Daily Archives: June 1, 2009
The Mets lost to the Pirates, 8–5, in PNC Park tonight.
For a full recap, and boxscore, go here.
The Least You Should Know:
- The Mets were cruising to a win in the eighth inning, then J.J. Putz allowed back-to-back-to-back-to-back singles, with his fancy new delivery, after which Wilson Valdez made a fielding error, which let another run score, and what had been a five-run lead, turned it to a two-run lead for the Mets then vanished to become a three-run lead for the Pirates.
Other Observations:
- The popular story before today’s game was about the wonderful time Dan Warthen and Putz spent in the bullpen this afternoon, tweaking his delivery. Umm, yeah, guess not. Guys, I’m not sure his delivery can be blamed for the meaty, batting-practice fastballs, no off-speed pitches and the lack of control. I mean, he could barely get the ball to Brian Schneider during the intentional walk… again, something isn’t right.
- In the time it took me to ask why Wilson Valdez wasn’t bunting Jeremy Reed to third, with no outs in the second, Valdez hit an RBI triple to deep center field – Brian Schneider then knocked home Valdez with an RBI single. Valdez later drove in two more runs with a double in to right-field.
- That said, Valdez made a run-scoring error in the disastrous eighth, doing a nice job playing the hop, but botching the exchange from glove to throw. Also, Valdez did not run out a foul-tip-turned-fair that ended up in the catcher’s mitt, who threw him out at first while still standing in the batter’s box. Unreal. Why does this keep happening? Thankfully, it isn’t keeping the team from winning. Yet.
- Livan Hernandez looked typical, and meticulous, keeping hitters off balance, he roughed up in the fourth, then rebounded, but it seemed the Pirates hitters were slowly catching up with him.
- Bobby Parnell entered the game for Hernandez. He knocked down a ground ball up the middle, that may have ended the inning. For what it’s worth, I probably would have left Hernandez in the game, but Parnell rallied to strike out the final batter of the inning, who could not hold up his swing on a pitch that would have been ball four, and would have walked in a run, but ended the inning and potential rally instead.
- This was like watching two games. The first seven and a half innings featured the same team we’ve been watching over the last two weeks. Then, the 2008 bullpen showed up, with just-short defense, and the game was over. I hope this doesn’t spill over to tomorrow night.
The Game Ball:
- Tonight’s game ball does not go to J.J. Putz, who has allowed five hits, three walks and six runs with the last 29 pitches he has thrown.
The Mets remain in Pittsburgh tomorrow to take on the Pirates, with Johan Santana facing the left-handed Zach Duke.
Tonight’s Game:
The Mets (28-21, 11 -12 Road) begin a four-game series against the Pirates (22-28, 12-11 Home) tonight at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, starting at 7:05 p.m.
On The Mound:
- RHP Livan Hernandez (4-1, 4.28 ERA) starts for the Mets. Hernandez earned a complete-game win in his last start on May 26 versus the Nationals, allowing one run and striking out six. He was 3-0 with a 2.70 ERA in five May starts. In his last start versus the Pirates on May 10, Hernandez earned his second victory of season, allowing two runs on svene hits over 6.0 IP. He is 4-4 with a 5.14 in 13 career starts versus the Pirates.
- RHP Ian Snell (1-6, 5.43 ERA) takes the hill for the Pirates. Snell took the loss in his start on May 26 versus the Cubs allowing six runs on eight hits and four walks over 5.0 IP. Prior to his last start Snell allowed three runs or less in seven of his last nine starts. On may 10 versus the Mets, Snell allowed three runs on six hits over 6.0 IP. He is 0-2 with a 6.11 ERA in six career games versus the Mets.
The Lineup:
- Luis Castillo, 2B (.167, 1 BB, 2 K in 12 at-bats versus Snell)
- Fernando Martinez, RF (Has never faced Snell)
- Daniel Murphy, 1B (.000, 1 BB, 1 K in 2 at-bats versus Snell)
- Gary Sheffield, LF (Has never faced Snell)
- David Wright, 3B (.167, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 5 K in 12 at-bats versus Snell)
- Jeremy Reed, CF (Has never faced Snell)
- Wilson Valdez, SS (Has never faced Snell)
- Brian Schneider, C (.222, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 3 K in 9 at-bats versus Snell)
- Livan Hernandez, P
Notes:
- Carlos Beltran was in the original lineup, but a late scratch due to a stomach virus.
- The Mets were 3-1 in their four-game series at Pittsburgh last season and are 12-12 since 2001.
- Bobby Parnell has retired 16 of the first 25 batters he has faced this season.
- The Mets are 12-5 in the first game of series this season.
- Freddy Sanchez is 15-for-25 in his last seven games. He is 1-for-3 in his career versus Hernandez.
- The Pirates have eight comeback wins this season.
- Nate McLouth leads National League center fielders with 32 RBI.
Tonight’s Broadcast:
- Today’s broadcast can be seen locally on SNY and heard on WFAN.
Update, 6:30 pm:
Beltran was originally in tonight’s lineup, but was again a late scratch due to a stomach bug.
Original Post:
Carlos Beltran is back in the lineup tonight, playing center field and batting third.
As expected, Angel Pagan has been put on the 15–day disabled list with a strained right groin.
Alex Cora will be activated from the DL tomorrow, to take Pagan’s spot on the 25–man roster.
…in other words, yet again, the Mets are playing short… seriously, at this point, shouldn’t the Mets just start referring to it as the 24–man roster…
In a post to Twitter, SNY’s Kevin Burkhardt says Jose Reyes and Ryan Church will play in an extended spring tomorrow.
…from what i can gather, the goal continues to be bringing back reyes on Friday, with church likely out for at least another week or so…
Update, 5:55 pm:
Reporter Ed Coleman said on WFAN that Oliver Perez is still in St. Lucie getting treatment on his knee, and there are no current plans as to when he’ll make his next rehab start.
In a post to his blog for 1050 ESPN Radio, Andrew Marchand wonders if the Mets should consider free-agent RHP Ben Sheets, who had elbow surgery in February.
Marchand says he spoke to Sheets’s agent, Casey 
Close, who a) would not indicate how Sheets is doing in his rehab, nor b) would he say where his client might sign as a free agent.
According to Marchand, “When he had his elbow surgery in February he was supposed to be out four-to-six months, which would mean he possibly could be ready next month.”
Last month, Jerry Crasnick wrote, for ESPN.com, that Sheets will be looking to sign with a team where he is guaranteed make 10 to 12 starts, which he can use as a springboard in to the off-season, free-agent market.
Marchand also blogs about Chien Ming Wang, and what the Yankees plan to do with top prospect Austin Jackson.
According to David Lennon, in a post to his blog for Newsday, J.J. Putz was already in the bullpen around 3 pm, working on his delivery with pitching coach Dan Warthen prior to today’s game.
…good, because he’s been shaky at best over the last week…
Yesterday, Putz walked one batter, allowed two hits and one run and got just one out before being removed from the game.
Prior to yesterday, though he had not allowed a hit or run in his previous five innings, he did walk five batters.
…that has been the problem, the walks… he’s still getting swings and misses, but he’s all over the zone and looks totally inconsistent… i wondered yesterday if he’s still feeling pain in his elbow…
Last week, on WFAN, Putz said he is having a difficult time finding adrenaline pitching in the eighth inning, instead of the ninth, he then missed two games with a bone spur in his right elbow, which he told reporters has not been an issue since receiving an anti-inflammatory shot the day before.
If you were wondering who the cheery guys in blue suits are at Mets games, check out TheMattsTv.com, and their interview with Duaner Sanchez.
The Legend of Cecilio Guante reveals photos of David Wright, who apparently enjoys licking his bat before stepping out of the dugout.
…no comment, too easy…
According to the Daily News, Paul McCartney may play the first concert at Citi Field.
Jon Heyman points out at SI.com that Mets PR man Jay Horwitz, is celebrating his 30th year with the organization, writing, “He has taken a grand total of four days off in those 30 years, two when his mother died a couple decades ago and two when he had the chicken pox.”
For more on Horwitz, check out the Daily News.
…i liken jay to richard on the show Lost… he doesn’t seem to age, and i remember him when i was a kid… he is a mainstay of the organization, and deservedly so…
Jeff Freier at Hot Stove New York says the Mets are playing powerless, yet effective, old-school baseball.
Lastly, Metsopolis is giving away tickets to the fan with the funniest Mets story.
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |
Tim Redding is 0–2 with a 9.20 ERA in three starts, during which the Mets are 0–3.
Meanwhile, the Mets are 6–3 in Livan Hernandez’s nine starts this season, though five of the six wins were against the Braves, Pirates, Nationals, Marlins and Brewers.
Eventually, the Mets will promote Oliver Perez, who will re-join John Maine, Mike Pelfrey and Johan Santana, meaning one of Redding or Hernandez will get bumped from the rotation.
I would think Redding will slot in to the long-relief, spot-starter role, while Hernandez is allowed more time to pitch.
Nevertheless, from what I can gather, the Mets continue to keep an eye around baseball for an ‘experienced, reliable, consistent starting pitcher,’ to be counted on, every five days, for the back of their rotation.
According to MLB Trade Rumors, during the last few weeks, pitchers like Javier Vazquez, Jonathan Sanchez, Erik Bedard, Jarrod Washburn, Jon Garland, Roy Oswalt, Jason Marquis, Jake Peavy and Brad Penny could all be available, while Pedro Martinez remains unsigned as a free agent.
Sanchez, Peavy, Bedard and Oswalt will require a lot in return; Penny is too much of an injury risk, despite pitching well for the Red Sox; and Garland is having a poor season with the D’Backs.
The two guys from this list, who fit ‘experienced, reliable, consistent, 
back-of-the-rotation starting pitcher,’ would be Washburn and Marquis, both of whom are free agents at the end of this season, as well as Vazquez, who is under contract through 2010.
I’m not sure the Braves would ever deal a player under contract, in the middle of a pennant race, to the Mets, leaving Washburn and Marquis as players to watch as we get closer to the July 31 trade deadline.
If you remember, according to published reports, the Mets rejected a deal from the Cubs during the Winter Meetings that would have swapped Marquis for Aaron Heilman, who was instead traded to the Mariners for J.J. Putz.
Marquis was eventually traded to the Rockies, who are 13.5 games out of first place today and nine games under .500.
Tagged Tim Redding |David Wright had just four hits in 20 bats during the team’s recently-concluded five-game home stand.
He struck out roughly half of his plate appearances.
Wright did make two fantastic plays on defense Sunday, which you can read about in the Daily News.
Wright is batting .405 on the road, but just .271 in Citi Field this season.
What’s worse, Wright is striking out roughly 30 percent of his at bats in Citi Field, but just 18 percent of his at bats on the road.
In looking at his season as a whole, and his career for that matter, it seems Wright is just super streaky.
He’ll appear totally locked-in for 10 games or so, looking focused, with a level swing, all while hitting the other way; then, in the blink of an eye, for the next 10 days, he’ll return to looking uncomfortable, with a looping swing, while missing outside pitches and appearing pull-happy.
In Wright’s first 38 at bats of the season, the majority of which were on the road, he hit .342.
During the next 44 at bats, most all of which were in Citi Field, he hit .227; then hit .457 through the following 70 at bats, which were split between home and away.
Since, he’s batting just .179 in his last 28 at bats, most all of which were at home over the last week.
In other words, hot, cold, very hot, then very cold.
It was another lost weekend for the Washington Nationals as they visited Philadelphia and were promptly swept by the Phillies…5-4, 9-6, and 6-2.
Lefty Jamie Moyer capped off the successful weekend for the Phils by picking up his 250th career victory. Moyer yielded just one run on 3 hits over 6 innings on Sunday.
Chris Coste was on base 4 times for Philadelphia, and Josh Willingham belted 2 solo home runs for the Nationals in a losing cause. Willingham also hit a solo blast on Friday night.
…It’s the same old story for Washington…poor pitching and even worse defense. I said it before, and I’ll say it again, no matter how bad the pitching is, this team does not know how to play fundamental baseball. Ultimately the accountability for that must fall squarely on the shoulders of Manny Acta.
The Phillies will go west and start a series on Monday against the Padres in San Diego. The Nationals have a day off before they welcome the San Francisco Giants to D.C. on Tuesday.
In Arizona, the Braves and Diamondbacks battled to a split of their 4-game series in the desert. The D-Backs took games one and three…5-2 and 3-2…while Atlanta rebounded to take games 2 and 4 by scores of 10-6 and 9-3.
Yunel Escobar was back in the lineup for the Braves, sparking the offense with 2 hits, a home run, and 3 RBI on Friday while adding 3 doubles, 2 runs, and 2 RBI on Sunday.
Atlanta rookie Kris Medlen picked up his first Major League victory after tossing 6 strong innings in his start on Sunday afternoon. Medlen gave up one run on 4 hits and struck out 9.
The Braves are off Monday as they fly back to Atlanta after going 2-6 on their 8 game west coast trip. They’ll open a 3 game set with the Cubs on Tuesday.
The Florida Marlins also return home to begin play on Monday against the NL Central leading Milwaukee Brewers. Andrew Miller and Jeff Suppan kick things off at 7:10 PM ET in South Florida.
In player news…It’s possible that Tom Glavine will join the Braves during their upcoming 10-game homestand. Glavine has a rehab start scheduled for Tuesday.
Atlanta 1B Casey Kotchman was hit in the right shin by a pitch from Max Scherzer on Sunday and could miss three or four days of action.
And finally, Philadelphia’s J.C. Romero will return Wednesday from his 50-game suspension for violating baseball’s policy against PEDs.
For more news, notes, analysis and statistics from around Major League Baseball, be sure to visit Baseball Daily Digest.
Tagged MetsBlog, News | ← Older posts
