Daily Archives: June 6, 2009
Following tonight’s loss to the Nationals, the Mets activated Ryan Church from the disabled list.
Church will take Emil Brown’s spot on the roster, as Brown was designated for assignment.
Tagged Mike Nichols, Ryan Church |
The Nationals defeated the Mets by the score of 7-to-1 tonight in Washington, D.C..
For a complete recap, boxscore and stats, click here.
The Least You Should Know:
- John Maine was ineffective tonight after returning from a stomach virus, allowing three long homeruns and was removed in the fifth inning after allowing seven runs on six hits.
- On the other hand, John Lannan went the distance for the Nationals, allowing just one run and four hits – all singles.
- The Mets offense hit into five double plays – four in the first four innings of the game including Emil Brown passing Luis Castillo on the bases in the fourth inning.
- Fernando Nieve and Ken Takahashi each pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Maine.
Other Observations and Notes:
- Prior to tonight’s game, Maine had allowed just four homeruns in his first ten starts. He allowed three tonight. As Keith Hernandez pointed out, they would all have been out of Citi Field.
- The game lasted just two hours. Lannan did not throw more than 11 pitches in any inning for the Nationals until the eighth inning.
- No Met got into scoring position until the eighth inning.
- The top five batters in the Mets order went 2 for 15 during the game.
The Mets conclude their series tomorrow against the Nationals with Livan Hernandez facing Craig Stammen, starting at 1:35 pm.
Tonight’s Game:
The Mets (29-24, 12-15 Road) continue their three-game series against the Nationals (14-39, 8-19 Home) tonight at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., starting at 7:05 p.m.
On The Mound:
- RHP John Maine (5-3, 3.79 ERA) starts for the Mets. Maine threw six scoreless innings in his last start on May 31 versus the Marlins, earning his fifth victory of the season. Maine ranks second in the majors with 46 hits allowed. Maine last faced the Nationals on May 25, allowing just one run over 6.0 IP. He is 7-2 with a 3.79 ERA in 11 starts versus the Nationals.
- LHP John Lannan (2-5, 4.21 ERA) takes the hill for the Nationals. Lannan allowed three runs over 5.0 IP while striking out seven in his last start on 5/31 versus the Phillies. With 3.34 runs per game, Lannan has the third lowest run support in the National League. He last faced the Mets on May 25 allowing five runs over 5.0 Ip, taking the loss. Lannan is 1-3 with a 5.79 ERA in six career starts versus the Mets.
The Lineup:
- Luis Castillo, 2B (.444, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 K, 1 BB in 9 at-bats versus Lannan)
- Emil Brown, RF (Has never faced Lannan)
- Carlos Beltran, CF (.333, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 2 BB in 12 at-bats versus Lannan)
- Gary Sheffield, LF (.667, 1 HR, 3 RBI, in 3 at-bats versus Lannan)
- David Wright, 3B (.250, 2 2B, 2 BB, 4 K in 16 at-bats versus Lannan)
- Fernando Tatis, 1B (.429, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 K in 7 at-bats versus Lannan)
- Omir Santos, C (.000 in 2 at-bats versus Lannan)
- Wilson Valdez, SS (Has never faced Lannan)
- John Maine, P
Tonight’s Broadcast:
- Tonight’s broadcast can be seen locally on PIX11 and heard on WFAN.
Following a loss to the Pirates on Thursday, Carlos Beltran expressed his disappointment by saying, among other things, “I know the Pirates are a big-league team, but we’re better than them.”
As a reply yesterday, Adam LaRoche said, “I think it shows zero class and zero professionalism. When somebody says that, they know what they’re saying, and they know it’s going to get out. He knows we’re not going to be real happy about it. If you go and say that to your buddies, it’s one thing. If you go to the media and make that public for us to hear? Yeah, that’s no class.”
Today, at David Lennon’s blog for Newsday, he forwards Beltran’s retort, “Being honest, I don’t care what he said. I believe we’re better than them.”
…maybe beltran saying the mets are better than the pirates is a bit unsportsmanlike, maybe…but can anyone reading this post say the pirates are better than the mets…
…laroche is somewhat justified since i wouldn’t want anyone putting my team down either…however, stay classy carlos beltran, your frustration with the current situation is certainly warranted, and i like the fire…
In a “humorous” article for SI.com, Jeff Pearlman thinks that the Mets have a ghost cursing them, which could not be avoided by replacing Shea Stadium with Citi Field.
Pearlman writes, “Yes, the Metropolitans had spent most of their 4 1/2 decades living under his reign, relinquishing leads and hope with staggering regularity and employing as their mascot an inane big-headed baseball.”
…ok, fair enough, maybe it is a ghost, but ghosts can be exorcised, just ask the 2004 red sox…in reality, the team has been riddled by injuries in what seems to be a perfect storm…whether or not they can rebound from this is yet to be seen, but if they can find their way into the playoffs, anything can happen…
…and jeff, mr. met is the best so back off…
SNY’s Ted Berg and I will be traveling to Buffalo today to check out the Mets Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons.
During the trip, I will be making live posts using Twitter, including pictures and random observations, which you can read in the sidebar of MetsBlog.com.
To subscribe to my Twitter feed, go here.
Tomorrow, we will head up to Binghamton to see the Double-A Mets.
Mets manager Jerry Manuel talked with reporters after last night’s win against the Nationals, and had the following to say about:
On if he expects more of these type of tight games with the lineup he has been given:
“We have to play in this manner. This is how we have to play. We can’t afford to make mistakes or bad decisions. Not even from a strategic point of view, even early. We have to make sure everything is done correctly. We got some good pitching tonight, which is what we have to go on. That has to be the foundation of our success. We got good relief. That is how we have to do it.”
The baserunning mistakes:
“I think guys want to do too much. I do think that. It’s fortunate in a sense that it’s the two core guys we have left, but it’s unfortunate in the sense that those are not good decisions. They have to make better decisions in order for everyone else to follow. They are the guys that are leading at this point. We essentially gave up an inning at third base. When you have all the power we got, we cannot afford to give up an inning. [Laughs] We can’t give up an inning at third. Not at third. Somewhere else, but not at third.”
The fine line between the mistakes and being aggressive:
“They understand that. I explained it to the both of them. I think they understand that. They know there are two of them left. [Laughs] They are the part of the core that we had and they are trying to do a lot. They come through. That was a big hit for David Wright tonight against a tough right-handed pitcher. That was a huge hit for him. But when he went to third the last time I could have strangled him.”
On Tim Redding‘s performance:
“The guys that caught him on the side a few days ago mentioned that was some of his best stuff today. Even going back as far as spring training, which we didn’t see very much of him. That was a good outing for him against a dangerous offensive club. They have power in the lineup and guys that are patient. He did a good job.”
If Redding’s performance bought him any leeway:
“Once we see something good we’ll give you some room.”
If David Wright and Carlos Beltran need to put the team on their back:
Tagged Mike Nichols |“They have to. There is no doubt about it. They’ll be sitting there three and four or three and five when Gary plays. They’re at-bats and their play is critical for us at this point. They are the elite All-Stars and they need to get it done. period.”
Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post is reporting that Fernando Martinez is likely to remain on the roster when Ryan Church returns from the disabled list on Sunday.
Jerry Manuel told reporters Friday:
“Playing American League clubs and having the DH would obviously give us some room and time to play Fernando and maybe DH [40-year-old Gary] Sheffield,” Manuel said. “So I think we have time. I don’t think we have to make that decision for Martinez as early as Sunday.”
…good for Martinez. I hope that he sticks around through Interleague Play. Of course, that will depend on his performance and the performance/health of the veteran outfielders. As Matt said yesterday, if Martinez is unable to get regular playing time, he needs to go to the minors where he can continue to play on an every day basis…
For more on Martinez, read Hubbuch’s article.
Tagged News |
