Tomorrow, Johan Santana will take on John Smoltz as ace meets ace for what will most likely be a pitching duel.
This is baseball at it's finest. Two aces, one in the middle of his career and another nearing the end of a most likely Hall of Fame bound one, taking on each other in an early divisional matchup. Not only do Mets fans get to watch and hopefully enjoy their ace take the mound and try to right the ship after their team game up 11 runs, but they'll be able to watch what, on paper, looks to be a classic game in the making.
Of course, for this 1:35 p.m. game, I'll be out of the room, and unable to watch. Here's to a four hour rain delay! Tomorrow may shape up to be a classic matchup, and it may not happen many times this season, so tune in to see two pitchers on top of their game.
Everyone loves a pitchers duel.
4/6/08
4/5/08
Photo of the Day: Maine
John Maine made his first start of the season, only lasting four innings while giving up four runs on eight hits.Maine lacked control and looked very flustered on the mound, something I think hinders him as a pitcher, but I think he'll bounce back nicely the season.
(AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Game Recap: Braves 11 -- Mets 5
John Maine made his first start of the season and failed to impress, only lasting four innings as the Braves beat up on Mets pitching all around, pounding the Mets pitching en route to a 11-5 win.
Maine was pulled for a pinch hitter in the fifth inning after giving up four earned runs on eight hits. Maine did not have his control today as he walked three in his short stint on the mound. He also struck out five. Maine threw 96 pitches in only four innings.
He just did not have his usual control today. He's set up for a big year, but this was just not a good start to the season for him.
Joe Smith came in the game for the fifth inning, getting a 1-2-3 inning. His sixth inning was not as smooth as Ruben Gotay singled off of him and later scored when Mark Kotsay drove him home off of Scott Schoeneweis. Smith pitched 1 1-3 of an inning, and one run was charged to him from Gotay. Smith struck out one. Schoeneweis pitched 2-3 of an inning, allowing only that one hit.
Smith has looked very good so far. Schoeneweis allowed only that one hit, but has been decent so far.
Jorge Sosa let the game blow wide open, allowing a grand slam to Kelly Johnson in the eighth inning. He allowed three hits and walked one and Willie Randolph left him in with the bases loaded, something we learned too much about last year, and he gave up the four-run home run to Johnson to put the Braves up for good.
I don't know why Randolph would leave Sosa in the game. We know his reputation with the bases loaded and it just makes no sense. Color me confused on this one.
Nelson Figueroa made an appearance, attempting to mop up. He allowed two runs on two hits and a walk.
Figueroa looks like he's going to get the start against the Brewers next week, with Johan Santana pitching the next day.
The Mets left six on base today, as the Mets bats just could not match what the Braves bats were doing.
In the second inning, Carlos Delgado singled as the second batter of the inning. He took third on a daring move on a Ryan Church single. The move paid off as he scored when Matin Prado botched a double play ball off the bat of Angel Pagan and Delgado scored the Mets first run. Delgado went 2-4 on the day, scoring two runs and driving in one. Pagan drove in two runs, going 1-3 and scoring once.
Good stuff from Delgado and Pagan. Delgado is either on or off. He can look lost at the plate or drive one into the outfield at the same time. Pagan is hot. It's going to be interesting what the team does with him if he comes back down to earth.
The Mets had an interesting fifth inning. Church led off with a single, followed by a Pagan single. Brady Clark pinch hit for Maine, and was plunked by the first pitch of his at-bat. This had the bases loaded for Jose Reyes and I'll quote my Live Game Commentary rather that rewrite it all:
"The third base umpire called the obvious trap by Mark Kotsay a catch, which led to Angel Pagan getting doubled up off of second base. Willie Randolph came out to argue, and amazingly, after an umpires conference, had the call overturned.
Pagan would have easily scored on the play had they let it run its course correctly, instead they let all the runners move up a base, keeping the bases loaded with only one out."
It was a crazy collection of events, but everything was kind of sorted out after a while. I was shocked that they actually overturned the call, especially because it was in favor of the Mets. It seems like the Mets never get a call like that go their way.
Luis Castillo added a RBI groundout before David Wright ended the inning. Wright's hit streak ended today, as he went 0-4. Delgado drove home Beltran in the eighth and Pagan added his final RBI, but it was way too little too late as the Mets fell way short.
Bound to happen for Wright, but it was just another dark spot in an otherwise forgettable game. Not the way I wanted to spend my Saturday afternoon.
Game Ball: Pagan, again.
Maine was pulled for a pinch hitter in the fifth inning after giving up four earned runs on eight hits. Maine did not have his control today as he walked three in his short stint on the mound. He also struck out five. Maine threw 96 pitches in only four innings.
He just did not have his usual control today. He's set up for a big year, but this was just not a good start to the season for him.
Joe Smith came in the game for the fifth inning, getting a 1-2-3 inning. His sixth inning was not as smooth as Ruben Gotay singled off of him and later scored when Mark Kotsay drove him home off of Scott Schoeneweis. Smith pitched 1 1-3 of an inning, and one run was charged to him from Gotay. Smith struck out one. Schoeneweis pitched 2-3 of an inning, allowing only that one hit.
Smith has looked very good so far. Schoeneweis allowed only that one hit, but has been decent so far.
Jorge Sosa let the game blow wide open, allowing a grand slam to Kelly Johnson in the eighth inning. He allowed three hits and walked one and Willie Randolph left him in with the bases loaded, something we learned too much about last year, and he gave up the four-run home run to Johnson to put the Braves up for good.
I don't know why Randolph would leave Sosa in the game. We know his reputation with the bases loaded and it just makes no sense. Color me confused on this one.
Nelson Figueroa made an appearance, attempting to mop up. He allowed two runs on two hits and a walk.
Figueroa looks like he's going to get the start against the Brewers next week, with Johan Santana pitching the next day.
The Mets left six on base today, as the Mets bats just could not match what the Braves bats were doing.
In the second inning, Carlos Delgado singled as the second batter of the inning. He took third on a daring move on a Ryan Church single. The move paid off as he scored when Matin Prado botched a double play ball off the bat of Angel Pagan and Delgado scored the Mets first run. Delgado went 2-4 on the day, scoring two runs and driving in one. Pagan drove in two runs, going 1-3 and scoring once.
Good stuff from Delgado and Pagan. Delgado is either on or off. He can look lost at the plate or drive one into the outfield at the same time. Pagan is hot. It's going to be interesting what the team does with him if he comes back down to earth.
The Mets had an interesting fifth inning. Church led off with a single, followed by a Pagan single. Brady Clark pinch hit for Maine, and was plunked by the first pitch of his at-bat. This had the bases loaded for Jose Reyes and I'll quote my Live Game Commentary rather that rewrite it all:
"The third base umpire called the obvious trap by Mark Kotsay a catch, which led to Angel Pagan getting doubled up off of second base. Willie Randolph came out to argue, and amazingly, after an umpires conference, had the call overturned.
Pagan would have easily scored on the play had they let it run its course correctly, instead they let all the runners move up a base, keeping the bases loaded with only one out."
It was a crazy collection of events, but everything was kind of sorted out after a while. I was shocked that they actually overturned the call, especially because it was in favor of the Mets. It seems like the Mets never get a call like that go their way.
Luis Castillo added a RBI groundout before David Wright ended the inning. Wright's hit streak ended today, as he went 0-4. Delgado drove home Beltran in the eighth and Pagan added his final RBI, but it was way too little too late as the Mets fell way short.
Bound to happen for Wright, but it was just another dark spot in an otherwise forgettable game. Not the way I wanted to spend my Saturday afternoon.
Game Ball: Pagan, again.
Jeff Kepp: Reds hero
Read this if you're feeling nostalgic and a bit of a masochist and want to read about Jeff Keppinger.
In Game Commentary: This is a mess
An absolutely terrible call by the umpires has left a logjam on the field.
With the bases loaded, Jose Reyes singled to center field to a diving Mark Kotsay. The third base umpire called the obvious trap a catch, which led to Angel Pagan getting doubled up off of second base. Willie Randolph came out to argue, and amazingly, after an umpires conference, had the call overturned.
Pagan would have easily scored on the play had they let it run its course correctly, instead they let all the runners move up a base, keeping the bases loaded with only one out.
I've never seen this before, and I am even more shocked that the Mets had a call actually go their way.
After all that, Luis Castillo grounds into an RBI fielders choice and David Wright grounds out to end the inning. The Mets got the runs they would have without the botched call, so everything worked out.
In bigger news, John Maine is out of the game after only four innings, allowing four runs on eight hits. Not good. The bullpen is going to get it's work in today.
I'll pick up some live game commentary from here on out: Braves 4 -- Mets 3
Bottom of the fifth inning:
With the bases loaded, Jose Reyes singled to center field to a diving Mark Kotsay. The third base umpire called the obvious trap a catch, which led to Angel Pagan getting doubled up off of second base. Willie Randolph came out to argue, and amazingly, after an umpires conference, had the call overturned.
Pagan would have easily scored on the play had they let it run its course correctly, instead they let all the runners move up a base, keeping the bases loaded with only one out.
I've never seen this before, and I am even more shocked that the Mets had a call actually go their way.
After all that, Luis Castillo grounds into an RBI fielders choice and David Wright grounds out to end the inning. The Mets got the runs they would have without the botched call, so everything worked out.
In bigger news, John Maine is out of the game after only four innings, allowing four runs on eight hits. Not good. The bullpen is going to get it's work in today.
I'll pick up some live game commentary from here on out: Braves 4 -- Mets 3
Bottom of the fifth inning:
- Great inning from Joe Smith. Puts the Braves down in order, 1-2-3, on seven pitches. Smith has been amazing lately, just like last year. Let's hope it doesn't end in him getting sent down mid-season.
- Tim Hudson seems shaken after that last inning. He threw three balls to Beltran before giving up a single to center field.
- Carlos Delgado looks lost at the plate as he strikes out swinging. He's missing balls he used to be able to drive. As much as it pains me to say, I think Delgado needs to give up swinging for the long ball, and try to go the other way more like Shawn Green started to do at the end of last year.
- Ryan Church literally cues one off the end of his bat. Beltran moves to second on the groundball.
- Ken Rosenthal is a terrible TV guy. That last piece on Pagan would have been very nice and touching had it not been read by Rosenthal. This entire FOX broadcast seems so phony and boring.
- I guess I was wrong about Hudson, as he got Pagan to ground out to end the inning without any damage. Lead off runner leads to nothing for the Mets. Very typical.
- Old friend Ruben Gotay is pinch-hitting for the Braves right now. Hudson leaves the game leading 4-3. Smith is still in for the Mets. And Gotay nearly takes the head off Smith's head as he singles up the middle.
- Yunel Escobar gives himself up, moving Gotay to second. Smith's day is done. Scott Schoeneweis is in the game.
- Just as I predicted, Gotay comes back and bites the Mets in the butt. Kotsay singles him home and makes a baserunning blunder, getting thrown out at second. 5-3 Braves.
- Chipper Jones pops out in foul territory. Inning over.
- Brian Schneider singles up the middle to start the inning against Peter Moylan.
- Endy Chavez is pinch hitting. Martin Prado makes his second blunder of the day. Chavez scorched a ball to Prado, who boots it. First and second, nobody out.
- Reyes attempts a bunt, who hits the ball out of the box. Thankfully, it was a foul ball otherwise he would have been out. And he does it again, foul ball again.
- Castillo advances the runners with a ground ball to the right side.
- Wright promptly grounds out to end the inning. Another typical Mets inning, as they put the first two on base and fail to score. Wright may have one more shot at extending his 20-game hitting streak.
- Jorge Sosa is in for the Mets. On his second pitch of the inning, it looks like Sosa hurt himself as he almost went down. Hopefully it's just a slippery mound and Sosa is alright. We're waiting on the groundscrew right now. Sosa is staying in the game, so I guess he's alright.
- Rosenthal has officially lost his mind. No offense to Braves fans, but he has the Braves winning the World Series. What a nutjob. Yet I still cite his stories. What does that say about me? FOX has lost his mind. They're theorizing if the Phillies had gone out and traded for Sandy Koufax after their historic collapse. Why?
- Sosa strikes out Mark Teixiera on a pitch up high. Nice pitch.
- Brian McCann doubles into the gap.
- Jeff Francoeur singles to Pagan in left. McCann moves up to third. How sweet would a double play be right now?
- Sosa makes Matt Diaz look silly with three straight sliders. Diaz wasn't even close on any of those swings. Mets staff, take note of that.
- Sosa quickly goes 3-0 on Prado. And walks him on four pitches. Rick Peterson is out to talk to Sosa.
- Tim McCarver's new book: The best fire kindling available in stores.
- Bases loaded for Sosa never lead to good things for Sosa last year. Lots of grand slams... It's 3-1 on Kelly Johnson. Johnson fouls off what would have been ball four. Full count. And look at that...a grand slam for Kelly Johnson. I am not surprised. 9-3 Braves.
- Why in the world is Jorge Sosa still in this game? He induces a fly ball to Church in right. There was NO reason Sosa should have still been in the game with the bases loaded. Does Randolph not remember last year at all??
- Another old friend, Royce Ring, is in the game for the Braves. Beltran doubles into the left field gap and easily coasts into second with a double. This would be a whole lot more relevant if Sosa hadn't just given up a grand slam and let the Braves go up by six.
- Delgado doubles down the right field line, scoring Beltran. 9-4 Braves. Good pitch from Ring and Delgado just went down and got it. Good stuff.
- Church facing a lefty, this is always fun. Pretty good AB from Church. He's hanging in there. Church grounds out to first, moving Delgado to third.
- Pagan hits a sac-fly, plating Delgado. 9-5 Braves. It would be tied if not for Sosa and his penchant for grand slams.
- Schneider grounds out to second. One more turn at bat for the Mets.
- Nelson Figueroa is in the game.
- Kotsay grounds out to Castillo. One away.
- Jones grounds out to first, who bobbles the ball but still gets it to Figueroa, who was covering.
- Teixiera singles over the head of Delgado. On base for the fourth time today.
- McCann is putting in a lengthy AB against Figueroa. McCann works out a walk. First and second, two away.
- Francoeur knocks one into center and under the diving glove of Beltran. Two runs score. 11-5 Braves.
- Diaz flies out to end the inning.
- Marlon Anderson is pinch hitting for Figueroa. Another lengthy at bat as the count goes 3-2 and pitches are being fouled off left and right. Hits one right to Francoeur in right. One away.
- Reyes looks goofy and strikes out on a pitch very low and away. That's just bad.
- Castillo floats one to Escobar at second, ending the game.
Lineup vs. the Braves
The tarp is off the field in Atlanta, and it looks like the Mets and the Braves will open their series on time today after being rained out last night.
John Maine vs. Tim Hudson
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 John Maine
Alright boys, let's get this game going. I'm itching for Mets baseball.
Drop by Mets Lounge for our live game thread.
John Maine vs. Tim Hudson
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 John Maine
Alright boys, let's get this game going. I'm itching for Mets baseball.
Drop by Mets Lounge for our live game thread.
What'd I miss?
Not a game, thankfully.
Fate was on my side last night, and the Mets / Braves season opener was rained out, most likely to everyone's dismay but mine. The teams will try again today at 3:55 p.m., though it looks like more rain is in the forecast. I'm guessing there will be a delay today, because the field is probably under water. The game will be made up on May 20.j
John Maine and Tim Hudson were both pushed back a day, so they're today's matchup.
Stuff I missed:
-Duaner Sanchez, another player on the comeback trail, gave up two solo home runs in his rehab start last night for Class-A St. Lucie.
Not good Dirty. I think he'll be on the DL for longer than we all expected.
-The Mets are not expected to sign Claudio Vargas.
We're not that desperate for pitching...yet.
-FARK.com is campainging for Rick Astley's, Never Gonna Give You Up, to be the write in candidate for the 8th inning song.
I support this RickRoll to the fullest extent. I wouldn't be happier if I could get RickRoll'd every 8th inning at Shea.
Fate was on my side last night, and the Mets / Braves season opener was rained out, most likely to everyone's dismay but mine. The teams will try again today at 3:55 p.m., though it looks like more rain is in the forecast. I'm guessing there will be a delay today, because the field is probably under water. The game will be made up on May 20.j
John Maine and Tim Hudson were both pushed back a day, so they're today's matchup.
Stuff I missed:
-Duaner Sanchez, another player on the comeback trail, gave up two solo home runs in his rehab start last night for Class-A St. Lucie.
Not good Dirty. I think he'll be on the DL for longer than we all expected.
-The Mets are not expected to sign Claudio Vargas.
We're not that desperate for pitching...yet.
-FARK.com is campainging for Rick Astley's, Never Gonna Give You Up, to be the write in candidate for the 8th inning song.
I support this RickRoll to the fullest extent. I wouldn't be happier if I could get RickRoll'd every 8th inning at Shea.
4/4/08
Uh-oh!
Last night, the motherboard on my computer crashed.
Today, and until Monday, I am without my computer while I wait for the Dell tech. to come and fix it. I'm waiting to receive a loaner, so we'll see what happens.
Enjoy the first game against the Braves tonight! I'll be at a symphony (ugh) so enjoy the game and I'll be back up and running soon.
Thanks for understanding.
As always, feel free to drop by Mets Lounge for some in-game chatter with other Mets fans!
Today, and until Monday, I am without my computer while I wait for the Dell tech. to come and fix it. I'm waiting to receive a loaner, so we'll see what happens.
Enjoy the first game against the Braves tonight! I'll be at a symphony (ugh) so enjoy the game and I'll be back up and running soon.
Thanks for understanding.
As always, feel free to drop by Mets Lounge for some in-game chatter with other Mets fans!
4/3/08
El Duque's first minor league start
El Duque made his first minor league start in his journey back to the major leagues.
He pitched five innings, allowing two runs on three hits. He allowed one home run, a solo shot in the third. Adam Rubin said, "I’m told El Duque had impressive offspeed pitches, but his fastball looked offspeed, too."
Hilarious and sad at the same time. Duque will have to be a crafty Jamie Moyer-esque pitcher for the rest of his career, painting the corners and keeping the hitters guessing. I'm not so sure he can do that.
He pitched five innings, allowing two runs on three hits. He allowed one home run, a solo shot in the third. Adam Rubin said, "I’m told El Duque had impressive offspeed pitches, but his fastball looked offspeed, too."
Hilarious and sad at the same time. Duque will have to be a crafty Jamie Moyer-esque pitcher for the rest of his career, painting the corners and keeping the hitters guessing. I'm not so sure he can do that.
Spark up the A's rumors
The A's firesale may not be over and Rich Harden could be a possibility for the Mets.
I really don't like all the rumor mongering, but the Mets and A's have been linked for a while to swap some players for a starting pitcher.
I just can't see the Mets giving up any more players anytime soon especially for another injury plagued guy like Harden. Not unless another pitcher hits the shelf.
I really don't like all the rumor mongering, but the Mets and A's have been linked for a while to swap some players for a starting pitcher.
I just can't see the Mets giving up any more players anytime soon especially for another injury plagued guy like Harden. Not unless another pitcher hits the shelf.
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