Daily Archives: June 24, 2009
The Mets beat the Cardinals, 11-0, tonight at Citi Field.
To read a full recap, and see the boxscore, go here.
The Least You Should Know:
- Fernando Nieve had another stellar outing, going six innings, while allowing no runs on three hits. Not enough good things can be said about Nieve and his 1.31 ERA thus far. What to do, Omar, what to do?
- David Wright went 4-for-4 with three runs scored.
- Welcome back Ryan Church, who had three opposite field hits, two RBI, and two runs scored.
- With the Mets up 2-0 in the fourth, Nick Evans nearly came out of his shoes with a two-run blast to left field.
- Brian Schneider, who has a three-run homer in each of his last two starts, almost did it again with a two-run double off the Mo’s Zone fence in the sixth inning to give them a 7-0 lead.
- It really fell completely apart for the Cards in the seventh. Errors by the outfielders, and shoddy infield defense allowed four more Mets to score.
Etc, Misc., and Other Stuff:
- You know it’s a good night when Livan Hernandez pinch hits.
- The Mets had five (perhaps six) infield hits.
- Cards reliever Chris Perez should change his name to Ricky Vaughn. I wish I had heard what Tony LaRussa said to him on the mound.
- They successfully pitched Albert Pujols away, away, away all night long.
The Game Ball:
- Goes to the whole team, since nearly everyone had a part in this one.
It is ace versus ace tomorrow as Johan Santana squares off against Chris Carpenter at 1:10 p.m.
Update, 5:32 pm:
Jon Heyman of SI.com says, here, that Carlos Beltran will get a second opinion on his knee from an outside doctor.
According to Heyman, citing a ‘friend,’ Beltran could be out ‘awhile.’
Update, 4:58 pm:
In a post to Twitter, WFAN’s Ed Coleman says Gary Sheffield received a cortisone shot behind his right knee, he’s available to pinch hit tonight, and expects to play this weekend.
For more on Sheffield’s knee, read Hubbuch’s Twitter page, here.
Speaking of WFAN, Mets manager Jerry Manuel will be a guest of Mike Francesa today at 5:25 pm.
To listen live, go to WFAN.com.
Update, 4:41 pm:
Jon Switzer has been designated for assignment, and will be replaced on the roster by Argenis Reyes, just like Adam Rubin of the Daily News suggested on his blog earlier today.
Reyes will be available for tonight’s game, though he is not expected to arrive until game time.
Oliver Perez and John Maine each threw a bullpen session today, and will each make a minor-league rehab start this weekend.
Original Post:
In a post to Twitter, Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post says Gary Sheffield is still having trouble with his knee, and could soon be headed to the DL.
Instead, Alex Cora will bat leadoff tonight, followed in order by Luis Castillo, David Wright, Ryan Church, Fernando Tatis in left field, Fernando Martinez in center field, Nick Evans at first base, Brian Schneider behind the plate, and Fernando Nieve on the mound.
Nieve (2–0, 1.84) will start for the Mets. Nieve pitched back-to-back Quality Starts for the Mets since joining the starting rotation. He has not faced the Cardinals since 2006, when he pitched in relief for the Astros.
Brad Thompson (2–2, 3.89 ERA) will start for the Cardinals. He has pitched 10 times against the Mets in his career, but never as a starting pitcher, during which he is 2–0 with a 3.38 ERA.
Here is the latest New York Baseball Today, during which Matt Cerrone talks with Sam Borden of the Journal News and SNY.TV about A-Rod, Church, and the rest of the New York ball clubs as they prepare for tonight’s games:
In a report for Newsday, Jim Baumbach explains why Daniel Murphy reminds him of Dave Magadan.
Magadan’s best season for the Mets was in 1990, when he hit .328 with 40 extra base hits and 72 RBI, while striking out just 55 times in 144 games.
…i believe murphy can develop slightly more power than magadan, turning him in to a player more like John Olerud, i.e., .320, 15 to 20 HR, 30 or so doubles and no more than 80 strike outs… however, magadan is an interesting comparison…
…by the way, i am very impressed with murph’s defense at first base… in general, the kid is quick… he has quick wrists, he reacts fast to the ball, be it in the box or in the field… it seems like he’s more likely to goof up when he has time to think, i.e., set up under a pop up, judge a line drive, set and throw, etc.… however, when it comes to instant reaction, i.e., turning on an inside fastball, or picking a hot, short hopper to first, he’s pretty slick… much like magadan and olerud…
I am now able to send exclusive text messages to Verizon Wireless customers, which will only be used for breaking news, injuries, and imminent trade rumors that pertain to the Mets.
To sign up, use the form below:
Tagged News |Adam Rubin of the Daily News believes the Mets may soon call up infielder Argenis Reyes from Triple-A Buffalo.
Last season, Reyes was hitting .271 during mid-August, but had just one hit in his final 26 at bats.
…he plays a strong defense… but he’s a pretty weak hitter, even at his best… he’ll be a good back-up infielder on this team, so i hope this happens…
Reyes is batting .296 with nine stole bases and 11 extra base hits in 45 games at Triple-A.
Mets 22–year-old 1B Ike Davis made his Double-A 
debut yesterday, and went 2-for-2 with two walks in a loss for Binghamton.
“I wish we would have won, but it was good to get my feet wet,” Davis told Brian Moritz of the Press & Sun Bulletin. “The first (hit is) always a good one. You don’t want to go seven games without a hit, so it’s good to get that first one out of the way.”
Davis was the first player drafted by the Mets in 2008.
He had been hitting 288 with a .376 OBP, 27 extra base hits and 28 RBI in 59 games in Single-A, during which he struck out 52 times.
By the way…
Moritz also writes, “Mike Antonini has been moved from the B-Mets starting rotation to the bullpen on orders from the big-league club.”
The left-handed Antonini, 23, has a 5.37 ERA with 52 strike outs in 60 innings through with Double-A Binghamton, during which left-handed hitters are batting .293 against him.
For more, check out Toby Hyde on Mets Minor League Blog.
In Newsday, Ken Davidoff explains why ‘the Mets shouldn’t unload their few good trading chips for a short-term benefit… Even if it costs them the 2009 season.”
Yesterday, Omar Minaya told WFAN he is not interested in trading for a player who will be on the team for only ‘a month, or a few months,’ adding, ‘To make a trade, just to play catch up, that, to me, is dangerous.’
…from what i can gather, because of the current economic condititions in this country, there is a record-level premium in the market place on true prospects… i’m not talking about mid-level minor leaguers, or teenage talent… i’m talking about upper echelon players, guys who are close to contributing… this is why i bet we see more deals like the Oliver Perez and Robert Hernandez for Xavier Nady type deal from 2006, or the Jae Seo and Tim Hamulack for Duaner Sanchez and Steve Schmoll type move… old school baseball trades, involving zero-to-three guys and players who fit needs… in other words, put on your thinking cap when drawing up mock trades…
Speaking of trade rumors…
Prior to the Rockies winning 19 of 21 games, Colorado nearly traded RHP Jason Marquis and OF Ryan Spilborghs to the Phillies for J.A. Happ, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
Gary Sheffield did not play yesterday for the second-straight game.
He has just four at bats since last Friday.
Jerry Manuel told reporters that he is trying to keep Sheffield fresh, adding, “It’s no secret that his legs are still somewhat bothering him.”
Sheffield, however, later said:
“I agree with whatever he wants to do. If
I’m in the lineup, I’m ready to go. If I’m not, I have to be prepared to come off the bench, and that’s what I came here for.”
Ummm, what’s the point of getting Sheffield rest, if there is a chance the team can’t score enough runs to stay in the pennant race? Play the man.
I realize Manuel is simultaneously trying to get Fernando Tatis hot, but it isn’t happening… the team needs Sheffield’s punch, as well as his presence right now.
Tatis is batting .248 this season, and just .214 during the last week.
…by the way, any time i have been in or around the team’s clubhouse, sheffield is wearing a Bluetooth in his ear, and it’s massive… i hope one day he forgets to take it out and walks up to the plate with it still in his ear, then steps out of the box to take a call… time out, blue…
Update, 11:00 am:
I’m starting to think the outfield should be Sheffield, Jeremy Reed and Ryan Church. I believe Manuel is trying to get Martinez at bats, because, if he gets it together, he has power, which Reed does not.
The thing is, Martinez isn’t hitting, which is not to say he will never hit, it’s just, right now, the Mets need as much offense as they can get – and if that happens to be singles from Reed, so be it.
In a post to Faith and Fear in Flushing, Greg Prince uses 2,500 words to write about ‘Myths, Realities and Joel Pineiro.’
Speaking of which, Metstradamus asks, “Do the 
Mets orbit around a different colored sun that turns Jo-El Pineiro into a super hero?”
Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post will hold a live chat with fans today on his blog at 12 pm.
In a post to Hot Foot, Rob Harding expresses his dissatisfaction with Jerry Manuel.
Daniel Krieg of Baseball Like it Oughta Be asks Mets fans to cheer Luis Castillo.
Lastly, for more on last night’s loss, check out post-game recaps from Brooklyn Met Fan, Amazin Avenue and Mets Today.
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