Lineup for Game 112

Jerry Manuel had been saying that Gary Sheffield would return to the starting lineup for tonight’s game.  Well the lineup is out and guess who isn’t on it?

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. Anderson Hernandez – SS
9. Mike Pelfrey - RHP

Minaya speaks to Buffalo media; Wogan takes over Bernazard’s post

Omar Minaya has begun his tour of the Mets minor league facilities, with his first stop in Buffalo, NY.

Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News relays some info that the meeting was generally about how pitiful the Bisons were this year and that it won’t continue, that the Mets want to put a winning team on the field, yadda yadda yadda.

Pandering to your Triple-A city won’t win you a World Series.

More importantly, we now know that Adam Wogan has taken over Tony Bernazard’s job (sorry, Adam Rubin).  Wogan worked from 2002 to 2005 as farm director of the Montreal Expos / Washington Nationals, hence the tie to Omar Minaya. 

Wogan joined the Mets in January of 2006 as Director of Minor League Operations.  (Toby Hyde interviewed Wogan in 2007.)

Harrington also noted that “the entire hierarchy [of the organization] would be reevaluated after the season.”

Citi Field West

The Mets will take on the Arizona Diamondbacks in Chase Field tonight for the start of a three game series in the desert.  Reeling after dropping three of four to the San Diego Padres, the Mets are heading to a stadium that has shown them continued success over the years.

Opened in 1998, then known as Bank One Ballpark, the home to the Diamondbacks has been a home away from home.  Here is the Mets record, all-time, in BOB / Chase Field…

1998: 2-1 
1999: 1-2
2000: 2-1
2001: 1-2
2002: 2-1
2003: 1-2
2004: 2-2
2005: 4-0
2006: 4-0
2007: 3-1
2008: 2-1

The Mets are 24-13 overall, but since 2005 have gone 13-2 in Arizona.

Not only have the Mets won, but they’ve dominated the Diamondbacks in their home park.  Here’s the runs scored breakdown since ‘05…

2005: NYM 39 – ARI 7
2006: NYM 37 – ARI 9
2007: NYM 21- ARI 12
2008: NYM 16 – ARI 14

I used to call it “Shea Stadium West,” but now it’s time to christen it “Citi Field West.”

Mets DL trips

This list was put together by reader and friend David Cancel.  It lists the date, the player, the injury and where it took place.  It’s long and excruciating.  Take a look.

• 8/5 Jon Niese (Torn hamstring) - 8/5 @ Citi [Added]
• 7/25 Gary Sheffield (Strained right hamstring) - 7/17 @ ATL
• 7/20 Fernando Nieve (Torn right quadriceps - out 6-8 weeks) - 7/19 @ ATL
• 7/9 Fernando Martinez (Right knee inflammation) - 7/1 @ MIL
• 6/22 Carlos Beltran (Bone bruise, right knee) - bruise first mentioned between LA and BOS (5/21), finally out after OF slide 6/21 @ Citi
• 6/12 John Maine (Right shoulder fatigue) - last pitched 6/7 @ WAS
• 6/5 J.J. Putz (Right elbow surgery - out 8-10 weeks) - 6/3 @ PIT
• 6/3 Ramon Martinez (Fractured left pinkie finger) - slide 6/2 @ PIT
• 6/1 Angel Pagan (Strained right groin) - 5/31 @ Citi
• 5/26 Ryan Church (Strained right hamstring) - 5/22 @ BOS
• 5/26 Jose Reyes (Right calf tendinitis) - complained of stiff right calf after 5/13 game @ Citi, rested 6 days, re-aggravated @ LA on 5/20
• 5/18 Alex Cora (Torn right thumb ligament) - slide @ SF on 5/17
• 5/16 Carlos Delgado (Right hip impingement) - slide @ Citi on 4/26, rested for 5 games, played 7 games, then shut down.
• 5/7 Oliver Perez (Right patellar tendinitis) - last start 5/2; was complaining about it since Spring Training
• 4/17 Brian Schneider (Strained back muscle) - @ Citi
• 4/5 Angel Pagan (Right elbow sugery - out 2-3 months) - bone spur, prolly from Winter ball
• 4/5 Tim Redding (Right shoulder fatigue) - spring training

Yikes.

Thanks, David!

New board game: Mets Trap

Henry from Global Sports Fraternity sent this over.  It’s a new board game the Mets front office uses to “ease the pain.”  Check it out…

Manuel’s Musing

“Johan is a tremendous competitor, and every time when he gets the ball, he gets everybody involved.”

-Jerry Manuel on Johan Santana

Game Chat: NYM @ SDP [Game 111]

Johan Santana (12-8, 3.10 ERA) vs. Tim Stauffer (1-3, 3.12 ERA)

(Chat removed, as usual)

Hit the comments to discuss the Mets 5-1 win...

Lineup for Game 111

Johan Santana takes the mound for the Mets today as they attempt to avoid getting swept out of San Diego.  Luis Castillo makes his triumphant return to the lineup.

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. Anderson Hernandez – SS
9. Johan Santana - LHP

Poll Results: Fans want Omar fired

In my latest poll, I asked fans if they believe Omar Minaya should be fired.  Here are the results…An overwhelming margin, 68 percent, believes Minaya should be fired as general manager of the Mets.

What do you think?

Next poll: Should Jerry Manuel be fired?

What a snoozer

What was the most exciting thing about last night’s Mets game?  Probably seeing my Twitter friend Doug Whitehorn just miss catching a foul ball.

That says something.

The Mets lost their eighth of their last ten and are on the brink of a second consecutive season getting swept out of San Diego.

Bobby Parnell made his first major league start, lasting only 2 1-3 innings due to his pitch limit.  He allowed two runs on four hits and three walks, though one run was charged to him after he left the game.  He needed 68 pitches to get through seven outs, 42 of them landing for strikes.

Sean Green was the one bump in the otherwise decent bullpen effort, allowing one run in his 1-3 of an inning.

The Mets bats were again held quiet against a rookie pitcher they had never seen before.  The lone Mets run came on an Alex Cora solo home run in the first inning.  It was Cora’s first home run since April 29, 2007.

Johan Santana is on the mound for the Mets today as they try to avoid a sweep.