Daily Archives: July 9, 2009
The Mets (40–44) lost to the Dodgers (53–31) by the score of 11 to 2 in Citi Field tonight.
For a recap and boxscore, click here.
The Least You Need to Know:
- The Dodgers sent seven men to the plate in the first inning and scored four runs against Livan Hernandez before the Mets even stepped in to the batter’s box.
- Gary Sheffield drove in a run with a single, while Ryan Church had an RBI on a fielder’s choice.
- Tim Redding took on eight batters in the eighth inning, in relief of Brian Stokes, and allowed three runs to put the game out of reach.
Misc., Etc., and Other Observations:
- David Wright must be starting his next 20–game hot streak, as he had hit .210 in the 21 games prior to yesterday, but is 4 for 7 in his last two games.
- Andre Ethier looks like he could be related to Ron Darling.
- Jeremy Reed, who is batting .294, and who had two hits last night, and is three for his last six, was kindly put in to play center field during the ninth inning. How nice of you, Jerry.
- The Mets got hosed on a play at second base, on which Alex Cora clearly tagged second base to beat Rafael Furcal, but Furcal was called safe, even though the ump was standing directly over the bag. It would’ve ended the inning. Naturally, Russell Martin then drove in two runs with a single.
- Hernandez has allowed 15 runs and 22 hits in his last seven innings pitched, which is not good. Wow. He was leaving balls out over the plate, never pitching inside, and, to the Dodgers credit, they had a plan, showed patience, and drove the ball up the middle for base hits and RBIs.
- I just don’t understand the constantly changing lineup, and I really wish Jerry would practice what he preaches, and play a consistent lineup, same positions every day, in the lineup and in the field, and try to build some momentum. Ugh. This Everyday is a New Adventure bit is wearing thin.
- The Mets are 5.5 games out of first place, their low point of the season. However, the All-Star break is just three days away. Serenity Now!
In Case You Missed It:
The Mets begin a three-game series with the Reds tomorrow in Citi Field, with Fernando Nieve facing Bronson Arroyo at 7:10 pm.
According to Candela Deportiva, free agent RHP Pedro Martinez has signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Phillies.
…now that this is out there, it usually only 
takes a matter of time for the likes of Ken Rosenthal, Buster Olney, Jon Heyman, etc., to either confirm or deny the report…
…but, from what i can gather, the Phillies are dishing out no comments, suggesting there might be truth to this, and they’re just waiting to make an announcement…
Update, 5:10 pm:
In a post to his Twitter, MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki writes Phillies GM Ruben Amaro declined to comment when asked about the report in Candela Deportiva.
Update, 5:45 pm:
In a post to Twitter, SI.com’s Jon Heyman said he has heard Martinez is in serious negotiations with the Phillies, but he cannot confirm the Candela Deportiva that a deal is done.
Update, 6:47 pm:
According to Heyman, who talked to Martinez’s agent, Martinez will have final decision by Sunday.
Update, 6:50 pm:
…by the way, the buzz from people who are connected to martinez say the any deal is likely to be around $1.75 million, which sounds like $4 million pro-rated over two or three months...
...frankly, i still think i’d rather Jon Niese…
Update, 8:47 pm:
Martinez has agreed to throw for the Phillies for a second time, ‘to see how his arm responds,’ reports Jayson Stark on ESPN.com.
According to the report, “Amaro denied reports a deal was done, but confirmed the team’s interest in the three-time AL Cy Young Award winner.”
Tagged Pedro Martinez |
Luis Castillo will bat leadoff tonight, followed in order by Nick Evans in left field, David Wright, Gary Sheffield in right field, Fernando Tatis at first base, Ryan Church in center field, Omir Santos behind the plate and Alex Cora at shortstop.
…unbelievable… i know there is a left-handed pitcher on the mound, but why is Daniel Muprhy out of the lineup, 24 hours after getting two doubles and making a sensational play at first base… ugh…
Livan Hernandez will start tonight for the Mets.
Randy Wolf will start for the Dodgers.
By the way, Tatis is 2 for 28 against Wolf.
Meanwhile, Murphy is batting .317 against left-handed pitching.
Update, 4:55 pm:
Jerry Manuel was asked before the game why Tatis is starting over Murphy, and he explained that, because there is a left-handed pitcher tonight, followed by three right-handed starters before the break, he wanted to get Tatis a start tonight.
Manuel said he believes pitchers had adjusted to Murphy, and he’s now re-adusting to them, as he’s begining to pull the ball again, which is a good sign.
Fernando Martinez has been put on the 15–day disabled list with inflammation in his right knee.
Argenis Reyes has been promoted from Triple-A.
…i don’t know for fact, but i think martinez has been on the disabled list at least once per season during his professional career… to which Ted Berg said to me Fernando Martinez: Teenage Hurting Machine…
Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette believes the Pirates are working hard to trade 2B Freddy Sanchez.
He’s hitting .316 with 35 extra base hits and 
a .355 OBP in 304 at bats for the Pirates this season.
Sanchez, 31, won a batting title in 2006, after which he hit .304 in 2007 and .271 last season.
He will likely earn $8 million next season, after which he is eligible to be a free agent.
…in case you’re wondering, he has played 45 games at shortstop during his eight-year career…
Speaking of trade rumors…
Andy Martino and Jim Salisbury of the Philadelphia Inquirer believes the Phillies are ‘serious players’ for Blue Jays RHP Roy Halladay.
According to Buster Olney of ESPN.com, the Jays will most certainly look to acquire Philadelphia’s top prospects, Michael Taylor, Dominic Brown, Kyle Drabek and Jason Knapp.
In a post to their prospects blog, J.J. Cooper updates the Top 25 Prospects for Baseball America, which is topped by Braves OF Jason Heyward and Marlins OF Mike Stanton.
Copper lists Mets pitching prospects Brad Holt and Jenrry Mejia among the next group of 25.
Holt is 0–3 with a 8.40 ERA in four starts since being promoted to Double-A Binghamton, though he allowed five earned runs in just 0.1 innings in his second start.
…i assume Jon Niese and Fernando Martinez are no longer being considered prospects, for the purposes of this list, since they have major league team experience this season…
The 19–year-old Mejia is also 0–3, but has a 3.74 ERA in 21 innings pitched, during which he has struck out 24 batters.
…for what it’s worth, neither mejia or holt were ranked in Baseball America’s Top 50 in the start of the season…
This morning on WFAN, SI.com’s Jon Heyman said the Mets had a meeting yesterday to discuss their prospects, and seem to have no interest in trading Mejia or Holt, as well as Fernando Martinez or Ike Davis, among others.
Last week, WTNH Channel 8 in Connecticut did a follow-up segment on me and MetsBlog.com, during which we talk blogging, new media, doing on-air work with SNY, and being a full-time, professional blogger.
To watch the two-minute segment, click play below:
…i think this came out well, though i’m still trying to figure out when i became a ‘Connecticut Man,’ as they put it… i’m only 32…
Tagged YouTube |
Prior to last night’s game, J.J. Putz told SNY he hopes to be able to begin playing catch just after the All-Star break, which puts him roughly seven to 10 days ahead of schedule.
Putz desrcibed being on the disabled list, unable to help the team as ‘miserable,’ and ‘frustrating.’
To listen to Putz speaking with SNY, about being on the disabled list, leadership, and the current 25–man roster, click here.
Last night, David Wright ended an 0–for-17 slump with a single to left field.
“Hopefully he’s getting ready to get into one of those hot streaks,” Jerry Manuel said following last night’s win over the Dodgers.
…like i’ve been saying, it’s like wright works in 15– to 20–game stretches, going hot then cold, hot then cold… so, hopefully, he’s about to turn it on, just in time for the All-Star break… ugh…
Wright is batting .210 in his last 21 games, during which he struck out in 25 percent of his plate appearances.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, courtesy of ESPN.com, “The Mets snapped a 23-inning scoreless streak with a run in the second inning Wednesday night, which is the longest such streak for any National League team this season.”
…the crowd erupted in to a sarcastic cheer, which is becoming quite the standard reaction to things in Citi Field lately, be it Luis Castillo catching a pop up or the team scoring or run…
Tagged SNY | ← Older posts
