Daily Archives: July 28, 2008
The Mets (57–49) lost to the Marlins (56–50) by the score of 7 to 3 tonight in a football stadium.
For a recap, boxscore, stats, and other numbers from tonight’s game, go to SNY.tv.
John Maine looked solid, though very unhappy through much of the night. In the fifth, Jerry Manuel and Mike Herbst trotted out to the mound, but left Maine in the game, who, on the next pitch, grooved a fastball that was clobbered for a home run.
Maine was removed from the game with tightness in his shoulder just one pitch later.
I can’t help but wonder how this game would have progressed, had Maine not needed to come out.
The Mets had a one-run lead to start the bottom of the eighth inning, thanks mostly to a heads-up base running play from David Wright and an ‘error’ from Dan Uggla. However, back-to-back hits from Joe Smith let the game become tied, after which the Marlins took the lead on two singles and a bunt, while adding on with a pass ball and a double all on Scott Schoeneweis’s watch.
The Mets left seven runners on base, which, to me, feels mostly why they lost this game, because, when they had opportunities to put some distance in the score early in the game, they didn’t.
I hate watching the Marlins in Miami. They are one of the sloppiest teams I have ever seen, playing in a bizarre building that is too big, and yet they win, and it’s maddening. It all makes me very edgy. What’s worse, I always feel like their sloppy, scrambled style of play ends up rubbing off on the Mets. Is this the case with other teams? I swear, Miami is the place where good baseball goes to die.
It’s going to be a crazy pennant race, folks. Get ready.
The Mets continue their three-game series with the Marlins tomorrow in Miami, starting at 7:10 pm, with Oliver Perez (6-6, 4.15 ERA) taking on Scott Olsen (6-5, 4.07 ERA).
With one out in the fifth inning, John Maine left the game due to an injury.
SNY’s Kevin Burkhardt reported Maine is suffering from stiffness in his right shoulder.
…cross your fingers…
Tagged Mike Nichols |Prior to today’s game, the Mets announced Pedro Martinez will start Friday versus the Astros, but will be limited to 80 pitches.
Martinez will throw a bullpen session tomorrow in Florida.
Tagged Mike Nichols, Pedro Martinez |The Game:
The Mets (57-48) begin a three-game series against the Marlins (55-50) tonight at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, starting at 7:10 pm.
The Lineup:
- SS Jose Reyes
- RF Endy Chavez
- 3B David Wright
- 1B Carlos Delgado
- CF Carlos Beltran
- LF Fernando Tatis
- 2B Damion Easley
- C Brian Schneider
- P John Maine
The Pitchers:
RHP John Maine (9-7, 4.20 ERA) starts for the Mets.
RHP Ricky Nolaso (10–6, 3.99 ERA) starts for the Marlins.
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 Joel Serman in the New York Post, “The Mets did consider 
Cincinnati’s Adam Dunn, but his poor defense, historical problems in clutch situations and high strikeout rates have eliminated interest.”
On Friday at SNY.tv, Ted Berg explained why the Mets should consider buying low on Dunn.
…as i said over the weekend, i’m not sure it’s a matter of buying low…it’s a matter of offering more than what the Reds believe they will draft with the two picks their likely to get in the off-season when dunn leaves as a free agent…
Depite hitting 29 home runs, with a .385 OBP, Dunn is batting just .238, has made five errors and has struck out in roughly 25 percent of his plate appearances this season.
The Pirates recently rejected an offer from the Braves for OF Jason Bay, 
reports Mark Bowman in a post to MLB.com.
According to Bowman, the deal likely included top Atlanta prospects SS Brent Lillibridge and OF Brandon Jones, ‘as well as one of their talented young pitchers from the Class A level and another marginal position player.’
On Sunday, at ESPN.com, Peter Gammons wrote that the Pirates are still listening to offers for Bay, “but right now there doesn’t seem to be anyone willing to step up and pay the price.”
Such as the Mets, who, according to ESPN’s Jason Stark, feel the asking price for Bay is too ‘excessive.’
For instance, in a weekend report for SI.com, Jon Heyman wrote, regarding Pittsburgh’s asking price:
“Mets people balked at including top outfield prospect Fernando Martinez for Nady and are said to be extremely reluctant to part with either Martinez or left-handed pitching prospect Jon Niese.”
…so, it stands to reason that if the Pirates wanted to fernando and niese for nady, they most certainly want them for bay as well…
[poll id="148"]
According to Ken Rosenthal, in his most recent report for FoxSports.com, the Rockies will trade LHP Brian Fuentes for a young, major-league ready starting pitcher.
Yesterday, according to a report from Jon Heyman for SI.com, 
Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd says it is unlikely he will trade Fuentes or OF Matt Holliday.
…the Rockies are in a tough spot, which would probably explain the consistently mixed messages…they built up so much goodwill with their fans last season, and a firesale would erase it…plus, last year, they came back from a poor start to make it to the World Series…this season, despite being 10 games below .500, they are 28–20 in their last 48 games and are just six games out of first place in a weak NL West…so, it’s understandable that recent buzz from colorado is suggesting they may keep fuentes and holliday and actually look to acquire a back-end starting pitcher instead…
According to a recent report in the Denver Post, the Rockies had asked the Mets for LHP Jon Niese in a deal for Fuentes.
Similarly, the Rockies recently asked the Marlins to give up RHP Anibel Sanchez in a deal for Fuentes, which they rejected, according to Jason Stark in a post to ESPN.com.
…basically, the Rockies are asking all interested parties for the top pitching prospect, like rosenthal suggested, be it Phil Hughes or Ian Kennedy from the Yankees, Clay Buccholz from the Red Sox, Nick Adenhart from the Angels, and so on…
The Rays, Cardinals, Angels, Red Sox, Mets, Tigers, Yankees, Marlins, D’Backs and Phillies have all been linked to Fuentes in published reports.
For stats on Fuentes, click here.
In a post to ESPN.com over the weekend, citing ‘one baseball man who has 
spoken with the Mets,’ Stark writes that the Giants and Mets have had recent conversations about 34–year-old OF Randy Winn.
However, according to Ken Davidoff in Newsday, “The Mets haven’t shown much interest (in Winn).”
…from what i can gather out of san francisco, if the Mets are willing to take on all of winn’s money, including his $8.6 million salary for next season, they will not have to give up a significant prospect in trade…
In his report for the New York Post, in which he details who on the Mets is ‘untouchable,’ and who is not, Joel Sherman writes that the Giants are unwilling to eat any portion of Winn’s salary, while quoting a Mets official as saying, “That is a lot of money, and you tie yourself up and miss out on somebody else you really want (for 2009 and beyond).”
Winn is batting .275 with five HR, 40 RBI and 20 stole bases in 98 games for the Giants this season, during which he has played both center and right field.
Tagged Randy Winn |
According to Nick Cafardo in a report for the Boston Globe, citing a team official, the Mets would be willing to part with RHP Scott Schoeneweis if they could obtain an outfielder.
Cafardo, who provides a ton of information regarding the trade market, believes the Tigers could be interested in Schoeneweis.
That said, the Tigers are looking for help in the bullpen, reports Jon Paul Morosi in the Detroit Free Press.
In a post to his blog during March for ESPN.com, Jayson Stark wrote: “The Mets love Marcus Thames, but they’re not going to trade Aaron Heilman for him.”
Thames, 31, is batting .250 against left-handed pitching and .269 against right-handed pitching, while hitting 20 HR and 43 RBI in 70 games for the Tigers this season, during which he has played left field, right field and first base.
…like SNY’s Ted Berg just said to me, ‘Thames is like Adam Dunn, but without the walks,’ which is a good point…
…my problem with thames, for all of his power, is that he is so inconsistent…his year-in and year-out stats are all over the road…he could hit 20 home runs in 60 days for the Mets, or hit five…neither would surprise me…
…personally, i just don’t think it would make sense to weaken the bullpen for a .260 hitter…unless, of course, the Mets can upgrade the bullpen, from schoeneweis, in a separate deal, and then get thames, who can play every day in right, allowing them to solidify their bench…
For what it’s worth, yesterday in a post to Baseball Prospectus, John Perrotto wrote that the Mets have made trade proposals for A’s RHP Huston Street and Rockies RHP Brian Fuentes, while also checking in on M’s LHP Arthur Rhodes and Rangers LHP Eddie Guardado.
Additionally, the Mets have also expressed interest in Jays LHP Brian Tallet and Giants LHP Jack Taschner, according to Dan Graziano in a recent report for the Star-Ledger.
…hmm, so maybe the play is to trade for a guy like tallet or tashner, and then trade show for an outfielder, like thames…
…i’m always skeptical of these ‘moving parts’ type rumors, but who knows…
Tagged Scott Schoeneweis |
At Mets Minor League Blog, Toby Hyde has video of Ike Davis from last week’s game against the Vermont Lake Monsters.
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