Daily Archives: September 22, 2009
Los Mets were defeated by the Braves tonight by the score of 3-1 at Citi Field.
For a full recap and box score, click here.
The Least You Should Know:
This was a well pitched game by both teams tonight, with Jair Jurrjens on the long end of a fantastic duel by a couple of long time divisional rivals.
Nelson Figueroa lasted seven innings and allowed two runs on just two hits, retiring the first eight men he faced but ran into trouble in the fourth inning when the deciding two runs scored on a Yunel Escobar single.
The Mets had a big opportunity in the seventh inning when Daniel Murphy led off with a single and Brian Schneider doubled him to third, but with one out, Fernando Tatis popped up the first pitch he saw and Cory Sullivan flew out to center field, thus ending that threat.
The Braves got an insurance run off of Francisco Rodriguez in the ninth inning thanks to a lead off double by Escobar who was singled in by Adam LaRoche.
Other Observations and Notes:
It really is frustrating when the Mets lose to bad pitching one night, and then lose due to absolutely no offense while having good pitching the following night, but thats the story of 2009.
Escobar is a really good player – every time I watch him he either gets a big hit or makes a big play in the field and is always in the middle of things for the Braves, kind of like an injured shortstop on the Mets.
During the ninth inning, SNY showed the highlight of Omir Santos hitting the ultimate game winning home run on May 23 against the Red Sox at Fenway Park – that seems like a long time ago.
Up Next:
The Mets look to avoid their second consecutive sweep by the Braves tomorrow night at 7:10 pm when they send Mike Pelfrey to face Tim Hudson.
Tagged News |Prior to tonight’s game, Jerry Manuel spoke with reporters about different aspects of this difficult season.
On starting pitching, Manuel said that there were people placed in the starting role that could be used as spot starters, but he didn’t see any consistency from the pitchers who filled in for the injured.
Speaking about Francisco Rodriguez, Manuel is disappointed that he hasn’t had a lot of opportunities to close out games, but had an excellent opportunity to adjust to New York.
Despite the losing, Manuel feels as though there has been growth as he has learned about the depth of his team and has had the opportunity to evaluate.
…i think we have certainly learned about what players are capable of and what they aren’t capable of…such as Bobby Parnell as a starter, the depth of the pitchers on all levels of the organization, as well as depth at certain positions such as shortstop…but assuming Jose Reyes is healthy, I am not so sure the Mets would focus on developing a first tier shortstop…
About Daniel Murphy, Manuel thinks that he is “stubborn”, but feels that he will be what he thought he would be, which is a 20+ home run type hitter.
…i do think that the raw skill is there and he basically has one full season under his belt…i do feel at times his offensive output was inconsistent and he certainly did not approach the numbers that one would expect from a full time first baseman…but he is young and while i do feel that they need to shop for a first baseman, Murphy does have a future at least with the bat…
The Mets will look to even their series against the Braves, tonight at 7:10 pm 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.
Nelson Figueroa (2-6, 5.21 ERA) will start for the Mets. Figueroa has lost his last three starts, and has posted a 6.61 ERA over that span. He allowed six earned runs in five innings against the Braves on September 17.
Jair Jurrjens (12-10, 2.75 ERA) will start for the Braves. Jurrjens allowed one earned run in seven innings against Figueroa on September 17 and earned the victory. Despite a 2.91 ERA over his past ten starts, he is just 3-3 over that span.
According to Kevin Kernan, in a report for the New York Post, Gary Sheffield intends to play in 150 games next season, be it with the Mets, Marlins, Rays, or some other team.
Sheffield talks to Kernan about what troubled the Mets this season, and said of the injuries, “You’re going to get out what you put in.”
…read the report, in which sheffield seems to be suggesting certain players didn’t work hard enough… i will say this, and Bobby Ojeda alluded to this on SNY last weekend, but, i’m hearing more and more people saying the team was too casual in spring training and too relaxed… but, the story all spring was about how hard the team was working, remember the 80–pitch drill, and all the talk about camaraderie and cheering one another on…
…also, this is typical of the media, in that if the Mets were winning right now, and cruising to a playoff spot, it would be because they were relaxed in spring training, and easy going… instead, they’re losing, so, of course, it’s because they were relaxed in spring training, and easy going…
…that said, i have heard rumblings of a possible disconnect between some players and the team’s trainers, in that some players do their own training routines based on advice from their own people and they do not stick with what the team is outlining… inversely, there may be a lack of communication between the players and trainers, which could be the source of confusion from the bench up to management to the doctor’s office to the media… who knows…
Sheffield also tells Kernan the Mets need to focus on their ‘identity,’ adding, “You can’t have a team built on, ‘If these guys don’t come through, we’re going to lose.’”
…funny you should say that, gary… i’m working on a project that aims to answer this exact question… i should have it ready to run towards the middle of October… stay tuned…
Tagged News |Earlier this week, in a report for MLB.com, Marty Noble said, “The Mets believe Jeff Francoeur will look sharp in their 2010 uni, so much so that they are inclined to approach him about signing him to a three-year contract.”
However, in a post to NBCSports.com, our old friend D.J. Short asks, “Is Francoeur worthy of a long-term 
deal?”
…i think noble is suggesting a deal that would cover francoeur’s last two years of arbitration, of which he is technically already under contract, as well as what could be his first year of free agency… it’s not a bad move, in that it would probably be, i’m guessing, $15 million over three years, which is probably what he’d end up making in two years of arbitration anyway… so, it’s a decent bet on all sides, if this happens…
Tagged News |According to Peter Botte of the Daily News, “Jose Reyes refuses to give up, even if he makes it back for just the final game of the regular season on Oct. 4.”
Botte says Reyes hit in the indoor batting cage yesterday, and will again try to run the bases this weekend.
To hear from Reyes, who talks about his work to get back from the disabled list, as well as remarks from ‘some people,’ who say he doesn’t want to play, check out Botter’s report.
…i don’t recall any one saying reyes doesn’t want to play… and i read, listen and watch more or less every bit of content about the Mets that is available…
…i once said people close to reyes worry he is afraid to push it, for fear of making the injury worse… but, i don’t ever recall anyone, from talk radio to to television to text media, saying he would rather sit on the sidelines than be on the field with his teammates…
…and, frankly, jose, who cares… seriously… New York is about production… it’s about getting things done… so, the best way to shut people up is to get back and perform, be it this season or next spring… it’s that simple… sing, dance, hit triples, steal bases and win, and nobody will remember the injury, let alone when or why you did or didn’t return from the disabled list…
Tagged News |Jeff Francoeur told the New York Post that soon-to-be free-agent RHP Jason Marquis would love to pitch for the Mets.
The 31-year-old Marquis is 15-11 with a 3.84 ERA for the Rockies.
…i don’t know, frenchy… i know he’s your friend and all, and he’s having a terrific season, and he is always in the post season, but, he looks and reads like a guy the Mets would sign, give three years to, and then have blow up in their face, because he’s coming off of a career year… the Mets seems to always buy high on this exact-type of player, only to be left looking for ways to dump him at a huge loss… maybe marquis is the exception… i mean, if he would ‘love to pitch for the Mets,’ as franceour says, how about he takes a home-town discount… the other school of thought is, just go for it… go for what you want… and, if the Mets want marquis, and he wants the Mets, then make it happen…
… in the end, though, i’d rather wait and see how the overall market for starting pitchers shakes out before rushing to sign a guy coming off a career year, who was born and raised in Staten Island…
According to published reports, the Mets rejected a deal from the Cubs during the Winter Meetings that would have swapped Marquis for Aaron Heilman, who was instead traded to the Mariners for J.J. Putz.
To learn of Francoeur’s opinion of Marquis, and how the Mets should improve the team this off season, read Mike Puma’s report for the New York Post.
Tagged News |Cuban LHP Aroldis Chapman, who recently defected and is now residing in Andorra, will soon be a free agent in the United States, ready to sign with a team in MLB.
In a post to NY Baseball Digest, Mike Silva wonders if the Mets and Yankees will be competing for his services.
For more on Chapman, who reportedly throws 100 mph, read this report with video from ESPN.com.
Meanwhile, the Mets are going to extreme lengths to find a left-fielder to rob home runs in Citi Field, explains Metstradamus.
There are Mets tickets available for 89 cents on StubHub, according to Mets Police.
Zoe Rice of Pick Me Up Some Mets uses video and pictures to show how you can still have fun in Citi Field.
To learn a ton of information about the 1,476 different pitchers against whom the Mets have hit home runs, read Mets Walkoffs.
Ed Ryan of Mets Fever interprets quotes from Lance Broadway, Josh Thole and Bobby Parnell on playing winter ball.
In a post to Mets Merized, Joe D asks, “Why would a premiere hitter want to play in Citi Field?”
…the same reason most players sign where they sign: money…
Lastly, to watch video shot by David Wright’s brothers, following him around the All-Star game in St. Louis, click below:
Tagged News |Daniel Murphy hit a solo home run and a double last night.
Murphy, who is batting .266, now leads the Mets with 11 home runs and 36 doubles, and is seven RBI behind David Wright for the team lead in runs batted in.
Murphy is tied with Cardinals 1B Albert Pujols for the most extra base hits hit in September, during which he’s batting .304.
…murphy has looked much better at the plate since the middle of July… he still looks overmatched on any type of pitch thrown inside… but, he’s hitting the ball with more authority… with murphy, though, because he doesn’t walk much, it’s all about ‘hitting it were the ain’t,’ as they say… he’s putting roughly the same number of balls in play, yet batting .311 on balls in play during the season half, compared to .261 in the first half…
Tagged News |During last night’s loss to the Braces, Mets starter Pat Misch allowed three home runs in 1.1 innings.
Misch had been 1–1 with a 1.92 ERA in his 
first two starts this season, against the Cubs and Rockies, but is 0–3 with a 12.64 ERA in his last three, against the Braves and Marlins.
…misch told reporters he was catching too much of the plate… well, sure… but, the Braves were hitting everything right on the screws, and he was moving the ball around – in and out, as well as front to back – and i can’t help but think facing the Braves twice in seven days didn’t help him at all…
Jerry Manuel suggested Misch might be bumped from the rotation, and replaced by either Lance Broadway or Tobi Stoner, both of whom pitched in relief last night.
Broadway gave up three runs and three hits to nine batters, while Stoner pitched two scoreless innings striking out two of the seven batters he faced.
Tagged News |
