Hey Mets fans, don’t do this!

You probably don’t like the Phillies.  You probably don’t like Shane Victorino.  You probably don’t like when he catches fly balls at the warning track.

But you should never throw beer (or anything) on a player.  That’s the lowest of the low.

So, Mets fans, please never stoop to this level.  Ever.

Manuel’s Musing

“I thought at this time, at this road trip, that we would have a few guys back.  To go back home and not see anything on the horizon, we've just got to fight it out every day now. We've got to fight it out to the end.”

-Jerry Manuel on the rest of the season

What I Missed: A win, setbacks and injuries

Where to begin…

--The Mets won 6-4, salvaging a win in the desert and avoiding a sweep.  Oliver Perez was his inefficient self, walking six and allowing six hits over his 5 1-3 innings.  He did only allow one run, though, and struck out seven.

--David Wright suffered some sort of an injury in the 9th inning of today’s game in Arizona.  After singling and moving to second on a fielding error, Wright clutched his right knee.  He stayed in the game.

Wright claimed it was just usual soreness, but Jerry Manuel classified it as a strain behind the right knee.

--Carlos Delgado strained his oblique muscle in his right arm, further derailing his return to the New York Mets.  Assistant GM John Ricco, who supposedly is next in line if Omar Minaya is fired and is now handling more and more press, said that it would be a few weeks before he starts swinging again.

It’s important for Delgado to get back to prove he can still play for another contract.  This does put to rest the rumors that the Mets were willing to trade Delgado if he returned before the August 31 wavier deadline.

--Billy Wagner will return to the Mets this weekend.  Wagner pitched another shutout inning in the minor leagues, and will return on Saturday.

The Mets may try to deal Wagner if he impresses.

Programming note

Today I will be attending a wake in south Jersey.  I will be gone for the better part of the day.

I will publish some short articles tonight.

Thank you for understanding,
-Andrew Vazzano

Game Chat: NYM @ ARI [Game 113]

Livan Hernandez (7-6, 5.08 ERA) vs. Max Scherzer (6-6, 4.01 ERA)

(Chat removed, as usual.)

Max Scherzer has scary eyes, Part II

This is Max Scherzer.  Tonight’s he’s facing off against Livan Hernandez and the New York Mets.  He also has heterochromia, where one eye is a different color than the other.

I don’t know about you, but if I was a pitcher, I would harness the power of my scary eye and try to intimidate the opposing batters.

If Omar is canned, Ricco is next in line

Adam Rubin has a report in today’s Daily News outlining that if (or “when” if you subscribe to that school of thought) Omar Minaya is shown the door, assistant GM John Ricco may be the man to take over.

Ricco has been with the Mets since 2004 after coming over from the commissioner's office, where he worked for 12 years.  He is the Mets main man for arbitration cases and waiver deals.

Ricco is more of a “numbers” guy, according to Rubin.

Ricco's background primarily is administrative and not in evaluating players - more along the lines of former GM Jim Duquette than Minaya. As a result, Ricco likely would need to lean on his deputies for recommendations.

Rubin also notes that it was Ricco who proposed the idea of trading Ryan Church for Jeff Francoeur, so take that “numbers guy” statement with a grain of salt.

Adam better be careful with this story.  Minaya might think he’s lobbying for his job.

Twitter Poll: Would you want to see Bobby Valentine managing the Mets again?

Mets fans seem to be waning on Jerry Manuel.  (My current poll is giving a very slight edge to those in favor of his dismissal.)  So that begs the question, who would they want in his place?

Bobby Valentine, who managed the Mets from the end of 1996 to 2002, seems to be a popular choice.  Though he steered them to only a .534 winning percentage under him, the Mets made two playoff appearances, including losing to the New York Yankees in the 2000 World Series.

So I asked my Twitter followers, at the suggestion of ambilevous, if they would want to see Bobby V back managing the Mets.  Here are their responses…

tfc3rid said: Yes... We made the WS with Jay Payton, Benny Agbayani and Timo Perez in the OF... Enough said.

ant7701 said: yes bring him back NOW!!!!!!!!!

GSorensen said: Bobby V would be cool but that would give the impression that Jerry's at fault here and I don't think he is.

dances_w_vowels said: he would be a good choice, I'd welcome him back.

mostlymets said: No. I got tired of him toward the end of his last stint. It was all about him when it should be about the players.

mostlymets continued: Incidentally I think I'm the only Mets fan who hated the fake mustache dugout visit after Valentine was tossed. No respect.

nick6489 said: There are few better actual on field generals in the game. Let's bring back Bobby V and have suicide squeezes today!

Mets_Fever said: Bobby V. I don't believe would work well with this group his ego would clash - he needs young, no-names that he can control

rbfdds said: Bring back Bobby. V.- best option for the team. I also suggest the Wilpons sell the team to Trump. He will make Mets compete.

jderose123 said: absolutely...would bring back the "winning vibe" to the team and he has been successful in Japan

greatscott said: I'd like to see Bobby V back with the Mets because he out-managed everyone in 2000 with a lesser team and made it work.

BigVin57 said: Yes we need his fire to spark the team

DqtmaReyz said: Yes, I want Bobby V back, but not because I think Manuel has done a bad job. I like Bobby V's concept of small ball.

Mets411Blog said: No. I don't think his style and personality is right for this team. I still think Jerry should stay. Injuries aren’t his fault

4Jia said: No, I rather have an ex Met as the new manager. Preferably a player from 1986. These are my choices Backman, Teufel, Mazilli.

twayward said: NO bobby V. re-tred manager/coach almost never works in pro sports. #mets must move 4ward, not back.

kerelcoop said: Yes cause he has proven he can get the most out of his players (example the 2000 team).

letsgoduke said: doesn't matter. Can't fight tanks with pop guns.

gabefarkas said: no whats the point? Hes been there already. Rather try some1 fresh, if season is lost anyway. Better to take a chance.

ryantcarney said: Bring back Bobby V!

Not on Twitter?  Hit the comments to discuss whether or not you’d want Bobby Valentine back.

Follow me on Twitter (@TheRopolitans) to
participate in the next Twitter Poll!

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