Daily Archives: September 9, 2009
The Mets lost to the Marlins by the score of 6–3 in Citi Field tonight.
For a full recap and boxscore, click here.
The Least You Should Know:
Pat Misch struggled mightily in the first inning, allowing four Marlins to score. Three of which crossed the plate on a three-run homer by Cody Ross. Misch settled down rather nicely however, and completed six innings, allowing just one more run, a solo shot by Dan Uggla.
Ricky Nolasco stymied the Mets for most of the game, allowing only one hit until the sixth inning.
The Mets chipped away in the seventh. Carlos Beltran hit a rope that moved David Wright from first to third. Daniel Murphy then notched a RBI double. Jeff Francoeur battled Nolasco to a full count, and brought Beltran home on a sac fly, and Fernando Tatis capped off the scoring with a ground out to score Murphy.
With no outs in the eighth, Cory Sullivan walked and Angel Pagan nailed a ball right to Jorge Cantu who easily doubled up Sullivan, deflating the Mets chances to rally.
Misc., Etc., and Other Stuff:
Ron and Keith did well without the keystone, Gary Cohen in the booth. It was a leisurely game to watch, even if the Mets seemed flat tonight.
Nice in-game interview by Kevin Burkhardt with Josh Thole‘s dad who still throws his son batting practice in the winter.
At least the fans all got free hot dogs.
What’s Next for the Mets:
The Mets try to avoid the sweep as they conclude their series with the Marlins tomorrow night, with Bobby Parnell (3-7, 5.25) facing Sean West (6-5, 4.61) at 7:10 p.m.
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |
Update, 10:32 pm:
To see video of Reyes speaking to reporters, use the video player in the sidebar of MetsBlog.com.
Update, 8:01 pm:
Here is a transcript of what Reyes said – it’s towards the end, when he talks about how hard he’s been working, when he starts to choke up with slights tears in his eyes:
“I never thought it would take me this long to be back on the field… This is not an easy injury that I have. I have a tear in my tendon. People think it’s like a normal hamstring injury, it’s not normal. I have a tear there. When you have a tear it’s different. That’s gonna take a long time to heal. So, people have to understand that. Because, I like to be on the field and play with the team. Sometimes, people think, ‘Oh, Reyes, he doesn’t want to play.’ Why would people think I don’t want to be on the field with my team? I love to play baseball. I love to be on the field. I love to have fun. I love to enjoy the game. That’s what I do. So, I don’t know why people sometimes think like I don’t want to be on the field. I live for baseball. I’ve been playing since I was little. I can’t do nothing in my house but watch TV and spend time with my family. But, I love to be on the field. So, that’s my main goal. If I’m ready the last week of the season I’ll play the last week of the season. I’ve been working so hard… you guys… you guys don’t know… how hard I’ve been working. I’ve been working so hard, I mean, the past four months, but, so far it hasn’t worked. So, hopefully it works quick.”
…man, i hope the silver lining to all of this is that these guys appreciate the game more, work hard, bond, and are all better off – as a team – next season… i have a feeling it will… but, of course, i’m a baseball romantic…
Update, 6:30 pm:
…i just watched video of reyes speaking to reporters from the locker room, and he sounded very annoyed, and defensive, basically saying he is working hard and want to be back on the field helping his teammates… he said he doesn’t understand why people are saying otherwise…
Original Post:
Prior to today’s game, Jerry Manuel said Jose Reyes is still working to get back in the lineup this season.
“The more questions we can answer now, the better we’ll be in spring training,” Manuel said, speaking to reporters in Citi Field.
Reyes later said he will try to run the bases one more time this season, and if it does not go well he will consider surgery.
In either case, Manuel said it will be up to Reyes if he plays Winter Ball this off season, adding, “If he feels he needs to answer questions, it’s a good venue.”
According to the New York Post, “Reyes was very animated and angry on what he perceived to be the feeling among ‘some people,’ i.e., fans, talk radio, ‘the media,’ etc., that he has been milking the injury.
Speaking of injuries, and other stuff…
Tagged News |
The Mets continue their series with the Marlins tonight at 7:10 pm at Citi Field.
If you are attending tonight’s game, you will receive one free Nathan’s Hot Dog.
Angel Pagan will lead off, followed in order by Luis Castillo, David Wright, Carlos Beltran, Daniel Murphy, Jeff Francoeur, Josh Thole, and Anderson Hernandez.
Pat Misch (1-1, 3.25 ERA) will start for the Mets. Misch has been a pleasant surprise since being placed in the starting rotation. He has allowed three earned runs in 18 innings and three starts since August 23.
Ricky Nolasco (10-8, 5.27 ERA) will start for the Marlins. It has been an up and down season for Nolasco, a low point coming on August 12 against Houston when he allowed 10 runs in 3 1/3 innings. He has been mostly ineffective against the Mets this season, as he has allowed eight earned runs in 10 innings in two starts, posting an 0-1 record.
In a post his blog for ESPN.com, Rob Neyer gets right to the point and explains why, “Daniel Murphy isn’t good enough to play regularly. He doesn’t field well enough to play second base, and he doesn’t hit well enough to play one of the corner positions. He just doesn’t.”
Brandon Tierney of 1050 ESPN Radio disagrees, writing to Twitter, “I still believe in Murphy… Keep him at first, upgrade left-field and catcher, and he’ll hit .290, .300 with 40+ doubles and 15-20 HR’s next season. He WILL learn to pull the inside heat.”
According to MLB Trade Rumors, ‘The free-agent market for first baseman is lacking a monster bat, but there are some interesting names,” such as Nick Johnson, Hank Blalock and Adam LaRoche.
…i agree with tierney… i think, with protection in the lineup, and a more stable season, using what he’s learned and lived through this year, murphy can hit above .280 with at least 30 doubles… but, like i think what neyer is saying, it’s a waste to go with just 15 HR at first when there are opportunities all around the game to get more power from your first baseman…
…i still feel it’s about allocation… it’s about scoring runs, first, and then how you allocate them is just a matter of contracts and sorting it all out… so, if the Mets get a 40–HR slugger for left field, it could be more than enough production with murphy at first to score the necessary amount of runs to win baseball games… but, to rob’s point, if i understand it right, it might be easier to acquire that power bat for first base as opposed to left field… and, why make life more difficult than it needs to be…
…that may be, but, looking at MLBTR’s list, if the Mets plan to get the power they crave from first base, it will need to come in the form of a trade because that free-agent market is pretty weak… at least in terms of power for Citi Field…
However, Buster Olney of ESPN.com believes the Padres will not trade 1B Adrian Gonzalez this off season.
…similarly, there is buzz in Milwaukee suggesting the Brewers could look to trade Prince Fielder, but, if they do, it will be for a top, young, front-end starting pitcher, the likes of which i don’t think the Mets have…
…this is why, regardless of what you think of murphy, it might be easier to get instant offense in left field, from a free-agent market that will offer Jason Bay and Matt Holliday, not to mention possible options via trade…
Tagged News |In a post to his blog for MiLB.com, Jonathan Mayo posts the reverse standings in MLB, i.e., who will get the No. 1 pick in the 2010 Draft.
As of now, according to Mayo, the Mets have the 10th overall pick.
…for those rooting for the Mets to lose, for the purposes of getting the best possible pick, they’re basically one, major losing-streak away from having the fourth or fifth overall pick in the draft…
…thanks to a talk with Joe DeMayo of NY Baseball Digest, i now know that if the Mets finish any place within the first overall 15 picks of the draft, they will not lose their first pick if they sign a Type A free agent, like, say, Matt Holliday… assuming things stay as is, in a holliday scenario, they’d surrender a second-round pick instead…
…to move up from the 15th pick, to a spot in which they could lose that first-rounder, the Mets need to catch fire and finish around .500, jumping ahead of the Cubs and Twins in the standings…
…of course, all of this depends on the team’s ability to draft a quality player, pay him, and then bringing him along in a way that works, while not botching his development or trading him too soon…
Speaking of DeMayo, he argues in favor of signing Holliday, here.
Tagged News |Eric Simon of Amazin Avenue wonders if the World Baseball Classic is to blame for all of the Mets injuries this season.
…i have been sent this question over and over again, all season, from fans wondering the same thing… it’s crossed my mind as well… the thing is, as eric points out, there is no real way of ever knowing… also, the other questions would be: what percentage of players ended up on the disabled list who did play in the WBC, as compared to who didn’t play in the WBC, as compared to the Mets…
…speaking of the WBC, i believe it was SNY’s Gary Cohen who mentioned an interesting solution a while back… basically, he said, MLB should start the season earlier and end later every four years, while making the All-Star break two weeks long, during which they can play the WBC… by doing so, players are in gear, fans are tuned in and in the spirit of watching baseball, non-WBC players can get an extended rest, and, lastly, no other professional sports are being played…
Tagged News |
In honor of today, 09.09.09, Mets by the Numbers looks at every player from the Mets to wear No. 9.
In a post-game recap for Mets Today, Joe Janish discusses Josh Thole’s defense, talks about SNY’s Silent Sixth Inning, and slips in the following, which made me laugh:
“Jerry Manuel mentioned Buddy Bell during the SNY postgame interview while describing Tim Redding’s performance. Then I realized he said “but he battled”, not “Buddy Bell”. I always liked Buddy Bell … he was a solid hitter who hit in the clutch and was an excellent defender at the hot corner. Not much of a manger, though. Ah, I digress.”
The Mets debuted the Plum Room in Citi Field yesterday, dedicated to five-decade Mets employee Jim Plummer, who died last year.
For more on the dedication, and Plummer, check out MLB.com.
Doc Gooden is now a Senior Vice President of the Newark Bears – for more, read Mike Silva of NY Baseball Digest.
Kerel from On the Black asks, “Have we seen the best of John Maine?”
Mike of Mike’s Mets breaks down the problem, noting, “The Mets have never been able to follow an organizational plan for any length of times since Frank Cashen.”
…if you’re not working with a plan, you’re not working…
…i’ll say it again, for those who some how missed me saying it the last week or so:
The Mets need to determine who they are, what they’re about, and what type of team they want to be, what are their goals, what’s the plan to get there, and then get the best people possible to make it happen.
In a report for SNY.TV, Howard Megdal asks, “Has Mike Pelfrey regressed?”
Lastly, Will from Mets Fans Forever relays a quick exchange with Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News about Tobi Stoner.
Tagged News |John Maine threw a bullpen session yesterday and told reporters he expects to pitch in a simulated game tomorrow.
Prior to yesterday’s game, Jerry Manuel said, if all goes well, Maine will likely pitch in the first game of a double-header in Philadelphia on Sunday.
…from what i can gather, he’ll probably be allowed to throw around 65 pitches, so newly-promoted Tobi Stoner will be ready to pitch in long relief… stoner will wear No. 29… it’s too bad they don’t make three-digit jerseys…
Maine said he ‘feels good,’ and, though he is still not 100 percent in terms of arm strength, he hopes to get three or four starts before the end of the season.
That said, he explained, with some rest and hard work this winter, while sticking to his rehab program, he expects to be ‘just fine’ for spring training.
…there has been a lot of online talk about whether the Mets will tender maine a contract next season… i believe he’ll be back… and i hope he is i don’t know how the contract will shake out, but, from what i can gather, the Mets have no interest in cutting him loose – and they have every intention of having him around through at least spring training… they still love his arm, and talk about his effortless delivery… if he can adjust his workouts, and stay healthy, they still think he can be a major factor in the rotation… as do i… he’s eligible for arbitration, and will likely get around $2.5 million… he is not able to be a free agent until after the 2011 season…
When asked if he returned to prove his value, in advance of such off-season questions, Maine said, “I just wanted to pitch.”
Tagged News |In his return to the lineup for the first time since late June, last night, Carlos Beltran went 1-for-4 with a double, a sliding catch in the outfield, and he nearly missed a go-ahead grand slam by a few feet.
Following the game, Beltran talked to reporters about returning to the lineup and said:
“Any time you make a catch, or get a hit, or do something for the team, you feel good and you gain confidence… Honestly, out there today, I felt like a kid in the playground. Bringing my daughter to the playground, when she’s having fun, that’s how I felt today. Hopefully, I can continue to come to the ballpark feeling comfortable out there… It’s been a long time rehabbing, like two and a half months to try to come back. Thank God I made it and I’m here. I’m not thinking about anything. I’m just going out there and trying to do the best I can. That’s it.”
Beltran later said he returned from the disabled list, not because he feels obligated, but, because, “This is my job.”
For more on Beltran’s return, including additional quotes from Beltran and Jerry Manuel, check out David Lennon’s report in Newsday.
For more on the state of Beltran’s knee, and his goal for the rest of the season, read Steve Popper in the Bergen Record.
Speaking of the outfield…
In a report for MLB.com, Tim Britton and Marty Noble look at the impact Beltran will have on playing time for Cory Sullivan and Angel Pagan.
Pagan hit .295 with six HR, eight triples and 10 doubles when batting from the leadoff spot, during Beltran’s absence.
Sullivan is hitting .412 in September, and batting .283 with a .361 OBP and eight extra base hits in 44 games since the All-Star break.
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Tagged News |
