The New York Mets will take on the Chicago Cubs for the second and final game of their two game set today at 2:20 p.m. in Wrigley Field.
Lineup:
SS Jose Reyes
RF Angel Pagan
3B David Wright
CF Carlos Beltran
1B Carlos Delgado
2B Damion Easley
LF Brady Clark
C Raul Casanova
SP Nelson Figueroa
Figueroa vs. Ted Lilly
Pagan moves to right to spell Ryan Church and allow Clark to play in left. Brian Schneider is still down with the injury to his arm. Hopefully he'll be back for tomorrows game in Washington. Luis Castillo getting a day off, with Easley in his place.
4/22/08
Weather in Chicago
Looks like it's going to be a wet one in Chicago. I'll be liveblogging today, so I'll keep you updated. This is the Mets only trip to Wrigley this season, so expect this game to get in, no matter how long the delay lasts.Related: [Hot Foot]
4/21/08
Game Recap: Cubs 7 -- Mets 1
In a game that began as a pitching duel, it ended in a blowout. The Chicago Cubs tacked on runs in the eighth inning and beat the New York Mets by a score of 7-1 Monday night.
John Maine made the start for the Mets, his fourth of the year, and lasted six innings. In those innings, he allowed two earned runs on five hits, two walks, while striking out six. Maine needed 109 pitches to get thought those innings. Maine allowed a few runners on in the first three innings, but was helped out by a runner caught stealing and a few nice plays by the defense. In the fourth, Maine allowed a leadoff single to Derrek Lee, which was followed up by an Aramis Ramirez two-run home run to deep center field.
Maine looked very good tonight. He threw a few mistakes, one which was taken very,very deep for the only runs of the game against him. I would argue this was his best start of the season, as his walks were low and his strikeouts were up. He looked good tonight.
Duaner Sanchez came on for the seventh inning, an inning that started with a error by David Wright. Wright atoned for his sins with two spectacular plays in the field to get the first two outs of the inning as Sanchez worked around it to pitch a hitless and scoreless inning. Aaron Heilman began the eighth and got off to a very rocky start. Another fielding error, this time by Jose Reyes, allowing Lee to reach base. Heilman then plunked Ramirez on the hip, putting two men on base. After a lengthy at bat by Kosuke Fukudome, he eventually singled to load the bases with none out. Heilman then get Mark DeRosa to strike out swinging and Geovany Soto to pop out to second base. Heilman looked like he would get out of the inning unscathed, but Ronny Cedeno singled up the middle, driving home two runs and knocking Heilman out of the game.
Sanchez should be moved into the eighth inning role as soon as possible. Heilman looked terrible to start, then turned it around and I thought he was going to get out of the inning without allowing any runs, and then that happened. The man is a roller coaster, there is no better way to put it.
Jorge Sosa came in to relieve Heilman with two on, and promptly allowed a three-run pinch-hit home run to Felix Pie to cap the inning for the Cubs.
Same thing with Sosa. He can be absolutely lights out one day, and a sieve the next. The bullpen needs some consistency.
Carlos Zambrano shut down the Mets for all but one inning. The Mets had five hits, only one for an extra base hit, and their only run came on a double play ball.
The Mets were held off the board until the sixth inning, where Endy Chavez led off with a double to center field. Maine laid down a sacrifice bunt, but an ill advised throw to third by Soto was too late, and everyone was safe. Reyes then grounded to short to start the double play, which allowed Chavez to sprint home for the Mets only run. The Mets went down in order the next three innings to end the game.
Zambrano was absolutely dealing tonight. Unfortunately, once the Mets got around him, their bullpen was just as solid. The Cubs look good, let me tell you.
Numbers - Four: Number of double plays grounded into...Two: Errors...One: Reyes, Castillo, Delgado, Church, Chavez...2 for his last 28: Carlos Delgado...30: Pitches needed by Heilman...
Game Ball: Maine.
John Maine made the start for the Mets, his fourth of the year, and lasted six innings. In those innings, he allowed two earned runs on five hits, two walks, while striking out six. Maine needed 109 pitches to get thought those innings. Maine allowed a few runners on in the first three innings, but was helped out by a runner caught stealing and a few nice plays by the defense. In the fourth, Maine allowed a leadoff single to Derrek Lee, which was followed up by an Aramis Ramirez two-run home run to deep center field.
Maine looked very good tonight. He threw a few mistakes, one which was taken very,very deep for the only runs of the game against him. I would argue this was his best start of the season, as his walks were low and his strikeouts were up. He looked good tonight.
Duaner Sanchez came on for the seventh inning, an inning that started with a error by David Wright. Wright atoned for his sins with two spectacular plays in the field to get the first two outs of the inning as Sanchez worked around it to pitch a hitless and scoreless inning. Aaron Heilman began the eighth and got off to a very rocky start. Another fielding error, this time by Jose Reyes, allowing Lee to reach base. Heilman then plunked Ramirez on the hip, putting two men on base. After a lengthy at bat by Kosuke Fukudome, he eventually singled to load the bases with none out. Heilman then get Mark DeRosa to strike out swinging and Geovany Soto to pop out to second base. Heilman looked like he would get out of the inning unscathed, but Ronny Cedeno singled up the middle, driving home two runs and knocking Heilman out of the game.
Sanchez should be moved into the eighth inning role as soon as possible. Heilman looked terrible to start, then turned it around and I thought he was going to get out of the inning without allowing any runs, and then that happened. The man is a roller coaster, there is no better way to put it.
Jorge Sosa came in to relieve Heilman with two on, and promptly allowed a three-run pinch-hit home run to Felix Pie to cap the inning for the Cubs.
Same thing with Sosa. He can be absolutely lights out one day, and a sieve the next. The bullpen needs some consistency.
Carlos Zambrano shut down the Mets for all but one inning. The Mets had five hits, only one for an extra base hit, and their only run came on a double play ball.
The Mets were held off the board until the sixth inning, where Endy Chavez led off with a double to center field. Maine laid down a sacrifice bunt, but an ill advised throw to third by Soto was too late, and everyone was safe. Reyes then grounded to short to start the double play, which allowed Chavez to sprint home for the Mets only run. The Mets went down in order the next three innings to end the game.
Zambrano was absolutely dealing tonight. Unfortunately, once the Mets got around him, their bullpen was just as solid. The Cubs look good, let me tell you.
Numbers - Four: Number of double plays grounded into...Two: Errors...One: Reyes, Castillo, Delgado, Church, Chavez...2 for his last 28: Carlos Delgado...30: Pitches needed by Heilman...
Game Ball: Maine.
In sync
No, not the band.In tonight's game between the Cubs and Mets on SNY, the synchronization between the sound of the bat hitting the ball, and the video feed is not together, and it's really annoying.
I don't know why it's so bothersome, but it's just so strange to hear the pop of a bat or the ball smacking the glove before I actually see it. Hopefully it will get fixed soon.
Update: It seems to have been rectified. Thankfully.
Church against lefties
Joel Sherman, in his Hardball blog for the NY Post, brings us the numbers I've been too forgetful to post.
From Sherman:
Well done, Omar Minaya and Willie Randolph, well done.
From Sherman:
There were many questions if Ryan Church could handle lefty pitching, since it had been a problem in his career. So far, though, so great. Remember it is a small sample, but right now among the 18 lefty batters in the majors who have at least 25 plate appearances against southpaw pitching, Church has the second best batting average at .355. Only Pittsburgh's Nate McLouth (.400) was higher. Church was 11-for-31 with two homers.I've been singing this guy's praises since day one. I couldn't be happier with the trade, and I think people have finally stopped griping about it. Church is solid in right, and has been a huge contributor to the team thus far. Brian Schneider has also been very effective and great behind the dish.
Well done, Omar Minaya and Willie Randolph, well done.
Game Preview: Mets @ Cubs -- 4/21
After taking two out of three in Philadelphia, the New York Mets head into historic Wrigley Field to take on the Chicago Cubs.
Lineup:
SS Jose Reyes
2B Luis Castillo
3B David Wright
CF Carlos Beltran
1B Carlos Delgado
RF Ryan Church
C Raul Casanova
LF Endy Chavez
SP John Maine
Maine vs. Carlos Zambrano
Brian Schneider is still feeling the sting from the foul tip off his forearm on Saturday. No idea why Angel Pagan is sitting for the second straight day. Endy is getting his reps in though, which is always good. Here we go again with Castillo batting second. I don't like this one bit.
Lineup:
SS Jose Reyes
2B Luis Castillo
3B David Wright
CF Carlos Beltran
1B Carlos Delgado
RF Ryan Church
C Raul Casanova
LF Endy Chavez
SP John Maine
Maine vs. Carlos Zambrano
Brian Schneider is still feeling the sting from the foul tip off his forearm on Saturday. No idea why Angel Pagan is sitting for the second straight day. Endy is getting his reps in though, which is always good. Here we go again with Castillo batting second. I don't like this one bit.
Patriots Day
It's not often you can wake up at 8:30 a.m., go to class for two hours, come back and flip on the TV and catch some live major league baseball.
The Boston Red Sox are taking on the Texas Rangers in Fenway Park and the first pitch was just thrown. Now if I can catch a 1 p.m. game and maybe a 4 p.m. one, it will bridge the gap nicely for the Mets in Chicago at 7 p.m.
Wishful thinking, I guess.
The Boston Red Sox are taking on the Texas Rangers in Fenway Park and the first pitch was just thrown. Now if I can catch a 1 p.m. game and maybe a 4 p.m. one, it will bridge the gap nicely for the Mets in Chicago at 7 p.m.
Wishful thinking, I guess.
Why, oh why, Willie?
On Tuesday, Ryan Church was moved to the second spot in the order. Tuesday also saw a
30-minute meeting between GM Omar Minaya and manager Willie Randolph.
Coincidence?
I don't think so.
I believe Minaya told Randolph to move Church there, against Randolph's wishes. Church went into the two-hole on Tuesday, April 15. Since then he has gone 8-21, driving in two runs, scoring nine, and raised his batting average almost 20 points. The Mets were 5-0 in those games. Obviously, he enjoys hitting second in the batting order, and even was quoted by the New York Post as saying: "I love it," Church said. "I've been getting some pitches that I've been able to do something with."
Great. Super. We found out #2 hitter for the rest of the season.
Not if Randolph has anything to do with it.
Luis Castillo was moved from eighth in the order (where he landed after getting bumped out of the second spot) back up to batting behind Jose Reyes for the finale in Philadelphia. Is it any surprise that Castillo failed in a huge spot in the top of the ninth inning as he was unable to get a fundamental bunt down to advance runners, and when he already had two strikes on him, was unable to even make contact and hope something happens. Instead, he waves at a slider inside and makes the first out of the inning. The Mets were unable to score and therefore lost the game.
Why in the world would you mess with an order that has won you five straight, and has seen the new #2 hitter bat .380 and score nine times is beyond me. Only Randolph will know.
Hopefully Minaya has a little sit down with the manager before Monday's game against the Chicago Cubs, and sets the record straight.
30-minute meeting between GM Omar Minaya and manager Willie Randolph.Coincidence?
I don't think so.
I believe Minaya told Randolph to move Church there, against Randolph's wishes. Church went into the two-hole on Tuesday, April 15. Since then he has gone 8-21, driving in two runs, scoring nine, and raised his batting average almost 20 points. The Mets were 5-0 in those games. Obviously, he enjoys hitting second in the batting order, and even was quoted by the New York Post as saying: "I love it," Church said. "I've been getting some pitches that I've been able to do something with."
Great. Super. We found out #2 hitter for the rest of the season.
Not if Randolph has anything to do with it.
Luis Castillo was moved from eighth in the order (where he landed after getting bumped out of the second spot) back up to batting behind Jose Reyes for the finale in Philadelphia. Is it any surprise that Castillo failed in a huge spot in the top of the ninth inning as he was unable to get a fundamental bunt down to advance runners, and when he already had two strikes on him, was unable to even make contact and hope something happens. Instead, he waves at a slider inside and makes the first out of the inning. The Mets were unable to score and therefore lost the game.
Why in the world would you mess with an order that has won you five straight, and has seen the new #2 hitter bat .380 and score nine times is beyond me. Only Randolph will know.
Hopefully Minaya has a little sit down with the manager before Monday's game against the Chicago Cubs, and sets the record straight.
Alou could be back by weeks end
According to Adam Rubin, Moises Alou could be back before May 1, his original guess as to when he would return.
Alou, who went 3-3 in an extended spring training game in Port St. Lucie on Sunday, could be back on the Mets as soon as Friday.
From Rubin:
There's also the big question mark of what happens to hot hitting Angel Pagan. I've taken a look at this in the past, and my thoughts still stand true.
Alou, who went 3-3 in an extended spring training game in Port St. Lucie on Sunday, could be back on the Mets as soon as Friday.
From Rubin:
"It depends on how he feels," Mets VP Tony Bernazard said about the timetable for Alou's return. "But it's good. It's very good."The official clock on Alou's return began yesterday, when he went 3-for-3 with a double and run scored while playing five innings in left field for St. Lucie against the Palm Beach Cardinals. He also committed an error. Alou is expected to take today off, then play with that Florida State League team for three consecutive days before the Mets commit to his activation.
When Alou returns, it's pretty much a lock that Brady Clark will be sent down. Rubin goes on to point out that Clark waived his right to deny a demotion to AAA, but hasn't made a decision of if he would report after clearing waivers.
There's also the big question mark of what happens to hot hitting Angel Pagan. I've taken a look at this in the past, and my thoughts still stand true.
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