Daily Archives: April 17, 2009
Yesterday, USA Today ran a quick Q&A with me, speaking about Citi Field, and Ben Kabak from River Ave. Blues, speaking 
about the new Yankee Stadium.
I have to be honest, I’m really shocked at the level of criticism being aimed at Citi Field, whether from bloggers, reporters or people calling in to talk radio, including some of the station’s hosts.
Yesterday, while eating two chicken tacos out beyond center field in Citi, I heard a loud fan repeatedly chanting, ‘We want Shea,’ which was greeted with laughter from fans who agreed, but also lots of head shaking and eye rolling from fans who clearly disagreed.
Personally, I just separate Citi Field from Shea Stadium.
I have been to Citi Field twice this season, and I find I am not comparing: Shea Stadium rests comfortably in my memory, while Citi Field is in front of me and below my feet today. To me, they are two totally different experiences, with one representing the past and the other representing the present and future.
The most popular complaints about Citi Field seem to be a) ‘obstructed view seats,’ and b) a lack of Mets-centric decor – and both are totally valid… for now.
I mean, I feel it is a bit unrealistic to expect the new ballpark to be perfect from day one. I assume the team needs time, feedback, etc., to make adjustments and strive to perfection.
However, in the end, right now, today, Citi Field is gorgeous, the seats are roomy, they’re comfortable, most all of them them have outstanding views, there are more bathrooms, the food is excellent and there is plenty of it, there are a variety of experiences and ways to see the field, and it is much, much easier to walk around and spend time with family and friends while watching the game.
Beside a new World Championship banner, I’m not sure what else people want. Sure, I wish the outfield wall is blue. But, seriously, why does it matter if the seats are green and not blue, or that the outfield wall is black, or that ushers wear red and not yellow, like they did in Shea Stadium? How do these incidental things impact a) the results on the field, and b) a fan’s experience watching those results?
Mike Pelfrey played catch before yesterday’s game, and told reporters he is not concerned with the tendinitis in his forearm, which sent him for an MRI on Tuesday.
“I’m going to be OK,” said Pelfrey, who wants to still start Sunday.
…from what i can gather, the Mets will wait to see 
how he responds today, following anti-inflammatory medication and yesterday’s catch…
Yesterday, Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus wrote that Pelfrey will miss his next start, though Jerry Manuel told reporters last night that the team has yet to make a final decision, but will likely make an announcement today.
Nelson Figueroa was pulled from his start yesterday after just two innings in Triple-A Buffalo, leading reporters and fans to assume he’s on deck.
….hmmm, so, if figgy is called up, it would seem Bobby Parnell or OF Jeremy Reed would be most likely to get sent down… or, the Mets could put pelfrey on the disabled list, if they think he’s going to miss a second start, and side-step needing to demote any one…
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Willie Randolph will be in Citi Field tonight, as he is currently the third-base coach for the Brewers.
“I’m looking forward to seeing him,” Jerry Manuel said about Randolph, when speaking to reporters yesterday at Citi Field.
For more on Randolph’s return, check out the New York Post, the Daily News and MLB.com.
Meanwhile, Rob Harding from Hot Foot provides some random thoughts on his night watching the game in Citi Field.
Speaking of ballparks, Toby Wachter of the Upper Deck blog explains why, as a Mets fan, he hates the new Yankee Stadium.
In the New York Times, David Waldstein explains why, ‘Despite his recent troubles, Daniel Murphy is OK.”
Lastly, on his blog for 1050 ESPN Radio, Rich Coutinho posts audio of his exclusive pre-game interview with Gary Sheffield.
By the way, if you have yet to do so,
click here to vote in today’s MetsBlog Fan Confidence Rating.
Brian Schneider did not play yesterday due to back stiffness and a leg strain.
Jerry Manuel said before the game that Castro will start again tonight against the Brewers.
Schneider is hitting just .143 in 21 at bats this season.
…i can’t help but wonder if his slow start is because of the back and leg… either way, the buzz from Citi Field suggests castro will simply start in his place, meaning Fernando Tatis is the back-up catcher, with no trip to the disabled list on tap…
By the way, if you have yet to do so,
click here to vote in today’s MetsBlog Fan Confidence Rating.
So far this season, the Mets have lost five games, four by just one run each, including last night’s loss, during which the Mets had a 3–0.
What’s worse, according to the Elias Sports 
Bureau, last night is the second time this season that the Mets lost after leading by three or more runs.
In other words, a hit here, a fan keeping his hands in the stands there, and the Mets could easily be, say, 6–3 instead of 4–5.
That said, the offense is worrying me, because it is not clicking, it feels rocky and inconsistent, and when one guy is hitting, the next guy isn’t.
“We continue to put ourselves in good position to win,” Jerry Manuel told reporters yesterday, “but we haven’t been able to finish.”
For instance, last night, the Mets picked up all of their runs on home runs, one each by Carlos Delgado and Ramon Castro, which is great.
However, in a game they lost by one run, the Mets failed to score with runners on second and third in both the third and fourth innings, with Castro striking out to end the third, and David Wright striking out looking to end the fourth inning, with Jose Reyes on third.
The sad thing is, Reyes would have scored on the previous play, but a fan leaned over to touch Daniel Murphy’s double, forcing Reyes to stop at third.
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Last night, in a loss to the Padres, John Maine looked strong in the first two innings, but allowed five runs in the third, then another run in fifth, and was pulled from the game in the fifth innings after throwing 105 pitches.
Maine, speaking to reporters, after the game, said:
“As is often the case, it was one inning. I made some good pitches but they hit them… All singles, a couple broken bats. It’s frustrating… I just couldn’t get a ball to go at somebody.”
…it’s like he and Jake Peavy changed places… peavy struggled initially, then got it together… meanwhile, maine looked great in the first two innings, then walked the lead-off hitter in the third, lost some velocity, refused to pitch inside, kept missing the target, and san diego kept putting the ball in play, which found hole after hole to bring in five runs… maine actually looked pretty good again, after that, through the next two innings…
“It is troubling, because it’s happened a number of times,” Jerry Manuel said to reporters about Maine’s command.
“He is still growing, he is still trying to become a consistent guy, trying to maintain mechanics and fundamentals throughout a game; but again, when you have that type of stuff that he had tonight and struggle like he did in that one inning, that’s kind of discouraging in a sense.”
In two starts this season for the Mets, Maine is 0–1 with a 7.20 ERA, while walking four batters and striking out nine in 10 innings, during which opponents are hitting .243 against him.
By the way, if you have yet to do so,
click here to vote in today’s MetsBlog Fan Confidence Rating.
Here is SNY.tv’s Post Game Extra, from last night’s loss to the Padres, featuring clips of the game; quotes from Jerry Manuel and John Maine; and analysis from Ron, Keith and Gary:
