It's the second inning, and the Phillies are already leading 3-1. Johan Santana has give up a two-run home run to Ryan Howard in the first and a solo shot to Jayson Werth in the second.
It's awful that Johan is having a bad start tonight, but he's pitched so well over the last month or more. He's due for a mediocre, or even bad, start. It's going to happen.
It's just too bad if this holds up, or gets worse, fans will be all over Johan for "not coming through when the team needs him." Not like he's put up some pretty baffling starts and not gotten wins from them in the past.
Hopefully it will be a reversal of fortunes tonight, but only time will tell.
8/27/08
Told ya so
Nelson Figueroa is in Philly, but he may not be activated tonight. My source said otherwise.
Also, Ramon Castro has landed on the DL with a strained hamstring. Robinson Cancel has been called up in his place.
Update, 4:52: Argenis Reyes, as predicted, is heading to the minors. He will be called up after he spends time in the minors, I believe 10 days.
Also, Ramon Castro has landed on the DL with a strained hamstring. Robinson Cancel has been called up in his place.
Update, 4:52: Argenis Reyes, as predicted, is heading to the minors. He will be called up after he spends time in the minors, I believe 10 days.
Poll: Mets fans are confident
In my latest poll, I asked fans to vote on a very simple question: Will the Mets make the playoffs?
The results:
95% Yes, 5% No.
Fitting that the poll closed right about the 7th inning of last night's game. I wonder how much different it would be if everyone voted today.
I guess the fans are a confident bunch. I also think the Mets will be playing baseball in the postseason. Last night notwithstanding, the Mets have still put together a spectacular second half, bullpen troubles and all.
One half game back with 29 to play? They have a shot.
New poll: Who is the Mets MVP in 2008?
The results:
95% Yes, 5% No.
Fitting that the poll closed right about the 7th inning of last night's game. I wonder how much different it would be if everyone voted today.
I guess the fans are a confident bunch. I also think the Mets will be playing baseball in the postseason. Last night notwithstanding, the Mets have still put together a spectacular second half, bullpen troubles and all.
One half game back with 29 to play? They have a shot.
New poll: Who is the Mets MVP in 2008?
Red Sox to help open Citi Field
This one just strikes me as odd.
According to The Providence Journal, the Mets will welcome the Red Sox for a two-game exhibition series at the new Citi Field during the last week of spring training.
The article states that the series would probably take place on April 3-4, as the Mets will open the season on the road before returning to their new digs for the April 14 home opener against the Padres.
This is weird. Very weird. It's their new stadium, new home, a huge step forward for the organization, and they're going to open it with an exhibition game?
Is this a move to get the players somewhat accustomed to how the field and stadium plays? Maybe. It just doesn't make sense. Wouldn't you want your first game, a meaningful game, to be played in the new stadium to open it up. The crowd paid to see the first game of the '09 season, but what they're really coming to see is the new park, all of our's home away from home.
But no, it will all start with two meaningless games against the Red Sox. Odd, if you ask me.
Thanks to Ian from Sox & Dawgs for the link.
According to The Providence Journal, the Mets will welcome the Red Sox for a two-game exhibition series at the new Citi Field during the last week of spring training.
The article states that the series would probably take place on April 3-4, as the Mets will open the season on the road before returning to their new digs for the April 14 home opener against the Padres.
This is weird. Very weird. It's their new stadium, new home, a huge step forward for the organization, and they're going to open it with an exhibition game?
Is this a move to get the players somewhat accustomed to how the field and stadium plays? Maybe. It just doesn't make sense. Wouldn't you want your first game, a meaningful game, to be played in the new stadium to open it up. The crowd paid to see the first game of the '09 season, but what they're really coming to see is the new park, all of our's home away from home.
But no, it will all start with two meaningless games against the Red Sox. Odd, if you ask me.
Thanks to Ian from Sox & Dawgs for the link.
Nelson Figueroa has been called up
This is from my only true "inside source."
Nelson Figueroa was phoned late last night and boarded a plane for Philadelphia, which means he will be activated before the Sept. 1 roster expansion. According to my "source," Figueroa will be in the bullpen for tonight's finale against the Phillies.
Figueroa will likely be the long man, if needed. Aaron Heilman threw 60 pitches last night in his spectacular three innings, so look for him to be unavailable tonight.
Ramon Castro might be going to the DL with a hamstring strain, so Figueroa might be taking his spot on the roster. Robinson Cancel was rumored to be coming up if Castro has to go on the DL, which makes sense because otherwise the Mets would have only one catcher.
I think Argenis Reyes will be demoted for a few days to make room for the extra arm of Figueroa.
Nelson Figueroa was phoned late last night and boarded a plane for Philadelphia, which means he will be activated before the Sept. 1 roster expansion. According to my "source," Figueroa will be in the bullpen for tonight's finale against the Phillies.
Figueroa will likely be the long man, if needed. Aaron Heilman threw 60 pitches last night in his spectacular three innings, so look for him to be unavailable tonight.
Ramon Castro might be going to the DL with a hamstring strain, so Figueroa might be taking his spot on the roster. Robinson Cancel was rumored to be coming up if Castro has to go on the DL, which makes sense because otherwise the Mets would have only one catcher.
I think Argenis Reyes will be demoted for a few days to make room for the extra arm of Figueroa.
Applause for Aaron Heilman
Even though the Mets lost, mostly due to Pedro nearly giving up a seven run lead, and the bullpen not being able to close the door, one pitcher stood out from among the others: Aaron Heilman.
I never thought I'd be writing such a sentence lately, but last night was spectacular.
Heilman came in for the bottom of the tenth inning, and quickly let up a leadoff double to Chris Coste. Heilman then had to face Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Pat Burrell, and Ryan Howard, the Phillies big boppers. He successfully escaped the inning without damage.
Then came the 11th. The bases were loaded with two outs, and Jimmy Rollins was back at the plate. Heilman got Rollins to pop up in foul territory to escape the jam.
Onto the 12th, where Heilman got Utley and Howard swinging, sandwiched around a Burrell pop up.
60 pitches, over three beautiful innings. He let up hits and walked a few, but he was able to work out of it every time. If the Mets had been able to pull this one out, Heilman was going to be the hero.
I never thought I'd be writing such a sentence lately, but last night was spectacular.
Heilman came in for the bottom of the tenth inning, and quickly let up a leadoff double to Chris Coste. Heilman then had to face Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Pat Burrell, and Ryan Howard, the Phillies big boppers. He successfully escaped the inning without damage.
Then came the 11th. The bases were loaded with two outs, and Jimmy Rollins was back at the plate. Heilman got Rollins to pop up in foul territory to escape the jam.
Onto the 12th, where Heilman got Utley and Howard swinging, sandwiched around a Burrell pop up.
60 pitches, over three beautiful innings. He let up hits and walked a few, but he was able to work out of it every time. If the Mets had been able to pull this one out, Heilman was going to be the hero.
Game Recap: Phillies 8 -- Mets 7
All you need to know is that the Mets had a seven run lead, and they let it up. They were shutout in the last nine innings by the Phillies bullpen.
That's it. That's all I'm telling you.
Otherwise, I'll induce tears and punching of objects.
That's it. That's all I'm telling you.
Otherwise, I'll induce tears and punching of objects.
8/26/08
Obligatory instant replay post...Obligatory instant replay post
See what I did there?
Various sources are reporting that Major League Baseball will institute instant replay this season, as early as Thursday.
The replay will only be used for home run calls, i.e. to see if a home run is fair or foul, or if it cleared the wall or yellow line.
I don't know how I feel about this yet, but I think MLB rushed to get this in too soon. It should have been tested in the offseason and in spring training, not tossed into the end of a season. I could easily see it coming back to bite the Mets, as they were part of the outcry when Carlos Delgado's home run at Yankee Stadium was called foul all those months ago. I bet the Phillies will get a favorable call off replay against the Mets. It's only fitting.
Too quick, MLB. Too quick.
Various sources are reporting that Major League Baseball will institute instant replay this season, as early as Thursday.
The replay will only be used for home run calls, i.e. to see if a home run is fair or foul, or if it cleared the wall or yellow line.
I don't know how I feel about this yet, but I think MLB rushed to get this in too soon. It should have been tested in the offseason and in spring training, not tossed into the end of a season. I could easily see it coming back to bite the Mets, as they were part of the outcry when Carlos Delgado's home run at Yankee Stadium was called foul all those months ago. I bet the Phillies will get a favorable call off replay against the Mets. It's only fitting.
Too quick, MLB. Too quick.
Off Topic: CC Sabathia is cold??
Yahoo! Sports must be out of their mind.
Do they honestly think CC Sabathia belongs on the "cold pitchers" list? He hasn't lost since he's been a Brewer. Just because he didn't earn a win, he belongs on the list?
This is probably an automated system that just looks at certain stats, but if it's not, someone has some explaining to do.
Do they honestly think CC Sabathia belongs on the "cold pitchers" list? He hasn't lost since he's been a Brewer. Just because he didn't earn a win, he belongs on the list?This is probably an automated system that just looks at certain stats, but if it's not, someone has some explaining to do.
Thanks a lot, Dodgers!
Seriously, I guess the Dodgers sweep of the Phillies a few weeks ago was too much to ask of this team. Just one win this past series would have been nice...but no, the Dodgers had to go and lose all four to the Phillies.
Of course, the Mets split their series with the Astros, a team the Mets find almost unbeatable, and the Phillies picked up two games on the first place team.
I called it a few weeks back when I said the lead in the NL East will change hands three more times before the season is over. Since then, the Mets have taken over first. By the time this two game series in Philly is over, it could change hands again. That would be two times, leaving the Mets with the final push to first, if all goes according to my prophecy.
The Dodgers didn't just lose to the Phillies, they were dominated by them. To the tune of 27-5 over the four games. That's just what they need: a dominating effort to fill them with confidence. They're going to come into this short series riding high and come out to play. I don't like the looks of it for the Mets. The Philly bats seem to be back and in full swing (pardon the pun.)
Hopefully Johan Santana and Pedro Martinez can channel some Mike Pelfrey and shut down the hot bats.
Of course, the Mets split their series with the Astros, a team the Mets find almost unbeatable, and the Phillies picked up two games on the first place team.
I called it a few weeks back when I said the lead in the NL East will change hands three more times before the season is over. Since then, the Mets have taken over first. By the time this two game series in Philly is over, it could change hands again. That would be two times, leaving the Mets with the final push to first, if all goes according to my prophecy.
The Dodgers didn't just lose to the Phillies, they were dominated by them. To the tune of 27-5 over the four games. That's just what they need: a dominating effort to fill them with confidence. They're going to come into this short series riding high and come out to play. I don't like the looks of it for the Mets. The Philly bats seem to be back and in full swing (pardon the pun.)
Hopefully Johan Santana and Pedro Martinez can channel some Mike Pelfrey and shut down the hot bats.
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