Daily Archives: June 22, 2009
Prior today’s game, Jerry Manuel specifically 
mentioned Alex Cora and David Wright, saying both would need to continue to step up and lead this team in the absence of Carlos Beltran, who was put on the 15–day disabled list this afternoon.
Cora was 2 for 4 with two RBI and a walk, hitting leadoff during tonight’s win against the Cardinals.
Cora, speaking to reporters following tonight’s game, said:
“It takes more than five superstars to win a World Series. Tonight was a total team effort. Stokes comes in, in that situation, and gets the best hitter in baseball to hit in to a double play. That’s what it’s going to take, you know. Fernando Martinez gets on a plane, shows up in the seventh, and gets a bunt down… Murphy hits a home run. You know, it’s a total team effort. If you’re gonna talk about team wins, tonight was a great example and that’s what we need to do.”
…i like this message… i’m a sucker for the underdog, so i find i am extra excited to root for this current group of players, knowing they’re looked at as being down and out, with reporters and other fans making fun of them… this is a different kind of a challenge, and i’m glad a guy like cora is around to help lead the fight…
The Mets (35–33) defeated the Cardinals (39–32) by the score of 6 to 4 tonight.
For a boxscore, play by play, and a full recap, go here.
I am excited, and proud of how the Mets played tonight.
I was afraid the Mets might collectively mope around, shrug their shoulders and drop their heads, all in light of today’s news that Carlos Beltran would be joining Jose Reyes, Carlos Delgado, John Maine, Oliver Perez and J.J. Putz on the disabled list.
Instead, the Mets kept their spirits up, and out-hustled, out-hit and out-pitched the first-place Cardinals, and they did it as a team.
In the first inning, the Mets sent six men to the plate and scored two runs using nothing but singles and sac flys.
From that point forward, despite a golf-shot home run from Daniel Murphy, the Mets used a similar, grinding-style of offense – and any time the Cardinals tried to rally back, the Mets followed with a run in the bottom of that inning.
Hat’s off to Tim Redding, who got his first win of the season tonight, and who looked very sharp using all of his pitches, which he commanded quite well.
By the way, the Cardinals should check the pressure on Dennys Reyes, the man’s face looks like it’s going to explode.
In a key moment in the game, during the eighth inning, Brian Stokes set up Albert Pujols to swing at an outside slider, which he hit on the ground for an inning-ending double play, as he represented the tying run.
Best part: Murphy’s animated first pump on the back-end of the play.
Later, also a key moment, Alex Cora wisely noticed the wheel play being used against him by Tony LaRussa, with runners on first and second and no outs, and chose not to bunt, according to Jerry Manuel, instead, swinging and ripping an RBI single to center.
Hat’s off for Luis Castillo leading off the inning with an infield single, which he hustled to beat out.
Castillo made a slick play in the field as well, diving to snag a ground ball up the middle, then throwing to first from his knees.
Hustle. That’s the word that is stuck in my mind. Nice work, guys.
The Mets continue their four-game series with the Cardinals tomorrow night, with Livan Hernandez squaring off against Joel Pineiro.
John Maine pitched four innings and allowed a run on two hits, while walking three and striking out one, for Single-A St. Lucie today.
Maine is currently recovering from a pinched nerve and fatigue in his throwing shoulder.
Update, 8:55 pm, by Matthew Cerrone:
Maine told reporters he feels good, and will throw a bullpen session in two days.
Later, Oliver Perez allowed six runs and seven hits, while walking one, in three innings pitched for St. Lucie.
Carlos Beltran, who had an MRI today, will not be in tonight’s starting lineup.
The Mets optioned Ken Takahashi back to Triple-A Buffalo.
There is no word yet on who will replace Takahashi on the roster, nor is there news of Beltran’s MRI.
Also, it is crazy windy at Citi Field today.
Update, 4:20 pm:
Alex Cora will bat leadoff
tonight, followed in order by Daniel Murphy, David Wright, Fernando Tatis in left field, Ryan Church, Omir Santos, Jeremy Reed in center, Luis Castillo and the pitcher.
Jerry Manuel is expected in the media room soon to address reporters.
The buzz around Citi Field, thanks mostly to Adam Rubin of the Daily News, is that Beltran will be put on the DL, while Fernado Martinez will be promoted from Triple-A, along with LHP Pat Misch.
Update, 4:30 pm:
WFAN’s Ed Coleman says on Twitter that Elmmer Dessens and Misch will be promoted from Triple-A, not the young Martinez.
To follow Coleman on Twitter, go to Twitter.com/WFANMets.
So, at this point, given the TWO call ups, and the one known demotion, I think it’s pretty clear Beltran is going to the disabled list.
Update, 4:42 pm:
Omar Minaya said Beltran will be put on disabled list with a bone bruise on his right knee.
The Mets will recall Fernando Martinez, Elmmer Dessens and Misch, while Takahashi has been optioned to Triple A and Wilson Valdez has been designated for assignment.
Minaya would only say the bruise on Beltran’s knee is getting bigger, because it is bone on bone, though he is confident he can return in two weeks.
Update, 4:52 pm:
Jerry Manuel said Reed and Fernando Martinez will get time in center field.
Update, 4:57 pm:
Brian Stokes will likely be used as tonight’s the eighth-inning guy, as he looks to get Bobby Parnell and Sean Green some rest, Manuel said.
Additionally, Manuel said Fernando Tatis could get time at shortstop and second base.
Tagged News |
Here is the latest New York Baseball Today, during which Ted Berg talks with dan Moore of VivaElBirdos.com and Martin Gandy of TalkingChop.com about the upcoming series between the Mets and Cardinals and the Yankees and Braves:
Tagged News |
In another weekend of Interleague play, the Phillies got swept by the Orioles, the Red Sox won two of three from the Braves, the Marlins upset the Yankees, and the Nationals came away with a series win against the Blue Jays.
Philadelphia managed just eight runs in three games at home against Baltimore and have now dropped six in a row.
…Remarkably, thanks to the rest of the NL East, the Phillies are still in first place despite an abysmal home record of 13-22.
In Boston, Atlanta failed to gain any momentum after defeating the Red Sox, 8-2, on Friday night. Josh Beckett was masterful, and David Ortiz kept up his hot hitting as Boston rebounded to take the final two games against the Braves.
The Yankees brought out the big crowds in Miami this weekend, but the Marlins spoiled the visitors stay by winning two of three from New York.
Josh Johnson ran his record to 7-1 with an impressive performance on Saturday while Hanley Ramirez and Cody Ross provided the spark on Sunday by going deep off the Yankees Brett Tomko.
Finally, in Washington, strong pitching performances from Jordan Zimmerman and Ross Detwiler plus walk-off hits from Willie Harris and Adam Dunn helped lead the Nationals to their second consecutive series win.
Washington’s Nick Johnson was also on fire against Toronto, going 7-for-11 with three doubles, five walks, and an RBI.
…And yes, Manny Acta is STILL the Nationals manager!
For more news, notes, analysis and statistics from around Major League Baseball, be sure to visit Baseball Daily Digest.
Tagged MetsBlog, News |Daniel Murphy is batting .363 in his last five games, while striking out just three times in 22 plate appearances.
“You have to have confidence to hit, but to get hits, you have to be confident,” Murphy said, as quoted by the New York Times.
…actually, i think i read that on a fortune cookie once…
…seriously, though, he’s being more aggressive… he had been taking so many pitches, and missing tons of opportunities, then he’d swing, connect on a crappy pitch, and end up grounding out… he’s making contact… even in his slumps, he’s not striking out at a ridiculous rate… he just wasn’t swinging at good pitches… now he is… i hope it continues…
In a report for the Daily News, Bill Madden wonders how long the Mets can keep relying on players like Fernando Nieve and Omir Santos, ‘before the clock strikes 12 on Jerry Manuel and Cinderella.’
…it is amazing, in that, i love how we spend all off-season mulling over roster moves, making mock lineups, fretting over trades, or the lackthereof, yet, i always end up rooting for guys i never imagined would ever even be on the roster, let alone the center of attention… like nieve, santos, Gary Sheffield, Jon Switzer, and Wilson Valdez, among others… yet, there are are, in the big spot…
…thank you, Phillies, for being a disaster over the last week or so, because it has allowed one day after another to click off the calendar, getting this team closer to the return of Carlos Delgado, John Maine and Oliver Perez, etc., helping to fill out the roster and spread around the burden…
The Mets released Triple-A 1B-OF Wily Mo Pena, as well as Javier Valentin, according to Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post.
To follow Hubbuch on Twitter, log on to Twitter.com/NYPost_Mets.
Tagged News |Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd told the Denver Post he is not likely to trade OF Brad Hawpe this season.
“That’s something you would only do strategically, for the big picture,” O’Dowd said. “That would be something for the offseason, if at all.”
The Rockies have won 16 of their last 17 games, and are now 1.5 
games back of the National League Wild Card.
Last week, Hawpe told the Denver Post that if he is traded, he will void the option in his contract and become a free agent at the end of next season.
On Friday, Jon Heyman of SI.com listed Hawpe among four players who the Mets should consider acquiring, along with Nationals OF Adam Dunn, O’s 1B Aubrey Huff or Indians infielder Mark DeRosa.
…in case you missed it, here, i’m on the Dunn Train, if only the Nationals weren’t asking so much in return…
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