Daily Archives: June 5, 2009
The Mets defeated the Nationals by the score of 3-to-1 in 10 innings tonight in Washington, D.C..
For a complete recap, boxscore and stats, click here.
The Least You Should Know:
- Moments after Keith Hernandez criticized David Wright‘s ‘long swing’ during the broadcast, Wright hit an opposite field double to right field knocking in the game-winning runs. Wright was 4-for-5 on the night, including a trio of baserunning blunders.
- Tim Redding was terrific tonight, allowing just one run over six innings of work. Redding probably could of pitched another inning after only throwing 88 pitches, but I don’t blame Jerry Manuel for not pressing his luck, especially in game the Mets desperately needed.
- Brian Stokes, Bobby Parnell and Sean Green each pitched a very efficient and scoreless inning of relief.
- Francisco Rodriguez locked down his 15 save of the season in dominant fashion.
Other Observations and Notes:
- All the praise Razor Shines earned for his motivational work in spring training is starting to wear thin with his over aggressive coaching at third. I’m not sure the word STOP is in his vocabulary.
- I kept waiting for Nationals manager Manny Acta to pull a Bobby Cox and march a few of his players, especially Carlos Guzman, off the field for their lackadaisical and outright disrespect for defense, but that never occurred. I guess that’s why Acta’s on the hot seat.
- When did NASA lend the use of the Hubble to the Nationals for their behind homeplate camera? Playing in the shadows of the United States government comes with privileges, I guess.
The Mets continue their series against the Nationals with John Maine facing John Lannan, starting at 7:05 pm.
Tagged Mike Nichols |
In a post to his blog for the Daily News, Adam Rubin reports 
that Billy Wagner is working out in both Virginia and in Port St. Lucie and should face live hitting by the end of June.
For more on Wagner’s return, check out Rubin’s blog.
Tagged News |
So far this season, the Mets have lost Jose Reyes, Carlos Delgado, J.J. Putz, Alex Cora, Oliver Perez, Ryan Church, Brian Schneider and others to serious injuries; Daniel Murphy has gone from 
left field to first base; Francisco Rodriguez was rushed to a hospital after collapsing from back pain; the Mets had to trade for Wilson Valdez, because they lacked a quality option to back-up shortstop; Carlos Beltran lost 10 pounds and missed four games with a stomach bug; Fernando Martinez has been promoted; Omir Santos is the team’s starting catcher; Mike Pelfrey balked three times in one game; Church missed third base; and, lastly, not only is Gary Sheffield in the starting lineup, he’s batting clean up.
Here’s the craziest part: there are still 110 games left to be played.
Tonight’s Game:
The Mets (28-24, 11 -15 Road) begin a three-game series against the Nationals (14-38, 8-18 Home) tonight at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., starting at 7:05 p.m.
On The Mound:
- RHP Tim Redding (0-2, 9.20 ERA) starts for the Mets. Redding took the loss in his last start on May 30 versus the Marlins, allowing a season-high seven runs over 4.0 IP. Opposing hitters are batting .448 when Redding throws a first-pitch ball. Redding is 2-0 with a 2.77 ERA in three games versus the Nationals.
- RHP Shairon Martis (5-1, 5.62 ERA) takes the hill for the Nationals. Martis allowed a season-high seven runs in a loss in his last start on May 30 versus the Phillies. Prior to his last start, Martis allowed three runs or less in six of his previous 10 starts. He is 0-1 with a 18.00 ERA in his career versus the Mets.
The Lineup:
- Alex Cora, SS (Has never faced Martis)
- Luis Castillo, 2B (Has never faced Martis)
- Carlos Beltran, CF (1.000, 1 HR, 2 RBI in 1 at-bat versus Martis)
- David Wright, 3B (.000, 1 K, in 2 at-bats versus Martis)
- Fernando Tatis, RF (Has never faced Martis)
- Daniel Murphy, 1B (.500, 1 3B, 1 RBI in 2 at-bats versus Martis)
- Fernando Martinez, LF (Has never faced Martis)
- Brian Schneider, C (Has never faced Martis)
- Tim Redding, P
Tonight’s Broadcast:
- Tonight’s broadcast can be seen locally on SNY and heard on WFAN.
Alex Cora will start at shortstop tonight and bat leadoff, followed in order by Luis Castillo, then Carlos Beltran, David Wright, Fernando Tatis in right field, Daniel Murphy, Fernando Martinez in left, Brian Schneider and Tim Redding.
Prior to today’s game, Jerry Manuel told reporters the team will likely keep Martinez on the roster, even after Ryan Church is activated Sunday.
Manuel also said Gary Sheffield will get the day off on Sunday, as well as tonight in Washington DC.
Much like I suggested this morning, Manuel made it sound like Sheffield will play roughly four times per week, while also playing DH during interleague play, as will Church, while Martinez gets most of the starts in left field.
Update, 5:05 pm:
In a post to Twitter, SNY’s Kevin Burkhardt says the tarp is off the field in DC, but, “the field is a mess.”
To hear more from Manuel, as well as from Omar Minaya, tune in to SNY’s Pre Game Live at 6:30 pm.
Tagged News |
Mets GM Omar Minaya will speak with reporters from Nationals Park in DC today at 4 pm.
Update, 4:24 pm:
According to SNY’s Kevin Burkhardt, Minaya said J.J. Putz will likely be out for at least three months.
However, Minaya would not put a timetable on when Jose Reyes, who will rest for two days before being reevaluated by doctors.
Tagged News |The Mets have put J.J Putz on the disabled list, and replaced him on the roster with Fernando Nieve, who will be available for tonight’s game, according to a team press release.
Like Rosenthal reported this morning on FOXSports.com, Putz will have 
surgery on Tuesday to remove a bone spur in his elbow.
Putz will resume throwing in six weeks.
Nieve, who was claimed ealier in the year off waivers, was 3-0 with 3.73 ERA in four starts for Triple-A Buffalo.
Lastly, the Mets claimed 27-year-old LHP Pat Misch off waivers from the Giants, added him to the 40-man roster, and moved Billy Wagner to the 60-day DL.
In 38 games in his three-year career, Misch is 0–7 with a 5.20 ERA.
Tagged News |In a post to his blog for the New York Post, Joel Sherman writes:
“Perhaps the most important job the Mets could undertake now is to completely review – and fix where necessary – their training and medical protocol. They must look at everything with as much impartiality, honesty and integrity as can be
mustered. Because from the outside looking in the Mets’ training-medical situation looks awful.”
…at this point, any time the Mets mention sending a player to be examined by doctors, i imagine the Marx Brothers rolling in to the room, like in A Day at the Races…
…the reality is, the Mets are teamed up with the elite group in its field, the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, and it’s a pretty extensive partnership from what i understand… instead, from what i can gather, much of the team’s trouble may stem from the relationship between the players and the trainers, and letting the players have too much say in terms of how they deal with injury…
…so, i e-mailed Will Carroll, who has strong relationships with medical staffs all across baseball, the author of The Juice, and the noteworthy Under the Knife column from Baseball Prospectus… i asked will a series of questions, which you can read below:
Matthew Cerrone: Mets fans believe these sorts of mass injuries and mishandling of the team’s physical condition is exclusive to the Mets. Do you feel this way?
…and you thought it couldn’t get any weirder:
In a post titled Science Fiction Meds for Reyes on his blog for 1050 ESPN Radio, Andrew Marchand writes:
“Jose Reyes is trying a new, alternative treatment called PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy). The agent for Reyes, Peter Greenberg, told me that the hope is that the treatment will allow Reyes to heal quicker. Greenberg said there is no definitive time-table for Reyes’ return.”
Marchand provides additional quotes from Greenberg, and explains specifically what the treatment entails.
…i’m speechless… seriously, i am without speech…
“J.J. Putz will undergo surgery Tuesday to remove a bone spur in his pitching elbow,” reports Ken Rosenthal on FoxSports.com, according to a major-league source.
Rosenthal believes Putz will be out for eight to 10 weeks.
Adam Rubin of the Daily News later confirmed Rosenthal’s story, as he wrote to a post on his blog.
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