Manuel’s Musing

“We're going to stay where we are.”

-Jerry Manuel on Livan Hernandez

What a stinker!

Last night may have been one of the more boring games of the 2009 campaign.  Unless you were a Giants fan.

From Livan Hernandez hemorrhaging hits to a lineup that was beyond putrid, the game was an all-around disaster.  My record at Citi Field fell from the perfect 3-0, to a less cool 3-1 because of last night’s mess of a game.

Do you want to know, in one very simple explanation, why last night was one of the worst games all year?  Because when Andy Green, the 32-year-old who was called up to replace David Wright on the roster, came to the plate in the 9th inning down nine runs with the stadium almost completely empty, he garnered the loudest cheer of the night.Cheers of “AN-DY GREEN!” reverberated throughout the stadium and the crowd went wild when he worked out a walk.

Of course, he was snuffed out on the very next play as Cory Sullivan grounded into an inning-ending double play, but it was fun while it lasted.

Again, a terrible game on a beautiful night.  I now own a .750 winning percentage at Citi Field, which I will take over my sub-.500 winning percentage from Shea Stadium any day of the week.

Check out MetsGrrl.com for a much more awesome photo of the savior we call “Andy Green.”

Reports: Mets sign top-pick Steven Matz for $895,000

Chris Brickhead and Nick Campione are shooting me messages on Twitter telling me that ESPN’s Keith Law is reporting that the Mets signed top-pick Steven Matz out of Ward Melville High School.

SI’s Jon Heyman backs up the report, and puts a figure on the bonus: $895,000.

Update – 8:41 a.m.: The Mets are yet to confirm the deal, even though many outlets have reported that the deal was completed before the deadline.

The Mets selected Matz with their first pick of the 2009 draft, in the second round, 72nd overall.

Matz was 6-1 with an ERA of 0.47 in his first seven starts for Ward Melville during his senior year of high school. He struck out 81 batters in 44 innings last year as well.

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Cora out for the year with two bum thumbs

Alex Cora will miss the remainder of the year as he will have surgery to repair torn ligaments in both his thumbs.

Yeah, Cora had been playing with torn ligaments in not just one, but both his thumbs.

Crazy.

First up for surgery, his right thumb.  Followed five weeks later by his left thumb.

Wilson Valdez was pulled from the Triple-A Bisons game in anticipation of a call-up.

Cora was a good bench signing who was forced into a major role due to the Mets injuries this season.  I wouldn’t mind seeing him back with the Mets, purely as a guy off the bench.

Tweets from Citi Field

I’ll be at the game tonight, and of course I’ll be updating with insights and musings from Citi Field. Tune in to converse with me at the stadium.

Mets, second-round pick Matz yet to agree to contract

Steven Matz, the 18-year-old out of East Setauket, NY, was the Mets 72nd pick in this year’s amateur draft.  The deadline to sign draft picks is rapidly approaching, midnight tonight, and the Mets and Matz have not come to terms on a deal. 

At least not yet.

On Wednesday, Adam Rubin reported that the Mets and Matz were closing in on a deal.  But yesterday, Jim Callis of Baseball America reported that the “deal isn’t close to done and isn’t going as smoothly as you might think.”

So we’ve got conflicting reports on where the Mets are with Matz.  He could be close to a deal, or it could be a bumpy ride.

Either or, the clock is ticking on the Mets highest pick.

Matz is a 6-3 lefthander who struck out 74 in 54 innings with Ward Melville in his senior year.  He is committed to Costal Carolina University.

My view from ‘The Piazza’

On Saturday, I mentioned that I got to sit in the table seats in center field, or where I like to call “The Piazza.”

They’re located right in front of the “Gil Hodges Bridge” and offer your a spectacular view of the game.  Friday night, I finagled my way into a pair of those seats, thanks to my friend’s ticket purchase.

I arrived at the game about 20 minutes before my friend Jamie did, and I asked to buy the cheapest possible ticket.  I got a $48 seat in Sec. 301.  When Jamie arrived, he got a $54 seat in Sec. 143.

Using Jamie’s one ticket, we got to sit in seats 1 and 2 in Sec. 143, which are primarily held for those fans that use wheelchairs.

These were easily some of the best seats I’ve sat in, as we had a completely unobstructed view of the field, not to mention padded chairs.

If you ever get the opportunity to sit in these seats, jump at the chance.  They were great.

Mets learning how to deal with injuries, design new uniform [Photo]

In light of the events of this season, the Mets have debuted a new uniform that they will wear the rest of the season, for every game.

Here is a photo of Johan Santana modeling the new uniform…The new uniforms can be purchased for $15 per foot in the Mets team store or on MLB.com.

Manuel’s Musing

“I do believe we have to be cautious with this, and we will be.”

-Jerry Manuel on David Wright’s injury

Wright to DL, Green called up

The Mets erred on the side of caution with David Wright, placing him on the 15-day disabled list.  The Mets called up infielder Andy Green to take his place on the roster.

Green, 32, has seen time in three different seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks, from 2004 to 2006.  In 260 major league plate appearances, he’s batting .199 / .280 / .265 with two home runs and 12 RBI.

He signed with the Mets in July of 2008, only to be released on Nov. 3.  Fifteen days later, he re-signed with the Mets.

This season with Triple-A Buffalo, Green has hit .269 / .333 / .412 with three home runs and 14 RBI in 35 games.  He’s split his time between third base and second base this season, but is a second baseman by trade.

Green missed 2 1/2 months with a fractured thumb, reports Peter Botte.

He’s a perfect fit.