Daily Archives: August 7, 2009
Update, 7:35 pm:
Luis Castillo, who injured his ankle falling down the dugout stairs earlier this week, will not be available until at least Sunday.
…Once again, the Mets are playing shorthanded on the bench tonight with he and Sheffield not available…I just never understand why this club continues to play shorthanded mostly everyday…
Original Post:
The Mets (51-57) will play the second game of their four game series against the Padres (45-65) tonight at Petco Park.
Gary Sheffield will not be in the lineup again today.
Instead, it will be Cory Sullivan in left field and hitting sixth.
Angel Pagan will lead off, followed by Alex Cora, David Wright, Daniel Murphy, Jeff Francoeur, Sullivan, Fernando Tatis at second base, and Brian Schneider.
Oliver Perez (2-3, 7.03 ERA) will start for the Mets.
Kevin Correia (7-9, 4.73 ERA) will start for the Padres.
In a recent Ask the Booth for SNY.TV, Gary Cohen answers fan questions about what players do during a double-header; and the impact the WBC may have had on injuries in 2009; among other things.
Joe Janish of Mets Today wonders if Angel Pagan is for real.
The Mets begin the second game of a four-game series with the Padres tonight, and so the Daily Stache has a Q&A with a Padres blogger to learn more about the opposition.
Mack of Mack’s Mets answers reader questions about the team’s minor leaguers, including the whereabouts of Jennry Mejia.
Joe Sokolowski of Mets Geek writes about Omir Santos, who is an anomaly.
MetsBlog reader Derek R sent in the following, which lays out the more realistic path for the Mets to make the playoffs:
On the morning of August 5th the Mets had 56 games remaining. However, 26 of them
were against the Phillies, Braves, and Marlins.
As much of a long shot as it may be, the Mets need to do the following: The Mets must go 7-1 against the Phillies, and 7-2 against the Braves as well as the Marlins. That’s 21-5, putting the Mets at 72-62 with 28 other games remaining on schedule.
In those 28 games, the Mets can play .500 ball. Doing this will get them to 86-76 by season’s end.
If the Mets achieve those head to head results in the division, it would make the Phillies 62-52, the Braves would be 57-61 and the Marlins would be 57-60. Which would mean if the Phillies went 25-23 in their remaining games, with the Braves going 30-14 and the Marlins going 30-15, the Mets will win the NL East.
So although 21-5 is probably asking a little too much from this group, the Mets still have the opportunity to put pressure on these teams by winning the head to head match-ups. Even after going 21-5, they still need the Phillies to play only a shade over .500 in their remaining games… However, the Mets only need to look at recent years to see anything is possible.
So far this season, the Mets are 4–6 against the Phillies; 4–5 against the Marlins; and 4–5 against the Braves.
In 54 games since being promoted to Triple-A, the 26–year-old Jonathan Malo is hitting .186 with just four extra base hits and two stolen bases.
…malo is 26, and if he wasn’t called upon this season, when the Mets were always in need of middle infield help, i am not sure he’ll ever be called upon… that said, malo seemed to turn heads in spring training, and clearly got the attention of Jerry Manuel for the way he plays the game…
Malo hit .233 with one extra base hit in 13 spring training games.
…i was able to talk with malo last month for a quick Q&A, which you can read by clicking the link below:
Tagged Minors |In a post to Mets Police, Shannon Shark explains why Bobby Valentine is the only man for the manager’s job in 2010.
Actually, I have been thinking a lot about 
Valentine, as well, ever since he officially announced on his blog that he will not be returning to Japan. Yes, he has his own blog.
The thing is, I am not sure Jerry Manuel has done anything to warrant being fired. Frankly, I think he’s done an admirable job navigating through this 2009 injury-storm.
As I have written before, the way I understand it, Omar Minaya and Manuel are tied to the hip. In short, if Minaya is ever fired, the new GM will hold Manuel’s future in his hand. But, under no circumstance will Minaya be firing Manuel.
In a poll on MetsBlog.com in June, 97 percent of 5,000 voters said they still have a positive view of Valentine.
I love Bobby V, too. I think he’s brilliant, albeit avante garde and controversial, he’s entertaining, he’s unique, he’s feisty, players either love him or hate him and because of this he seems to get the most out everyone – including us.
Reporters and baseball people often ask ask me why I like Bobby V so much, seeing as he never won a World Series while with the Mets. And that’s the thing, think about it: he lost to the freakin’ Yankees in the World Series… the Yankees… in a World Series… yet, 97 percent of us still like him. I mean, you need to be a pretty special personality to pull off losing to the Yankees, and the Braves, yet retain that level of goodwill. Look, it’s pretty simple: he’s an underdog, he’s unique, he’s a fighter and he wears his passion on his sleeve, just like we do, and so I think he connects with fans in a way that most managers do not – including Manuel, Joe Torre, and others.
That said, for the most part, Valentine seems to work best with disciplined, selfless talent, most of whom are primed to buy in to his style of play. For instance, I think David Wright would do well with Valentine, but I think Jose Reyes would struggle. So, if the Mets intend to rely on the Gary Sheffields of the world, the Carlos Delgado, Valentine should never return. However, if the Mets plan to build a team around hit-and-runs, less power and more doubles in the gap, timely stolen bases, bunting, a versatile bullpen, and basically play chess on a baseball field, Valentine is the best man for the job.
Last month, during an interview with ESPN 1050, Michael Kay asked Valentine if he would ever manage the Mets again.
Valentine did not answer the question directly, of course, though he was sure to say Manuel is a good manager for this team.
However, he did point out that his departure from the Mets was ‘not bad at all,’ noting the ‘personalities’ who he had issues with, and who had issues with him, are no longer with the organization.
From what I can gather, this is true. In talking with people close to the team, I believe ownership and Minaya still like Valentine, and continue to have a good relationship with him. It sounds to me like he and Minaya have remained remained in contact, as their relationship goes back a long, long way.
The thing is, a) the Mets have a manager they like, though they’re not against change, and b) ultimately, I sense the Mets view Valentine as a part of their past; so if they do make a change, they’ll be more inclined to move forward, not back.
James Kannengieser of Amazin Avenue spares Mike Silva of NY Baseball Digest and gives a well-written explanation of WAR.
…i wish for a day when Baseball 
Fundamentalists and Stat Geeks finally understand that no one approach will predict the future… but, both p.o.v.’s can help get us in the best position to make the best decision possible…
Meanwhile, in a post to the Daily Stache, Anthony Lafaman says it’s time to see the kids play, like Ruben Tejada and Brad Holt.
…why would you burn a 19–year-old’s shirt like that… tejada isn’t ready, anyway… there is too much to lose by promoting him now, and adding him to the 40–man roster, while the upside is minimal at best… the same can essentially be said for holt… that said, unlike the last few seasons, when the Mets did not want to clutter their clubhouse with minor leagues, while trying to win a pennant race, they should promote some young players this time around… the problem is, the only young players on their 40–man roster worth watching are Nick Evans and Eddie Kunz…
Andrew Beaton of Hot Foot writes about Angel Pagan, and whether he is an option to start for the Mets next season.
…he’s impressive… i am just not sold on him… i still believe he’s an exceptional fourth outfielder… i don’t see him as a starter…
The Brooklyn Met Fan looks at what Daniel Murphy has done so far, and wonders if he’ll be the team’s 1B next season.
Last week, I did a Q&A with Oh Murph, and wrote the following about Murphy:
“I think Murphy has done a good job weathering the storm. He was on the brink of falling off the planet in June, but he fought through it and is holding his own. To get through that, plus handle the pressure of New York, the media, these injuries, and the circus that has been 2009, and still be standing as at his age, this is a great sign. He’s defense has been fantastic, as well. I still expect him to be a Dave Magadan, John Olerud type.”
Lastly, in a post to Mets Fans Forever, Will Sommer posts a Q&A with Mets Weekly host Julie Alexandria.
Adam Rubin of the Daily News believes the Mets would be open to trading Billy Wagner through waivers, and one team may already be interested.
Rubin also writes about whether the same can be said for Carlos Delgado, and the impact such moves would have on potential compensatory draft picks.
…from what i understand, the Mets are eyeing Friday, August 21, as wagner’s possible return… that would essentially give him one full week on the Mets, in the big leagues, for him to show what he’s got, in order for the Mets to move him… which is not a lot of time, considering he will not pitch every day…
…i will say this… i would love to see wagner go to a contender, and possibly win a ring… i could see myself rooting for him and whomever he’s playing for in the post-season, just for that reason… assuming it isn’t the Phillies, of course…
Jerry Manuel talked to reporters after last night’s loss in San Diego, and had the following to say regarding:
Livan Hernandez, who allowed seven runs in five innings:
“When he doesn’t command that side of the plate things are gonna be difficult for him. Everything was out over the plate, and they put pretty good swings on those pitches… I think, for him, he has to command both sides.”
The Bullpen, which tossed four innings tonight, but will also likely be needed the next two days, with Oliver Perez and Bobby Parnell getting starts:
“I tried to stay as long as I could (with Livan Hernandez). We almost had to bite a bullet there, for a couple innings, just to get through. Historically, I don’t like spilling my bullpen on the first game of a four-game series, I don’t like you to see everything I got down there. But, you know, yeah, we would have liked to at least got six, but we’re OK in that area.”
The offense, which had been scoring of late, but which struggled last night and scored just three runs:
“Well, I think when you miss that Sheffield bat in the middle there it puts a lot of pressure on the rest of the offense. I would have thought coming in, with him in there, we’d have done better.”
Following the game, the Mets designated Angel Berroa for assignment, and added Anderson Hernandez to the 25–man roster.
…this would suggest Luis Castillo may actually be ‘day to day,’ and not headed for the disabled list…
Hernandez was re-acquired yesterday from the Nationals for 21–year-old, minor-leaguer Greg Veloz.
Berroa had just four hits in 27 at bats with the Mets.
Tagged News |
The Mets (51-57) lost to the Padres (45-65) by the score of 8 to 3 in Petco Park last night.
For a full recap and boxscore, click here.
The Least You Should Know:
Padres 1B Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-run home run during a four-run fourth inning against Livan Hernandez, giving San Diego a six-run lead they’d never relinquish.
The Mets finally scored three runs against Padres starter Clayton Richard in the sixth, but that was it for the night.
Misc., Etc., and other Observations:
Richard is an impressive-looking young left-handed starter, which must make Padres fans feel good, since he was acquired in the deal for Jake Peavy. This group of Mets have a very tough time against lefties. I can’t recall the last time they beat one.
Livan Hernandez was throwing batting practice tonight. He had no command, and couldn’t find the corners of the plate, leaving most every pitch out over the plate. He usually struggles early, like tonight, but he typically adjusts and settles in to a groove – not tonight.
How many games this season have the Mets played short, using a three-man bench? I’m guessing 30 percent.
The Mets have lost six of their last eight games.
Daniel Murphy had two hits. He is batting .320 in his last six games.
The Mets continue their four-game series with the Padres tonight at 10 pm, with Oliver Perez taking on Kevin Correia.
