John Maine’s 2009 season in graphs

More Mets fun with Excel.

Here’s John Maine’s 2009 season, broken down in charts.  There’s ones for hits, walks, earned runs and then all of them together, with innings pitched.

He’s kept the hits fairly low and his last three starts have been fairly good, sans the six walks against Atlanta.

He struggled in his second and third starts, but has really settled in nicely since then.  His arm injury and subsequent surgery seems to be a thing of the past.

As Sandy Alomar Sr. said: “He was throwing the ball hard, he was throwing the ball straight down.  We were very pleased with that.”

I’m very pleased with that too.

Game Recap: Mets 10 – Pirates 1

Make that six in a row.

The New York Mets (16-13) beat the Pittsburgh Pirates (12-18) by a score of 10-1.

The Mini Recap

John Maine made the start and went six strong innings for the Mets.  He allowed only three hits and the only run came off a solo home run off the bat of opposing pitcher Paul Maholm.  Maine walked two and struck out three.  Ken Takahashi and Brian Stokes finished out the final three innings.

The Mets pounded Maholm for seven earned runs in five innings and tacked on three more in the final two innings.  The Mets had their second five run inning in two games, singling six times in the fourth.  Carlos Beltran added a solo home run in the fifth and David Wright knocked an RBI triple in the seventh.

A very solid game all around for the Mets.  Great to see.

Live Mets Chat: PIT @ NYM

Join in for another rousing room of words as the
New York Mets take on the Pittsburgh Pirates!

(Chat removed, as usual.)

Manuel suspended for one game, fined undisclosed amount

Jerry Manuel has been suspended for one game by Major League Baseball for bumping umpire Bill Welke after his ejection on Thursday night.  Manuel was also fined an undisclosed amount.

Manuel will serve the suspension today, with Sandy Alomar Sr. taking over as manager.

Sometimes, I think this is a silly rule.  This is one of those times.  Manuel was suspended for “grazing the cap” of Welke, according to Adam Rubin.

Game Recap: Mets 7 – Pirates 3

The bats broke out late to lead the Mets to a win.

The New York Mets (15-13) beat the Pittsburgh Pirates (12-18) by a score of 7-3.

The Mini Recap

Jon Niese made his first start of 2009 and fared fairly well against the Bucco’s bats.  Six strong innings, allowing only two runs.  Niese scattered seven hits and struck out five.  One of the runs wasn’t even his fault.  Four pitchers put together the final four innings, with J.J. Putz struggling to end the game in the ninth.  He allowed a run but no more.

Jeff Karstens matched Niese through it all, as the Mets tallied only two runs off of the Pirates starter.  The Mets bats exploded for five runs in the 8th inning, including a three-run home run by Carlos Delgado.

For the full recap, please read my article
over at Baseball Digest.

Live Mets Chat: PIT @ NYM

Join in for another rousing round of New York Mets chatter with your fellow fans.

(Chat removed, as usual.)

Home field advantage?

My friend Jamie suggested a few days ago that someone do an overlay of Citizen’s Bank Park compared to Citi Field. 

Lucky for you, Jamie, Amazin’ Avenue did just that today.

Here is the image:

Pretty amazing to see that all of CBP would be able to fit inside Citi Field.

Head over to Amazin’ Avenue for more of a breakdown between the two ballparks.

Jose Reyes’ Under Armour commercial

I’d like to see him try this.  Just once.

Poll Results: We believe! (kinda)

In my latest poll, I asked the readers of The ‘Ropolitans if they believed in the bullpen or not.  Here are the results…

Do you believe in the bullpen?

• Yes – 50%
• Can’t be worse than last year – 40%
• No – 9%

Where’s that missing 1 percent?

I’m actually glad to see fans trusting the bullpen.  It’s been a long, long time since that was the case.

Next poll: Still want Manny?

Daniel Murphy: First baseman of the future?

Way back on Oct. 6, 2008, I wrote an article about Daniel Murphy’s future with the organization.  At that time, the Mets had plans for Murphy to see time at second base. 

When he entered the Arizona Fall League, he was listed as a first baseman, and that’s where I had him playing in the future.

From Oct. 6:

He's tall, big, with a great reach. He's got the bat to back him up too. He hits for average, but can also hit for power. He was touted as the best hitter in the Mets minor leagues, and showed his prowess at the plate in his first major league season.
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Still, I'd like to see Murphy at first after this season, or maybe even before this season if they can move Carlos Delgado.

After seeing more AB’s from Murphy, I think the Mets needed a bigger bat at first.  He has an bat that hits for average but not so much power.  He does not fit the mold of a first baseman the way teams are built nowadays.

Today, David Lennon wrote an article about this very subject.

Of all infield the positions, Murphy said that second base is probably the most difficult for him to pick up at this stage. Getting comfortable around the bag on double plays is a long process for someone not schooled as a middle infielder. Even good shortstops can be skittish about it; just ask Jose Reyes about his ill-fated experiment.
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"I'll play anywhere," Murphy said. "Whatever they want me to do."
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Minaya already anticipates that Murphy will get some infield work during the fall and winter leagues. Where he eventually winds up is anyone's guess. Delgado, who turns 37 in June, said Thursday that he intends to keep playing after this season but it's unlikely the Mets would bite on that in a non-DH league, regardless of his final numbers.

So first base might be the best option for Murphy in the coming years. 

That, or shift David Wright to first base and slot in Murphy at third, his natural position.  A very drastic move, I know, but something that might be discussed.

What would you do with Daniel Murphy?