Daily Archives: August 12, 2009
In appears Eric Simon of Amazin Avenue is essentially rooting for the Mets to lose, so they finish in last place, get the top pick in next year’s draft, and win what is being called the Bryce Harper Sweepstakes, and the Stephen Strasburg Redux Sweepstakes.
…can the Mets also draft a new Player Development department, eric…
Jason of Faith and Fear in Flushing hopes the Mets season does not slip from unfortunate to ugly on the next 10–game home stand.
Coop is back from having watched the Mets on the West Coast, and writes about her trip on My Summer Family.
In a post to Mets Police, Shannon envisions Don Draper as the Mets new GM.
…sold… great idea… plus, he would bring back drinking in the office…
Lastly, the problem with Jerry Manuel, explains Rob of Mets Merized Online, is that he’s on the inside looking in.
Livan Hernandez gave up six hits and five 
runs while walking three in four innings last night in a loss against the D-Backs.
…as i said after the game, he looked weak… he was behind in the count a ton, and the opposition was patient, taking small swings, and knocking him all over the ballpark… it was a sad display…
“I’m sorry to everybody today, and I’m going to go in and say I’m sorry to Jerry, because I didn’t pitch good today,” Hernandez said.
…frankly, he should apologize for his last 11 starts, during which he is is 2–6 with a 6.79 ERA, despite starting the season 5–1…
He has given up 34 earned runs in his last 36 innings.
…i liked the signing of hernandez – to be the team’s fifth starter… at the time, though, i said he would be one of a handful of people to fill in that slot… …at this point in the season, it makes no sense to keep running him out there…
“I can make a change at any time,” Manuel said following last night’s game, when asked if Hernandez could soon be bumped from the rotation. “I will sleep on some things and go from there.”.
…instead, at minimum, the Mets should give that spot to Tim Redding or Nelson Figueroa… frankly, an argument could be made for promoting Lance Broadway, who is on the 40–man roster, just to see what he’s about…
Speaking of starting pitchers…
According to FoxSports.com, Reds starting pitchers Bronson 
Arroyo and Aaron Harang cleared waivers, meaning they can be traded to any team at any time.
Arroyo will earn $11 million next year, while Harang will earn $12.5 million, after which both pitchers can be a free agent.
…at that money, it makes no sense for the Mets to trade for either of these pitchers right now… from what i understand, such a move would occupy half of what the team can spend this off-season… frankly, i am not sure either of these two are much better than what the Mets have in house right now – plus they’d cost prospects to get, plus they earn way too much money…
Tagged News |Jerry Manuel said yesterday Gary Sheffield will likely return to the starting lineup this afternoon against the D-Backs.
Manuel later said he would like to see Sheffield back with the Mets next season.
“I think he can still be a very productive 
player at the age of 40,” Manuel said. “It all hinges on health.”
…right now, i think jerry should be far more concerned with whether he is back with the Mets next season, not sheffield…
Sheffield leads the team with 10 home runs and is batting .283 in 81 games, while averaging roughly one walk and one strike out per game.
…look, i have nothing against sheff… he has done significantly better than i ever thought he would… also, he’s been a model citizen, for the most part, and has worked with Jeff Francoeur, Daniel Murphy and others in a positive way, all while adding a bit of attitude to the team… that said, if he’s on the roster next season, something went painfully wrong in the off season… the idea is to get younger and more athletic, and sheffield is the total opposite of that…
Billy Wagner could return to the Mets on Sunday against the Giants, according to a report from Adam Rubin in the Daily News.
…wagner will most certainly clear waivers, meaning the Mets should soon be able to trade him to any team… the thing is, Eddie Bajek and MLB Trade Rumors predict wagner will be a Type A free agent… which will post an interesting question here…
…i have no idea what the Mets can get for wagner if they trade him now…
…however, is what they’ll get back in trade going to be worth more than the compensatory draft picks they could get if a) wagner signs with a new team next season, assuming b) the Mets offer him arbitration… the thing is, while the draft picks are enticing given the state of the farm system, wagner could accept arbitration, through which he will probably earn more than he’ll get on the open market… of course, with the Mets, he knows he’ll just be a set-up man for Francisco Rodriguez… whereas he could be a closer for a new team if he walks…
…the safer, easier play would be to trade him now… but, knowing he might be a Type A Free Agent does throw a wrinkle in the plan…
Rubin also details Wagner’s pitching program in the Daily News, while explaining his remaining salary for 2009.
The Mets lost to 6 to 2 to the D-Backs in Arizona last night.
For a full recap and boxscore, click here.
The Least You Should Know:
D-Backs starting pitcher Max Scherzer gave up two runs in 6.2 innings, during which the Mets struck out eight times and never drawing a walk.
Livan Hernandez could muster just four innings, giving up six hits and five runs.
Jeff Francoeur hit is fifth HR for the Mets this season.
Misc., Etc. & Other Stuff:
Who on Earth is Trent Oeltjen? Jeeez. He’s 6 for 9 with four extra base hits in two games against the Mets.
Livan Hernandez has given up 34 earned runs in his last 36 innings. He looks awful. Opposing teams are being patient, while taking small swings, especially in the first inning, and they’re killing him with small hits, dinks and dunks – but it’s not by accident. It also doesn’t help that he’s always behind in the count.
The Mets are 3–10 since that mirage-like, five-game winning streak, during which they have not pitched well. And, let’s ne honest, the Mets lineup and defense are not good enough to carry these guys – like Jerry has been saying, they must get good starting pitching, especially from guys like Hernandez, if they’re going to have any chance of winning.
I can’t tell if the offense is lethargic, or if they’re just that bad. This group, without David Wright and Gary Sheffield, made Scherzer look like Greg Maddux. The Mets were swinging at balls that were not even close to the strike zone… and, what’s worse, they looked late.
“I need a lot more than lineup switches,” Jerry Manuel said after the game.
That said, Francoeur is batting .305 with five HR and 20 RBI since joining the Mets – and Cory Sullivan is an interesting player. I am not sure Sullivan is a starting outfielder, but he’s intriguing. He has some pop in his bat, he plays hard and he has some energy and quickness in the field and on the bases.
In Case You Missed It:
To watch SNY.TV’s Post Game Extra, featuring clips from the game; quotes from Jerry Manuel and Mike Pelfrey, and analysis from Ron Darling and Gary Cohen, use the video player in the sidebar of MetsBlog.com.
Next Game:
The Mets conclude their series against the D-Backs Wednesday afternoon at 3:40 pm, with Oliver Perez taking on Jon Garland.
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