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5/11/08
Game Recap: Mets 8 -- Reds 3
I caught bits and pieces of this game, sneaking away from the family and the chilly weather, and dashing inside to catch a few pitches every now and then, so here's a brief recap.
Oliver Perez pitched a much better game today. The first five innings of the game showed the classic Perez that Mets fans fell in love with. In control, getting his pitches across, and getting really quick outs. I really loved when he got the first out on the first pitch in two consecutive innings. The sixth was a bit of a different story, but he's working back up to what he's capable of if he just keeps his head in the game.
Carlos Beltran had another big day with the pink bat. Beltran went 2-4, scoring twice and driving in three runs with an RBI double and a two run home run. Ryan Church followed up Beltran's blast with one of his own.
Jose Reyes made things happen, getting three hits and scoring twice. Luis Castillo drove in one and scored twice while picking up two hits before leaving the game with a quad injury. Damion Easley, his replacement, added an RBI as well. David Wright and Moises Alou each added an RBI and had one hit.
Scott Schoeneweis put together a nice appearance, stretching out to 1 2-3 of an inning, allowing three hits but no runs. He struck out three while on the bump. I'd like to see this more out of him, but only in the right situation. We need more Schoeneweis, especially after his great start to the year so far.
Oliver Perez pitched a much better game today. The first five innings of the game showed the classic Perez that Mets fans fell in love with. In control, getting his pitches across, and getting really quick outs. I really loved when he got the first out on the first pitch in two consecutive innings. The sixth was a bit of a different story, but he's working back up to what he's capable of if he just keeps his head in the game.
Carlos Beltran had another big day with the pink bat. Beltran went 2-4, scoring twice and driving in three runs with an RBI double and a two run home run. Ryan Church followed up Beltran's blast with one of his own.
Jose Reyes made things happen, getting three hits and scoring twice. Luis Castillo drove in one and scored twice while picking up two hits before leaving the game with a quad injury. Damion Easley, his replacement, added an RBI as well. David Wright and Moises Alou each added an RBI and had one hit.
Scott Schoeneweis put together a nice appearance, stretching out to 1 2-3 of an inning, allowing three hits but no runs. He struck out three while on the bump. I'd like to see this more out of him, but only in the right situation. We need more Schoeneweis, especially after his great start to the year so far.
Out today
It's Mother's Day, so I'll be spending time with my family. I'll be back later tonight with a quick recap and the days news. Enjoy the game and Happy Mother's Day!
The hubbub over Willie Randolph and his possible replacement
Every time the Mets lose a game, I hear the same things:
"It's Willies fault." "Fire Willie!" "Randolph stinks!" "Where's Frank Robinson?"
Yes, that last one is true. I still like Willie Randolph. It's not entirely his fault the players are inconsistent. It's not his fault his pitchers get into the 120's with their pitch count in the 5th inning.
When people call for Randolph's head, I always seem to ask the question "Well if not Randolph, then who?" Mostly people don't care who comes in, as long as Willie is gone. The loudest name I've heard come out of these discussions is Frank Robinson.
I always hear the complaints that Willie doesn't have emotion, that he doesn't have "fire," that he's as boring as tofu. To solve this, you want to put a 73 year old man at the helm?
Robinson was a great manager, but not anymore. He's too old, too frail. He falls asleep during games in the dugout. He's done with managing! When he managed his last game with the Nationals, he said he was done. He wanted a front office job, not to take over another team.
If you think this team doesn't have heart and Willie should be fired (which I don't), Frank Robinson is not your answer.
"It's Willies fault." "Fire Willie!" "Randolph stinks!" "Where's Frank Robinson?"
Yes, that last one is true. I still like Willie Randolph. It's not entirely his fault the players are inconsistent. It's not his fault his pitchers get into the 120's with their pitch count in the 5th inning.
When people call for Randolph's head, I always seem to ask the question "Well if not Randolph, then who?" Mostly people don't care who comes in, as long as Willie is gone. The loudest name I've heard come out of these discussions is Frank Robinson.
I always hear the complaints that Willie doesn't have emotion, that he doesn't have "fire," that he's as boring as tofu. To solve this, you want to put a 73 year old man at the helm?
Robinson was a great manager, but not anymore. He's too old, too frail. He falls asleep during games in the dugout. He's done with managing! When he managed his last game with the Nationals, he said he was done. He wanted a front office job, not to take over another team.
If you think this team doesn't have heart and Willie should be fired (which I don't), Frank Robinson is not your answer.
Happy Mother's Day
That's right. Today is Mother's Day, so you better have gotten your mom something good, or you better break out the construction paper and crayons and make her some of those "Good for One Chore" tickets you used to give her when you were a kid. I'm sure it will mean just as much, if not more, to her this time around. (Don't worry, Mom, I got you something better. I think.)As they've done every year for a while, Major League Baseball will encourage players to use special pink bats on Mother's Day to support breast cancer research.
If memory serves me correctly, Carlos Beltran always seems to tear it up on Mother's Day with the pink bats. If he has another break out game with these special color bats, I'm starting a petition to MLB to let him use these bats all season long.
So again, Happy Mother's Day to all you mommies out there!
Bostick heading north?
Anthony McCarron hints at a possible move the Mets might be making in the coming days due to Saturday's doubleheader.
From McCarron:
Heck, the Mets still haven't made a move to get Matt Wise back into the bullpen.
I guess we're just going to have to wait and find out.
From McCarron:
Lefty Adam Bostick was yanked from his start last night at Triple-A New Orleans after three scoreless innings, meaning he possibly could be called up to start Wednesday when the Mets may need a fill-in starter as a result of yesterday's doubleheader. They could also use Mike Pelfrey or Johan Santana on short rest, though it's unlikely because each threw more than 100 pitches yesterday.Well it makes sense in terms of needing a pitcher, but the accompanying roster move is puzzling to me. Would the Mets send down Mike Pelfrey? I would hope not, especially not after his good start against the Reds on Saturday night. What about Nelson Figueroa? It's possible, but unlikely.
Heck, the Mets still haven't made a move to get Matt Wise back into the bullpen.
I guess we're just going to have to wait and find out.
Photo of the Day: Reyes
Photo from Game 2
Yes, I know Jose Reyes was the photo from the first game, but this shot was excellent.
Reyes needed some huge ups to leap and catch a ball that Carlos Delgado seemingly airmailed to left field. I don't know how he got up and made that catch, but it made for an awesome photo.
(AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Yes, I know Jose Reyes was the photo from the first game, but this shot was excellent.Reyes needed some huge ups to leap and catch a ball that Carlos Delgado seemingly airmailed to left field. I don't know how he got up and made that catch, but it made for an awesome photo.
(AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
5/10/08
Game Recap: Reds 7 -- Mets 1
The revenge of Jeff Keppinger.
The Reds pounded out 14 hits in the nightcap, after knocking 15 earlier in the day, and beat up on the Mets bullpen, scoring five in the late innings to put them up 7-1 and earn a split of the doubleheader for the day.
The best part of the game, at least for the Mets, was the way Mike Pelfrey pitched. Pelfrey allowed only two earned runs on eight hits through six innings. Pelfrey was in control, only walking one while striking out three.
Very, very good start from him. Allowed a bunch of hits, but really limited the damage all game. He really didn't deserve the loss here. Good start from him, which is good to see from him as he's been struggling a bit of late. Very happy with this.
Single runs bookended Pelfrey's start, as a Ken Griffey Jr. single in the first drove in one run and a Scott Hatteberg double in the sixth chased home the other run for the Reds charged to him.
Dusty Baker took a chance starting Hatteberg, who had been batting well under the Mendoza line coming into the day, and he answered by driving in three. Figures it's against the Mets.
The Mets were shut down by Bronson Arroyo who had his most dominant start of the year. Arroyo only allowed four hits through eight innings, and didn't allow a baserunner from the fifth inning on. New York scratched out their only run in the third inning when David Wright singled to drive in Jose Reyes.
Arroyo looked like classic Arroyo. What a dominating start from him, especially since he's struggled all year. Great performance from him, and again, figures it's against the Mets.
The Reds got to both Duaner Sanchez and Billy Wagner for multiple runs to put the game out of reach. In the 8th, back-to-back singles from Hatteberg and Paul Bako each drove in a run each. Wagner allowed three runs, all unearned, after two straight errors from the Mets. Wright had a fielding error and Carlos Delgado committed a throwing error.
Ex-Met Keppinger went 5-5 on the day, picking up his fifth hit with an RBI single in the 9th. Hatteberg picked up his third RBI with a sacrifice fly to left. Bako added another run with an RBI single to the right side.
I really hate to see key bullpen pitchers come in when the Mets aren't leading, and I really really hate to see them get roughed up. Why not burn a guy like Joe Smith, especially if he might get sent down very soon? I don't get that thinking.
Game Ball: Pelfrey
The Reds pounded out 14 hits in the nightcap, after knocking 15 earlier in the day, and beat up on the Mets bullpen, scoring five in the late innings to put them up 7-1 and earn a split of the doubleheader for the day.
The best part of the game, at least for the Mets, was the way Mike Pelfrey pitched. Pelfrey allowed only two earned runs on eight hits through six innings. Pelfrey was in control, only walking one while striking out three.
Very, very good start from him. Allowed a bunch of hits, but really limited the damage all game. He really didn't deserve the loss here. Good start from him, which is good to see from him as he's been struggling a bit of late. Very happy with this.
Single runs bookended Pelfrey's start, as a Ken Griffey Jr. single in the first drove in one run and a Scott Hatteberg double in the sixth chased home the other run for the Reds charged to him.
Dusty Baker took a chance starting Hatteberg, who had been batting well under the Mendoza line coming into the day, and he answered by driving in three. Figures it's against the Mets.
The Mets were shut down by Bronson Arroyo who had his most dominant start of the year. Arroyo only allowed four hits through eight innings, and didn't allow a baserunner from the fifth inning on. New York scratched out their only run in the third inning when David Wright singled to drive in Jose Reyes.
Arroyo looked like classic Arroyo. What a dominating start from him, especially since he's struggled all year. Great performance from him, and again, figures it's against the Mets.
The Reds got to both Duaner Sanchez and Billy Wagner for multiple runs to put the game out of reach. In the 8th, back-to-back singles from Hatteberg and Paul Bako each drove in a run each. Wagner allowed three runs, all unearned, after two straight errors from the Mets. Wright had a fielding error and Carlos Delgado committed a throwing error.
Ex-Met Keppinger went 5-5 on the day, picking up his fifth hit with an RBI single in the 9th. Hatteberg picked up his third RBI with a sacrifice fly to left. Bako added another run with an RBI single to the right side.
I really hate to see key bullpen pitchers come in when the Mets aren't leading, and I really really hate to see them get roughed up. Why not burn a guy like Joe Smith, especially if he might get sent down very soon? I don't get that thinking.
Game Ball: Pelfrey
Photo of the Day: Reyes
Photo from Game 1
Anyone else ever notice as soon as the game's over, Jose Reyes un-tucks his shirt as soon as possible?
(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Anyone else ever notice as soon as the game's over, Jose Reyes un-tucks his shirt as soon as possible?(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Game Recap: Mets 12 -- Reds 6
The Mets offense really seems to be clicking, running on all cylinders, or whatever baseball-esque cliche you want to throw in there. The Mets beat up on the Reds, taking the first game of the day/night doubleheader by a score of 12-6.
Johan Santana made the start for the Mets, and seemed to struggle a bit. He allowed a career high 10 hits, but only allowed three runs. Santana walked only one while striking out five. Johan gave up three hits in the top of the first, but was helped out when Corey Patterson, who led off the game with a single, was thrown out while trying to steal second.
He's good. Even when he doesn't have his best stuff, and allows 10 hits, he still shuts a team down for only three runs. That's when you know he's good. People get on against him on a semi-off day, but he still limits the damage and keeps his team in the game.
The Mets got on the board early. In the bottom of the second inning, with Moises Alou on third and Brian Schneider on first, Santana struck out swinging. Fortunately for the Mets, the ball skipped away from David Ross, and Alou came home for the first run of the game.
I'll take it any way they can get it.
In the fourth, Carlos Beltran drove in Luis Castillo with an RBI single up the middle. One out later, Alou drove home two with a bloop single just beyond the infield dirt with the Reds infield playing in.
Crazy move by Dusty Baker playing the infield in there. It would have been an easy pop-up for Brandon Phillips at second, but with the infield in, it drops in for a two RBI hit.
In the top of the fourth, Santana allowed the first run of the game for the Reds when Edwin Encarnacion homered to left field. Alou made an attempt on it, but it was just out of his reach, bouncing off the front of the bleachers.
In the fifth, Beltran picked up another RBI with a sacrifice fly to center, driving in Castillo again. Ryan Church later singled to right, scoring David Wright from second base.
Beltran is getting hot. Watch out other teams, these Mets seem to be clicking.
Encarnacion added an RBI single in the 6th inning before Scott Hatteberg hit a pinch-hit single, plating the second run of the inning.
The Reds are pesky, but the Mets should be able to pick them apart, as we saw today. Let's hope they can match this in the nightcap.
With the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the sixth, Wright drew a walk, driving in Carlos Delgado. Beltran added to his huge day, picking up his first hit of the season with two out and runners in scoring position, as he smoked a ball down the right field line, driving in all three and earning him a stand-up triple as the ball died after hitting off the wall.
What to say? This team looks good. This lineup is absolutely overpowering when they're all hitting, or contributing in some way. I love it.
Aaron Heilman's 5 2-3 inning scoreless streak came to an end in the 7th as Joey Votto doubled in Ryan Freel.
And he was booed, mercilessly.
The bottom of the seventh saw the Mets pick up their first back-to-back home runs of the year as Delgado and Brian Schneider each went deep. Delgado crushed his ball just to the left of the Mets bullpen in right field. Schneider, picking up his first extra base hit of the year, lined a ball down the right field line, just clearing the fence.
Welcome to the club, Schneider. As Gary said, he's now "off the schnied." (pun intended)
Ken Griffey Jr. came within inches of his 598th home run of his career, as he doubled off the wall in the 8th inning against Pedro Feliciano, driving in two runs.
Jorge Sosa came in and walked one batter, but put up a hitless and scoreless inning to put the game away for the Mets.
Game Ball: Beltran.
Johan Santana made the start for the Mets, and seemed to struggle a bit. He allowed a career high 10 hits, but only allowed three runs. Santana walked only one while striking out five. Johan gave up three hits in the top of the first, but was helped out when Corey Patterson, who led off the game with a single, was thrown out while trying to steal second.
He's good. Even when he doesn't have his best stuff, and allows 10 hits, he still shuts a team down for only three runs. That's when you know he's good. People get on against him on a semi-off day, but he still limits the damage and keeps his team in the game.
The Mets got on the board early. In the bottom of the second inning, with Moises Alou on third and Brian Schneider on first, Santana struck out swinging. Fortunately for the Mets, the ball skipped away from David Ross, and Alou came home for the first run of the game.
I'll take it any way they can get it.
In the fourth, Carlos Beltran drove in Luis Castillo with an RBI single up the middle. One out later, Alou drove home two with a bloop single just beyond the infield dirt with the Reds infield playing in.
Crazy move by Dusty Baker playing the infield in there. It would have been an easy pop-up for Brandon Phillips at second, but with the infield in, it drops in for a two RBI hit.
In the top of the fourth, Santana allowed the first run of the game for the Reds when Edwin Encarnacion homered to left field. Alou made an attempt on it, but it was just out of his reach, bouncing off the front of the bleachers.
In the fifth, Beltran picked up another RBI with a sacrifice fly to center, driving in Castillo again. Ryan Church later singled to right, scoring David Wright from second base.
Beltran is getting hot. Watch out other teams, these Mets seem to be clicking.
Encarnacion added an RBI single in the 6th inning before Scott Hatteberg hit a pinch-hit single, plating the second run of the inning.
The Reds are pesky, but the Mets should be able to pick them apart, as we saw today. Let's hope they can match this in the nightcap.
With the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the sixth, Wright drew a walk, driving in Carlos Delgado. Beltran added to his huge day, picking up his first hit of the season with two out and runners in scoring position, as he smoked a ball down the right field line, driving in all three and earning him a stand-up triple as the ball died after hitting off the wall.
What to say? This team looks good. This lineup is absolutely overpowering when they're all hitting, or contributing in some way. I love it.
Aaron Heilman's 5 2-3 inning scoreless streak came to an end in the 7th as Joey Votto doubled in Ryan Freel.
And he was booed, mercilessly.
The bottom of the seventh saw the Mets pick up their first back-to-back home runs of the year as Delgado and Brian Schneider each went deep. Delgado crushed his ball just to the left of the Mets bullpen in right field. Schneider, picking up his first extra base hit of the year, lined a ball down the right field line, just clearing the fence.
Welcome to the club, Schneider. As Gary said, he's now "off the schnied." (pun intended)
Ken Griffey Jr. came within inches of his 598th home run of his career, as he doubled off the wall in the 8th inning against Pedro Feliciano, driving in two runs.
Jorge Sosa came in and walked one batter, but put up a hitless and scoreless inning to put the game away for the Mets.
Game Ball: Beltran.
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