Daily Archives: June 3, 2009
To watch today’s edition of The Nooner, go to TheNoonerBlog.com.
Brian Bassett at the TheJetsBlog.com gives his “super sleepers” at Jets training camp this Summer.
Over on The Knicks Blog, Tommy Dee talks free agency, the draft, and the off season with Brandon Tierney of SNY’s The WheelHouse and 1050 ESPN Radio.
On ZagsBlog.com, Adam Zagoria has a report on high school player, Jeremy Tyler, who is electing to forego college basketball and play professionally overseas. A similar career approach to potential NBA first round pick, Michael Jennings.
Tagged News |
In a post to their blog for ESPN.com, Jason Churchill previews the up-coming MLB Draft, of which he quotes a National League scouting coordinator as saying:
“There’s not much difference between the 25th pick and the 75th pick… There’s more of a chance this year that the third-rounders are as good as the first-rounders than in previous drafts.”
Like Churchill explains, this must be good news for the 
Mets, who don’t pick until No. 72 overall.
…from what i can gather, the Mets are looking to draft a pitcher, and will consider drafting over slot if it means getting a player who has been pushed down through the first round or two…
By the way, John Franco will represent the Mets at the draft, which will begin June 9.
The MLB Network will broadcast the first round at 6 p.m.
Tagged News |
The following is my latest MetsBlog Video Mailbag, presented by Verizon, during which I answer questions about trading for a bat, changing dimensions in Citi Field, Fernando Martinez, and whether the Mets can acquire Jake Peavy:
Finally! Some good news for the Nationals! After battling San Francisco and Tim Lincecum for 7 innings, Washington finally put together a big inning and scored 6 times in the bottom of the 8th to defeat the Giants, 10-6.
Anderson Hernandez and Josh Bard each had 3 hits, and Ryan Zimmerman drove in 2 runs.
Unfortunately, the news wasn’t all good for the Nationals on Tuesday. According to ESPN.com, Washington will be without former Met Jesus Flores for at least 3 months. Flores has a stress fracture of a bone in his right shoulder and could miss the rest of the season.
In Atlanta, after being no-hit for 6 innings, the Braves rallied for 5 runs to send the game into extra innings. Atlanta scored 3 in the 8th and 2 more in the 9th on a dramatic 2-run home run by Jeff Francoeur.
Then, in the 12th, the Braves capped the dramatic comeback with a walk-off single by Chipper Jones to defeat the Cubs, 6-5.
As reported by MLB.com before the game, Atlanta finally sent struggling outfielder Jordan Schafer down to AAA.
Cody Ross hit a grand slam, Dan Uggla drove in 3 runs and scored 3 runs, and Hanley Ramirez went 3-for-4 as the Marlins jumped all over Manny Parra to blew out the Brewers, 10-3.
Parra gave up 10 runs on 11 hits over just 4 innings!
Anibal Sanchez returned to the mound for Florida and gave up one run in 3 innings of work before reaching his predetermined pitch limit of 70. 
And finally, in San Diego, the Phillies continued to roll, winning their 5th in a row by beating the Padres, 10-5.
Raul Ibanez doubled, homered twice, and drove in 5 runs, and rookie Antonio Bastardo allowed just one run on 4 hits while striking out 5 in his Major League debut.
Philadelphia caught a bit of a break when Jake Peavy, who obviously wasn’t himself, had to leave the game in the first inning while suffering from the flu.
…All in all, a perfect night for the National League East…except for the Mets of course…*sigh*
For more news, notes, analysis and statistics from around Major League Baseball, be sure to visit Baseball Daily Digest.
Tagged MetsBlog, News |This morning, at Mets Minor League Blog, Toby Hyde recaps all of yesterday’s Mets minor-league action; including a strong performance from Double-A RHP Tobi Stoner, who flirted with a no-hitter 
last night in a loss for the B Mets.
Meanwhile, Nelson Figueroa got his first win for Triple-A Buffalo last night going seven plus innings and letting up one earned run, while new addition Emil Brown went 2-4 with a run scored.
Brown is batting .313 in 16 at bats since joining the Bisons.
For more, check out Toby’s Mets Minor League Blog.
Tagged Nelson Figueroa, News |
After being frustrated by the Mets two losses in Pittsburgh, Dave Singer of NYSportsDog is looking for positives.
…i think we all as Mets fans need to take step back and do the same… the last two nights have been disappointing to say the least, however considering the circumstances, the Mets have done a terrific job piecing things together since Jose Reyes, Carlos Delgado, Ryan Church were all sidelined with injuries…
The Real Dirty Mets Blog takes a look at today in Mets infamy.
Greg Barra of The Daily Stache is hopeful the Mets can ‘maintain a decent record’ until Carlos Delgado returns.
Over at Amazin’ Avenue, Sam Page takes a satirical look at the day in the life of the underutilized Brian Stokes.
In a post on We’re The Team To Beat, Mike Mariano relays an article on why Phillies 2B Chase Utley is ‘the man.’
…mariano is right, the Mets are missing an utley/victorino-type player and need this type of guy now more than ever… this why i believe Mark De Rosa should be the Mets top target on the trade market… he has utley-like qualities and can produce while playing all over the diamond…
Tyler Kepner of the New York Times relays the “Yankees Play Hard Index” that is posted in the Yankees Triple-A clubhouse.
…perhaps the Mets should make this mandatory reading and post it in their major league clubhouse…
Finally, at his blog for the New York Post, Bart Hubbuch will hold his weekly live chat at 11:00 am.
Tagged Mike Nichols |
SNY and the Village Pourhouse will be hosting a Mets Viewing Party tonight, Wednesday, June 3.
According to SNY.TV, “Come out and watch the Mets with the best fans from around the New York area… Stop by to see the Bud Girls and get drink specials. Plus, meet Nooner host Brittany Umar and get free tickets and giveaways.”
The Village Pourhouse is between 3rd Ave. and 11 St. in Manhattan.
Tagged SNY |The Mets are currently playing without Jose 
Reyes, Carlos Delgado, Oliver Perez, Ryan Church, and Carlos Beltran, all while Gary Sheffield continues to play with pain behind his knee, J.J. Putz has a bone spur in his elbow, and John Maine recovers from a stomach bug.
Last night, back-up infielder Ramon Martinez dislocated his left pinkie sliding in to home plate. He is scheduled to fly to New York today to be examined by doctors, Jerry Manuel told reporters last night.
By the way, Triple-A infielder Javier Valentin injured his shoulder last night in Buffalo, while Dillon Gee, Argenis Reyes, Carlos Muniz and Bobby Kielty remain on the minor-league disabled list.
In a post to Fan Fury, Pepper Duncan doctored up a Garbage Pail Kids card in honor of the injured Mets.
Never in a million years would I have guessed I’d some day see Fernando Martinez, Sheffield, Fernando Tatis, Omir Santos, Wilson Valdez and Jeremy Reed all in the starting lineup at the same time, like has often been the case in the week, during which the Mets have lost three of their last four games.
I have no idea how the Mets plan to handle the up-coming, potential transactions, since Reyes is eligible to return from the disabled list this Friday. Church is eligible to return Sunday, but, because he’s dealing with a hamstring injury, my bet is the team gives him extra time.
Church and Reyes most likely would have been replaced Valdez and Ramon Martinez, leaving Fernando Martinez on the major-league roster, so long as Jerry Manuel can get him regular at bats.
From what I can gather, the Mets will look at the roster, look at the injuries and return dates for Reyes, Church and Beltran, and choose between promoting OF Cory Sullivan, who is on the 40–man roster, or Triple-A infielder Jonathan Malo, who is not on the 40–man roster, while being honest about potential playing time for Fernando Martinez.
However, instead of Malo, who would do more for the team’s defense than offense, the Mets should also consider Triple-A OF Wily Mo Pena, who has a nine-game hitting streak, during which he’s batting .333.
In other words, this is getting ridiculous – all while David Wright has just two hits in his last 25 at bats.
[poll id="261"]
Carlos Beltran not only missed his third-consecutive 
start last night due to a stomach bug, but he never left his hotel room.
In the New York Post, Dr. Bart Hubbuch writes, “The Mets were on high alert here yesterday after a producer on their SNY broadcast crew was sent back to New York and put in isolation with a possible case of swine flu.”
However, according to the Daily News, Mets assistant GM John Ricco told reporters that Beltran and John Maine most likely do not have a flu, because they have not yet shown flu-like symptoms, such as a fever.
…the thing is, the SNY producer traveled on the team plane to Pittsburgh over the weekend, meaning, because it can take up to seven days for the flu to turn up, it could be days before other people on the team get sick, if they get sick at all…
“If I got it,” Maine told Newsday, referring to swine flu, “at least I’ll go out with a winning record.”
Maine re-joined the team yesterday, and said he will be able to make his scheduled start Friday in Washington, DC.
…the concern with beltran is, how will his body respond once he starts feeling better… if you’ve ever had a severe stomach bug, it knocks you out… i caught a bug like this, subsequently when i returned from spring training, where a ton of people were experiencing a similar illness, and i was immobile for about three days… it’s brutal… beltran plays through pain, and i know if he was able he’d be in center field, so this must be a rough one… the thing is, when he returns, how depleted will he be… will he have lost weight, be dehydrated, etc., and need additional time to work back… this is a new one, as Jerry Manuel said before last night’s game, so i suspect it will be a rocky return…
Here is SNY.TV’s Post Game Extra, from last night’s loss to the Pirates, featuring clips from the game; quotes from Jerry Manuel, David Wright and Johan Santana, and analysis from Keith Hernandez and Gary Cohen:
