Daily Archives: May 30, 2009
The Mets lost to the Marlins, 7–3, in Citi Field today.
For a full recap and boxscore, go here.
The Least You Should Know:
- Josh Johnson pitched seven innings, and allowed just two runs and five hits while striking out five. He’s 6–0 against the Mets.
- Tim Redding surrendered seven runs in just four innings, and now has a 9.20 ERA for the season.
- Jeremy Hermida hit a three-run home run off of Redding, which bounced off the Pepsi Porch, to break the game open in the fifth inning.
- Ken Takahashi pitched three scoreless innings in relief.
- Fernando Martinez and Angel Pagan were 4 for 9 with two doubles and two RBI batting at the top of the order.
Other Observations:
- Fernando Tatis booted a ball, running to his left, in the first inning, with one out, on which a run ended up scoring from third. I was always wonder how a game may have been different, had it not been for one, single error so early in the game.
- Redding had very little command today, specifically his fastball. He also kept missing low and away. He’s also pitching from behind in the count seemingly every batter. He left a weak change-up high in th zone that Jeremy Hermida clobbered for a three-run home run. The Marlins were getting lots of dink-and-dunk hits on awkward swings early on off Redding, which scored runs, but eventually they started hitting him hard. He needs to be more effective to justify keeping his spot in the starting rotation, though I have no idea who the Mets will turn to if he’s sent to the bullpen.
- Josh Johnson plus a weak Mets lineup is going to result in very few runs, the Mets chances today were always going to hinge on Redding’s performance.
- Carlos Beltran left the game with a stomach flu, which he struggled with before and during most of the game, according to Jerry Manuel. Beltran told reporters following the game that his knee is fine, he was simply nauseated during the game.
The Mets complete their three-game series with the Marlins tomorrow in Citi Field, with John Maine taking on Chris Volstad, after which the team will travel to Pittsburgh for three games with the Pirates starting Monday.
The word from Citi Field is that Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline returned as a Sing-a-Along during today’s game during the fifth-inning break, while Meet the Mets will again play in the eighth inning.
Last night, Sweet Caroline was not played at all, which was received with cheers today by me, MetsGrrl.com, BrooklynMetFan.com, Evan Roberts on WFAN, and others.
Apparently, it isn’t totally dead just yet, though.
Question: A) Who within Mets management is in love with Neil Diamond, and/or ripping off the Red Sox, B) when did it become a requirement to have sing-a-longs at professional baseball games, and C) why do I care about this so much?
Today’s Game:
The Mets (27-20) continue their three-game series against the Marlins (22-27) today at Citi Field, starting at 1:10 p.m.
On The Mound:
- RHP Tim Redding (0-1, 6.75 ERA) starts for the Mets.
- RHP Josh Johnson (3-1, 2.67 ERA) takes the hill for the Marlins.
The Lineup:
- Angel Pagan, LF
- Fernando Martinez, RF
- Carlos Beltran, CF
- Fernando Tatis, 3B
- Daniel Murphy, 1B
- Ramon Martinez, 2B
- Brian Schneider, C
- Wilson Valdez, SS
- Tim Redding, RHP
Today’s Broadcast:
- Today’s broadcast can be seen locally on SNY and heard on WFAN.
Oliver Perez experienced additional discomfort in his knee following his last start for Triple-A Buffalo.
He had an MRI in New York, and was diagnosed with tendinitis of the patella tendon.
Perez will instead return to St. Lucie where he will continue his rehab.
Tagged News |Roughly eight weeks after Opening Day, the Mets have launched an online registration for the opportunity to purchase tickets for the Subway Series, between the Mets and Yankees, June 26-28, at Citi Field.
The registration for the online random drawing will run through Thursday, June 4.
According to a press release, “There is a limit of one entry per person… Registration for the drawing closes Thursday, June 4, at 11:59 p.m. A limited number of fans will be selected in the online random drawing and will be notified via e-mail by Tuesday, June 9 with instructions regarding the online purchase of up to four (4) tickets.”
For more information, visit Mets.com, or 718-507-TIXX.
In January, while creating mock lineups, and brainstorming about who should hit where, I failed to think of this combination:
Today, Angel Pagan will bat leadoff against the Marlins, followed in order by Fernando Martinez in right field, then Carlos Beltran, Fernando Tatis 
at third, Daniel Murphy at first, Ramon Martinez at second, Brian Schneider, Wilson Valdez at short, and Tim Redding on the mound.
Manuel mentioned getting Valdez a start this weekend, and Schneider is in to face the left-handed starter, and it’s wise to get Fernando Martinez more fastballs, and to spell Wright and Castillo, I just didn’t think he’d do it all in the same day, Bobby V-style.
Tagged News |The Phillies announced yesterday that Brett Myers will miss the rest of the season recovering from hip surgery.
As such, Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com 
believes the Phillies will look to acquire a ‘top-of-the-rotation type,’ such as M’s LHP Erik Bedard or Astros RHP Roy Oswalt, since they do not have the money to pursue multiple mid-level pitchers.
…i know the Mets need a bat, especially if the Phillies are hell-bent on getting an ace, but i wonder if Omar Minaya will redirect his mission and look to get in the Phillies way by seeking a pitcher as well, you know, Epstein-Cashman style… given Citi Field’s play, and the Mets ability to play small ball of late, i believe it makes more sense to focus on improving the pitching staff, bench and defense, than the offense anyway…
To keep up with Phillies trade rumors, check out MLB Trade Rumors.
Tagged Phillies |Last night, Ramon Castro to the White Sox for RHP Lance Broadway.
Broadway, who is 0-1 with a 5.06 ERA in in games this season, will report to Triple-A Buffalo.
Omar Minaya, on the decision to trade Castro, speaking to reporters after the game:
“On a night like tonight, when Omir Santos plays the way he has, it makes the decision easy for us to keep him.”
Added to by Matthew Cerrone:
This is the right move, in that the Mets cannot remove Omir Santos from the current roster with the way he’s playing.
That said, they are making a big gamble in that, as Howard Megdal and Ted Berg pointed out to me, if Santos stops hitting, or either he or Brian Schneider get hurt again, then the Mets have very little to choose from in terms of minor-league catching and options to fill in on the bench.
In the end, Schneider is probably the guy who should have gone, in that he’s making more money and is the weakest hitter of the three. The team clearly tried to trade him in the off-season, speaking with the Red Sox and other teams, while hoping to sign Jason Varitek or Ivan Rodriguez to a short-term deal, according to previous reports, but it didn’t work out.
It appears Schneider is due more money than the Mets clearly want to eat, and so it’s him and Santos for the duration.
Tagged Mike Nichols, Ramon Castro |Mike Pelfrey, who allowed just one run and truck out six over 7.2 IP – his longest outing of the season, talked with reporters after last night’s win against the Marlins, and had the following to say about:
On his preformance:
“I know if go out there and pound the strikezone and use all my pitches to get ahead I know can go deep in the game. I try not to walk anybody and do my thing.”
On Omir Santos‘ ability behind the plate:
“He does a good job of calling a good game. He knows the hitters. He mixes it up and doesn’t get caught up and trying to throw a sinker. He wants me use my secondary stuff, which makes my fastball better.”
Since returning from the disabled list on April 25th, Pelfrey has allowed three runs or less in each of his seven starts, pitching to a 2.93 ERA.
Tagged Mike Nichols, Mike Pelfrey |Mets manager Jerry Manuel talked with reporters after last night’s win against the Marlins, and had the following to say about:
On being surprised by Omir Santos play this season:
“He is a Major League hitter, which has been surprising. We all thought he could receive and call the game. The surprising thing is that he has hit and hit well in the clutch. That’s big for us.”
If he thinks Santos wants to be in clutch situations:
“It looks as if there is no panic or anxiety when he is in those situation. I think that is half the key to being a good player in those situations is not to panic and to know that the pressure is not really on you, but on the pitcher. He seems to understand that and grasp that.”
On the team’s odds with bullpen pitching in extra innings:
“Those guys did an excellent job. We took some chances and probably pitched to some guys that we could have probably gone a different way. We feel that is a big part of the foundation of this team is the bullpen. When we get to that part of the game we feel pretty confident.”
On Mike Pelfrey‘s performance:
“I thought what he did in the first couple innings with basically all fastballs and an occasional slider or off-speed pitch. As the game went on it looked like he threw those things early for strikes, which is very impressive. Dan Warthen has encouraged him to use his off-speed pitches because he knows they are going to be needed. The more he uses them the more effective his sinker is. I was very impressed. He is always a guy that seems to keep his pitch count down and pitch a quick game. We also usually play pretty good defense behind him.”
If he was surprised the Marlins paid a lot of attention to Gary Sheffield at first base during the final inning, given his age and lack of speed:
Tagged Mike Nichols |“Not really because once it gets around the league that everyone runs on the team you have to pay somewhat attention to it. Gary has always been a good baserunner and got a bag here and there. It’s very impressive to see him with that much attention being paid to him and still being able to get a good jump and steal that base.”
