Daily Archives: August 23, 2009
The Mets lost to the Phillies today by the score of 9 to 7 in Citi Field.
For a full recap and boxscore, click here.
The Least You Should Know:
Oliver Perez was awful, allowing six runs in the first inning, including two three-run home runs – he was pulled from the game mid-count.
The Mets scored four runs on seven hits against Pedro Martinez, who threw 90 pitches in five innings. Angel Pagan hit two home runs against Martinez, including an inside-the-parker to leadoff the game.
The Mets rallied from behind, scored one run in the ninth, had two men on and no outs, but Jeff Francoeur hit in to an unassisted triple play to end the game… I kid you not.
Misc., Etc., and Other Stuff:
I still can’t believe Oliver Perez is due to make $24 million over the next two seasons… it’s crazy. He was awful today. It’s almost embarrassing just how bad he looked. What’s worse, he just looks so confused and careless out there. Ron Darling said he believes Perez is overthinking things. Frankly, I’m not sure how that is possible.
In the first, Pagan ripped a ball in the gap that got stuck under the padding on the outfield wall. Shane Victorino forgot he was in Citi Field, and not Citizen’s Bank Park, called for a ground-rule double, but was ignored by the umpire – to his credit, Pagan just kept running and running, and scored for an inside-the-park home run.
Tomorrow’s Game:
The Mets conclude their four-game series with the Phillies at 1:10 pm tomorrow in Citi Field, with Bobby Parnell taking on Cliff Lee.
Tagged News |The Mets (57–66) continue their four-game series against the Phillies (70–50) at 1 pm today in Citi Field, with Oliver Perez taking on Pedro Martinez.
Angel Pagan will hit leadoff today, followed in 
order by Luis Castillo, Daniel Murphy, Jeff Francoeur, Cory Sullivan in left, Fernando Tatis at third, Brian Schneider behind the plate, Anderson Hernandez at short, and Perez.
Martinez (1-0, 4.50 ERA) was on the disabled list four times in four season with the Mets, going 5-6 with a 5.61 ERA in 20 starts last season.
Perez (3-3, 6.06) won his first game in six weeks in his last start, when he allowed four runs in five innings against the Braves. He is is 2-3 with a 3.55 ERA in 13 starts against the Phillies.
Update, 11:49 am:
Before today’s game, Jerry Manuel said Gary Sheffield tweaked his wrist lifting weights, but should be available to pinch hit.
Manuel said Perez assured the team that his knee is fine, and he’s ready to go roughly 100 pitches in today’s start.
Lastly, Manuel said Billy Wagner is available to pitch in today’s game.
Tagged News |Fred Wilpon told Mark Hale of the New York Post that he will ‘absolutely bring Omar Minaya back as GM next season.
Hale then asked Minaya if Jerry Manuel will return, to which he replied, “Jerry is my guy… We work well together.”
Also in the New York Post, Joel Sherman explains that the decision to keep both Minaya and Manuel could be 
because of a lack of money and imagination.
… frankly, i don’t take wilpon’s statement to mean the future is a given… if you recall, he said the same thing about Willie Randolph around two days before willie was fired… regardless of what the Mets plan to do, or not do, the better move is to make a statement like this, now, especially on a day when focus should have been on the 1969 Mets, and let it be…
… i guess what i’m saying is, there is still roughly six weeks before the final game of 2009… and i doubt any decisions have been finalized…
Minaya is signed to be the team’s GM through 2012, during which he will reportedly earn roughly $1 million per season.
Meanwhile, Manuel, who will earn roughly $1.5 million per season, is signed through 2010, with a team option for 2011.
Tagged News |Adam Rubin of the Daily News believes C Josh Thole, 1B Nick Evans and 
RHP Eddie Kunz will be promoted to the Mets when rosters expand in September.
Rubin also reports on who from the Mets might play in the Arizona Fall League.
…last month, i did a brief Q&A with thole, which you can read by clicking here…
…i watched him in spring training, and was super impressed with his swing… he hits the ball square, lots of line drives…
Thole is batting .332 with 31 extra base hits and 44 RBI in 97 games for the Double-A B-Mets.
Last season, he switched from playing mostly first base to being a regular, every-day catcher.
In July, Toby Hyde of Mets Minor League Blog wrote:
“There are still major questions surrounding Thole’s defense, mostly about his arm. He’s improved his receiving skills to be adequate. However, if he can’t stick behind the plate, his value drops dramatically. As much as I love an OBP above .400 and a hitter who walks almost as much as he strikes out, he doesn’t have the power to profile as a classic first baseman. Working in Thole’s favor at this point is his age (22), underlying hitting ability and work ethic, as even those who question his tools praise his effort.”
…he seems like a polished, mature kid, and he can hit, and he will probably benefit from being around the big-league game and players for a month…
Tagged News |Prior to yesterday’s game, the Mets honored their 1969 World Championship with an on-field, pre-game celebration.
For photos from last night’s game, click out Michael Baron’s photos here.
…they did a great job… very similar to the one for 1986… the biggest applauds seemed to go to Ralph Kiner and the memory of Bob Murphy, Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, Bud Harrelson and Nolan Ryan, who returned to the Mets for the first time since 1971… two things i found interesting at the end of the ceremony, as the men crosses the field, wondered the outfield, and set up for a team photo… Billy Wagner seemed enamored with koosman, talking and walking alongside him… and, wow, understandably, today’s player loves ryan…
…in the end, this was great for a person like me, who was not alive yet when the Mets won their first world series… it was fun and educational to see them in a tangible way, today…
For a recap of the day’s events, check out the Daily News.
According to the Bergen Record, Jerry Grote pulled a Joe Namath in 1969.
Lastly, in Newsday, Mark Herrmann explains how the 1969 Mets gave us all hope.
Tagged News |
The Mets lost to the Phillies by the score of 4-1 last night at Citi Field.
For a full recap and box score, click here.
The Least You Should Know:
The Mets bats went silent once again tonight as they were not able to put much together against JA Happ, other than an RBI single by Omir Santos in the second inning.
Tim Redding had one of his better starts of the year tonight, going five innings and allowing just one hit and three walks.
Redding left after throwing just 81 pitches.
Pat Misch opened the flood gates with a leadoff walk to Shane Victorino in the sixth, and then allowed a two run home run to Chase Utley which put the Phillies ahead for good.
Luis Castillo had two hits, raising his average to .317 on the year.
Other Observations and Notes:
Jimmy Rollins made a run scoring diving stop on a Luis Castillo infield single, which proved to be a big play.
The Mets just seemed to shut down after the Phillies scored their three runs in the sixth inning – it went from a game where they appeared to have a lot of energy to just going through the motions.
Daniel Murphy now has an eight game hitting streak – his season high is nine.
The Mets continue their series with the Phillies tomorrow afternoon at 1:10 pm with Oliver Perez facing Pedro Martinez.
In addition:
For photos from last night’s game, including pictures from last night’s pre-game celebration to honor the 1969 World Championship, click here.
