Carlos Beltran stepping up and saying something

Finally, a member of the Mets comes out and says how he really feels.  Carlos Beltran expressed his feeling after the Mets fell to Pittsburgh as the Pirates completed a three-game sweep.

Relayed via Adam Rubin:

“The reality of this is coming here to Pittsburgh and getting swept, me, I feel embarrassed,” Beltran said.

And more poignantly:

“We have to play better. There’s no doubt we have to play better. I mean, we have to take this personally. It can’t happen. It can’t happen us being able to come here and lose three games just like that. It just can’t happen. Three games with this team — I know they’re a big-league ballclub, but we’re better than them. We’re better than them. And we know we’re better than them, but we have to do something about it.(Nate) McLouth wasn’t there and they still come out and score how many runs — 11? Eleven runs. We have to play better.”

It’s about time.

Don’t get me wrong.  These aren’t the words of a leader.  Beltran pretty much called out the team for their poor play, but that’s something that needs to be done.  I don’t mind Jerry Manuel, but he always seems to be afraid to say something that might irk a player on the team.  Beltran, on the other hand, sheds all disregard for other people’s emotions and said something.

No more dancing around the subject or trying to praise everyone after a loss. 

I couldn’t be happier.  This was a long time coming.  Hopefully the players take it to heart.

Putz back to NYC to see doctor, may need surgery

Honestly, is anyone surprised?

J.J. Putz revealed after Thursday’s loss that he has been pitching in pain for the past two days.  He announced he would not be traveling with the team to Washington, instead heading back to New York City to see a doctor about his elbow issues.

Putz has already gotten a cortisone shot for the bone spur in his elbow this season. 

Surgery is very likely Putz’s only option.

What should be called into question here is the evaluation of Putz before he came to the Mets.  Was he entirely healthy at the time of the trade?  Had he told the Mets everything that may have been ailing him?  Did the Mets do thorough enough of a job checking on Putz’s arm?

There are lots of questions here that may never be answered.

At this point, was the trade worth it?

Game Recap: Pirates 11 – Mets 6

Six runs on 10 hits should win you a baseball game.  Not the case when your starting pitcher allowed nine runs in 3 2-3 innings.

The Pittsburgh Pirates (25-28) beat the New York Mets (28-24) by a score of 11-6.

Mike Pelfrey didn’t get off to a great start and never recovered.  Pelfrey allowed six hits and let in four runs in first inning alone.  He lasted only 3 2-3 innings, giving up nine hits and nine run total.  Eight of those runs were earned.  Pelfrey walked four and struck out three.

Sean Green turned in two innings of no-hit baseball, striking out one.  His ERA now stands at 5.96.

J.J. Putz entered for the seventh inning and allowed two runs to score on three hits, including a triple deep to right-center field by light-hitting Nyjer Morgan.

The Mets did get encouraging performances from Carlos Beltran and David Wright.  Beltran, returning from many days lost to the stomach virus, went 2-4 with a double and solo home run.  Wright reached base four times, with two walks, a single and an RBI double.

Fernando Martinez also picked up two hits, including an RBI double in the fifth inning.

A Keith-ism for the ages

This is just too good to pass up… “What a great player.  And he could fly...”

-Keith Hernandez's poor choice of words
while discussing Roberto Clemente.

Game Chat: NYM @ PIT [Game 3]

Join in for a day-game chat with some fellow Mets fans as the team tries to salvage the series in Pittsburgh.

(Chat removed, as usual.)

Lineup for today’s matinee finale

Given the Mets current predicament, this is probably the best lineup they can run onto the field.  Carlos Beltran will get another crack at taking the field after his stomach issues.

1. Alex Cora – SS
2. Luis Castillo – 2B
3. Carlos Beltran – CF
4. Gary Sheffield – RF
5. David Wright – 3B
6. Daniel Murphy – 1B
7. Fernando Martinez – LF
8. Omir Santos – C
9. Mike Pelfrey – RHP

I will be tweeting updates and observations (@TheRopolitans) and there will be a game chat if you’re around, starting at 12:30 p.m.

Let’s hope 7/2/09 doesn’t end up like 8/11/08

Last season the Mets and Pirates were rained out on April 28, 2008.  The Pirates had to travel back to Shea Stadium on August 11 to make up the game.

This year, the Mets will have to make a pit-stop in Pittsburgh to make up last night’s rainout.  Hopefully, the opposite outcome will occur.

On August 11, 2008, the Mets carried a 5-0 lead heading into the seventh inning.  They went on to give up three in the seventh and three in the ninth and eventually lose the game.

Joe Smith issued a walk to leadoff the seventh and allowed an RBI double before being yanked.  Pedro Feliciano entered and allowed one inherited runner to score and a runner of his own.

Aaron Heilman entered in the 9th inning nursing a one-run lead.  He got the leadoff batter, Nate McLouth of all people, to strike out.  Heilman then let up a single, a walk, an RBI single and hit a batter to load the bases before being removed.  Scott Schoeneweis entered and got a groundout for the second out.  A two-out, two-RBI single by Steve Pearce put the Pirates on top for good.

Though Carlos Beltran led off the 9th with a single, Carlos Delgado struckout swinging and Fernando Tatis grounded into a game-ending double play.

Same situation, different venue and the Mets will hope for a different result.

Manuel’s Musing for June 3

“We need all the breaks we can get.”

-Jerry Manuel on yesterday’s rainout.

Tonight’s Mets / Pirates game postponed

The rain is too much in Pittsburgh and tonight’s Mets game has been rained out.

No makeup date has been announced yet. 

Update – 7:37 p.m.: The game will be made up on July 2 at 12:35 p.m. 

The Mets will be returning from a series in Milwaukee and had an off-day before taking on Philadelphia in Citizen’s Bank Park.  They will now be making a Pitt-stop to make up tonight’s game.

They have announced it will not be made up in a doubleheader tomorrow, so don’t get your hopes up.

This is probably the best thing for the New York Mets.  It gives Carlos Beltran another day to rest and gives the overworked, short-rostered team some much-needed time off to recuperate.

The “game chat” will still go off at 7 p.m.  There is a lot for Mets fans to discuss.

Braves trade for Nate McLouth

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pittsburgh Pirates have traded Nate McLouth to the Atlanta Braves.

The Braves top pitching prospect, Tommy Hanson, is said to not be involved with the deal.  Hanson has been promoted to the major leagues, though.

Jon Heyman reports that Gorkys Hernandez, Charlie Morton and Jeff Locke are heading to the Pirates.

Good news for the Mets: Don’t have to face McLouth tomorrow.

Bad news for the Mets: He’s an Atlanta Brave now.