Where have the strikeouts gone, Johan Santana?

With only three strikeouts in yesterday’s win, Johan Santana has only struck out 14 batters over his last five starts, spanning over 30 innings.

Here’s a chart of Santana’s strikeouts by starts… Look how far his strikeouts per nine innings has fallen for the month of June… The problem seems to be that Santana just isn’t throwing as many strikes swinging lately.  Strangely, though, his strikes looking have gone up over his last two starts.  Take a look… It seems to just be a strange anomaly, I would guess.  With the increased strikes looking, one might assume an increased strikeout count.  Not so, lately.

What gives, Johan?

Don’t get me wrong: In no way am I complaining.  Outside of the debacle at Yankee Stadium a few weeks ago, Santana has been just as good as we all expected from him. 

It’s just strange to see his strikeouts dip so low after he was seemingly mowing them down in the beginning of the year.

Manuel’s Musing for June 25

“He keep hitting, he keep playing.”

-Jerry Manuel on Nick Evans

Mets hat in Michael Jackson’s ‘Bad’

RIP Michael Jackson

How is this Mets related?  Check for the Mets hat in the “Bad” video.

Game Recap: Mets 3 – Cardinals 2

A series win, against the Cardinals, using mostly backups.  Pinch me.

The New York Mets (37-34) beat the St. Louis Cardinals (40-34) by a score of 3-2.

Johan Santana struggled early, allowing an unearned run in the first inning, and threw 57 pitches in the first three innings.  He settled in nicely though, and coming out for the seventh inning with 100 pitches.  He completed the seventh with help from Fernando Martinez, who made a diving stab in center field to end the inning.

Santana scattered seven hits and three walks, striking out three.  He allowed two runs, one of which was earned.

It looked like a disaster start in the first few innings, but he bounced back and settled in beautifully.  I don’t know why I doubt him.

Pedro Feliciano allowed a leadoff double in the 8th, but worked around it for a scoreless inning.  Francisco Rodriguez got two quick outs to start the ninth, then forgot how to hit the strike zone.  Nine pitches out of the strike zone meant back to back walks to Albert Pujols and Ryan Ludwick, bringing Yadier Molina (of all people) to the plate.  Molina flew out to Jeremy Reed in LF to end the game.

K-Rod loves to make the fans hearts’ pound.

Chris Carpenter was equally good for the Cardinals.  The Mets were held hitless into the 4th, when Luis Castillo led off with a single to LF.  David Wright followed with a single of his own.  Fernando Tatis came to the plate with one out, singling to right field, plating Castillo. 

After coming down hard on Tatis a few days ago, he’s really made me eat my words the past two games.  Keep it coming, Tatis.  I’m hungry!

Nick Evans came to the plate with two on and two out and laced a double into bump-out in right field, plating both runners.

Evans’ RBIs were the eventual game winners.  I like it.

And because of those RBIs, Nick Evans won the first ever Game Ball as voted on by my Twitter followers.  Get your vote in after every game to vote for the Game Ball recipient!

Game Ball: Nick Evans

Game Chat: STL @ NYM [Game 4]

Chris Carpenter vs. Johan Santana

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

(Chat removed, as usual.)

MLB Network to telecast Saturday’s Subway Series game

For those out-of-towners that frequent the blog, here’s some good news…

MLB Network will telecast the Subway Series featuring the New York Yankees at New York Mets on Saturday, June 27, with live coverage beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET from Citi Field in Flushing, NY. MLB Network’s Matt Vasgersian and Harold Reynolds will call the game, a special edition of Saturday Night Baseball. MLB Tonight,the signature program of MLB Network during the regular season, will air after the game, followed by Quick Pitch, MLB Network’s daily highlight show. 

MLB Network’s telecast of the Subway Series will be blacked out in the New York Yankees and New York Mets home television territories. Viewers in areas subject to blackouts will be provided with a simulcast from a local telecast of theFlorida Marlins at Tampa Bay Rays at 7 p.m. ET.

For everyone in the NYC area, the game will be on WPIX.

Lineup for game four against STL

The Mets pounded out 11 runs on 16 hits last night, so Jerry Manuel is sticking with the same lineup, outside of the catcher.

1. Alex Cora – SS
2. Luis Castillo – 2B
3. David Wright – 3B
4. Ryan Church – RF
5. Fernando Tatis – LF
6. Fernando Martinez – CF
7. Nick Evans – 1B
8. Omir Santos – C
9. Johan Santana - LHP

Manuel’s Musing for June 24

“It looks like his ball really gets on guys.”

-Jerry Manuel on Fernando Nieve

Game Recap: Mets 11 – Cardinals 0

The Mets were on the right side of this laugher.

The New York Mets (36-34) beat the St. Louis Cardinals (40-33) by a score of 11-0.

Fernando Nieve was stellar once more.  Six shutout innings, allowing only three hits and four walks, he continues to impress.  Nieve struck out three as well.  He is now 3-0 in three starts.

How good has this guy been?  Keep it up, Snow!

Brian Stokes, Pat Misch and Bobby Parnell stitched together three innings of scoreless relief to preserve the shutout.

David Wright: 4-4, 2B, 3 R.  Ryan Church: 3-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R.  Fernando Tatis: 2-4, 3 RBI, 1 R.  Nick Evans: 2-3, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R.  Brian Schneider: 1-4, 2 RBI.

Wow.

Game Chat: STL @ NYM [Game 3]

Brad Thompson vs. Fernando Nieve

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

(Chat removed, as usual.)