Daily Archives: June 17, 2009
The Mets lost to the Orioles, 6–4, tonight in Baltimore.
To read a full recap, and see the boxscore, go here.
The Least You Should Know:
- Tim Redding pitched OK, not bad, not really good, allowing four runs in 5.1 innings on seven hits, including a home run to Matt Wieters.
- The left-handed hitting Aubrey Huff hit a game-breaking two-run home run off of Pedro Feliciano in the seventh inning.
- The Mets sent seven men to the plate in the sixth inning, but only scored two runs, including a home run from Gary Sheffield.
Etc, Misc., and Other Stuff:
- Feliciano pitched in seven of the last nine games for the Mets, but tonight he just didn’t have it, including a spinner to Huff – acceptable, I suppose, since he’s been so good for so long this season.
- I like that Ryan Church layed down a bunt for a hit to start the sixth inning.
- Daniel Murphy had two opposite-field hits tonight, while Fernando Martinez hit the ball hard in three at bats, one of which jumped the right field fence for a ground-rule double.
- Martinez probably could have robbed a home run early in the game, but he misjudged the wall, never left his feet, and looked confused.
- I am not sure why Jerry Manuel pinch hit Fernando Tatis for Fernando Martinez, who had been swinging the bat well tonight. Then, Tatis swings at the first pitch he sees, hitting in to an inning-ending double play, despite the pitcher having had walked in a run on the previous batter. This could have been a much bigger rally than it was.
- David Wright was hitless in five at bats, including two strikeouts. I wonder if this is the start of the next 20–game down cycle? Man, I hope not, though I am starting to believe their inevitable.
- I can’t believe Gary Sheffield is tied for the team lead in home runs with eight. He’s been hitting well of late, but he’s been able to be a DH. I wonder how he’ll adjust to playing in the field again this weekend.
- Redding did not have any bite on that new-found cutter. Also, he had trouble controlling his secondary pitches, and actually walked a couple of batters with change-ups, which is weird.
- By the way, Huff was 2 for 3 with a HR and a walk.
The Mets conclude their three-game series with the Orioles in Baltimore tomorrow night, with Livan Hernandez on the hill.
Tonight’s Game:
Weather permitting, the Mets (33-29, 15-18 Road) continue their three-game series against the Orioles (27-37, 19-17 Home) tonight in Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland, starting at 7:05 p.m.
On The Mound:
- RHP Tim Redding (0-2, 6.18 ERA) starts for the Mets. Redding allowed three runs over 7.0 IP in his last start, a no-decision, on June 11 versus the Phillies. Opponents are batting .227 when Redding throws strike one and his holding batters to a .194 BAA with runners in scoring position. Redding is 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA in one career game versus the Orioles and has not faced them since 2003.
- RHP Koji Uehara (2-4, 4.37 ERA) takes the hill for the Orioles. Uehara took the loss in his first start since coming off the 15-day disabled list on June 11 versus the Mariners, allowing four runs on seven hits over 5.0 IP. He has allowed just four walks over his last 37.2 IP. This is Uehara’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.
Jerry Manuel talked with WFAN’s Mike Francesa today, which you can listen to here.
During the interview, Manuel said Johan Santana is healthy, and just finished throwing a strong bullpen session.
Manuel said he is still concerned about his team’s offense.
He acknowledged that Fernando Martinez and Daniel Murphy are not providing the level of production, i.e., power, the team needs right now.
He added, if the team is not winning games, and Martinez and Murphy do not show improvement, the Mets will need to reconsider their involvement – however, if the team is winning, he has no problem sticking with them.
Manuel said, at this point, Jose Reyes still has a week or so of rest ahead of him, before he even begins a rehab program.
…here is an exchange between manuel and francesa, which ended the interview, that i found noteworthy…
Mike Francesa: So, this team’s resilience has kept you from getting frustrated with this group?
Jerry Manuel: No question.
Mike Francesa: So, as long as you stay around where you are now in the standings you can hold off doing anything major? Is that where you think this organization is right now?
Jerry Manuel: Yeah, that’s the way I feel… It’s not so much as the standings as it is being above .500…
Mike Francesa: This is a strange year, isn’t it? For you and your team, this has become a very strange year.
Jerry Manuel: Oh yeah, this is something else here.
Mike Francesa: But, you and the team seem to be holding up pretty well. I gotta tell you, I’m mildly surprised and mildly impressed. The team has hung in their very well.
Jerry Manuel: Yeah, well, I think we have some people that understand and have been through some things here, and are still here, that understand what it takes to compete here. They really understand how important winning is to New York, and I think that’s what is carrying this team.
Mike Francesa: You like this team?
Jerry Manuel: I love the team.
Mike Francesa: Well, that says it. Do you have a good feeling about how this is going to work out?
Jerry Manuel: You know what, I feel good. I’d feel real good if those other two guys could show up, I’d really feel good (laughing).
Mike Francesa: You mean your shortstop and your first baseman?
Jerry Manuel: Yeah, I feel like, man, we’d really have something going here then.
Mike Francesa: I think the way it sounded is the way it is. The Mets are basically playing this season day to day. If they go in to a deep hole they’d be forced to do something. Each day they click a day off the schedule and get closer to re-enforcements, be it Maine, Perez, Reyes and eventually Delgado, they can wait and not hold up… They do not consider the Phillies to be the number. They number the consider is hailing distance of five over .500. The feeling is, if they can stay within a game or two or five over .500, that they can launch a Wild Card bid from there… So, as long as they don’t lose touch with that, they’ll sit tight as long as they’re close to that number, and they are. And, ironically, just three games behind the Phillies.
Alex Cora will lead off tonight and play SS, followed by Fernando Martinez in LF, Carlos Beltran in CF, David Wright at 3B, Ryan Church in RF, Gary Sheffield at DH, Daniel Murphy at 1B, Brian Schneider catching, and Luis Castillo at 2B.
According to David Lennon in a post to Twitter, the grounds crew has recently removed the tarp from the field.
Update, 4:49 pm:
David Lennon in a post to Twitter has reported that the tarp is back on the field as it is raining once again.
Regis Courtemanche: The Mets have made it continually harder for me to focus on the positives lately. A big reason is because they have eight players on the disabled list. If you could get any one back right now, who would it be, and do you think it would be enough to make an immediate impact?
Ted Berg: While I think the Mets could really use Jose Reyes’ bat and glove right now, if we’re playing with hypotheticals I’d love to see Carlos Delgado back for a couple of reasons. I think first base is one position at which they can most reasonably expect to add a bat if need be, so if Delgado could (magically) return early, they could get a sense of what they are going to get from him going moving forward. We’ve seen guys make full recoveries from hip injuries, so if Delgado could come back and hit like he did in the second half of 2008, all of a sudden the need for a power bat doesn’t look so glaring. If he looks like the injury is going to affect him all year, the Mets should get a better sense of their deadline approach.
Matthew Cerrone: I’d probably say the healthy, dominant J.J. Putz – or Billy Wagner – because order in the bullpen and shortening the game is so important. However, right now, I think I agree with Ted, I’d bring back Delgado, because the bullpen is useless if the team can’t score runs. The lineup is in dire need of instant offense, and someone to take pressure off of everyone, including David Wright and Jose Reyes. Delgado from the second-half of last season would make a significant impact on this roster.
Regis Courtemanche: Not to be a broken record, but I would choose a healthy Delgado as well. They need a big bat, especially if Gary Sheffield‘s knee gets any worse. Having Reyes return will be very nice in terms of getting things started, but every team needs some threat of power to reach that next level. Without it, the Mets will continue to hover around mediocrity.
Mike Baron: Agreeing with everyone, I would have to say Delgado. He would be a huge lift for an offense which has struggled to score runs consistently. He would provide depth, support, and a sorely missed presence to the middle of the lineup and can help carry the load. While he isn’t a gold glove winner, Delgado would also bring a known quantity back to first base.
Mike Nichols: While I agree Delgado would bring presence and stability back to the middle of the order, I still think Jose Reyes is the most important everyday component on this team. With David Wright and Carlos Beltran seemingly gearing their approach towards playing in Citi Field, Reyes would only compliment them and make the Mets offense more dynamic. Plus, the speed and defense Reyes provides is much more reliable than hoping a 37-year old slugger coming off hip surgery can return to his former self.
Tagged Mike Nichols, Regis Courtemanche, Ted Berg |
Here is the latest New York Baseball Today, during which Ted Berg talks with SNY Mets analyst Bobby Ojeda about situational pitching involving 0-1 and 1-0 counts and how they pertain to tonight’s matchup for the Mets and Yanks:
Tagged News |
My regularly-scheduled guest appearance on The Natural with Greg Marotta on WVNJ 1160 AM will be today at 4:40 pm.
To listen live, tune in to 1160 AM, or go here.
Tagged News |Boston talk-radio host Danny Picard suggests, on his blog I’m Jusy Sayin, 
that, in the off season, the Red Sox should offer RHP Clay Buchholz, top prospect RHP Michael Bowden, OF Jacoby Ellsbury and SS Jed Lowrie to the Mets for SS Jose Reyes.
…it’s too early for this type of talk, and, despite him being on the disabled list, there is zero chance reyes is traded this season… but, i will say this, if the Mets do not make the post season, and if the year ends with a whimper, talk of breaking up the core will once again resurface… and, a deal like this would be interesting to talk about…
Buchholz is 4–0 with a 1.75 ERA in 11 starts in Triple-A.
Meanwhile, Bowden, 22, is 3–3 with a 2.48 ERA in Triple-A, and was ranked at roughly the same level as Jon Niese in Baseball America’s Top 100 list.
The 25–year-old Ellsbury, who starts in center and bats leadoff, is hitting .296 with a .351 OBP and 84 stolen bases in 236 games during his three-year career.
[poll id="267"]
To watch today’s edition of The Nooner, go to TheNoonerBlog.com.
On The Giants Football Blog, Gary Grund has reports from around the NFC East.
Brian Bassett of TheJetsBlog.com writes about Brandon Marshall being slightly over rated.
Lastly, on The Knicks Blog, Tommy Dee gives talks about why he believes we will be seeing Ricky Rubio in blue and Orange come June 25th.
Tagged News |
According to Adam Rubin in the Daily News, Billy Wagner told Dan Warthen that he could be pitching two innings in the major leagues in 30 days.
However, Warthen told Rubin 30 days is way to early for Wagner to return, though he is expected to be back with Mets by mid-August.
Last week, on WFAN’s Boomer and Carton, John Franco said Billy Wagner is pitching from a mound and throwing over 90 mph.
…i know, i know… i’m imagining it too… one step at a time, though…
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