Author Archives: Brandon Eddy

In the Arizona Republic, columnist Nick Piecoro speculates that the D’Backs could look to trade OF Eric Byrnes, though it would be a ‘tough deal.’

Piecoro wonders if the Mets would be interested in acquiring Byrnes, and his two-year, $22 million contract, in exchange for Luis Castillo, who is due to earn $18 million through 2011.

In 2008, Byrnes was derailed by a torn hamstring, however he enjoyed his best overall season in 2007 with career highs in games (160), at-bats (626), batting average (.286), runs (103), hits (179), RBI (83) and steals (50).

…he has been mentioned by analysts in the last few days as one of the those “intense” type of players the mets need on their roster…if the mets move Nick Evans in a deal for pitching, he would be a good fit…and if it is for castillo, i don’t think many mets fans would complain…

According to Buster Olney at ESPN.com, David Wright is one of the tangible things that the Mets need to fix for the 2009 season.

In the report, Olney writes:

“They need to help him work through his apparent anxiety in high-pressure situations … He cares so deeply that he puts enormous pressure on himself, and this trait seems to wreck him in big spots. He seems to leap at the ball when he’s trying to hit with the game on the line. They need to address this.”

“I don’t know how they do it. Maybe they get Wright to start talking to a sports psychologist, someone who might get the kind of help that has aided John Smoltz and Matt Garza and others. Wright is a cornerstone player who will be an MVP candidate in most years of his career, so the notion of trading him is silly. But they have to help him find a way to relax — and if the team’s best player relaxes, this will, in turn, take pressure off the rest of the team.”

…i can’t imagine the pressure put on this lineup when you know that no lead, or small deficit for that matter, is safe…granted wright hasn’t been clutch with RISP, but suggesting the guy needs a shrink is a little much…

With the Mets win and Brewers loss, we are all tied up for the Wild Card going into the final day of the season.

Oliver Perez will toe the mound against Scott Olsen and the Marlins at 1:10 pm on Sunday while the Brewers send out C.C. Sabathia against the Cubs at 2:05pm EDT.

Both Perez and Sabathia will be going on three-days rest, however this is Sabathia’s third straight start on short rest.

It is all gangstas on deck tomorrow boys … LET’S GO METS!

According to Adam Rubin at the Daily News, Brian Schneider returns to the lineup tonight but he is not 100 percent.

After feeling upper-back discomfort yesterday, he went to the Hospital for Special Surgery for some chiropractic treatment and x-rays.  Schneider tested out his back this afternoon and deemed himself ready to go.

My heart, hairline and sanity can’t take much more of this but somehow Carlos Beltran‘s line drive in the bottom of the ninth went threw Micah Hoffpauir‘s glove and the Mets came back to defeat the Cubs 7-6 at a very soggy Shea Stadium tonight.

For a recap, boxscore and stats from tonight’s game, click here.

I am pretty dizzy right now so I don’t know where I am going to go with this recap, but away we go.

We definitely saw a sharper Pedro Martinez tonight even though Cubs’ manager Lou Pinella sent out his Triple-A team. Pedro struck out a season high nine batters and was given an appropriate standing ovation when lifted in the 7th inning. However the love fest only lasted one pitch as Ricardo Ricon gave up a three-run home run to Hoffpauir, giving the Cubs a 6-3 lead.

Down by two in the bottom of the 8th and season about to be slammed shut, two unlikely heroes kicked the door back open with the likes of Ramon Martinez and Robinson Cancel. Martinez and Cancel both knocked RBI-singles to tie the game at six. The tying-run was one of the more crazy plays you will see at the plate when Ryan Church danced his way around Koyie Hill and finally touched home. Did I mention that was crazy?!?!

Joe Smith pitched a gutsy 9th inning. With two on and two out, he got Darryl Ward to ground out to set up the stage for another amazing comeback.

With three games left, the Mets are now one game behind the Phillies for the division crown and currently the Brewers and Pirates are tied at one in extra innings.

Kudos to all of the Mets fans braving the elements tonight. I wish I was there with you!

The Mets begin their final home stand at Shea Stadium tomorrow night, weather permitting, against the Florida Marlins.

Wow, I need a drink.

…update…11:15…

Ryan Braun just won the game for the Brew Crew with a walk-off grand slam.  The Mets and Brewers remained tied for the Wild Card with three games left in the season.

There are losses and then there are kicked-in-the-groin type losses like last night.

It feels like I am watching Apollo Creed getting bludgeoned to death, but I also refuse to throw in the towel just yet.

Following the game last night, David Wright, speaking to reporters, said:

“It’s a four-game season.  It all comes down to who wants it more the last four games.”

Now it is tough to argue that they don’t want it more than anything, but what I question is do they have enough left in them?  Can they pick themselves up off the mat one more time and win four in a row?

If you bleed blue and orange, then you have to believe they will.

Tagged Pedro Martinez |

At ESPN.com, both Buster Olney and Rob Neyer held chats today and the Mets were one of the many discussed topics.

Olney had the following to say when asked if the final game at Shea will be relevant or will the Mets have already ripped out the fans’ heart:

“You don’t want to hear my answer. I really think the schedule is going to hurt the Mets this week. The Brewers get to play the Pirates, who have lost 11 of their last 16, and then the Cubs over the weekend, and while Lou Piniella has every intention of competing to the finish line, the reality is that by Friday or Saturday, a lot of his decisions will be shaped (and rightly so, by the way) by preparation for the post-season. He’s not going to pitch Kerry Wood on Saturday and Sunday against the Brewers, for example. He won’t pitch Carlos Marmol in extended outings. He won’t overtax his starters. If one of his position players is playing 85 percent, he’ll get him out of there. That works against the Mets, who have to play the team nobody wants to play, the Marlins. But hey, who the heck knows…”

During Neyer’s chat, he was asked who’s neck is on the line if the Mets don’t make the playoffs, in which he replied:

“(Omar) Minaya, perhaps, but he might be given credit for the team’s big comeback in the second half. I guess if I were Minaya’s boss, I’d want to know if he’s learned anything from this season.”

…as far as the schedule is concerned, i don’t care who we play or where we play…perform like there is no tomorrow and we shall see what happens when the dust settles…talk is cheap, just play ball…

Tagged Omar Minaya |

According to Adam Rubin at the Daily News, John Maine is set to throw to batters in a simulated game in Atlanta on Saturday.

After throwing 10 pitches yesterday afternoon, Maine felt a knot and tightness in the back of the right shoulder, but it is not the same pain that has caused him to be shut down since August 23rd.

In regards to Maine coming out of the bullpen, pitching coach Dan Warthen, as quoted by Rubin, said:

“If he’s going to throw one inning and 20 pitches, I have no problem with that.”

…although it would be great to see maine contribute down the stretch or possibly in the post-season, i am very worried about him jeopardizing next season or more importantly his career…

Thanks to Geovany Soto‘s three-run shot into the Wrigley Field Bleachers, the Mets’ path back to the playoffs got a little bit smoother according to Bart Hubbuch at the New York Post.

Prior to the Mets 7-2 win over the Nationals, the clubhouse erupted into cheers and high-fives after Soto’s home run tied the game and the Cubs went on to win in the 12th.

Jerry Manuel on September scoreboard watching, as quoted by Hubbuch, said:

“It’s important that we’re scoreboard-watching and trying to do all we can to win to get into the postseason … That’s exciting. I applaud them for that.”

…i became a huge soto fan after that home run…i also felt a little better about the mets bullpen after watching the brewers’ pen blew a four-run lead with two outs in the ninth inning…

OK Mets Nation … E-X-H-A-L-E …

It was just another wild night of September baseball as the Mets (84-67) snapped their losing streak with a 9-7 win over the Nationals (57–95) in Washington, D.C.

For a recap, boxscore, stats, etc., click here.

The bats did indeed wake up right away in the 1st inning with a lead-off home run by Jose Reyes followed by a one-handed solo bomb by Carlos Delgado.

After the Nationals scored one in the top of the 3rd frame (thanks to a blown call by the 1st base umpire), the Mets tacked on four more runs highlighted by Carlos Beltran‘s two-run home run, seconds after he got his eye cleaned out by trainer Ray Ramirez.

At times Brandon Knight looked sharp with late life on his fastball and a sharp breaking slider, however he ran out of gas in the 4th inning but battled through and finished the 5th inning to earn his first career win.

Seven relief pitchers and five Nationals’ runs later, we are biting our nails right down to our knuckles before Luis Ayala finally closed the door.

Let’s try to forget about the bullpen woes or David Wright‘s putrid night for a second and talk about the biggest star of the game: Beltran.

Beltran homered from both sides of the plate, drove in three runs and covered all 1,000 yards of the Nationals Park outfield.

With the Phillies win, the Mets remain a half game behind the division lead.

And by the way Keith, I am not doing very well but thanks for asking!

The Mets go for the series split tomorrow night at 7pm with Johan Santana (13-7, 2.70) taking the mound against Tim Redding (10-9, 4.54).

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