Author Archives: Jordan Zakarin

Mike Pelfrey has been pitching with forearm tendonitis, according to an on air report from ESPN.com’s Peter Gammons.

In his two starts this season, Pelfrey has a 8.10 ERA, having allowed nine runs on 13 hits in ten innings, He has surrendered three home runs, walked six and struck out five.

…i can’t decide if i’m more relieved that there is a reason for pelfrey’s poor start, or nervous that this could be a significant injury… let’s hope he can take the time to get healthy early in the season if need be, instead of letting it explode into a long term issue…

Tagged Mike Pelfrey |

Following his rough start on Wednesday, after which pitching coach Dan Warthen called him out of shape, Oliver Perez was given a stern talking to by fellow LHP Johan Santana.

Santana, speaking to MLB.com‘s Marty Noble, said, “I talked to him. … He’s got to get into pitching again and get going. He knows that… He’s got to get his mechanics and his command.”

Perez acknowledged that he was behind schedule, blaming it on his having thrown less during the World Baseball Classic. According to Steve Popper at the Bergen Record, Perez said:

“I feel good. I feel healthy. Right now I’m just behind these guys. So I just have to on these days try to get back. I feel good. I feel stronger. So I just have to keep working in my bullpens and try to throw a lot more innings.”

…Perez was clearly defensive when asked about Warthen’s accusations, and you really don’t want a guy so dependant on his pitching coach to distrust him… hopefully he’s back to full strength soon and they put this whole thing behind them…

Tagged Oliver Perez |

John Maine allowed one earned run on three hits with 95 pitches, while walking three and striking out five.

According to Steve Popper, in the Bergen Record, “He got himself in trouble with a pair of wild pitches – each one scoring a run.”

Maine told reporters, “I think, start by start, you’re kind of piecing things together, and that’s what I did today… I feel fine out there, and that’s the biggest thing.”

Jerry Manuel added, “For the most part, he had a lot of life on the fastball and he threw some offspeed pitches behind in the count for strikes.  So, I think he’s coming… I thought it was a big outing for him today.”

To learn more about Maine’s new delivery, which he told reporters still feels ‘awkward,’ read the New York Times.

In yesterday’s game, Oliver Perez gave up six runs on six walks and five hits in just 3.2 innings pitched.

Dan Warthen, speaking about Perez, as quoted by Peter Botte in the Daily News:

“I think he’s out of shape, the arm is out of shape. It’s a combination. Since he’s come back we really haven’t seen the life out of the hand, the ball is just not jumping out right now… I think he’s gained a little weight and needs to start pushing himself a little more.”

Warthen said that Perez did not do his workouts at the WBC, which has led to these problems.

…maybe he’s buying too many fine pastries with that $36 million contract, in an attempt to become the ace of cakes…

…bad Food Network reference, i apologize… those cakes don’t even look that delicious, as impressive as they are…

Meanwhile, the Daily News also reports that the team’s two other big off-season pitching acquisitions, Francisco Rodriguez and J.J. Putz, both looked good in tossing scoreless innings during a minor-league intrasquad game – Sean Green tossed two scoreless innings as well.

By the way, the Mets released LHP Valerio De Los Santos.

However, if the need for help in the pen does arise, former Met reliever Royce Ring, who was acquired in the Roberto Alomar trade, is now available on waivers after being outrighted by the Cardinals.

Tagged Oliver Perez |

According to Neil Best over at Newsday, Mike Francessa announced on his NBC show “Mike’d Up” last night that he and Mets 3B David Wright spoke for 45 minutes to clear up their differences. Wright refused to appear on Francessa’s WFAN show last week when he was broadcasting from Mets camp, and to even meet with Francessa this winter.

Last week, after Wright and Ryan Church refused to appear on his show, Francessa said, “I think he’s being very immature because he’s had a straight ascendancy and he doesn’t want any criticism… He needs to grow up.”

…first of all, thanks to Neil Best for watching francessa’s show so we don’t have to… brave, brave man…

…wright has always met criticism head on, and taken more than his fair share of responsibility for the team’s September collapses, so clearly francessa is mistaken on that point…

…like matt, i’ve always had a problem with the WFAN featuring such a loud mouth Yankees fan as the face of the station, especially one with such a giant ego, so it’s nice to see Wright give him a piece of humble pie…

Added to by Matthew Cerrone:

…well, i don’t think i ever said i have a problem with francesa being the face of WFAN… instead, my gripe is that there is no check on his anti-Mets slant, during what is the most-popular sports talk radio show in New York…

…fact is, the rest of the day’s programming is hosted by mostly Mets fans… it’s just, during that drive-time show, when the most people are listening, mike is able to slam the Mets over and over agian, which is totally fair…. however, there is no Mets-counter voice to bring the conversation back to reality… and so, he ends up spreading all sorts of unrealistic anti-Mets talking points around the city, which is frustrating to watch go down…

Tagged WFAN |

The AP, via the Journal News, details Johan Santana‘s new comfort level in New York, which stems from “just being himself”.

According to the NY Post, Daniel Murphy, who is all business all the time, worked all winter on his defense, in addition to the hours a day he put in in the batting cages to make Mets fans forget about Manny Ramirez.

Mike Pelfrey, writes Steve Popper of the Bergen Record, is secure in the rotation for the first time during spring training. He isn’t worried about breaking down from an increase in innings last year, though he was freaking out when he couldn’t find his wedding ring after his golf cart crash.

Toby Hyde of Mets Minor League Blog profiles LHP John Niese, whom he ranks as the team’s 4th best prospect.

According to Marty Noble of MLB.com, there could be many more lineup machinations than just pushing Jose Reyes down to the middle of the order.

Gotham Baseball discusses the Mets’ fifth starter options.

The AP, via ESPN.com, is reporting that former Met infielder Edgardo Alfonzo has signed a one-year contract with the Yomiuri Giants of the NPB, Japan’s Major Leagues.

Fonzie, now 35, signed a deal worth $350,000 for the team considered Yankees of Japan.

…while it’s not the majors, it beats playing in the tiny stadiums of the Atlantic League…Japan’s fans are rabid, and the Giants are even bigger there than the Yankees are here…

…Fonzie was my favorite player growing up, so it’s time to switch allegiances from Bobby V’s Chiba Lotte Marines to the Giants, as painful as that is…

In his latest column for ESPN.com, Jayson Stark quotes a scout who says that OF Fernando Martinez was the most impressive young player he saw in the Dominican Republic this winter, adding:

“He looks to me like he can be a young Bobby Abreu… His discipline at the plate is good. He worked counts. He hung in against left-handers. He did a lot of good things. He may be 20 years old, but he doesn’t look like it, the way he handles himself. He really plays under control.”

Martinez, who had a game winning pinch hit home run for the Dominican earlier this week, is back in New York for precautionary scans on a sore left elbow, though he claims he feels better and does not need them, according to MLB.com.

…for what it’s worth, i’ve met F-Mart in person, and his hand absolutely swallowed mine when we shook hands… this is one big, solid kid, and it’s not about talent, just staying on the field… i wouldn’t be surprised to see him mid-season if he can stay healthy and produce…

According to a report at ESPN.com, the Dodgers and Scott Boras will re-open contract negotiations regarding Manny Ramirez.

Yesterday, Ramirez rejected the Dodgers one-year, $25 million offer.

Owner Frank McCourt has said he does not envision giving Ramirez a long term deal.

Earlier in the off-season, Ramirez ignored a two-year, $45 million offer.

According to a report in today’s New York Times, citing Citigroup’s $45 billion TARP bailout, Rep. Dennis Kucinich continues to insist that the Treasury Department intervene to dissolve the agreement between the Mets and Citigroup.

Yesterday, the Wall Street Journal said Citigroup was looking to back out of its $400 million naming-rights and marketing deal with the Mets.  However, the bank and the team issued a press release stating that Citigroup will honor its “legally binding contract.”

Kucinich added that there will be hearings held on the topic of TARP-aided stadium sponsorships.

During yesterday’s press conference, Jeff Wilpon pointed out to reporters that 40 of the 44 companies who applied for TARP funds also have naming-rights deals or title sponsorship coming our of the marketing budgets.

…it’s a shame that this brand new stadium, which should serve as a distraction from all that is going on in the world, has been caught up in this economic mess…

…so here’s my proposal: every MetsBlog reader contributes about $200, and we as a group buy the naming rights and call it The BlogPark… that way, we clear up any controversy and truly have a home for the fans…

…added to by Matthew Cerrone…

…i know what Citigroup keeps saying, and i know what the Mets keep saying, but i just get this feeling that with pressure from Congress and maybe even the White House, eventually, the heat will turn up so much that interfering with the relationship with the Mets may end up being used as a way to make a public example… time will tell… but, once Washington DC fixates on an issue like this, they tend to drive it home…

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