Daily Archives: August 13, 2008
The Mets (64–56) defeated the Nationals (44–77) by the score of 12 to 0 in Washington, D.C., tonight.
For a recap, boxscore, stats, etc., from tonight’s game, go to SNY.tv.
In short, every hitter in the team’s starting lineup either had a hit or scored a run, including John Maine, while seven different people had at least one RBI.
Maine, who looked fresh and in command, let up just one hit – just one – in five innings pitched during his first start in 16 days, after which he was removed for Brian Stokes, who pitched four scoreless innings for a save – and gives the bullpen a much-needed night off, not just physically, but mentally.
The Mets complete their three-game series with the Nationals tomorrow in DC, starting at 7 pm, with Oliver Perez (8-7, 3.90 ERA) taking on Collin Balester (2-4, 4.66 ERA).
The Game:
The Mets (63-56) continue their three game series against the Nationals (44-76) tonight at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., starting at 7:10 pm.
The Lineup:
- SS Jose Reyes
- 2B Argenis Reyes
- 3B David Wright
- 1B Carlos Delgado
- CF Carlos Beltran
- LF Daniel Murphy
- RF Fernando Tatis
- C Brian Schneider
- P John Maine
The Pitchers:
RHP John Maine (9-7, 4.13 ERA) starts for the Mets.
RHP Jason Bergman (2-8, 4.13 ERA) starts for the Nationals.
How To Catch It:
Tonight’s game can be seen locally on SNY and heard 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 |
Mets manager Jerry Manuel recently finished his weekly appearance on the WFAN’s Mike and the Mad Dog show.
In case you missed it, here is a quick recap of Manuel’s appearance:
- Manuel said he did not send Johan Santana to the plate to bat in the seventh because he believed the team needed more than a one-run lead due to the bullpen’s struggles. Had Daniel Murphy drove in a run, he would have let Santana bat and pitch the eighth inning.
- Manuel said Santana did ask to stay in the game last night.
- He did not use Eddie Kunz as the team’s closer last night because he believed Pedro Feliciano was a better match up against the left-handed hitting Willie Harris, who lead off in the bottom of the ninth. However, if Feliciano struggled he would have gone to Kunz.
- He is proud of his team for doing a good job coming back after bad losses. He believes the team’s resiliency will help them in September.
- He wants the starting pitchers to be patient with the bullpen while Billy Wagner is on the disabled list.
- Manuel says he is surprised by Murphy’s maturity at the plate and that he has grasp of the strikezone.
- He will be watching John Maine closely tonight to see if he alters his mechanics due to his injury.
- Manuel stated he has not lost confidence in Aaron Heilman, but believes he needs to find the right spot to pitch him in.
To listen to Manuel’s interview in it’s entirety, go to WFAN.com.
Prior to tonight’s game, the Mets told reporters that Billy Wagner will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Binghamton tomorrow, during which he is expected to start and throw roughly 20 pitches.
Yesterday, Omar Minaya announced that Wagner would make at last one start, possibly two, before returning form the disabled list on Monday.
According to Jim Baumbach at Newsday, Mike Piazza will be in attendance for a special ceremony during the final weekend of the regular season to honor Shea.
Baumbach quotes a person familiar with the situation as saying, “The invitation went out and he accepted. He’ll be there”
…it would be great to see mike again, and he deserves to be part of the celebration…but i can’t imagine anything being better than his last game as a Met…grown men were crying like babies…
…added to by Mike Nichols…
…terrific job by the Mets and mike…i was hoping the Mets would have done more to honor their former players this season during each home game when they unveil the number the of games remaining at shea, but they seemed to hand those duties off to sponsors and others involved in the franchise…
Tagged Mike Piazza, Regis Courtemanche |Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports, citing ‘major-league sources,’ Mariners OF Raul Ibanez and LHP Jarrod Washburn were claimed on waivers.
According to Rosenthal, the team(s) that have placed the claim are not known at this time. However, he reports the Yankees were not the team who placed the claim for Washburn.
In his report, Rosenthal notes the Rays, Mets and Rangers had discussions with Mariners about Ibanez before the July 30 non-waiver trade deadline.
Tagged Mike Nichols, Raul Ibanez |
Earlier this week, on his blog for SI.com, football guru Peter King wrote that the Wilpons will own a United Football League team and house them in Citi Field, meaning the new stadium’s field could be chopped up during September.
However, according to Adam Rubin in the Daily News, citing ‘team insiders,’ the Wilpons will pass on owning a UFL franchise, meaning a football team will not be using Citi Field.
…sorry, but i’m still stuck on trying to figure what the hell the United Football League is…when will they learn…
In a report for the New York Post, Bart Hubbuch notes after a “very good” workout, the Mets still do not have a timetable for OF Ryan Church to begin a minor-league rehab assignment.
The Mets have handled this poorly from the start and now it’s becoming an increasingly frustrating situation.
After suffering his second concussion of the season on May 20, the Mets irresponsibly let Church dictate when he was healthy enough to return, which cost them to lose their everyday right fielder and their feel-good story of the season for the last six weeks.
Church was cleared to take batting practice on July 29. After working out with the team and taking batting practice for nearly two weeks, Church was cleared by the team’s medical staff to play minor league games on August 8. Five days later, Church’s minor league rehab assignment still has not started.
I understand the Mets took a lot of criticism with how they handled this from the start, but now they are handling this too cautiously.
I’m not saying the Mets should rush Church back or go back to letting Church decide when he is ready, but their cautiousness of late seems to be more of a reaction to the criticism they received rather than the progression of Church’s health.
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Tagged Mike Nichols, Ryan Church |
Earlier this season, I wrote that the only way Willie Randolph would be able to motivate his under-performing, veteran players would be to do it through the media, because hitting their ego – and how they are perceived by their peers – is the only way to impact the modern, wealthy, comfortable, professional athlete.
On Sunday, Manuel hinted that he is willing to do ‘whatever is possible’ to help resolve the recent struggles in his bullpen.
Yesterday, he went further, specifically saying that John Maine, Oliver Perez and Mike Pelfrey could be called upon to ‘help out,’ thus removing them from the team’s starting rotation.
As expected, reporters immediately moved from Manuel to the locker room to collect responses from Maine, Pelfrey and Perez, as well as the team’s relief pitchers.
During SNY’s Pre-Game Show, Ron Darling noted how Manuel’s statement was not a realistic suggestion, but simply 
a ‘shot across the bow,’ in that mentioning Pelfrey, Perez and Maine would be taken as an insult by the team’s relief pitchers, thus hopefully motivating them to do better.
Later, Scott Schoeneweis held a private meeting with his fellow relievers, after which Joe Smith and Pedro Feliciano combined to throw two scoreless innings against the worst-hitting team in the league, locking down a win for the Mets.
Schoeneweis’s meeting or Manuel’s public statement may not have had a direct impact on Smith’s and Feliciano’s performance. However, what it does show is that – unlike his predecessor – Manuel understands how to use the media, and not fight them, to get better results from his players on the field.
For an off-beat look at New York sports, and to watch the 
latest closer campaign commercial for the Mets, and the latest episode of The Nooner, go to TheNoonerBlog.com.
…i have to say, the Campaign for Closer ads are pretty funny…good stuff, guys…
Tommy Dee, at TheKnicksBlog.com, talks about a potential Knicks-Nets trade.
At ZagsBlog.net, Adam Zagoria has news on the St. Johns coaching staff.
Brian Bassett, at TheJetsBlog.com, wonders how long Laveranues Coles will be upset – now that Chad Pennington has been released.
Toby Hyde, at MetsMinorLeagueBlog.com, details the three Brooklyn Cyclone pitchers who were named All Stars.
At GiantsFootballBlog.com, Anthony De Rosa has Giants Training Camp coverage.
Lastly, at WasWatching.com, Steve Lombardi wonders if Joba Chamberlain should be shut down for the season.
Tagged SNY | ← Older posts
