Daily Archives: June 10, 2009
I apologize to those of you who still have comments awaiting approval.
There are currently 3,100 comments in queue, all of which I eventually need to review.
So far, 60 or so people have been approved and are now allowed to comment at will. In the next day or so, I hope to get through the remaining comments, letting in more people who adhere to the comment section’s guidelines, which you can read here.
My goal is to review these additional comments later tonight, tomorrow and at various points on Friday, though my top priority will continue to be to provide content to the main page of the blog.
Thank you for your patience and understanding…
This morning, at Mets Minor League Blog, Toby Hyde recaps all of yesterday’s Mets minor-league action, including a strong performance from RHP Scott Shaw, who allowed just two runs on three hits over seven and struck out seven.
In eleven starts, Shaw is 2-3 with a 3.47 ERA.
Center fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis went 2-4 in the win for St. Lucie, driving in two as the Mets won the game 3-2.
For more, check out Toby’s Mets Minor League Blog.
Tagged News |
Today, around 5 pm, I will be filming a segment for SNY out in the Verizon Studio in center field in Citi Field.
If you’d like to say hello, and possibly be in the shoot, feel free to stop by.
Lastly, I need some information for the segment, so please take part in the following poll:
[poll id="265"]
Tagged Poll |
In the ninth inning last night, with one out and Jimmy Rollins on first base, Matt Stairs hit a ground ball to second, which Luis Castillo picked up and threw to Alex Cora, who made the catch and then tried to turn what could have been a game-ending double play.
However, Rollins made a wide, barrel-roll slide in to Cora, took him out at the knees, and so the throw died a few feet from his hand.
If this was the NFL, Rollins might have been called for clipping.
The thing is, I have no problem with Rollins doing this: it’s a smart play, it worked, and he kept the inning alive for his team.
However, I do have a problem with the Mets, who a) never do this themselves, and b) when it’s done to them, they do nothing to retaliate and help to make it stop. Because, while I think it’s a legit play, from the Mets perspective, 1) it kept the inning alive, which is never the goal, but, 2) it’s dangerous, and could injure someone some day.
Last night, David Wright, Carlos Beltran and Ryan Church each hit a home run, while the Phillies hit four home runs against Johan Santana.
Prior to the game, the popular topic on talk radio, online and around the ballpark was the team’s lack of power, especially in Citi Field.
“Oh, you hadn’t heard… They moved in the fences, about 40 feet,” Church told reporters after the game, according to the New York Times
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, courtesy of ESPN.com, last night was the first time since May 13 that the Mets hit more than one home run in a game.
“Those balls that were hit tonight, they’d have gone out of any park,” Jerry Manuel said to reporters. “I still think the jury is out as to how this park will play, and I think it will 
take a whole year to determine if this is a pitcher’s park, or whether in the summer it gets warm and the ball flys out, it will take some time to figure it out.”
…i watched a portion of the game from seats a few rows back from the left-field wall… in fact, i just missed catching David Wright’s home run… anyway, the air was dead and humid for most of the game, but when the wind did pick up, it was blowing right in my face… unlike in April, when the wind always whipped across the field, from left to right, knocking balls down in left and center, while creating a wind tunnel towards the Pepsi Porch… what’s more, i watched the last few innings from the porch, and it was stagnant up there… so, maybe Citi Field will play different in July and August then it does in April and May…
Tagged Ryan Church |
Last night, Johan Santana gave up eight hits, including four home runs, while striking out two, but kept himself in the game through one batter in the eighth inning.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, courtesy of ESPN.com, Santana gave up more home runs to left-handed batters in last night’s game than he allowed in his previous 15 starts combined.
…he wasn’t sharp… he was falling behind hitters quite a lot… especially against Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, who he also missed against, and when that happens, as johan said, ‘You’re going to pay,’ and he did…
…the thing is, he did what he had to do to keep his team in the game, and force himself through… it’s this quality, as much as the seven-inning shut outs, that make him the ace… it’s unrealistic to expect him to be perfect every night… however, on a night he doesn’t have it, against the first-place Phillies, he managed to push himself, remain economical, work through it, give his team a chance to win, and save the bullpen for the next two games, which are equally important… instead of not adjusting, getting rocked and coming out of the game in the fourth inning, like other young pitchers often do…
…them, on top of that, he takes on the challenge, and got that patented possessed-look in his eyes, which i love… he could so easily have just rolled over and left them game early, but instead he starts pumping his fist, barking at himself, etc, like he’s willing himself and the team to fight on, and he does… it’s great…
In the sixth inning, Jerry Manuel could have removed him from the game, but acknowledged that Santana made the necessary adjustments to the Phillies lineup and so he left him in the game to hit, with the game tied, and the tying run on base.
Santana failed to lay down two bunts, then, with two strikes, dropped down a third but, but pulled it back, swung, and ripped a double that knocked in the tying run.
…again, the best part is, santana pulls up in to second base, looks in to his dugout, and yells, ‘Yeah,’ while pumping his fist…
Santana also made a quick catch of a line drive hit back to the mound, which he turned in to an inning-ending double play by picking off Victorino at first base.
Santana is third in the National League with a 2.39 ERA, fourth in strikeouts, and tied with three other pitches for most wins.
Last night, Johan Santana returned to the mound in the eighth inning, with a two-run lead, but gave 
up a lead-off home run to Chase Utley, after which Jerry Manuel jogged to mound.
…actually, Omir Santos called time out first, and started to walk to the mound, and johan was giving him a look like, ‘Are you crazy, get back behind the plate,’ holding his hands to the side and shaking his head… then, santana spotted jerry, and looked angry, to say the least… it was like he was holding the ball away from the manager, as if to refuse coming out of the game…
Nevertheless, Santana handed Manuel the ball, and marched to the dugout beneath a standing ovation.
Manuel, regarding Santana’s exit from the game, said:
“He has this term, ‘I’m a man, I’m a man,’ that’s his thing. What he means by that, I don’t know… That’s his mindset, he’s competing, he’s constantly competing. I can’t say he wanted to come out, and I can’t say he didn’t fight the decision… He’s a competitor.”
Santana, following the game, said:
“In that situation, I told him I felt good, and I told him that I’m a man, that’s all I was doing. I wasn’t trying to show anybody up But, he thought different. He’s my skipper and I respect everything he does, but I felt I had enough stuff to battle through.”
…i don’t see the big deal… jerry made a call, that ultimately panned out, and his ace, arguably the best pitcher in baseball, is such a serious competitor, he wanted to keep pitching… good, i’m glad johan wanted to stay in, i like that he cares so much to get angry, and yet i’m also glad jerry did what he did and that santana respected the decision…
Here is SNY.TV’s Post Game Extra, from last night’s win against the Phillies, featuring clips from the game; quotes from Jerry Manuel and Johan Santana; and analysis from Ron, Keith and Gary:
