Daily Archives: April 10, 2009
Tonight’s Results:
- The Marlins defeated the Mets by the score of 5 to 4 tonight.
- For a boxscore from the game, go here.
In Case You Missed It, Know That…
- Every time the Mets scored, the Marlins rebounded to score in their next at bat, including in the bottom of the ninth, when Darren O’Day let up a walk-off, RBI single to Jorge Cantu to end the game.
- The Marlins celebrated the win, in the fourth game of the season, as if they won the NL East.
- The Mets entered the ninth inning having left 12 men on base, and were hitless in nine at bats with runners in scoring position, then, with two outs, and one strike away from losing the game, Jeremy Reed, pinch hitting for Luis Castillo, ripped a single in to right field to tie the game.
- Ryan Church was 3 for 4 with a walk, and Daniel Murphy was 3 for 5.
- The Mets had at least one runner on base in each of the first six innings, but only one crossed home plate.
- John Maine looked good, not great, but pitched to 18 batters using 83 pitches in five full innings of work.
- Robert Parnell and Sean Green each allowed a run in relief.
- Jerry Manuel would have had no position players left on his bench had the game gone to extra innings, after having pinch hit Alex Cora and Reed in the ninth inning.
- I know there will be people who complain about the bullpen, but when the team leaves 14 men on base it’s hard for me to focus on anything else.
Game Ball:
- Today’s Game Ball goes to Marlon Anderson, who may have just played his last game with the Mets.
Call In and Voice Your Opinion:
- Tonight, following SNY’s Post Game Live, listen to Jordan Zakarin and Chris Guy host The Happy Recast, a live, online, post-game show where you can call in and voice your opinion about tonight’s game.
- I will be calling in towards the top of the show, after which Jordan and Chris will take your calls, recap tonight’s minor league action, and preview tomorrow’s game.
Tomorrow:
- Livan Hernandez starts for the Mets, who take on the Marlins and Ricky Nolasco, at 6:25 pm.
- Remember, the first hour of the game will not be on SNY, thanks to FOX, MLB and Flo Rida. However, SNY will pick up the broadcast the minute the clock hits 7 pm.
Today’s Game:
- The Mets (2-1, 2-1 Road) begin their three-game series versus the Marlins (3-0, 3-0 Home) today in Dolphin Stadium in Miami, Florida, starting at 7:10 p.m. EDT.
On the Mound:
- RHP John Maine (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will start for the Mets. Maine is 6-2 with a 2.36 ERA, while holding opponents to a .204 batting average in 10 career April starts. In his last start versus the Marlins on July 28, Maine received a no-decision, allowing one run on four hits and a walk, while striking out six over 4.1 IP. He is 3-1 with a 2.75 ERA in six career starts versus the Marlins, including 2-0 with a 3.22 ERA at Dolphin Stadium.
- RHP Anibal Sanchez (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will pitch for the Marlins. He has not faced the Mets since 2007, but is 2-1 with a 3.85 ERA in three career starts, allowing three runs or less in each of those starts. Sanchez is 10-3 with a 3.32 ERA in his career at Dolphin Stadium.
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
- John Maine, P
Stats:
- The Mets were 10-8 versus the Marlins last season, including 5-4 at Dolphin Stadium.
- Ryan Church is 6-for-11 (.545) with 3 2B, 1 HR and 4 RBI in his career versus Sanchez.
- Carlos Delgado has 24 homeruns in 364 career at-bats at Dolphin Stadium.
- Hanley Ramirez is batting .188 with 1 HR in 18 career at-bats versus Maine.
Random Thoughts:
- An earlier season showdown against the team I think will give the Mets the most problems this season.
- Confidence. That’s all Mainer needs to be successful. He’s got the stuff, just needs to trust that he is healthy. Once he does, skies the limit.
Today’s Broadcast:
- Today’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!
To watch today’s episode of New York Baseball Today, in which I discuss the Mets’ and Yankees’ upcoming matchups with the opposing teams’ bloggers, click play:
In a post to his blog for Newsday, David Lennon writes, “I’m joining the howling ranks of Mets Nation this morning in saying that the biggest 
priority for this team come mid-July (or earlier) will be trading for - or signing - some help for the rotation.”
…i have been writing and saying this since the end of March, which is the Mets are most certainly going to end up looking for a starting pitcher around the trade deadline, so start drawing up those mock trade-proposals now…
…the early buzz suggests the Padres could look to trade Jake Peavy, the Rangers could do the same with Kevin Millwood, the Jays could finally listen to offers for Roy Halladay, and the Astros may start a deal for Roy Oswalt… not to mention, Pedro Martinez will likely still be a free agent, with, at that point, his asking price cut in half…
…to get halladay, oswalt or peavy, i have to think the deal will need to include at least one of Fernando Martinez or Jon Niese, if not both…
This Saturday, at 12:30 pm, on SNY’s Mets Weekly, Julie Alexandria gets a 
tour of Citi Field from Sean Green, while getting player and fan reaction to the new ballpark.
Later in the show, Ted Berg reports from Public House, during MetsBlog.com’s Opening Day Get-Together from last Monday.
Also, in case you missed it, due to FOX and MLB restrictions, and a post-game Flo Rida concert, the first hour of Saturday’s 6 pm game against the Marlins in Miami will not be on SNY.
SNY will pick up the action at 7 pm.
Lastly, on Monday, Opening Day at Citi Field, SNY will be broadcasting live from a special set adjacent to the Jackie Robinson Rotunda, starting at 5 pm with Daily News Live.
SNY’s Pre Game Live will begin at 6 pm, and run until game time, and will feature a variety of guests, including Tom Seaver, John Franco and WFAN’s Boomer Esiason and Craig Carton.
Tagged SNY |The Mets will begin a three-game series tonight in Miami against the Marlins, with John Maine taking on Anibal Sanchez.
Manny Navvaro of the Palm Beach Post previews each day’s pitching match-up, which concludes with Johan Santana and Josh Johnson.
In Newsday, David Lennon writes about the on-field and off-field relationship between the Mets and Marlins.
According to Lennon, this weekend, Reyes will 
ask Hanley Ramirez to be Godfather to his new-born daughter.
…i would LOVE to know how the old-time baseball player reacts to a story like that…
…personally, i am not sure i like to know this sort of thing… sure, it’s sweet, but i don’t watch baseball for sweetness… i prefer my players hate the opposition, the way i do…
Mets links…
In a post to his blog, here, Murray Chass explains why, ‘contrary to the reputation that unfairly accompanies him,’ ‘Sheffield will be a good teammate and he will be a model citizen in the clubhouse.’
According to the Brooklyn Met Fan, ‘Oliver Perez is a broken record.’
Today at 11 am, I will be a guest on Sports Talk Soup, which you can listen to live by clicking here.
Baseball Links…
Jon Heyman of SI.com traveled to Philadelphia and Miami, in three days, and offers up a large collection of observations about the Phillies and Marlins.
Media Links…
Lastly, in the Washington Post, Nationals beat writer Chico Harlan does a great job explaining how he and his colleagues can often fall victim to over-hyping the team they cover, noting, “Were you to ask every beat writer to predict his/her team’s end-of-the-year record, I imagine you’d add ‘em all up, and baseball would have a collective .550 winning percentage.”
Tomorrow, the Mets need to promote Livan Hernandez to the 25–man roster, as he is scheduled to start against the Marlins in Miami, meaning a current player from the roster will be removed.
Yesterday, Adam Rubin of the Daily News said the team will decide between keeping Darren O’Day or Marlon Anderson.
Prior to yesterday’s game, when asked if he has 
decided who Hernandez will replace on the roster, Jerry Manuel said he prefers to make such announcements at the last minute, because baseball is so unpredictable, but he did say, “You’ve got to protect pitching.”
…the Mets are crazy if they decide to keep marlon over o’day… there is no good reason to go short in the bullpen, especially in April, at the expense of a pinch hitter, who would likely be released during the season at some point anyway… plus, if o’day is cut, he must be offered back to his old team, because he was a Rule 5 pick…
…i can’t believe this is even being discussed…
Speaking of O’Day, in the Bergen Record, Steve Popper writes of how sad O’Day was to hear news that his former teammate, Angels RHP Nick Adenhart, died yesterday in a car crash.
“He was a great teammate and a great friend,” O’Day told Popper.
Yesterday, in a loss to the Reds, Oliver Perez allowed eight earned runs, he walked five batters, gave up five hits, including a home run, while striking out seven in just 4.1 innings.
In total, he threw 100 pitches, 45 percent of which were balls.
According to Adam Rubin of the Daily News, it was the second-most runs allowed in a start by Perez during his eight-year career.
Jerry Manuel, speaking about Perez, following yesterday’s game:
“I was happy that we saw some glimpses of the old Ollie…Again, this is still an evaluating period, and it is also part of spring. So, I think he’ll be fine. I think there was enough there to say he’ll be OK; he just has to remain consistent and focus for a longer period of time, but that comes with being out there and getting extended. He should be OK… There are probably some things he missed in spring that he’s trying to work out.”
Manuel said Perez essentially made one bad pitch to Joey Votto, ‘who is hot right now,’ and short of that, he could have escaped today being able to say, ‘That was a pretty good outing.’
…last night, on SNY’s online, post-game, call-in show, The Happy Recast, i was asked if i am worried about perez… i am not worried… because, my expectations have been appropriately set, having had to watch and accept perez for what he is over the last few seasons… i understand that when i think he’s looking great, and i’m feeling confident, he’ll next throw a ball in to center field and then give up a grand slam… and when he’s looking awful, and i have no faith, he’ll strike out the next 10 batters he faces and drum up talk of a Cy Young award…
…i love how Ron Darling and Bob Ojeda both called perez a work in progress, saying he must go back to the drawing board… this makes me laugh… i mean, i would think a guy who warranted a three-year, $36 million deal would have most of his work behind him at this point, but i guess not…
…for some reason, the Mets did not want to give the additional money and year to Derek Lowe…so, if lowe was off the board, and not an option, getting perez for a three-year deal is understandable… especially since, even if he’s a bust, minaya can likely trade him in the future… for now, though, he’s on the Mets, and he’s this team’s third or fourth starter, and it is what it is… i’ll deal with it, but it’s not going to be easy… it never is with ollie… there are days, like yesterday, where he’s going to make me over-react and panic, and there will be days when i think minaya and Dan Warthen are geniuses… i’m going to simply try to enjoy the ride, and hope there are more good days than bad…
Ted Berg of SNY looks at the popular, negative rhetoric surrounding Perez, Mike Pelfrey and John Maine, and concludes, “Early in April, when you’ve only got a few games to look at, it’s easy to pick up on a negative trend and assume a team is doomed for epic failure.”
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, yesterday was only the second time in Perez’s career that he lost a game in which he was handed a lead of three or more runs
…hat tip to ESPN.com for the elias information…
Tagged Oliver Perez |
