Daily Archives: September 26, 2008
The Mets lost to the Marlins by the score of 6 to 1 tonight at Shea Stadium.
For a recap, boxscore and stats, click here.
Now I’m wishing it rained.
The Marlins mean business and completely throttled the Mets from the start tonight.
Two things before I let you guys have at it.
1) The Mets left a small village on base paths tonight and had numerous opportunities to put a crooked number on the board, but no one was able to the big hit. Maybe they were waiting for Ramon Martinez and Robinson Cancel to save the day. Ugh!
2) I know the bullpen options are limited, but why on earth would Jerry Manuel bring in Aaron Heilman in such a big spot. Time and time again, Heilman has proven he is unable to pitch in clutch situations, but yet, manuel still continues to give Heilman the opportunity. It’s maddening. For the record, I wanted Joe Smith in that spot, as he is the Mets best reliever this season at stranding runners.
With the loss and the Brewers win, the Mets are now one game behind the Brewers in the race for the National League Wild Card.
Weather permitting, the Mets continue their four-game series with the Marlins tomorrow at Shea Stadium, starting at 1 pm, with Johan Santana taking on Ricky Nolasco.
Tagged Mike Nichols |The Game:
Weather permitting, the Mets (88-71) begin their final regular season series of the season against the Marlins (82-76) tonight at Shea Stadium, 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 Ramon Martinez
- C Brian Schneider
- P Mike Pelfrey
The Pitchers:
RHP Mike Pelfrey (13-10, 3.70 ERA) starts for the Mets. Pelfrey is 0-3 with a 7.91 ERA in four starts versus the Marlins this season. He has set a Mets franchise record with 29 double plays turned behind him this season. In 17 home starts this season, Pelfrey is 8-6 with a 2.94 ERA.
RHP Chris Volstad (5-4, 3.10 ERA) starts for the Marlins. In his only career start versus the Mets on August 29, Volstad earned a no-decision, allowing one run on five hits and three walks while striking out five over 6.1 IP. Volstad has recored a quality start in eight of his last 13 starts this season. He is 3-1 with a 2.32 ERA in five road starts this season.
The Notes:
The Mets are 9-6 versus the Marlins this season, including 4-2 at Shea Stadium.
Carlos Beltran is batting .337 with 8 2B, 5 HR and 17 RBI in 83 at-bats this month.
Dan Uggla is batting .438 (7-for-16) in his career versus Pelfrey.The Marlins have 42 comeback wins this season, including four versus the Mets.
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!
Tagged Mike Nichols |
According to Adam Rubin at the Daily News, Brian Schneider returns to the lineup tonight but he is not 100 percent.
After feeling upper-back discomfort yesterday, he went to the Hospital for Special Surgery for some chiropractic treatment and x-rays. Schneider tested out his back this afternoon and deemed himself ready to go.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Brewers SS J.J. Hardy might have injured his hand during the team’s celebration following a walk-off win last night.
Craig Counsell would likely replace Hardy at short, with Bill Hall taking over full time at third.
On Sunday, New York City Transit will roll out its vintage Nostalgia Train on the 7 line in honor 
of the final regular-season home game at Shea Stadium.
Fans, along with NYC Transit officials, will board the 7 train from the 42nd Street-Times Square Station shortly after 11 a.m. and arrive at Willets Point-Shea Stadium at around 12 noon.
The NYCTA describes it as, ‘A fitting way to pay tribute to the long standing stadium and the train that serviced it for 44 years.’
For customized subway and bus directions to the stadium and other locations, click here.
Tagged Shea Stadium |
On Wednesday, I started making posts about my Five Favorite Moments at Shea Stadium, from games that I attended. To see Number 5, click here, and click here to see Number 4. I will post Number 2 tomorrow, and Number 1 on Sunday, which is the final regular season game.
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.
The single-biggest driving force in my development as a Mets fan was my mom, who would often surprise me after school by pulling up in the car and say, ‘Hurry up, we’re going to Shea.’
She and I, and my best friend Joey D and his mom (who was best friend’s with my mother, as well), would hop in to their van and fly to Shea – and I mean fly – in time to buy tickets and watch a game. I’m guessing nearly half of the games I attended as a kid were in this impromptu, drop-everything manner.
On June 19, 1989, my mom and her friend scooped me and Joey up to race us to Shea in hopes of seeing Dwight Gooden’s 100th career win, which he would ultimately lock down that night. There was a different level of pride in the stands that night. It was like 50,000 parents were cheering on their own son, a home-grown super star not seen since Tom Seaver and the type that has never really been seen again.
I was in love with Gooden’s power and confidence. He was clearly a flawed man, but the swagger and energy and dominance he showed as a pitcher was an inspiration – not just to his teammates, but to me and other fans.
Tagged Shea Stadium |
Over at The Onion, they poke fun at the recent Mets woes with an article humorously titled, “Struggling Mets Combine to Form Carlos Voltron”.
“Facing the Cubs in the midst of a three-game losing streak, the desperate Mets sprinted out to the field Tuesday, launched themselves high into the air above Shea Stadium, and combined their bodies to form a 400-foot tall fielding robot called Carlos Voltron.”
“Meanwhile, defending a comfortable 600-0 lead in the top of ninth, the Mets decided to rest up Carlos Voltron by moving him to the outfield and replacing him with reliever Aaron Heilman, who lost the lead and eventually the game after giving up 618 runs to close the inning.”
The idea of the team forming a cohesive force, presumably led by Carlos Beltran, is especially fitting after last night. Just a little levity during these stressful, yet exciting times.
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |The Mets today announced that Tom Seaver, Willie Mays and Mike Piazza, among 45 other former players, will be on 
hand for this Sunday’s Shea Goodbye post-game, on-field ceremony following the team’s 1 p.m. game against the Marlins.
…the buzz from Shea suggests the team will have a cat-walk type entrance set up outside the stadium as players arrive, so fans can take pictures, ask for autographs and welcome in their favorite players…however, i have no idea where such a thing will be set up…i’m thinking some place by the Diamond Club, but i am guessing on that, though once they start setting up it will be fairly obvious fairly early…
…also, it would be nice if the team would dish out more details, such as where fans should set up shop, how early to get there, when will the stadium open, etc…
…lastly, there is more and more of indication that Dwight Gooden will be in the house…the team is working to get him to go…like i wrote yesterday, this has most everything to do with doc’s apprehension, and very little to do with the team, who would love to have him be part of the celebration…
…my hunch is that the team is being very quiet on this, so not to raise expectations should doc bail at the last minute…
…speaking of arrivals, if piazza, Robin Ventura and Edgardo Alfonzo all roll up at the same time, i may react like they’re The Beatles…seriously…i loved that team…
Tagged Shea Stadium |
As the Marlins prepare for the final regular season series at Shea, there is no lack of motivation on their part to repeat their spoiling ways from a year ago.
In the Sun-Sentinel, several players recant their memories from last year, including pitcher Scott Olson, who is quoted as saying:
“Silence is golden. It’s not that good of a stadium. I remember Tom Glavine walking off the mound with his head down without getting three outs.”
Former Met Mike Jacobs:
“It was pretty amazing going from how loud that stadium could be to you could hear a pin drop. I remember hearing some of the guys saying they saw fans that were crying. You like being in a situation to be able to knock somebody out like that.”
At the Palm Beach Post, Joe Capozzi relays some notable quotes, including one from Paul LoDuca:
“It was not a good memory and I’m hoping we can make it not good memories for them again this year.”
Scott Olson chimed in again:
“It was just fun hearing 55,000 people not say a word.”
…it must have reminded olson of under 1,000 fans not saying a word in miami every night…
For more on the upcoming series, check out Adam Rubin’s blog at the Daily News, David Lennon’s article at Newsday, and the Miami Herald.
…not wanting to conjure up memories of last year, i’ve avoided acknowledgement of this series until now, but honestly, this is exactly who i want them to be playing…i’d like to think the mets don’t need any further motivation but seriously, how ironic is this, it couldn’t be scripted any better…the mets pretty much hold their fate in their hands, and what better way to redeem the results from last year’s glavine game, than to sweep the marlins and surge into the playoffs…
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |I have posted my photographs from my afternoon in Shea Yesterday on Flickr, which you check about by clicking here.
The one in this post is my favorite.
