If the teams get this game in, somehow, don't be surprised if there is a very lengthy delay. It is absolutely pouring here in Connecticut, and it looks like the worst is yet to come.I'm calling for a day/night doubleheader tomorrow!
4/28/08
Weather update: It's pouring
If the teams get this game in, somehow, don't be surprised if there is a very lengthy delay. It is absolutely pouring here in Connecticut, and it looks like the worst is yet to come.I'm calling for a day/night doubleheader tomorrow!
Marty Noble lays down the law
Just read the first question and answer from Marty Noble's latest mailbag:
With Carlos Delgado struggling, Ryan Church and Angel Pagan playing well and giving the outfield some speed, Endy Chavez on the bench and Moises Alou due back, why not give Alou a shot at first base?
-- John D., St. Albans, N.Y.Your e-mail arrived before the developments of Sunday -- Delgado hit two home runs and we got word from the Mets that Alou might have a broken bone in his left foot. But if all matters had remained as they were -- Delgado not hitting and Alou moving closer to a return -- the notion of Alou playing first base, now or ever, is unsound.
You want to take a veteran who has played every one of his 15,900 big league innings in the outfield, a veteran who is prone to injury, and put him at a position that is completely foreign to him? Wow! Maybe you didn't see Mike Piazza try first base. Maybe you don't recall -- or you never knew -- that Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and Henry Aaron hardly prospered when they were moved to first. It is a difficult position to play and, for a veteran 41 years old, a position even more difficult to learn. The footwork alone could put Alou at risk.
The Mets haven't given that a thought. And they shouldn't.
This question is then posed with varying players, such as Ryan Church, a few more times throughout the article, and Nobles stands pat on his views. Very funny. A few deal with first, others want Aaron Heilman to sit in the bullpen for eternity, and again Noble tells them what's up. Funny stuff.
Santana could win the Cy Young (duh)
John Donovan, at SI.com, looks at the early contenders for the NL Cy Young. Obviously, Johan Santana ranks in high on the list.
From Donovan:
From Donovan:
3.) Santana. He might well end up with this hardware. Santana (3-2, 3.12) has gone at least 6 2/3 innings in every one of his starts, with four quality starts in five outings. Santana is second in the league in walks per nine (1.30), first in strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.40) and third in runners per inning (0.92).As long as the Mets win a ring, I don't care who wins what.
Weather at Shea tonight
Tonight's weather outlook does not look good. Tonight is supposed to be Jets Night at Shea, but with the rain coming down all day and night, I doubt tonight is going to happen.Hope you don't have tickets for tonight, and if you do, bring your umbrella!
Minaya coins a new word
From Joel Sherman:
Sherman goes on to tear into Minaya for Alou, Pedro Martinez, and a myriad of other things. Don't bother reading, there's really nothing there.
I wish I could tell you that this nonsensical version of “Who’s on First?” ended here. But it didn’t. [Omar] Minaya kept referring to the condition in [Moises] Alou’s ankle as “swellingness.” When asked how Alou incurred that injury, Minaya initially said he did not know and that reporters should ask Alou."Swellingness"? Is that like "strategery"?
Sherman goes on to tear into Minaya for Alou, Pedro Martinez, and a myriad of other things. Don't bother reading, there's really nothing there.
After all that, Delgado wins a Metsy
Mets Merized Online, run by one of the coolest cats around, and contributed to by some of the best Mets bloggers, has a weekly award called a Monday Morning Metsy. Adam Baker hands out this Metsy to a very strange recipient, Carlos Delgado.
From Baker:
Delgado has seen more than his fair share of booing so far this season. Sure, he probably deserves it for his poor batting average and power outage, but we're not even through 25 games. Let the guy get his stride before we rain down upon him. If after 40 or so games, he's still struggling, then, by all means, let the guy have it. But right now, hold off.
Heck, he has a Metsy and I'm sure if he hurled it at you, it would hurt.
From Baker:
Because I’m grateful to Carlos for helping to take 2 out of 3 from the Bravos, I would like to honor him with this weeks “Monday Morning Metsy” award. So here’s to you Carlos Delgado, slugger extraordinarie... Be prepared for more booing if you don’t keep improving.Is this some ploy by Baker to give Delgado some reassurance to build off of? Is this a cruel joke? I don't know, but I like it.
Delgado has seen more than his fair share of booing so far this season. Sure, he probably deserves it for his poor batting average and power outage, but we're not even through 25 games. Let the guy get his stride before we rain down upon him. If after 40 or so games, he's still struggling, then, by all means, let the guy have it. But right now, hold off.
Heck, he has a Metsy and I'm sure if he hurled it at you, it would hurt.
Schneider should return soon
Brian Schneider will be released from the hospital and should return to the Mets within a few days. He is believed to be heading home to spend a day or two with his family before rejoining the team.
In his place, Raul Casanova and Gustavo Molina have gone a combined 7-14, driving in two runs, and scoring three times.
As well as these guys have been hitting at the plate, the pitchers need Schneider back behind the plate. You can tell how good of a game he calls just by watching the pitching performances over the last few days. They haven't been terrible, but they haven't been great either.
I hope this shows the skeptical fans how valuable Schneider is to this team.
In his place, Raul Casanova and Gustavo Molina have gone a combined 7-14, driving in two runs, and scoring three times.
As well as these guys have been hitting at the plate, the pitchers need Schneider back behind the plate. You can tell how good of a game he calls just by watching the pitching performances over the last few days. They haven't been terrible, but they haven't been great either.
I hope this shows the skeptical fans how valuable Schneider is to this team.
Last chance
If you haven't voted already, we're nearing the end of the line for the current poll, so get on that.
You have five hours to vote on which NL East team you dislike more. Go!
You have five hours to vote on which NL East team you dislike more. Go!
4/27/08
Photo of the Day: Delgado
Carlos Delgado celebrates after his first home run of the day. He went on to hit two solo home runs, going 2-2 with two walks, two RBI, and three runs scored.I wouldn't say he's back yet, but today is a good sign. Hopefully he can parlay this off into a hot streak to get back into the groove of things.
(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Game Recap: Mets 6 -- Braves 3
The Mets were fans of the long ball today, knocking three in total, and two from a very surprising source. The Mets won the series over the Braves, taking the rubber game by a score of 6-3.
Nelson Figueroa made fourth start of the year, getting off to a very strong start before faltering in the sixth. Figueroa only allowed three hits through the first five innings, benefiting from a double play ball in the second to get out of a mini jam. The sixth was a bit of a struggle for Figueroa, allowing three singles a double to drive in two runs before being removed for Joe Smith.
This wasn't his strongest start, but heading into the sixth he held the Braves scoreless, which is a great sign. He seems to feed off the crowd at Shea, which is great. He seemed to have a bit of an issue with the mound, and it showed in the sixth. He kept checking the mound after a pitch, so something just didn't feel right for him. Again, I love this guy's story. Keep it up, Nelson.
Smith relieved Figueroa with two on in the sixth, and got what looked like a double play ball to escape the inning, but Brent Lillibridge beat it out at first, and a run scored. Scott Schoeneweis pitched the seventh, allowing some balls to get hit deep, but escaped unscathed. Kelly Johnson crushed one to the wall, but Carlos Beltran was there to track it down and after a Jeff Francoeur double, got a sparkling running grab from Ryan Church. Church tracked the ball down at the wall, just missing a sliding Beltran and making probably the best catches of the year.
Good stuff from these two relievers. I though Smith was going to get out of that inning on his first batter, but Lillibridge showed some nice speed beating it out. Schoeneweis needs to take Beltran and Church out for dinner after saving that inning for him.
Pedro Feliciano pitched the eighth, getting the Braves in order. Billy Wagner came on to close our the game, after Lillibridge hit one to Endy Chavez on the warning track, Matt Diaz stuck out his bat and poked one to right field. This was the first hit he has given up all year as Wagner pitched 9 1-3 innings without allowing a hit to start the season. He finished out the game, getting Gregor Blanco to strike out looking.
Feliciano was nasty in the eighth. He needs to be able to maintain this from appearance to appearance. Great stuff from Wagnet, too bad he gave up that hit. He earned his sixth save of the season.
The Mets pounded out 6 runs and 12 hits, chased John Smoltz after only four innings.
Jose Reyes led off the first inning with a double to right field. After a Luis Castillo ground out moved Reyes to third, Reyes scored the first run of the game on a wild pitch.
When he gets on base, he makes runs happen.
Carlos Delgado drew a one out walk in the second inning, and Raul Casanova drove him in with a home run to deep right field. The Mets then had a big chance later in that inning, as Figueroa singled to third, Reyes walked, and Castillo singled to load the bases, David Wright struck out, his second of the game.
Casanova had a breakout day for the Mets, going 3-4, driving in two runs and scoring once. Huge. Wright got out to a rough start to the game, but got back on the horse later on.
In the third, Delgado began his crusade to get back into the good graces of Mets fans, going the other way and knocking a solo home run into the bleachers in left field.
I love when Delgado waits on a pitch and drives it the other way. He looked very good at the plate, going 2-2 with two walks, driving in two runs, and scoring three times. Now, the question is: Who hit their second homer later in the game?
In the sixth, Wright singled to center field, driving home Castillo who doubled earlier in the inning.
Wright went 1-4 and though he's still in his slump, he's starting to see the ball better and will come around soon enough. I'm not worried about the slump, it just looks worse when the rest of the team is struggling around him.
In the seventh, Delgado crushed a solo home run part way up the scoreboard in right field off of Will Ohman, his second of the day.
Wow. The fans were screaming for a curtain call, but Delgado didn't come out for one. Obviously, he's not back yet, but this is definitely a great sign.
Numbers: 0: Church and Chavez's hits, the only two starters to go hitless...Castillo: 3-5, run...Casanova: 3-2, 2 RBI, run...Delgado: 1.000 BA on the day, going 2-2, 2 BB, 2 RBI, 3 runs...Extra base hits: 6 (3 2B, 3 HR)...Team LOB: 8...
Game Ball: Delgado
Nelson Figueroa made fourth start of the year, getting off to a very strong start before faltering in the sixth. Figueroa only allowed three hits through the first five innings, benefiting from a double play ball in the second to get out of a mini jam. The sixth was a bit of a struggle for Figueroa, allowing three singles a double to drive in two runs before being removed for Joe Smith.
This wasn't his strongest start, but heading into the sixth he held the Braves scoreless, which is a great sign. He seems to feed off the crowd at Shea, which is great. He seemed to have a bit of an issue with the mound, and it showed in the sixth. He kept checking the mound after a pitch, so something just didn't feel right for him. Again, I love this guy's story. Keep it up, Nelson.
Smith relieved Figueroa with two on in the sixth, and got what looked like a double play ball to escape the inning, but Brent Lillibridge beat it out at first, and a run scored. Scott Schoeneweis pitched the seventh, allowing some balls to get hit deep, but escaped unscathed. Kelly Johnson crushed one to the wall, but Carlos Beltran was there to track it down and after a Jeff Francoeur double, got a sparkling running grab from Ryan Church. Church tracked the ball down at the wall, just missing a sliding Beltran and making probably the best catches of the year.
Good stuff from these two relievers. I though Smith was going to get out of that inning on his first batter, but Lillibridge showed some nice speed beating it out. Schoeneweis needs to take Beltran and Church out for dinner after saving that inning for him.
Pedro Feliciano pitched the eighth, getting the Braves in order. Billy Wagner came on to close our the game, after Lillibridge hit one to Endy Chavez on the warning track, Matt Diaz stuck out his bat and poked one to right field. This was the first hit he has given up all year as Wagner pitched 9 1-3 innings without allowing a hit to start the season. He finished out the game, getting Gregor Blanco to strike out looking.
Feliciano was nasty in the eighth. He needs to be able to maintain this from appearance to appearance. Great stuff from Wagnet, too bad he gave up that hit. He earned his sixth save of the season.
The Mets pounded out 6 runs and 12 hits, chased John Smoltz after only four innings.
Jose Reyes led off the first inning with a double to right field. After a Luis Castillo ground out moved Reyes to third, Reyes scored the first run of the game on a wild pitch.
When he gets on base, he makes runs happen.
Carlos Delgado drew a one out walk in the second inning, and Raul Casanova drove him in with a home run to deep right field. The Mets then had a big chance later in that inning, as Figueroa singled to third, Reyes walked, and Castillo singled to load the bases, David Wright struck out, his second of the game.
Casanova had a breakout day for the Mets, going 3-4, driving in two runs and scoring once. Huge. Wright got out to a rough start to the game, but got back on the horse later on.
In the third, Delgado began his crusade to get back into the good graces of Mets fans, going the other way and knocking a solo home run into the bleachers in left field.
I love when Delgado waits on a pitch and drives it the other way. He looked very good at the plate, going 2-2 with two walks, driving in two runs, and scoring three times. Now, the question is: Who hit their second homer later in the game?
In the sixth, Wright singled to center field, driving home Castillo who doubled earlier in the inning.
Wright went 1-4 and though he's still in his slump, he's starting to see the ball better and will come around soon enough. I'm not worried about the slump, it just looks worse when the rest of the team is struggling around him.
In the seventh, Delgado crushed a solo home run part way up the scoreboard in right field off of Will Ohman, his second of the day.
Wow. The fans were screaming for a curtain call, but Delgado didn't come out for one. Obviously, he's not back yet, but this is definitely a great sign.
Numbers: 0: Church and Chavez's hits, the only two starters to go hitless...Castillo: 3-5, run...Casanova: 3-2, 2 RBI, run...Delgado: 1.000 BA on the day, going 2-2, 2 BB, 2 RBI, 3 runs...Extra base hits: 6 (3 2B, 3 HR)...Team LOB: 8...
Game Ball: Delgado
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