Uh-oh. Here we go again?
Pitching Performance
Pedro Martinez got rocked. He lasted only four innings, allowing seven hits and six earned runs. Two runs came in the second inning, one via a sacrifice fly and another from an RBI single. The fourth was a disaster for Pedro, as he let up four runs in the inning. Three of those runs came when Pedro let up a three-run blast to Greg Dobbs.
Not pretty. Not pretty at all. All that hubbub about skipping the Milwaukee series to work with his trainer didn't seem to work, at all. Oy vey.
From there on out, the bullpen was magnificent. Six pitchers combined to throw five shut out innings, allowing only two hits and two walks, while striking out four.
One day, the bullpen shows up, the starting pitching is awful. Another day, the starter is on and the bullpen blows it. Make up your minds!!
Offensive Output
The Mets only managed two hits off of Jamie Moyer.
When will this man retire?
They did manage to scratch two across, on RBI doubles by David Wright an Carlos Beltran in the bottom of the 8th inning.
Too little, too late.
The Rest of the Story
8:05 pm, ESPN. Mets must win.
Mets are still one game up on the Phillies.
Game Ball: Bullpen.
9/7/08
Mets cracking down on theft of Shea Stadium items
An article ran in the Daily News today about how both the Mets and Yankees are treating their final home stands as if it was a World Series game. The police will be out in full force in an attempt to thwart thieves as they try to make it out of the stadium with some stolen souvenirs.
The 'Ropolitans has reported a few stories on fans trying to smuggle out pieces of seats before. The Daily News relays the fact that three fans have been arrested at Shea this year for exactly this reason.
I wonder how many people have successfully stolen something, outside of free mustard packets, this season.
I'd love to get just something from Shea. Obviously, I don't have $869 to spend on a pair of seats, but I want something to remember her by. A few weeks ago, I picked a few items I'd like to have from Shea. I still think pieces of the foul pole would be the cheapest and most memorable item.
Good luck, NYPD, you're going to need it. I guarantee we'll be seeing more stories of people getting arrested as they try to steal some items, and some of people who were successful in their efforts.
The 'Ropolitans has reported a few stories on fans trying to smuggle out pieces of seats before. The Daily News relays the fact that three fans have been arrested at Shea this year for exactly this reason.
I wonder how many people have successfully stolen something, outside of free mustard packets, this season.
I'd love to get just something from Shea. Obviously, I don't have $869 to spend on a pair of seats, but I want something to remember her by. A few weeks ago, I picked a few items I'd like to have from Shea. I still think pieces of the foul pole would be the cheapest and most memorable item.
Good luck, NYPD, you're going to need it. I guarantee we'll be seeing more stories of people getting arrested as they try to steal some items, and some of people who were successful in their efforts.
9/6/08
Mets scrap Saturday game, plan doubleheader tomorrow
Mets Blog is reporting that today's match up of the Mets and the Phillies has already been canceled.
I heard rumors of a 1 pm and 8 pm doubleheader tomorrow, but I'll keep you updated.
Update: The games will be at 2:15 pm and 8:05 pm. Tickets to today's game will be honored for tomorrows early game.
On a more personal note, they also canceled all the flag football games at school. Shucks.
I heard rumors of a 1 pm and 8 pm doubleheader tomorrow, but I'll keep you updated.
Update: The games will be at 2:15 pm and 8:05 pm. Tickets to today's game will be honored for tomorrows early game.
On a more personal note, they also canceled all the flag football games at school. Shucks.
Game Recap: Phillies 3 -- Mets 0
That was no fun. (I'll keep this short and sweet.)
Pitching Performance
Mike Pelfrey pitched very well. He allowed an unearned run in the first inning, and a two run home that Ryan Church almost caught in the top of the seventh. He allowed only four hits, walked two, and struck out four.
He did not deserve the loss, but the Mets offense was stifled last night by a dominating performance from Brett Myers. Pelfrey is still so surprising. I didn't think he'd be half of what he is right now this season.
Brian Stokes, Ricardo Rincon, and Duaner Sanchez all pitched, each retiring every batter they faced and tallying two K's.
Love the Stokes.
Offensive Output
Brett Myers was ON. Eight innings, three hits, only two walks, while striking out 10 Mets.
The Mets threatened in the bottom of the ninth against Brad Lidge, but were unable to push anyone across.
Daniel Murphy went 2-4, with a double, as he was the only Met to tally multiple hits. David Wright, Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltran also had hits for the Mets. Wright and Beltran's each were of the two-bagger variety.
It's one game, so don't get all up in arms. The Mets just have to come back today (or probably tomorrow due to rain) and win the next two.
Game Ball: Mike Pelfrey.
Pitching Performance
Mike Pelfrey pitched very well. He allowed an unearned run in the first inning, and a two run home that Ryan Church almost caught in the top of the seventh. He allowed only four hits, walked two, and struck out four.
He did not deserve the loss, but the Mets offense was stifled last night by a dominating performance from Brett Myers. Pelfrey is still so surprising. I didn't think he'd be half of what he is right now this season.
Brian Stokes, Ricardo Rincon, and Duaner Sanchez all pitched, each retiring every batter they faced and tallying two K's.
Love the Stokes.
Offensive Output
Brett Myers was ON. Eight innings, three hits, only two walks, while striking out 10 Mets.
The Mets threatened in the bottom of the ninth against Brad Lidge, but were unable to push anyone across.
Daniel Murphy went 2-4, with a double, as he was the only Met to tally multiple hits. David Wright, Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltran also had hits for the Mets. Wright and Beltran's each were of the two-bagger variety.
It's one game, so don't get all up in arms. The Mets just have to come back today (or probably tomorrow due to rain) and win the next two.
Game Ball: Mike Pelfrey.
9/5/08
Pelfrey's innings count
Mike Pelfrey will open the series against the Phillies tonight, and according to this New York Times article, Dan Warthen "will be one of the more fidgety people in the Mets’ dugout."
The article outlays the research by SI columnist Tom Verducci, where he found that if a young pitcher, under the age of 25, has his innings count rise by more than 30 innings from one year to the next, he will most likely suffer an injury or suffer from decreased performance the next season.
While I know the Mets have been worried about his inning count for a while, they also just let him throw back to back complete games. They can't be too worried.
The Mets should take a page out of the Yankees notebook and start Pelfrey in the bullpen next season.
The article outlays the research by SI columnist Tom Verducci, where he found that if a young pitcher, under the age of 25, has his innings count rise by more than 30 innings from one year to the next, he will most likely suffer an injury or suffer from decreased performance the next season.
The 30-inning threshold is an indicator rather than a hard-and-fast rule, Verducci said. And there are exceptions, like Detroit’s Justin Verlander, who followed a 56-inning increase from 2005 to 2006 (when he won 17 games and the American League Rookie of the Year award) by going 18-6 with a nearly identical E.R.A. in 2007.So it's not all bad.
While I know the Mets have been worried about his inning count for a while, they also just let him throw back to back complete games. They can't be too worried.
The Mets should take a page out of the Yankees notebook and start Pelfrey in the bullpen next season.
Omar Minaya realizes his mistake: To shop Luis Castillo
There couldn't be much better news than this.
Adam Rubin writes:
The Mets have options at second, and it looks like they're going to move Daniel Murphy there full time. Murphy will play in the Arizona Fall League after the season is over, and is expected to see almost all of his time at second base.
To me, Murphy just doesn't look like a normal second basemen. I'm so used to seeing guys like Roberto Alomar, Kaz Matsui, Damion Easley and Castillo at second. They're smaller and quicker. Murphy is a bit larger, and wouldn't seem to have the same range as the players previously mentioned.
Can't forget Argenis Reyes, who might be the backup at second and short next season.
Either way, if the Mets could find a suitor for Castillo, they better be ready to eat a lot of contract. I can't think of any team that would want the gimpiest player in the league, but if the Mets can get a bag of balls for him, they must pull the trigger.
Adam Rubin writes:
Luis Castillo signed a four-year, $25 million contract last winter. But the Mets are signaling they intend to shop the second baseman this offseason, even if it means eating some contract.I know of a few readers who might be moved to tears after reading that. Tears of joy, that is.
The Mets have options at second, and it looks like they're going to move Daniel Murphy there full time. Murphy will play in the Arizona Fall League after the season is over, and is expected to see almost all of his time at second base.
To me, Murphy just doesn't look like a normal second basemen. I'm so used to seeing guys like Roberto Alomar, Kaz Matsui, Damion Easley and Castillo at second. They're smaller and quicker. Murphy is a bit larger, and wouldn't seem to have the same range as the players previously mentioned.
Can't forget Argenis Reyes, who might be the backup at second and short next season.
Either way, if the Mets could find a suitor for Castillo, they better be ready to eat a lot of contract. I can't think of any team that would want the gimpiest player in the league, but if the Mets can get a bag of balls for him, they must pull the trigger.
The make or break series
With 22 games to play, the Mets will welcome the Phillies into Shea one last time in a series that could put the kibash on the Phillies season.
Obviously, no lead is safe, as we learned last year, but the Mets have been playing much better baseball than they were in '07.
If the Mets could take two of three, say, the first and last games, they would be up four games with 19 to play. The rest of the season for the Mets has them play six more against Washington, another six against Atlanta, four against the Cubbies and three against the Marlins.
The Phillies finish out their season with six more against the Fish, four games at Milwaukee, six against the Braves, and a three game series with the Nationals to end the season.
A fairly even schedule between the two teams.
Again, no lead is safe, but a big series for the Mets here, and one could almost smell October baseball.
Obviously, no lead is safe, as we learned last year, but the Mets have been playing much better baseball than they were in '07.
If the Mets could take two of three, say, the first and last games, they would be up four games with 19 to play. The rest of the season for the Mets has them play six more against Washington, another six against Atlanta, four against the Cubbies and three against the Marlins.
The Phillies finish out their season with six more against the Fish, four games at Milwaukee, six against the Braves, and a three game series with the Nationals to end the season.
A fairly even schedule between the two teams.
Again, no lead is safe, but a big series for the Mets here, and one could almost smell October baseball.
The Darryl Strawberry "Chocolate Strawberry" song
Don't mind the video, just listen to the song.
Now I know where Chocolate Rain came from. Tay Zonday, you have some explaining to do!
Now I know where Chocolate Rain came from. Tay Zonday, you have some explaining to do!
9/4/08
Off Topic: Proof MLB doesn't belong in Miami
On Wednesday, the Marlins welcomed the Braves for a day game. Only 600 people showed up to watch.
You read that right. Six hundred. 6-0-0.
According to the AP, the park was so sparse "home plate chatter could be heard."
That's just sickening. Sure, the Marlins are falling out of the playoff race fast, and the Braves have put together one of the worst seasons in franchise history, but 600? Minor league teams could easily draw more that that!
This is just another case for moving the Marlins out of Miami. A better market, like Portland, OR or even Las Vegas, NV would do wonders for the team.
In Vegas though, you still have the issue of nomadic fans. I'm sure the residents of Las Vegas would embrace them, but like Miami, it's a huge tourist destination, and many of the fans attending the game might just be people passing through and not fans of the home team.
If the Marlins were to move out of the NL East, which is unlikely as they are getting are supposed to be getting a brand new stadium in Miami, the logical move to even out the divisions would be to move the Pittsburgh Pirates into the division.
It's probably a moot point, but something needs to be done down in Miami. 600?!?
You read that right. Six hundred. 6-0-0.
According to the AP, the park was so sparse "home plate chatter could be heard."
That's just sickening. Sure, the Marlins are falling out of the playoff race fast, and the Braves have put together one of the worst seasons in franchise history, but 600? Minor league teams could easily draw more that that!
This is just another case for moving the Marlins out of Miami. A better market, like Portland, OR or even Las Vegas, NV would do wonders for the team.
In Vegas though, you still have the issue of nomadic fans. I'm sure the residents of Las Vegas would embrace them, but like Miami, it's a huge tourist destination, and many of the fans attending the game might just be people passing through and not fans of the home team.
If the Marlins were to move out of the NL East, which is unlikely as they are getting are supposed to be getting a brand new stadium in Miami, the logical move to even out the divisions would be to move the Pittsburgh Pirates into the division.
It's probably a moot point, but something needs to be done down in Miami. 600?!?
Vintage Steve Somers [Video]
First off, it looks almost nothing like him. I dig the little fro there, Shmooze.
Also, his voice is so different. I guess he didn't really find that magical, mythical drone until he hit WFAN. Around 2:45 you catch a glimpse of the voice we've come to know and love as Mets fans.
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