4/1/08

Pedro forced to leave game

Sadly, this is an April Fools Free Post.

Pedro Martinez
landed awkwardly on his leg in the 4th inning while delivering a pitch to Matt Traenor, and was forced to leave the game.

His knee looked like it buckled as his foot caught on the mound, and he immediately grabbed his left hamstring.

He pitched 3 1-3 of an inning, allowing four hits and four runs. He walked one and struck out one.

Paging Nelson Figueroa...Mr. Figueroa...

Update: Martinez has been diagnosed with a strained left hamstring.

Update 2: Kevin Burkhardt is reporting that Martinez felt a "pop" in his leg.

That is not good. That could signal a tear in his hammy, which would spell a long stint on the DL. Pedro is heading back to New York to receive an MRI on his left hamstring tomorrow.

Live Game Thread: Mets @ Marlins -- 4/1

Head over to Mets Lounge for our Live Game Discussion.

Hernia has given Alou time to think

According to an Associated Press article, Moises Alou says he would never have caught that ball that Steve Bartman "interfered" with.

I guess being down and out with his hernia injury has allowed him to rack his memory for strange happenings over his lifetime.

From the AP:

The Cubs were leading the Marlins three games to two in the 2003 NLCS, ahead 3-0 in the top of the eighth inning and five outs from returning to the World Series when Florida's Luis Castillo lifted a foul down the line in left just past the bullpen.

Alou raced over, timed his jump perfectly, opened his glove wide -- and got beat to the ball by a 26-year-old youth baseball coach in Row 116, Seat 9 who didn't do anything more strenuous than stand up. The baseball hit the heel of Bartman's hand and caromed farther back into the stands. In the Marlins dugout, Game 7 pitcher Mark Redman turned to a teammate and said, "Let's make this kid famous."

They did, but only because a few pitches later, Cubs shortstop Alex Gonzalez made an equally ham-handed attempt on a grounder that should have been an inning-ending double play. Florida erupted for eight runs to win Game 6 and the only real suspense left was whether the kid would get out of Wrigley Field alive that night. The Marlins clinched the NLCS the night after.

"Everywhere I play, even now, people still yell, 'Bartman! Bartman!' I feel really bad for the kid," Alou told Associated Press columnist Jim Litke.

"You know what the funny thing is?" he added a moment later. "I wouldn't have caught it, anyway."

I totally forgot that Castillo hit that ball. I wonder if there was any tension between Alou and Castillo when they first were teammates.

Anyway, I think it's about time Cubs fans give up on the Bartman bashing. 100 years, Wrigley faithful, it wasn't one guys fault.

Lineup vs. the Marlins -- 4/1

April Fools Free Post.

The Mets take on the Marlins in their second game of a three game series, tonight at 7:10 p.m.

Pedro Martinez vs. Rick VandenHurk

Lineup:
SS Jose Reyes
2B Luis Castillo
3B David Wright
CF Carlos Beltran
1B Carlos Delgado
RF Ryan Church
LF Angel Pagan
C Brian Schneider
P Pedro Martinez

Same thing as yesterday, except Church and Pagan have switched spots. This will be the lineup when they face right handed pitchers, because having a lefty follow a lefty isn't as dangerous.

April Fools memories


Head here to read the greatest Mets April Fool prank ever.

The importance of one game

April Fools Free Post.

Yesterday was obviously Opening Day and I, like all other fans, was very excited. Sure, the baseball season was kicking off for the New York Mets, where players and fans alike could begin to forget about the collapse of 2007.

I think my excitement went beyond just opening day. Last season, we realized how important each game really is. After falling into second place by one game, one measly game, we now know that each game, be it at the beginning of the season, right after the All Star Game or September 29th, each game could be the make or break point of the entire season.

I thought I might be a little ridiculous with my cheering and excitement over the first victory of the season, but now I realize how much each game really means. The Mets can never take a day off and say "Oh well, just get them next time," because there may not always be a next time.

Each game is equally important and crucial to the season, something we learned very vividly last year. I'm beginning to put the '07 season behind men, but I will always remember how important one game can be.

BREAKING NEWS: Santana involved in taxi accident

A low-blow to Mets fans everywhere.

Possibly the worst news the team could receive after his performance yesterday, Johan Santana was injured in a taxi accident late last night while heading out to get Mexican food after the game.

REALLY? You think the team would have learned by now and gotten some safe drivers to take the team around Miami!!

I cannot believe this is happening. It's typical Mets for us to land a player and have him break a leg and an arm and loose his front two teeth the day after he makes his first appearance.

Literally, this is some of the worst news I've ever heard.

For gosh sakes, I'm in shock as if it was one of my own family members.

Originally, this was reported on ESPN, but it has now been picked up by many other sources.

Obviously, the Mets and fans everywhere are going to be absolutely crushed and destroyed at hearing this news. It is unsure if he'll ever pitch again.

Legitimately, why this team? Since September '06, have we been cursed or something?

So there you have it. Santana injured in a car accident. Great.

...
UPDATE: LINK TO STORY
...

HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY!!!
(Note the beginning letter of each line spells out "APRIL FOOLS"!!! GOTCHA!)
Pass this along to other Mets fans and give them a little scare!

For some crosstown tomfoolery, check out Scott Proctor's Arm.

3/31/08

Photo of the Day: Santana

This is an absolutely gorgeous photograph from Doug Benc from Getty Images. Amazin'.

Game Recap: Mets 7 -- Marlins 2

The New York Mets opened their season in Miami this afternoon, receiving great performances from Johan Santana and David Wright, as they went on to win 7-2 over the Florida Marlins.

Santana pitched seven strong innings, allowing only three hits, one of which went for a 2-run home run to Josh Willingham in the bottom of the fourth inning. Those two earned runs were the only runs allowed. Santana walked two while striking out eight. He set down the first nine Marlins in a row, and also struck out four batters in a row between the fifth and sixth innings.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say everyone in their right mind is absolutely impressed and excited about this performance. I will accept no less than this for every game from here on out (kidding). Great stuff.

The eighth inning saw three pitchers make appearances, each tallied one out. Matt Wise, making his first appearance as a Met, started the inning, allowing two hits, both singles to Alfredo Amezaga and Dan Uggla. Scott Schoeneweis came in to face ex-Met Mike Jacobs, getting him to ground out to first. For the final out of the inning, Jorge Sosa came in with runners on second and third, and got Willingham to strike out swinging to end the inning.

Interesting inning management from Willie Randolph here, but I can't get on him because it worked. Wise struggled a bit, but before any damage was done he was pulled, in a nice move from Randolph. That's something I don't think he would have done last year.

Aaron Heilman finished out the game, striking out Jorge Cantu and Cody Ross to start the inning, and inducing a comebacker off the bat of Luis Gonzalez to end the game.

I didn't think he was going pitch at all when he didn't come in for the eighth. I guess we should throw out the book on how Randolph is handling the bullpen this year, or is it too early to tell?

The Mets offense came to play today, picking up 10 hits, five of them doubles.

David Wright and Carlos Beltran led the way, each picking up two doubles. Beltran started off the fourth inning with a double, scoring on an Angel Pagan double. Wright had a three-run double later in the six-run fourth, scoring Ryan Church, Luis Castillo and Jose Reyes.

Now that is how you start a season.

Reyes went 2-4, scoring once and driving in one run. Castillo was on base three times, picking up one hit and walking twice. Church and Marlon Anderson each picked up one hit on the day. Anderson singled in the ninth inning, moved to second on a Reyes sac-bunt, swiped third on a passed ball, and scored on the same play when Cantu couldn't handle the throw from Matt Treanor.

I could get used to some of this small ball stuff.

Game Ball: Mr. Johan Santana.

Santana's first final line

Johan Santana: 7 IP, 3 hits, 2 ER, 2 walks, 8 K's.

Santana allowed one home run to Josh Willingham, allowing both runs.

Honestly, could you ask much more of this man. Great stuff from him today. I'm going to jump the gun right now and get used to this. We better get this sort of stuff from him everyday. Too much to ask?