(AP Photo/H. Rumph Jr.)
4/21/08
4/20/08
Game Recap: Phillies 5 -- Mets 4
The Philadelphia Phillies broke the New York Mets winning streak Sunday night, as Chase Utley homered twice in the Phillies 5-4 victory in Citizen's Bank Park.
Mike Pelfrey made his third start of the season for the Mets, and gave up a ton of hits. Pelfrey got knocked around in his five innings of work for 10 hits and four earned runs. He walked two and struck out two. Pelfrey got into a lot of jams, but somehow worked out of them for the first few innings, only allowing a first inning solo home run to Utley. Pelfrey only had one 1-2-3 inning, in the second inning, benefiting from a double play off the bat of Eric Bruntlett. Utley consistently worked out of jams until the fifth when he allowed another Utley home run, this one a three run blast, high off the foul pole in right field.
I came to a conclusion tonight: Pelfrey needs Brian Schneider. He struggled mightily but somehow worked out of jam after jam. It finally caught up to him when Utley took him deep again in the fifth. He has good stuff, but he's still young and needs a lot of assistance calling the game.
Jorge Sosa entered the game for the sixth inning, pitching a perfect frame while striking out one. Pedro Feliciano started the seventh and allowed a pinch hit solo home run to Pedro Feliz to right field. Feliciano went on to allow a single to Utley before striking out Ryan Howard. He then walked Pat Burrell and got Geoff Jenkins to pop out. Joe Smith came in the game with two on and two out and got Chris Coste to strike out looking. Smith went on to pitch the bottom of the eighth, retiring the side in order.
Sosa looked very good. Feliciano is struggling lately, which worries me. Is he being used correctly? Smith is absolutely on fire. Hope he can keep this up all season.
The Mets offense was stifled in all but one inning by Phillies pitchers Sunday night.
The team only had two hits through five innings before busting open in the sixth. The inning started with a Jose Reyes leadoff triple off the wall in right field. Luis Castillo delivered, and singled him home, serving the ball to left field. David Wright followed it up with a double to left, moving Castillo to third. Carlos Beltran ripped a single up the middle, which plated both Wright and Castillo. After Beltran stole second base, he came home on a Ryan Church single to right, which tied the game.
That was it for the scoring. Adam Eaton continued to shut down the Mets for the majority of the game. A good inning here from the team, as they strung together a bunch of hits to put some runs on the board. This is something we haven't seen from the team lately. They've been relying on the long ball and a few hits to bring in a few runs at a time. Nice to see them put a few in a row.
The ninth inning saw the Mets threaten to tie the game as Damion Easley had a pinch-hit walk and Reyes singled to leadoff the inning. Castillo failed to get down a bunt and looked absolutely terrible, swinging, or more like flailing, at strike three. Wright then popped out in foul territory before Beltran ripped a ball up the middle which was stopped by Bruntlett who made a very nice play to end the threat and the game.
Ayy! Would have been nice. I still don't get why Castillo was moved back into the two-hole. Church was doing just fine there. He needs to be able to lay a bunt down. It needs to be done. Frustrating loss. They rallied back, got there, and then let it slip away.
Numbers: First four players in the Mets lineup: 4 runs scored...Reyes, Wright, Raul Casanova: 2 hits each...Wright: 2-3, 2 BB, 1 run...Team LOB: 9...SB: 2.
Beardless watch: 8-3.
Game ball: Beltran.
Mike Pelfrey made his third start of the season for the Mets, and gave up a ton of hits. Pelfrey got knocked around in his five innings of work for 10 hits and four earned runs. He walked two and struck out two. Pelfrey got into a lot of jams, but somehow worked out of them for the first few innings, only allowing a first inning solo home run to Utley. Pelfrey only had one 1-2-3 inning, in the second inning, benefiting from a double play off the bat of Eric Bruntlett. Utley consistently worked out of jams until the fifth when he allowed another Utley home run, this one a three run blast, high off the foul pole in right field.
I came to a conclusion tonight: Pelfrey needs Brian Schneider. He struggled mightily but somehow worked out of jam after jam. It finally caught up to him when Utley took him deep again in the fifth. He has good stuff, but he's still young and needs a lot of assistance calling the game.
Jorge Sosa entered the game for the sixth inning, pitching a perfect frame while striking out one. Pedro Feliciano started the seventh and allowed a pinch hit solo home run to Pedro Feliz to right field. Feliciano went on to allow a single to Utley before striking out Ryan Howard. He then walked Pat Burrell and got Geoff Jenkins to pop out. Joe Smith came in the game with two on and two out and got Chris Coste to strike out looking. Smith went on to pitch the bottom of the eighth, retiring the side in order.
Sosa looked very good. Feliciano is struggling lately, which worries me. Is he being used correctly? Smith is absolutely on fire. Hope he can keep this up all season.
The Mets offense was stifled in all but one inning by Phillies pitchers Sunday night.
The team only had two hits through five innings before busting open in the sixth. The inning started with a Jose Reyes leadoff triple off the wall in right field. Luis Castillo delivered, and singled him home, serving the ball to left field. David Wright followed it up with a double to left, moving Castillo to third. Carlos Beltran ripped a single up the middle, which plated both Wright and Castillo. After Beltran stole second base, he came home on a Ryan Church single to right, which tied the game.
That was it for the scoring. Adam Eaton continued to shut down the Mets for the majority of the game. A good inning here from the team, as they strung together a bunch of hits to put some runs on the board. This is something we haven't seen from the team lately. They've been relying on the long ball and a few hits to bring in a few runs at a time. Nice to see them put a few in a row.
The ninth inning saw the Mets threaten to tie the game as Damion Easley had a pinch-hit walk and Reyes singled to leadoff the inning. Castillo failed to get down a bunt and looked absolutely terrible, swinging, or more like flailing, at strike three. Wright then popped out in foul territory before Beltran ripped a ball up the middle which was stopped by Bruntlett who made a very nice play to end the threat and the game.
Ayy! Would have been nice. I still don't get why Castillo was moved back into the two-hole. Church was doing just fine there. He needs to be able to lay a bunt down. It needs to be done. Frustrating loss. They rallied back, got there, and then let it slip away.
Numbers: First four players in the Mets lineup: 4 runs scored...Reyes, Wright, Raul Casanova: 2 hits each...Wright: 2-3, 2 BB, 1 run...Team LOB: 9...SB: 2.
Beardless watch: 8-3.
Game ball: Beltran.
Philly for Hillary
Wherever you stand on Election '08, I hope you agree that none of it belongs at a baseball game. Baseball should be an escape, away from all the trials and tribulations of daily life, not another billboard to promote your "cause."Every time a left handed batter comes to the plate, these two supporters hold up their signs for the world to see.
I say boo to you, Philly Hillary fan. Take your politics elsewhere.
Game Preview: Mets @ Phillies -- 4/20
The New York Mets look for their second straight sweep as they take on the Philadelphia Phillies in a 8:10 p.m. game which will air nationally on ESPN.
Lineup:
SS Jose Reyes
2B Luis Castillo
3B David Wright
CF Carlos Beltran
1B Carlos Delgado
RF Ryan Church
C Raul Casanova
LF Endy Chavez
SP Mike Pelfrey
Pelfrey vs. Adam Eaton
From John Delcos:
Lineup:
SS Jose Reyes
2B Luis Castillo
3B David Wright
CF Carlos Beltran
1B Carlos Delgado
RF Ryan Church
C Raul Casanova
LF Endy Chavez
SP Mike Pelfrey
Pelfrey vs. Adam Eaton
From John Delcos:
Notice that Luis Castillo is back hitting second. Willie Randolph said he was never married to Ryan Church hitting second fulltime. He said he had a feel about him hitting second. Now, he has a feel for putting Castillo back.Why would you pull a guy from the two hole if he is obviously doing very well. This is the thing I hate about Randolph. He'd rather "go with his gut" than step back and look at what has been happening. Leave Church where he is!!! Brian Schneider takes a seat tonight after getting pegged with a foul tip behind the plate in the ninth inning Saturday afternoon. Angel Pagan also takes a seat in favor of Chavez.
Nelson Figueroa: The feel good story of the year
In what has easily become the Mets feel good story of this young season, Nelson Figueroa is living the dream.
Barbara Barker, for Newsday, takes a nice long look and the Brooklyn-born Brandeis product, and thanks to SNY, he's now pitching for his hometown team.
From Barker:
Pedro Martinez, take your time.
I love this guy and his story. It sounds like a Disney movie in the making. His family, camping out in Billy Wagner's box, brings an emotion to the stadium. I've never seen such a happy and excitable family. I remember last year, when Tom Glavine was searching for career win number 300, his wife was in the stands. To me, at least on TV, she came off as very high and mighty and just seemed like she was better than everyone. Not the Figueroa's.
This is an excitable, happy bunch who have watched Nelson go through team after team before getting to this point. They're emotion seems to spread throughout Shea Stadium when Nelson pitches and the whole place seems to jump and shake as the crowd seems to pull for him more than any other pitcher.
I never want this story to end. Keep it going, Nelson Figueroa, we're all behind you 110 percent.
Barbara Barker, for Newsday, takes a nice long look and the Brooklyn-born Brandeis product, and thanks to SNY, he's now pitching for his hometown team.
From Barker:
Figueroa embarked on a whirlwind mission to get baseball to notice him, pitching for anyone anywhere he thought some major-league scout might watch him. In 10 months, he went from the Mexican League to the Taiwanese League, back to Mexico again, on to Aguillas in the Dominican Winter League and on to the Mexican team in the Caribbean World Series.So far, so good. In two starts for the Mets, Figueroa is 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA. In 13 innings he has only allowed five hits and four walks while striking out 13.
Mets scout Ramon Peña was watching SNY's winter league coverage when Figueroa caught his attention. He flew down to see him and then told Mets general manager Omar Minaya that Figueroa might be able to help somewhere in the organization.
---
"He was determined to prove everybody wrong, and he knew he could do it," Alisa [Figueroa] said. "When I see how much he believed in himself, it's a great lesson for myself and my daughter and really anyone else. I'm just so happy for him."
Pedro Martinez, take your time.
I love this guy and his story. It sounds like a Disney movie in the making. His family, camping out in Billy Wagner's box, brings an emotion to the stadium. I've never seen such a happy and excitable family. I remember last year, when Tom Glavine was searching for career win number 300, his wife was in the stands. To me, at least on TV, she came off as very high and mighty and just seemed like she was better than everyone. Not the Figueroa's.
This is an excitable, happy bunch who have watched Nelson go through team after team before getting to this point. They're emotion seems to spread throughout Shea Stadium when Nelson pitches and the whole place seems to jump and shake as the crowd seems to pull for him more than any other pitcher.
I never want this story to end. Keep it going, Nelson Figueroa, we're all behind you 110 percent.
Schneider day to day with bruised forearm
Catcher Brian Schneider took a foul tip off the forearm during the ninth inning of Saturday's game against the Phillies.
Billy Wagner was dealing heat to Chase Utley when Utley fouled off a 96 mph fastball which found it's way behind Schneider's leg, landing squarely on the meat of his forearm. The game stopped for a few moments as Schneider paced around the field trying to walk off the pain.
Schneider remained in the game as the Mets went on to win 4-2, but received X-rays afterwards. The results were negative, but Schneider was left with a nasty bruise.
From Jeremy Cothran:
He also has the ability to find the holes, picking up singles left and right. I like what he can do and I don't think he's gotten enough credit for the hot start the Mets pitching staff has gotten off to.
Billy Wagner was dealing heat to Chase Utley when Utley fouled off a 96 mph fastball which found it's way behind Schneider's leg, landing squarely on the meat of his forearm. The game stopped for a few moments as Schneider paced around the field trying to walk off the pain.
Schneider remained in the game as the Mets went on to win 4-2, but received X-rays afterwards. The results were negative, but Schneider was left with a nasty bruise.
From Jeremy Cothran:
"It's just a lot of pain right there," Schneider said. "I don't have a lot of grip right now. ... It's part of being a catcher."I have no clue if Schneider is going to play tonight, but he's a gamer, so if he can, he will. I really love this guy behind the plate for the Mets. He calls an excellent game and since ditching his new glove is a force behind the dish.
He also has the ability to find the holes, picking up singles left and right. I like what he can do and I don't think he's gotten enough credit for the hot start the Mets pitching staff has gotten off to.
Photo of the Day: Reyes
Jose Reyes trots home after knocking a two-run home run to right field in the seventh inning to put the Mets up 4-1. The Mets went on to win 4-2, their fifth straight overall, and fourth against the Phillies.
(AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)
4/19/08
Game Recap: Mets 4 -- Phillies 2
The Mets have now won five in a row, and four straight against Philadelphia, as they beat the Phillies by a score of 4-2 on Saturday at Citizens Bank Park.
Oliver Perez made the start for the Mets, lasting 5 2-3 of an inning, all scoreless, and allowing only four hits. Perez, again, struggled with his control, walking five batters, but also tallied seven strike outs on the bump. He also threw one wild pitch. He needed 108 pitches to get through his start, 66 for strikes. Perez struck out Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell a combined four times on Saturday.
Another wild day for Perez. If he could just stay in control of all his pitches for a decent string of starts, could you imagine what he could do? Luckily, nothing came of his five walks as the Phillies left seven runners on with Perez on the mound.
The Mets went through a cast of pitchers today, needing six relief pitchers to finish out the game. With two runners on and two outs in the sixth inning, and Jimmy Rollins coming to the plate as a pinch hitter, Duaner Sanchez entered the game and got Rollins to ground out to first to end the inning. Scott Schoeneweis pitched the seventh inning, allowing a two-out solo home run to Chase Utley for the Phillies first run of the game. Schoeneweis also struck out one batter.
This was Utley's second home run in as many days against the Mets. Luckily, both have been solo shots. This guy is good. Sanchez is looking good, even though he only faced one batter. Schoeneweis, the forgotten bullpen arm. He was a bit rusty today.
The eighth inning was a tense one for the Mets as Joe Smith came out to start the eighth inning and promptly walked Burrell. He then induced a ground out from Pedro Feliz, which allowed Burrell to move to second. Pedro Feliciano then entered the game for the Mets. After some very lengthy at bats, Feliciano allowed a single to Greg Dobbs and walked Eric Bruntlett to load the bases. Feliciano left in favor of Aaron Heilman to face Carlos Ruiz. Ruiz lined one into left, and Angel Pagan broke back and did not get a good jump on the ball and couldn't get to it. He made a diving attempt, but smothered it into the ground allowing a run to score, charged to Smith. Heilman recovered nicely, getting back to back strike outs of Geoff Jenkins and Jayson Werth.
I hope everyone had enough antacids to get through that inning. Smith looked all right, but this is the second time in three days Feliciano has come on and not allowed a run. Bad read by Pagan, who didn't get a good jump, went the wrong way, and then attempted a dive instead of playing the ball in front of him and possibly having a play at the plate with the slow footed Burrell at third. One bad thing against Pagan this season. Great rebound by Heilman. I admit I was a bit scared, but the two straight strike outs with the bases loaded is mammoth. Great stuff.
For the third straight game, the Mets got on the board in the first inning.
Jose Reyes, obviously not feeling any repercussions from last night's collision, led off the game with a double down the third base line. Ryan Church followed that up with a line drive to right that So Taguchi couldn't handle and fell in for a single. With David Wright batting, Reyes stole third base without a throw, his third of the season. Wright followed this up with a double to center field, easily scoring Reyes and bringing Church home all the way from first base.
Another hot start for the Mets. They're taking advantage of the pitcher not being in his groove yet, and snagging a few quick runs for the lead before the other team even takes the field. I like this tenacity.
The Mets were held in check by Jamie Moyer the rest of the way, until Moyer was removed in the sixth inning. Ryan Madson entered the game for the Phillies and walked the second batter he faced in Luis Castillo. After a Endy Chavez pinch-hit ground out, Reyes came to the plate and crushed a two-run home run deep to right field.
That home run was huge, both in terms of distance and impact on the game. It ended up being the game winner and was absolutely jacked 20 rows deep into the right field stands. After the home run, Reyes and Carlos Delgado had a nice high five / dance on the top step of the dugout. I'm so happy the old Reyes is back.
Numbers: Reyes: 2-4 (2B, HR), 2 RBI, 2 runs...Church: 2-4, 1 run...Wright: 2-4, 2 RBI...Top 3 of the Mets order: 6-12...Middle 3 of the Mets order: 0-12...Bottom 3 of the Mets order: 3-9...Mets pitcher's K's: 11...GIDP: 2...Mets LOB: 5...
Game Ball: Perez, Wright and Reyes.
Beardless watch: 8-2.
Oliver Perez made the start for the Mets, lasting 5 2-3 of an inning, all scoreless, and allowing only four hits. Perez, again, struggled with his control, walking five batters, but also tallied seven strike outs on the bump. He also threw one wild pitch. He needed 108 pitches to get through his start, 66 for strikes. Perez struck out Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell a combined four times on Saturday.
Another wild day for Perez. If he could just stay in control of all his pitches for a decent string of starts, could you imagine what he could do? Luckily, nothing came of his five walks as the Phillies left seven runners on with Perez on the mound.
The Mets went through a cast of pitchers today, needing six relief pitchers to finish out the game. With two runners on and two outs in the sixth inning, and Jimmy Rollins coming to the plate as a pinch hitter, Duaner Sanchez entered the game and got Rollins to ground out to first to end the inning. Scott Schoeneweis pitched the seventh inning, allowing a two-out solo home run to Chase Utley for the Phillies first run of the game. Schoeneweis also struck out one batter.
This was Utley's second home run in as many days against the Mets. Luckily, both have been solo shots. This guy is good. Sanchez is looking good, even though he only faced one batter. Schoeneweis, the forgotten bullpen arm. He was a bit rusty today.
The eighth inning was a tense one for the Mets as Joe Smith came out to start the eighth inning and promptly walked Burrell. He then induced a ground out from Pedro Feliz, which allowed Burrell to move to second. Pedro Feliciano then entered the game for the Mets. After some very lengthy at bats, Feliciano allowed a single to Greg Dobbs and walked Eric Bruntlett to load the bases. Feliciano left in favor of Aaron Heilman to face Carlos Ruiz. Ruiz lined one into left, and Angel Pagan broke back and did not get a good jump on the ball and couldn't get to it. He made a diving attempt, but smothered it into the ground allowing a run to score, charged to Smith. Heilman recovered nicely, getting back to back strike outs of Geoff Jenkins and Jayson Werth.
I hope everyone had enough antacids to get through that inning. Smith looked all right, but this is the second time in three days Feliciano has come on and not allowed a run. Bad read by Pagan, who didn't get a good jump, went the wrong way, and then attempted a dive instead of playing the ball in front of him and possibly having a play at the plate with the slow footed Burrell at third. One bad thing against Pagan this season. Great rebound by Heilman. I admit I was a bit scared, but the two straight strike outs with the bases loaded is mammoth. Great stuff.
For the third straight game, the Mets got on the board in the first inning.
Jose Reyes, obviously not feeling any repercussions from last night's collision, led off the game with a double down the third base line. Ryan Church followed that up with a line drive to right that So Taguchi couldn't handle and fell in for a single. With David Wright batting, Reyes stole third base without a throw, his third of the season. Wright followed this up with a double to center field, easily scoring Reyes and bringing Church home all the way from first base.
Another hot start for the Mets. They're taking advantage of the pitcher not being in his groove yet, and snagging a few quick runs for the lead before the other team even takes the field. I like this tenacity.
The Mets were held in check by Jamie Moyer the rest of the way, until Moyer was removed in the sixth inning. Ryan Madson entered the game for the Phillies and walked the second batter he faced in Luis Castillo. After a Endy Chavez pinch-hit ground out, Reyes came to the plate and crushed a two-run home run deep to right field.
That home run was huge, both in terms of distance and impact on the game. It ended up being the game winner and was absolutely jacked 20 rows deep into the right field stands. After the home run, Reyes and Carlos Delgado had a nice high five / dance on the top step of the dugout. I'm so happy the old Reyes is back.
Numbers: Reyes: 2-4 (2B, HR), 2 RBI, 2 runs...Church: 2-4, 1 run...Wright: 2-4, 2 RBI...Top 3 of the Mets order: 6-12...Middle 3 of the Mets order: 0-12...Bottom 3 of the Mets order: 3-9...Mets pitcher's K's: 11...GIDP: 2...Mets LOB: 5...
Game Ball: Perez, Wright and Reyes.
Beardless watch: 8-2.
Game Preview: Mets @ Phillies -- 4/19
The New York Mets took the first game of the series last night against the Philadelphia Phillies, and look to win their fifth in a row today, a 4:00 p.m. start.
Lineup:
SS Jose Reyes
RF Ryan Church
3B David Wright
CF Carlos Beltran
1B Carlos Delgado
LF Angel Pagan
C Brian Schneider
2B Luis Castillo
SP Oliver Perez
Perez vs. Jamie Moyer
Same lineup as last night. Glad Reyes is in there after taking a rough shot to the head last night. Probably a little sore, but he's young and will stick it out for the team. Not much else to say here. Jimmy Rollins will probably be back in the lineup for the Phillies today.
Lineup:
SS Jose Reyes
RF Ryan Church
3B David Wright
CF Carlos Beltran
1B Carlos Delgado
LF Angel Pagan
C Brian Schneider
2B Luis Castillo
SP Oliver Perez
Perez vs. Jamie Moyer
Same lineup as last night. Glad Reyes is in there after taking a rough shot to the head last night. Probably a little sore, but he's young and will stick it out for the team. Not much else to say here. Jimmy Rollins will probably be back in the lineup for the Phillies today.
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