Daily Archives: April 30, 2009
In case you missed it…
On Sunday, May 3, tickets will finally go sale for all regular-season games in Citi Field.
To learn more, click here.
By the way, “Single game tickets to the June 26-28 Subway Series at Citi Field will be sold through an online random drawing to be announced at a later date. Check back for details and to buy tickets.”
Lastly, the team will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the 1969 Mets World Series Championship on Saturday, August 22.
Howard Megdal of The Observer defends Ramon Castro‘s right to play over newcomer Omir Santos.
At ESPN, Kurt Snibbe wonders if the Lions new, fiercer logo will inspire other teams to do the same, including the Mets.
…i like the bills version kurt…
The guys at The Daily Stache answer the question, should Sheffield stay?
Fox News has a video of Darryl Strawberry discussing his new book, Straw: Finding My Way.
Joyce Mandelkern at Mike’s Mets is going insane watching the Mets.
…sometimes watching this team makes me feel like crazy eddie as well joyce…
Finally, Rob H. at Hot Foot gives his thoughts on the season so far.
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |
It’s a light schedule around the league today and only two National League East teams have games this evening.
The Washington Nationals, fresh off a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies, host the 15-7 St. Louis Cardinals.
Daniel Cabrera (0-2, 4.42) will go for the Nats, and Mitchell Boggs (1-0, 1.17) will take the mound for the Cards.
Last night, Scott Olsen allowed just one run while striking out 6 over 5+ innings to help the Nationals to salvage the final game of the series against the Phillies.
The Florida Marlins continue their road trip and travel to Wrigley Field to take on the Chicago Cubs at 8:05 PM ET.
Florida will send Chris Volstad (2-0, 2.70) to the hill to oppose Sean Marshall (0-1, 4.50).
In other news…Atlanta’s starting pitcher Kenshin Kawakami has had his next start pushed back to Tuesday due to a sore right shoulder. Kawakami has been roughed up so far this season.
Phillies pitchers Cole Hamels and Brad Lidge will throw bullpen sessions on Friday and be evaluated by team trainers. If Lidge gets clearance, he’ll be available to pitch that night.
Hamels is scheduled to start next on Monday.
Braves catcher Brian McCann is working on getting comfortable with his new contact lenses while on a rehab assignment in Myrtle Beach.
McCann is hoping to avoid additional lasik surgery by using prescription contacts.
For more news, notes, analysis and statistics from around Major League Baseball, be sure to visit Baseball Daily Digest.
Tagged MetsBlog, News |Tonight, around 7 pm, I will be a guest on SportsRadio 620 WHEN in Syracuse, during which I will be asked 
about the Mets-Marlins series, the upcoming games in Philadelphia, Citi Field and the Nationals.
To listen live, around 7 pm, click here.
Meanwhile, to watch today’s episode of New York Baseball Today, during which I talk by phone with PhilliesNation.com, to preview the Mets and Phillies, while Ted Berg speaks by phone with HalosHeaven.com, to preview the Angels and Yankees, click here.
Yesterday, I appeared on SNY’s Pre Game Live, during which I broke down this week’s Fan Confidence Rating, and talked about why so many fans are worried about Oliver Perez.
To watch my Pre Game segment, click play below:
In the first of a weekly feature on MetsBlog.com, I asked the rest of the staff to chime in on a specific topic:
Regis Courtemanche: Whether it is hitting with runners in scoring position, their starting pitching, or something else, what do you think is the Mets’ biggest issue right now?
Matthew Cerrone: In terms of talent, I’d say the starting pitching. I’m not worried about them as a staff, so much as I’m worried about them as individuals, and that all three, Maine, Pelfrey and Perez, seem to be in a funk at the same time.
Jordan Zakarin: I’m not too worried about 
Maine and Pelfrey… But with Ollie, this may have been a $36 million mistake. Just because a guy gets a big contract doesn’t mean he’s going to be good. Look at Zito in San Francisco. The Mets will at some point have to go out and get another starter - whether that’s a top guy or a middle of the rotation guy depends on Pelfrey, I think.
Brandon Eddy: I realize the lack of solid pitching and clutch hitting will take precedence here, but I am equally concerned with our alarming rate of errors (both mental and physical) in the last two weeks. It seems the team doesn’t have an edge and lacks focus at the worst possible times.
Regis Courtemanche: The errors are bizarre, but hey, the Nationals already have 20! Seriously though, if the starting pitching continues to be erratic, the Mets will be very active before the trade deadline, similar to how the Brewers were with Sabathia last year. As far Wright’s struggles at the plate, he will turn it around sooner rather than later.
Jordan Zakarin: It’s not so much the pitching, hitting or fielding in particular that I’m worried about (although the rotation may give me my very first ulcer), it’s more that this is the same team, more or less, that fell short in ’06 and collapsed the last two years.
I’m sure they play hard and want to win, but I would have liked to see a change in the culture. You can’t really trade the core of Wright, Reyes and Beltran, or Santana or Pelfrey, but bringing in someone in the outfield, maybe a first base to replace Delgado, something should have been changed.
As much as he annoyed people, a guy like Paul Lo Duca would have been perfect. Not him specifically, but someone like him. I just fear the window has shut. Of course, ask me after they rip off a seven-game winning streak, and maybe I’ll answer differently.
Brandon Eddy: I agree, Jordan. I feel like I am in a time warp since 2006. Other than some players here and there and the manager, not much has changed. If this team doesn’t turn it around quickly then 
something big needs to be done. The core of the team may be in need of a culture shock.
Regis Courtemanche: Good point, Jordan. I don’t know if it’s me or the team hanging on to the memory of 2006, but it’s like they keep trying to recreate their success from that season by patching holes. All the expectations may also be weighing them down. I wish they would just stop pressing and start having fun, because they just look flat to me.
Matthew Cerrone: Honestly, I think we tend to project a lot of our feelings on to the team, which is not to say they too aren’t feeling frustrated, fearful, etc., but I know we are feeling this was as fans. Regis mentions fun, and this is important, because the team has not been a whole lot of fun to watch in the last two years, even when they’re winning, because I’m constantly holding on for dear life for fear a massive collapse may be in store.
In the end, like I’ve been writing, I just don’t think we trust the team right now. Whether justified, appropriate or not, it is what it is – and until they get that trust back, we’re all going to be a bit edgy.
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |
This summer, I will be speaking at Blogs With Balls, ‘The world’s largest sports blogger and new media gathering.’
When is Blogs with Balls:
- June 13, 2009
- Registration opens at 9:30am.
- Event runs from 11am until 6pm.
- Happy Hour at 6:30pm.
The event’s website reads, “Sports fans, writers, sites, teams, athletes and companies, don’t miss your chance to talk with industry leaders about the future of sports media.”
To buy tickets and learn more about the event, go here.
In a post to FanGraphs, Mariners fan Dave Cameron explains that the Mets are not going to get the J.J. Putz they thought they were trading for because his fastball is 
down 2.5 mph from last season, when he was recovering from an injury.
According to Cameron, “The Mets are going to have to get him checked out. They can’t keep handing the ball to a guy who throws like a power pitcher but has lost his power. That’s a recipe for disaster, and it cost them a win today against the Marlins.”
Speaking of the bullpen…
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, courtesy of ESPN.com, yesterday was was the eighth time since joining the Mets that Johan Santana pitched at least seven innings, gave up two runs or less, and did not get a win.
Giants RHP Matt Cain and Phillies RHP Cole Hamels have the same numbers and result since the start of 2008.
MetsBlog reader Bobby K points out, again, the Mets are now 0–7 this season during the final game of a three-game series.
Similarly, the Mets had a lead in eight of their 12 losses. Meaning, if they just split the difference, the team could be 13–8. Ugh.
Wait, there is more…
According to WFAN’s Boomer and Carton Show, the Mets have left 173 men on base in 23 games, or roughly seven per game.
Lastly, the following was sent to me by MetsBlog reader Derek R:
“In the 11–month span of games from June 2007 through today, the Mets are 151-141. Take out a brief two month boost from new manager Jerry Manuel last season, and the Mets are 112-122.”
In other words, as Derek pointed out, that’s nine out of the last 11 baseball months the Mets have played ‘underachieving baseball.’
In the ninth inning yesterday, with the Mets down one run and no outs, Gary Sheffield on second and Carlos Beltran on first, David Wright struck out looking.
He was booed quite heavily while walking back to the bench.
…i don’t take issue with wright not being asked to bunt, or doing it himself… i mean, who knows when he last dropped down a bunt… i do, 
however, take issue with him at least not advancing the runner… he didn’t have to drive in the tying run, though it would have been nice… but, he needed to at least hit the ball in the air, to give sheffield a chance to tag and advance… i also would have pinch run for sheffield, by the way… anyway… instead, he made things worse for himself by striking out looking… ugh…
…on booing wright, i wrote this yesterday:
“Here’s the thing, I don’t boo, because it’s just not my style, but I understand why people are booing Wright right now. I’m not saying it’s the classy thing to do – but, I get it… Wright is the face of the franchise, and when most every fan is frustrated with the franchise, guess what, its face is going to get booed – it’s as simple as that. Again, it’s not right, but it is what it is.”
Wright, following the game, said:
“I’m struggling right now… I’m not seeing the ball very well, and I’m not putting good swings on the ball, and the good swings I do get it seems like I foul those balls off… I’m trying everything, I’m tinkering with things in the cage, between at-bats, but I still haven’t found anything I’m comfortable with… The good news is I can only go up from here… Right now, there are too many adjustments, too many changes between at-bats. I need to find something that feels comfortable and just stick with it.”
…it is truly amazing, baseball that is, that a player like wright, with all his previous success, can just totally lose it… then, all of sudden, get it back… i remember talking with him years ago, when he first made it to the big leagues, and he talked a lot about the eternal cat and mouse game between the hitter, the league and the pitcher… and how, the biggest challenge to him as a hitter is to stay focused, stay balanced, and to adjust accordingly when pitchers adjust to him… he’s obviously unbalanced, maybe too focused, and clearly not adjusting right now… he will, though… it’s only a matter of time… but the clock is ticking, and fans grow more frustrated every day…
According to Mike Vaccaro of the New York Post, Wright is starting to feel the heat from Mets fans.
Lastly, in what is a must read, Ian O’Conner of the Bergen Record writes about pressure, Wright, and how players tend to deal with it.
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