Monthly Archives: April 2009
Mets manager Jerry Manuel talked to reporters after yesterday’s loss to the Marlins, and had the following to say about:
Carlos Delgado, and was he available to pinch hit yesterday:
“No, no, he didn’t have to say anything, he was not available.”
David Wright, and at what point will the manager become concerned with Wright’s current struggles at the plate:
“Well, it’s been a tough go for him. I’m very confident he’s gonna get out of it and hit .300 and do his thing, 100 RBI… I think, probably, this day off is a good thing, coming at the right time for him. He probably needs to exhale a bit… I do believe there will come a time when he’ll be as hot as he is cold at this period with runners in scoring position. So, we’ll be patient and wait for that time… This is something that’s probably toughening him up mentally, and I think that’s good for him, I think that’s good for us.”
Johan Santana, and, given the way the rest of the rotation has been, can the team afford to lose when he pitches:
“At this point, I don’ want to lose when anyone starts.”
The offense, which left 14 men on base yesterday:
“I was very encouraged by the at bats, even though we didn’t get hits with men in scoring position. They had to dive a few times to make plays… That’s baseball… If I see those type things, I am more encouraged than what I have seen before. I think we had some good at bats in those situations… I think we’re very close.”
…that’s fair, and i understand what he’s saying… but, how many games exactly are the Mets back in the Encouragement category… i can’t seem to find that column on the standings page…
In a post to his blog for the Daily News, Adam Rubin explains why, ‘It’s plainly obvious Manuel wants to keep Omir Santos, and not Ramon Castro, when Brian Schneider is activated from the DL.’
In the ninth inning yesterday, the Mets down one run, the bases loaded and two outs, and Marlins closer Matt Lindstrom on the mound, Manuel chose to pinch hit Santos in place of Castro.
Santos popped out to end the game.
Rubin writes, “Manuel has a motive aside from trying 
to win the game Wednesday and thinking Santos is a better choice than Castro to come through. It may simply be to get Castro outta here, by trade or designation for assignment and release.”
SNY cameras showed Castro walking out of the dugout and in to the clubhouse mid-way through Santos’s at bat.
Following the loss, Manuel told reporters he chose to pinch hit Santos for Castro, because Santos has a ‘shorter swing,’ and he believed he would be a better match up against Lindstrom’s 98–mph fastball.
…not that i am castro’s biggest fan, but, castro’s supposed longer swing didn’t seem to be a problem getting two hits and an RBI against Josh Johnson… i’m just saying…
Tagged Omir Santos, Ramon Castro |
Tonight, at 10:00 pm EST, SNY’s online, post-game, call-in show took to the air.
During tonight’s show, we took fan rant calls, recapped the day’s game, interviewed Matt Cerrone, and recapped the night’s minor league action
To listen on demand, CLICK HERE.
Tagged News |Here is this week’s edition of the MetsBlog.com Video Mailbag, presented by Verizon, during which I answer questions about pitchers who may be available at the trade deadline; why Mets fans panic so easily; and how the Mets can spend $150 million and have the issues they do.
Forgive the stream of consciousness, but…
The last two days have been difficult, especially since on Monday I was starting to believe in this team. Then, slip, there goes the carpet from beneath my feet again. I’ll get back up, and keep believing, but, man, they are making it so tough to be inspired.
What’s worse, both Tuesday and today were reminiscent of the darkest days from the Willie Randolph Era.
Tell me if this doesn’t sound familiar…
The Mets left 25 men on base, they wasted two quality starts from their starting rotation, there were a series of questionable decisions, and the bullpen walked four batters, blew two leads and lost both games – and after it all, following today’s game, the manager told reporters he saw some positives from the team during the last few days.
Really? You did? I’ll tell you what I saw, the same old song and dance that I’ve been watching since June 2007.
I know, I know, these things can easily happen, especially within any two-game span. The thing is, it’s the same story, the same result, which we were forced to digest all of last season, and which I convinced myself would not be the case in 2009. But it is, so far, and it’s starting to make me crazy. I mean, Manuel even mentioned ‘anxiety,’ when explaining the team’s late-game struggle to score runs, so clearly I am not alone. The players must be feeling it as well.
In the ninth inning, the Mets down one run, the bases loaded and two outs, and Marlins closer Matt Lindstrom on the mound, Jerry Manuel chose to pinch hit Omir Santos, who had a six-game hitting streak, in place of Ramon Castro, who had two hits and an RBI in the game.
Santos popped out to end the game.
Following the loss, Manuel told reporters he chose to pinch hit Santos for Castro, because Santos has a ‘shorter swing,’ and he believed he would be a better match up against Lindstrom’s 98–mph fastball.
Manuel also said he is not worried about ‘losing Castro,’ by pinch hitting for him in a such a big spot in the game.
According to WFAN’s Howie Rose, Castro left the dugout and walked in to the clubhouse before Santos popped out to end the game.
By the Manuel, Manuel said Carlos Delgado would not be considered today as a pinch hitter under any circumstance.
The Mets (9–12) lost to the Marlins (13–8) by the score of 4 to 3 in Citi Field this afternoon.
The least you should know…
Johan Santana pitched seven innings, allowed five hits and two earned runs, while walking three and striking out seven.
J.J. Putz walked the first two batters in the eighth, both of whom eventually scored to give the Marlins a one-run lead they would never surrender.
Other Observations…
I think what is most upsetting, is that, on Tuesday morning, I actually believed the Mets might sweep the Marlins. Instead, they end up dropping two of three.
These next 10 games in 13 days against the Phillies and Braves will be quite telling, and should let us in on who this team is, and what they’re capable of.
If you only watched the Marlins and Mets, you’d think Jorge Cantu is the greatest player in the history of baseball.
The Mets were aggressive on the base paths today, going first to third on most every chance they had. The team talked a lot during spring training about being a team known for aggressive base running, but only now are they acting it out. I believe they needed to actually experience Citi Field, to know how it played, before carrying out what they hoped to do all along.
Of course, what good is a runner on third, if the batter is going to pop out to end the inning. Again, the Mets left 14 men on base, had a runner on in every inning but the sixth, and scored just three runs.
The Game Ball…
Today’s game ball goes to Johan Santana, who now has to speak with reporters and defend the other 24 men on his roster, all while knowing he’s the best pitcher in baseball, and worthy of better support.
The Mets are off tomorrow, after which they will begin a three-game series against the Phillies in Philadelphia on Friday night.
Today, I will be live blogging random thoughts about the game, using my Twitter feed, which you can follow below:
To subscribe to my Twitter feed, go here.
Today’s Game:
The Mets (9-11, 6-5 Home) continue their three-game series versus the Marlins (12-8, 7-4 Road) today at Citi Field, starting at 1:10 p.m. EDT.
On the Mound:
- LHP Johan Santana (3-1, 0.70 ERA) will start for the Mets.
- RHP Josh Johnson (2-0, 2.20 ERA) will pitch for the Marlins.
At the Plate:
- Jose Reyes, SS
- Alex Cora, 2B
- Daniel Murphy, LF
- Carlos Beltran, CF
- David Wright, 3B
- Ryan Church, RF
- Fernando Tatis, 1B
- Ramon Castro, C
- Johan Santana, P
Today’s Broadcast:
- Tonight’s game will be broadcast locally on SNY and WFAN.
Enjoy, and as always, Let’s Go Mets!
Alex Cora will again start at second base today, in place of Luis Castillo, who will get another day off due to back spasms.
Also, Fernando Tatis will start for Carlos Delgado at first base.
According to the Daily News, “Delgado received an injection of anti-inflammatory medication and had an MRI exam yesterday.”
Jerry Manuel told reporters on Tuesday that Delgado would most likely return to the lineup on Friday, following tomorrow’s off day.
Daniel Murphy will return to the lineup in left field today, with Ryan Church in right field and Carlos Beltran in center.
Ramon Castro will start behind the plate, while Omir Santos gets the day off after starting in yesterday’s night game.
Today’s game will start at 1:10 pm.
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