After taking two out of three in Philadelphia, the New York Mets head into historic Wrigley Field to take on the Chicago Cubs.
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 John Maine
Maine vs. Carlos Zambrano
Brian Schneider is still feeling the sting from the foul tip off his forearm on Saturday. No idea why Angel Pagan is sitting for the second straight day. Endy is getting his reps in though, which is always good. Here we go again with Castillo batting second. I don't like this one bit.
4/21/08
Patriots Day
It's not often you can wake up at 8:30 a.m., go to class for two hours, come back and flip on the TV and catch some live major league baseball.
The Boston Red Sox are taking on the Texas Rangers in Fenway Park and the first pitch was just thrown. Now if I can catch a 1 p.m. game and maybe a 4 p.m. one, it will bridge the gap nicely for the Mets in Chicago at 7 p.m.
Wishful thinking, I guess.
The Boston Red Sox are taking on the Texas Rangers in Fenway Park and the first pitch was just thrown. Now if I can catch a 1 p.m. game and maybe a 4 p.m. one, it will bridge the gap nicely for the Mets in Chicago at 7 p.m.
Wishful thinking, I guess.
Why, oh why, Willie?
On Tuesday, Ryan Church was moved to the second spot in the order. Tuesday also saw a
30-minute meeting between GM Omar Minaya and manager Willie Randolph.
Coincidence?
I don't think so.
I believe Minaya told Randolph to move Church there, against Randolph's wishes. Church went into the two-hole on Tuesday, April 15. Since then he has gone 8-21, driving in two runs, scoring nine, and raised his batting average almost 20 points. The Mets were 5-0 in those games. Obviously, he enjoys hitting second in the batting order, and even was quoted by the New York Post as saying: "I love it," Church said. "I've been getting some pitches that I've been able to do something with."
Great. Super. We found out #2 hitter for the rest of the season.
Not if Randolph has anything to do with it.
Luis Castillo was moved from eighth in the order (where he landed after getting bumped out of the second spot) back up to batting behind Jose Reyes for the finale in Philadelphia. Is it any surprise that Castillo failed in a huge spot in the top of the ninth inning as he was unable to get a fundamental bunt down to advance runners, and when he already had two strikes on him, was unable to even make contact and hope something happens. Instead, he waves at a slider inside and makes the first out of the inning. The Mets were unable to score and therefore lost the game.
Why in the world would you mess with an order that has won you five straight, and has seen the new #2 hitter bat .380 and score nine times is beyond me. Only Randolph will know.
Hopefully Minaya has a little sit down with the manager before Monday's game against the Chicago Cubs, and sets the record straight.
30-minute meeting between GM Omar Minaya and manager Willie Randolph.Coincidence?
I don't think so.
I believe Minaya told Randolph to move Church there, against Randolph's wishes. Church went into the two-hole on Tuesday, April 15. Since then he has gone 8-21, driving in two runs, scoring nine, and raised his batting average almost 20 points. The Mets were 5-0 in those games. Obviously, he enjoys hitting second in the batting order, and even was quoted by the New York Post as saying: "I love it," Church said. "I've been getting some pitches that I've been able to do something with."
Great. Super. We found out #2 hitter for the rest of the season.
Not if Randolph has anything to do with it.
Luis Castillo was moved from eighth in the order (where he landed after getting bumped out of the second spot) back up to batting behind Jose Reyes for the finale in Philadelphia. Is it any surprise that Castillo failed in a huge spot in the top of the ninth inning as he was unable to get a fundamental bunt down to advance runners, and when he already had two strikes on him, was unable to even make contact and hope something happens. Instead, he waves at a slider inside and makes the first out of the inning. The Mets were unable to score and therefore lost the game.
Why in the world would you mess with an order that has won you five straight, and has seen the new #2 hitter bat .380 and score nine times is beyond me. Only Randolph will know.
Hopefully Minaya has a little sit down with the manager before Monday's game against the Chicago Cubs, and sets the record straight.
Alou could be back by weeks end
According to Adam Rubin, Moises Alou could be back before May 1, his original guess as to when he would return.
Alou, who went 3-3 in an extended spring training game in Port St. Lucie on Sunday, could be back on the Mets as soon as Friday.
From Rubin:
There's also the big question mark of what happens to hot hitting Angel Pagan. I've taken a look at this in the past, and my thoughts still stand true.
Alou, who went 3-3 in an extended spring training game in Port St. Lucie on Sunday, could be back on the Mets as soon as Friday.
From Rubin:
"It depends on how he feels," Mets VP Tony Bernazard said about the timetable for Alou's return. "But it's good. It's very good."The official clock on Alou's return began yesterday, when he went 3-for-3 with a double and run scored while playing five innings in left field for St. Lucie against the Palm Beach Cardinals. He also committed an error. Alou is expected to take today off, then play with that Florida State League team for three consecutive days before the Mets commit to his activation.
When Alou returns, it's pretty much a lock that Brady Clark will be sent down. Rubin goes on to point out that Clark waived his right to deny a demotion to AAA, but hasn't made a decision of if he would report after clearing waivers.
There's also the big question mark of what happens to hot hitting Angel Pagan. I've taken a look at this in the past, and my thoughts still stand true.
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.
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