"Everything will be revealed tomorrow," said Willie Randolph.
Tomorrow, the Mets will have Orlando Hernandez take the mound for his first start in spring training. When El Duque's day is done, Mike Pelfrey will take over on the mound.
A lot of stock will be put into tomorrow's game and the 5th starter could be decided by tomorrows performances. Of course, for probably the most meaningful game of spring training, I'll be at Easter dinner.
I really don't think El Duque is going to have it in him. Velocity may not mean a lot to the staff and to Hernandez, but when hitters start tagging him for hits and runs, it will be a different story.
For absolutely no reason, Randolph also seems dead set on taking five pitchers to begin the season, even though the 5th spot isn't needed until halfway through April.
Pelfrey is still my top choice, even if he hasn't performed up to par so far this spring. I'll take health over a veteran presence any day.
Tomorrow, the 5th starter will probably be decided, and this blogger is pulling for Pelfrey.
Who do you prefer?
3/22/08
Mets Lounge
Hey everyone!
I just launched MetsLounge.com, the official forum of The 'Ropolitans!
It's really new, so there will be some minor updates and such coming in the near future, but it is up and fully functional.
We're all very friendly over there, so don't be afraid to join and get your voice heard!
Mets Lounge, the official forum of The 'Ropolitans!
Thanks and enjoy!
I just launched MetsLounge.com, the official forum of The 'Ropolitans!
It's really new, so there will be some minor updates and such coming in the near future, but it is up and fully functional.
We're all very friendly over there, so don't be afraid to join and get your voice heard!
Mets Lounge, the official forum of The 'Ropolitans!
Thanks and enjoy!
Game Recap: Indians 5 -- Mets 2
In a rain shortened game, Oliver Perez gave up 4 home runs in 5 innings, and the Indians beat the Mets 5-2 in 7 innings.
Perez pitched 5 innings, allowing 5 earned runs on 7 hits and 2 walks. Perez struck out 6. All the runs came on home runs. Victor Martinez, Asdrubal Cabrera and Ben Francisco each had solo shots, while Casey Blake added a 2-run home run. Three of the home runs came in the 4th inning.
Not good, not good at all. Yes, it's only spring training, but Perez has only one, maybe two games until the season starts, so you have to start paying attention to the numbers being put up now.
Joe Smith and Nelson Figueroa each pitched one inning in relief. Smith allowed two hits, and nothing more. Figueroa pitched a hitless inning, but he walked one, hit a batter, and balked.
As long as they don't give up runs, I'm OK with it. I think we'll see both of these guys at Shea sometime this year.
The Mets offense picked up 7 hits, 3 for extra base hits.
Carlos Beltran hit a solo home run in the top of the 6th inning off of Scott Elarton. He also struck out once, going 1-3 on the day. Fernando Tatis went 1-2 with a walk and an RBI double in the 7th inning.
Apparently Beltran crushed that ball, which is great to see. His knees will always bother him, but he still puts up numbers and wins gold gloves. Tatis has looked pretty good over the last few days.
Ryan Church ended his hitless streak, knocking a double while going 1-3 on the day. Damion Easley picked up 2 singles, going 2-3.
It's about time, Church! Get in a groove now and keep it up.
Game Ball: Beltran, I guess.
Perez pitched 5 innings, allowing 5 earned runs on 7 hits and 2 walks. Perez struck out 6. All the runs came on home runs. Victor Martinez, Asdrubal Cabrera and Ben Francisco each had solo shots, while Casey Blake added a 2-run home run. Three of the home runs came in the 4th inning.
Not good, not good at all. Yes, it's only spring training, but Perez has only one, maybe two games until the season starts, so you have to start paying attention to the numbers being put up now.
Joe Smith and Nelson Figueroa each pitched one inning in relief. Smith allowed two hits, and nothing more. Figueroa pitched a hitless inning, but he walked one, hit a batter, and balked.
As long as they don't give up runs, I'm OK with it. I think we'll see both of these guys at Shea sometime this year.
The Mets offense picked up 7 hits, 3 for extra base hits.
Carlos Beltran hit a solo home run in the top of the 6th inning off of Scott Elarton. He also struck out once, going 1-3 on the day. Fernando Tatis went 1-2 with a walk and an RBI double in the 7th inning.
Apparently Beltran crushed that ball, which is great to see. His knees will always bother him, but he still puts up numbers and wins gold gloves. Tatis has looked pretty good over the last few days.
Ryan Church ended his hitless streak, knocking a double while going 1-3 on the day. Damion Easley picked up 2 singles, going 2-3.
It's about time, Church! Get in a groove now and keep it up.
Game Ball: Beltran, I guess.
Perez's final line
Oliver Perez: 5 IP, 7 hits, 5 earned runs, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts.
All the runs came on 4 home runs Perez surrendered.
John Delcos:
All the runs came on 4 home runs Perez surrendered.
John Delcos:
Perez has this superstition of hopping over the foul line on the way back to the dugout. After giving up three bombs in the inning, he still hopped over the line. What for? To hold the Indians to only two dingers next inning?
Lineup vs. the Indians
The Mets took a 2 hour bus trip to play the Cleveland Indians in Winter Haven, Fla. for a 1:05 p.m. game.
Lineup:
Luis Castillo 2B
Brady Clark LF
Carlos Beltran CF
Carlos Delgado 1B
Damion Easley SS
Ryan Church RF
Fernando Tatis 3B
Brian Schneider C
Michel Abreu DH
Oliver Perez SP
Well, look who is behind the plate!! Schneider is starting only his 4th spring training game. That's pretty much the only thing to note here. Some of they guys are taking the day off, so guys like Clark, Tatis, and Abreu are getting some reps.
Lineup:
Luis Castillo 2B
Brady Clark LF
Carlos Beltran CF
Carlos Delgado 1B
Damion Easley SS
Ryan Church RF
Fernando Tatis 3B
Brian Schneider C
Michel Abreu DH
Oliver Perez SP
Well, look who is behind the plate!! Schneider is starting only his 4th spring training game. That's pretty much the only thing to note here. Some of they guys are taking the day off, so guys like Clark, Tatis, and Abreu are getting some reps.
Poll results: Heilman as the setup man
Due to a late barrage of votes, Aaron Heilman took the victory over Duaner Sanchez for "Who will be the main setup man for Billy Wagner?"
Results:
Aaron Heilman - 54% (26 votes)
Duaner Sanchez - 39% (19 votes)
Matt Wise - 4% (2 votes)
Pedro Feliciano - 2% (1 vote)
It is still unknown if Sanchez will break north with the team as he had been unable to pitch back to back innings so far this spring. Heilman figures to be the main 8th inning guy, just like last year.
Most of you seem to think that Wise and Feliciano are best suited in the middle innings, and I absolutely agree.
Results:
Aaron Heilman - 54% (26 votes)
Duaner Sanchez - 39% (19 votes)
Matt Wise - 4% (2 votes)
Pedro Feliciano - 2% (1 vote)
It is still unknown if Sanchez will break north with the team as he had been unable to pitch back to back innings so far this spring. Heilman figures to be the main 8th inning guy, just like last year.
Most of you seem to think that Wise and Feliciano are best suited in the middle innings, and I absolutely agree.
3/21/08
Why are the Mets in the Civil Rights Game?
The Mets have the honor of playing the Chicago White Sox in the 2008 Civil Rights Game on March 29th.My question is simple. Why the Mets?
"The intent of the game is to embrace baseball's history of African-American players, as well as to generate interest for future black players," says its Wikipedia page. On MLB.com, the game is said to represent "a symbolic eternal torch commemorating the struggle for racial harmony near where the most painful obstacle had been thrown in its path."
So, in a nutshell, it's supposed to showcase and embrace the African-American community in baseball and attempt to raise awareness supporting baseball in those communities.
So who was the genius who chose the Mets?
On the 40-man roster, the Mets only have two African-American players. On the coaching staff, they also have two men from African-American descent. Damion Easley and Marlon Anderson on the field, Willie Randolph and Jerry Manuel on the coaching staff.
In the 2006 Racial and Gender Report Card for Major League Baseball (PDF), it is noted that "A total of 40.5 percent of the players were Latino." For the Mets, it's a little more than that. On the 40-man roster, 19 players are from Latino descent.
The report also states that the drop in African-Americans in the sport since 1996 from 17 percent to 8 percent, as the percentage of Hispanic players increased during that period, from 20 percent to 29 percent.
African-American players make up 5 percent of the Mets roster. Latino players make up 47.5 percent.
If the Civil Rights Game is supposed to raise awareness for the African-American community, choosing the Mets probably wasn't the best move, as almost half of the team is Latino.
The only possible reason the Mets are in this game, that I can figure shows up later in the MLB article. It goes on to quote Omay Minaya as saying "Since the days of Jackie Robinson, baseball has been at the forefront of social change in this country, and this game is just another example that our sport understands the significance of paying the proper respect to such an important part of American history." Again, the Mets are tied to Jackie Robinson, not that it's a bad thing, but it just makes little sense to me.
So for a team that is comprised of nearly 50 percent of players from Latino descent while they are only 5 percent African-American, they were chosen to participate in a game promoting African-Americans in baseball.
That just doesn't make sense to me.
2K8 commercial
Have you seen it?
It makes absolutely no sense to me.
Here's what happens: There is a man polishing a bat with a towel, counting "89...90...91..." Jose Reyes walks into the clubhouse with a radio playing some sort of reggae music or something. (Someone tells me this is the "Jose! Jose! Jose!" chant. Shows how much I pay attention.) Reyes turns toward his locker as the man stops polishing his bat (insert own joke here) and bashes the radio to smithereens. Reyes turns around in shock, and starts hysterically laughing. Then he has a little spasm, and the commercial cuts to video game footage.
What. Just. Happened?
I really just have no idea why that part of the commercial exists. I guess it's funny when Reyes just starts laughing and has an apparent muscle spasm.
Other than that though, I'm lost. If anyone can explain it to me, I'd be happy to post it up to the site.
Update: Joe at Mets Today and I must have the same train of thought. This just popped up in my Google Reader after I published this.
It makes absolutely no sense to me.
Here's what happens: There is a man polishing a bat with a towel, counting "89...90...91..." Jose Reyes walks into the clubhouse with a radio playing some sort of reggae music or something. (Someone tells me this is the "Jose! Jose! Jose!" chant. Shows how much I pay attention.) Reyes turns toward his locker as the man stops polishing his bat (insert own joke here) and bashes the radio to smithereens. Reyes turns around in shock, and starts hysterically laughing. Then he has a little spasm, and the commercial cuts to video game footage.
What. Just. Happened?
I really just have no idea why that part of the commercial exists. I guess it's funny when Reyes just starts laughing and has an apparent muscle spasm.
Other than that though, I'm lost. If anyone can explain it to me, I'd be happy to post it up to the site.
Update: Joe at Mets Today and I must have the same train of thought. This just popped up in my Google Reader after I published this.
Catchers up and down
You can take Robinson Cancel's mask out of contention for a possible spot on the roster if one of Brian Schneider or Ramon Castro can't go.
Cancel had an MRI on his knee, and will require surgery to repair it, reports Lisa Kennelly on NJ.com.
Pay attention to Gustavo Molina, who has been pretty good when he gets a chance along with Raul Casanova.
Brian Schneider did appear in a minor league game, going 2-4 with a walk, a home run, and double. He said he was good enough to go today, but was held out and will go tomorrow instead.
Cancel had an MRI on his knee, and will require surgery to repair it, reports Lisa Kennelly on NJ.com.
Pay attention to Gustavo Molina, who has been pretty good when he gets a chance along with Raul Casanova.
Brian Schneider did appear in a minor league game, going 2-4 with a walk, a home run, and double. He said he was good enough to go today, but was held out and will go tomorrow instead.
Game Recap: Mets 8 -- Nationals 2
This team seems like they are ready for the season. The Mets overcame a strong start from Matt Chico, and beat up the Nationals bullpen, winning 8-2.
Pedro Martinez put in 5 strong innings of work, allowing 2 earned runs on 5 hits. Pedro did not walk any batters, and struck out 4. Pedro gave up a solo home run to left in the 4th inning to Austin Kearns. Other than that, Pedro looks pretty dominant. He did hit a batter, but still was pretty under control through the majority of the game.
For only Pedro's second start of the spring, I'm more than happy with that.
The rest of the bullpen combined to only allow one hit and a walk through the next 4 innings. Ricardo Rincon pitched the 6th inning, striking out two batters and making Paul Lo Duca look silly in his first game back from an injury. Pedro Feliciano allowed the one hit, and nothing else in the 7th. Scott Schoeneweis and Matt Wise closed out the game, with Wise walking one.
Not only do we have a strong bullpen in the majors, but we will have strong reserves waiting in AAA if anyone happens to get injured.
The offense absolutely exploded today, scoring 8 runs on 16 hits.
Jose Reyes, who has been hot lately, went 2-4 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI. Reyes tried to stretch one of his doubles to a triple, but was beaten by about 10 steps and was easily tagged out. David Wright had a huge day, going 3-4, scoring twice and driving in 2. Wright absolutely crushed a ball to deep left center for the only Mets home run of the game.
"The young studs." Is it bad luck to name them? I'm surprised no one has a clever nickname for them yet.
Carlos Beltran went 2-3 on the day, picking up a double. Angel Pagan went 2-2 with a walk, and also scored one run. Pagan ripped a triple off the wall in right field, he cruised into third standing. Marlon Anderson subbed in the game at first base, going 2-2 with 2 RBI's and a run scored.
Beltran looks very healthy out there. Pagan had cooled down recently, but picked it right back up again today. How does the bench shake out in your eyes?
Luis Castillo, Endy Chavez and Anderson Hernandez also scored for the Mets. Fernando Tatis and Gustavo Molina each picked up the rest of the RBIs for the Mets.
Tatis and Molina have each contributed in limited duty the past few days. Any chance for either of them? I don't think so, but again, they can be nice AAA reserves if/when someone goes down.
Game Ball: D. Wright.
Note: Brian Schneider played in a minor league game. He went 2-4 with a walk, picking up a home run and a double. He was not allowed to go full power, but said he felt good enough to play. He said he should return tomorrow against the Indians, but we know to take what he says with a grain of salt.
Pedro Martinez put in 5 strong innings of work, allowing 2 earned runs on 5 hits. Pedro did not walk any batters, and struck out 4. Pedro gave up a solo home run to left in the 4th inning to Austin Kearns. Other than that, Pedro looks pretty dominant. He did hit a batter, but still was pretty under control through the majority of the game.
For only Pedro's second start of the spring, I'm more than happy with that.
The rest of the bullpen combined to only allow one hit and a walk through the next 4 innings. Ricardo Rincon pitched the 6th inning, striking out two batters and making Paul Lo Duca look silly in his first game back from an injury. Pedro Feliciano allowed the one hit, and nothing else in the 7th. Scott Schoeneweis and Matt Wise closed out the game, with Wise walking one.
Not only do we have a strong bullpen in the majors, but we will have strong reserves waiting in AAA if anyone happens to get injured.
The offense absolutely exploded today, scoring 8 runs on 16 hits.
Jose Reyes, who has been hot lately, went 2-4 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI. Reyes tried to stretch one of his doubles to a triple, but was beaten by about 10 steps and was easily tagged out. David Wright had a huge day, going 3-4, scoring twice and driving in 2. Wright absolutely crushed a ball to deep left center for the only Mets home run of the game.
"The young studs." Is it bad luck to name them? I'm surprised no one has a clever nickname for them yet.
Carlos Beltran went 2-3 on the day, picking up a double. Angel Pagan went 2-2 with a walk, and also scored one run. Pagan ripped a triple off the wall in right field, he cruised into third standing. Marlon Anderson subbed in the game at first base, going 2-2 with 2 RBI's and a run scored.
Beltran looks very healthy out there. Pagan had cooled down recently, but picked it right back up again today. How does the bench shake out in your eyes?
Luis Castillo, Endy Chavez and Anderson Hernandez also scored for the Mets. Fernando Tatis and Gustavo Molina each picked up the rest of the RBIs for the Mets.
Tatis and Molina have each contributed in limited duty the past few days. Any chance for either of them? I don't think so, but again, they can be nice AAA reserves if/when someone goes down.
Game Ball: D. Wright.
Note: Brian Schneider played in a minor league game. He went 2-4 with a walk, picking up a home run and a double. He was not allowed to go full power, but said he felt good enough to play. He said he should return tomorrow against the Indians, but we know to take what he says with a grain of salt.
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