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Michael Baron

Pre Game: Mets vs. Phillies (Game One)
By Michael Baron - Jul 3, 2009 3:42 pm

The Mets (39-39) open a three game series tonight against the Phillies (39-37) at Citizens Bank Park tonight.

Alex Cora will lead off tonight followed by Daniel Murphy, David Wright, Gary Sheffield in right field, Ryan Church in center field, Fernando Tatis at second base, Nick Evans in left field, and Brian Schneider.

Livan Hernandez (5-3, 4.04 ERA) will start tonight for the Mets. Hernandez is coming off another fine outing against the Yankees despite losing his second consecutive outing, and he has gone atleast seven innings in six of his last eight starts. Lifetime he is 10-8 with a 3.36 ERA in 24 career starts against the Phillies.

Rodrigo Lopez (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will start tonight for the Phillies. Lopez is making his first Major League appearance since 2007 when he was with the Rockies. Lopez is 65-65 with a 4.80 ERA lifetime with the Padres, Orioles and the Rockies and he is making his first career start against the Mets tonight.

59 Responses to “Pre Game: Mets vs. Phillies (Game One)”

  1. Off-topic: But does who on here thinks the Mets could//should pursue the Cuban LHP Aroldis Chapman this offseason?

    They say he throws 100+ mph from the left side, with a plus slider and a plus curveball…

    Knowing Omar’s relationship with international players (mainly latino), my gut feeling is the Mets will be key players in signing this kid. They say he is 21 years old, but either way, he’s got nasty stuff and could really serve as a #2 or #3 to Santana & Pelfrey in that rotation…

    Any thoughts?

    • truebluesince62 says:

      WBC records show him as 26.

      • Yes, but everyone else (including BR) reports his DOB as being September 11, 1987…

        Even if he was 26, however, he is still very young and should be seriously considered, no? Especially given the lack of depth in our upper-level farm system.

        • WSeda22 says:

          Jon Heyman posted on his twitter that he feels the Yanks will most likely sign him since it’ll come down to finances.
          On another note, whether he is 21 or 26 (I believe he is 26 as most athletes will try to decrease their age) he would be a good pickup. I read somewhere that he stated he understands he needs to work on his secondary pitches to become a better pitcher and make his fastball more effective. After watching him during the WBC I’d say he has potential.

          • Constnza81 says:

            It sounds like the kid is going to need seasoning in the minors. So do you give Contreras money to a guy you might have to wait a year or two for? Plus, he showed a major lack of maturity during the WBC. Let the Yankees have that bust in waiting on their payroll. I know he’s years away, but I’m very excited the Mets inked Urbina, the “best pitching prospect to come out of Venezuela in five years.”

  2. wright5murph28 says:

    looks like jerry wants his best offensive team in….finally

    • Great time to do it, to…

      It’s amazing to even think this team has a chance to be in first place by Monday…unreal

      • wright5murph28 says:

        you right, it is amazing, which is exactly why i cant figure out why people take 1 loss like its the end of the world..last monday the season was over….theres a chance that this monday…this team could be tied for 1st or in 1st and this team will be loved..funny how quickly things change.

        • You gotta wonder what this team’s record would be with a better coach…

          • wright5murph28 says:

            my only gripe with jerry is how he handles players playing time…it seems like he has a quick leash for anyone who struggles who isnt named wright, beltran, delgado, reyes…..i think church is proving that he can be a good complimentary player to the core, and hes starting to show that maybe what he did last year wasnt a fluke….with that being said…once the core guys get back..jerry needs to name a starting 1B, LF, and RF and just let them play…only taking them out for rest or if they are banged up…he needs to work on not “over” platooning to the point where every lefty u have gets taken out against a left hander…no continuity

            • wright5murph28 says:

              a perfect example of what im talking about is yesterdays game, maholm is really tough on left handers, but he had no choice but to put church and cora in and they each had two hits a piece off of maholm….theres no way that church and murphy are that big of liabilities against lefties…specially with wright…beltran…reyes in the lineup who all hit well from the right side

              • Constnza81 says:

                his heavy platooning also ultimatley weakens the team’s versatility later in games. When he gets a lineup together he needs to let some guys not named Cora and Wright hit against their bad side from time to time because it allows them to have a lefty or righty waiting on the bench for a pinch hitting situation – not all righties or lefties.

  3. ditas says:

    I don’t agree with Tatis playing second base today. Livan is a contact pitcher who relies heavily on the double play so I would want my best two defensive players at second and shortstop. Put Tatis at first and keep Murphy on the bench, he seems to be a better pinch-hitter than a starter anyway.

    • wright5murph28 says:

      i see ur point, but the phillies have maybe the best offense in the league…u need to be able to score runs against them…and u sometimes have to sacrafice some D to get good offense

      • ditas says:

        I see your point, but is Murphy really providing more offense than Castillo? And later in the game if you do need a pinch-hitter to possibly tie the game with an extra base hit, who would you rather see hitting Murphy or Castillo? I hope it works out, I guess we will have to watch the game to see how it unfolds.

  4. havery says:

    If there is a botched DP tonight that costs us the game we will know who was right. 2B is such a key defensive position it worried me having Tatis and Murphy on the same side.

    • ditas says:

      I am also worried with having Tatis and Murphy playing on the right side, especially with Rollins, Victorino, Utley, and Howard all hitting lefty and they could just pepper the right side of the infield tonight.

      • wright5murph28 says:

        tatis at 2B is a little concerning defensively…im not worried about murphs physical defense…its more his decision making…but yea its a pretty weak right side defensively…and having castillo off the bench is pretty much useless unless its to replace tatis for defense…but with livan and some unknown…it wouldnt be shocking to have a high scoring affair…which is where tatis and murphy > castillo come into play

  5. Hit The Weights Zeile says:

    if this game comes down to defense at 2nd base then we screwed something up. the offense needs to score and livan needs to pitch well if those 2 things happen we win regardless of who plays 2nd base. its not that complicated guys.

  6. kd bart says:

    Another blown call by the Umps. That ball was short hopped in left.

  7. wright5murph28 says:

    wow they are teeing off on livan…practically everything is being crushed….alot like yesterday with redding

  8. SantanaCYYOung says:

    just what the phiilies needed to get their season on track = the mets

  9. SantanaCYYOung says:

    another 5-0 deficit can they come back this time too?

    • SantanaCYYOung says:

      guess not, there’s your hope matt.

      each and every time this team gives u a hint of success it does this. year after year, why would we ever think it would ever change?

      • kd bart says:

        Jesus!!!

        I’ve never seen a guy who quits on a team as easily as you.

        • SantanaCYYOung says:

          wow, u think they can come back down 7-0, give me whatever you’re having

          • kd bart says:

            No but you sound like you’ve quit on the season.

            • SantanaCYYOung says:

              i wouldn’t be here if i quit on the season. what pisses me off is that each and every time the mets give us hints of doing something they play a game like today and potentially wake up the phills.

  10. jimyager says:

    A pitcher that has not pitched since 2007, I smell a BIG L tonight. As long as we DONT get sweept. IF we can win 2 that would be fine. LETS GO METS !!!

    • kd bart says:

      How do you think the teams that were shutdown by Fernando Nieve felt. It works both ways.

  11. GK&R sure love making excuses for mental mistakes…I don’t care how many games Tatis has played at 2B, you should know where to be at all times!

    But Spineless Jerry wont do a darn thing about it. I’d bench him right away, and there’s no way Livan should still be in this game, either. It’s time for Parnell to show us his starting stuff.

    You can’t possibly imagine this team doing anything with Redding, Hernandez, and Nieve as your 3-4-5 pitchers, let alone this pathetic excuse of an offense.

    A trade needs to be made…something needs to be done. You aren’t sacrificing your future, you’re saving it.

  12. SantanaCYYOung says:

    might as well rest dwright the rest of the night, he just looks lost

  13. And whoever says Wright has shortened his swing is a MORON…his swing is obviously longer, hence the inability to catch up to BP fastballs.

    This is truly pathetic

  14. Anybody wanna swing the bat? Geez…we’re making this bum look like Nolan Ryan.

  15. SantanaCYYOung says:

    nice way to score those runs…make a trade for a bat OMAR NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • He won’t, because he’s too afraid to give up a guy like Parnell for either Adam Dunn or Alex Rios…

      That being said, neither of those guys would save this team if they keep playing this sloppy…

  16. SantanaCYYOung says:

    i really can’t get on livan cause he’s been pitching great…iwould have left him in there though, what’s the point of burining the bullpen any more?

  17. At least he’s man enough to leave em loaded…lol

    Jerry’s obviously throwing in the towel by bringing in Misch, and I don’t blame them.

    Maybe they will get lucky and win the next two? Nah, doubt it…

  18. ericloz says:

    Wow, what a bummer.

    I was hoping to watch a competitive ballgame, that’s all I really ask each and every night esp. against a pitcher who hasn’t pitched in the majors since John Franco retired.

  19. Mets5rocks says:

    Wow, bases loaded none out and Phils don’t Misch

  20. Nate W. says:

    Wow, could Livan have made any more apparent that he didn’t want to be on the mound tonight. That’s just awful how easily he quit tonight…

    Rodrigo Lopez? really guys? Rodrigo fricken Lopez?

  21. Nate W. says:

    Oliver Perez doesn’t seem to have anything figured out yet this year.

    92 pitches over 5 IP for AAA allowing 5 hits and 4 BB and 1 homer.

    If it wasn’t for Redding and Livan blowing up, Perez wouldn’t have a spot in the rotation anytime soon.

  22. SantanaCYYOung says:

    why is wright still in the game? wouldn’t this be a great time to give him some rest?

  23. SantanaCYYOung says:

    another k by wright

    and still only 5hr and only 42rbi

    way to put a team on your back

  24. Mets5rocks says:

    Nice outing by Misch! Maybe he should have started! lol

    • Nate W. says:

      heh, didn’t Takahashi have a very similar long relief outing against the Phils?

  25. Nate W. says:

    I guess someone has to take over the GIDP role from Tatis…

  26. KickedintheMetsiclesAgain says:

    At least KROD gets a rest.

  27. deloid says:

    Kudos to Church…feels like he’s doing it all.