Daily Archives: August 22, 2008
The Mets (72–57) defeated the Astros (64–64) by the score of 3 to 0 in Shea Stadium tonight.
For a recap, boxscore, stats, etc., from tonight’s win, go to SNY.tv.
Johan Santana was stellar tonight pitching seven scoreless inning while throwing a season-high 121 pitches. Although he gave up eight hits over his seven innings, Santana looked in control tonight. Santana improved to 3-0 with a 1.48 ERA this month and is now 27-6 with a 2.31 ERA during his career in the month of August.
Aaron Heilman followed Santana and pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning, looking strong doing so. Keep it up, Aaron. The team needs you.
With Heilman pitching the eighth, it was left up to a pumped up Luis Ayala to get the save in the ninth. Since joining the Mets, Ayala has pitched three scoreless innings while giving up one hit. I’m not sure if anyone has ever researched this, but I would be curious to see if a player’s performance improves once being traded from a sub .500 team to a team in a pennant race.
Ryan Church returned to the lineup, collecting an infield single before the slugging Brian Schneider hit a two-run homerun to give the Mets three-run lead. Good thing he did, since Roy Oswalt retired the final 20 batters he faced.
The Mets have now won 10 of their last 11 games and remain 2.5 games in front of the Phillies.
The Mets continue their four-game series with the Astros tomorrow night in Shea Stadium starting at 7 pm, with John Maine taking on Brandon Backe.
Tagged Mike Nichols |
Prior to tonight’s game, Jerry Manuel told reporters that Luis Castillo will be activated for tomorrow’s game, and will likely start at second base.
Manuel said he, Minaya and his staff had yet to decide on who will be removed from the roster in place of Castillo, whose 20–day rehab stint expired today.
It would seem to me that it will be either Argenis Reyes, Nick Evans or Brian Stokes, though I’m betting on Reyes.
Manuel told WFAN prior to the game that it will be difficult to break up the platoon of Reyes and Damion Easley at second base, because they have been part of winning baseball for his team.
The Game:
The first place Mets (71-57) begin a four game against the Astros (64-63) tonight at Shea Stadium, 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 Ryan Church
- C Brian Schneider
- P Johan Santana
The Pitchers:
LHP Johan Santana (11-7, 2.75 ERA) starts for the Mets.
RHP Roy Oswalt (11-8, 4.28 ERA) starts for the Astros.
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 |
The Mets current leaders in wins (Mike Pelfrey), RBI (David Wright), and runs scored (Jose Reyes) are all 25 years old or younger.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, since 1920, no big-league team has made the post-season with three players, all 25 or younger, leading the team in wins, RBI or runs scored.
Meanwhile, David Lennon of Newsday profiles Daniel Murphy and Nick Evans and how their buddy system is helping them prove they belong in the show.
Tagged Mike Nichols, Nick Evans |Ryan Church will bat seventh and start in right field tonight for the New York Mets.
…excellent…good for you, ryan…welcome back…
In response, the Mets have demoted Robinson Cancel back to Triple-A New Orleans.
Tagged Ryan Church |Today on 
‘s New York Baseball Today, I talk with Pete McCarthy from MLB.com and Alex Belth of Bronx Banter about whether the Mets should pursue a first-baseman in the off-season, and what the Yankees should expect on Saturday from Carl Pavano, which you can watch by clicking play below:
To submit a question for tomorrow’s edition of New York Baseball Today, e-mail baseball@sny.tv.
Since June 16, Carlos Delgado is hitting .284 with 17 HR, 52 RBI and a 1.003 OPS. Prior to June 16, Delgado hit .241 with 9 HR, 32 RBI and a .696 OPS.
Why is the June 16 date significant? It was the day after Willie Randolph was fired as the Mets manager.
Although the stats may suggest Delgado stopped playing for Randolph, I highly doubt that was the case.
I believe it had more to do with Delgado finally recovering from the wrist surgery he had in 2006 and making adjustments to his batting stance than his perceived dislike of his former manager.
However, one could argue, it was more than just coincidence.
Tagged Stats, Willie Randolph |
Tom Glavine went under for elbow surgery and the doctors cleaned out his labrum cleaned as well. The Braves expect him to be ready for spring training 2009.
Might Manny Acta get the axe? In general, batting orders don’t mean that much, but in today’s Cubs game he leading off a hitter with a .260 OBA. That’s the worst in the lineup except for the pitcher. For the season, Acta’s number eight hitters hold the highest OBA at .354. That’s not the way to build a lineup.
Hanley Ramirez doesn’t know when he’ll play again due to an injured thumb. His 152 Runs+RBI leads the Marlins.
Tonight’s starters in the Phillies game are polar opposites in August. Greg Maddux posted a 1.89 ERA this month, walking one batter in 19 innings. Kyle Kendrick sports a 9.00 ERA in August. He’s walked 13 hitters in 13 innings.
For more real-time information, news, links and stats from around MLB, check out Baseball Musings.
In an article for Newsday, Barbara Barker gets all-time great Tom Seaver’s thoughts on how he will feel when Shea Stadium is torn down after this season.
Seaver, as quoted by Barker:
“I said this before, and got my rear end in a little bit of hot water. It’s just a physical presence to me. Now the physical is just going to move across the street.”
“I get sentimental about the people. When I’m here, I see the spot where Gil Hodges used to sit. I look to see where Tug McGraw used to sit. That’s what I see. It’s the people who occupied those spaces that are important to me.”
Actually, not to be a stickler, but it’s moving next door.
Also, it is noted in the Bergen Record that Seaver was at Shea yesterday to honor longtime Mets employee James Plummer, and said the following:
“You can’t take this the wrong way. I am not a big fan of the stadium. And it’s strictly an architectural observation.”
I’m sure some people will take that the wrong way, but I agree with Tom. I too won’t greatly miss the structure of Shea itself, but it’s the sentimentality of the old ballpark that I will be sad about. It’s where I saw my first baseball game; where I spent many Sundays; and just all the great memories from being there, usually in the Mezzanine or higher, that I will miss.
I’m also disappointed that I wasn’t around to see “The Franchise” throw for those Miracle Mets, but that’s another story.
Tagged Regis Courtemanche, Shea Stadium, Tom Seaver |Here is a rare glimpse of Mr. Met and the entire family driving around Connecticut.
I can’t believe I haven’t seen this on ESPN before and I wonder though how they all got into that car.
