Daily Archives: May 18, 2009
Tonight’s Game:
The Mets (21-16, 9-8 Road) continue their west coast swing with a three-game series versus the Dodgers (26-13, 14-3 Home) tonight at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles starting at 10:10 p.m. EDT.
On The Mound:
- RHP Tim Redding (0-0, -.– ERA) makes his season debut. In two rehab starts for Triple-A Buffalo, Redding allowed four runs on 13 hits in 13 IP. He is 1-3 with a 5.64 ERA in his career games games, four starts, versus the Dodgers.
- LHP Randy Wolf (2-1, 2.77 ERA) takes the hill for the Dodgers. In his last start on May 13 versus the Phillies, a win, Wolf allowed one run on three hits on three walks, while striking out eight over 6.0 IP. Wolf is limiting opponents to a .198 batting average, including a .095 versus left-handed hitters, which leads the National League. He is 11-5 with a 3.34 ERA in 28 career start versus the Mets.
The Lineup:
- Angel Pagan, LF
- Luis Castillo, 2B
- Carlos Beltran, CF
- Gary Sheffield, RF
- David Wright, 3B
- Fernando Tatis, 1B
- Ramon Martinez, SS
- Ramon Castro, C
- Tim Redding, P
Notes:
- In case you missed it, Jose Reyes will miss his fifth straight game with tendinitis in his calf. He is expected to play tomorrow night. Alex Cora was also placed on the disabled-list with a strained ligament in his right thumb.
- Carlos Beltran leads the National League with a .463 batting average on the road this season. He is batting .379 with 3 HR and 9 RBI in 29 career at-bats versus Wolf.
- The Dodgers have outscored their opponents 40-t0-14 in the first inning this season.
- Juan Pierre is batting .465 with 7 2B, 9 RBI. 6 SB and 11 runs scored in his last 10 games. He is 3-for-12 (.250) versus Redding.
Tonight’s Broadcast:
- Tonight’s broadcast can be seen locally on SNY and heard on WFAN.
Update, 8:50 pm:
Alex Cora has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained ligament in his right thumb.
Ramon Martinez has been re-called and will play short.
As such, the lineup will be as follows:
- Angel Pagan, LF
- Luis Castillo, 2B
- Carlos Beltran, CF
- Gary Sheffield, RF
- David Wright, 3B
- Fernando Tatis, 1B
- Ramon Martinez, SS
- Ramon Castro, C
- Tim Redding, P
Original Post:
Jose Reyes will miss his fifth straight game tonight with tendinitis in his calf.
Jerry Manuel, speaking to reporters prior to tonight’s game, insisted Reyes will not land on the disabled list and expects Reyes to be ready to play tomorrow night.
Meanwhile, Angel Pagan will make his first start of the season in left field.
Luis Castillo will be followed by Alex Cora, Carlos Beltran, Gary Sheffield, David Wright, Fernando Tatis, Pagan, Ramon Castro and Tim Redding.
…hey, jerry, call me crazy, but if Daniel Murphy isn’t swinging the bat well because of inconsistent playing time, then maybe you should think about giving him consistent playing time…just a thought…
Tagged Mike Nichols |
Here are some random thoughts following news that Carlos Delgado will have hip surgery, and likely be out through the All Star break:
- I don’t care if Russell Branyan is batting .300 with nine HR and 19 RBI this season… he’s still Russell Branyan, the same guy who has been striking out roughly half of his 12–year career.
- I know it’s a big blow in terms of statistical production, but I am not that worried or disappointed to see Delgado out of the lineup. In fact, I bet David Wright, Jose Reyes, Daniel Murphy and others end up creating a different identity for this ballclub, in the absence of Delgado’s big-time presence. Frankly, if Omar Minaya is truly concerned about his team’s character, now would be a time to change the edges of the roster.
- Aubrey Huff is making more and more sense to me, because he’s a free agent after this season, he plays outfield, first and third, and he’s on the Orioles, who is a team I always imagine the Mets hooking up with in trade. Also, Huff was always linked to the Mets in rumor during his days in Tampa Bay, so his name must still be on my mind. I’m not saying he is who I hope the Mets get, I’m just saying he feels like someone they would get.
- Either way, the Mets need to start Daniel Murphy for a few games at first base, so it can be known whether he is capable of holding down that position, with Gary Sheffield in left field and Ryan Church in right. This way, Minaya knows his options.
- My hunch is the Mets should trade for a front-end starting pitcher, as opposed to trading for a replacement bat. If I must choose, I’d rather this team need to scratch out runs, while being dominant in the rotation – because I think that could be a winning combination in Citi Field.
The Mets have announced Carlos Delgado will undergo arthroscopic surgery to remove a bone spur and repair a torn labrum in his hip tomorrow in New York.
…from what i can gather, delgado will likely be out until the all-star break…
Tagged Mike Nichols |Apparently, Carlos Delgado did not see a hip specialist in Colorado today, instead he traveled back to New York City.
From what I can gather, the Mets will make an announcement regarding Delgado at some point before tonight’s game against the Dodgers.
Speaking of Delgado, during the off-season, Ted Berg and I were asked by SNY to come up with some questions for a variety of Mets players, to be used in spots for Delta, talking about culture, baseball, history, etc…
Here is the first of four, featuring Carlos Delgado, who speaks of how baseball fans are different in New York City compared to Puerto Rico:
To watch the full-length clips, go here.
Tim Redding will make his season debut tonight for the Mets, starting against the Dodgers in Los Angeles.
“I’m excited, obviously, to get back here and mix in with the guys and start contributing,” said Redding, according to the Daily News.
“It’s going to be exciting. It’s going to be a little adrenaline rush… I’m anxious to contribute… These guys are on a roll, and I want to fit back in with my teammates and contribute… I feel like I’m as strong as I could ever possibly be right now.”
Redding began the season on the DL with a strained rotator cuff.
Tagged Tim Redding |
Joel Sherman of the New York Post believes the Padres plan to build around Adrian Gonzalez, not trade him.
However, Sherman sees Nationals 1B Nick Johnson, O’s 1B Aubrey Huff and Indians infielder Mark DeRosa as the most likely players to be acquired by the Mets if Omar Minaya looks to make a trade.
Meanwhile, Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com believes the Indians are not looking to trade RHP Cliff Lee or C-1B Victor Martinez.
However, according to Rosenthal, “They would gauge interest only if they fell completely out of contention.”
Rosenthal believes the Indians will want an elite pitching prospect, like Braves RHP Tommy Hanson, as the 
centerpiece of a trade for either Lee or Martinez.
…man, martinez would be a great fit… i’m guessing he would cost the top package, i.e., Fernando Martinez and Jon Niese, if not more…
The 30–year-old, switch-hitting Martinez is batting .401 in 39 games for the Indians this season, with seven home runs, 12 doubles and 26 RBI.
He has played 19 games at first base this season, 21 at catcher.
Martinez, who will $5.7 million this season, has a $7 million option in his contract for in 2010, after which he is eligible for free agency.
Typically, I get lots of e-mail about Jon Miller and Joe Morgan following a Mets game on ESPN.
However, today, I’m getting twice the normal level of complaints, with Mets fans seemingly very, very irritated with ESPN’s Steve Phillips, who was GM of the Mets from 1997 to 2004.
…i try not to listen to closely when the game is on ESPN… i tend to DVR it, and buzz through all the nonsense, because there is just so much of it… there are times when i feel the broadcasters forget a game is even being played… the funny thing is, i don’t mind it so much when i’m watching, say, Cardinals-Phillies, but when the Mets are on it drives me crazy… so i find it best to just ignore them… last night, though, was tough… it started to feel like phillips planned his attack in advance, confirmed by all the pre-packed graphics and video segments that went along with his hits, especially when talking about Carlos Beltran, who he had a particular gripe with all night… sorry, i mean bel-TRON…
In a post to Amazin Avenue, Sam asks that ESPN fire Phillips.
Meanwhile, Ted Berg of SNY.TV writes the first of a two-part series inspired by things Steve Phillips said in ESPN’s broadcast.
Speaking of children, and broadcasting…
SNY is holding a contest for kids who can enter and win the chance to call half an inning with Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling in the SNY broadcast booth during an upcoming Mets game.
The online entry period ends this Wednesday, May 20.
To learn more, go here.
Tagged News |
The Philadelphia offense came alive this weekend, Washington laid down once again for their rivals, and the Phillies scored 33 runs on their way to a 4 game sweep of the Nationals.
Raul Ibanez was the hitting star of the weekend, picking up 9 hits and smacking 3 HRs. Philadelphia’s pitching was far from dominant, but their offense combined with Washington’s poor play enabled them to stay in every game.
…You really have to wonder how much more time Mike Rizzo, Stan Kasten, and the rest of the Washington front office will give Manny Acta. I understand he has inferior players, but these guys just seem lost at times.
The Nationals will remain in Washington and try to turn their fortunes around against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Ross Detwiler, their No. 1 pick in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, will make his first Major League start on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Phillies will take Monday off before heading to Cincinnati.
Clayton Kershaw tossed 7 innings of no-hit ball, and the Los Angeles Dodgers pounded recently recalled John Koronka to knock off the Marlins, 12-5, on Sunday and win the series against Florida, 2 games to 1.
After the game, the obviously unimpressed Marlins designated the left-handed Koronka for assignment.
Florida’s lone bright spot this weekend came from Andrew Miller. In his first start back from the disabled list, Miller allowed just 2 runs on 4 hits over 5 innings despite having some problems with his control.
The Marlins will welcome the Diamondbacks into Land Shark Stadium for 4 games beginning on Monday.
In Atlanta, the Braves and Diamondbacks split the first two games of their series before being washed away in the finale.
On Friday, Javier Vazquez struck out 10 in 7 innings and Jordan Schafer scored on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 9th to give Atlanta a 4-3 walk-off victory.
Saturday was an entirely different story. Arizona’s Max Scherzer completely shut down the Braves offense, and the Diamondbacks pummeled the Atlanta bullpen for 9 runs en route to a 12-0 blowout.
Next up for Atlanta…the Colorado Rockies.
For more news, notes, analysis and statistics from around Major League Baseball, be sure to visit Baseball Daily Digest.
Tagged MetsBlog, News |In the eighth inning last night, the bases loaded and two outs, Jerry Manuel pinch hit for Daniel Murphy using Angel Pagan, who hit in to an inning-ending double play.
“I don’t think Murphy is swinging quite as well right now,” Manuel explained to reporters following last night’s game. “It’s probably mechanical and fundamental right now for him not playing on a consistent basis like he’d like to be.”
So, if Murphy is struggling because he isn’t playing, Jerry, maybe he should play more.
Murphy had a nine-game hitting streak, during which he hit .333, but since has started just three out of the team’s eight games, during which he is hitless in 17 at bats.
From what I can gather, the Mets plan to start Murphy at first base during the next few games, while also using Jeremy Reed and Fernando Tatis. Meanwhile, Carlos Delgado will travel to Vail, CO, to meet with a hip specialist today.
I believe the team is already looking around the league to identity players available in trade, as well as on the free-agent market, who could slot in to the middle of the lineup should Delgado need surgery. The Mets will go with the current roster if they’re confident Delgado is only in need or rest. However, I sense they’re preparing for the worst.
In the trade market, Omar Minaya will have options, in that he can look for a left fielder and move Murphy to first; or, Minaya can leave Murphy in left field, and acquire a first baseman.
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