Daily Archives: September 18, 2009
The Mets lost to the Nationals, 6-5, tonight in Citi Field, falling under .500 at home, and extending their losing streak to six games – their longest of the season.
For a full recap and box score, click here.
The Least You Should Know:
I didn’t really know what to make of Mike Pelfrey tonight – he lasted seven innings and tossed 90 pitches, but his sinker that hasn’t sunk all year cost him a pair of two run home runs – one from Ryan Zimmerman in the first inning and the other from Josh Bard in the fifth inning…either way it resulted in his 11th loss of the season.
The Mets had another runner thrown out at the plate tonight – this one being Carlos Beltran in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly attempt by Wilson Valdez, ending a potential threat.
The Mets managed to get the winning run into scoring position in the ninth inning thanks to an RBI single by David Wright, and RBI groundout by Carlos Beltran, and a throwing error by Washington shortstop Ian Desmond that allowed Luis Castillo to score, but Jeff Francoeur grounded out to end the game.
Other Observations and Notes:
As Gary Cohen pointed out, Francoeur has had three hits in a game, five times in his last seven games – all with a torn ligament in his thumb.
Mets pitching allowed three Nationals to hit home runs – not exactly the most inspiring statistic.
The Mets are now 24-37 against National League Eastern Division teams in 2009.
I wasn’t a supporter of obtaining Adam Dunn, but he has turned in a great season for Washington.
Up Next:
The Mets look to even this series and snap this losing streak tomorrow at 1:10 pm with John Lannan taking on Tim Redding.
Tagged News |
Prior to tonight’s game, both Jerry Manuel and Carlos Delgado spoke with reporters, and neither are optimistic on the possibility of a return for Delgado this season.
Delgado said that he has been working towards coming back and he had been running this week but “didn’t feel good afterwards.”
Delgado doesn’t want to rule anything out but will make a decision on returning as he goes through this weekend.
Delgado did say that his hip did in fact flare up, but after being checked by doctors, the structure of the hip is fine, as “what they fixed is still fixed.”
On returning to the Mets for 2010, Delgado said that he does like it in New York, but wasn’t totally clear on whether or not he wants to return.
Manuel told reporters:
“It’s disappointing in that Carlos Delgado is a big part of the leadership core of the team and to not see him back is hard to take because you thought we’d get him back at some point in August.”
Update, 4:46 pm:
Jerry Manuel has told reporters that Carlos Delgado has experienced a “couple of setbacks” and is officially out for the remainder of the season.
In addition to the oblique strain, Delgado apparently is having issues in his back, but according to Manuel, his hip is not a factor at the moment.
Original Post:
The Mets open a three game series with the Nationals tonight at Citi Field.
Angel Pagan will lead off, followed in order by Luis Castillo David Wright, Carlos Beltran, Daniel Murphy, Jeff Francoeur, Brian Schneider, and Wilson Valdez.
Mike Pelfrey (10-10, 5.09 ERA) will start for the Mets. For the season, Pelfrey has allowed 1.6 base runners per inning, a large contributor to his high ERA. He will be making his third start of the year against Washington, and he is 1-1 with a 3.55 ERA on the year against the Nationals.
J.D. Martin (4-4, 4.29 ERA) will start for the Nationals. Martin made his Major League debut against the Mets on July 20 but was roughed up for five runs and eight hits in just four innings. Since August 4, however, he has allowed more than three earned runs just once despite averaging under 5 2/3 innings in those starts.
Update, 3:11 pm:
In a report for SI.com, during which he looks at their off-season needs and targets, Jon Heyman writes:
“Reports have suggested the Mets plan to cut from an NL-high $145 million payroll, but even a small reduction might be a tough sell in their second season in Citi Field. The guess here is the payroll stays about the same. Mets people already are discussing big-name free agent targets - though, of course, that doesn’t guarantee they’ll actually sign any of the big ones.”
Original Post:
In his most recent Marchand Minute for 1050 ESPN Radio, Andrew Marchand cites an associate of the Wilpon as saying the only way to get the Mets to spend money this offseason will be public pressure.
…i am not sure what this means… the buzz around new york has long been the Mets will cut payroll this off season, and only spend around $15 million on new acquisitions… i don’t necessarily believe that… i mean, the club has a ton of holes, it is about to conclude a hugely disappointing season, and they will need to sell new ticket plans and ads for next season… and so, while it might sound prudent to cut budget today, i will not believe it until i see it… perhaps that is the public pressure marchand is speaking of… it’s not necessarily a fan uprising, but a looming fear of empty seats in 2010…
To listen to 1050 ESPN Radio online, click here.
Tagged News |
I had a long talk the other day with a someone who works in marketing for MLB, and they asked me which player I most identify with?
He wasn’t talking about my favorite player, necessarily, or who I feel was best performer… instead, he asked, who did I most connect with? Who did I identify with most? Who played the game the way I feel I would have played?
My favorite Mets player of all time is rotates between Keith Hernandez, Howard Johnson and Darryl Strawberry – but, I identify most with Wally Backman, because he embodied the underdog, he played hard, he hustled, he was not flashy and he did his job.
What player from the Mets, from any era, did you most identify with?
Tagged News |SNY.TV’s Ted Berg said on Twitter:
“People hoping the Mets lose so they get a better draft pick are way more optimistic about their drafting ability than I am.”
…this is an important point… this is also why i am not necessarily rooting for the Mets to lose… i mean, let the chips fall where they may, since i have no way of knowing if next year’s fourth 
pick in the draft will end up being better than the seventh pick, and so on, and, of course, like berg is alluding to, that has everything to do with whether the Mets can develop that player in to an influential major leaguer, which is an uphill fight for every team – just look at the odds…
…that said, i am rooting for the Mets to finish among the 15 worst teams in the league… because, 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…
…for what it’s worth, to finish with the 16th, the Mets need to catch fire and finish around .500 this season, jumping ahead of the Cubs and Twins in the standings, which is more or less impossible since there are only 16 games left in the season… in other words, it’s all good, and looking like the Mets will have a first-round pick next season, regardless of whether they sign a Type A free agent…
To follow Berg on Twitter, click here, to follow me, click here.
Tagged News |
Brooklyn Met Fan says, ‘It’s OK to not watch anymore.’
Jason at Faith and Fear in Flushing asks if this is the most disappointing season in Mets history, and lists his top five of all time.
MetsGrrl doesn’t even think she’s “supporting the team in the true sense of the word.”
In the offseason, Promote The Curse proposes five changes that should happen to Citi Field, including “Murals, placards, neon lights,” and, “do something with the stairwells.”
…they are completely barren, but, hey, so were the ramps at shea… if the Mets ever start contending, those stairwells will be rocking… but until then, they are just lifeless exits…
Instead of spoilers, the Mets are ‘sweeteners,’ explains Metstradamus.
Finally, since living in the moment is no fun, Never Forget ’69 relives this day in Mets history, writing, “Seaver manhandled the Expos lineup striking out 9, walking 3, allowing just 5 hits and more importantly, no runs. Another complete game, Seaver’s sixth in a row, was the ace’s 23rd of the season.”
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |Prior to yesterday’s 7-3 loss to the Braves, Jerry Manuel told reporters that Bobby Parnell will return to the bullpen.
Parnell was 1-5 with a 7.93 ERA in eight starts for the Mets.
Parnell was not very upset, telling reporters:
“I wasn’t performing well enough to stay there,” Parnell said, “so I totally understand. I’m not discouraged.”
In addition, Jerry Manuel had this to say about Parnell:
“He was probably not advancing at the level that we would want him to be…I think the one thing that it’s given him is versatility at least.”
…i would think that he would be more versatile if he could be a reliable starter as well as a reliever, and he seems to be better suited for the bullpen, which doesn’t show me versatility…
Parnell will return to the rotation in Winter Ball this year, but it doesn’t appear likely that he is a part of the Mets rotation plans for 2010.
Tagged Robert Parnell |
As part of their Offseason Outlook Series, Tim Dierkes at MLB Trade Rumors takes a look at the Mets and their projected payroll commitments for 2010.
Dierkes figures that the Mets currently stand at $110 million on the books, with $35-$40 million coming off of it, which can help to plug the many holes the Mets have exposed.
…of course, it all depends on whether or not they will spend that money…
Dierkes suggests that, with so many holes, the Mets are better off obtaining four or five “sensible” free agents rather than pursue big money players such as John Lackey or Matt Holliday.
…i am torn on the scenario… i think that both players would definitely improve things, as they would have a left fielder that they have longed for, as well as a pitcher to compliment Johan Santana, but is also the caliber of an ace…
…that said, i agree with tim, in that there are so many holes that it could make more sense to plug each of them with sensible talent… it would certainly be an improvement over what they have now and, at this point, i am not sure that signing the big ticket is the answer anymore…
…they need personalities and specific talents that fit the mold of a team that they are trying to build, and while lackey is someone that fits that mold, i am not sure that holliday is – considering that he is not a defensively-oriented left fielder, and defense has been a big problem for the Mets in 2009…
Dierkes believes a group of Bobby Abreu, Nick Johnson and someone like Gregg Zaun, who would be paired with Josh Thole, could all be had for around $25 million and would give the Mets five guys with a .400 or higher OBP.
…abreu is always an interesting target, but a lot has been said about his attitude, especially when the team goes bad… that said, it’s hard to argue with the level of consistency he comes to the table with, and this year is no different than prior years for him… of course, he isn’t getting any younger…
For more on this, check out MLB Trade Rumors.
The Mets lost to the Braves, 7–3, in Atlanta tonight.
For a full recap and boxscore, click here.
The Least You Should Know:
Nelson Figueroa pitched well for four innings, but Braves C Brian McCann hit a go-ahead, three-run home run in the fifth inning to give the Braves a lead they would never relinquish.
Daniel Murphy had three hits, including a home run, which tied him for the team lead with 10… yes, 10 home runs leads the team.
The Mets have lost five straight and nine of 10 – they are now 21 games under .500, their lowest point since the second-to-last game of 2004.
The start of the game was delayed two hours by rain.
Misc., Etc., and Other Stuff:
Luis Castillo looks exhausted. I mean, he looks dead tired.
Actually, most of the team looks tired, which, while understandable, is unacceptable… I mean, do any of these guys want jobs next season?
In the end, if the team keeps losing like this, despite the injuries, etc., while looking lethargic and tired, I think that has to be an indictment on Jerry Manuel… it has to be. I’m not saying he should be fired, but there are questions being raised of late about the team’s preparedness and focus in spring training, they collapsed last season, and now they’re looking flat in September again. I can accept the losses, because of the lack of talent, the injuries, etc., I get that, but you’ve got to always hustle and be focused. The way this team finishes this season will tell me more about next season than anything they did this summer.
Figueroa flirted with disaster most of the night, he didn’t move the ball around the zone enough, Braves hitters adjusted, and knocked him around pretty hard in the fifth… it was feeling like the fifth inning’s results were inevitable, actually.
Murphy, Jeff Francoeur, and more or less everyone in the lineup, seem to swing at every pitch thrown to them.
Speaking of Frenchy, why is he still playing if he’s going to have off-season surgery on his hand? I’m confused.
Please, WFAN, stop playing the commercial with the cats meowing.
What’s Next for the Mets:
The Mets return to Citi Field tomorrow night at 7 pm to begin a three-game series with the Nationals.
Tagged News |
