Daily Archives: May 20, 2009
Tonight’s Game:
The Mets (21-18, 9-10 Road) look to salvage their three-game series versus the Dodgers (28-13, 16-3 Home) tonight at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, starting at 10:10 p.m. EDT.
On The Mound:
- RHP Livan Hernandez (3-1, 5.59 ERA) starts for the Mets. In his last start on May 15 versus the Giants, a no-decision, Hernandez allowed five runs over 5.0 IP. He is 9-13 with a 4.42 ERA in his career versus the Dodgers, including 5-6 with a4.09 ERA at Dodger Stadium.
- RHP Jeff Weaver (2-1, 3.38 ERA) takes the hill for the Dodgers. Weaver earned a no-decision in his last start on May 10 versus the Giants allowing three runs over 5.0 IP. He is 2-1 with a 6/10 ERA in five career starts versus the Mets. Weaver has not faced the Mets since 2006.
The Lineup:
- Jose Reyes, SS
- Luis Castillo, 2B
- Carlos Beltran, CF
- David Wright, 3B
- Daniel Murphy, 1B
- Ryan Church, RF
- Ramon Castro, C
- Angel Pagan, LF
- Livan Hernandez, P
Notes:
- Carlos Beltran is the only current Met to have hit a homerun (3) against Weaver. He is second in the National League with a .427 road batting average this season.
- The Mets bullpen leads the National League with a 2.83 ERA.
- The Dodgers lead the Major Leagues with 43 first inning runs.
- Rafael Furcal is .333 (22-for-66) with 4 HR and 9 RBI in his career versus Hernandez.
Tonight’s Broadcast:
- Tonight’s broadcast can be seen locally on SNY and heard on WFAN.
Update, 7:55 pm:
Prior to tonight’s game, Jerry Manuel told reporters he will no longer use Daniel Murphy in the outfield.
Murphy will start at first base tonight, as well as all three games in Boston, to determine if he’s capable of being the team’s short-term solution during the absence of Carlos Delgado.
…in other words, i fear that if murphy is a bust on defense at first, or at least not better than Fernando Tatis, he could be looking at a trip to Triple-A, where he’ll be challenged to learn first base for the future...
Original Post:
Daniel Murphy will start at first base tonight.
…well, it’s about damn time… this is not to say murphy will be the first baseman of the future, but there is only one way to find out…
In his weekly interview with WFAN, Jerry Manuel essentially said Murphy may need to succeed at first base in order to stay in the lineup, since he now must turn to Ryan Church, Carlos Beltran and Gary Sheffield to be his everyday outfield given the absence of Carlos Delgado’s bat in the lineup.
Update, 7:00 pm:
Jose Reyes will bat leadoff tonight and play shortstop, followed in order by Luis Castillo, Carlos Beltran, David Wright, Murphy, Ryan Church, Ramon Castro, Angel Pagan in left field, and Livan Hernandez on the mound.
Jerry Manuel will be a guest on WFAN with Mike Francesa at 4 pm today, who says he intends to ask the manager about his relationship with Ryan Church, and why Daniel Murphy has yet to play first base, among other topics.
To listen live, go to WFAN.com.
Update, 5:10 pm:
Manuel repeated what he told reporters yesterday, stating there are no issues between him and Ryan Church, ‘No issues, zero.’
Manuel said he was told by Razor Shines and Sandy Alomar that Church clearly missed third base at the time of Tuesday night’s play, which is why he did not argue with the umpire.
According to Manuel, his players know that he will only argue with the umpire in an effort to defend a player and to ‘argue for truth,’ saying he will not do it just to do it, especially when the player did not react as if the umpire was wrong.
The Mets need Church to live up to his potential, Manuel said, noting how Church is the only player he has spent time working one on one with in the batting cage.
In fact, Manuel believes he is tougher on Carlos Beltran than Church, in terms of talking to the player in his office to address certain issues.
Update, 5:13 pm:
Manuel said he ‘called out Jose Reyes,’ and talked with him directly about the two base-running mistakes from last week.
Update, 5:17 pm:
The Mets will begin to work more on their defense than their hitting, Manuel said, which is something few teams do in baseball, including taking a full infield drill before most games.
He says he also plans to work with the team on basic base-running drills, because the team is ‘giving away games with the way we have been running the bases.’
Update, 5:21 pm:
Manuel said he does not yet know if Murphy can be the team’s regular, every-day starting first baseman, which is why he will play him there tonight to see where he is at, and what he is capable of.
Murphy will get the opportunity to play first base over the next few games, Manuel said, as the team will face four straight right-handed starting pitchers.
Update, 5:27 pm:
Manuel sees Church as his right fielder, Gary Sheffield will be his left fielder, with Jeremy Reed and Fernando Tatis as his reserve outfielders, Manuel said, suggesting Murphy could soon be outside looking in if he does not succeed in playing first base.
Update, 5:28 pm:
Manuel believes David Wright will emerge as the leader of this team in the absence of Carlos Delgado, and he told Wright he is looking to him to step up.
Update, 5:33 pm:
“I don’t have a problem getting in anybody’s face,” Manuel said, noting he never misses an opportunity to address a player one on one about a mistake, though he will ‘never show a player up publicly.’
He said he doesn’t believe his team lacks discipline, instead he says the team has lacked focus this season.
Lastly, Manuel says the team took Tuesday night’s loss harder than any other loss he can remember, and he believes that is a good thing.
To listen live, go to WFAN.com.
Tagged WFAN |
Last week, I spent a few minutes talking with Darryl Strawberry about his new book, Straw, which you can learn more about and purchase by clicking here.
Strawberry should be proud of the book, which I read, and highly recommend. He writes of the difficult relationship with his father, the highs and lows of his baseball career, the drugs, partying, allegations of domestic violence, leaving the Mets for Los Angeles, going through rehab, and his journey to being the happy and peaceful man he is today.
To watch a quick portion from our discussion, click play below:
In a new report for SI.com, Jon Heyman focuses on the Mets, and how they may be able to replace Carlos Delgado.
Heyman lists Nationals 1B Nick Johnson, O’s 1B-OF Aubrey Huff, M’s 1B Russell Branyan, Rockies 3B Garret Atkins, and Indians C Victor Martinez and infielder Mark DeRosa among the ‘looming options.’
…interestingly, heyman does not list A’s OF Matt 
Holliday… probably because Billy Beane is already talking to reporters about the draft picks he can get if holliday leaves as a free agent at the end of the season, suggesting he’s going to ask for a ton of talent, at least your two best prospects, for a player who is certain to go to the highest bidder of cash next off season…
According to Heyman, “The Nats need young pitching, so a match can be made,” with regards to Johnson.
However, regarding Huff, one Mets official told Heyman, “Not a good fielder and another base clogger, which we don’t need.”
…i am working on a segment for Pre Game Live tonight for SNY, before the Mets game, in which i talk with fans about who they’d be willing to deal to get certain players… from what i can gather, the Mets can expect the Nationals to ask for Robert Parnell in a deal for johnson… the same may be said for de rosa, though i see him going for a pitcher more like Dillon Gee… the market has yet to really bare out, though, so it’s way too early i think to truly speculate on value…
Heyman lists 22 players who could be traded, and what their respective teams may be seeking, while also reporting on the Brewers second-base situation, and Chad Billingsley’s future, among other MLB topics.
Yesterday, like I did on MetsBlog.com, talk radio and print media spent much of the day asking similar questions about whether there is a riff between Jerry Manuel and Ryan Church.
“I don’t have a rift with anybody on the team,” Manuel explained to reporters from Los Angeles yesterday. “There is a certain level of play that you demand from all of your players regardless of who it is.”
According to Manuel, Church plays a critical role on the Mets, especially now that Carlos Delgado will be out of the lineup for 10 weeks.
“Ryan is a good player, and I like Ryan,” Manuel said, pointing out that he spends extra time with Church in the batting cage in hopes of helpping to develop his power. “I probably spent more time with Ryan over the last week more than I have any player. I’ve been throwing to him for days.”
In response to whether Church is ‘in the doghouse,’ Manuel said:
“I do not have a dog house. I have little dogs. If you’re in my dog house, you’re doing good, because I love dogs. My dog house would probably be if you’re in Triple-A or something. That’s a doghouse down there. But a big-league dog house? Come on, man, how you gonna have a dog house in the big leagues? You got a suite.”
…from what i have been told, manuel believes church is the type of player who needs constant attention and who needs to be pushed from behind to remain focused, and so manuel has made a point since spring training to do so… and this may be getting misunderstood by fans and reporters who do not fully understand or know what their relationship is about…
In a report for ESPN.com, Jerry Crasnick lists Mets 20–year-old OF Fernando Martinez among the next group of top prospects who could graduate to a major league roster.
“There’s a lot to like,” an AL talent evaluator told Crasnick. “But you’ve got to play him every day. He can go in and out of approaches, so he’s not the type of hitter who can 
play two days, then take a day off, then pinch hit, then take another day off. You need patience with him, and I’m not sure that kind of guy fits in a stretch run.”
Martinez is hitting .287 in 37 games for Triple-A Buffalo, with 22 extra base hits and 23 RBI, while striking out roughly 20 percent of his at bats.
What’s more, as Alon Rothschild said to me on IM, “Martinez hit two home runs last night and is now slugging .552, which is good for seventh overall in the International League.”
However, according to Rothschild, the six players ahead of Martinez are all over 25 years old, such as Shelly Duncan and Jonny Gomes.
…i still believe we will see martinez in a Mets uniform this season, but i always assumed it would be because the circumstance dictated such, and he would come up, be asked to play the position for a specific, short amount of time, knowing he will be sent down… much like the team did with Lastings Milledge… however, right now, the team is neck-deep in outfielders, so i am not sure how an un-tested rookie fits in… though i look forward to when he does fit in…
Jose Reyes returned to the lineup last night after missing five-consecutive starts with a sore right calf.
…he looked very good on defense, like he never missed a beat, but was a quiet 1-for-4 at the plate…
Following the game, Reyes told reporters he is still sore, especially when he is running, though he is more than capable of being in the lineup.
Yesterday, during a conference call with reporters, Omar Minaya said the disabled list was never an option for Reyes, who would have been playing every day had it been September.
…i try not to be a sky-is-falling type person, but this team is reeling, the roster is a mess, and the Phillies have moved in to first place having won six of their last eight games, including five in a row… it’s not September, but today is an important game…
…the Mets have an off day tomorrow, then travel to Fenway Park to face the Red Sox, who are 14–4 at home, and who will be pitching Daisuke Matsuzaka, Josh Beckett and Tim Wakefield, three very good and very different-looking pitchers…
…if the Mets lose tonight, they’ll be two games over .500, having been swept in Los Angeles, and looking at the potential of being below .500 again, or right at it, if it’s a tough weekend in boston…
Jon Heyman of SI.com believes the Indians are fielding offers for Mark DeRosa, who was born in New Jersey.
De Rosa is hitting .242 with six HR and 25 RBI, and 
will earn $5.5 million this season, after which is eligible to be a free agent.
According to Heyman, “The Mets are one possibility for DeRosa, since the versatile 34-year-old could play first base, but it’s believed Nick Johnson tops their wish list, with Aubrey Huff or possibly Russell Branyan likely ahead of DeRosa.”
…it’s funny, i just had a whole conversation with Junior, a Mets fan who stopped me on 52nd and Sixth, that specifically mentioned how wanting derosa…
Yesterday on his blog for ESPN.com, Buster Olney wrote, “Talent evaluators with rival teams don’t think the Mets have a lot to surrender in a trade, so they expect that New York will opt for a mid-level solution rather than a high-end player who would cost a lot.”
…if the Mets believe delgado will back by the end of july, derosa makes sense, because he can play first base now, then also play the outfield, as well as at third and second base… he is the exact-type of role player i have been talking about, much like Alex Cora…
…also, Anthony De Rosa from Hot Foot could finally get his wish, in that he could buy a Mets jersey with his name on it without having to pay to have it customized…
Heyman says there is no indication the Indians will trade C-1B Victor Martinez, who is batting .400 with seven HR in 40 games this season.
Josh Johnson cruised through 6 innings against the Diamondbacks on Tuesday but ran into trouble in the 7th when Arizona would rally for 5 runs behind a home run from Mark Reynolds. It turns out that would be all the offense the D-Backs would need to defeat the Marlins, 5-3.
Cody Ross and Jorge Cantu each had 3 hits, and Hanley Ramirez hit his 7th home run of the season for Florida in defeat.
Casey Kotchman went 3-for-5 with 2 doubles and 3 RBI, and Jair Jurrjens was his normal stellar self on the mound as the Atlanta Braves bounced back to beat the Colorado Rockies, 8-1.
Jurrjens (4-2) allowed just one run on 3 hits while striking out 8 in 7 innings of work.
In Washington, the bullpen woes continue. After battling back from a 5-0 deficit to tie the game in the bottom of the 9th inning, Joe Beimel and the Nationals let another one get away as the Pirates scored 3 times in the 10th to upend the hapless Nats, 8-5.
The LaRoche brothers, Andy and Adam, did most of the damage for Pittsburgh by driving in 2 runs apiece.
The Phillies opened up a 3-game series in Cincinnati and rode another solid outing by Cole Hamels to edge the Reds 4-3.
Ryan Howard hit his 9th home run of the year and Brad Lidge got the save to preserve Philadelphia’s 5th straight win.
On Wednesday, the Diamondbacks and Marlins will play a doubleheader in Florida, the Braves host the Rockies, the Phillies are back in Cincinnati, and the Nationals will try to get enough runs for John Lannan so that the bullpen can’t blow another game to the Pirates.
In other news…The Phillies have replaced Chan Ho Park in their rotation with J.A. Happ.
And as if you didn’t hear, Washington’s Nick Johnson is apparently the subject of trade rumors!
For more news, notes, analysis and statistics from around Major League Baseball, be sure to visit Baseball Daily Digest.
Tagged MetsBlog, News |
