Daily Archives: September 15, 2008
Ryan Howard hit well last week. He and the Phillies start a series at Atlanta on Tuesday, and Howard creamed the Braves this season.
Florida called up four more players, including Cameron Maybin for the remainder of the season. Maybin came over in the Miguel Cabrera trade. The former Tiger didn’t show much power at AA, but drew 60 walks in 390 at bats for a .375 OBA.
Brian McCann faces Philadelphia tomorrow with 13 hits in 12 games against the Phillies this year. Eight of those hits went for extra bases, leading to 13 RBI.
Washington’s Shairon Martis agreed to represent the Netherlands in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
His For more real-time information, news, links and stats from around MLB, check out Baseball Musings.
The Mets told reporters on Sunday that Damion Easley had an MRI on his right quadricep earlier that morning.
According to a report in the Daily News, Easley said he felt a ‘pop,’ in the quad, during Saturday’s double header.
Today, in Newsday, although he quotes Easley as saying the injury is ‘pretty minor,’ Jim Baumbach writes, “It’s not clear when – or even if - Easley will return.”
For what it’s worth, Luis Castillo, who was 1 for 9 as the team’s starting second baseman this weekend, is batting .176 in 10 games since returning from the disabled list.
As a result, Castillo was booed heavily while walking off the field during yesterday’s loss to the Braves.
Manuel, as quoted by the New York Post:
“Castillo’s just a couple hits away from winning them back. That’s all you’ve got to do to win the crowd back – get a big hit, make a great play. They want you to do well. He’s a good enough player that he can turn that around, and given the opportunity, I think he will.”
The thing is, I’d be willing to bet that they’re not just booing Castillo’s failures, but they’re also booing Omar Minaya for giving this guy a four-year deal – and rightfully so.
Meanwhile, Argenis Reyes is batting .211 against left-handed pitching, and just .247 against righties – so, it’s not like he’s that much better of a hitter.
Like SNY’s Ted Berg just said to me, the answer may be to finally put Daniel Murphy at second, put both Castillo and Reyes on the bench, and let Fernando Tatis start every day in left, which Manuel seemingly wants to do anyway.
The Mets have named Daniel Murphy and Nick Evans co–players of the year for their minor-league organization.
Jon Niese was named the organization’s pitcher of the year.
For more, including who won the award for each specific level in the minor leagues, such as Mike Carp, who received the award for Double-A Binghamton of the Eastern League, click here.
Speaking of Carp, in a recent post to Baseball Prospectus, prospect guru Kevin Goldstein listed Carp second to Murphy when ranking players who took a ‘great leap forward,’ while writing, “He still struggles against good left-handers, and scouts are hoping for even more power, as it’s a tough road to come up as a first-baseman without it.”
Tagged Mike Carp, Nick Evans |
According to multiple reports, John Maine is expected to workout and throw a baseball prior to today’s game against the Nationals.
Last week, Jerry Manuel told reporters that he might consider using Maine in the bullpen, should the pitcher return healthy enough to take the mound.
…from what i recall, maine cannot injure himself further by pitching…however, he could injure something else, especially if he is overcompensating for pain…
…one step at a time, i suppose, but if he is able to pitch, pain free, and is effective, a case can certainly be made for putting him the pen – though a stats-enthusiast may argue otherwise…
By the way, though I expect them to win the Division, it’s worth noting that the Mets have a better record than the Brewers and Phillies, both of whom currently lead the NL Wild Card race.
That said, while I understand a playoff spot is a playoff spot, to some extent, a Division Title is becoming more important to me every day – not just because it means making the playoffs, but because I love the idea of seeing an NL East Division Champions flag raised on Day One of the new Citi Field.
Last week, I ran a poll asking people when I should post the team’s Magic Number on MetsBlog.com – and, since 56 percent of you said, ‘Post It,’ I did so.
Initially, I worried that you guys might be jinxing the team, since the majority said to ‘Post It,’ but that is decision that the majority of you made – and now we must live with it, like it or not.
Personally, if it had been solely up to me, I probably would have waited until the final week of the season to ‘Post It,’ but you voted, the people spoke, and who am I to stand in the way of what the majority of this site’s readers wanted.
That said, I was sent over 300 e-mails this weekend calling me a jerk, an idiot and a 
jinx, among other things. I even received a letter to my home, which is rather sad, not to mention scary.
In reality, the fight in this site’s comments section should be between me and fate, it should be between the 56 percent who wanted the Magic Number posted, and the 44 percent who did not.
By the way, while we’re on the subject of jinxes, lots and lots of websites, including Yahoo!, have been posting every team’s Magic Number since early last week. Are they jinxes, too? If so, how many jinxes can you have? I wonder at what point do they start cancelling each other out?
Also, are they ‘homers,’ trying to rally support for the Mets, as I have also been accused of? These other outlets are listing Magic Numbers for every team in first place – so, are they jinxing those teams, too? If so, how would any 
team ever win a division? At that point, wouldn’t they all be jinxed, meaning no team could ever win?
The thing is, you shouldn’t worry. You are not a jinx. If the Mets do not make the playoffs, it will not be because most of you wanted the Magic Number to be posted. Trust me, it will be because the team’s bullpen didn’t do its job, or because the bats went cold, or because the Phillies just played better baseball. It will not be your fault, just because the majority of you asked me to post the Magic Number.
Instead, it will be the team’s fault, because there is no such thing as a jinx – at least I hope there isn’t.
The Mets, like most every team, do their ritual hazing of rookie in September, usually prior to their final road trip of the season.
Following yesterday’s game, the team’s youngest players, from Daniel Murphy to Nick Evans to Argenis Reyes, had to dress up as Olympic swimmers, wearing Speedos, swim caps and goggles, while waving an American flag, on 
their trip to Washington, D.C., for a four-game series with the Nationals that starts tonight.
In the New York Post, Bart Hubbuch describes the event by writing:
“Fresh off a ninth-inning bullpen meltdown yesterday that shrunk their NL East lead and woke the ghosts of last September’s collapse, the Mets couldn’t stop laughing afterward as they held an elaborate rookie hazing ritual.”
If they’re serious and quiet, they’ll be painted as being nervous, tight and showing no emotion – and that’s why they’re losing.
If they’re laughing, having fun and trying to be loose, they’ll be considered disconnected, blind and not caring enough – and that’s why they’re losing.
Pick a storyline and go with it, guys.
The Mets lost two of three to the Braves this weekend.
In Game 1 on Saturday, Johan Santana handed off a two-run lead to the bullpen, who let up three runs and the Braves won.
On Sunday, Oliver Perez handed off another two-run lead to the bullpen, who let up five runs in the ninth and the Braves won.
As such, the Phillies were able to pick up two games in the standings, and move to within two losses of the Mets for first place in the NL East.
Manuel, on the loss, and September, speaking to reporters following yesterday’s loss to the Braves, said:
“For us, coming down the stretch, at this point, every loss will probably be a reminder of what happened last year. So, what we have to do as a team is get through it.”
As far as I am concerned, it’s all about the bullpen.
The way I see it, the Mets, like most teams, will only go as far as their bullpen allows them.
It’s that simple.
The problem is that, since the news on September 8 that Billy Wagner would miss the rest of the season, the Mets bullpen has a 4.11 ERA in five appearances, during which the Mets are 3–2.
Prior, the team’s bullpen had not been charged with a run in its previous seven appearances, during which the Mets were 5–2.
Again, bullpen, bullpen, bullpen.
The Mets let up five runs in the ninth inning and lost to the Braves by the score of 7 to 4 in Shea Stadium yesterday.
For a recap, boxscore, stats, etc., click here, or click play below to watch SNY’s Post-Game Extra, including clips, highlights and commentary from Gary Cohen and Ron Darling:
The Mets travel to DC tonight to begin a four-game series with the Nationals, starting at 7 pm, with Pedro Martinez (5–4, 5.44 ERA) taking on John Lannan (8–13, 4.09 ERA).
