Daily Archives: June 12, 2009
In case you missed it, click here.
I have no idea how to respond.
I’m more or less speechless, stunned, embarrassed and sadly not at all surprised.
I can’t stop shaking my head, and thinking to myself, and asking, ‘No, that didn’t just happen, did it?’
I’m not sure what’s bugging me more: the single loss – or knowing every Yankee fan, and most all of baseball, is laughing at the Mets and their fans right now.
The Mets played so well, and played so hard tonight; yet one play, the final play, one error, makes the whole game a joke.
This will be an interesting test for the Mets, because this could very easily demoralize every one, us, the team, the player, every one.
I hope we can keep our collective chin up, as tough as it may be, because there are still 103 games left to be played.
Update, 11:25 pm:
“I made a mistake, I feel bad, I feel bad,” Luis Castillo said, shaking his head, looking totally distraught, speaking from his locker in a silent clubhouse.
…i respect castillo for taking it like a man, standing there, taking questions, facing the music, all while looking like he wants to kill himself… shake it off, luis… there’s a lot of baseball left…
Tonight’s Game:
The Mets (31-27, 13-16 Road) begin a three-game series against the Yankees (34-26, 18-11 Home) tonight at Yankee Stadium starting at 7:05 p.m.
On The Mound:
- RHP Livan Hernandez (5-1, 3.88 ERA) starts for the Mets. Hernandez earned a victory in his last start on June 7 versus the Nationals, throwing seven shutout innings. He has a 1.57 ERA in his last four starts and has allowed three runs or less in seven of his last eight starts. Hernandez is 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA in five career starts versus the Yankees. He last faced the Yankees on June 2, 2008, allowing five runs over 6.0 IP, receiving a no-decision.
- RHP Joba Chamberlain (3-1, 3.79 ERA) takes the hill for the Yankees. In his last start on June 7 versus the Rays, Chamberlain allowed three runs over 6.0 IP, receiving a no-decision. He has allowed 11 runs in his 11 starts this season. Chamberlain is receiving 5.00 runs of support this season. This is Chamberlain’s first career start versus the Mets.
The Lineup:
- Alex Cora, SS
- Fernando Martinez, LF
- Carlos Beltran, CF
- David Wright, 3B
- Ryan Church, RF
- Gary Sheffield, DH
- Daniel Murphy, 1B
- Brian Schneider, C
- Luis Castillo, 2B
Tonight’s Broadcast:
- Tonight’s broadcast can be seen locally on SNY and heard on WFAN.
Alex Cora will bat leadoff tonight, followed in order by Fernando Martinez in left field, Carlos Beltran, David Wright, Ryan Church, Gary Sheffield at DH, Daniel Murphy at first base, Brian Schneider, Luis Castillo and Livan Hernandez.
Update, 4:55 pm:
This morning, in a report for FOXSports.com, Ken Rosenthal asserts that Jerry Manuel ‘throws his players under the bus.’
Rosenthal did not provide a quote from a player, on or off the record, as making such a claim.
According the New York Post’s Bart Hubbuch, in a post to Twitter, both David Wright and Gary Sheffield deny the report, which, in Hubbuch’s opinion, suggests the Mets do not like playing for Manuel. Sheffield and Wright both scoffed at the notion Manuel ‘throws his players under the bus.’
…for what it’s worth, i don’t think rosenthal flatly claims the Mets don’t like playing for manuel… instead it reads more like he is taking issue with manuel’s speaking style, which he assumes must or will eventually bother his players… he’s simply making a suggestion, he’s speculating, while citing examples from manuel’s post-game pressers…
...by the way, this type of speculation is is not far off from what rosenthal took a blogger to task for on ESPN earlier this week..
Here is the latest New York Baseball Today, during which I talk with Sam Borden of the Journal News and SNY.TV about the upcoming subway series between the Mets and the Yanks:
Tagged News |
In a report for SI.com, Jon Heyman lists the Mets among teams who are interested in trading for Red Sox RHP Brad Penny.
That said, this morning on WFAN, Heyman said 
Omar Minaya’s top priority is to acquire a bat for the lineup.
Heyman believes the Mets have enough young talent to eventually get Matt Holliday from the A’s, who is not likely to be on the market until after the All-Star break.
Following last night’s game, Jerry Manuel said, “With the way we’re built right now, we have got to have more than two guys swinging the bat well, and we don’t really have that right now.”
According to Jayson Stark, of ESPN.com, “The Angels are showing signs that they’re willing to listen on a slew of players,” including C Mike Napoli and Jeff Mathis, OF Gary Matthews Jr., and their entire infield, which includes 1B Kendry Morales, 2B Howie Kendrick and SS Erick 
Aybar, while targeting young pitching with upside.
Stark also reports that, once Manny Ramirez returns from suspension, the Dodgers will be open to trading OF Juan Pierre, who will earn $18.5 million over the next two seasons.
Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com believes the White Sox will not be given top prospects in a deal for OF Jermaine Dye, since few teams will be able to afford his entire contract.
Rosenthal also reports on the market for relievers, the future of Brandon Wood, and whether the Rays will look to trade Andy Sonnanstine and Jeff Niemann.
According to SNY, “Ron Darling will be the guest of honor at a benefit luncheon for Urban Dove to assist New York City’s at-risk youth on Wednesday, June 24, at noon at Gallagher’s Steak House in New York City… An Afternoon with Ron Darling: A Benefit for Urban Dove is priced at $75 per person, and includes lunch, a copy of Darling’s book The Complete Game and an autograph and Q&A session.”
For more information, click here.
Tagged Ron Darling |Mets manager Jerry Manuel is recently talked with Mike Francesa on WFAN
To listen live, go to WFAN.com.
Manuel committed to playing Fernando Martinez at least once during the Phillies series, he said, and chose to do so last night, against Jamie Moyer, because the team has had success against Moyer in the past.
“We need to see what we’ve got in this kid,” Manuel said. “But, it might have been a mistake on my part.”
Manuel said Church will start in all three games against the Yankees.
He says he will use the games against the Yankees and Orioles, in American League parks, to determine how Martinez fits in with this team.
Lastly, Manuel said he and Omar Minaya still believe Daniel Murphy can ‘get the job done.’
To listen live, go to WFAN.com.
Tagged WFAN |The Mets have promoted LHP Jon Switzer from Triple-A Buffalo.
Switzer was 0-2 with a 2.13 ERA with Buffalo.
In case you are wondering, left-handed hitters were batting .186 against Switzer in the minor leagues.
Lastly, the Mets announced that Fernando Nieve will start Saturday against the Yankees in place of Maine.
Bobby Parnell finished his final year of college with an 8.83 ERA, but Mets scouts liked his arm enough to draft him in the ninth round of the 2005 draft.
I caught up with Parnell to discuss his college career, the transition to pro ball, the difference between starting and relieving, and warmup music. An excerpt:
Ted Berg: So was part of the struggling in college learning to pitch?
Bobby Parnell: I never had a set role. Some days I closed, some days I started. In the same week, on Friday I’d close and Sunday I’d start. So I never knew what I was getting into or anything like that. I just went out with the pitching coach and started throwing. That’s what it came down to.
TB: When you got to Brooklyn, what happened? Your ERA dropped seven runs.
BP: Wooden bats, I guess. I always felt I could beat people with my fastball, when I started playing with wooden bats, I started throwing in a little more.
For a full transcript of the interview, click here.
Tagged News |
To watch today’s edition of The Nooner, go to TheNoonerBlog.com.
On TheJetsBlog.com, Brian Bassett writes about the ‘intensely close’ QB competition in Jets camp.
Tommy Dee of The Knicks Blog takes a closer look at the Knicks current position regarding the draft, which is just two weeks away.
Over on Adam Zagoria’s Zagsblog.com, there’s a report involving Lance Stephenson and his ever so imminent college decision. One big time SEC school is officially out of the mix…
Tagged News | ← Older posts
