Some quotes from Omar Minaya on the Rubin fiasco

Jotted down quickly during the pre-game that SNY just aired with Omar Minaya speaking to reporters from the dugout of Citi Field…

• “I called Adam Rubin. ... I wanted to see him face to face. I wanted to apologize to Adam.”
• “You guys know me, that's just not the way Omar Minaya is.”
• “I want to apologize to the ownership group. I want to apologize to the Mets fans. ... I was wrong in saying those things.”
• “Those were comments I should not make, and I made those comments.”
• “Tony was let go because I made the decision to let Tony go, based on the investigation.”

Dessens out, Cancel in

The Mets have designated Elmer Dessens for assignment and promoted Robinson Cancel, according to Bart Hubbuch.

Hubbuch claims this move was made to add “depth due to knee issues for Brian Schneider.”  It is also because the Mets were going to be forced to have a three-man bench today, with Luis Castillo possibly missing the entire first game due to the birth of his daughter.

This also frees up Omir Santos on days Schneider is catching for some pinch-hitting duties.

Cancel was hitting .218 AVG / .266 OBP / .259 SLG for triple-A Buffalo.

Manuel’s Musing

“The hand was visibly swelling up and guys were telling him to rub some dirt on it and go out and play. He said, that's what he was planning on doing. You couldn't get him out of the lineup. You couldn't take him out of the lineup anyway.”

-Jerry Manuel on Jeff Francoeur’s hand

Tonight’s game rained out, day/night doubleheader tomorrow

Wednesday night’s game between the Mets and the Rockies has been rained out.

It has been rescheduled as part of a day / night doubleheader on Thursday.  If you had tickets for tonight’s game, they will be honored for tomorrow night’s game, not the day game.

Johan Santana will be pitching in the regularly scheduled 12:10 p.m. game, with Jon Niese shifting to the nightcap at 7:10 p.m.

Game Chat: COL @ NYM [Game 100]

Jason Hammel (5-5, 4.28 ERA) vs. Johan Santana (11-8, 3.12 ERA)

Join in for some game gabbing and barstool banter with your fellow fans!

(Chat removed, as ususal.)

Lineup for Game 100

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

1. Angel Pagan - CF
2. Luis Castillo - 2B
3. David Wright - 3B
4. Daniel Murphy - 1B
5. Jeff Francoeur - RF
6. Cory Sullivan - LF
7. Omir Santos - C
8. Alex Cora - SS
9. Johan Santana - LHP

Mets after lefty reliever

Two writers, Jon Heyman and Danny Knobler, have both said that the Mets are actively searching for a left handed reliever.

What, Pat Misch isn’t doing it for them?

Pedro Feliciano, the main lefty in the bullpen, is on pace to break his appearance record of 86 games, set last season.  He’s been effective all season, especially lately, as he hasn’t allowed a run in his last six appearances.

Out on the market, there are some decent lefties relievers that might be available.  My main candidate is Joe Beimel from the Washington Nationals.  He’s currently sporting a 3.43 ERA and a WHIP of 1.347 with the lowly Nats.

You may remember Beimel as the player that missed the NLDS against the Mets back in 2006 after he cut his hand in a bar the night before the first game.

I considered Beimel in the off-season, saying he was “worth a look.”  He might be worth another now.

But I’d rather the Mets stand pat.  Billy Wagner is supposedly on the comeback trail and if he can still be effective at the major league level, the Mets may just have to wait until he’s ready instead of shipping away players for a reliever.

Mets fans: Learn to dislike this man, quick!

Link: Phillies land Cliff Lee, reigning AL Cy Young award winner.

Mr. Met has anger issues [Video]

This looks about right.

Thanks, Gary!

What do these dates have in common?

May 11, May 24, June 14, June 29, July 7?

How about if you add April 13 and May 18?

The first group of dates are the only days on which Brian Stokes has given up an earned run.  

The other two?  Unearned runs.

In 39 games (41 2-3 innings), Stokes has only given up earned runs five times.  Adding in the two times unearned runs scored against him, that’s only seven outings where Stokes has allowed runs.

Of the 23 inherited runners that Stokes has been charged with dealing with, 23% have scored.

When Stokes allows runs, though, they come in bunches.  Here are the earned runs he allowed…

• May 11: 1 ER
• May 24: 5 ER
• June 14: 4 ER
• June 29: 4 ER
• July 7: 2 ER

Hence his 3.46 ERA in 2009.