Daily Archives: September 8, 2008
In a story for ESPN.com, Amy K. Nelson looks into the rebirth of Carlos Delgado, who went from a possible platoon player in late June to a NL MVP candidate in early September.
According to Nelson, Delgado has had an incredible run since June 27th, hitting .299 with 22 HR and 65 RBI, and it is not necessarily in spite of anyone.
Delgado, as quoted by Nelson, said:
“I don’t have to prove anything to anybody. This is all about trying to win. The moment you start playing for somebody else I think you’re going to get into trouble. I was the guy hitting .220. So I knew what I was doing wrong.”
Last night’s game was Delgado’s sixth multi-homer game (one shy of a team record), and even more impressive is that he totaled just six multi-homer games in between 2003 and 2007 according to Nelson.
…i guess carlos didn’t need Jobu to hit the curve-ball last night, and unlike Willie Randolph, Jerry Manuel found a live chicken…
Again, if you would like to attend the second-to-last, regular-season game at Shea Stadium, sit in the bleachers, enjoy unlimited food and soft drinks, including a raffle, while getting to stand on the warning track prior to the game during the National Anthem, all for $80 per person, go to GaryKeithandRon.com.
They have released another 200 tickets, so, if you’re interested in attending, do not hesitate.
To get on the field, you MUST be wearing a GaryKeithandRon.com t-shirt, which, if you haven’t seen them, are fantastic – the proceeds of which all go to support their Pitch In for a Good Cause Foundation.
Tagged Shea Stadium |
Mets GM Omar Minaya will be holding a conference call with reporters at 4 pm regarding Billy Wagner’s future, which you can watch live on SNY.
According to Minaya, the tear in Wagner’s elbow will force him to have Tommy John Surgery, which will hopefully allow him to pitch ‘within a year’s time.’
Minaya spoke with Wagner, who is very disappointed.
The first MRI in August revealed a tear in Wagner’s elbow, but doctors did not feel he needed surgery at that time, adding, ‘But, surgery was always a possibility if things did not get better.’
That said, doctors do not feel he injured the elbow further while rehabbing over the last few weeks.
Lastly, because this just occurred today, Minaya is not yet aware if Wagner’s contract allows for next year’s salary to be covered from insurance, assuming he misses the entire season, ‘though some contracts have that and some contracts don’t.’
Today, Monday at 4:30 pm, will be my first radio appearance as a regular, weekly guest on The Natural with Greg Marotta on WVNJ 1160 AM.
To listen live at 4:30 pm tune in to 1160 AM, or click here.
Tagged MetsBlog |
According to Ted Berg of SNY, citing a ‘team official,’ Billy Wagner will miss the rest of the year with a tear of his flexor pronator and MCL in his left elbow.
He will have surgery as soon as this weekend, and could be out for up to one year.
Thankfully, as I noted this morning, Luis Ayala is 5 for 6 in save opportunities with a 2.70 ERA in 10 appearances for the Mets.
It’s too early for this, but I have to think this will now bring in an intense discussion among fans, this off-season, about signing Francisco Rodriguez, or trading for A’s RHP Huston Street, among a host of other options.
At any rate, as for this season, according to a poll from this morning on MetsBlog.com, 80 percent of the more-than 2,600 voters said they would choose Ayala to be the team’s closer in place of Wagner.
Also, in a report for Newsday, David Lennon recently wrote, “John Maine still has an outside chance of returning this season, perhaps in a bullpen role.”
Lastly, the Mets bullpen has not allowed an earned run during their last seven appearances – spanning 26.2 innings.
By the way, what on Earth is a flexor pronator? I knew I should have paid more attention in biology class.
The following is today’s MetsBlog Minute, during which I talk about reaction to last night’s win, and David Wright in the clutch:
In a report for Newsday, David Lennon writes, “John Maine still has an outside chance of returning this season, perhaps in a bullpen role.”
Lennon continues on to provide first-hand quotes from Maine, who will not begin throwing until next Monday.
…from what i recall, maine cannot injure himself further by pitching…so, why not pitch from the bullpen, assuming he is unable to tolerate pitching as a starter…worst case, it doesn’t work, and he shuts it down for the season…best case, he’s good, and the Mets stumble upon an extra arm…
According to a team press release, the 
Mets have launched an online, random drawing on Mets.com for the opportunity to purchase tickets to potential 2008 Mets postseason games at Shea Stadium.
Registration for the NLDS drawing closes at 11:59 p.m. Monday, September 15.
I understand that they have to do it – nevertheless, I am totally sick to my stomach right now.
Tagged Shea Stadium |Billy Wagner tried to pitch a simulated game yesterday afternoon, but could only make it through one batter before being shut down after feeling pain in his elbow when throwing his slider.
According to ESPN’s Jon Miller, during last night’s broadcast, Wagner was in tears following his failed effort.
Though Mets GM Omar Minaya would not categorize it as a ‘setback,’ he told reporters that Wagner will visit a doctor today to determine how best to proceed.
In Newsday, David Lennon provides more detail, and writes, “It appears that Wagner’s comeback attempt is likely over.”
However, Wagner later told the New York Post that he hasn’t ‘written off this season.’
Nevertheless, since being acquired from the Nationals, Luis Ayala is 5 for 6 in save opportunities with a 2.70 ERA in 10 appearances for the Mets.
Ayala, as quoted by Bart Hubbuch in the Post, said:
“I feel bad for Billy, but I’m here for whatever the team needs and I know I can do the job.”
By the way, as a whole, the Mets bullpen has not allowed a run during their last seven appearances – spanning 26.2 innings.
[poll id="171"]
In yesterday’s Game 1 loss to the Phillies, Carlos Delgado was hitless in four at bats.
However, during a win in Game 2, Delgado hit two home runs, along with a two-RBI single, accounting for four of the team’s six runs.
Delgado, regarding last night’s win, had the following to say when talking to reporters:
“This was a great game for us. It was very important for us, especially after we lost the first two in the series and I was able to come up in some key situations and with some big hits…I feel good…It is nice to contribute, but it’s been a great team effort. We’ve been able to play some great baseball and overcome some injuries and we’ve been resilient – and that pumps you up…
“We think we’re as good as anybody. I think we think we’re the team to beat. We think that what happened last year is not going to happen again, and we’re very confident we can get this done. It’s definitely a different atmosphere here, different feeling than what it was last year.”
Following his second home run yesterday, the fans at Shea Stadium cheered for a curtain call, which Delgado accepted.
For more on Delgado, or, ‘Mr. Curtain Call,’ as he writes, check out Kevin Kernan’s column in the New York Post, as well as Brendan Kuty’s column for SNY.
Later in the game, the crowd began cheering, ‘MVP, MVP,’ which Delgado told reporters was, ‘Very cool, I’m not going to lie.’
Delgado hit .248 in the first half of the season while averaging one home run every 20 at bats. However, so far in the second half, he is batting .288 while averaging one home run every 11 at bats.
Johan Santana, regarding Delgado, while speaking to reporters following last night’s game:
“He’s been great, man. He’s doing a great job. He has stepped it up big time for us, and he’s one of the reasons we are where we are right now.”
It really has been a tale of two seasons for Delgado.
So much so that, according to Peter Gammons during last night’s broadcast on ESPN, the Mets had serious talks in June about whether to cut Delgado following the All-Star break.
From what I can gather, had Delgado been released, his replacement could have been a player like Richie Sexson and Scott Hatteberg, among others, all of whom were free agents at the time.
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