Daily Archives: September 24, 2008
If the Mets, Phillies and Brewers end the season with the same record, the Mets and Phillies will play a one-game playoff on Monday in Philadelphia, the winner of which will win the NL East, the loser of which will play a one-game playoff with the Brewers for the Wild Card on Tuesday, which will not occur in Milwaukee.
If the Mets and Phillies tie for first place and have a better record than the Brewers, the Mets will win the NL East because of their head-to-head record, and the Phillies will get the Wild Card.
Tagged Shea Stadium |The Mets lost to the Cubs by the score of 9 to 6 in 10 innings tonight at Shea Stadium.
For a recap, boxscore and stats, click here.
I’m beginning to get sick to my stomach, and I 
think it’s from motion sickness. Seriously, I am emotionally dizzy, having been put through way, way too many twists and turns this season, and tonight’s game was no different.
In five innings, the Mets left 10 men on base. They had a lead-off walk in the fifth, and didn’t score with the top of the order at the plate. They got a lead-off walk in the sixth, and didn’t score. They had runners on first and third with nobody out in the seventh, and they didn’t score because of Derek Lee’s glove. They scored a run in the eighth, thanks to a walk, but left the bases loaded. They got a lead-off triple in the ninth from Daniel Murphy, and, again, they didn’t score as David Wright, who needed to just hit a fly ball, struck out, while Ryan Church popped out and Ramon Castro struck out to end the inning.
Frankly, if the Mets do not make the post-season, get ready to point to that ninth inning over and over and over again.
Anyway, add all of that to Oliver Perez, who wasted an early 5 to 1 lead; Duaner Sanchez, who needed just two pitches to let the game get tied; and a sporadic bullpen, which may as well have a ticking time bomb for a logo on their hat; and, despite Carlos Delgado’s grand slam, you get a long, drawn out, emotional, disappointing loss – all on a night when the Phillies lost as well, meaning the Mets could have been tied in the loss column for first place in the National League East.
Instead, they remain one loss back of the Phillies, and tied with the Brewers for the Wild Card lead.
There are four games left in the season, and, basically, there is as good of a chance that the Mets win the division as there is that they’ll win the Wild Card as there is that they’ll win nothing and be home for October for the second-straight season.
In other words, the roller coaster continues. I’m done worrying, though. I’m done analyzing, I’m done feeling good one day, bad the the next – now, I am only holding on for dear life, as I hope to see this team keep pushing hard towards the finish the line.
The Mets conclude their four-game series with the Cubs tomorrow at Shea Stadium, starting at 7 pm, with Pedro Martinez (5-6, 5.50 ERA) taking on Rich Harden (5-1, 1.66 ERA).
According to Andrew Marchand at his blog for ESPN 1050, citing 
‘a source,’ Dwight Gooden will likely be at Shea Stadium for the farewell ceremonies on Sunday.
Earlier today, on his blog for Newsday, citing ‘people familiar with the situation, David Lennon wrote, “There is a strong possibility that Doc will be in attendance.”
…from what i can gather, the decision on whether doc is in house has less to do with the Mets, and everything to do with doc…thought i am not totally sure what that means…
According to Ted Berg from SNY, the Mets have just announced that John Maine has been activated from the disabled list.
…great news…from what i understand, maine threw from flat ground today, and it was determined that he’s ready…however, i would not expect to see him in a game unless it is an absolute last resort…
According to Neil Best’s blog for Newsday, citing ‘three industry sources familiar with the negotiations,’ the Mets are likely to remain with WFAN beyond this season.
Tagged WFAN |
The Game:
The Wild Card leading Mets (87-70) continue their four-game series against the National League Central champion Cubs (95-61) tonight at Shea Stadium, starting at 7:10 pm.
The Lineup:
- SS Jose Reyes
- LF Daniel Murphy
- 3B David Wright
- CF Carlos Beltran
- 1B Carlos Delgado
- RF Ryan Church
- C Brian Schneider
- 2B Argenis Reyes
- P Oliver Perez
The Pitchers:
LHP Oliver Perez (10-7, 4.10 ERA) starts for the Mets. He is 1-3 with a 4.97 ERA in seven career starts versus the Cubs, but Perez has not faced the Cubs since April of 2005. Perez has allowed three runs or less in 14 of his last 16 starts. He is 4-2 with a 4.27 ERA in 15 home starts this season.
RHP Carlos Zambrano (14-6, 3.77 ERA) starts for the Cubs. In four of his last seven starts, Zambrano has allowed five runs or more. In his last start versus the Mets on April 21, Zamabrano earned a win, allowing one runs on five hits over 7.0 IP. He is 4-1 with a 2.92 ERA in seven career starts versus the Mets.
How To Catch It:
Tonight’s game can be seen locally on SNY, nationally on ESPN 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!
Tagged Mike Nichols |Argenis Reyes will start at second base and bat eighth tonight instead of Luis Castillo.
Jerry Manuel, speaking with reporters about Castillo prior to tonight’s game, said:
“I wanted to give him a break from what he’s going through. He’s not swinging the best that he has…We’ll need him at some point…I don’t know if it’s a one-day thing. Argenis Reyes has been struggling too, but this will not hinder us defensively.”
Manuel acknowledged that the fans at Shea Stadium have been particularly hard on Castillo, though he described it as, ‘understandable,’ adding:
“You can’t hide from that…Luis is coming off a long layoff, and he’s not what he was with his timing…We have in option in Reyes that does not hurt the team, so we can do it without losing much.”
By the way, Castillo started 48 games n 2007, during which the Mets went 23-25. In 2008, he has started 77 games, during which the Mets are 37-40.
…thanks to John P for the information…
To hear more from Manuel, including how he intends to handle any potential rain outs this weekend, as well as to see Kevin Burkhardt’s most recent tour of Citi Field, tune in to SNY’s Pre Game Show at 6:30 pm.
During an interview with WFAN today, Jerry Manuel said he will not use Johan Santana on short rest to start Saturday’s game. However, it is not impossible that he could turn to Santana in relief, though it’s very unlikely.
Instead, he will likely turn to Nelson Figueroa, Brandon Kinight or Jonathan Niese for Saturday’s start.
To listen to Manuel’s entire interview, go to WFAN.com.
According to Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade 
Rumors, using a stat labeled WARP, “The Mets have gotten 30.9 wins this year due to first round picks,” which is the most in baseball.
Tim continues to explain, “David Wright, Mike Pelfrey, and Aaron Heilman were Mets first-rounders. Johan Santana, Brian Schneider, and Ryan Church were acquired using first-round picks Philip Humber and Lastings Milledge.”
Dierkes also looks at WARP for the Brewers, Phillies, Rays, Twins, Angels and Red Sox.
Tagged Mike Pelfrey |Over the next five days, I will be making posts about my Five Favorite Moments at Shea Stadium, from games 
that I attended. In addition, each post will be followed by a quick video segment of me talking about the moment.
I hope you enjoy them, and feel free to share your favorite memories in each post as well.
My Fifth Favorite Moment at Shea Stadium was not a game, actually. Instead, it is of waiting in line outside of Shea, freezing cold, in the dark, shivering in a Mets jersey, hoping to get playoff tickets during September in 1999.
This was the first time in my adult life that the Mets had a chance to make it to the post-season, so, on behalf of my friends, I took off from work, drove down to Shea, and waited on line.
The majority of my family and friends are Yankees fans, all of whom had been riding sky-high during the 1990s. And so, to be at Shea, on my own, in line for playoff tickets, but surrounded by fellow, die-hard, passionate, proud Mets fans, was an exhilarating and inspiring feeling. I was able to talk Mets baseball with people, hang out and reminisce, which is something I never really had a chance to do – at least prior to MetsBlog.com.
Having the opportunity to see all of those people, all on the same page, together, having fun, outside of the stadium where no game was about to be played, was a very special moment for me.
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