Daily Archives: May 9, 2009
The Mets (16–13) defeated the Pirates (12–18) by the score of 10 to 1 in Citi Field today.
For a full recap and boxscore, check out SNY.tv.
The least you should know…
- John Maine went six strong innings, allowing three hits, one run, while striking out three. He only walked two batters, one of which was intentional.
- Seven Mets had at least two hits, led by Jose Reyes‘ three hits and three RBI.
- Carlos Beltran hit a towering home run in the fifth, and was perhaps the first time a home run has reached the left field landing at Citi Field.
Other Observations…
- This is how you should treat all opponents, especially the Pirates.
- Ramon Castro left the game in the seventh due to a tight right quad. Omir Santos came in and doubled to left field.
- Luis Castillo is looking great offensively and defensively this year, although he needs to let Beltran catch the shallow ones.
- Ken Takahashi, why did I ever doubt you? He pitched two innings in relief and only allowed one hit.
- Brian Stokes is still on the Mets, and allowed just one hit to close out the game in the ninth.
- The Mets have now won six in a row.
- The Phillies lost today, and the Mets sit in first place of the NL East.
The Mets go for the sweep, and their seventh straight win on Mother’s Day, with Livan Hernandez squaring off against Ian Snell tomorrow at 1:10 p.m.
Today’s Game:
- The Mets (15-13, 9-6 Home) continue their three-game series versus the Pirates (12-17, 5-10 Road) today at Citi Field, starting at 1:10 p.m. EDT.
On The Mound:
- RHP John Maine (2-2, 5.20 ERA) will start for the Mets. Maine earned a victory in last start versus the Braves on May 4, allowing three runs on three hits and six walks, while striking out seven over 6.0 IP. Opponents are hitting .206 versus Maine this season. He is 2-2 with a 2.93 ERA in five career starts versus the Pirates.
- LHP Paul Maholm (3-0, 2.97 ERA) gets the start for the Pirates. In his last start on May 4 versus the Brewers, a no-decision, Maholm allowed two runs on six hits and a walk, while striking out seven over 7.1 IP. He is 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA in five career starts versus the Mets.
The Lineup:
- Jose Reyes, SS
- Luis Castillo, 2B
- Carlos Beltran, CF
- Carlos Delgado, 1B
- David Wright, 3B
- Gary Sheffield, RF
- Fernando Tatis, LF
- Ramon Castro, C
- John Maine, P
Note:
- In case you missed it, Jerry Manuel was suspended for bumping umpire Bill Welke during Thursday night’s game and will serve his suspension immediately. Sandy Alomar Sr. will manage the team today.
Today’s Broadcast:
- Today’s game will be broadcast locally on SNY and heard on WFAN.
Enjoy, and as always, Let’s Go Mets!
Tagged Mike Nichols |Gary Sheffield and Fernando Tatis with start in right and left field respectively when the Mets take the field versus the Pirates this afternoon.
Jose Reyes will bat leadoff and will be followed by Luis Castillo, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, David Wright, Sheffield, Tatis, Ramon Castro and John Maine.
Tagged Mike Nichols |Mets manager Jerry Manuel has been suspended one game and fined an undisclosed amount for bumping umpire Bill Welke during Thursday night’s game.
Manuel, who was arguing an interference call between Jose Reyes and Shane Victorino, will serve his suspension today.
Sandy Alomar Sr. will manage the team during their game with the Pirates this afternoon.
Tagged Mike Nichols |
I will be filming another Video Mailbag later today, which will run on MetsBlog.com tomorrow afternoon.
If you have a question or comment, use the form below:
I recently had the chance to speak with Greg Prince of the blog Faith and Fear in Flushing about his new book which is appropriately titled, Faith and Fear in Flushing: An Intense Personal History.
This is truly a book for the fan by a fan, which is a perspective we don’t hear from enough and certainly not so thoughtfully well-written. It’s a must read for any Mets fan.
Copies of the book can be found at Amazon.com.
Regis Courtemanche: What was your approach in writing this book, and how long did it take?
Greg Prince: I wanted to tell the story of what it’s been like to have been a Mets fan for a lifetime, a story that never really gets told properly from my perspective. The Mets narrative is usually restricted to a couple of big wins and a heaping helping of futility, garnished of late by heartbreak. What’s missing is the day-to-day sense of what it’s like to live with a team as your constant companion, particularly in the great mass of mediocre seasons. Nobody has really told the story of what it’s like to be a Mets fan when they’re not horrible and they’re not awesome. That’s a big part of the story, too, and my book includes it all. Everything you’ve forgotten, I probably remember.
The actual writing of the book took a matter of months, but the more accurate answer would be it was a lifetime in the making. Many of the stories are rooted in the blog as well as some other essays I wrote before Faith and Fear existed. Some of it is just stuff that’s been in my head since I was a kid.
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |In the Mets 7-to-3 win over the Pirates last night, Jon Niese made his season debut, allowing two runs on seven hits, while striking out five over six innings pitched. He also did not walk a batter.
Niese, on last night’s games, speaking to the reporters after the game:
On keeping his command:
“I told myself that is what I needed to do. Pound the zone and try to keep the ball down as much as I could. Keep my team in the game and everything else will take care of itself.”
Being able to challenge guys because of the size of the ballpark:
“I was always told this was a graveyard. I was told to pound the zone and good things will happen. So, that’s what I went out and tried to do.”
Getting through the sixth:
“I just tried to keep the ball down. I threw a cutter to the lefties. Fortunately I was able to get a ground ball to end it.”
On if he thought he needed to do well to get a second second start:
“No. I just took this game and tried to throw strikes, get guys out, and keep my team in the game.”
Keeping composure after misplayed fly ball:
“Things happen. I make mistakes and everyone makes mistakes. They battled the lights. I just had to go out their and keep pitching and not give up.”
Changes made after struggling in Buffalo:
“Well, my fastball command wasn’t there. I have been working on that. Working on throwing strikes where I want it. Keeping my off speed going. I’ve been going to video and saw what I needed to improve and took that to my bullpen and worked on it. Now just taking it to the games and it is working out.”
On if his experience last season helped him with this start:
Tagged Mike Nichols |“Yeah, I knew what to expect and just wanted to throw strikes and keep my team in it.”
Mets manager Jerry Manager talked with reporters after last night’s win over the Pirates, and had the following to say about:
Scoring late in the game:
“It was good to see. Carlos Delgado seems to be heating up a little bit. That’s always a good sign. To see them bring in the lefty to face him and he puts a good swing on it, that’s a good sign for us. Beltran’s hit was big. Reyes started the inning off and Luis works a walk. There are some good things happening offensively.”
Jon Niese‘s performance and if it warrants another start:
“Yes, I thought so. I thought he kept the ball in play. Nice curve ball he showed. Didn’t seem like anxiety was a problem. I thought he did well. He was composed and showed a good presence on the mound. No doubt he’ll get another shot.
He kept the ball down for the most part. We didn’t defend as well behind him as I would like to have seen us do for a young pitcher. To make some mistakes as we did out there could have been costly. The game could have gone in a different direction, but he kept his composure and gave us a chance.”
Decision to bring in Ken Takahashi rather than Pedro Feliciano:
“I tried to stay away from Feliciano tonight. He has been up for us a number times and been in a number of games late straight. That was a time for Takahashi and he got a big out for us at that point.”
If a third consecutive bad outing for Sean Green is a bad sign:
“I think hitters are seeing the ball too well off Greenie right now. He is opening up a little bit and they have addressed that, but they are trying to get him to stayed closed a little bit longer. They didn’t score, so that’s always good. If those runs don’t score you always give him another shot.”
On the fly ball that feel between Beltran and Church:
“They didn’t see it. Carlos Beltran didn’t see it. Church saw it, but Carlos ran in front of him and then Church lost it.”
Happy with the team’s energy:
“Well, I’m happy we won the game. There is still things we can do better fundamentally. A lot of that is on the defensive end and getting bunts down. Their are little things I would like us to do better and we’re not quite executing at this point. The good thing is we are winning baseball games.”
The best thing about winning five in a row when you’re not playing well:
Tagged Mike Nichols |“[Laughs] Five in a row! That’s the best thing about that. When you’re not playing well and you are continuing to win games that’s the most important thing. You got to win ball games, but at the same time, if you are lacking in execution in certain areas you need to address those things.”
The Mets (15–13) defeated the Pirates (12–17) by the score of 7 to 3 in Citi Field tonight.
For a full recap and boxscore, check out SNY.tv.
The least you should know…
- Carlos Delgado drove in a season high five runs, going 3-for-4, including a three-run homerun to break the game open in the eighth inning.
- Jon Niese pitched as well as you could have hoped for, allowing two runs on seven hits, while striking out five over 6.0 IP. Niese did not walk a batter.
- Jose Reyes looks to be coming out of his slump, collecting two hits in his four at-bats, scoring two of the Mets seven runs.
Other Observations…
- I don’t know about you and I know it’s only one start against the Pirates, but Niese made me forget about some over lefty pitcher I know. Wait, what is his name?
- In the third inning, Carlos Beltran and Ryan Church miscommunicated on a fly ball to right center that allowed the Pirates second run to score. That was the first, and I’m certain that will be the last time, I’ll ever see Beltran not take charge of a fly ball hit to the outfield.
- J.J. Putz looked a bit rusty on the mound, giving up a hit and walking two, while allowing the Pirates third and final run in the ninth allowing.
- Sean Green still scares me.
- Not sure you could have been more efficient than Ken Takahashi tonight. One pitch, one BIG out. In his two appearances this season, Takahashi has not allowed any of his five inherited runners to score.
- Quietly, Luis Castillo is hitting .319 after going 2-for-4 with two runs scored tonight. Castillo’s walk in the eighth inning while trying to move Reyes over on a sacrifice bunt was perhaps the biggest at-bat in the game.
- Keep it rolling, fellas. Keep it rolling.
The Mets continue their three-day series against the Pirates, with John Maine getting the start.
