Author Archives: Regis Courtemanche

On February 12th, I posted about my campaign to raise money this season for the American Cancer Society in honor of the five year anniversary of my father’s passing due to Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.

For every home run the Mets hit this season, I will be donating $5 to the ACS.

So far this season I have raised over $3,000, due mostly in part to members of the Metsblog community, and for that I am extremely grateful.

I have an overall goal of raising $5,000, but at this rate I will not get there without some help.

Please help me ‘Knock Cancer Outta Here!,’ and reach my goal before season’s end on October 4th. If everyone who read this donated just $1, I could get there today! All contributions go to the ACS and will help to fund many cancer-related programs and research.

All the details are on my ACS sponsored site, so please go there for more information.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and Let’s Go Mets!

Tagged Regis Courtemanche |

Early sources, including ESPN‘s Buster Olney, believe that Johan Santana will not require major reconstructive surgery on his left elbow, but may need corrective surgery or have his elbow cleaned out which will allow him to be ready for the 2010 season.

…nothing is definitive until tests are done this afternoon so we will see…

Tagged Regis Courtemanche |

Mike Silva at NY Baseball Digest thinks that Jerry Koosman cursed the Mets by selling the ball that Cleon Jones caught to end the 1969 World Series.

…i hadn’t known about this until my mom told me last week…good one koos…

Always Amazin’s Matthew Artus reflects on the past weekend, noting that it’s hard to consider Nolan Ryan a Met.

…i don’t think he considers himself one either, but still nice to see him in that jersey…maybe he would consider a comeback role for them this year…

Ed Leyro of Mets Merized Online wonders what might have been if Nolan Ryan played out his career in Queens.

Is there a curse at Shea Stadium? Joe McDonald of NY Sports Day thinks so.

Andrew Beaton of Hot Foot points out that a no-hitter has finally been thrown by a Met…albeit a minor league Met.

And Brooklyn Met Fan is resigned to the fact that Johan Santana may also be done for the season.

The Mets lost to the Phillies today by the score of 6 to 2 in Citi Field.

For a full recap and boxscore, click here.

The Least You Should Know:

Bobby Parnell went five innings, giving up just four hits. However, two of those hits were home runs by Ryan Howard. In the first inning, Parnell hit Shane Victorino and walked Chase Utley who both scored on Howard’s homer.

Cliff Lee has won his last eight games and allowed just seven earned runs in that time.

The bullpen, including Billy Wagner who threw a hitless eighth, combined to silence the Philles until the ninth when Pedro Feliciano came in and promptly gave up a double to Utley and a RBI double to Raul Ibanez to cap the scoring.

Misc., Etc., and Other Stuff:

A day after hitting Citi Field’s first inside-the-park home run, Angel Pagan had another, although in the scorebook it wasn’t even a hit. He popped up to Chase Utley who dropped it then fired a second error into foul territory allowing Pagan to score on the play…bizarre.

The Mets had three errors today, but none resulted in any scoring.

Are we there yet? Losing three of four to the Phillies literally adds insult to injury.

The Upcoming Series:

The Mets head down to Miami and Land Shark Stadium to take on the Marlins tomorrow.  Johan Santana (13-9, 3.13) takes the hill against Sean West (4-5, 4.70) at 7:10 p.m.to kickoff the three game set.

Tagged Regis Courtemanche |

The Mets lost to the Braves tonight by the score of 3 to 2 in Citi Field.

For a full recap and boxscore, click here.

The Least You Should Know:

Johan Santana was good once again but very hittable as the Braves scored three times on nine hits against the ace.  The big blow was a home run into the Pepsi Porch by Brian McCann.

Seeing Billy Wagner enter the game to the tune of “Enter Sandman” was possibly the most exciting part of this season for me.  Wagner put on a very good show for the scouts tonight as he pitched a scoreless eighth, striking out two with a fastball clocked at 96 mph.

Misc., Etc. and Other Stuff:

The Mets had a few chances. In the first with two outs and the bases loaded, Fernando Tatis grounded out yet again to kill the rally. In the eighth, Omir Santos drove in Jeff Francoeur to bring the Mets within a run, but Anderson Hernandez grounded out.  Finally, Daniel Murphy popped out with the tying run on first to end the game.

Anderson Hernandez and Luis Castillo did turn a beautiful double play in the fifth to get Johan out of a bases loaded jam, but it was all for naught. I try really hard to find silver linings.

The Next Series:

The Mets start a four game series against the Phillies tomorrow at 7:10 p.m. with Mike Pelfrey (8-8, 4.75) facing off against Cole Hamels (7-7, 4.69) at Citi Field.

Tagged Regis Courtemanche |

Jerry Manuel spoke with reporters before tonight’s game.

On Nelson Figueroa, Manuel said that the key for him is to be in the strike zone and pitch to contact.  The reason he’s starting is because he’s pitching very well, and he can throw around 110 pitches which shows the potential to go deep into the game.  He seems to be very confident, works quick, and can hold runners on.

When asked about Figueroa’s role, Manuel said it is dependent on his performance.  If he performs well, they will make adjustments.

If he struggles tonight, what Jerry does depends on the flow of the game. If the teams are exchanging runs, he’ll have to take him out. If not he could have to bite the bullet and save the ‘pen.

If Delgado returns, Manuel admits it will be challenging. They won’t throw him out there every day and he envisions giving Delgado days off with Daniel Murphy being a late inning defensive replacement.

About having a lefty in the bullpen, Jerry admits that they have been looking at the rotation and although nothing is definite, maybe Oliver Perez could be used if there is a long time between his starts.

He doesn’t feel it is wise to use Sheffield the day after a night game. The plan is to keep him rested and healthy.

Manuel thinks they can still make a run, but admits that the loss of the core position players was big blow for them. There was a point they lacked backups like Angel Pagan and Alex Cora which greatly hurt their depth.

On winning the Wild Card, Manuel felt it is very challenging, but the key is somehow getting healthy. If they do that, they will also have to play at a really high level, a level that the other teams in the race aren’t playing at and hope they can knock each other off as well.

Because so many core players are out, Manuel also felt that it’s hard to tell whether Citi Field has provided a decent home field advantage for them so far. It is a place where if you play good defense, you give yourself a chance in the game.  He thinks that pitchers coming in feel confident, and with Haren being a very good pitcher, it’s gonna be tough tonight.

Tagged Regis Courtemanche |

The Mets (50-54) conclude their series against the Diamondbacks (46-59) tonight at 7:10 p.m. with Nelson Figueroa facing off against Dan Haren.

Angel Pagan will hit leadoff tonight, followed in order by Luis Castillo, David Wright, Gary Sheffield returns at left, Daniel Murphy at first, Jeff Francoeur in right, Alex Cora at shortstop and Omir Santos behind the plate.

Figueroa is 0-1 this season with the Mets, but sports a 2.25 ERA in 112 innings pitched for the triple-A Buffalo Bisons.

Dan Haren has not faced the Mets this year. He is 10-6 and his 2.19 ERA is fourth best in the National League.

Tagged Regis Courtemanche |

The Mets (49–52) lost to the Rockies (55–47) tonight by the score of 4 to 2 in Citi Field.

For a full recap and boxscore, click here.

The Least You Should Know:

• Jon Niese was strong through six, and was getting ahead of hitters quickly. In the seventh however, Angel Pagan took an imperfect angle on a double off the bat of the pitcher, Jorge De La Rosa. Fernando Tatis saved a run with a stellar diving grab, but it was all for naught as Clint Barmes then hit a two-run shot to left, putting the Rockies up 3-1. Niese finished off with four earned runs on eight hits, three K’s and four walks.
• Brian Stokes relieved Niese and promptly allowed an RBI triple to Troy Tulowitzki, putting the Rockies up by three.
• In the first inning, Angel Pagan was overly aggressive and got caught trying to score, which killed a potential rally.
• In the seventh, Tatis homered off the second deck’s facade in left field, but it wasn’t enough.

Misc., Etc., and other Observations:

• The Mets’ streak of 5 wins and 27 scoreless innings allowed ended tonight.
• Sean Green and Bobby Parnell pitched very well.
• Heading into the weekend, I’m feeling much more confident with how the Mets have been playing, but am trying to keep my expectations tempered.

The Mets start a four-game series with the Diamondbacks tomorrow night, with Livan Hernandez (7-5) squaring off against Doug Davis (5-10) at 7:10 p.m.

Tagged Regis Courtemanche |

The Mets lost to the Nationals, 3-1, tonight in D.C.

For a full recap and boxscore, click here.

The Least You Should Know:

• Mike Pelfrey didn’t pitch poorly tonight, unintentionally walking one and allowing six hits, but he made a mistake to Josh Willingham in the sixth inning which landed in the bleachers.  Adam Dunn scored as well because Jeff Francoeur lost his fly ball in the lights, enabling him to reach second. Pelfrey went seven innings overall.
• The lone Mets run came when Angel Pagan hit a triple, also in the sixth, then scored on a throwing error in the same play.
• The Mets had a chance to rally in the eighth. With one out, Jeremy Reed doubled, then Pagan walked. However, Fernando Tatis and Daniel Murphy were unable to make anything happen.

Etc., Misc., and other Observations:

• The band-aid was pulled off quickly in this loss, as it lasted just over two hours.
• Losing a series to the Nationals is deflating, and I hope this team can muster some heart to play like professionals soon.
• The Mets and Teddy Roosevelt have a lot in common.
• The lack of power, and any kind of offense for that matter, is really unbelievable.

The Mets kick off a series in Houston on Friday, with Johan Santana facing former Met Mike Hampton at 8:05 p.m.

Tagged Regis Courtemanche |

The Mets (42-47) play the third of their four game series against the Braves (45-45) today at 4:00 PM EDT at Turner Field.

Angel Pagan will again lead off, followed by Luis Castillo, Daniel Murphy, David Wright, Jeff Francoeur, Jeremy Reed, Omir Santos, and Alex Cora.

Johan Santana (10-7, 3.09 ERA) will start for the Mets. In his career, Santana is 58-17 in the second half, which is the highest winning percentage in history. His 2.70 second half ERA is also the eighth lowest all-time, and he needs one more strikeout to reach 1,700.

Kenshin Kawakami (5-6, 4.26 ERA) will start for the Braves.  Kawakami averages roughly six innings per game, and in his last two starts, has allowed five runs in ten plus innings. On May 5, Kawakami allowed two runs over five innings in a loss to the Mets.

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