TSTDIA: Marlins 7 -- Mets 3

This game seemed like no one really wanted to win. Each team benefited from some luck and some mistakes by the opposing team. Ultimately, the Marlins took advantage of a beleaguered bullpen, and won the game with a five run 8th inning.

John Maine leaves game in fifth inning

Update 9:28 pm: Maine left game with "stiffness in his pitching arm." Kevin Burkhardt relays that Maine was not very happy to get pulled.

Well, I didn't see anything. Either did Gary Cohen or Keith Hernandez, but John Maine was begrudgingly removed from the game in the fifth inning after only recording one out.

Maine struck out the side in the fourth, and after his first two pitches in the fifth, Jerry Manuel trotted out to the mound. He was allowed to throw warm-up pitches, which he did not seem too enthused to do. The first pitch he delivered to a batter after Manuel's visit was jacked for a solo shot to right field.

Maine then struck out opposing pitcher Ricky Nolasco before Manuel came back out to the mound and pulled the pitcher from the game. Maine did not look pleased to get the hook so early and seemingly without injury.

Carlos Muniz will take over for Maine.

Pedro penciled in for Friday

Pedro Martinez will return from the bereavement list, and visiting his family after the passing of his father, and start on Friday against the Houston Astros.

Pedro will be limited to a pitch count of 80 innings, so the bullpen better be well rested. Thankfully, and perhaps by plan, the Mets have an off day on Thursday, allowing the pen to come into this game well rested.

(Ed. note: I think I'm going to continue to do short snippets like this for minor stories)

Is this Marlins crowd mic'd up?

Here I am in my freezing cold basement as the Mets take on the Marlins in some beautiful 81 degree weather.

Well, it still feels like I'm there. Is it just me, or does this crowd seem a million times louder than normal? It sounds like they handed all 1,500 fans (ballpark figure) their own, personal microphone to make it as loud as possible.

There probably isn't even half as many fans that usually fill up Shea, but they are incredibly loud, and I must say, very annoying. It's like someone left the crowd mics up way too high. All I hear is mumbling and clapping from the crowd, and it sounds miserable.

Just me?

Movin' on up: Jon Niese

With Brandon Knight heading to the Olympics, there was a void in the rotation in New Orleans. The Mets killed two birds with one stone here, as they promoted Jon Niese to fill the spot.

Niese, who posted a 6-7 record in AA, could be a fill-in for the Mets if Pedro Martinez cannot perform down the stretch. Niese's record is not the defining factor here, as he posted a 3.04 ERA through 22 starts.

I have an inkling we'll see Niese at Shea before the season is over. No wonder he's "untouchable."

The Fernando Tatis side-step and point to the sky

When Fernando Tatis homers, I patiently await for the moment he crosses home plate.

I love the way Tatis celebrates his home runs. As he approaches home plate, in a jog, he turns to a side step, then shuffles his way onto the plate sideways. He quickly looks up to the sky, and raises his two fingers in celebration, and most likely praising his God.

For some reason, I love it. It's nothing over the top and exciting like Jose Reyes', or subdued and emotionless like Damion Easley's, but I like it. It's unique and cool, and I respect that.

Tatis against the Giants on July 10, 2008.

Keep on keepin' on, Fernando!

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

New York Mets rumors for the deadline

One of my good buddies and fellow bloggers, Will Sommer recently conducted an interview with Tim Dierkes of MLBTradeRumors.com. Here are the highlights:

WS: How hard are the Mets looking for a corner outfielder? / How much would the Mets have to give up?

TD: It seems to be their top priority. They are trying to get someone
decent without giving up Fernando Martinez, Jon Niese, or Bobby Parnell.
The Mariners want Niese for Raul Ibanez though. I don't think they'll do that.
---
WS: If you were Omar Minaya would you trade Fernando Martinez for any of
the available corner outfielders?

TD: If I could get Jason Bay straight up for him, I'd think about that one for a while.

I don't see the Mets parting with any of that young talent unless they can land a star. Not happening.

And F-Mart for Bay, straight up is a quandary. I would probably pull the trigger, but that's because F-Mart has struggled with injuries lately and that worries me. You'd be swapping a Mets prospect for an ex-Mets prospect, so maybe in 10 years the team could trade for F-Mart again.

From the Forum: Trade Carlos Beltran for Manny Ramirez and Jacoby Ellsbury

User "metsfan08" threw out a crazy idea on Mets Lounge this morning, something I want to hear other people's opinions on. Here it is, in it's entirety:

Last night I was listening to the WFAN and a caller had an interesting proposal for a trade for Manny Ramirez.

IF the BoSox were willing to trade both Jacoby Ellsbury AND Manny Ramirez in exchange for Carlos Beltran, should Omar Minaya make the trade?
Let's examine this hypothetical trade--
-The Mets would gain 2 outfielders for this season.
-Manny would be a rental because he might not be willing to sign with the Mets after this season. -Manny in the clean-up spot with Delgado hitting 5th.. WOW!
-Ellsbury is 25 y.o. and CHEAP!! Think of all the money we would save next year.. money we could use to pursue a 1st and/or 2nd baseman..

-The BoSox would not have to deal with Manny.
-They still have Coco Crisp so they would still have 3 outfielders.
-Beltran is 31 y.o. and is under contract until 2012.
-BoSox could still be in contention with Beltran in the line-up instead of Manny.

On paper, this trade looks like a win-win situation with the Mets getting the slightly longer end of the stick. As much as I LOVE Beltran, I must admit that Omar Minaya would have to be crazy to not jump on this trade. What do you guys think? Someone give me a reason to KEEP Beltran.. PLEASE!!

And here is user "nymrods" response:

I say yes because I'm a big Ellsbury fan, so I might be slightly partial, but...

Well, Manny makes up for the lack of power Ellsbury has (or doesn't) and Beltran did. Ellsbury is a good (Church-like) fielder, and young, so he'll improve. Now, Beltran is a wizard in the field, so we would be losing a little in the fielding, but I think Ellsbury's age is very promising. He will improve all around (this is only his first real season anyways). And besides, we'd have Manny. Older, but still amazing!!

Beltran (Avg #s): .279 BA; 26 HR; 108 RBI; .355 OBP (13th year)
Ellsbury (Avg #s): .286 BA; 5 HR; 32 RBI; .346 OBP (First starting season)
Ramirez (Avg #s): .312 BA; 30 HR; 98 RBI; .409 OBP (17th year)

Tough call. Honestly though, do we do it? I like the idea, but I don't think that it solves any problem.

And finally, my answer:

OK...let's see... Ellsbury is OK. Endy Chavez-esque in my opinion.
Manny has a team option for the next two years, at $20mil a pop.
We have enough money coming off the books next year...Alou for sure, Pedro almost for sure, Delgado maybe, Perez (hopefully re-sign)...
The Sox do not like Crisp, at all.

Reason?...You need reasons to keep him [Beltran]? OK, LOOK...Beltran was never an average hitter. Never has been, never will be. He hit .307 and .306 once...every other year he hovers around .275ish. He's driven in 100+ each year except that one miserable 2005.

He OPS .800-.900+ consistently. His OBP is usually .350+ Oh yeah, and he's one of, if not the best fielder in the NL...and tops in MLB. He makes everything look easy. DID YOU SEE YESTERDAY'S GAME!

Thoughts? Responses? Let's hear it on Mets Lounge or in the comments!

Mike Pelfrey to receive innings cap

According to Adam Rubin, the Mets will try to limit the number of pitches and innings that Mike Pelfrey throws this season, trying to prevent the young pitcher from hitting a wall.

From Rubin:

Mike Pelfrey's pitch counts may soon be reduced. The organization would prefer Pelfrey not exceed 180 innings in his first full major-league season. Pelfrey currently is at 122-2/3 innings with roughly 11 starts remaining.

Usually, I'd hate this, but we're seeing a clear sign of it in Duaner Sanchez right now. He seems to have hit a wall only half way into the season, but remember he hasn't pitched in one and a half years.

Something like this needs to be monitored but not fully and strictly enforced. If there are chances to give him a break, give them, but don't pull him out of great starts just because he's nearing his innings cap.

Early Morning Madness: Johan Santana is damned if he does, damned if he doesn't

This is sickening.

When Johan Santana didn't come out for the ninth inning against the Phillies, and the Mets eventually lost, everyone was screaming about "Why didn't Johan demand to come back into the game?!?"

This time around, when it was 9-1, Johan stayed in the game...and he's still getting blasted in the media.

From Filip Bondy, someone I usually enjoy reading, entitled "Johan Santana going nine in rout doesn't make complete sense":

And so the most important and expensive pitcher on the Mets' staff went out and threw some unnecessary fastballs Sunday in the ninth. If you're a message kind of guy, you were applauding his gutsy show. If you're more of a pitch-count realist, you were horrified at the illogic of it all. Manuel only intended to allow Santana to reach 115 pitches, but then there were two outs and the complete game was too close to sabotage.

Well, he only went up to 118, not far off from the 115 tipping point. He started the 8th inning with only 81 pitches. 81! But more importantly, he saved the bullpen that used every pitcher while throwing nine inning of relief nearly 12 hours earlier.

What does Santana have to do in this town to prove himself? Go out, throw a no hitter through seven innings (limiting himself to only three pitches per batter, mind you), hand the ball over to the bullpen and call it a day?

This is getting sad. Johan Santana is damned if he doesn't beg and plead with Jerry Manuel to go out for the ninth inning one day, but when he does, even with an 8 run lead, and the chance to give the bullpen a well needed day off, he's damned again.

Lay off this guy, please. Sure, he has the biggest contract of any pitcher to date, but his last two starts have been simply spectacular. His ERA is 2.93, good for 6th in the league, he's #3 in the league for innings pitched, and he's top 10 or close in nearly every other pitching category.

He's the ace of this staff. He's a stud pitcher, and there is no denying that. Let him go out, earn his money, and help this team as much as possible. He can do it, he's a veteran, one of the best in the league.

Give me a break.