Monthly Archives: March 2009
In his debut column for SNY, Howard Megdal breaks 
down what an ace is supposed to look like, i.e., Johan Santana.
Brandon Bilko of Priced Out of the Citi explains why Oliver Perez got lucky, despite allowing just one run in 6.2. innings against the O’s last night.
Toby from Mets Minor League Blog was a guest on the Buffalo Bisons preview show, which you can listen to at MiLB.com.
During last night’s game on SNY, Johan Santana did an impersonation of Mets VP of Media Relations Jay Horwitz, which you can watch at Zoe’s Pick Me Up Some Mets.
Shannon from Mets Police is hoping for new Karma from Citi Field, writing, “Here’s to hoping the new building brings a new start for this franchise.”
Lastly, Jayson Stark of ESPN.com lists what he believes is the All-Money Player Team, which includes Johan Santana; the All Pay-Per-View Team, which also includes Santana; the All-Bull Market Team; the All-Bear Market Team, which includes Oliver Perez; the All-Money-for-Nothing Team, which includes Luis Castillo and Billy Wagner; and the All-Chapter-11–Team, which includes Ramon Castro; among other types of teams.
Last night, in a win against the O’s, Oliver Perez tossed 93 pitches, allowing one run, four hits and one walk while striking out one hitter.
“I just thought tonight he was pretty consistent with his delivery and stuff,” Jerry Manuel said, speaking to reports following the game. “When he can get us that far and then we have the type of people we have down there finishing the game, it could be a good combination for us.”
According to Ben Shpigel in the New York Times, ‘When Manuel came out to retrieve Perez in the seventh inning Monday night, he was smiling. When Perez jogged away, he doffed his cap to a standing crowd.’
“I’m very pleased with his hard work the last week,” pitching coach Dan Warthen is quoted as saying about Perez in the Daily News. “I think he’s back to where he was last year.”
In the Bergen Record, Steve Popper explains the difference in last night’s start, compared to previous starts this spring, writing:
“For example, in the fourth inning on a 2-2 pitch to Luke Scott, Perez floated a fastball down the middle that Scott just crushed, sending it soaring far over the right field fence, beyond the berm and onto the walkway. But it was just a few feet foul, sending Scott back to the plate.
This time, Perez came back with a slider, starting it at Scott’s knees and making it disappear into the dirt as he flailed at it for a third strike – a perfect pitch after an imperfect one.”
“I had to forget about what happened last time and get better,” Perez told reporters, speaking from his locker after the game. “After the last game, this type of game made me feel good.”
Perez did not crack 91 mph with his fastball, but said, “Every time it’s going to get better… I feel strong.”
Tagged Oliver Perez |The Mets defeated the O’s, 2–1, in Tradition Field tonight.
- Daniel Murphy hit a solo home run and a double.
- In the eighth, Fernando Tatis reached base on a hit, then advanced on an error, and eventually scored on a bad throw to third.
- J.J. Putz pitched the final out in the seventh inning, then pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the eighth, after which Robert Parnell got the save.
- Oliver Perez returned to form, in his second spring start since returning from the WBC, and with 93 pitches he allowed one run, four hits and one walk while striking out one hitter.
- Perez let up a solo home run to Adam Jones, hit deep to center field, off of a 90–mph fastball in a 3–2 count with two outs.
…all in all, he looked good… he was doing the rock-back at the start of his delivery, he was throwing strikes, keeping the ball down and working quick… i am still concerned that his velocity is down, never cracking 90 mph, but he’s still working back in to shape, after being off his training routine while away in the WBC… also, it looks like he is throwing with a lot more arm than usual… of course, i’m not a pitching coach, but i do not remember seeing that before…
The Mets play the Marlins on Tuesday night in Roger Dean Stadium.
Update, 10:02 pm:
The Dodgers and free-agent LHP Will Ohman agreed to a minor-league contract, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Original Post:
According to the Daily News, “The Mets have signed Japanese lefthander Ken Takahashi to a minor-league contract.”
The Blue Jays released Takahashi on Monday, after signing him to a minor-league deal in early February.
In December, NPB Tracker said the Mets were the front-runners to sign Takahashi, who was was 8-5 with a 3.50 ERA last season for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
Tagged Mets Spring Training |Prior to tonight’s game, Jerry Manuel finally announced that Livan Hernandez will be his fifth starter.
Hernandez will make his first appearance in 
the rotation on April 11, in Miami, against the Marlins, however he will start Friday in Citi Field when the Mets play the Red Sox in an exhibition game.
Oliver Perez will pitch in the second exhibition game against the Sox on Saturday.
Manuel also said Daniel Murphy will bat second in the order, with Luis Castillo hitting eighth, regardless of whether their is a left-handed or right-handed starting pitcher on the mound.
Lastly, David Wright will mostly bat third, Carlos Delgado will bat fourth, and Carlos Beltran will bat fifth, though that could switch around on days when they face a left-handed starting pitcher.
The Mets will play the Orioles in Tradition Field tonight at 7 pm, which you can watch live on SNY.
Oliver Perez will start for the Mets, with J.J. Putz, Darren O’Day, Robert Parnell and Elmer Dessens also scheduled to pitch.
…i hope to see perez with his act together tonight… he doesn’t have to throw no-hitter, but it’d be nice to see him in a groove, looking confident and being effective, seeing as he’ll probably have just one more spring start before the real thing…
Tonight’s lineup will be:
- SS) Jose Reyes
- OF) Daniel Murphy
- 3B) David Wright
- 1B) Carlos Delgado
- OF) Carlos Beltran
- OF) Ryan Church
- C) Ramon Castro
- 2B) Luis Castillo
- SP) Oliver Perez
…in other words, expect the above lineup on days when a right-pitcher is starting against the Mets; though i am sure Brian Schneider will usually be in there, not castro…
Last season, Francisco Rodriguez had 62 saves for the Angels, though he did not crack 47 saves at any other point in his career.
This season, he will be pitching in the National League for the first time in his caeer.
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Tagged Poll |
I’m back from a week at the Cactus League in Arizona and am ready to jump right back into the National League East!
The battle for the Atlanta Braves center field job rages on. Josh Anderson is batting .286 (16-for-56) with 2 homers and 7 RBIs while Jordan Schafer is raking at a .396 (21-for-53) clip with 1 homer and 3 RBIs.
Update: The Braves just announced that they’ve acquired P Rudy Darrow from the Tigers in exchange for Anderson.
…Guess that means the CF job is Schafer’s!
The Ronny Paulino shuttle continues. On Friday, Paulino was traded to the Giants from the Phillies for lefthanded reliever Jack Taschner.
Then yesterday, the backup catcher was shipped to Florida for minor-league righthander Hector Correa. If nothing, Ronny is racking up the frequent flyer miles!
This morning, the Phillies released infielder Marcus Giles. Giles had been attempting a comeback after being out of baseball in 2008. He was hitting just .167 (6-for-36) for Philadelphia this spring.
Washington Nationals 2008 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, Jordan Zimmerman, has been named the team’s fifth starter.
Zimmerman will start the season in the minors and make his Major League debut on April 19 against the Marlins, when the Nationals need a fifth starter for the first time.
For more news, notes, analysis and statistics from around Major League Baseball, be sure to visit Baseball Daily Digest.
Tagged MetsBlog |Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com explains why he is predicting Hanley Ramirez will win the National League MVP.
In a post to his blog for Newsday, Ken Davidoff wonders, “Will the two new stadiums provide a bounce, a drop or neither?
Speaking of which, Zoe, from Pick Me Up Some Mets, has uploaded images of price menus from 
the concession stands in Citi Field.
According to Zoe’s pictures, a single burger, an order of fries and a soda, from Shake Shack, will run you $14.
In a post to his blog for the Bergen Record, Steve Popper simply asks of Mets fans, “What is making you worry?”
Scott Lauber of the News Journal breaks down the Phillies roster.
Lastly, the Dodgers made a one-year, $1 million offer to free-agent LHP Will Ohman, according to the Los Angeles Times.
In 2007, Carlos Delgado hit just 24 home runs.
Last season, he hit just 17 in the first half of the season, but rebounded to hit 21 in the second, to finish with 38 on the year, his second-highest total since 2001.
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