Bzzzzzzzz.
It's working. The Mets are 3-0 since the beard came off.
4/12/08
4/11/08
Photo of the Day: Figueroa
Brooklyn boy Nelson Figueroa made his first start for the New York Mets, his favorite team as a child and the team that drafted him back in 1995.What a story. The smile across his face at the end of the game was amazing. I'm so happy for him.
(AP Photo/Ed Betz)
Game Recap: Mets 4 -- Brewers 2
It was a special night Friday for Brooklyn-born Nelson Figueroa, as he pitched six innings and earned his first win as a New York Met, as the Mets topped the Brewers by a score of 4-2.
Figueroa, who grew up a Mets fan, made his first appearance, throwing six innings of two hit ball. He allowed two walks, both ended up costing him as those base runners came around to score both runs for the Brewers. Those were the only runs given up by Figueroa and the Mets. Figueroa struck out six batters, needing only 85 pitches to get through six. After each walk, Figueroa allowed deep doubles to J.J. Hardy and Prince Fielder to drive in the runs.
What a feel good story. I love his stuff tonight, but I have to say he was benefiting from a huge strike zone, but he was still dealing all night. Those walks really hurt him, which stinks but what a story. He walked onto the field with a huge smile, ear to ear, across his face. Good stuff.
Joe Smith pitched a hitless seventh inning for the Mets. Aaron Heilman rebounded nicely from three straight disaster innings, pitching a perfect eighth inning, striking out Jason Kendall and Rickie Weeks. Billy Wagner came in to close it out, his first save opportunity in nine days, and set down the heart of the Brewers order 1-2-3.
Any night the bullpen doesn't allow a hit is a good night. Great stuff by Heilman to bounce back after giving up two runs in his last three appearances. Two strike outs tonight is huge for his confidence.
The Mets got on the board in the fourth inning as the first two batters got on base, David Wright with a single and Carlos Beltran taking a base on balls. Carlos Delgado came through, knocking a single to right field and driving in Wright. Beltran ran the bases perfectly as Gabe Gross bobbled it in center and Beltran took third. The smart base running paid off as Damion Easley drove in Beltran with a sac-fly. After a passed ball that allowed Delgado to take second and a single from Ryan Church, Raul Casanova, who was appearing in his first game of the season, singled to left, plating Delgado.
Pagan and Wright both went 2-4 on the night, and Delgado, Easley, Church and Casanova all pick up one hit.
The Mets struck again in the seventh, as they played a little small ball. Endy Chavez walked to start the inning, moved to second on a Marlon Anderson bunt, and Pagan drove him in with a single to right field.
Pagan, Delgado, Easley and Casanova all had one RBI for the Mets tonight. Spreading the love around, I see. I like that. Offense wasn't great tonight, as they hit into two double plays and left six on. But they won, which is all that really counts.
Injury news: Jose Reyes left the game in the bottom of the fifth inning with a "tight left hamstring." On the SNY postgame, he commented that he probably won't play tomorrow.
I think he needs a day any way. Something to clear his head.
Game Ball: Figueroa.
Beardless watch: 3-0.
Figueroa, who grew up a Mets fan, made his first appearance, throwing six innings of two hit ball. He allowed two walks, both ended up costing him as those base runners came around to score both runs for the Brewers. Those were the only runs given up by Figueroa and the Mets. Figueroa struck out six batters, needing only 85 pitches to get through six. After each walk, Figueroa allowed deep doubles to J.J. Hardy and Prince Fielder to drive in the runs.
What a feel good story. I love his stuff tonight, but I have to say he was benefiting from a huge strike zone, but he was still dealing all night. Those walks really hurt him, which stinks but what a story. He walked onto the field with a huge smile, ear to ear, across his face. Good stuff.
Joe Smith pitched a hitless seventh inning for the Mets. Aaron Heilman rebounded nicely from three straight disaster innings, pitching a perfect eighth inning, striking out Jason Kendall and Rickie Weeks. Billy Wagner came in to close it out, his first save opportunity in nine days, and set down the heart of the Brewers order 1-2-3.
Any night the bullpen doesn't allow a hit is a good night. Great stuff by Heilman to bounce back after giving up two runs in his last three appearances. Two strike outs tonight is huge for his confidence.
The Mets got on the board in the fourth inning as the first two batters got on base, David Wright with a single and Carlos Beltran taking a base on balls. Carlos Delgado came through, knocking a single to right field and driving in Wright. Beltran ran the bases perfectly as Gabe Gross bobbled it in center and Beltran took third. The smart base running paid off as Damion Easley drove in Beltran with a sac-fly. After a passed ball that allowed Delgado to take second and a single from Ryan Church, Raul Casanova, who was appearing in his first game of the season, singled to left, plating Delgado.
Pagan and Wright both went 2-4 on the night, and Delgado, Easley, Church and Casanova all pick up one hit.
The Mets struck again in the seventh, as they played a little small ball. Endy Chavez walked to start the inning, moved to second on a Marlon Anderson bunt, and Pagan drove him in with a single to right field.
Pagan, Delgado, Easley and Casanova all had one RBI for the Mets tonight. Spreading the love around, I see. I like that. Offense wasn't great tonight, as they hit into two double plays and left six on. But they won, which is all that really counts.
Injury news: Jose Reyes left the game in the bottom of the fifth inning with a "tight left hamstring." On the SNY postgame, he commented that he probably won't play tomorrow.
I think he needs a day any way. Something to clear his head.
Game Ball: Figueroa.
Beardless watch: 3-0.
Reyes leaves game
Jose Reyes has left the game in the bottom of the 5th inning.
Marlon Anderson has entered the game at second base while Damion Easley has shifted to short.
I'll update as news filters in.
UPDATE: A "tight left hamstring" for Reyes.
UPDATE 2: Reyes says he will "probably" sit tomorrow.
Marlon Anderson has entered the game at second base while Damion Easley has shifted to short.
I'll update as news filters in.
UPDATE: A "tight left hamstring" for Reyes.
UPDATE 2: Reyes says he will "probably" sit tomorrow.
Lineup vs. the Brewers
After taking two out of three from the Phillies, the Mets welcome the Brewers in for a three game set, weather permitting.
Lineup:
SS Jose Reyes
LF Angel Pagan
3B David Wright
CF Carlos Beltran
1B Carlos Delgado
2B Damion Easley
RF Ryan Church
C Raul Casanova
P Nelson Figueroa
Figueroa vs. Manny Parra
Luis Castillo is sitting again tonight. Casanova is making his first appearance for the Mets. He is the last player on any 25-man roster to get into the game.
Lineup:
SS Jose Reyes
LF Angel Pagan
3B David Wright
CF Carlos Beltran
1B Carlos Delgado
2B Damion Easley
RF Ryan Church
C Raul Casanova
P Nelson Figueroa
Figueroa vs. Manny Parra
Luis Castillo is sitting again tonight. Casanova is making his first appearance for the Mets. He is the last player on any 25-man roster to get into the game.
How long to stick with Heilman
We've all seen it, how Aaron Heilman has pitched in the first few games he's appeared in.
None of us are pleased. The Mets shouldn't be either.
In five games this season, Heilman's pitched six innings, allowing six hits and six earned runs. He's also walked six, struck out six and allowed two home runs. He got off to a hot start, pitching three scoreless innings in Florida, allowing only one hit. After his last appearance in Florida, he had five days off before appearing in the Atlanta series. Over the last three games, he's appeared in three innings, allowing two earned runs in each.
Heilman has been mentioned as a possibility to shift to closer when Billy Wagner's contract expires, and after these last three days, I'm very concerned about that. Heilman doesn't seem to have the mental makeup to come into close games and set down the side. To me, it feels like he lacks confidence, something a closer sorely needs.
Hopefully Heilman can make a nice recovery this season, and soon. If I was Willie Randolph, I would drop him out of the eighth inning role, replacing him with Pedro Feliciano. Shift Heilman to the seventh, or earlier, to let him work and try and gain his confidence back in a lower pressure situation. It just seems logical to me.
None of us are pleased. The Mets shouldn't be either.
In five games this season, Heilman's pitched six innings, allowing six hits and six earned runs. He's also walked six, struck out six and allowed two home runs. He got off to a hot start, pitching three scoreless innings in Florida, allowing only one hit. After his last appearance in Florida, he had five days off before appearing in the Atlanta series. Over the last three games, he's appeared in three innings, allowing two earned runs in each.
Heilman has been mentioned as a possibility to shift to closer when Billy Wagner's contract expires, and after these last three days, I'm very concerned about that. Heilman doesn't seem to have the mental makeup to come into close games and set down the side. To me, it feels like he lacks confidence, something a closer sorely needs.
Hopefully Heilman can make a nice recovery this season, and soon. If I was Willie Randolph, I would drop him out of the eighth inning role, replacing him with Pedro Feliciano. Shift Heilman to the seventh, or earlier, to let him work and try and gain his confidence back in a lower pressure situation. It just seems logical to me.
Photo of the Day: Reyes
Jose Reyes slides under the tag of Chris Coste as the Mets topped the Phillies 4-3 in 12 innings Thursday night.It was a close call at the plate and I thought he got his hand in there, but I seem to be the only one besides the umpire. Doesn't matter what I think though. Good win.
(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
4/10/08
Game Recap: Mets 4 -- Phillies 3
The Mets won a marathon game, with Angel Pagan delivering with a single up the middle in the bottom of the 12th inning over the Phillies Thursday night by a score of 4-3.
(For a batter by batter rundown of the entire game, check HERE.)
John Maine made the start earlier tonight, going six plus strong innings, needing 90 pitches. Maine ran into trouble with the walks, issuing five tonight. Maine gave up five hits and one earned run while striking out one. The one run came in the seventh inning when Pedro Feliz led off with a solo home run to deep left.
His first few innings were shaky as he was missing low and in mostly, he settled in nicely for the middle innings, then started to tire at the end and miss the strike zone again. Six innings is good from Maine, but I'd like to see him go one more next time around.
Pedro Feliciano came into the game, relieving Maine, with one on. Feliciano walked one before setting down Shane Victorino, Eric Bruntlett and Chase Utley on three straight strikeouts.
Wow. What an outing. Not much to say here, just very clutch.
Aaron Heilman entered the game in the eighth inning with a 3-1 lead. The first batter he faced, Ryan Howard, took him very deep to center field, nearly hitting the batter's eye on the fly. He walked Pat Burrell and allowed a basehit to Jayson Werth before Feliz came through for the Phillies again with an RBI groundout, tying the game.
I'm having a lot of trouble trusting Heilman now. Three games, three big letdowns. Rough.
From here on out, the bullpen came to play as Joe Smith, Scott Schoeneweis and Jorge Sosa pitched three scoreless innings. Smith allowed two hits, neither left the infield, to lead off the 11th inning. Smith then struck out Bruntlett before he was removed in favor of Schoeneweis. He induced a double play ball off the bat of Utley to end the inning. Sosa only needed one pitch in the 12th inning, getting Feliz to ground out to David Wright to end the inning and eventually earn the win.
Great stuff from these three. Sosa only needed one pitch, but I'll include him in this group. Stellar performances from Schoeneweis and Smith. Couldn't be happier with him tonight.
The Mets logged some runs early, fell asleep in the middle, and eventually came through in the 12th to win.
Pagan led off the inning with a single off the glove of Bruntlett. Carlos Beltran later walked and both were driven in by a Ryan Church single to center field. Church went 2-5 on the night, driving in these two runs.
Church is coming through for the Mets a lot. I love this guy. Lastings who?
Later in the game, in the sixth inning, Pagan led off the inning by dumping a double down the left field line. Wright moved him over with a ground out and Beltran drove him in with an RBI single to right field. Beltran went 1-4 with a walk, two strikeouts, scored once and drove one in.
Beltran got beat on the slider low and in a few times tonight, which happens a lot. He's not very clutch, but he's a solid player and I really like him. What are your thoughts on #15?
The Mets offense had a few chances to score over the next few innings as the game headed into extras, but couldn't come through until the bottom of the 12th. After Brian Schneider and Brady Clark made the first two outs of the inning, Jose Reyes ripped a double to deep right field and coasted into second standing up. Pagan came up to bat and singled up the middle to Werth. As Reyes rounded third base, Werth came up throwing and made a perfect throw to the plate. Coste had the plate blocked very well, but Reyes slid in feet first and reached his hand over Coste's leg and tagged the plate before getting tagged by Coste to win the game. Pagan went 3-5, driving in one run and scoring twice.
I think he got his hand in there before he got tagged on the back, but I'm in the minority in my room. Pagan isn't only good, but he's clutch too. He's pretty good, eh?
Game Ball: Smith, Schoeneweis, and Pagan.
If you didn't read my post entitled: "I just shaved off my beard for the Mets; My beard is to blame," you should probably check it out. Beardless watch: 2-0.
(For a batter by batter rundown of the entire game, check HERE.)
John Maine made the start earlier tonight, going six plus strong innings, needing 90 pitches. Maine ran into trouble with the walks, issuing five tonight. Maine gave up five hits and one earned run while striking out one. The one run came in the seventh inning when Pedro Feliz led off with a solo home run to deep left.
His first few innings were shaky as he was missing low and in mostly, he settled in nicely for the middle innings, then started to tire at the end and miss the strike zone again. Six innings is good from Maine, but I'd like to see him go one more next time around.
Pedro Feliciano came into the game, relieving Maine, with one on. Feliciano walked one before setting down Shane Victorino, Eric Bruntlett and Chase Utley on three straight strikeouts.
Wow. What an outing. Not much to say here, just very clutch.
Aaron Heilman entered the game in the eighth inning with a 3-1 lead. The first batter he faced, Ryan Howard, took him very deep to center field, nearly hitting the batter's eye on the fly. He walked Pat Burrell and allowed a basehit to Jayson Werth before Feliz came through for the Phillies again with an RBI groundout, tying the game.
I'm having a lot of trouble trusting Heilman now. Three games, three big letdowns. Rough.
From here on out, the bullpen came to play as Joe Smith, Scott Schoeneweis and Jorge Sosa pitched three scoreless innings. Smith allowed two hits, neither left the infield, to lead off the 11th inning. Smith then struck out Bruntlett before he was removed in favor of Schoeneweis. He induced a double play ball off the bat of Utley to end the inning. Sosa only needed one pitch in the 12th inning, getting Feliz to ground out to David Wright to end the inning and eventually earn the win.
Great stuff from these three. Sosa only needed one pitch, but I'll include him in this group. Stellar performances from Schoeneweis and Smith. Couldn't be happier with him tonight.
The Mets logged some runs early, fell asleep in the middle, and eventually came through in the 12th to win.
Pagan led off the inning with a single off the glove of Bruntlett. Carlos Beltran later walked and both were driven in by a Ryan Church single to center field. Church went 2-5 on the night, driving in these two runs.
Church is coming through for the Mets a lot. I love this guy. Lastings who?
Later in the game, in the sixth inning, Pagan led off the inning by dumping a double down the left field line. Wright moved him over with a ground out and Beltran drove him in with an RBI single to right field. Beltran went 1-4 with a walk, two strikeouts, scored once and drove one in.
Beltran got beat on the slider low and in a few times tonight, which happens a lot. He's not very clutch, but he's a solid player and I really like him. What are your thoughts on #15?
The Mets offense had a few chances to score over the next few innings as the game headed into extras, but couldn't come through until the bottom of the 12th. After Brian Schneider and Brady Clark made the first two outs of the inning, Jose Reyes ripped a double to deep right field and coasted into second standing up. Pagan came up to bat and singled up the middle to Werth. As Reyes rounded third base, Werth came up throwing and made a perfect throw to the plate. Coste had the plate blocked very well, but Reyes slid in feet first and reached his hand over Coste's leg and tagged the plate before getting tagged by Coste to win the game. Pagan went 3-5, driving in one run and scoring twice.
I think he got his hand in there before he got tagged on the back, but I'm in the minority in my room. Pagan isn't only good, but he's clutch too. He's pretty good, eh?
Game Ball: Smith, Schoeneweis, and Pagan.
If you didn't read my post entitled: "I just shaved off my beard for the Mets; My beard is to blame," you should probably check it out. Beardless watch: 2-0.
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