Daily Archives: September 13, 2009
The Mets lost both games of yesterday’s double-header to the Phillies, losing 5–4 in game one and 1–0 in game two, yesterday in Philadelphia.
For a full recap and boxscore, click here and here.
The Least You Should Know:
In the first game, John Maine made his first start since June 6. He gave up an RBI double to Ryan Howard in the first inning. Shane Victorino and Ben Francisco each hit a home run off Tobi Stoner. The Mets scored two runs against Brad Lidge in the ninth. Josh Thole was 4–for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
In the second game, though it hurts to say it, Pedro Martinez was dominant, pitching eight scoreless innings, while striking out seven and officially eliminating the Mets from playoff contention. Tim Redding, again, looked good, he gave up just one run and three hits n six innings, followed by scoreless work from Sean Green and Pedro Feliciano.
Misc., Etc., and other Stuff:
Maine looked good. But, frankly, just seeing him on the mound, healthy, and pitching free, is a small victory. Actually, the real victory for Maine will be the next four days, between now and his next start. He lacked zip on his fastball, clocking 90 mph at best. But, for all intent and purposes, this may as well be a spring training start. He did, however, have a lot of variance between his pitches, he used both sides of the plate and he seemed comfortable, strong and confident, which are all good signs.
In game one, Thole dunked a hit to left field, then center field, then right field, he was blocking balls behind the plate, and looking like a major-league catcher… no question. Following the game, Jerry Manuel said it looks like Thole will have a ‘bright future,’ in baseball.
It’s so difficult, because, on one hand, I hate the Phillies and so, naturally, I should dislike Pedro – but, I also like Pedro, and so I am glad he’s having success – but, it kills me to hear Phillies fans cheering, ‘Let’s Go Pedro,’ yet I’m happy for Pedro. Ugh… of all the times, he had to get to Philadelphia.
What’s Next for the Mets:
The Mets travel to Atlanta to begin a three-game series with the Braves tomorrow night at 7 pm.
Tagged News |
The Mets and Phillies will open Game 1 of their day/night doubleheader today at 1:05 pm at Citizens Bank Park.
Carlos Beltran will not play in Game 1, nor will Luis Castillo.
Angel Pagan will lead off, followed in order by Anderson Hernandez at second base, David Wright, Daniel Murphy, Jeff Francoeur, Cory Sullivan, Josh Thole, and Wilson Valdez.
John Maine (5-4, 4.52 ERA) will start for the Mets. Maine makes his return to the big leagues today after spending all summer on the disabled list. Maine last appeared in Washington on June 6 when he allowed seven runs in just 4 1/3 innings. He was placed on the disabled list following that start.
Kyle Kendrick (0-1, 5.06 ERA) will start for the Phillies. Kendrick has seemingly fallen out of favor with the Phillies after starting 30 games for them last season. He is making just his fifth appearance of the season and his first start, and he is 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA in four career starts against the Mets.
Mike Pelfrey was once again disappointing yesterday against the Phillies, allowing eight runs and ten hits including three home runs in six innings.
After the game, Pelfrey discussed his outing with reporters, saying:
“I thought I made some big mistakes – mistakes over the middle part of the plate…I’m disappointed, but we came back and won. That takes some of it away.”
Pelfrey had been 5-2 through June 16, but showed signs of inconsistency through that point, owning a 4.56 ERA at that time.
Now, Pelfrey is 10-10 with a 5.09 ERA, and for his career he is 28-30 with a 4.59 ERA while allowing 507 hits in 459 innings, and striking out 264.
…Jerry Manuel has suggested recently that the team is looking for some level of maturity from Pelfrey and it just hasn’t come…the thing is Mike has been in the Major Leagues in some capacity since 2006 and being his fourth big league season, i would have expected him to become what the team expected him to be which is a front line starter and he simply hasn’t become that…
…he is going to be 26 at the start of the 2010 season so he is still relatively young, but at the same time we have seen most of the star pitchers today enjoy success and become that front line pitcher at an earlier age, a few good examples being Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, and of course Johan Santana…he does have outstanding talents and that sinker, when controlled, is among the best in the business…but i have to think it is going to be now or never for Mike and i would love to see him blossom, but we simply haven’t seen any signs that he can do that…
…i think that going into the off-season, the club has to keep this in mind and not expect that he develops the way they had hoped…it would be great if he does breakout next season because that will result in more wins, but i feel that he has to be considered a back of the rotation starter if he is going to be part of the rotation next season…
Tagged Mike Pelfrey |
David Wright belted two home runs and matched a career high by driving in six, including the game tying and winning runs in the ninth inning.
Wright had been in a 3 for 27 slump which included 11 strikeouts, one of which matched his career high at 118.
Since his return from the disabled list, Wright is hitting .250 with two home runs and 11 RBI, with 13 strikeouts.
…it has been an unbelievable roller coaster for David this year…
Lifetime, Wright is a .261 lifetime hitter, with 11 home runs and 36 RBI in 176 career at bats in Citizens Bank Park.
Since joining the Phillies, Pedro Martinez is 4-0 with a 3.64 ERA in six starts.
Although Pedro is having as much fun as he had in 2004, when he was a part of the Red Sox first World Championship since 1918, he does feel bad for the Mets, telling Brian Costa of the Star Ledger:
“I feel horrible for the guys, the players…I feel bad for the city, I feel bad for the fans. Everybody has ups and downs. The Mets had three pretty good years. We had a lot of talent, a lot of support, we let them down, and now this year, the health hasn’t been there. This year I thought they had everything they needed.”
…i feel horrible too, Peety…
Despite Pedro’s success with the Phillies, Jerry Manuel still stands by the Mets’ decision not to sign him, telling Costa:
“I thought we did all we could do. We just got hit so quickly by those injuries. Then we still had some people in place. We had Nieve who came in and pitched very well. We had a lot of things we thought were in place. We didn’t realize we were going to get hit at the degree that we got hit. You could never foresee that type of thing.”
…i personally didn’t think that any point the Mets should have signed Martinez in 2009, but I have to question what Manuel is saying here only because when Nieve went down, Perez and Maine were already down, Pelfrey was under performing, and Santana was not exactly Santana…so how can one argue not to sign any pitcher to help…i know Pedro is a risk and probably did not fit into the Mets plans, but it’s hard for me to stand by that…
…i guess in other words, the Mets simply didn’t want Pedro…
