Daily Archives: September 6, 2009
Marty Noble, in his column for Mets.com, says that Brian Schneider has become a mentor for Josh Thole and is working closely with Sandy Alomar Jr. to develop Thole’s skill behind the plate.
Schneider recognizes his reduced role with the Mets but still feels that he can help the team by teaching Thole, telling Noble:
“He just needs experience. He’s young in catcher years…Maybe I can tell him something that will cut down how much he needs. He works hard, and when you tell him something, he doesn’t blow it off. He does ask questions, and you can tell by what he asks what he knows and that he wants to learn.”
For more on Schneider and Thole, check out Noble’s article.
The Mets beat the Cubs, 4-2, today at Citi Field.
For a full recap and box score, click here.
The Least You Should Know:
Whatever demons Mike Pelfrey was trying to chase with his Tuesday night jog in Colorado were nowhere to be found today. The young righty threw eight strong innings, allowing only five hits, one run and walking one while striking out five.
Pelfrey threw only 105 pitches in the effort, finishing up with a strikeout after a 10-pitch battle with Derrek Lee.
Daniel Murphy provided the offense for the Mets, going 3-for-4 with a triple and a homer and driving in all four runs.
Francisco Rodriguez made it interesting in the ninth, walking Jeff Baker and allowing an RBI double to Geovany Soto, but induced a groundout from Kosuke Fukudome to end the game.
Other Observations and Notes:
Pelfrey looked great, throwing 70 of his 105 pitches for strikes. He didn’t throw many breaking balls but he appeared to have strong command over them, and he wasn’t afraid to bust batters inside with his fastball.
Pelfrey’s fastball was registering in the upper 90s on the SNY gun.
Murphy raised his OPS (on-base plus slugging) to .715 with his three hits, the highest it has been since late May.
Angel Pagan and Brian Schneider both chipped in two hits for the Mets.
The game ball:
Goes to Big Pelf, naturally. Jerry Manuel said that Pelfrey had a better rhythm and “real, real, real good stuff” today, and it showed.
Tagged News |
The Mets conclude their series with the Cubs this afternoon at 1:10 at Citi Field.
Angel Pagan will lead off, followed in order by Luis Castillo, David Wright, Daniel Murphy, Jeff Francoeur, Cory Sullivan, Brian Schneider, and Anderson Hernandez.
Mike Pelfrey (9-10, 5.03 ERA) will start for the Mets. Pelfrey’s once promising season has taken a turn south, especially in the second half as he has posted a 2-5 record with a 6.39 ERA since the All-Star Break. Today will mark the first time he has ever faced the Cubs.
Randy Wells (10-7, 2.90 ERA) will start for the Cubs. Wells has been a welcomed addition to the Cubs rotation in 2009 as he has averaged just over 6 1/3 innings pitched per start. This will be his first career appearance against the Mets.
Since making his Major League Debut on Thursday against the Rockies, Josh Thole is 4 for 9 and threw out a would-be base stealer during yesterday’s 5-3 loss to the Cubs.
Jerry Manuel told reports that he is impressed with the young catcher, adding:
“I think probably starting next week we’ll going to play him back-to-back days and see how he fares in those.”
Sandy Alomar Jr. complimented Thole as well, telling reporters:
“In spring training, he really impressed us…Defensively, there’s a few things we need to tinker with him, but he’s a quick adjuster. You don’t have to say things twice with this kid. This kid is a quick learner.”
On Thole having a chance to earn a spot on the roster next Spring, to which Manuel said:
“Everybody’s got a shot…If you’re in the big leagues, you’ve got a chance.”
…of course, it always depends on what the Mets do in the off-season, but I am partial to seeing what the kid can do and allowing him every opportunity to make it rather than focusing on filling the position this winter, given the other high priorities the team has…
John Maine made his first rehab start for the St. Lucie Mets last night, going four innings and allowing just two hits while striking out six over 58 pitches.
After yesterday’s game, Jerry Manuel told reporters that Maine might pitch one of the two games of their doubleheader against the Phillies next Sunday at Citizens Bank Park.
Maine hasn’t pitched since being shutdown on June 6 with, what doctors call weakness in his right shoulder, and he is 5-4 with a 4.52 ERA in 11 appearances this season.
In addition, Carlos Beltran might be activated in time for Tuesday’s game against the Marlins at Citi Field.
Beltran played all nine innings for the Cyclones last night at KeySpan Park, delivering a walk off RBI single in their win over the Spinners.
He is expected to play all nine innings once again today.
…i just wish i was posting this in the middle of July rather than the beginning of September…
