Manuel’s Musing

“We needed a win like that regardless of the role we're playing.”

-Jerry Manuel on last night’s comeback win

Well, that was fun

A late-September game against the Marlins.  Back in April, we probably all thought this would be one of those games the Mets might have to win to clinch their postseason bid.

Now that those games are being played, we couldn’t have been more wrong.

Games that, for the last two years, spelled disaster for the Mets are now flipped in roles.  The Marlins are trying to stay alive and the Mets, far from meaningful October baseball, are trying to play spoilers.

Last night, they pulled it off.

Down three runs heading into the top of the 8th inning, the Mets tacked on one in a bizarre play. David Wright at the plate with Brian Schneider on third.  Wright swings and believes he fouled off the ball as it squirts away from Ronny Paulino. 

Home plate umpire Bill Hohn calls strike three as Paulino scampers back to retrieve the ball.  Heads up play by Schneider who dashes home to score while Wright and Jerry Manuel begin to argue.

It was a tough call to make.  On replay, in slow motion, it was hard to tell if Wright tipped it.  If he didn’t, just a flat out terrible play by Paulino.

Top 9 rolls along and the Mets are down one run.  Daniel Murphy and Jeff Francoeur greeted Leo Nunez with singles to start the inning.  Pinch-hitter Jeremy Reed comes to the plate and is walked on four pitches, loading the bases for pinch-hitter Cory Sullivan.

Sullivan ends up slicing a ball down the third base line, scoring two and giving the Mets the lead.  The Mets went quietly through the rest of the 9th, with Wright striking out for the fourth time in the game to end the inning.

Francisco Rodriguez came in for the bottom of the ninth inning, allowed a single, but closed out the Marlins in a game of somewhat revenge for the previous two Septembers.

David Wright on sports endorsements [Video]

David Wright appeared on FOX Business channel a few days ago to talk about sports endorsements.  I found it interesting, so I’ll pass it along.

Manuel’s Musing

“We won't have champagne over there or anything like that.”

-Jerry Manuel on the season ending

Twitter Poll: Would you ever switch teams?

I’ve heard some grumblings of this from some people who will remained unnamed.  Switching teams?  A travesty.

I asked my Twitter followers if they would ever abandon the Mets and root for another team.  I was quite pleased with the answers.

Here are some responses…

kramtelak said: Never would switch. I'm not like a lot of yankee fans who switched in the 90's from Met fans. Phony's

RyanFingAwesome said: no way, ive been a fan my whole life. it would be like disowning your kid because of a few (or a lot of) bad grades.

mikexdavis said: I hate that concept, the whole "I have an AL team and an NL team" thing. It's called "being a fan," you dopes.

jay5026 said: no I've invested too much money into ticket plans, jerseys/apparel, and oh yeah a brick at citi that says I'm a fan for life

metschick said: Nope. It's not even an option.

Ryan_J_Smith said: No way, sticking with the Mets. Gotta stay loyal, its baseball code. Plus, its that much better when they win it all

davidgolden99 said: Never. I grew up with the Mets, and I'll die a Mets fan--if they don't kill me first.

DonCheech said: Never.. My dad suffered, I suffer, and my kids will suffer.

For more, click here.

Would you ever switch team allegiances?

Will Santos start in 2010?

A poll recently concluded on this site asking fans if they think Omir Santos should be the starting catcher in 2010.

For a refresher, here are the results…In today’s NY Post, Mike Puma writes that as of now, the Mets have penciled in Santos as the team’s No. 1 catcher for next season.

Manager Jerry Manuel said the "jury will still have to be out" when he was asked if he will be comfortable heading into next season with one of his current catchers as the starter.

"It's a very important position, so we have to kind of wait and see what would fit best, not only from a defensive point of view, but an offensive point of view as well," Manuel said.

The market for catchers is quite small, Puma points out.  Notable names: Bengie Molina, Yorvit Torrealba (remember that mess?) and Ramon Hernandez.

I’m already getting agida thinking about this position next year.  Santos and Robinson Cancel?  Oy.

Manuel’s Musing

“The losing is really difficult. It takes a lot out of you. You're not playing for anything, but there is still a level of pride. You try to still give your fans hope that things will be OK.”

-Jerry Manuel on losing

Lineup for Game 153

Inching closer and closer to the end of the season.  Here’s the lineup as the Mets try to avoid losing eight in a row to the Braves…

1. Angel Pagan – LF
2. Luis Castillo – 2B
3. David Wright – 3B
4. Carlos Beltran – CF
5. Daniel Murphy – 1B
6. Jeff Francoeur – RF
7. Brian Schneider – C
8. Anderson Hernandez – SS
9. Mike Pelfrey - RHP

Murphy may break record – a good one!

Daniel Murphy is having quite a year. Beginning the season as the starting left fielder, he couldn’t field well enough to stick in that position.

Moving to first, he’s shown some immaturity at the position. But at the plate, he leads the team in home runs (not a huge feat) and could possibly break a Mets team record.

Murphy currently has 36 doubles. The team record is 44, held by Bernard Gilkey from 1996. It’s a stretch with 10 games remaining, but he has a shot.

Closer in reach, notes David Waldstein, is the doubles hit by a first baseman record. John Olerud currently holds the record with 39.

The most amazing thing about this is Olerud hit 39 doubles in 160 games. Murphy has hit 32 in only 94.

For the full story, head over to The NY Times.

I’ve been complaining that Murphy doesn’t hit well enough (or field well enough) to be the team’s first baseman next year unless they seriously upgrade at other positions.

Murphy, in my mind, will be dangled as trade bait this winter. The Mets have Nick Evans waiting in the wings to show what he can do and, to me, they are very similar players. The Mets could gamble and send one away, hoping the one they retain is the one that performs.

Manuel’s Musing

“They have pretty much dominated us. For the most part, you have to give them credit.”

-Jerry Manuel on losing seven straight to the Braves