Daily Archives: August 15, 2008
The first place Mets (66–56) defeated the Pirates (55–67) by the score of 2 to 1 tonight in PNC Park.
For a recap, boxscore, stats, etc., from tonight’s game, go to SNY.tv.
Mike Pelfrey was stellar tonight scattering seven hits over seven scoreless inning, while not walking a batter for the third time this season, to become the Mets first 11-game winner this season.
Duaner Sanchez started the eighth inning giving up a lead-off homerun to Jack Wilson. However, Pedro Feliciano picked him up to keep the Mets in the lead.
Aaron Heilman got the job done to pick up the save in the ninth, but I’m starting to get confused by what Jerry Manuel says and then does. Earlier this week, he said he needed to find a better situation than the ninth inning to pitch Aaron Heilman, but then pitches him the ninth inning again tonight.
Speaking of which, has anyone seen Eddie Kunz lately or was he placed in witness protection? It’s pointless to keep him on the roster if you’re not going to pitch him.
After getting off to a good start in the first inning by scoring two runs on two well executed hit and runs, the Mets offense went to sleep in typical fashion the rest of the game.
Interesting to know Keith Hernandez is a Collective Soul fan. I expected him to be toe-tapping to Huey Lewis and the News.
Not sure what the second base umpire was looking at when Jose Reyes was caught stealing with one out in the fifth. Looked as if the umpire was a bit out of position. Good to see Jerry Manuel come out an protect Reyes from getting ejected. I’m thinking the former manager would have sat on his hands in that spot.
Beautiful throw by Carlos Beltran to gun down Adam LaRoche at home plate with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning. For all the grief Beltran receives for his streakiness offensively, it’s pretty clear he is the best center fielder in the National League.
What was the “Hello, My Name Is” name tag looking patch the Pirates were wearing on the jerseys tonight?
Speaking of the Pirates, I don’t what it is, but games against the Pirates in Pittsburgh always bore me. Perhaps it’s because they haven’t been relevant for 16 years.
The Mets continue their four game set with the Pirates in Pittsburgh tomorrow at 7:10 with Pedro Martinez (3-3) facing off against Zach Duke (4-10).
Tagged Mike Nichols |The Game:
The Mets (65-56) begin a four game series against the Pirates (55-66) tonight at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, starting at 7:05 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 Mike Pelfrey
The Pitchers:
RHP Mike Pelfrey (10-8, 4.11 ERA) starts for the Mets.
RHP Jason Davis (1-1, 1.36 ERA) starts for the Pirates.
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 |
Ryan Church had one hit in three at bats, as the Designated Hitter, in a rehab game for the GCL Mets today.
…one small step for church, one giants leap for the Mets…
In 57 games for the Mets this season, Ryan Church is hitting .307 with 10 home runs and 36 RBI.
Meanwhile, in 69 games for the Mets, Fernando Tatis is hitting .306 with 10 home runs and 35 RBI.
That is weird, man. It’s like, Church slowed down and disappeared, while Tatis turned it on and picked right up where Church left off.
…thanks to Steve from Huntington for the information…
According to Omar Minaya’s most recent update to reporters, Church is still working out in Port St. Lucie, and while they hope to get him in to a rehab game sooner than later, there is still no official timetable for his return.
The question is, assuming Church returns, what happens to the outfield and the bench, especially considering how well Daniel Murphy has been hitting while playing left field.
Murphy played most of his games at third base in the minor leagues, but switched briefly to second prior to be promoted to Shea Stadium.
Jerry Manuel has repeatedly told reporters that Murphy is his left fielder, suggesting he will not play second.
However, perhaps the ideal solution – assuming Murphy and Tatis continue to hit as they have – would be to play Murphy at second, while leaving Tatis in left, and returning Church to right.
Tagged Ryan Church |
The Florida Marlins are tied for second in the National League with 161 home runs. Almost half through August, however, they’ve hit only eight. That ranks 14th in the league for the month.
The Dodgers made a waiver claim on Nationals second baseman Ronnie Belliard to prevent him from going to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks recently lost Orlando Hudson for the season due to a wrist injury.
The Phillies are 2-6 over their last eight games, with the offense batting just .202. In seven opportunities with the bases loaded they’ve managed just two RBI. They’ve struck out three times and hit into a double play with the bases juiced.
Francisley Bueno received a three game suspension for throwing at the head of Alfonso Soriano. He’s shown great control in the minors and only hit seven batters in 287 1/3 innings, walking 2.4 per nine innings.
For more real-time information, news, links and stats from around MLB, check out Baseball Musings.
Yesterday, WFAN announced Chris Russo will leave their radio 
station, thus ending the Mike and the Maddog radio program, which revolutionized sports talk-radio when it started in 1989.
In it’s place, the show’s co-host, Mike Francesa, will broadcast solo in the same timeslot under the name Francesa on the Fan.
Honestly, I have mixed feelings about this.
On one hand, their program was a show I loved to hate, or hated to love – I’m not actually sure which.
They made me angry and rarely informed me, yet, like an addict, I always listened.
Their impact on sports talk-radio, for better or worse, cannot be argued. Like them or not, they are legends in their field and, in the end, deserve high-praise for taking sports debate to a larger, more passionate, more constant level, which lots and lots of people have mimicked and capitalized on, including blogs, which, in my opinion, have always been more like talk-radio than like newspapers.
On the other hand, their show’s lack of a Mets voice always bothered me. Their popularity and influence ended up spreading false and frustrating talking points around New York City that made my life, as a Mets fan, very difficult when having to encounter the expanding line of arrogant Yankees fans.
So, having Mike and the Maddog break up could be a good thing for Mets fans – since they seemingly took pride in driving us crazy.
The idea of Francesa going solo is interesting. If his all-knowing style is paired up with a lot of guests, reporters, athletes, etc., all who can provide a bit of news and facts to the discussion, it may prove to be a great program.
If, however, Francesa is allowed to talk for four hours on his own, only taking calls from listeners, it could turn in to Rush Limbaugh for Sports, which would be good for nobody.
Either way, I wish Russo and Francesa the best of luck as they begin a new era, not just for them, but for us.
Oh, and Chris, give Shawn Victorini and Brandon Looper my best – and while we’re talking about Francesa, it’s hard to not mention this, which never gets old.
Tagged WFAN |
Instead of a MetsBlog Minute, I am posting my segment from last night’s Pre-Game Show on SNY, during which I talk about Fernando Tatis and Daniel Murphy, which you can watch by clicking play below:
In an article for The Free Lance-Star, Rich Campbell relays a quote by Nats OF Austin Kearns regarding the amount of Mets fans at Nationals Park.
Kearns, on the fans, said:
“I’d rather shut them up than have them chanting at the end of the game, but that’s part of it. They love their team, and they’re going to make it known wherever they are. Obviously, you hope you’re on the other end of it where they’re the ones that have got the muzzle on.”
This is actually a kind of compliment that Kearns is paying to Mets fans, who get a lot of criticism for booing their team. However, when I watch other teams play, very rarely do I hear the visiting team’s fans cheering for their club as loud as Mets fans do when they are on the road.
I appreciate few things more than hearing “Let’s Go Mets” emanating from the crowd during a road game, as was the case again last night.
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |
Oliver Perez is scheduled to be a free agent at the end of this season.
Yesterday, Mets GM Omar Minaya was asked by a reporter if the team intends to sign Perez to a new contract, which Minaya answered by saying, “It will be discussed in the off-season.”
…now, these will be some interesting negotiations…a) perez has shown himself to be a dominant, ace-like pitcher, especially in big games against big teams…b) he has also shown himself to be a total train wreck, able to come unhinged at the drop of a hat…c) he’s a lefty…d) he’s not yet 30 years old…e) other pitchers, who fit his model, have been given at least three-year deals…f) and, and most importantly, he is represented by the irrational super-agent Scott Boras, who, i’m willing to bet, starts off by asking for a five-year contract worth at least $10 million per season…
…like i said, it will be quite entertaining…
[poll id="159"]
Tagged Oliver Perez |
Prior to yesterday’s game, John Maine told reporters that he feels fine following his win against the Nationals on Wednesday night – and, though he did point out that his shoulder continues to feel sore, he said, “It feels a lot better.”
Later, Jerry Manuel said Maine will not have a limited pitch count in his next start, though this will mostly be based on how Maine feels following his routine side-session before today’s game.
Maine is 10–7 with a 3.97 ERA in 23 starts this season, during which the Mets are 13–10.
He is on pace to be 14–9 with a 3.90 ERA, which is more or less the exact same season he had last year.
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