Manuel’s Musing

“Obviously we don't have any other choices, and I think this is important in his development, even though we're not only here to develop. We're here to win games.”

-Jerry Manuel on Bobby Parnell and the 2009 season

Mets to cancel Fall Instruction League due to money…Or are they? [Updated]

Here’s a tidbit from Jim Duquette from Sirius XM’s MLBHomePlate Twitter page:

Today's news from Jim Duquette - #Mets will be cancelling Fall Instructional League over $$$

And if you still think the Mets are going to spend in the off-season, you’re delusional.

Or are they…?

Per Bart Hubbuch:

The Mets say they are moving their fall instructional league to the Dominican because so many other teams in Florida have left the area.

The above statement still stands true.

Figgy fantastic as Mets stave off sweep

When Johan Santana went down for the season, the man filling his spot in the rotation had some pretty big shoes to fill.  Today, Nelson Figueroa was as good as you could ask for.

Seven innings of six-hit baseball saw Figueroa through his longest outing of the season.  While on the mound, Figueroa struck out 10 Cubs, nine in the first four inning, a career high strikeout count.

Figueroa allowed one run in the first inning, but bounced back from there, allowing only five hits over the next six inning.

I love Figueroa and always have since he came up last year.  Glad he’s putting together some starts and maybe showing the Mets he can be a fifth starter next year.  Maybe.

Brian Stokes turned in a 1-2-3 8th inning and Francisco Rodriguez saved the game after a bit of pressure.  Kosuke Fukudome led off the inning with a single and Jeff Francoeur dropped Jake Fox’s pop-up, but was able to throw out Fukudome at second.

Never easy.

The Mets got a pair of runs in the third and fourth innings, respectively.

In the third, the Mets stitched singles from Angel Pagan, Luis Castillo, Daniel Murphy and Jeff Francoeur together to drive in two runs.  Murphy and Francoeur each picked up an RBI with their singles.

In the fourth, Brian Schneider hit a one-out single.  Schneider was chased in by an Anderson Hernandez triple.  Figueroa helped his own cause with an RBI single of his own, driving in Hernandez from third.

Eleven hits off of Carlos Zambrano is no small task.  A good few innings from the Mets, but went fairly quiet from there on out, picking up only one hit the rest of the game. 

Luckily, it was enough. 

This time.

Beltran inching closer to return

David Lennon reports that Carlos Beltran has cleared one of his major hurdles in returning to the Mets: running the bases.

Beltran ran the bases in Port St. Lucie and will likely head for an MRI before possibly returning to the Mets team.  Simulated games are likely to be sprinkled in there before making his return to the big club.

Though I don’t think it’s smart to rush back, it might be nice for Beltran to play a few games before taking the winter off.

Lineup for Game 131

Mets looking to avoid the sweep in Chicago.  Jeremy Reed gets a rare start for the Mets.

1. Angel Pagan – CF
2. Luis Castillo – 2B
3. Daniel Murphy – 1B
4. Jeff Francoeur – RF
5. Jeremy Reed – LF
6. Fernando Tatis – 3B
7. Brian Schneider – C
8. Anderson Hernandez – SS
9. Nelson Figueroa - RHP

David Wright’s new best friend

David Wright plans on playing on Sept. 1, sixteen days after taking a 94 mph fastball to the helmet.

To help protect him from any further headshots, Wright will be sporting a new helmet when he return to the Mets, or at least as soon as Rawlings gets it to him.

The S100 helmet is designed to withstand up to 100 mph from two feet away, while current batting helmets must only withstand 60 mph from two feet away.

“When they get it to me, I’ll wear it,” Wright told the NY Times.  The Times notes that Wright should have the helmet when he returns to action in Colorado on Tuesday.

The helmet retails for $99.99.

Manuel’s Musing

“I'd like to see better command. He's had some success.”

-Jerry Manuel on Bobby Parnell

Parnell pounded in 11-4 loss

It’s almost exciting watching how many ways the Mets will find to lose a game.  Today it came via the grand slam.

Bobby Parnell surrendered a grand slam in the bottom of the fifth inning, ending his day.  Parnell allowed eight earned runs on nine hits and two walks.  He lasted only 4 2-3 innings, needing 110 pitches.

Is the Parnell experiment over yet?  Or will the Mets just let him take his licks in the rotation?

Ken Takahashi pitched 1-3 of an inning, allowing one run to score.

Lance Broadway made his Mets debut, pitching three innings and allowing two earned runs on four hits.  He walked one and struck out three.

Yay?

The Mets got a pair of two-run doubles from Jeff Francoeur and Brian Schneider respectively.

Just a game closer to ending 2009.

Twitter Poll: What’s a good metaphor for the Mets season?

The 2009 season has been nothing short of disaster.  So I asked my Twitter followers for their best metaphor for this season.

Here are some responses…

BergersBookRev said: The Mets are like a half-eaten worm, left by a bird to squirm around helplessly without its head.

doug_whitehorn said: the 2009 Mets season. The definition of adding insult to injury.

LennyChiarello said: No metaphors needed..."Trainwreck" that's it

wmburden said: from the hit series M*A*S*H comes M*E*T*S exclusively on SNY.

RobinBoyWonders said: "Will the last Met standing, please turn off the lights!"

metgirl4ever said: "damaged goods"

acesigma said: 2009 Mets? "LostMess.com"

LouieBolkovic said: 2009 Mets are like a horror movie with 8 sequels - the original is scary as hell, but by the 8th sequel its more of a comedy

cvelardi said: 40 years after the Miracle Mets.. you get the Medical Me(t)ss..

newyorkr521 said: "What's the worst that could happpen?"

What’s your best metaphor for 2009?

Manuel’s Musing

“He gave us a legitimate chance to win that game. It's unfortunate that we couldn't get it done.”

-Jerry Manuel on Pat Misch