Daily Archives: July 13, 2009
Now that Manny Acta has been fired by the Nationals, David Lennon, in a post to his blog on Newsday, wonders if he and the Mets will soon reunite.
…I would be all for Acta rejoining the team, even at the Major League Level…the club was very successful with him on the coaching staff and he would be working with the same group of core players if he did return…
Meanwhile, Brian Costa of the Star Ledger has put together a list of noteworthy quotes from Jerry Manuel and various players which “sum up the first half of the season” for the Mets.
Finally, Adam over at Brooklyn Met Fan is hopeful about the Mets chances in the second half after the last two victories.
Last week, In a post to his blog for ESPN.com, Peter Gammons listed the Mets among teams who have interest in Rockies OF Ryan Spilborghs.
The 29–year-old Spilborghs hit .305 with 48 extra base hits and 86 RBI in 186 games for the Rockies during 2007 and 2008, however he’s batting just .259 this season, during which he’s played left field, center, and right field.
Spilborghs is eligible for arbitration each of the next three seasons, and can be a free agent after 2012.
He’s batting .274 in 453 career at bats away from Coors Field.
…to learn more about spilborghs, i e-mailed some questions to Rockies fan Russ Oates, blogger from Purple Row…
Matthew Cerrone, from MetsBlog.com: Do you see the Rockies trading Spilborghs this season? If so, what are they typically looking for in trade?
Russ Oates, from Purple Row: I don’t see the Rockies trading Spilborghs unless the team dramatically falls off by July 31.
Tagged News |David Wright 
will be batting sixth in the lineup for tomorrow’s All Star Game in St. Louis.
The lineups are as follows:
Hanley Ramirez will lead off and play shortstop, followed by Chase Utley at second base, Albert Pujols at first base, Ryan Braun in right field, Raul Ibanez in left field, Wright at third base, Shane Victorino in center field, and Yadier Molina catching, with Tim Lincecum the starting pitcher for the National League.
Ichiro Suzuki will lead off and play right field, followed by Derek Jeter at short stop, Joe Mauer catching, Mark Teixeira at first base, Jason Bay in left field, Josh Hamilton in center field, Evan Longoria at third base, Aaron Hill at second base with Roy Halladay the starting pitcher for the American League.
The Mets 
finished their “first half” of the season 42-45 in fourth place in the National League East and 6 1/2 games behind the Phillies.
The home runs hit by Fernando Tatis and Brian Schneider Sunday were just the second and third home runs the Mets have hit this month and the first hit by a Met at Citi Field since June 26 against the Yankees.
After the Mets defeated the Reds yesterday at Citi Field, Jerry Manuel told reporters:
“It was good to see the apple finally come up.”
…I guess that proves that the cranks didn’t rust from all of the rain over that stretch…
Manuel was then asked if he was surprised at the offensive output and whether or not it appears to be getting it’s act together, to which he said:
‘…hopefully, with this particular lineup, hopefully we can have some stability…in all fairness to (the lineup), the more stable it can be, the better for them and hopefully they can fit in and have some roles that the understand and be able to hopefully get it going from there.”
…the key word is ‘hopefully’, as what I saw the past two days gives me hope that there is some chemistry with this lineup…but as Manuel indicated, I think that whether its the group we have seen since Saturday, or the group we have seen from June 1 until Saturday, if there is consistency in the lineup then I believe the players are more likely to succeed and would have succeeded more over that time…
Asked whether he is frustrated that after the team has put together a couple of good games, that the All Star Break has arrived, Manuel said:
“You hate to see three days come. But when you look at the whole scheme of things, it’s probably something that we really need. We really need those three days.”
…I hope the offensive momentum carries over through the break, but the three days off gives the injured three days to rest where games are not played…
Speaking of momentum, David Wright spoke to the good offense from the last two games, telling reporters:
“It gives us a little momentum and more importantly a little confidence. I’m excited the way we swung the bats. We got some big hits, took some walks, had some big RBIs.”
Manny Acta has been fired as manager of the Washington Nationals, and bench coach Jim Riggleman will replace him.
A news conference scheduled for 11:30 AM at Nationals Park will make the move official.
Jayson Stark, in an article on ESPN.com, is reporting that Pedro Martinez is close to signing with the Phillies.
Martinez is reportedly on his way to Philadelphia for a physical, and is close to signing a pro-rated one year deal.
Tagged Pedro Martinez |Prior 
to Sunday’s game, Carlos Delgado hit in the cage for the first time since undergoing hip surgery two months ago.
While there is still no timetable for his return, Delgado was upbeat about his progress, telling reporters:
“I was able to go out there and crank it up a little more. I’m very positive about that.”
Over the past week, Delgado has been participating in on-field workouts and agility drills and is expected to go to Port St. Lucie this week and hit on the field for the first time on Tuesday or Wednesday.
…like I said yesterday, each day is a big step for Delgado in his rehab as I am sure the team is looking at how his hip responds 24 hours later…but he continues to report no pain which is obviously good news…
The Mets have set their rotation for the start of the second half on Thursday.
Oliver Perez will start Thursday night against the Braves in Atlanta, followed by Mike Pelfrey on Friday, Johan Santana on Saturday, Fernando Nieve on Sunday, and Livan Hernandez on Monday against the Nationals in Washington.
Jerry Manuel told reporters that Jonathan Niese would take the place of a starter who has “three bad outings in a row”, which seemingly would apply to Hernandez who in his last two starts is 0-2 with a 19.29 ERA, allowing 21 hits, eight walks, and 15 earned runs in his last seven innings and has lost his last four starts.
For now, the rotation will remain in tact, with Manuel saying:
“We’ve had some success with the rotation we have, and you gotta kind of give guys the benefit of the doubt.”
…as much as I think Hernandez has been beneficial and durable, his last two games in particular have been really alarming and with Niese pitching as well as he has been in the minors, it might be wise to consider this change as the team has lost eight of his last nine starts overall…
…if the team is going to make any sort of run in the second half, then I think Manuel simply must make changes from within as he cannot rely on ownership making a deal…in reality, things couldn’t be much worse…
Tagged Mike Pelfrey, News, Oliver Perez |Prior to
yesterday’s game, Jose Reyes ran in the outfield at Citi Field and although there is still no timetable for his return, the results were encouraging.
After the workout, Jerry Manuel told reporters:
“It was very encouraging to watch him move as freely as he was moving and to be able to not have a [very] noticeable limp or anything…even though I could still see that in him, it was not as noticeable as it was early on.”
Reyes received a cortisone injection to his slightly torn hamstring tendon last week, and will report to Port St. Lucie to continue his rehabilitation on Tuesday.
