Daily Archives: September 19, 2009
The Mets defeated the Nationals, 3–2, in Citi Field today.
For a full recap and boxscore, click here.
The Least You Should Know:
Tim Redding gave up just two runs in to the eighth inning, while walking two and string out four.
David Wright and Jeff Francoeur delivered back-to-back doubles in the seventh inning to break a 1–1 tie.
The Mets ended their season-long, six-game losing streak with today’s win.
Misc., Etc., and other Stuff:
Redding looked quite good. He mixed up his pitches well, and a had a ton of life on his fastball – the difference between his off-speed pitches and his fastball had Nationals hitters swinging late and topping the ball all afternoon… also, he threw first-pitch strikes to 19 of his 26 batters. He had a rough start to the season, but, he now has a 2.72 ERA in his last six starts, during which opponents are hitting .192 against him.
Nationals right-fielder Ian Desmon took an initial step in on David Wright’s hit in the seventh inning, sending the ball over his head and to the wall, allowing Wright to reach second. Francoeur then ripped a follow-up double to right field, scoring Wright, the go-ahead run.
Prior to the game, Jerry Manuel explained to WFAN that Francoeur will require surgery on the ligament in his hand, because, while he can play, he runs the risk of being out ‘for an extended period of time,’ should he do something, like slide funny, and do additional damage. If this is the case, why is he playing?
What’s Next for the Mets:
The Mets conclude their three-game series with the Nationals tomorrow at 1 pm, with John Maine facing Garrett Mock.
Tagged News |
The Mets look to snap their six game losing streak this afternoon at Citi Field against the Nationals.
Carlos Beltran will get the afternoon off.
Angel Pagan will lead off, followed in order by Luis Castillo, David Wright, Jeff Francoeur, Fernando Tatis, Daniel Murphy, Wilson Valdez, and Josh Thole.
Tim Redding (2-6, 5.52 ERA) will start for the Mets. Since returning to the rotation Redding has been serviceable, allowing more than three earned runs just once and has lowered his ERA by more than a half a run since August 22. He has made just one appearance against his former club this season, allowing one run in six innings, taking a no-decision in a 3-1 Mets victory on June 5.
John Lannan (9-11, 4.08 ERA) will start for the Nationals. Lannan has seen his season take a downturn in the second half, posting a 3-5 record and a 4.66 ERA in the second half. He has pitched extremely well against the Mets this season, going 2-1 with a 1.96 ERA in three starts against them.
Since joining the Mets, Jeff Francoeur is hitting .309 with seven home runs and 33 RBI in 61 games.
Francoeur tore a ligament in his non-throwing hand, while making a great diving catch against the Phillies in August, which will require surgery after the season.
Despite the injury, Francoeur has played every day since, and he has hit .317 with one home run and nine RBI over that stretch.
In his past 10 games, Francoeur is batting .447 and he has had three hits in a game on five different occasions, including a 3-for-5 effort last night.
…jeff has been one of the few bright spots this season and i have enjoyed watching him play… he is a great outfielder and his ability to play the way he has – with the injury he has in that hand – is real gritty… it has to hurt every time he swings the bat, but he has produced…
…however, a major concern of mine is that he simply doesn’t walk… he has nine walks since he joined the Mets on July 11.. .i do believe the team should consider bringing him back because he has an outstanding arm, and he is young and plays hard, and has shown signs that he can become the player he was through 2007 – and that fits the mold of what i believe the team should build upon… but the low on base percentage, to me, makes him more of a lower-part-of-the-order hitter, albeit one of the better ones in the league…
Prior to yesterday’s 6-5 loss to the Nationals, Carlos Delgado talked to reporters and indicated, while he would like to play again in 2009, a variety of setbacks, including a strained oblique muscle and inflammation in his surgically repaired hip, are making that unlikely.
With regards to his setbacks, Delgado told reporters:
“It’s been frustrating… just because right around the All-Star break things were going very, very well and we were planning to go out and run and eventually move over to baseball activities, and had a little flare-up. We had to back off and things weren’t going that good… then around August I went down to Port St. Lucie and I started running and doing my baseball activities and had a little flare-up… for a while things were going really, really good, really fast, and then all of a sudden it’s not so great.”
On returning to the Mets in 2010, he said:
“I like it here…We have a great team. You walk in this clubhouse, you’ve got a chance to win. Obviously, we’ve got to get healthier, but I think we’re in the process of doing that… I haven’t really talked to the front office in regards to that, but if that’s the case, I’d love coming back.”
Delgado was then asked if he thinks he can still be the same player that he was, to which he said, “Absolutely. Not a doubt.”
…i certainly wouldn’t think he would campaign to return to the team and say he can’t be what they need him to be…
…as much as i like delgado, i really think that there are just too many risks involved in bringing him back, even if it is on a one-year deal… he has been challenged by this injury since 2008, and this year it cost him the entire season and the club really cannot afford to have a black hole at first base again next season…
…in my mind, sentimental reasons alone are not enough to sign a player to a contract if you are trying to win…
After last night’s 6-5 loss to the Nationals, Mike Pelfrey addressed the media, and said:
“I had good stuff, you know, but if you look at the box score, I made some bad pitches… I gave up a home run, and when I made a mistake, they hit it. So, I don’t view this as any good outing. I had good stuff, but I didn’t get the results. So it’s not a positive outing.”
…despite the box score, it was one of his better outings of late considering he only threw 90 pitches and lasted seven innings which indicates efficiency, something he has lacked for the most part…
…that said, when you watch him, the stuff just isn’t there…the velocity is but the action on the pitches is absent, and it is resulting in too many bad strikes…
Jeff Francoeur also spoke to the media, and talked about his good night at the plate, to which he said:
“I told Jerry, ‘I’m going to win this thing tonight.’… I felt great at the plate tonight. I had great swings all night. I guess I’ve got to stop hitting the ball up the middle… every time I hit up the middle something (bad) happens.’”
…he does seem to run into some tough luck up the middle, given he also ended a game a few weeks ago hitting into a triple play…
Jerry Manuel seemed to appreciate the effort put forth by his team, despite their daily results and position in the standings, telling reporters:
“They’re fighting. They’re putting forth a tremendous effort, with energy… you can’t say that about many clubs that are in the position that we’re in, that are putting forth that type of effort to come back, to try to get into a game, try to win a game, those type of things. But at the same time, we’re still falling short.”
Tagged Mike Pelfrey |
