Costas & Kaat to call Mets game on July 9

Via a press release for the MLB Network…

MLB NETWORK LIVE THURSDAY GAME SCHEDULE THROUGH JULY 23 (all times Eastern):

• July 2 – 8:00 p.m. Brewers @ Cubs – Matt Vasgersian & Dan Plesac
• July 9 – 7:00 p.m. Dodgers @ Mets – Bob Costas & Jim Kaat
• July 16 – 7:00 p.m. Brewers @ Reds – Matt Vasgersian & Joe Magrane
• July 23 – 7:00 p.m. Athletics @ Yankees – Matt Vasgersian & Harold Reynolds

Interesting.

Fernando Tatis is a DP waiting to happen

Fernando Tatis leads the Mets with nine GIDP, three of which have come in the last two games.

And he’s the Mets cleanup hitter.

Oh yeah, and he’s batting .248 AVG / .322 OBP / .364 SLG this season and is 4-for-his-last-28 with one RBI in that span.

Again, he’s been the Mets cleanup hitter the past two nights.  Enough said.

Manuel’s Musing for June 23

“We need a couple guys to get hot, and we'll have to manage around that.  Right now, we don't have that going on right now.”

-Jerry Manuel

Game Recap: Cardinals 3 – Mets 0

Tonight belonged to Joel Pineiro.

The St. Louis Cardinals (40-32) beat the New York Mets (35-34) by a score of 3-0.

Livan Hernandez was good, Pineiro was just better.  Hernandez held the Cardinals to three runs (two earned) over seven innings of work.  He walked three and struck out three.

He was very good.  It could be argued that outside of his start against the Yankees, he’s been the best pitcher since the end of May.

Elmer Dessens turned in two solid innings in relief, setting the side down in order both times.

Pineiro held the Mets to only two hits, singles by Luis Castillo and Jeremy Reed, over his nine innings.  He needed only 100 pitches thanks to inducing 22 ground balls for outs.  The meager Mets lineup didn’t hurt either.

Just have to tip your cap to him and move on.  He’s just great against the Mets, especially when Fernando Tatis is their cleanup hitter.

Game Chat: STL @ NYM [Game 2]

Joel Pineiro vs. Livan Hernandez

Join in for some barstool banter with your fellow Mets fans.

(Chat removed, as usual.)

Lineup for game two against STL

Fernando Martinez will be making his first start in center field this season, at any level.

1. Alex Cora – SS
2. Daniel Murphy – 1B
3. David Wright – 3B
4. Fernando Tatis – LF
5. Ryan Church – RF
6. Omir Santos – C
7. Fernando Martinez – CF
8. Luis Castillo – 2B
9. Livan Hernandez - RHP

Pitches / Plate Appearance for the Mets pitching staff

If you follow the blog or my tweets, you know that Francisco Rodriguez has thrown the most pitches out of the bullpen and Johan Santana has thrown the most pitches overall.

Here’s a chart of the Mets pitchers and their pitches per plate appearance.  Look who is “leading” the way…

Tonight is Baracklyn Cyclones night

We linked to this way back on January 12, but the day is finally upon us.  Tonight, the Brooklyn Cyclones will become the “Baracklyn Cyclones.”

Here’s their press release:

The landmark game will take place on Tuesday, June 23rd – the “Inaugural Tuesday” of the 2009 New York-Penn League season – and will feature, among other highlights:

• Alternate red, white, and blue jerseys adorned with the team’s new name
• FREE Barack Obama bobbleheads to the first 2,500 fans in attendance, featuring the President in a Baracklyn Cyclones Jersey
• The Economic Stimulus Package: From 10am on January 20th – Inauguration Day – to midnight on January 23rd, ticket prices for the June 23rd game will be “rolled back” to the Cyclones’ inaugural 2001 season rates: $10 Field Box Seats, $8 Box Seats, $5 Bleacher Seats. Beginning January 24th, tickets will be priced at the regular 2009 rates ($15, $12, $8)
• Universal Health Care: Free Band-Aids to the first 1,000 fans
• Naming Rights: Anyone named Barack gets in for free
• Joe the Plumber special: any plumber named Joe gets two free tickets – one for himself, and one to “spread the wealth” with a friend
• Bi-Partisan Consolation Prize: anyone named McCain or Palin will get a free Bleacher Seat
• A clear-cut Exit Strategy: fans will receive American Flags and discount coupons as they leave the ballpark

In addition, the Cyclones will hold four seats directly behind home plate, Row A, Seats 1-4, for the new First Family, should they decide to attend the festivities.

And here’s the video for it:

Get your tickets here.

Fernando Martinez’s double-dip

With Carlos Beltran heading to the disabled list yesterday, the Mets recalled Fernando Martinez from Triple-A Buffalo.

Martinez, who was sent down on Friday in favor of Nick Evans, actually played in a game with the Bisons yesterday.  He went 1-4, striking out twice, as the Bisons late innings rally fell just short against the Charlotte Knights.

Martinez then got travelling and was at Citi Field for last night’s Mets game.

He appeared in the Mets game in the 8th inning with a runner on first base, pinch hitting for Brian Stokes.  Martinez reached base on an error by St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Dennys Reyes, setting up the RBI single that followed off the bat of Alex Cora.

I know it’s not unheard of for a player to play a minor league game and a major league game in the same day, but it is still pretty interesting to see.

Manuel’s Musing for June 22

“We have to believe.  We have to be optimistic that we can stay competitive.  We have to guard against that particular mind-set that might permeate in the clubhouse that, man, there's not much left.”

-Jerry Manuel