Daily Archives: June 19, 2009
Prior to tonight’s game, Omar Minaya told reporters that he believes Fernando Martinez’s time with the Mets was positive.
Minaya said Nick Evans will give Jerry Manuel a right-handed bat to use from the bench, as opposed to the left-handed hitting Martinez, who should be getting regular playing time in Triple-A.
…the sense i get, from listening to minaya, is that evans will be with the team for a week or so, at which point he could go down in place of Angel Pagan, who is getting closer to coming back…
Manuel later said Evans will split time with Daniel Murphy at first base, noting it will be a bit of a juggling act considering Fernando Tatis.
Manuel may also look to use Evans in the outfield, as well, though, he said, most every one’s playing time revolves around Gary Sheffield.
…the way i hear this, murphy is the first baseman, sheff is the left fielder, and jerry will rotate evans and tatis in and out of each position as guys need rest while certain match-ups favor certain hitters…
…in other words, Ryan Church is the right fielder…
Tagged Omar Minaya |
The Mets beat the Rays, 5–3, tonight at Citi Field.
To read a full recap, and see the boxscore, go here.
The Least You Should Know:
- Fernando Nieve pitched extremely well again, going six innings while only allowing one run on three hits. He also set the Rays down in order on two occasions.
- In the second, Brian Schneider hit a three-run bomb into the Mets’ bullpen to give them a 3-0 lead.
- Bobby Parnell came in with a 4-1 Mets lead in the seventh, only to give up two runs on a double by B.J. Upton. Pedro Feliciano then cleaned up his mess.
- With runners on first and second in the eighth, Sean Green struck out Gabe Gross and Jason Bartlett to narrowly escape any damage.
- Ryan Church drove in Carlos Beltran in the bottom of the frame to give the Mets a 5-3 lead. He also swiped two bases on the night.
- K-Rod had a redemptive effort tonight to earn his 18th save by pitching a 1-2-3 ninth.
Etc, Misc., and Other Stuff:
- Carl Crawford looks like Cliff Floyd.
- Daniel Murphy is now 7-13 in his last three games, and looks like he once again means business.
- Gary pointed out that B.J. Upton’s real first name is Melvin, and B.J. stands for ‘Bossman Junior’ in honor of his father, who knew.
- I am scoreboard watching.
The Game Ball:
- Goes to Fernando Nieve for putting forth an excellent effort on the hill tonight. And I suppose Brian Schneider can have the seams for his homer.
Johan Santana tries to get back on the horse against Jamie Shields tomorrow afternoon starting at 4:10 p.m.
Gary Sheffield returns to left field tonight, as the Mets return to the National League, while Daniel Murphy will again start at first base and bat second.
Alex Cora will bat leadoff, followed in order by Murphy, then Carlos Beltran, David Wright, Sheffield in left, Ryan Church in right field, Brian Schneider, Luis Castillo, and Fernando Nieve on the mound.
Update, 4:13 pm:
The Mets claimed LHP Arturo Lopez off waivers from the Padres, and assigned him to Triple-A Buffalo.
Lopez appeared in just four games for the Padres this season, allowed five runs and seven hits in two innings, and was then put on waivers.
He had a 3.77 ERA with 23 strikeouts and 13 walks in 31 innings in relief for the Padres Triple-A affiliate.
Update, 4:20 pm:
In a post to Twitter, Newsday’s David Lennon gives an update on Jose Reyes, who will take grounders before today’s game.
…good… because, i get the sense that, if this rest and rehab does not work, we may start hearing buzz about potential surgery… good luck, jose…
Update, 5:16 pm:
Lennon has another update, here, on Reyes, who will not take ground balls, but who did play catch today.
Lennon also posts information on John Maine, per Omar Minaya.
According to Adam Rubin of the Daily News, “Nick Evans will be promoted to the Mets.”
Evans is batting .360 with a .407 OBP, including 10 extra base hits, over the last two weeks for Double-A Binghamton.
Rubin does not report who will be demoted, though he speculates it may be Fernando Martinez.
… good bet… evans is hitting left-handed pitching well in the minors, and he hit well against lefties last season for the Mets… the thing is, Daniel Murphy hits better against left-handed pitching, as well… so, it’s not like the two of them could be a straight platoon… the same can be said for Fernando Tatis, actually…
Update, 4:01 pm:
The Mets have sent Fernando Martinez back to Triple-A Buffalo, while recalling Evans from Binghamton.
Tagged Nick Evans |In a report full of news, notes and rumors from around MLB, Jon Heyman of SI.com says rival General Managers are saying Omar Minaya is looking to upgrade his team’s offense, ‘now.’
Heyman believes the Mets are most interested in finding a player who can play both first base and outfield, so he can shift to left field when Carlos Delgado returns from the disabled list.
Heyman suggests Rockies OF Brad Hawpe, Nationals OF Adam Dunn, O’s 1B Aubrey Huff and Indians infielder Mark DeRosa.
According to Buster Olney, in a post to his blog for ESPN.com, the Mets can add roughly $5 million to their payroll.
…the answer is dunn…
…i tried to deny it, but, it’s starting to become pretty clear…
…he solves their biggest problem, which is power and instant offense… and the thing is, he’s guaranteed to do so… i mean, that’s what he does… he hits monster home runs… a guy like derosa or huff, who knows how they’ll translate in Citi Field… maybe they’ll just have warning track power, like every one else… dunn, however, will ‘take it to the bridge,’ like James Brown used to say…
In fact, as SNY.TV’s Ted Berg pointed out to me in an e-mail, according to Hit Tracker Online, Dunn led the league last season in No 
Doubt Home Runs, which is a home run that cleared the fence by at least 20 vertical feet AND landed at least 50 feet past the fence.
Dunn was second in No Doubt Home Runs during 2007, and again led the league in 2006.
…bingo, ted… dunn solves the problem…
… sure he k’s, but the team as whole moves the line enough that they can live with it… plus, when he isn’t striking out or hitting a 500–foot home run, he’s walking…
…his defense is a liability… he makes Daniel Murphy look like a Gold Glove winner… in left and at first… but, you take the good with the bad, i guess, and it’s hard to deny what he’d bring to the lineup in terms of pop and weight and added stability…
However, yesterday, also on ESPN.com, Jayson Stark said the Nationals are asking for an ‘astronomical price,’ for Dunn.
…frankly, i get zero sense the Nationals even plan to trade dunn, which is probably why the price is so high… i mean, he gives them some credibility, he’s entertaining because of his mammoth home runs, and he’ll earn $10 million next season… and so, i’ve been hearing the Nationals will even pick up part of the tab on dunn, but in return they’d want a guy like Bobby Parnell, plus a position prospect… to me, this seems like a lot to give up…
For more, check out Ben Shpigel in the New York Times, where he points out just how weak the Mets have been at first base since Delgado’s surgery.
In case you’re wondering, following last night’s loss to the O’s, the Mets are 2–7 in the rubber game of a series this season.
Tagged Stats |
In the six games Gary Sheffield has started at DH with the Mets, he is batting .416 with four extra base hits and five RBI.
However, starting today, Sheffield will need to begin playing defense in left field, as the Mets return to the National League.
“It gave me a chance to give my legs a rest, and to get more treatment than usual and to not run around as much,” Sheffield told reporters, as quoted by USA Today.
…frankly, at this point, i think the Mets should demote Fernando Martinez, assuming sheffield and Ryan Church will get the majority of at bats – as they should…
…my guess is jerry finds at bats for martinez, switching out church and resting sheffield from time to time, until Angel Pagan is ready to return from the disabled list, at which point martinez will return to Buffalo.
The Washington Nationals came to play again on Thursday, shutting out the Yankees, 3-0.
After a three hour rain delay, starter Craig Stammen tossed 6 1/3 scoreless innings, and Ryan Zimmerman and Cristian Guzman knocked out three hits apiece to lead Washington to a series win over the Bronx Bombers.
…I can only imagine the pressure Joe Girardi is feeling after this one.
Nate McLouth homered and drove in four runs, and rookie phenom Tommy Hanson ran his record to 2-0 with six strong innings on the mound as Atlanta shut out Cincinnati, 7-0.
…Hanson allowed just three hits in six innings as he seems to be settling into a nice little groove now.
Elsewhere, Florida defeated Boston, 2-1, in a rain-shortened game at Fenway Park, and Rod Barajas hit a ninth inning home run against his former team to lead the Blue Jays to an 8-7 victory and a series sweep of the Phillies.
…According to MLB.com, Barajas is hitting .500 against Philadelphia with four home runs and ten RBI since he left the team in 2007!
For more news, notes, analysis and statistics from around Major League Baseball, be sure to visit Baseball Daily Digest.
Tagged MetsBlog, News |
Fernando Nieve will start Wednesday against the Cardinals, while John Maine will pitch in another extended spring-training game, after which he could replace Nieve in the rotation around July 1, or at least that is the popular opinion.
Yesterday, according to the Associated Press, Maine threw a 60–pitch simulated game in St. Lucie, after which Guy Conti said Maine still felt a pinch in his shoulder, though it is less painful then it had been during his last start.
Meanwhile, Oliver Perez pitched three, pain-free innings in an extended spring-training game.
From what I can gather, Perez could hopefully re-join the Mets at some point around the All-Star break, following a few more minor-league rehab starts.
In a post to his blog for 1050 ESPN Radio, Rich Coutinho asks, “What is really going on with John Maine.
Coutinho still believes Perez will return to the Mets before Maine.
Tagged News |In a post to Mets Merized Online, Gregga says, ‘MLB needs to wake up,’ in regards to how teams treat fans during rain delays.
…i hear ya, gregga… i don’t typically feel bad for Yankees fans, but, yesterday, on the train home from New York, around 5 pm, i saw lots of fathers and disappointed sons, wet, in Yankee garb, trucking back home after waiting five hours in the rainy Bronx before giving up and heading home… what’s worse, dad probably paid serious money for parking or train tickets, for lunches, drinks, merchandise, etc., and then couldn’t stick around to watch the game… that stinks, man…
James K of Amazin Avenue takes a look at the viability of the Player-Manager, and wonders who on the Mets roster could pull it off.
…it is an interesting thought, and fun to discuss… of course, this conversation inevitably makes me wonder why the manager is still wearing a full uniform… i mean, is Bobby Cox really going to pinch run… does Jerry Manuel need to wear the stirrups and belt and uniform pants… wouldn’t a windbreaker and sweat pants work just as well… think about it, no other sports do this… imagine Bill Parcells on the sideline in full pads and a helmet… or Pat Reilly in a tie and 
shorts… too funny…
In a post to the Daily Stache, Andrew Cavagnaro argues in favor of retiring Mike Piazza’s number 31.
…by the way, MetsBlog reader Bobby K made a cool suggestion to me the other day, saying the area with the tables and chairs, beneath the Bridge in Citi Field, next to the Big Apple Reserved seats, should be named The Piazza, which is pretty damn clever…
Josh Lewin of Subway Squakers says, ‘Not say fast on Aubrey Huff.’
Jon Paul Morosi posts a Q&A with Chipper Jones on FoxSports.com.
In a post to his MLB Blog, MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann wonders what life would be like for the Mets if Francisco Rodriguez injured himself.
…nice post, keith… now shut it… shut your trap, man… are you crazy…
Lastly, for more on last night’s loss to the Orioles, read post-game recaps from Brooklyn Met Fan, It’s Mets for Me, the Real Dirty and Mets Today.
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