Daily Archives: September 11, 2009
The Phillies defeated the Mets by the score of 4-2 at Citizens Bank Park tonight.
For a full recap and box score, click here.
The Least You Should Know:
Nelson Figueroa allowed 15 base runners in just 5.1 innings, including nine hits and five walks and one hit batters – however, he only allowed two runs, keeping his team in the game and giving them a chance to win for the fourth consecutive start.
Figueroa is just 1-3 in his last four starts, but has a 3.09 ERA over that span.
Aside from Jeff Francoeur who went 3 for 4, the Mets offered Figueroa no support offensively against Cole Hamels, who defeated the Mets for the first time since 2006.
The top three in the Phillies batting order – Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, and Chase Utley – were a combined 7 for 12 with four doubles on the night, compared to the top three for the Mets – Angel Pagan, Luis Castillo and David Wright – who were a combined 1 for 10, with a single in the first inning by Castillo.
Other Observations and Notes:
This loss wasn’t unlike the others we have seen over the course of the season, in that the Mets simply didn’t hit – with the only extra base hits coming from Francoeur in the sixth inning and Omir Santos doubling in the ninth.
Figueroa deserves better, although he danced out of trouble all night.
Pagan ended his career-high, 10-game hitting streak going 0-for-4.
Up Next:
The Mets look to even the series against the Phillies tomorrow at 4:05 pm, with Mike Pelfrey facing Jamie Moyer.
Daniel Murphy and Tobi Stoner will play for Leones del Escogido this winter, according to the team’s website, here.
…thanks to Yohel for the link…
…when these links in Spanish are sent to me, my favorite part is seeing how Babelfish translates them… for instance, the lead sentence from the above link translates as follows:
“The general management of the Selected Baseball Club announced the hiring of the gardener and inicialista Daniel Murphy, of the Meters of New York.”
…let’s go meters, clap, clap, clap-clap-clap…
Tagged News |The Mets (62-78) begin a three-game series with the Phillies (79-59) at 7 pm tonight in Citizen’s Bank Park.
The Mets will wear the red Welcome Home Veterans caps tonight in memory of September 11 – the Yankees will do the same.
Nelson Figueroa (2-4, 4.74 ERA) will start for the Mets. Figueroa has a 3.00 ERA in the his last three starts, while 
striking out 20 batters in 18 innings.
Cole Hamels (8–9, 4.32 ERA) will start for the Phillies. Hamels is 0-1 with a 7.20 ERA in two starts against the Mets this season. He has not defeated the Mets since 2006.
Angel Pagan will bat leadoff and start in center field, followed in order by Luis Castillo, David Wright, Jeff Francoeur, Fernando Tatis at first base, Nick Evans in left field, Omir Santos behind the plate, Wilson Valdez at shortstop and Figueroa on the mound.
…back-to-back nights off for Carlos Beltran and Daniel Murphy… i’m thinking beltran is off because of the wet weather, slippery grass, etc., while murphy sits against the left-handed hamels…
…given the standings, i don’t understand why murphy isn’t playing every day… i mean, he’s part of the future… i’m sure tatis is a nice guy… but, i think a handshake and his paycheck should be more than sufficient at this point… when i’m trying to figure out if murphy should be the starting first baseman next season, or whether to trade or sign someone better, whether or not tatis got a hit and felt good about himself tonight is not going to matter…
The weather is quite wet in Philadelphia, but, according to Newsday’s David Lennon on Twitter, “The Phillies have told the Mets they anticipate playing tonight.”
…good, because i anticipate watching…
To follow Lennon on Twitter, click here.
By the way, to watch my hit from last night’s Pre Game Live on SNY, during which I talk about Murphy, as well as yesterday’s brand-indentity exercise, use the video player to the right.
Tagged News |In the event you are in front of a television, tune to MLB Network, where you can watch Mets prospect Ike Davis playing right field for Team USA against Germany.
Tagged News |
In a post for Fan Graphs, Rays fan RJ Anderson explains why it is not necessary to ‘Blow Up the Mets.’
… it’s tempting, but the Mets will open next season with Jose Reyes, David Wright and Carlos Beltran in the lineup and in the field, and with Johan Santana and Francisco Rodriguez on the pitching staff, i.e., five players most teams would kill to have… a tweak or two here and there, a few role new role players and some luck, and there is no reason the Mets cannot contend in 2010…
… the thing is, i have a feeling Omar Minaya is likely to stay on as GM, and serve in the same role he has been in since he got here… however, he will not be as visible… instead, i believe John Ricco will play a more significant role, not just in assisting minaya, but also acting as the team’s spokesman to reporters regarding day-to-day updates on contracts, transactions, injuries, etc… the reasoning, as far as i can tell, is, omar started this thing five years ago, and ownership feels it’s only fair to give him at least one more year to see it through…
…i have no idea if this is the right decision or not… time will tell… i understand the approach… but, i will not lie, it has me worried…
…i have seen no evidence that minaya is capable of ‘building’ a team… he’s very good at fixing things, patching holes, i think he’s good at the indivdual transaction, the individual signing, the individual trade, etc., all in a vaccum… however, i’m skeptical of his ability to put all of those parts and peices together as a long-term, successful team… i am skeptical of his ability to adjust to a changing market place, one shifting from a bounty of quick-fix free agents to one of long-term deals for zero-to-three, home-grown youngsters…
Tagged News |According to the Miami Herald, the Mets will open next season at home against the Marlins on April 5.
In a report for MLB.com, Marty Noble talks to Joe McIlvaine about when the Mets traded Lee Mazzilli for pitchers Ron Darling and Walt Terrell in March 1982.
Terrell was later traded to the Tigers for Howard Johnson.
Jason Fry of Faith and Fear Flushing went to last night’s game in Citi Field, and explains why he and every one else who was there are all ‘sick on the head.’
Lisa of Subway Squawkers asks, ‘What do Jeff Francoeur and George Strait have in common?’
Andrew Beaton of Hot Foot looks at ways the Mets can pinch pennies next year at first base.
Lastly, if you’re interested, you can also find me and MetsBlog on Facebook, here, and on Twitter, here.
Tagged News |
Jerry Manuel told reporters held a closed-door, team meeting before yesterday’s game, saying:
“I just wanted to be sure that we stay concentrating on what’s ahead. And, despite where we are in the standings, even though the end is very near, the quest for a championship continues. You have to try and prepare that mindset, despite the conclusion of the season being so close. There are enough players here who we feel are going to be a part of this, who still have to think in that mindset of ‘championship.’”
…from what i can gather, in short, he talked to the team about finishing strong, staying focused, and doing their best to play crisp baseball, and to use this final month to show you are a championship-caliber player who should be part of a championship team…
…remember, jerry is big on evolution, in that today’s failure is a simply stepping stone, a learning experience, which will be used to create tomorrow’s success… and so, i am sure his speech fit in to this general philosophy, as well…
Tagged News |The following clip about baseball returning for the first time after Sept. 11, 2001, in Shea Stadium, is from Nine Innings From Ground Zero, produced by HBO:
Speaking of the Mets and Sept. 11, read this article from Newsday.
Tagged News |Angel Pagan had three hits last night to continue his 10-game hitting streak.
Pagan is batting .313 with 30 extra base hits in 67 games.
He’s hitting .325 when batting from the leadoff spot, while hitting .360 with runners on base.
… the thing is, again, last night, he made another costly base-running mistake… in the fifth inning, he was tagged out at third base while trying to advance from second on a ball hit to the shortstop, right in front of him… later, he was thrown out at second base when, i assume, he lost track of how many outs there were… from what i can gather, having talked with people connected to the team, he has also missed several signs from coaches this season, be it in the box or on the bases…
Following last night’s game, Jerry Manuel was asked about Pagan’s mental mistakes, to which he said:
“Well, because of what you see, you have to be somewhat concerned, as far as going forward, if you’re talking about Championship Play and performance and things… It’s unfortunate, here’s a guy with three hits, hitting over .300, and there’s a lot of positive things that he does, but, unfortunately, those things are hard to accept, very difficult to swallow.”
…the thing is, the guy can hit… when it comes to swinging the bat, he’s been fantastic… also, he covers lots of ground in the outfield and has a strong glove…
Manuel was asked about Pagan on WFAN earlier this week, and said:
“We do feel he has enough talent to be a fourth outfielder, no question… I think what I’m seeing is, we have a young man who has tremendous talent, who is still growing in baseball, as far as baseball goes. With that growth, you’re going to get some setbacks. For instance (on Tuesday night), he has to get that bunt down, or at least attempt to put that ball on the ground, and he didn’t do either… These are things you have to live with, because the guy is playing regularly at the major-league level. You have to ask, does that fit? It can fit if everything else is doing its thing. If he’s having a career year, you can live with some of those mistakes.”
…it’s hard to follow jerry sometimes, when he’s trying to politically correct and no offend his players, but, i think, what he’s trying to say is, if pagan is going to hit like he’s hitting, and the rest of the team is healthy and performing like it should, i.e., Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran are in the lineup, David Wright is hitting for power, etc., then the team can live with pagan’s mental mistakes because it all fits together and the team will score runs regardless…
…in either case, i do not think it is wise to imagine pagan as a starting outfielder on next season’s team… i do, however, love knowing he’s in the mix, and, if all else fails, can handle the job, while giving me peace of mind knowing he can be one hell of a multi-talented bench player…
To listen to Manuel’s entire interview, click here.
Pagan is eligible for arbitration each of the next two seasons, after which he can become a free agent.
Tagged News |Before yesterday’s game, John Maine threw a 20-pitch simulated game in advance of his start on Sunday against the Phillies.
Maine’s last start for the Mets was on June 6, before a weak shoulder and a pinched nerve put him on the disabled list.
…from what i recall, he had been on pace to win roughly 15 games, and, if I recall, looked 
to be turning a corner in May…
…he had been walking too many batters, and would struggle early in his starts… also, he had been striking out less hitters than in the past… actually, he’s never returned to striking out batters like he did during 2007 – though this all could be because of the weak shoulder… who knows… i guess we will soon find out..
…yesterday, someone asked me, who, out of maine, Mike Pelfrey and Jon Niese, do i believe will have the best season in 2010…
…i said, ‘pelfrey,’ but, the more i think about it, i should have said maine… pelfrey has better stuff, i think, but, maine has tremendous, natural tools… he has an effortless delievery and his ball zips through the strike zone… these are things that cannot be taught… he has it… the last time maine was 100 percent healthy, it seems, was 2007 and early 2008, during which he was consistent, strong and a stable No. 3 starter…
Maine was 23–16 with a 3.94 ERA in 51 starts during 2007 and the first three months of 2008 – he is 7–6 with a 4.63 ERA since.
…and so, if he’s healthy, i believe he’ll be fine…
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