Manuel’s Musing

“That type of pitcher has really given us a lot of trouble this year.”

-Jerry Manuel on Jon Garland

Cancel out for Sheffield, Misch out for Figueroa

Robinson Cancel has been designated for assignment to make room for Gary Sheffield.  Sheffield made his return from the disabled list on Sunday, but did not start.  He eventually entered the game in the sixth inning and went 0-2.

Pat Misch, the lefty who saw his first action in two weeks today, was optioned back to Triple-A Buffalo to make room for Nelson Figueroa.  Figueroa will make a spot start Monday against Dan Haren.  He had been up twice previously, starting one game.

Out and about

Today is one of the best weather days we’ve had in a while.  Go outside.  Lay in the sun.  Do something enjoyable.

The Mets are on tonight, but I won’t be around.  I’ll rejoin the blog sometime Sunday.  Until then, enjoy your weekend and let’s go Mets.

Checking in on today’s Manuel’s Musing

Earlier today, I posted a the daily Manuel’s Musing.  In it, Jerry Manuel said, “Angel has had some success against Arizona.  That's what we are. That's what we have. He's somewhat of a veteran. So I didn't mind taking my shot with him at that point.”

Understandably, I was skeptical of this statement.  Does Manuel really know the history of Angel Berroa?  Does he even know who Angel Berroa is?

So I checked, and he’s actually somewhat right.  Berroa has had some moderate “success” against the Diamondbacks, and almost all of it came in 2008.

Career against ARI: 66 PA, .214 AVG / .313 OBP / .268 SLG, 2B, 3B, 4 RBI, 6 R, 5 BB

2008 against ARI: 35 PA, .308 AVG / .455 OBP / .346 SLG, 2B, RBI, 5 R, 5 BB

Oh, but wait.  Angel Berroa pinch hit for Livan Hernandez, who had thrown only 81 pitches so far in the game.  Hernandez’s career numbers have to be much worse than Berroa’s, right?

Well, take a look…

Livan’s career against ARI: 45 PA, .310 AVG / .310 OBP / .381 SLG, 3 2B, 3 R

Manuel’s Musing

“Angel has had some success against Arizona.  That's what we are. That's what we have. He's somewhat of a veteran. So I didn't mind taking my shot with him at that point.”

-Jerry Manuel on pinch-hitting Angel Berroa with the bases loaded

Game Chat: ARI @ NYM [Game 102]

Doug Davis (5-10, 3.76 ERA) vs. Livan Hernandez (7-5, 4.87 ERA)

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

(Chat removed, as usual.)

Lineup for Game 102

Omir Santos must be getting tired.  But not yet, as he’s in the lineup again.

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

No LaRoche for Mets

After much linking to the Mets (how true it was, we’ll never know), Adam LaRoche has been traded to the Atlanta Braves.

Gordon Edes, who has to have some of the best Red Sox sources, reports that LaRoche is heading back to the team that drafted him and where he broke into MLB.

Either they were outbid or didn’t offer enough (if an offer was made at all).  Either way, it was a good non-move.

Is Adam Bostick an option for the pen?

Though everything is quiet, some believe the Mets may be looking to add a left handed reliever.  Instead of looking around at other teams for players the Mets could pick off of, why not look to the minor leagues?

If they’re searching for a lefty guy out of the bullpen, the team should take a look at Adam Bostick in Buffalo.

Bostick came to the Mets as part of the trade that sent fireballer Matt Lindstrom to the Marlines back in 2006.  Jason Vargas, the other player in that deal, was sent to Seattle in the J.J. Putz trade.

Bostick spent the first two season in the Mets organization pitching at Triple-A New Orleans.  The 2007 and 2008 seasons were pretty awful.  32 starts, 8-9 record, 5.85 ERA and a WHIP of 1.2870.

This season, though, is much better.  Bostick started the season with Double-A Binghamton, going 3-0 in 11 games.  He posted a 2.60 ERA and 1.154 WHIP in 17.1 innings.  He was promoted to Triple-A Buffalo back on June 1, and has been excellent in 22 innings.

Fifteen appearances for Bostick, with one start, has seen him post an ERA of 1.23 and a WHIP of 0.909.  He’s set down 23 batters by way of a strikeout, while walking eight.

Bostick is also good friends with Jon Niese, who credited his moving in with Bostick and Tim McNab with his turn around in Triple-A.

If I was Omar, I would look to Bostick as an option before shipping away players for anyone else.  At least until Billy Wagner comes back.

Wally Backman fired as manager of Joliet Jackhammers

In a move that will likely delight those who want Wally Backman back in Mets orange and blue, the volatile manager has been fired as manager of the Joliet JackHammers of the Northern League.

Backman, who has had a tumultuous few years recently, was fired not due to some crazy incident, but because his team just wasn’t winning.

Via Small Ball USA:

“We want to thank Wally for all that he has done and all the hard work he has put in,” said JackHammers Executive Vice President/General Manager Kelly Sufka. “He has done everything we’ve asked him to do except for in the Win-Loss Column. Nobody is more disappointed with the teams’ record than Wally. A change needed to be made for our fans sake and this is the change that we believe needed to happen.”

He’s fiery, a little off kilter and has a history with the Mets organization.  Would you like to see Backman back with the Mets?