Daily Archives: June 9, 2009
Brett Carroll tripled and hit a three-run home run, and Sean West pitched two-hit ball over eight shutout innings as the Marlins blanked the Giants Monday night, 4-0.
The two teams concluded their four game series with a split.
It took fifteen innings in Atlanta, but the Braves edged the Pirates 7-6 in the first of four games at Turner Field.
With the bases loaded, David Ross drove in Jeff Francoeur with an infield single to give Atlanta the walkoff win.
Chipper Jones homered and was on base four times, and newly acquired Nate McLouth had three hits, including a solo home run for the Braves.
The win was the 2,000th career victory for Atlanta manager Bobby Cox.
The Nationals, Phillies and Mets were all off on Monday.
The 2009 MLB First Year Player Draft kicks off at 6:00 PM ET today from the MLB Network studios.
…I will be live at the draft from about 3:30 until the first day is complete (around 10:00 PM). You can follow me on Twitter @jhamrahi, while I provide updates on NL East picks throughout the day.
For more news, notes, analysis and statistics from around Major League Baseball, be sure to visit Baseball Daily Digest.
Tagged MetsBlog, News |
J Ross writes: “Everyone keeps talking how the Mets have only hit 34 home runs – well they have only allowed 40. The Phillies have hit 78 and allowed 81… It’s funny how they criticize for lack of power but not positives in that pitchers aren’t allowing home runs.”
Matthew Cerrone: “This is an excellent point, J Ross. Thanks.”
Corey From Long Island writes: “It really upsets me when I wake up every morning and the Mets don’t make a trade to get a big bat or pitcher in the lineup. When do you think this is going to happen and who do you think they will get?”
Matthew Cerrone: “Well, all I can say, Corey, is, are other teams making trades? No, they’re not. Believe me, it’s not for a lack of looking. The Mets are looking. It’s just, like I wrote this morning, it takes two to tango. It’s not like Omar Minaya can just bust in to an opposing team’s office and demand a trade. That other team needs to want to deal. It’s still June. These are other teams still need to sell tickets, keep them watching their games on TV, buying jerseys, etc., and keep their fans interested. So, while the market is warming up, it’s not yet at a point when teams are looking to deal, though it’s getting close. Plus, with so many holes, and questions surrounding the return of Jose Reyes and Carlos Delgado, I am sure Minaya is still deciding on what he needs, and how much he’s willing to pay for it.”
Ian in Buffalo writes: “In my opinion, I hope that the Mets do not make any big trades at the deadline… I would like to see the Mets actually develop talent instead of relying on trades and free agents… I honestly am content with the Mets roster as it is and not rushing anyone back from injury.”
Matthew Cerrone: “I’m sure that is a big topic of conversation in the team’s front office. What worries me is, I hope Minaya doesn’t react and make a bad deal for the sake of making a deal. I don’t think he’ll do that, though. We have read a lot about the list of players he is unwilling to deal over the last few years, and in every trade those players remain with the Mets. I can’t see why that would change now. Personally, I’d like to see them fill in the bench, which shouldn’t cost a ton, and look for a starting pitcher, like a Jason Marquis, who also shouldn’t cost a ton. I’d go for Matt Holliday, but not if he costs Fernando Martinez, Daniel Murphy, Brad Holt or Jon Niese – and if that means not getting him, so be it.”
Z Caldi writes: In the next couple of years who will likely be the Mets next catcher?”
Matthew Cerrone: I have no idea if he’ll be the long-term answer, but the Mets have a young catcher at Double-A, Josh Thole, who is a serious, left-handed hitter. I had the chance to talk with him during my trip to Binghamton this past weekend. For what it’s worth, he’s very comfortable, and speaks well in an interview. In other words, he seems to have his act together. That said, he is still working hard to improve his defense. His bat appears ready for the next level, but I don’t think he’s defense is. I mean, if he were ready for the big leagues, he’d have been here, given the major-league catching situation. He’s also played first base, so that is good to know. From what I recall, unlike other positions, teams like to send young catchers to Triple-A before being promoted to the big leagues, because there they will have the chance to catch big league pitching, like a Nelson Figueroa. So, I suspect Thole will keep working in Double-A, go to Triple-A at some point in the next year, and next spring we’ll begin to hear a lot more about him. I guess what I’m saying is, he’s worth keeping an eye on.
To read more about our trip to Buffalo and Binghamton, including notes about travel, more players and food, check out Ted Berg’s report for SNY.TV.
This morning, at Mets Minor League Blog, Toby Hyde recaps all of yesterday’s Mets minor-league action.
Yesterday, Single-A St Lucie was swept by the Dunedin Blue Jays, with the Mets amounting just two runs while letting up sixteen in the two games. In his FSL debut, Jeffrey Kaplan gave up two runs on five hits over five innings.
Kaplan was 4-2 with a 1.46 ERA for Savannah before being called up.
For more, check out Toby’s Mets Minor League Blog.
Tagged News |
Sam Page of Amazin’ Avenue looks to break a few myths surrounding the Mets this season, including if Sean Green is the new Aaron Heilman, if Jeremy Reed is a good defensive replacement and if David Wright is being more streaky than usual.
…sorry, sam, green has the curse of number 48, whether we like it or not…
Over at SNY.tv, Howard Megdal wonders how the Mets will perform in their recently rare position of being the underdog.
In his latest column for the Daily News, Bob Raissman criticizes SNY analyst Keith Hernandez for not chastising Carlos Beltran on-air Saturday night for his ‘loafing’ around the bases.
Greg Prince of Faith and Fear in Flushing is hosting METSTOCK to celebrate the Mets 40th anniversary of the Miracle Mets on June 18 at 7:00 pm at the Two Boots Tavern in Manhattan. Click here for more info.
Speaking of the Miracle Mets, Price of Amazin’ Avenue takes a look back at the 1969 World Series.
Lastly, in his latest feature for SNY.tv, Ted Berg recaps his weekend trip with MetsBlog’s own Matthew Cerrone to Buffalo and Binghamton to watch the Mets top prospects in action.
…the excellent adventures of matt and ted are becoming one of my favorite parts of the baseball season…can’t wait for the video…if you missed their emmy award winning trip to philadelphia last season, click here…
Tagged Mike Nichols |Yesterday, on FOX’s Best Damn Sports Show Period, FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal had the following to say about the trade market:
“It’s still the second week of June, and we’re not yet in the situation where teams are ready to give up… Oakland has a team with a young rotation, and they don’t want to lose the support for that young rotation by starting to trade people now. In time, perhaps… We’re gonna see a lot of activity (in the trade market), but it’s just not time.”
…i get a lot of e-mails saying, ‘Why don’t the Mets just go get so-and-so,’ as if it only matters what the Mets want… i mean, it takes two to tango, and the other team has a plan and goal as well… the only team, right now, who you could probably go and make something happen with would be the Nationals…
In a post to Mets Today, Joe Janish explains why the Mets should 
not look to acquire a power bat, instead going after speed.
“Chicks don’t dig the long ball when it’s caught at the warning track,” Janish concludes.
…i totally agree, joe… this is why, a guy like A’s OF Matt Holliday could end up being the best solution, because he runs well, can steal a base, he can hit the ball for a double in the gap, and he plays an aggressive-style of baseball, for better or worse, which i think the team and fans will enjoy…
…the problem is a) will the A’s ever trade him, and b) if they decide to trade him, will the A’s ever trade him… i mean, how many times have we, as Mets fans, been down this road with Billy Beane, only to see him sit on the player and do nothing… what’s more, don’t look now, but the A’s are just four games under .500 and six games back of first place…
Last week, in a report for SI.com, Jon Heyman wrote that the Mets will not trade Fernando Martinez in a deal for Holliday.
However, yesterday morning, on ESPN Radio, Buster Olney said, from what he can tell, as of now, no team is willing to give up the number of prospects Beane will be seeking in return for Holliday.
Instead, Beane could simply keep Holliday, offer arbitration, let him walk as a free agent, and receive two compensatory draft picks.
…and so, in the end, the Mets biggest competition for holliday may be beane’s imagination, and what he believes he can get in return for those picks…
Yesterday, on SIRIUS XM Radio’s Ripken Baseball, Braves 3B Chipper Jones talked to hosts Cal Ripken Jr. and Billy Ripken about Citi Field, saying:
“It is the biggest park that I have ever played in in my life… You know, I actually feel sort of sorry for some of the guys out there because their power numbers are really going to take a hit; guys like David Wright, Beltran, Delgado. The days of them hitting 35, 40 homers – they’re over. I juiced the ball just right of center field as hard as the good Lord can let me hit a ball, and it hit midways up the center field wall for a double; and every time there was a long fly out or a double that hit off the wall or something, David Wright would run by me and go, ‘Nice park.’ He’s a little frustrated with it, but on the flip side of that, you got a guy like Jose Reyes who’s liable to hit, in a healthy year, 25, 30 triples in that ballpark because if you split a gap you can run forever.”
…wright will be confronted with this questions by reporters today, i am sure, and he’ll deny it or spin it, i am sure, and i don’t know why… the park is big, and i wouldn’t blame him for being frustrated…
By the way, Ripken Baseball, which is a fantastic show, airs nationwide exclusively on SIRIUS XM Radio’s MLB Home Plate channel.
In a post to NY Baseball Digest, Mike Silva writes, “I believe the park is ok, but the Mets should consider lowering the high left field padding so you can still get a homer on a line drive. That would be a nice compromise.”
…it cuts both ways, though… the Mets struggle to hit home runs, so do the opposition… instead, i prefer the Mets keep it as is, and start truly building a team built around pitching, speed and defense, which, by the way, would not only play to building’s strength, but it also plays well on the road…
According to Weather.com, it will be windy, rainy and with thunderstorms in Queens throughout much of the afternoon, with a 40 percent chance of thunderstorms tonight as well.
…in other words, it’s going to be wet… the question is, will the Mets and Phillies play tonight…
…the funny thing about these days are that, at the ballpark, in the clubhouse, every one becomes a weather man… everyone is talking about the weather… players duck out from the clubhouse, look up at the sky, and give eachother their own report… it’s like, suddenly, it’s dozens of people who know baseball become world-class meteorologist instead… and they seem to enjoy it…
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