Daily Archives: July 2, 2009
The Mets defeated the Pirates by the score of 9-to-8 this afternoon.
For a full recap and box score, click here.
The Least You Should Know:
Tim Redding was ineffective this afternoon allowing five runs on six hits in just 2 1/3 innings. He threw a ton of breaking pitches and could not throw them consistently for strikes.
The Mets overcame Redding’s poor performance with two runs in the fourth inning, four runs in the fifth, and two runs in the sixth.
However, Francisco Rodriguez blew his third save of the season after allowing a two run home run to Adam LaRoche in the bottom of the ninth inning.
But Ryan Church saved the day with a game winning RBI single in the top of the tenth to score Fernando Tatis, who had a big day with three hits, scoring four runs including his third home run of the year – his first since May 13.
Omir Santos broke his 0 for 19 streak with a long double to center field in the 9th inning.
Everyone in the starting lineup had at least one hit.
Other Observations and Notes:
The game was delayed at the start for 30 minutes, and then again three batters into the game for 43 more minutes due to rain.
I felt like I was on a roller coaster at Six Flags today, but “resiliency” was a major theme this afternoon.
The team showed a lot of character today – I have to admit that I thought the Mets were going down that familiar path, falling way behind early and going through the motions, but they overcame their first five run deficit of the season today and also overcame a blown save by Rodriguez.
There were encouraging signs offensively today as there was good situational hitting up and down the lineup – something that the team has lacked for most of the year – including opposite field hits by Tatis and Church and a big sacrifice fly to left field by Jeremy Reed.
Francisco Rodriguez’s control has become a major problem, and it almost cost the Mets a huge victory.
A win is a win no matter who the Mets play and no matter how they get it, and this was a big one.
The Mets open a three game series against the Phillies in Philadelphia tomorrow night at 7:05 pm with Livan Hernandez facing Rodrigo Lopez.
Tagged Michael Baron |
This morning I was a guest of Kim Jones and Adam Gerstenhaber on WFAN, during which we talked about blogging, the Mets, and the up-coming trade deadline.
To listen to the interview, click play below, or scroll down a transcript:
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Lastly, to listen live to WFAN, online, all day and all night, click here.
Kim Jones: How much does yesterday’s game (from Mike Pelfrey) change the outlook… Do fans feel better about the team today?
Matthew Cerrone: You know, I interact with hundreds sometimes thousands of fans every day, whether it’s through the comments section, or on e-mail, or on Twitter, and it’s roller coaster. It’s been that way for years now. I’m a Jets fan also, so I’m used to it. But, that’s the way it is…
Yesterday was awesome, since the day before, obviously, was really rough, but who knows what today will bring, and that’s just the way it goes. At the end of the day, though, I think we’re all still kind of shell-shocked from the end of the last couple of seasons that it’s hard to buy in to any kind of winning streak or excitement or hope. I mean, even when things were going well this season in May, we were wondering, ‘Yeah, but, will it continue, and what’s gonna happen on that last day of the season.’ That’s always in the backs of our minds. So, as great as yesterday was, there’s still that concern…
Adam Gerstenhaber: Do you think we’re gonna see a deal this season before the trade deadline at the end of the month?
Matthew Cerrone: Everyone is demanding that magic-bullet deal, but it’s obviously not out there. It’s not like Omar Minaya is just sitting behind his desk, reading the newspaper and killing time. Obviously, they’re looking and if the deal was out there they’d do it. My hunch is they’re looking for the kind of player they got in Xavier Nady back in 2006, you know, somebody who is under contract, who can be with them beyond this season, probably arbitration eligible so the small market team doesn’t want to continue to pay them. The names that keep popping up, be it from Ken Rosenthal, Jon Heyman, these guys, are names like Mark Teahen, Ryan Spilborghs, players like that.
Actually, I wanted to ask Kim about Alex Rios. The Globe & Mail wrote a report saying Rios could be had for a bag of balls, as the Jays try to save money to work to sign Roy Halladay. I don’t much about Rios. But, I know it would be like signing him to a five-year, $60 million deal. Kim, what do you make of him, because I know you’re seen him a lot?
Kim Jones: He is a guy who is supremely talented as they come, but who has never really put it all together… He’d be an intriguing guy to go get, but I guess I’d ask you, Matthew, what do the Mets have in the minor league system that they’d be willing to give up and how intrigued would other teams be – because, what you hear is the Mets don’t have a lot to offer that what other teams want?
Matthew Cerrone: Well, it always matters how they match up with the team that’s interested. So, for instance, a team like the Indians, Bobby Parnell made perfect sense, they were clearly looking for a closer and Perez is who they were seeking, but they were interested in Parnell. So, the Mets have those players… They draw a lot of interest in guys like Wilmer Flores, Brad Holt, Jennry Mejia… These guys get rave reviews, but they’re really young and it’s hard to build deals around them… This is why I keep going back to those players like Teahen, Spilborghs, these guys who are under contract, who the other team probably wants to get out from under, yet a team like the Mets can take them on without giving a whole lot to get them. They’re not great hitters, they’re not game changers, but they’re bodies, they fill in and they factor in to the future. My hunch is we’re looking at players like that, so they can protect the farm system.
Adam Gerstenhaber: Sure, but would they trade the big-time prospect to get the big-time player, if they could get him?
Matthew Cerrone: From what I hear, no… To me, it comes down to other teams who are interested, like the Red Sox. Let’s just say for the sake of argument the Mets are looking for Adam Dunn or Matt Holliday, a team like the Cardinals have a richer farm system, if they’re equally interested then they’re gonna get him, the Red Sox will get him. So, even if the Mets were willing, I think these other teams may have better packages to put together.
Tagged WFAN |
This week on Mets Weekly, Julie Alexandria sits down with David Wright, who talks openly about hitting at Citi Field, where he has intentionally shortened his swing to hit the ball to the gaps.
Later, Julie gets a tour of the Citi Field control room, where she explores player at bat music and how to launch the Home Run Apple.
Lastly, the show looks back at the 2000 Mets, who made it to the World Series with Jay Payton, Benny Agbayani and Timo Perez.
Mets Weekly will premiere this weekend, Sat., July 4 at 12 pm.
Ryan Church will start in center field today, and David Wright is once again in the starting lineup.
Luis Castillo will lead off followed by Alex Cora, Wright, Gary Sheffield in right field, Fernando Tatis in left field, Church, Nick Evans at first base, and Omir Santos.
Tim Redding (1-3, 6.35 ERA) will start for the Mets. Redding pitched well into the sixth inning against the Yankees last Saturday, but he allowed four runs in the sixth and took the loss. He has allowed five home runs in his last 17 2/3 innings pitched.
Paul Maholm (5-4, 4.35 ERA) will start for the Pirates. Maholm rebounded well in his last outing against the Royals after two very rough outings against the Rockies and Twins in which he allowed 13 runs and 22 hits in just 10 innings over those two starts.
The tarp is on the field at PNC Park.
Tagged Michael Baron |Kiley McDaniel of Baseball Prospectus is reporting that the Mets have signed left handed pitcher Juan Urbina, the son of former Major Leaguer Ugueth Urbina.
Urbina will receive a bonus of over $1 million.
Tagged Michael Baron, News |Prior to yesterday’s game, Jerry Manuel had offered David Wright the day off against the Brewers.
Wright declined that offer, to which he told reporters:
“He knows that I’d rather play than not play. He kind of knows how I felt. We talked a little bit [Tuesday]. He knew I wanted to play.”
Prior to yesterday’s 0 for 4 at the plate, Wright had hit .351 (13 for 37) with three doubles, one home run and three RBI in his ten prior games.
Tagged Michael Baron |Prior to yesterday’s game against the Brewers, the Mets did not take batting practice and all of their normal pre game activities, instead arriving at Miller Park all together on a team bus.
According to Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post players normally arrive to visiting ballparks in taxi cabs, but Jerry Manuel ordered a “team-building exercise.”
Francisco Rodriguez told reporters that it “was a little weird” but “hopefully, that will bring us together and keep us together and start us playing in the right way. We win, so that means it’s a good thing.”
…i am not sure that this will necessarily translate into wins, but i do think that it is important that this group of players be brought together in some way since they had never played together before the injuries set in to the core group…
Tagged Michael Baron |After yesterday’s 1-0 win over the Brewers, Jerry Manuel was asked about Mike Pelfrey‘s outing, to which he said:
“…that was huge for us…he economized his pitches…when the starting pitching goes out there, works fast, throws strikes, pretty much keeps the ball on the ground, he keeps everybody involved and thats what the big fella did today – he kept everybody involved and that’s a big effort for us. We needed to have that type of effort against another quality starter…that was big for us…”
In response David Wright‘s tough day at the plate and being a leader, Manuel said:
“…David shows up ready to play…unfortunately he didn’t have a good day…that guy was a very good pitcher and he is still a part of the leadership…he’ll be ok.”
…i don’t understand why the question of leadership always comes up when the Mets struggle – in my mind, the team lacking leadership is not the main issue right now; its the fact that they are missing 40% of their starting rotation and three core players, among others…and as far as Wright’s leadership abilities are concerned I think that anyone questioning him should remember what he did in the dugout to Pelfrey in Baltimore last month…
The Brooklyn Met Fan believes that yesterday’s game could be a pivotal moment in Mike Pelfrey‘s career.
In a post to Amazin Avenue, Sam Page breaks down Pelfrey’s pitch selection from yesterday while analyzing the movement of his slider.
Meanwhile, Ed Ryan from Mets Fever discusses changes he would make to the Mets roster without making a trade.
Finally, for more on yesterday’s game, check out Faith and Fear in Flushing, Mets Today, Flushing Faithful, and Mets Fans Forever.
Tagged News |
This morning at 7 am, I will be a guest on WFAN to talk blogging, the Mets and the trade market.
To listen live, click here.
…wish me luck…
…i had a wisdom tooth pulled around 12 hours ago… so, if i sound like Don Corleone, you’ll know why…
Tagged WFAN |
