It's Opening Day, what else are you going to listen to?
4/6/09
It's time for baseball
It's time to wake up and practically be able to smell the freshly cut grass.
It's time for baseball.
It's time to truly root for a win.
It's time for baseball.
It's time to watch Johan do his thing.
It's time for baseball.
It's time to start cheering against the rest of the NL East.
It's time for baseball.
It's time to pretend every game is No. 162.
It's time for baseball.
It's time for the crack of a bat to be the sweetest sound you hear each day.
It's time for baseball.
It's time to live and die with 25 men, a wooden bat, a leather glove and a tiny little ball with red stitching.
It's time for baseball.
It's time for baseball.
It's time to truly root for a win.
It's time for baseball.
It's time to watch Johan do his thing.
It's time for baseball.
It's time to start cheering against the rest of the NL East.
It's time for baseball.
It's time to pretend every game is No. 162.
It's time for baseball.
It's time for the crack of a bat to be the sweetest sound you hear each day.
It's time for baseball.
It's time to live and die with 25 men, a wooden bat, a leather glove and a tiny little ball with red stitching.
It's time for baseball.
2009 Mets Opening Day lineup
Here's the lineup that will take the field in Cincinnati for the Mets first game of the 2009 season.
- Jose Reyes
- Daniel Murphy
- David Wright
- Carlos Delgado
- Carlos Beltran
- Ryan Church
- Brian Schneider
- Luis Castillo
- Johan Santana
4/5/09
Nick Evans sent to Buffalo
As expected, the Mets have sent Nick Evans to Triple-A Buffalo.
Evans was likely only going to be around until April 11, when Livan Hernandez would be activated for his first start. If he hit, Jerry Manuel said he was going to try and keep him with the team.
That all went out the window when the Mets signed Gary Sheffield.
Evans will get more seasoning in the minors, with consistent at bats, which will benefit him in the long run.
Evans was likely only going to be around until April 11, when Livan Hernandez would be activated for his first start. If he hit, Jerry Manuel said he was going to try and keep him with the team.
That all went out the window when the Mets signed Gary Sheffield.
Evans will get more seasoning in the minors, with consistent at bats, which will benefit him in the long run.
Sheffield's implications on the roster
With Gary Sheffield joining the Mets, someone who spent all of spring training with the team is going to be the odd man out. Nick Evans likely will not make the Opening Day roster.
Here are two other the possibilities for Sheffield's effect on the roster: Marlon Anderson and his $1.5 million guaranteed contract land elsewhere or Jeremy Reed gets sent down to Triple-A Buffalo. He still has options.
From a fans standpoint, the Mets should hold on to Reed. He's a much better defender and with the expanse of Citi Field's outfield, the team is going to need all the defensive skills they can get.
The guaranteed money for Anderson is the main factor standing in the way here. If they do send him elsewhere, they'll still have to pay his contract, essentially making the Sheffield deal worth $1.9 million ($1.5 million from Anderson's contract plus the $400,000 from Sheffield's deal).
Sheffield will likely see most of his playing time in right field, which worries me considering that part of the field isn't fielder friendly (for photos, click here). Ryan Church started taking fly balls in left field, as he will probably see some time there with Sheffield on the roster.
Church has a great outlook on the situation, telling the Associated Press, "Early on in the big leagues I showed I could play all of the outfield spots, and I feel pretty good there. I'll do whatever. Whatever gets me in the lineup, I don't care."
Sheffield adds a right handed power bat off the bench, and possibly into a starting position. It's the model "low risk / high reward" move for the Mets. If it works, they look like geniuses. If it doesn't, they can jettison him with little to no harm done.
Here are two other the possibilities for Sheffield's effect on the roster: Marlon Anderson and his $1.5 million guaranteed contract land elsewhere or Jeremy Reed gets sent down to Triple-A Buffalo. He still has options.
From a fans standpoint, the Mets should hold on to Reed. He's a much better defender and with the expanse of Citi Field's outfield, the team is going to need all the defensive skills they can get.
The guaranteed money for Anderson is the main factor standing in the way here. If they do send him elsewhere, they'll still have to pay his contract, essentially making the Sheffield deal worth $1.9 million ($1.5 million from Anderson's contract plus the $400,000 from Sheffield's deal).
Sheffield will likely see most of his playing time in right field, which worries me considering that part of the field isn't fielder friendly (for photos, click here). Ryan Church started taking fly balls in left field, as he will probably see some time there with Sheffield on the roster.
Church has a great outlook on the situation, telling the Associated Press, "Early on in the big leagues I showed I could play all of the outfield spots, and I feel pretty good there. I'll do whatever. Whatever gets me in the lineup, I don't care."
Sheffield adds a right handed power bat off the bench, and possibly into a starting position. It's the model "low risk / high reward" move for the Mets. If it works, they look like geniuses. If it doesn't, they can jettison him with little to no harm done.
4/4/09
Game Recap: Red Sox 9 -- Mets 3
In the final game before the regular season gets underway, Oliver Perez looked absolutely miserable.
On The Mound
Not a start to write home about for Perez. Only 2-3 of an inning, six runs (two earned) and four walks isn't the way you want to close out spring training. Perez couldn't make his way out of the first inning, and didn't help his cause with a throwing error. Jed Lowrie hit a grand slam off Perez before he was removed.
Yeesh. I guess Mets fans should be used to these sort of starts from Perez though. If not, they better get used to it, and quick.
Nelson Figueroa took over for Perez, and allowed two hits in 1 1-3 innings. He walked one and struck out one.
I still don't understand how Figueroa is getting sent to Buffalo. He'd be perfect in the bullpen because he's so versatile.
John Maine got in his final two innings before the real season begins. One hit and two walks later, his day was over.
Can't complain about that.
Dillon Gee had a messy two innings, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks. He did tally three strikeouts, though.
Gee will get time in the minors. He's still a year or two away, if not more.
Michal Antoni and Darren O'Day finished out the game. In Antoni's two innings, he struck out two batters while allowing two hits and a walk. O'Day struck out one in a hitless effort.
At The Plate
The Mets bats were fairly quiet today.
The Mets first pushed a run across the plate in the fifth inning. Daniel Murphy doubled for his only hit of the game, driving in Luis Castillo.
Very good. Good to see by Murphy. Read what Howie Rose and Wayne Hagin had to say about Murphy on Mets Today.
The Red Sox kept the Mets off the board until the bottom of the ninth, when they managed to plate two more before the game came to a close. With two outs, a Jeremy Reed single, one of his two hits on the day, drove in Josh Thole. Ruben Tejada then singled, driving in Cora.
Reed may end up being the odd man out now that Gary Sheffield has arrived, but no one can be sure yet. It still may end up being Marlon Anderson heading elsewhere.
On Deck
Cincinnati on Monday for Opening Day. The game is scheduled for 1:10 p.m.
On The Mound
Not a start to write home about for Perez. Only 2-3 of an inning, six runs (two earned) and four walks isn't the way you want to close out spring training. Perez couldn't make his way out of the first inning, and didn't help his cause with a throwing error. Jed Lowrie hit a grand slam off Perez before he was removed.
Yeesh. I guess Mets fans should be used to these sort of starts from Perez though. If not, they better get used to it, and quick.
Nelson Figueroa took over for Perez, and allowed two hits in 1 1-3 innings. He walked one and struck out one.
I still don't understand how Figueroa is getting sent to Buffalo. He'd be perfect in the bullpen because he's so versatile.
John Maine got in his final two innings before the real season begins. One hit and two walks later, his day was over.
Can't complain about that.
Dillon Gee had a messy two innings, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks. He did tally three strikeouts, though.
Gee will get time in the minors. He's still a year or two away, if not more.
Michal Antoni and Darren O'Day finished out the game. In Antoni's two innings, he struck out two batters while allowing two hits and a walk. O'Day struck out one in a hitless effort.
At The Plate
The Mets bats were fairly quiet today.
The Mets first pushed a run across the plate in the fifth inning. Daniel Murphy doubled for his only hit of the game, driving in Luis Castillo.
Very good. Good to see by Murphy. Read what Howie Rose and Wayne Hagin had to say about Murphy on Mets Today.
The Red Sox kept the Mets off the board until the bottom of the ninth, when they managed to plate two more before the game came to a close. With two outs, a Jeremy Reed single, one of his two hits on the day, drove in Josh Thole. Ruben Tejada then singled, driving in Cora.
Reed may end up being the odd man out now that Gary Sheffield has arrived, but no one can be sure yet. It still may end up being Marlon Anderson heading elsewhere.
On Deck
Cincinnati on Monday for Opening Day. The game is scheduled for 1:10 p.m.
Off to Yankee Stadium
To complete my tour of the new stadiums in New York City, I'm heading down to the new Yankee Stadium today with Fletch.
It should be interesting, since I was at Citi Field last Sunday, to be able to compare the two. I wonder how many people have been to both stadiums? I'm in an elite group.
Obviously, posting will be slim to none until later today, but you can follow my Twitter updates, if so inclined.
The Mets take on the Red Sox for the second exhibition game at Citi Field today. Oliver Perez will take the mound to start for the Mets. John Maine will also make an appearance.
Enjoy the day and I'll let you know which stadium is better.
It should be interesting, since I was at Citi Field last Sunday, to be able to compare the two. I wonder how many people have been to both stadiums? I'm in an elite group.
Obviously, posting will be slim to none until later today, but you can follow my Twitter updates, if so inclined.
The Mets take on the Red Sox for the second exhibition game at Citi Field today. Oliver Perez will take the mound to start for the Mets. John Maine will also make an appearance.
Enjoy the day and I'll let you know which stadium is better.
4/3/09
Game Recap: Mets 4 -- Red Sox 3
One game in Citi Field, one win in Citi Field. Too bad it's not the regular season.
On The Mound
Livan Hernandez made the start for the Mets in their first game at Citi Field. Over three innings, Hernandez only surrendered one hit. He walked two and struck out three. He finished spring training with a 2.55 ERA.
If he can duplicate that in the regular season, I'll kiss his feet.
Six pitchers later, the Mets closed up a 4-3 victory. Sean Green allowed one run and Bobby Parnell threw a scoreless inning. Green let up two hits and Parnell one. Each tallied one strikeout. Pedro Feliciano pitched 2-3 of an inning (because of the rain delay), not allowing a hit. Brian Stokes relieved him for 1 1-3 innings (rain delay) allowing two hits and one earned run.
Hello, middle relief.
From there, J.J. Putz and Francisco Rodriguez handled the duty. Putz did allow one run on two hits, but there were some follies in the field to help the Sox score that run. K-Rod looked downright nast at the plate tonight, striking out one.
Both looked absolutely awesome. All Mets fans should be very, very excited about this tandem.
At The Plate
The middle of the order got things done tonight for the Mets.
The Mets got RBIs from Carlos Beltran, Fernando Tatis, Alex Cora and Bobby Kielty.
Tatis went 2-3 on the night, picking up the Mets only extra base hit, a double. Tatis also stole a base, along with Beltran. Daniel Murphy, though, was caught stealing.
Timely hitting by the Mets. Singling when needed, moving runners over. This is what I like to see. The team did leave 12 runners on base. Not so good.
On Deck
Mets vs. Red Sox, tomorrow, 1:10 p.m. game. The game will be on WPIX.
On The Mound
Livan Hernandez made the start for the Mets in their first game at Citi Field. Over three innings, Hernandez only surrendered one hit. He walked two and struck out three. He finished spring training with a 2.55 ERA.
If he can duplicate that in the regular season, I'll kiss his feet.
Six pitchers later, the Mets closed up a 4-3 victory. Sean Green allowed one run and Bobby Parnell threw a scoreless inning. Green let up two hits and Parnell one. Each tallied one strikeout. Pedro Feliciano pitched 2-3 of an inning (because of the rain delay), not allowing a hit. Brian Stokes relieved him for 1 1-3 innings (rain delay) allowing two hits and one earned run.
Hello, middle relief.
From there, J.J. Putz and Francisco Rodriguez handled the duty. Putz did allow one run on two hits, but there were some follies in the field to help the Sox score that run. K-Rod looked downright nast at the plate tonight, striking out one.
Both looked absolutely awesome. All Mets fans should be very, very excited about this tandem.
At The Plate
The middle of the order got things done tonight for the Mets.
The Mets got RBIs from Carlos Beltran, Fernando Tatis, Alex Cora and Bobby Kielty.
Tatis went 2-3 on the night, picking up the Mets only extra base hit, a double. Tatis also stole a base, along with Beltran. Daniel Murphy, though, was caught stealing.
Timely hitting by the Mets. Singling when needed, moving runners over. This is what I like to see. The team did leave 12 runners on base. Not so good.
On Deck
Mets vs. Red Sox, tomorrow, 1:10 p.m. game. The game will be on WPIX.
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