Daily Archives: April 1, 2009
The Mets defeated the Cardinals, 5–2, in Jupiter today.
Johan Santana tossed just three innings and 36 pitches, and allowed two 
hits, each a solo home run.
…i see people freaking out, because he only pitched three innings… no worries… this is typical in a pitcher’s final spring training start… i assume he then hit the bullpen mound and finished in a side session, though i could be wrong…
Bobby Parnell, Elmer Dessens, Darren O’Day and Brian Stokes followed Santana, pitching six scoreless innings.
Following the game, Santana told reporters that he and his teammates are better prepared for the regular season than they were at this point last year.
Dave Singer of NY Sports Dog posts a long list of celebrity Mets fans, including, among others, Robert DeNiro, Jerry Seinfeld, Nas, Bill O’Reilly, Joe Klein and John McEnroe.
So long as we’re on the subject, I really, really hope Citi Field ditches the celebrity Mets fan rally video on the scoreboard, especially the Kevin James one, which used to give me nightmares. Nothing against him, because I like James and enjoy his comedy, but there was something about that video that was demonic.
If you’re unaware, the Mets filmed a variety of ‘celebrity Mets fans,’ while out at Shea Stadium last season, each wearing a Mets hat, yelling at fans to clap and cheer and say, ‘Lets Go Mets.’ In most every case, it was awkward and felt forced, and never really inspired the crowd.
One of the great things about baseball is that there are the players on the field, and then the rest of us behind them, in the stands, rooting them on. Those are the two groups: players and fans, working together as one. It’s not the Mets on the filed, then the fans, then Kevin James, Jerry Seinfeld and the rest of Hollywood.
I’d rather see Vito and the Citi Field audio-visual team hit up some average fan in the stands, live, and get that person to rally a cheer on the screen, assuming this has to take place at all. And if that random fan happens to be Seinfeld, or me, or you, or James, or any one else in attendance that night, great. But, believe me, I want the Mets to win, score runs, etc., on my own, because I am a fan; I don’t need a comedian or movie star to tell me when to cheer or be inspired.
Gaby Sanchez, the favorite for the Florida Marlins first base job, was optioned to Class AAA New Orleans Tuesday. Sanchez hit just .194 this spring.
The move opens the door for Jorge Cantu to begin the year as the club’s first baseman.
The Marlins also acquired former top pitching prospect Hayden Penn from the Orioles for utility infielder Robert Andino.
The Philadelphia Phillies solidified their pitching rotation by naming Chan Ho Park their 5th starter and finally announcing that Brett Myers will indeed be the opening night pitcher.
Park beat out J.A. Happ for the last spot in the rotation.
Former Mets Anderson Hernandez and Lastings Milledge are back in the news for the Nationals. Hernandez will start the season on the disabled list because of a strained left hamstring and will rehab at Washington’s spring training facility in Florida.
Meanwhile, since manager Manny Acta announced that Milledge would be the team’s leadoff hitter, the ex-Met has gone 4-for-34 with just one run scored. Acta says he isn’t concerned.
For more news, notes, analysis and statistics from around Major League Baseball, be sure to visit Baseball Daily Digest.
Tagged MetsBlog |Ron Darling has a new book available today, The Complete Game.
…i’ve read it, and the book is impressive, inspiring and educational…
…basically, darling breaks the book up in to 10 chapters, one inning each, plus an extra inning, that each detail one specific game from his career… however, while he details the specific moments from the game, he also walks the reader through the mental and technical elements of the game, from preparation to performance, yet also explains how he utilized moments from his life, personal and professional, to get through them, and what he has learned from those moments since…
…frankly, i learned a lot about baseball when reading the book, which is very well written, but also found myself jotting down bits of advice that i found applicable to my own life…
To purchase the book, and learn more about it, go here.
In St. Lucie, I spent time talking with Darling about the book, including a great story from the text, during which he freaks out before Game 4 of the 1986 World Series, with friends and family in the stands, only to be inspired and put to ease by his dad, who just happened to be holding the American Flag that night, on field, for the National Anthem.
To watch the four-minute video from our disucssion, click play below:
In the event you can’t watch the video, here’s a quick sample:
Matthew Cerrone: The book really walks you through what it’s like to be a major-league pitcher, for those of us who didn’t have the honor of doing so…
Ron Darling: Well, you know, the whole thing for a young pitcher, say 10, 11, 12 years old, if you have a guy on second and you’re thinking to yourself, ‘Oh, my God, guy on second, he could score, what do I do,’ if you’re a major-league pitcher there are a hundred of those things running through your brain: guy’s on second, can he steal, no, guy at the plate I faced him three times and he’s 0–for-3, is he a young hitter I can go at or is he a veteran hitter who is setting me up, do I not want to face him and put him on first and face the pitcher who’s coming up. All of those things that you think about have to happen in a millisecond, for a major-league pitcher. If you’re a 12 year old, it happens in about two days.
Again, to purchase the book, and learn more about it, go here.
Tagged Ron Darling |
The Game:
The Mets (15-14-1) continue their Grapefruit League schedule against the Cardinals (18-11-2) today at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida, starting at 1:05 p.m.
The Lineup:
- SS Alex Cora
- 2B Jonathan Malo
- LF Daniel Murphy
- 3B Fernando Tatis
- RF Ryan Church
- 1B Marlon Anderson
- CF Jeremy Reed
- C Omir Santos
- P Johan Santana
The Pitchers:
LHP Johan Santana (2-1, 3.07 ERA) makes his final Grapefruit League start for the Mets. Santana has struck out 15 batters while walking only two in 14.2 IP this spring. Darren O’Day, Brian Stokes, Elmer Dessens, Roy Merritt and Tim McNab are also scheduled to pitch.
RHP Kyle Lohse (3-1, 4.56 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Cardinals.
The Notes:
Daniel Murphy is second in the National League with 29 hits this spring. He is batting .363 with 1 HR, 6 2B, and 15 RBI in 80 at-bats.
Jeremy Reed is 23-for-55 (.418) with 1 HR, 6 2B and 9 RBI this spring.
Fernando Tatis is hitting .410 with 2 HR and 12 RBI in 14 Grapefruit League games.
How To Catch It:
Today’s game will not be broadcast locally. However, you can also follow the live GameDay boxscore, by clicking here.
Mets 20–year-old OF Fernando Martinez has yet to play in more than 90 games in a single season during his three-year professional baseball career, during which he is batting .280 with 82 extra base hits in 929 at bats.
He has been ranked the team’s top prospect each of the last two seasons by Baseball America.
[poll id="238"]
Tagged Poll |
Last season, Livan Hernandez started 31 games between the Twins and Rockies.
…the question, though, this year, is less about durability, and more about performance and whether the Mets will acquire or promote someone else to take his place…
So, the second Under-Over question is:
[poll id="230"]
Tagged Poll |Chris from Let’s Blog Mets analyzes the mentality of a Mets fan.
Caryn Rose, from Mets Grrl, is happy, because she finally got her media guide and book of tickets in the mail.
Reed Frazier showed up in Citi Field over the weekend wearing a Phillies jacket, and is claiming to be the first Phillies fan to be booed and tossed from the new ballpark, according to his way-too-long, self-indulgent guest post to the 700 Level.
The Brooklyn Met Fan is not happy with news that Mike Piazza and Tom Seaver may be throwing out the first pitch in Citi Field.
Mike from Mike’s Mets gives some quick thoughts on the 25–man roster.
Lastly, this You Tube clip, from Just for Laughs, is of a parody of the television show Lost, using Yankees action figures.
In a post to Newsday, Jim Baumbach points out that Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS was on in the Mets clubhouse yesterday, coincidentally, as it was being aired on the MLB Network.
According to Baumbach, “Jose Reyes sat silent at his locker, watching intently, pitch by pitch. David Wright was there for the eighth inning and left, bat in hand, but he returned in time for the final out. John Maine sat at his locker throughout 
the final innings, as did Oliver Perez. J.J. Putz watched, as well.”
In a follow-up post to Newsday, Baumbach talked to Reyes, and explains why, according to the player, “watching the game motivated him for this upcoming season even more.”
…first off, nice work, jim… second, this is awesome… i love the image of jose staring at that screen, his mind racing, wondering what could have been… because, you and i have those thoughts all of the time…
Last night, in a win against the Marlins, 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.
In a report for MLB.com, Alden Gonzalez explains what a difference the last week has made for Maine.
“He’s a lot more comfortable,” Jerry Manuel is quoted as saying, according to Gonzalez. “He seems to be getting a little better command of his pitches… Any time Maine pitches, and he pitches up and they swing and miss, you know he’s got a little extra hop. That’s a good sign for us.”
Gonzalez also provides a quote or two from Maine and pitching coach Dan Warthen.
Speaking of Warthen…
In the New York Times, Ben Shpigel talks with Mike Pelfrey and Maine, and others, and profiles Warthen, who likens himself to a ‘mother hen.’
“We don’t use the word don’t,” Warthen tells Shpigel. “It’s more like, ‘This is what you’re going to do, this is how you’re going to do it, this is why you’re going to do it.”
