Daily Archives: April 8, 2009
Tonight’s Game:
- The Mets (2-0) defeated the Reds (0-2) by the score of 9-to-7 tonight.
On the Mound:
- Mike Pelfrey earned the victory, allowing four runs on five hits and four walks, while striking out two over five innings pitched.
- The Mets bullpen allowed three runs on four hits and five walks in four innings.
- Frankie Rodriguez earned his second save of the season in typical fashion.
At the Plate:
- Carlos Delgado was 2-for-5 with 4 RBI, including a two-run first inning homerun.
- Brian Schneider had two hits in five at-bats, including a key three-run double in the seventh.
- Carlos Beltran drove in two runs.
- The Mets were 3-for-9 with RISP.
Random Thoughts:
- Whew! I know it’s nerve-wracking, but get used to it, that is a typical K-Rod save.
- Not the outing I had hoped Pelfrey would have, but after a very rough first inning he managed to settle down and get through five. Pelfrey was actually very efficient after his 44-pitch first.
- Thank goodness the Mets hitters, namely Beltran and Schneider, came through with runners on, or this could have a been very ugly game for the Mets.
Game Ball:
- Tonight’s Game Ball goes to Carlos Beltran and Brian Schneider for coming through in the clutch.
The Happy Recast:
- Immediately following SNY’s on-air post-game show, MetsBlog’s Jordan Zakarin and MMiLB’s Chris Guy will debut SNY.tv’s The Happy Recast; a live, online, call-in show on BlogTalkRadio, featuring guests, a recap of the night’s minor-league action, and, of course, your phone calls about the game. To listen live, immediately following SNY’s on-air post-game show, go here, and to call in, dial (718) 664-6176.
Tomorrow:
- The Mets play the finale of their three-game series against the Reds tomorrow in Cincinnati, with Oliver Perez facing Bronson Arroyo, starting at 12:35 p.n. EDT.
Today’s Game:
- The Mets (1-0, 1-0 Road) continue their three-game series versus the Reds (0-1, 0-1 Home) tonight in Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, Ohio, starting at 7:10 p.m. EDT.
On the Mound:
- RHP Mike Pelfrey (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will start for the Mets. Pelfrey is 1-1 with a 4.43 ERA in four career games versus the Reds. He earned a no-decision in his last start versus the Reds on July 18, allowing five runs on six hits and a walk, while striking out four over 7.0 IP. Pelfrey is 8-6 with a 4.26 ERA on the road in his career.
- RHP Edinson Volquez (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will pitch for the Reds. In his only career start versus the Mets on July 20, Volquez earned a no-decision, allowing four runs on eight hits and three walks, while striking out three over 5.0 IP. Volques is 8-3 with a 4.03 ERA in 16 career starts at Great American Ballpark.
At the Plate:
- Jose Reyes, SS
- Daniel Murphy, LF
- David Wright, 3B
- Carlos Delgado, 1B
- Carlos Beltran, CF
- Ryan Church, RF
- Brian Schneider, C
- Luis Castillo, 2B
- Mike Pelfrey, P
Random Thoughts:
- Except for those pesky runners left on base, game one couldn’t have gone any better.
- Big Pelf was a little uneven at the end of Spring Training, but looking for him to establish himself as the team’s number two right out of the gate.
Tonight’s Broadcast:
- Tonight’s game will will be broadcast locally on SNY and WFAN.
In-Game Chat:
- To chat live with fans during the game, go to the MetsBlog.com Bullpen, here; or voice your comments below.
Enjoy, and as always, Let’s Go Mets!
Earlier today, Mets manager Jerry Manuel made the first of his weekly appearances on WFAN’s afternoon show.
In case you missed it, here is a quick recap of Manuel’s interview:
- Manuel said he pulled Johan Santana with two outs in the sixth inning on Monday to keep him under 100 pitches for his first start.
- Believes Gary Sheffield was a great addition due his presence from the right side of the plate, but Sheffield’s play will be based on performance and may not get a start until next week with his first at-bat coming sometime this weekend.
- Manuel said Sheffield and Ryan Church will not be in a straight platoon, but will play based on matchups and who gives the best chance for the team to win.
- Fernando Tatis may start at second base when the team faces a right-handed starter.
- Believes Daniel Murphy is a work-in-progress in the field and will be replaced late in games, but loves Murphy’s intelligence and gamesmanship.
- He said it’s tough to predict Mike Pelfrey‘s performance due to his lack of history.
- John Maine needs to gain confidence he can perform and be comfortable on the mound.
- Oliver Perez loves to improvise on the mound, but needs to be consistent with his delivery.
To listen to Manuel’s interview in it’s entirety, check out WFAN.com.
Tagged Mike Nichols, WFAN |
To watch today’s New York Baseball Today, in which Matt and I discuss Mike Pelfrey‘s groundball rate and how it affects Luis Castillo, click play below:
Question: If you could steal one player from an opposing team in the NL East, and put him on your favorite team, who would it be and why?
Craig Strain, Marlins, from Fish Stripes: Jose Reyes. With Reyes on the Marlins, the team could move Hanley to third, where he will eventually end up anyway. This fixes the problem at third and shores up the defense while also improving the team’s offense.
Edward Chigliak, Nationals, from Federal Baseball: With all due respect to Nationals SS Christian Guzman, I’d take Hanley Ramirez at short over just about any other shortstop in the game right now… Hanley in DC would be nice.
Jason Weitzel, Phillies, of Beerleaguer: Hanley 
Ramirez has done some pretty insane stuff playing half his games in Dolphin Stadium. I’d make room for him somewhere.
Martin Gandy, Braves, from Talking Chop: It’s hard to get away from Ryan Howard, but I really wouldn’t want to pay him the money he’s getting. If I could take a Hanley Ramirez or David Wright and stick them in left field I’d do it… If money is no object, then Howard; if it is a consideration then I might go with a young guy like Cameron Maybin or Andrew Miller, a can’t miss prospect who’s just starting out.
Matthew Cerrone, Mets, from MetsBlog.com: I would steal Chase Utley in a second, put him at second, and team him up with David Wright and Jose Reyes to be the best, young infield in baseball. For the record, SNY’s Ted Berg said Hanley Ramirez. I asked, ‘Where would you put him,’ to which he responded, ‘Who cares. I just don’t want him on the Marlins.’ Smart man.
Tonight, immediately following SNY’s on-air post-game show, MetsBlog’s Jordan Zakarin and MMiLB’s Chris Guy will debut SNY.tv’s The Happy Recast; a live, online, call-in show on BlogTalkRadio, featuring guests, a recap of the night’s minor-league action, and, of course, your phone calls about the game.
To listen live, immediately following SNY’s on-air post-game show, go here, and to call in, dial (718) 664-6176.
Tagged SNY |Question: Which starting pitcher from the NL East do you fear most, i.e., the guy from an opposing team who you do not want to see on the mound in a big game?
Craig Strain, Marlins, from Fish Stripes: Jamie “Freaking” Moyer. Oh sure, the Marlins can look silly sometimes when facing Johan Santana‘s change up, but it is nothing compared to the way they look against Moyer. Moyer has made 12 starts in his career against the Fish and he is 11-1. When Moyer is on the mound it looks like a Bugs Bunny cartoon, he throws that slow left-handed junk and the Marlins swing three times before it gets to the plate. It is 
embarrassing.
Edward Chigliak, Nationals, from Federal Baseball: Who wants to face Johan Santana with something on the line? But, the pitcher I’d like to avoid, as much as I like watching him pitch, is Cole Hamels, who has K’d 83 Nationals in 79.1 IP against DC in the first three years of his career, and though he’s only 5-3, he’s posted a 2.04 ERA in 12 starts.
Jason Weitzel, Phillies, of Beerleaguer: I’d have to go with Johan Santana head-to-head. The Phillies are very left-handed.
Martin Gandy, Braves, from Talking Chop: Believe it or not it’s Oliver Perez. That guy has the Braves number. I firmly believe that’s the reason the Mets re-signed him.
Matthew Cerrone, Mets, from MetsBlog.com: I know I am going to regret this, but, right now, there isn’t any one specific pitcher from the NL East who I fear seeing face the Mets. I’d say Cole Hamels, based on my gut, but the Mets are actually 3–1 against him. For a solid decade it was Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz; and since nothing in the division compares to them, I have a hard time coming up with one name.
Question: On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being 100 percent confident, how much confidence do you have in your team’s ability to win the NL East?
Martin Gandy, Braves, from Talking Chop: I’d give the Braves an 8. We have to play better than we did last year against the NL East and perform better in one-run games, but if we do that we’ve got a great chance.
Like I alluded to in the previous question, the Braves have great depth at key positions, but I would like to see us have one more power bat. Garret Anderson was not that guy, and he’s taking up a position where we could stick a power bat. If we had gotten someone like a Dunn or a Holliday to play left, then I think a lot of people would be picking the Braves. As it stands, I’m kind of glad we’re flying under the radar this year.
Craig Strain, Marlins, from Fish Stripes: I will go with 6.5. For the Marlins to win the NL East the starting rotation is going to have to stay healthy. Which is something that hasn’t happened in the last few years. Also there is a major concern about whether the bullpen can perform at the level necessary to win a division title. If the starters can stay healthy and the bullpen do their part the Fish should be in the hunt.
Matthew Cerrone, Mets, from MetsBlog.com: I’d vote a 7, which, typically, is what the Phillies fan voted. Lovely. I believe the Mets have a good-enough offense to do what it is needed, and I think the bullpen will be better than people expect. The starting rotation concerns me, and I am not sure there was much the team could have done to ease that worry during the off-season. To me, the Mets have three lynch pins: John Maine, J.J. Putz and Carlos Delgado. They are the lynch pin to their respective departments, and if any one of them slip up it could cause all sorts of issues.
Edward Chigliak, Nationals, from Federal Baseball: I’d put it in the 3-4 range, just because I’ve seen stranger things happen… I think it’s just going to take another season or two before the Nationals are taken seriously by the rest of baseball, and that starts this season, when their system begins producing major-league talent and they have the opportunity to add two top 10 picks in the 2009 Draft, including the first overall. Stephen Strasburg atop the rotation would give me more confidence.
Jason Weitzel, Phillies, from Beerleaguer: Seven, which means the window is still open. Certain things bug me, like the bench, which could be upgraded by the time this is published; and the bullpen, where there’s too much riding on Scott Eyre. But the biggest fear are the improvements made throughout the division. The Mets went 89-73 because the bullpen blew it in September. They fixed that. Florida, completely unburdened by pressure, has one of the youngest rotations in baseball and an underrated ace in Ricky Nolasco. Hanley Ramirez will be in the MVP discussion all season.
Question: Which hitter in the NL East do you fear most, i.e. the guy from an opposing team who you do not want to see at bat in a big spot?
Ed Chigliak, Nationals, from Federal Baseball: It’s starting to become David Wright. Right now though, it’s still Chipper Jones for me; his stats 
against Montreal and now Washington in his career are ridiculous… Until he retires it’ll probably be Chipper, but Wright refuses to quit in a way that’s troubling for opponents.
Craig Strain, Marlins, from Fish Stripes: Chipper Jones. The Marlins can’t get that guy out when it matters, or when it doesn’t, for that matter. To give you an idea of how Chipper does against the Fish, last year he put up the following: .456/.516/.754. He is a one man wrecking crew when he plays the Marlins.
Jason Weitzel, Phillies, from Beerleaguer: Fernando Tatis? Besides ‘Nando, there are certain guys who burn the Phillies, Brian McCann being one of them. Although he was silenced in the final series against the Phils, Jose Reyes will always score on the Phils if he reaches base. He has more runs against the Phils than any team. Your readers might be surprised to know that Brian Schneider is another guy with a long legacy of big hits against the Phils, dating back to his days with 
Montreal. Florida’s Cody Ross is another pain in the neck.
Martin Gandy, Braves, from Talking Chop: It’s gotta be Ryan Howard. He can put it over the fence anywhere in any park. I think the Braves either strike him out or he hits a homerun off every time he’s at bat.
Matthew Cerrone, Mets, from MetsBlog.com: It used to be Chipper, but now I fear Chase Utley most. He extends an at bat so well, and he’s such a well-rounded, patient, disciplined hitter, and on a team the Mets are always in competition with.
Next Tuesday, Ron Darling will a guest on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, as continues to promote his 
new book The Complete Game.
…as i wrote last week, i’ve read the book and it 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…
To purchase the book, and to learn more about it, go here.
Tagged Ron Darling | ← Older posts
