Daily Archives: October 4, 2009
Daniel Murphy hit .282 with 37 extra base hits and 35 RBI in 72 games during the 
second half of the season.
Before leaving the ballpark today, he told reporters hitting coach Howard Johnson deserves a lot of credit for working with him on making adjustments, and helping him to better learn how to hit inside pitches.
“I learned its a long season, and you can’t just hit .350 in one month,” Murphy explained. “Hopefully I can turn this second half in to a full 2010 and help win this team a championship.”
Update, 6:21 am:
Brian Costa of the Star Ledger believes the Mets are reconsidering whether to send Murphy to winter ball, ‘citing his workload in 2009.’
Tagged News |
Carlos Beltran took time to speak with reporters before leaving the ballpark today, and said he believes the team must acquire another starting pitcher and another bat for the lineup.
“I believe the organization and Omar Minaya will do whatever it takes to build a team for the fans and players,” Beltran said. “It hasn’t worked out in the past, but they’ve always done a great job of finding pieces to help us.”
Beltran said he doesn’t feel his knees will be a problem next season.
“People asked me, ‘Why are you coming back,’ but as a player you have to come back and I did,” he explained. “Now I can go in to the off season feeling good about myself, I can get get ready, be in the best condition I can be in, and get ready for spring training.”
Lastly, Beltran said he will return to New York once a month during the off season to have his knees examined and to have an MRI, otherwise he will train as usual to get ready for spring training.
Tagged News |The Mets (70–92) completed a three-game sweep of the Astros with a 4–0 win today in Citi Field, ending the 2009 season.
The Least You Should Know:
On the final day of the season, Nelon Figueroa turned in the team’s best pitching performance of the season, throwing a complete-game shut out, he gave up just four hits, walking none, and striking out seven.
Angel Pagan was 4 for 4, with two doubles, a triple and two runs scored.
Luis Castillo and David Wright each hit an RBI sac-fly.
Josh Thole was 3 for 4, and hit .321 in 17 games with the Mets.
Misc., Etc., and Other Observations:
Good for Figueroa, who should be on the Mets next season – stop jerking him around. He didn’t walk a single batter. Figueroa was slapped in the face with shaving cream by Tim Redding, while doing a post-game interview with SNY’s Kevin Burkhardt. I’m happy for Nelson.
The three-game sweep of the Astros pushed the Mets to 70 wins.
Pagan, who entered the season batting .298, went 4 for 4 and ends the year hitting .306. He can hit, there is no question about it. The question the Mets will have to ask in the off season is whether he can play a full season, stay healthy and play smart, otherwise they need a left fielder.
The remaining fans gave the team a standing ovation as they walked off the field for the final game of 2009 – the players saluted back, and tossed bats and hats to the crowd over the dugout.
The Mets played a video in center field during the game, to the tune of Kind and Generous by Natalie Merchant, in which every player on the roster, including Jose Reyes, said, ‘Thank you,’ to Mets fans for supporting the team for 162 games this season… I will not lie, it made me a little sad.
This was a difficult season, there were a ton of dramatic off-field stories, painful injuries, crazy moments, and disappointing results, but, I still love the Mets, and I’ll still be sad when there is no game tomorrow.
Tagged News, Twitter |
Following a variety of meetings before today’s game, Jerry Manuel told reporters he expects to make an announcement tomorrow from Citi Field about plans for the team’s coaching staff and off season.
…from what i can gather, Omar Minaya and Jeff Wilpon will also address reporters early in the day from a press conference in Citi Field…
…i’ll be there, live blogging with text and video updates…
…my guess is, the Mets are going to set a fairly definitive course, including who is on staff and who isn’t, leaving no room for debate from fans and media over the next few weeks…
Tagged News |
Buster Olney, in a report for ESPN.com, says that Bobby Valentine is in talks with the Florida Marlins about a possible position with the team.
According to Olney, it is unclear whether Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria is seeking to replace Fredi Gonzalez, who was re-signed last year to a deal that takes him through the 2011 season.
Loria will be meeting with club executives to decide the future of the coaching staff at the conclusion of the season.
Jon Heyman, in a post to Twitter, says that Loria is dissatisfied that the Marlins did not reach the postseason despite being 87-74 going into today’s action.
Tagged Twitter |
The Mets close out their 2009 season today against the Astros at Citi Field.
…as Kevin Burkhardt pointed out on Twitter, the last game just doesn’t have the same feel as it had the past couple of seasons…
Nelson Figueroa (2-8, 4.70 ERA) will start for the Mets. He is finishing 2009 on a good note, despite not winning, as he has put together two consecutive starts allowing four runs in 13 innings. He is making his third career start and eighth appearance against the Astros, and is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA lifetime against them.
Wilton Lopez (0-1, 9,42 ERA) will start for the Astros. Lopez is making his second start of the year today and in seven appearances has only 14 1/3 innings on his Major League resume. He lost his first career start on September 29 against the Phillies when he was roughed up for five runs in just 3 2/3 innings.
Tagged Twitter |
In a post here, on Friday, MetsBlog’s Matthew Cerrone wrote, “Bring me Bobby Valentine… I want him to manage the Mets.”
Today, I am joining the campaign to bring Bobby Valentine back to Flushing.
In my mind, it is easy for management to say that injuries are the cause of the disappointment, but injuries are not the cause of the poor performances and the inexcusable mental and physical mistakes that the remaining Major League players have made over the course of the season.
Tagged Michael Baron |
