Daily Archives: July 20, 2009
The Mets defeated the Nationals, 6–2, in DC tonight.
For a full recap and boxscore, click here.
The Least You Should Know:
- Livan Hernandez allowed just two runs and five hits in seven innings, while throwing 97 pitches, after which Pedro Feliciano, Sean Green and Francisco Rodriguez pitched three scoreless innings in relief.
- The Mets scored five runs in the first two innings against rookie J.D. Martin, using seven hits and a sac-bunt.
- Jeff Francoeur was 3 for 4 with two RBI, including a home run and a double, while Daniel Murphy had two hits and two RBI.
Etc., Misc., and other Observations:
- Livan Hernandez looked strong tonight, going up against the weak-hitting Nationals, who never really got a good swing against him. He was aggressive, had command, moved the ball around, and looked like the pitcher he had been earlier in the season. Hopefully the extra rest, plus the team he was facing, made for a perfect combination at the right time.
- The talk of Martin was that he had a big-time curve ball, but I didn’t see it tonight. The Mets hit him well, and hit him often.
- You know, the Mets NEVER hit young, rookie pitchers who they’ve never seen bef… oh, nevermind.
- Francoeur looks more stable in the box. He clubs the ball, and drops the head of the bat well. He’s aggressive, but I like that he seems to be wide-eyed and up for the challenge, and he’s looked good so far. He has seven RBI in the seven games he has been with the team.
- I get dizzy watching games on TV in DC, thanks to that ridiculous camera angle behind home plate. I may just listen on radio the next two nights.
- Does Angel Pagan ever smile? He’s a very serious man, it seems.
- Hat tip to Luis Castillo, who left the batter’s box and was on top of home, waving in Alex Cora on a play at the plate, guiding a fancy, wide hand-first slide and a run.
- Nice win. Yes, it’s the Nationals. But, at this point, I’ll take whatever this team can get it.
The Mets play the second game of a three-game set against the Nationals in DC tomorrow night, with Oliver Perez taking on John Lannan.
Jeremy Reed will again start in left field in place of the injured Gary Sheffield.
Angel Pagan will bat leadoff, followed in order by Luis Castillo, Daniel Murphy at first base, David Wright, Jeff Francoeur in right field, Reed, Alex Cora at shortstop and Brian Schneider behind the plate.
Livan Hernandez (5–5, 5.10 ERA) will start tonight for the Mets.
Update, 4:11 pm:
Fernando Nieve has been put on the 15–day disabled list, and will be replaced on the roster with OF Cory Sullivan.
Sullivan had been hitting .290 in 85 games with Triple-A Buffalo.
…from what i can gather, Sullivan is on route, and will be available mid-way through the game…
Update, 4:26 pm:
The Mets promoted Sullivan because he is more versatile than Nick Evans, Jerry Manuel told reporters, according to Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post.
To read other pre-game comments from Manuel, including his thoughts on the trade deadline, and whether Jon Niese will start in place of Fernando Nieve, check out Hubbuch’s Twitter feed, here.
Update, 5:10 pm:
Gary Sheffield said his “electrolytes are off or something,” in regards to the cramp in his hamstring, according to Newsday’s David Lennon in a post to Twitter.
…drink magnesium powder before the game, gary, that stuff works wonders…
To read other pre-game notes, check out Lennon’s Twitter feed.
BS Beamer: The Mets will only win in Space/NASA milestones… 1969, 
Walk on the moon; 1986, Challenger tragedy. When is Richard Branson starting Virgin Galactic?
Matthew Cerrone: I have no idea what to say to this, but I had to post it…
Loopenark: I think there’s an overlooked reason why the Mets are underplaying Gary Sheffield‘s injury: Omar Minaya knows he needs to trade him. They can’t put him on the DL now because they’d blow the July 31 Trade Deadline. They’re hoping it’s minor and he can get back on the field soon to show he can play well enough to get someone to bid. If this were earlier in the year, he might well be on the DL now…
Matthew Cerrone: I don’t know… maybe. Regardless, I don’t know why people think Sheffield will be wanted by any one in a trade. I feel like every American League in contention must have a DH better than him at this point. At best, maybe, he brings on a low-level prospect… at best… and I suspect teams would just hold off, live with what they have, then hope to get a guy like Sheffield through waivers in August… and the same would essentially go for Livan Hernandez.
Randy H: For people who don’t know, Julio Lugo is a Brooklyn native and graduated from Fort Hamilton High School.
Matthew Cerrone: I actually think this is important. I don’t think it makes or breaks a player’s success in New York, but I think it might help to bring in people who are familiar with what this city is about, and how passionate we all are about sports. That said, I suppose it could hurt, too, like with Willie Randolph, who knew what to expect and was paranoid because of it.
Joe DeLessio of New York Magazine writes, “It’s come to this: Livan Hernandez might play the infield.”
In case you missed it, Jerry Manuel suggested he could use Hernandez 
as a pinch hitter or corner infielder – for more, check out Brian Costa’s blog for the Star-Ledger.
Daniel Krieg explains the Curse of Dwight Gooden on Baseball Light it Oughta Be.
To read a review of last weekend’s MeiGray Shea Memorabilia auction, including video, check out Remembering Shea.
Lastly, in a post to NY Baseball Digest, Howard Megdal explains how the Mets should be cautious sellers at the deadline.
…i still believe the only veteran player worth anything on the roster, who is healthy and able to be traded, is Pedro Feliciano, who will return a minimal amount of talent anyway… this team is just not in a good position to sell…
Mets 22-year-old RHP Brad Holt was named the Eastern League’s Pitcher of the Week for July 19, during which he was 2-0 with a 1.32 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 13 innings.
Holt is 2–2 with a 3.85 ERA in his last four starts in Double-A, while striking out 30 hitters in 21 innings.
…to read a recent Q&A i did with holt, click here…
Meanwhile, Nelson Figueroa was named Pitcher of the Week for the same period by the International League.
Figueroa has thrown eight straight Quality Starts in Triple-A, during which he is 6–0 with a 1.44 ERA.
Tagged Nelson Figueroa |According to Dave Sheinin of the Washington Post, “The Mets are the most expensive fourth-
place team in history.”
…this may be… but, as sheinin also points out, $58.35 million of that number is on the disabled list…
The Mets are 9–15 since Carlos Beltran was put on the disabled list in late June.
…however, in those 24 games, they’re fielding a 25–man roster earning roughly the same money as the Nationals and Pirates… of course, so are the Rays, who are 10 games over .500…
Update, 2:10 pm:
According to Buster Olney of ESPN.com, the Phillies may be less inclined to trade for Jays RHP Roy Halladay if they continues to expand their lead in the National League East.
…great… glad we could help, toronto… ugh…
Meanwhile, Jon Heyman of SI.com believes Halladay would prefer to play for either the Phillies, Cardinals, Red Sox or Yankees, based on criteria from Halladay’s friend.
Original Post, 12:43 pm:
The Tigers, Twins, Red Sox, Phillies, Rangers and Brewers all sent scouts to check out Halladay’s last start, according to MLB.com and FoxSports.com.
Tagged Phillies, Roy Halladay |
By the way, for those who have asked, GaryCohenSNY on Twitter is not actually Gary Cohen… its an imposter.
However, carlosdelgado21 is the real Carlos Delgado, who is the only person on the Mets on Twitter.
In other words, every other person from the Mets, be it Omar Minaya or David Wright or Frankie Rodriguez, etc., are all fake.
To follow me on Twitter, click here, and for other other SNY personalities, including Kevin Burkhardt, click here.
Update, 1:50 pm:
Speaking of Cohen…
In the New York Observer, John Koblin writes a fantastic profile of Cohen, Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez, who he calls, “The Anti-Homers.”
Gary Sheffield missed his second straight game yesterday with a cramp in his right hamstring.
In case you missed it, on Saturday, Manuel joked with reporters saying, ‘They’re calling it cramps… so, surgery on Thursday.’
In the New York Post, Bart Hubbuch later wrote:
“Manuel then pleaded twice - apparently without success – with SNY’s in-house reporter, Kevin Burkhardt, not to run the footage… Manuel was making light of the Mets’ habit, particularly this season, of minimizing injuries that turn out to be much more serious. It is an especially touchy subject with team management, so Manuel is sure to hear about it.”
…ouch, jerry… i mean, it’s a funny joke, and i’m sure every one who reads MetsBlog has made a similar one… but, wow… from what i can tell, jerry’s bosses do not like being made to look foolish, and i am near certain his comment rubbed at least two or three people the wrong way…
Manuel later said he hopes to see Sheffield back in the starting lineup either Monday or Tuesday in Washington, DC.
In case you missed it, last Friday, the Red Sox designated infielder Julio Lugo for assignment.
According to the Boston Herald, the Mets, Cardinals and Cubs have all expressed interest in Lugo, who is due $4.5 million through the rest of this season, plus $9 million in 2010.
Adam Rubin of the Daily News believes the Mets will sign Lugo when he becomes a free agent toward the end of next week.
…rubin writes it, and i have been sent e-mail from eyewitnesses, all of whom say lugo is currently training at the Mets complex in the Dominican Republic, while still, technically, on the Red Sox…
The 33–year-old Lugo had been hitting .284 with six extra base hits and a .352 OBP in 37 games with Boston.
Lugo has played mostly shortstop, some second base, third base and four games in the outfield during the last few seasons.
…lugo is not going to stop the bleeding… however, at this point, the Mets could use every professional player they can get… i was somewhat surprised they didn’t try to bring on Mark Grudzielanek, who signed a minor-league deal with the Twins yesterday… i feel the Brewers overpaid to get Felipe Lopez from the D-Backs, giving up a top hitting prospect from their system, plus a young, low-level pitcher… and so, i do not think the Mets should have made a play for him, but i am kind of surprised i didn’t read rumors linking minaya to lopez simply given the state of his roster…
← Older posts
