Chase Pelfrey isn’t named for the field or the Utley

Mike Pelfrey made his first start in seven days last night for the Mets after the birth of his first child, Chase Pelfrey. He got roughed up to the tune of five earned runs in six innings of work. He surrendered eight hits, walked two and struck out five.

One would have thought for a player returning with a new son named Chase, making his first start in Chase Field would be some sort of magical destiny.

Just the opposite, in fact.

Brendan Bilko of Priced Out of the Citi notes that even though the Mets are 13-3 in Chase Field since 2005, Pelfrey is the losing pitcher in all three games. Bilko goes on to explain that Pelfrey is 0-3 with an ERA north of seven (7.16).

In 16 1-3 innings, Pelfrey has surrendered 20 hits and 13 earned runs. He’s also walked 10 batters, while only striking out seven. That’s good for a WHIP of 1.837.

Oh, and for those who are wondering, Chase Utley hits to the tune of .278 AVG / .381 OBP / .833 SLG against Pelfrey. In 21 plate appearances, Utley’s cranked three home runs off of Big Pelf.

But if you’ve been reading this blog, you know that Chase Pelfrey isn’t named for the field or the Utley, but rather for the pennant chase.

Well, he sure wasn’t born in to one.

Manuel’s Musing

“We were a bad team tonight.  Throwing to bases with nobody there? Very poor, poor game. Poor effort on our part, very poor.”

-Jerry Manuel on poor, very poor efforts

Game Chat: NYM @ ARI [Game 112]

Mike Pelfrey (8-7, 4.75 ERA) vs. Doug Davis (6-10, 3.67 ERA)

(Chat removed, as usual.)

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...