Game Recap: Marlins 5 – Mets 4

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

The Mini Recap

The Mets were down by one heading into the top of the 9th inning.  Jeremy Reed delivered with an RBI single to tie the game.  Jorge Cantu ended the game in the bottom of the 9th with a single to left, scoring Emilio Bonifacio from second base.

On The Mound

The Mets should be encouraged by John Maine’s start.  He allowed solo home runs in each of the first two innings, one to Hanley Ramirez and another to Dan Uggla, but nothing else.  Maine needed 83 pitches to get through five innings and allowed only those two hits.  He walked only one and struck out five.

With all the worry over Maine’s mechanics and issues this spring training, this is a good sign for the Mets. 

Sean Green took over for the sixth inning and allowed three hits and a run to score.  He struck out three in the inning.  Bobby Parnell had some hard tonight.  After two quick outs, a Bonifacio bunt and John Baker bloop led to an RBI single from Ramirez.

Just terrible luck for Parnell.  A bunt and a bloop with two outs lead to a very crucial run.

J.J. Putz was the sole untouched pitcher, throwing one inning, allowing only one hit.  Pedro Feliciano started the ninth inning, allowing a one out infield single to Bonifacio.  He then got Baker to strike out before being removed for Darren O’Day.  After issuing a walk to Ramirez, O’Day surrendered a single to left field.  Bonifacio sped around from second base to score the game winner, with Daniel Murphy’s throw coming in too late to get the runner.

Poor O’Day.  He’s really not having a good few days.  Hopefully this doesn’t cost him his roster spot.

At The Plate

Leaving runners on base doomed the Mets again.  They left 14 runners on base.

Anibel Sanchez shut out the Mets for all five innings he was on the mound.  Carlos Beltran then greeted Dan Meyer with a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning.  Beltran struck again in the seventh inning, grounding into a fielders choice with the bases loaded to drive in Murphy.

Beltran seems to love hitting in Dolphin Stadium, with a career .331 AVG with 33 RBI in 32 games in south Florida.  He added to that with his three hit night tonight.

Fernando Tatis pinch hit with the bases loaded again in the seventh, and just missed getting all of a ball for a grand slam.  Instead, he flew out to the warning track, allowing David Wright to score from third on his sacrifice fly.

In the top of the ninth, with the Mets trailing by one, Beltran and Church singled with one out off of Matt Lindstrom.  After Ramon Castro fouled out, Reed came to the plate as the Mets last hope.  He delivered by ripping a single to right field, allowing Beltran to trot around and tie the game.

Nice way to win over Mets fans, Reed.  If he’s supposed to replace Endy Chavez, this is a good start.  Church and Murphy also picked up three hits tonight.

Game Ball

Carlos Beltran: 3-5, 2 RBIs, 2 runs, 1 K.

On Deck

Livan Hernandez will face Ricky Nolasco tomorrow, with the game starting at 6:25 p.m.  The game will not air on TV until 7:05 p.m. where it will be joined in progress.

Live Blog: Mets @ Marlins – 4/10

Join in for a discussion of the Mets and Marlins game as John Maine faces off against Anibel Sanchez.  Live blog will begin at 6:45 p.m.

Report: Mets likely to cut Marlon Anderson

The Mets need to clear a roster spot to make room for Livan Hernandez, who will be activated on Saturday.  The battle seems to come down to Marlon Anderson, the pinch-hitter / backup first baseman, or Darren O’Day, the sidearming righthander.

As it stands now, it looks like it’s going to be Anderson and his $1.15 million contract that gets cut, according to Adam Rubin.

"Sometimes that guy never gets in a game, but at least you have that protection," Manuel said about carrying the extra reliever as a hedge against a starter getting knocked out early.

Mets officials insist they need OF Jeremy Reed, who can be optioned to the minors, as a defensive replacement for Daniel Murphy, leaving no apparent alternative to Anderson as the roster casualty. After hitting .210 last season, Anderson went 0-for-3 as a pinch-hitter against the Reds. He is owed $1.15 million this season.

It’s the most logical move for the Mets.  I’m more than certain Anderson will catch on somewhere and be just fine.

(Five bucks says he lands with the Phillies and kills the Mets all season long…)

Don’t hold Darren O’Day’s performance against him

Yesterday, Darren O’Day made his first appearance in orange and blue.  He hit the first batter he faced and then let up a two-run single, allowing two inherited runners to score.

But O’Day was pitching with a heavy heart.  His ex-teammate, Nick Adenhart, had died early that morning.  O’Day only found out an hour or so before the first pitch.

David Lennon relays a quote:

"I distinctly remember last year when I got sent down to Salt Lake and he called me the first night," said O'Day, who was visibly upset as he talked with reporters. "He went out of his way to welcome me to the team. He was an awesome teammate and a great friend. He'll be missed. I wish I would have called him last night or at least sent him a text message or something. I sent him one today, but that doesn't really do much good."

O'Day appeared to be on the verge of breaking down after that last sentence.

I couldn’t even imagine walking out to the mound and trying to quell all your nerves and emotions.  I know that’s what is expected of a pitched, but not in a case like this.

Hopefully this doesn’t go against O’Day, who is fighting for a roster spot as Livan Hernandez’s activation inches closer.

RIP Nick Adenhart.

Opening Day with the Buffalo Bisons

The Buffalo Bisons, the Mets new Triple-A affiliate, opened their season against the Pawtucket Red Sox.  Friend of The ‘Ropolitans Howie Mansfield was in attendence, and he sent along a report and some photos.

Here’s what Mansfield had to say:

The Bisons lost 6-4 to the Pawtucket Red Sox on Opening Day in Buffalo. Jon Niese went two innings, gave up five runs. It was cold, and he never could get comfortable, and he was just rattled today. But the ump was worse...he should have gotten the game ball. Bisons had 11 walks as a pitching staff.

Fernando Martinez was great as DH. A double and a triple, but stranded both times. The Bisons had their chances to take the lead, but just not enough. Jonathan Malo had a nice game, while Nick Evans was quiet at the plate. I was surprised but there was no Argenis Reyes or Robinson Cancel.

And now for some more photos…From top: Jon Niese on the mound, Jeff Wilpon accepting the key to the city of Buffalo, Nick Evans manning first base, Fernando Martinez standing on third after a triple, Eddie Kunz pitching in relief. (Click for full size.)

Thanks, Howie!!

Game Recap: Reds 8 – Mets 6

You can’t win them all, but you don’t want your pitcher to hand the game over on a silver platter.

On The Mound

Oliver Perez started the game looking like he was deserving of his $36 million contract.  Then the other Perez showed up.  His final line is indicative of the latter half of his start.  In 4 1-3 innings, Perez let up five hits, walked five and struck out seven.  He let in and was charged with eight earned runs.  Perez set down the first seven he faced, including four strikeouts.

Absolutely not what Mets fans want to see out of Perez.  He’s inconsistent and wild.  As soon as he walked his first batter, it was downhill from there.  Not good.

Darren O’Day made his first appearance as a New York Met, and promptly hit the first batter he faced to load the bases.  He let up a two-out single, allowing two inherited runners to score.

Not the outing you want to have if you’re trying to hang on to your roster spot.

Brian Stokes started the sixth inning, and went two strong, allowing two hits and striking out three.  Bobby Parnell and Pedro Feliciano split the 8th inning, with Feliciano striking out both batters he faced.

Nice outing from these members of the “second tier” of the bullpen. Good to see.

At The Plate

With two outs in the third inning, David Wright drew a walk.  Carlos Delgado followed it up with a single, moving Wright to third.  Carlos Beltran singled to left field, plating Wright.  Ryan Church then knocked a double deep into the left field corner, driving in Delgado from second and Beltran all the way from first base.

Nice to see a two-out rally by the Mets.  They strung a walk and a few hits together to make something happen.

The Mets then scored in the next three innings, with Daniel Murphy and Wright singling to lead off the fifth inning.  Delgado grounded into a fielder’s choice, allowing Murphy to score.

Delgado is batting .429 with six RBIs so far in this very young season.

In the sixth, Church started the inning with a his second double of the game.  Ramon Castro moved Church over with a fly-ball, and Alex Cora drove him in with a sacrifice fly to right field.

Castro and Cora started the game in place of Brian Schneider and Luis Castillo and both went hitless.

For the score in the seventh inning, with Murphy standing on third after reaching on a fielder’s choice, Delgado hit a fly ball to center field, deep enough to score Murphy from third base.

And that was all the Mets could push across.  If you want to take something away from this game, it’s nice that they didn’t give up and tried to scratch out runs late.

In the ninth inning, Gary Sheffield made his first appearance as a Mets and struck out looking.  He never took the bat off his shoulder.  In fact, Francisco Cordero set the Mets down in order in the third inning, striking out three.

Game Ball

Ryan Church: 2-3, 2 RBI, run

On Deck

The Mets will travel to Florida to open a three game series against the Marlins, beginning Friday night at 7:10 p.m.

Tweeting the Mets game

Stuck at work for today’s Mets/Reds finale?  Check out my Twitter feed for updates!

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RIP Nick Adenhart

So sad.

Putz to handle closing duties

If if comes to that point in today’s series finale in Cincinnati, J.J. Putz will handle the closing duties for the New York Mets.

Closer Francisco Rodriguez needed 30 pitches in last nights heart pounding finish as he loaded the bases with two outs, but did not allow a run to score.

Here is the benefit of having two accomplished closers on your team.  Maybe three, if all things work out the right way.

Things I said last night while watching Francisco Rodriguez load the bases with a two run lead...

"Did I go back in time?"

"Really, Mets? Really?"

"I thought this is what we paid him not to do!?"

"Are you kidding me?"

"This can't be serious..."

"WHAT!?!"

"(Loud sigh)"

"Oh, crap."

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHRRRRRRRRRGHHHHHHH"

"Whew."