Daily Archives: September 17, 2008
OK Mets Nation … E-X-H-A-L-E …
It was just another wild night of September baseball as the Mets (84-67) snapped their losing streak with a 9-7 win over the Nationals (57–95) in Washington, D.C.
For a recap, boxscore, stats, etc., click here.
The bats did indeed wake up right away in the 1st inning with a lead-off home run by Jose Reyes followed by a one-handed solo bomb by Carlos Delgado.
After the Nationals scored one in the top of the 3rd frame (thanks to a blown call by the 1st base umpire), the Mets tacked on four more runs highlighted by Carlos Beltran‘s two-run home run, seconds after he got his eye cleaned out by trainer Ray Ramirez.
At times Brandon Knight looked sharp with late life on his fastball and a sharp breaking slider, however he ran out of gas in the 4th inning but battled through and finished the 5th inning to earn his first career win.
Seven relief pitchers and five Nationals’ runs later, we are biting our nails right down to our knuckles before Luis Ayala finally closed the door.
Let’s try to forget about the bullpen woes or David Wright‘s putrid night for a second and talk about the biggest star of the game: Beltran.
Beltran homered from both sides of the plate, drove in three runs and covered all 1,000 yards of the Nationals Park outfield.
With the Phillies win, the Mets remain a half game behind the division lead.
And by the way Keith, I am not doing very well but thanks for asking!
The Mets go for the series split tomorrow night at 7pm with Johan Santana (13-7, 2.70) taking the mound against Tim Redding (10-9, 4.54).
The Game:
The Mets (83-67) continue their four-game series against the Nationals (58-93) tonight at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., starting at 7:10 pm.
The Lineup:
- SS Jose Reyes
- LF Daniel Murphy
- 3B David Wright
- 1B Carlos Delgado
- CF Carlos Beltran
- RF Ryan Church
- 2B Argenis Reyes
- C Brian Schneider
- P Brandon Knight
The Pitchers:
RHP Brandon Knight (0-0, 6.43 ERA) starts for the Mets. In his last start for the Mets on July 26 versus the Cardinals, Knight earned a no-decision, allowing four runs on seven hits, while walking two and striking our four over 5.0 IP. This is first career start versus the Nationals.
RHP Shairon Martis (0-2, 2.70 ERA) starts for the Nationals. Martis earned a loss in his last start versus the Marlins on September 12, allowing one runs on two hits over 5.0 IP. He has allowed two runs or less in each of his first two Major League starts. This is Martis first career start versus the Mets.
The Notes:
Jose Reyes is hitting .205 with 21 runs scored and a .281 OBP in his last 40 September games. The Mets are 20-20 during that span.
Carlos Delgado is batting .355 (11-for-31) with 2 2B, 4 HR and 8 RBI in his last right games. However, he is hitless in his last eight at-bats.
Joe Smith has not allowed a run in his last 17 appearances (12.1 IP).
The Nationals have 10 of their last 11 at Nationals Park.
Elijah Dukes is batting .302 with 12 HR and 39 RBI since May 24.
How To Catch It:
Tonight’s game can be seen 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…YA GOTTA BELIEVE!
In an interview with ESPN 1050 in New York, ESPN.com’s Peter Gammons said the Mets had internal discussions about using Jon Niese in place of Pedro Martinez down the stretch, and going to a four-man rotation, but chose, instead, to keep it as is.
Tagged Pedro Martinez |
Before his shoulder injury in 2006, Duaner Sanchez was one of the best set-up man in Major League Baseball.
In 2008, his first full season back from injury, Sanchez leads the Mets with 21 holds but his average fastball velocity has been reduced from 93 mph to 90 mph according to ESPN.com‘s Inside Edge.
Although his ERA has risen from 2.60 in 2006 to presently 4.45, Sanchez seems to be pitching almost as well when looking at this comparison:
2006: BAA – .231; Strikeout % – 17.3; Walk % – 8.3
2008: BAA – .236; Strikeout % – 17.0; Walk % – 9.3
According to the report, Sanchez has gotten himself into trouble by not to pitching inside to right-handed batters, relying more on sliders and change ups. These difficulties where evident on Monday when he threw only three inside fastballs on 20 total pitches to the middle of the Nationals’ order.
…i know the story of the last two days has been the offense, but the offense is not what has killed this team time and time again…this is duaner’s first taste of a pennant race with the Mets and they will need him, along with the rest of this makeshift bullpen, to hold down games down the stretch…
…like matt said…bullpen…bullpen…bullpen…
To watch today’s edition of 
‘s New York Baseball Today, during which MLB.com’s Pete McCarthy and I talk about the Mets lack of offense, and the future of Phil Hughes, click play below:
The Mets have released their preliminary schedule for the 2009 season, which starts April 6th in Cincinnati.
The first game at Citi Field is scheduled for Monday, April 13, against the San Diego Padres.
To see the schedule in its entirety, go to MLB.com.
Also, and I may regret posting this, but the tentative postseason schedule is on MLB.com as well.
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |
The Mets lead all National League teams with 308 runs scored and 328 RBI from their 3–4–5 hitters, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
In other words, it should not be much of a shock that when the middle of the lineup goes cold, as it has over the last few games, the team simply stops scoring runs.
According to multiple reports, John Maine threw off flat ground yesterday for the second day in a row.
Maine continues to tell reporters that he hopes to return to the team towards the end of next week, and potentially pitch in the bullpen.
“I know they have a plan without me,” Maine told Newsday prior to yesterday’s game. “But I don’t know why I would be going through all this if they didn’t want me to pitch. I could have had surgery three weeks ago.”
Putting off shoulder surgery and wanting to make an impact down the stretch for the Mets signifies the warrior inside of Maine.
…added to by Matthew Cerrone…
This has got to be killing Maine, who is a serious competitor, who has to sit by, unable to help, while his teammates stumble down the stretch.
In case you missed it, Fernando Tatis left last night’s game in the fifth inning with a separated right shoulder.
Following the game, Jerry Manuel said, ‘he’s done,’ saying Tatis will not play again this year, while adding:
“That’s very discouraging. Tatis has been a big piece to where we are and what we’ve accomplished so far. For him to go down at this point, we’ll just have to play the two kids out there for a while. That’s just the way it is. With the loss of Tatis, we have to reassess where we are offensively.”
In his place, Manuel expects to return to the Nick Evans-Daniel Murphy platoon in left field, while also using Endy Chavez for time to time.
In 91 games for the Mets this season, Tatis hit .299 with 11 HR and 47 RBI in 271 at bats, his most since 2002.
Tatis had some big-time hits for the Mets this season. He turned in to an unexpected fan favorite.
Also, he should be a reminder that not every off-season acquisition has to be a top-flight free agent – but that sometimes the unexpected star can come from no place.
Yesterday, Jerry Manuel chose to start Argenis Reyes at second base, instead of Luis Castillo, who was signed to a four-year contract this past off-season.
Manuel, on why Reyes over Castillo, while speaking to reporters prior to yesterday’s game:
“We’ve had some success with him in the lineup and he brings a feeling that I like for where we are now…He brings a little energy, and when he played, we won – and we need to win. So, I gotta see if that combination
works. It’s nothing against Luis. I need to find some things that are working for us right now.”
Reyes and Jose Reyes seems to work very well together on the infield. Last night, they combined for two quick, slick-looking double plays, which helped keep the game close. Plus, while Reyes is batting just .190 in his last 60 at bats, Castillo is hitting .189 since returning from the DL – so, as I wrote yesterday, I’d just as soon see the younger, healthier, better defensive option at that point anyway.
“There’s nothing to say,” Castillo told Newsday in response to being benched. “I’m here to help the team, but this is the first time in my life it’s been like that.”
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