The Mets are hosting another Mets at the Movies event this Thursday at select Clearview Cinemas’ location in the tri-state area.
For more information on the event and locations, click here.
Tagged Mike Nichols |
In his blog for ESPN.com, Buster Olney breaks down the second half schedules of 10 National League contenders.
As far as the NL East is concerned, here is Olney’s breakdown for the Mets, Phillies and Marlins:
New York Mets (67 games)
Games against teams with records of .500 or better: 30. Home games: 35.The hurdle: Beginning in late August, the Mets have an eight-game road trip that takes them through Philadelphia, Florida and Milwaukee.
The Big Finish: Seven home games, against good teams — the Cubs and Marlins
Philadelphia Phillies (66 games)
Games against teams with records of .500 or better: 31. Home games: 31.
The hurdle: Right out of the All-Star break, the Phillies play 12 of their first 15 games on the road, including trips into Florida, New York and St. Louis.
The Big Finish: Six home games, in consecutive series against the Braves and Nationals
Florida Marlins (67 games)
Games against teams with records of .500 or better: 41. Home games: 35.The hurdle: The Marlins’ second-half schedule is an absolute meat-grinder, including this — from Aug. 5 to 17, Florida plays, in order, the Phillies, Mets, Cardinals and Cubs.
The Big Finish: Seven road games, including a makeup game in Cincinnati. Absolutely brutal.
…ummm…excuse me…did olney forget the Braves are in the NL…i know they have battled with injuries and underachieving players (Jeff Francoeur) but they are only five games under .500 and are by no means out of it yet…
According to MLB.com, the following will be the Mets pitching rotation coming out of the All Star break, as they start a four-game series in Cinncinnati versus the Reds:
Thursday: Johan Santana at Reds
Friday: John Maine at Reds
Saturday: Oliver Perez at Reds
Sunday: Pedro Martinez at Reds
…as such, the Mets will have Mike Pelfrey, santana and maine pitching in their three-game series versus the Phillies, starting on tuesday at shea stadium…
Tagged Mike Nichols |Orlando Hernandez is scheduled to make his next rehab start on Thursday for the Mets Double-A Binghamton.
Hernandez, who is rehabbing multiple lower leg ailments, pitched 5.2 innings, allowing two on five hits while striking out five in his last rehab start on July 10 for Single-A St. Lucie.
According to David Lennon, at his blog for Newsday, the Mets plan to use Hernandez out of the bullpen when he returns, but may slide into the rotation if Pedro Martinez‘s groin and shoulder issues continue to plague him.
Martinez is scheduled to pitch on Sunday in Cinncinnati versus the Reds, but may pushed back in favor of Mike Pelfrey.
…an injury to a starter is the only legitmate reason for el duque to be given a spot in the rotation…
Tagged Mike Nichols, Orlando Hernandez |
It was bad enough to see the NL lose their twelfth straight All-Star Game last night by the score of 4-3, but to do it in fifteen innings and almost five hours is just absurd. Having the Orioles closer, George Sherrill, pitch two-and-a-third innings is not right. Clint Hurdle having to consider David Wright as a pitcher, although partly in jest, is simply ridiculous.
The All-Star game winner gets home field advantage in the World Series, a financial strategy by Bud Selig to make players try harder, and make fans watch longer. Well this fan turned the game off after nine innings, stressed out by Billy Wagner blowing the lead. The game should be an exhibition because this game should be fun, and a bit of a break, even for those selected to play. But I needed a break as well from the rigors of watching baseball every day. Perhaps I’m being selfish, but thank you Selig, for stressing me out with a game that I should have been enjoying.
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |
