Game Chat: NYM @ WAS [Game 41]

Niese to DL, Dickey promoted

The Mets placed Jon Niese on the 15-day DL with a hamstring strain clearing room for R.A. Dickey to join the team.

All as expected.

Take your time, Niese.  You might be the best starter on the team, but there’s no reason to rush back for this season.

Buffalo is banged up

In other words, 2010 Buffalo is 2009 Mets.

Manuel’s Musing

“I’ve got no idea when he’s got it and when he doesn’t. I have no idea.”

-Jerry Manuel on R.A. Dickey

Game Recap: Braves 3 – Mets 2

Not a good night to be David Wright.

The Good

Ike Davis and Jeff Francoeur each hit solo home runs in the fifth inning.  Unfortunately, this accounted for all of the Mets runs.

Johan Santana was better than he’s been.  He tossed seven innings, allowing five hits, including a two-run home run.  He walked two and struck out four.  He was lifted for a pinch hitter after 104 pitches.

The Bad & Ugly

David Wright.  After striking out for the third time in the top of the 9th with a runner on third, Wright’s errant throw on a chopper allowed the winning run to score in the bottom half of the inning.

Jenrry Mejia threw 10 pitches and looked pretty awful doing so.  Back to the minors where you belong.

Jerry Manuel insists on either pinch-hitting for or bunting with his No. 3 hitter.  Tonight, he did both at the same time.  Somehow, though, it worked out.

Game Ball

Johan, poor guy.

On Deck

Another two game series kicks off tomorrow night in Washington, a 7 p.m. start.

Game Chat: NYM @ ATL

Testing a new chat room.  Hope it works.Chat removed, as usual.

2B must always bat 2nd

Someone said it best: Is there a rule that the second baseman must bat second?

Manuel’s Musing

“I don't know what that plan is. Whatever it takes, I'm cool with that.”

-Jerry Manuel on Jeff Wilpon being with the team

Rubin: Mejia is going back to the minors to start

Top prospect Jenrry Mejia, whose dazzling Grapefruit League performance prompted the Mets to place him on the Opening Day roster as a reliever, is expected to head to the minors to resume being used as a starting pitcher.

-Adam Rubin, ESPN New York

Is this what the 90-minute pow-wow was about?  If so, good.

This means a few things…

-The Mets might not see a future with Jerry Manuel.  This was one of the things he battled for coming out of spring training.  If he’s being overruled, time may be short for him.  (But we already knew that.)

-The team realizes their starting pitching just isn’t very good.  Oliver Perez and John Maine are running out of chances.

-Maybe 2010 isn’t their year.  If they’re pulling one of the better options out of the bullpen, it might be a small raising of the white flag.

I’m glad this is happening.  If Mejia’s career is as a top starting pitcher, no reason wasting his talent as a middle reliever / possible set-up man.

Game Recap: Mets 3 – Braves 2

Big Pelf.

The Good

Mike Pelfrey tossed 7 2/3 innings, scattering seven hits.  He allowed two earned runs while walking two and striking out three.  He wasn’t great, as he let a lot of leadoff batters reach, but he worked through them.  He induced three double plays to avoid trouble.  Very, very happy with his effort tonight.

Baja Fresh!  Rod Barajas put the Mets ahead early with a two-run RBI in the second inning.

Chris Carter went 1-2, scoring once and driving in one with a groundout.  Animal.

Pedro Feliciano did his job, after a little scare in the 8th.  Same goes for Francisco Rodriguez.

The Bad & Ugly

The Mets only had five hits.

What’s a bullpen without a few walks?  One each for Feliciano and K-Rod.

David Wright has now struck out in 14 straight games.

Game Ball

Mike Pelfrey.

On Deck

Mets and Braves finish out this silly two-game series tomorrow at 7 p.m.