Daily Archives: September 10, 2008
And the Mets (82-63) finally win the dam thing by a score of 13-10 over the Nationals (56-90) at Shea Stadium tonight. 
For a recap, boxscore, stats, etc., go to SNY.
As I try to figure out where to start describing this barn burner of a game a few questions come to my mind:
- Has anyone started to print “TEAM TIGHTROPE” shirts yet?
- Is there a clause in the Nationals’ contacts to give Mets fans heartburn in September?
- Was Lastings Milledge trying to be the first one to play in Citi Field?
- Will we ever see Aaron Heilman pitch again for the Mets?
These may or may not be answered tonight, however, in typical fashion, the Mets scored in the first inning after David Wright smacked his 40th double of the season and later came home on a Carlos Beltran single.
After Fernando Tatis used his “go, go gadget” cleats to make a splendid catch, Elijah Dukes hammered a game-tying solo home run in the top of the second.
The Mets had a milestone 3rd inning as Jose Reyes became the all-time franchise leader in stolen bases followed with RBI hits by David Wright, Carlos Beltran, Damion Easley and Fernando Tatis.
By the way Matt, Luis Aguayo didn’t take your advice and drink decaf tonight.
The 7-1 lead didn’t hold for long as the Nationals chipped away at Mike Pelfrey, who wasn’t his sharpest tonight, scoring one run in the fourth and three runs in the fifth inning.
I am sorry, but how does Dukes have a professional job as his antics tonight were beyond immature.
For all of the good stuff you heard about the charitable Aaron Heilman tonight, you had to feel a little bad for him out there when he gave up a tying home run to Cristian Guzman in the 6th inning.
If you missed it, Jerry Manuel’s look from the dugout said it all.
Guzman hit another big home run in the 8th inning, cutting the Nationals deficit to one.
However, the biggest story of the night were the bats of Wright and Beltran, who were a combined 7-9 with 5 RBI, 6 R, 2 2B and 1 HR.
The Mets are now 3.5 games ahead of the Phillies after tonight’s win and the Phillies loss this afternoon.
A three-game series against the Braves starts Friday night at Shea when Mike Hampton (2-2) takes the hill against Johan Santana (13-7).
Tagged Nationakls |
The Game:
The first place Mets (81-63) look to sweep their quick two-game series versus the Nationals (56-89) tonight at Shea Stadium, starting at 7:10 pm.
The Lineup:
- SS Jose Reyes
- RF Ryan Church
- 3B David Wright
- CF Carlos Beltran
- 1B Carlos Delgado
- LF Fernando Tatis
- 2B Damion Easley
- C Brian Schneider
- P Mike Pelfrey
The Pitchers:
RHP Mike Pelfrey (13-9, 3.62 ERA) starts for the Mets.
LHP Odalis Perez (6-10, 4.19 ERA) starts for the Nationals.
How To Catch It:
Tonight’s game can be seen nationally 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 |
Prior to tonight’s game, Jose Reyes told reporters, “This is our year,” with regards to the pennant race ahead.
For more, check out tonight’s pre-game show on 
, during which I’ll be on to talk about Carlos Delgado and fan confidence this September, compared to last.
According to Nate Davis at USA Today, like the rest of us fantasy football crazies, David Wright locks himself inside during NFL Sunday afternoons.
Wright is signed up for three leagues and estimates “40-50%” of major leaguers manage at least one fantasy franchise.
Wright, as quoted by Davis, notes:
“I’d be shocked if one of the 30 teams didn’t have its own league.”
He competes in a league with his teammates, as well as the CBSSports.com’s MLB Players Fantasy Football League which includes Greg Maddux, Brad Lidge, Ben Sheets, and Doug Mientkiewicz among others.
Wright nabbed the 1st overall pick, selecting LaDainian Tomlinson and later drafted this guy.
…bloggers between Hotfoot and MetsBlog have their own fantasy football league…the first game of the season was not pretty for Mike Nichols as i crushed him 144 to 94…
To watch today’s edition of 
New York Baseball Today, during which, during which Ted Berg, Alex Belth and Pete McCarthy talk about David Wright’s recent slump, and the Robinson Cano’s 2008 season, click play below:
To submit a question for tomorrow’s New York Baseball Today, featuring me, Berg and Belth, send an e-mail to baseball@sny.tv.
MetsBlog reader Jason W. sent in a link to Hit Tracker Online, which, “determines the true distance a home run travels,” using several different metrics including atmospheric data, and initial trajectory.
According to the site, Carlos Delgado is listed second behind Adam Dunn in the “No Doubt” home run category. He is also currently fifth in the “Golden Sledgehammer” category which combines total home runs and distance.
It’s funny because the two farthest home runs I can remember being hit at Shea were by Dunn – who broke several lights on the out of town scoreboard – and Delgado.
I’m not sure how valid the site’s stats are, but it seems pretty well done. If nothing else, the entertainment value is high.
Tagged Regis Courtemanche, Stats |
According to Ted Berg of SNY, Billy Wagner underwent successful Tommy John Surgery on his left elbow today.
Yesterday, during a press conference in Shea Stadium, Wagner told reporters that he will rehab for two weeks with the team before returning home to be with his family through the off-season.
Since August 19, the Mets bullpen is 7–3 with a 1.54 ERA, which is the best in baseball during tha time.
Speaking of the bullpen, 
Aaron Heilman has made just one appearance in the last seven games.
Meanwhile, Duaner Sanchez, Joe Smith, Nelson Figueroa, Brian Stokes, Luis Ayala and Pedro Feliciano each have four appearances.
By the way, speaking of Heilman, according to the Daily News, he and Royals C John Buck are currently on a committee looking into the increasing number of broken bats.
…frankly, heilman should forget about wood, and be on a committee looking in to the increasing number of walks he has allowed this season…
Last season, Heilman walked 20 hitters in 86 innings pitched.
This season, he walked 40 in just 73 innings.
However, at the same time, his strike outs are up 16, while pitching 13 less innings.
This probably means that, like Ted Berg said to me earlier, that hitters are ‘nibbling,’ with some batters swinging and some that are not.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, only nine of Carlos Delgado’s 35 home runs have either tied a game or given the team a lead.
To me, it feels like nearly all of Delgado’s home runs have been ‘clutch,’ or, at the very least, have been hit in sports when the team was in desperate need of a run.
I talked with three fans earlier today, all of whom agree.
Following Delgado’s second home run last night, the crowd in Shea Stadium erupted in to a loud, long-winded MVP chant, and a curtain call request that Delgado denied.
In response to yet another question about a curtain call, from a reporter following last night’s game, Delgado said:
“I think we’ve talked about this, I’m not talking about curtain calls. Do a poll with the fans, see what they feel. I don’t think it was the right time, you know.
‘I appreciate the support, I can’t say that enough, but, like I said, I’m here to play baseball.”
Fair enough…
I do not want to run a poll, because it would need to be too nuanced of a question and answer.
Frankly, I like Delgado’s response. He’s right. He is here to play baseball. Actually, he probably didn’t want to antagonize the opposition, since he accepted a curtain call on Sunday against the Phillies on National TV.
That said, the occasional curtain call isn’t going to kill him or his reputation – but I like that he chooses his spots, and, in some ways, helps to keep the event special.
Last season, I took it upon myself to post the team’s Magic Number when it reached 20.
Then, after the Phillies won the division instead of the Mets, I was sent e-mail and after e-mail accusing me of being a jinx.
This year, I figure it makes more sense to open it up to the site’s overall readership, putting all of us on the hook, not just me.
The Mets are three games up on the Phillies, with 18 games left, making their Magic Number 16.
[poll id="173"]
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