Daily Archives: March 31, 2009
The Mets defeated the Marlins, 9–2, in Roger Dean Stadium.
- Pedro Feliciano pitched to one batter, a right-handed hitter in the sixth inning, and struck him out. Sean Green then pitched the seventh, and did not allow a run.
- J.J. Putz struck out two batters in the eighth inning, but left the game because of a cut finger nail, though the team told reporters following the game that he is fine.
- Darren O’Day replaced Putz, struck out the batter to end the inning, after which Francisco Rodriguez closed out the game in the ninth.
- Jonathan Malo hit an inside-the-park home run. He is on Jerry Manuel’s radar, and is making people think he could be a Crain Counsell type bench player for the Mets later in the season.
- Carlos Delgado was 3–for-3 with an RBI, while Jose Reyes had two hits and two runs scored.
John Maine pitched 5.2 innings, throwing 83 pitches, allowing two runs and six hits, including one home run, while walking one batter and striking out three.
…maine looked more comfortable and in control last night, and not just because of the stat line… he was letting the ball rip, and seemed to be more free and easy on the mound, which was not the case the last couple of weeks…
The Mets play the Cardinals in Jupiter at 1 pm this afternoon, with Johan Santana making his final Grapefruit League start.
The Game:
The Mets (14-14-1) continue their Grapefruit League schedule against the Marlins (11-16-1) tonight at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida starting at 7:05 p.m.
The Lineup:
- SS Jose Reyes
- LF Daniel Murphy
- 3B David Wright
- 1B Carlos Delgado
- CF Carlos Beltran
- RF Ryan Church
- C Brian Schneider
- 2B Luis Castillo
- P John Maine
The Pitchers:
John Maine (0-1, 8.00 ERA) starts for the Mets. Francisco Rodriguez, J.J Putz, Bobby Parnell, Sean Green and Pedro Feliciano are also scheduled to pitch
Anibal Sanchez (1-1, 4.94 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Marlins.
How To Catch It:
Tonight’s game will be broadcast locally on WFAN.
You can also follow the live GameDay boxscore, by clicking here.
The Mets reassigned Bobby Kielty and Elmer Dessens.
Also, Omar Minaya told reporters that Fernando Nieve will not be on the 25–man roster, according to Newsday.
In other words, the team’s Opening Day roster is more or less set, and will look as follows:
Brian Schneider, Carlos Delgado, Luis Castillo, Jose Reyes, David Wright, Daniel Murphy, Carlos Beltran, and Ryan Church will be the team’s position players, with Ramon Castro, Marlon Anderson, Alex Cora, Nick Evans, Jeremy Reed and Fernando Tatis on the bench.
Johan Santana, Mike Pelfrey, Oliver Perez, John Maine will be the team’s starting pitchers to start the season, with Livan Hernandez jumping on board four days later in place of Evans.
Lastly, Francisco Rodriguez, JJ Putz, Bobby Parnell, Brian Stokes, Pedro Feliciano, Sean Green and Darren O’Day will be in the bullpen.
Tagged Mets Spring Training |MetsBlog.com will be hosting an Opening Day Get-Together at Public House in Manhattan, located at 140 E. 41st St, for the first game of the regular season against the Mets and Reds at 1 pm on April 6.
…we will have a few designated areas to hang out, sit, grab lunch, etc., plus they’ll have a drink special or two… there are plenty of flat-screen televisions, and the game-audio will be on as well…
The biggest news in the NL East today is that the Atlanta Braves have agreed to terms with third baseman Chipper Jones on a 3 year contract extension worth in excess of $40 million.
Chipper was set to become a free agent after the 2009 season. The new contract will run through the 2012 campaign with a vesting option for 2013.
Over at Phillies camp, pitching coach Rich Dubee officially ruled Cole Hamels out for Sunday night’s opener against the Braves.
Brett Myers or Joe Blanton will get the nod in Hamels’ place.
And this just in…Philadelphia has also just released veteran outfielder Geoff Jenkins.
An interesting story surrounding the potential number one pick in the upcoming June amateur draft has been developing. Agent Scott Boras is said to be asking for $50 million over 6 years for the consensus top pick, Stephen Strasburg.
The Washington Nationals pick first and President Stan Kasten has said, “We intend to take the best player; we know what No. 1s get and we intend to sign that player.”
…Strasburg is not your ordinary #1 pick so whether the Nationals, who are known to be cheap, actually draft and sign Strasburg remains to be seen.
For more news, notes, analysis and statistics from around Major League Baseball, be sure to visit Baseball Daily Digest.
Tagged MetsBlog |…i goofed on the previous Daniel Murphy poll, which was supposed to read 150 hits, not 100… so, it has been deleted… my bad…
Anyway…
Last season, Luis Castillo only started in 81 games at second base for the Mets, his lowest total since 1998.
…the talk has been, if he struggles, how long until the team pulls the plug on him and turns to Alex Cora, who they will be paying $2 million to be a bench player…
[poll id="237"]
Tagged Poll |The Mets officially released Jose Valentin, as well as Tony Armas Jr. and Junior Spivey, all of whom are now free agents.
…wow, that was quick junior… as for the stache, good luck, thanks for the memories, and embrace the next phase of your baseball career…
In a post to Razzball, I took part in a Q&A about the Mets, which touches on questions like what to expect from Carlos Delgado and John Maine.
Speaking of which, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com writes about Citi Field, 
and whether it will be a hitter’s or pitcher’s park.
Lastly, in their upcoming baseball preview, Sports Illustrated will predict that the Mets will win the NL East; after which the they will defeat the Dodgers in the first round of the playoffs, then defeat the Cubs in the NLCS, all culminating in a World Championship against the Angels.
…dear… lord… thanks, SI… thanks a lot…
Yesterday, I started posting Under-Over Polls on a variety of potential stats or totals for the 2009 season.
To see yesterday’s list, go here, otherwise please take part in the new set of polls that start with the following:
Last season, John Maine won just 10 games, in an injury-shortened season, following a 15–win season in 2008.
…i feel like maine is the lynch-pin pitcher in the starting rotation…
[poll id="231"]
Tagged Poll |The Tigers released OF Gary Sheffield, according to the Detroit News.
WFAN’s Evan Roberts just said he and co-host Joe Benigno will soon discuss whether the Mets should go after Sheffield.
…now, why on earth would that make sense, and 
where in the world would he play… i think this is a terrible, and dangerous idea… i mean, he’s not going to start, and so can you imagine his personality as a bench player in New York City… wow…
Sheffield hit .225 with a 19 HR in 114 games for the Tigers last season, and hit .265 with a .378 OBP and 25 HR in 133 games in 2007.
He played in just 39 games in his final season with the Yankees in 2006, while struggling with a variety of injuries.
…please, let him go play in some obscure, non-contending town, where he can hit one more home run to reach 500, all while making a few bucks, waving to the fans, and fighting with that city’s only beat reporter… and keep him as a far away from Citi Field as you can…
To listen to WFAN online, go here.
Tagged Mets Spring Training |Justin Sablich of the New York Times posts a Q&A with me, Greg Prince from Faith and Fear in Flushing and Sam Page of Amazin Avenue, during which we talk about a variety of issues facing the Mets in 2009.
Here are a few of my responses, though Sablich asks several other questions…
New York Times: What off-season move do you wish the Mets either had made or had not made?
Matthew Cerrone: I don’t know when it will happen, but I believe the Mets will eventually wish they made money available to acquire a consistent, well-rounded bat to hit behind Carlos Delgado, though such a stick will likely be available at the trade deadline.
New York Times: Based on what you’ve seen and heard about Citi Field, what are your thoughts on the new stadium?
Matthew Cerrone: I have been to Citi Field twice in the off-season, and it’s impressive. I am most excited about the Promenade and being able to walk around, eat food, hang out and watch the game from my feet, because I’m antsy and can’t sit still. The building did feel a bit cold and generic, but it was December and I was surrounded by reporters, not fellow fans — I will likely have a different feeling in the middle of the summer. The thing is, I’ll take a low-rent stadium and a world championship over top-quality bricks and last place any day.
New York Times: As bloggers, what one player or coach, or topic, generates the most interest among your online readers and why?
Matthew Cerrone: Omar Minaya, no doubt. So much happens behind the scenes in M.L.B., from budget issues to roster moves to staffing situations, that we, as fans, are unaware of. So, most fans, me included, tend to look at Minaya’s job like we look at Fantasy Baseball…
Last season I used the slogan, ‘One Team, One Million G.M.’s,’ to describe MetsBlog, because it’s true: Minaya may be the G.M., but there are one million of us who believe we can do the job just as well - and this is reflected in some way on my blog every day.
New York Times: If the Mets do not make the playoffs this season, what will be the reasons?
Matthew Cerrone: The reason will be: they were not the better team. The Mets will not need a generic excuse, because they have enough talent to get the job done. Just do it, like the ad says.
Either way, it will not be because I started posting the magic number in early September, I can tell you that much. I made that mistake two years in a row, as my blog’s readers will be quick to tell you, and will not do it again.
To read the entire interview, including responses from Greg Price and Sam Page, go to the New York Times.
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