Two games and Delgado batting seventh

I know it's pretty bad how the Mets handled the rain out last night, waiting until 8 p.m. to postpone the game, but I love doubleheaders.

I'm pumped. I remember Mike Pelfrey pitched in a doubleheader before (trip down memory lane here) and the Mets put up a 17-spot against the Marlins. Let's hope for the same results tonight. (Yes, Pelfrey is starting tonight as Johan Santana is pitching the day game.)

And last night, Carlos Delgado was planned to bat 7th in the batting order. I like this, as Willie Randolph tries to break up the lefties in the batting order, and protects Carlos Beltran was going to bat in front of Ryan Church.

Smart move, Randolph, though I still think Church should be batting second.

Joe Smith will be optioned to AAA, eventually

Depending on how the games are played out on Saturday, Joe Smith may be optioned to AAA after the second game, or maybe not at all.

The Mets plan is to send Smith to the minors to make room for Matt Wise to come back off the DL.

Marty Noble lays it out:

But now Wise has rejoined the team, though he hasn't been added to the roster. When he is, Smith will be optioned to Triple-A, despite his effective pitching. That is the plan, a person in the Mets hierarchy said Friday. But the postponement of the Mets' game against the Reds on Friday night, the resulting doubleheader on Saturday and the chance for bullpen overload in two games prompted the club to retain Smith on the roster.

If Smith pitches in the first game, he could be assigned to the Minor Leagues to accommodate Wise on the roster for the second game. If Smith doesn't pitch in the first game, the Mets might not make a roster move until Sunday. And if Smith isn't used in the doubleheader, the club could not make a move with Wise until after Smith does pitch.

I love Smith, and I think he has a big future with this team. It's too bad that he's pitching so well and he's going to get demoted. He's very young, so I know he'll be back when (not if) someone in the bullpen goes down with an injury.

I really couldn't gauge Wise's effectiveness as a pitcher, as he only pitched a grand total of two games, posting a 9.00 ERA. I always liked him when he was with Milwaukee, though. I just hope he can post numbers like Smith, otherwise this move looks bad.

Guess the Mets are married to Jorge Sosa.

Flip-flop

The Mets are planning to flip-flop their starters in the doubleheader today.

Johan Santana will start the 1:10 p.m. game, while Mike Pelfrey will pitch the nightcap, starting at 7:30 p.m.

Doubleheader

The Mets and the Reds first game, scheduled for Friday night, will be postponed.

They are planning a day/night doubleheader tomorrow at the stadium. The first game is scheduled for a 1:10 p.m. start, with the second game starting at 7:40 p.m.

Stinks for the fans that made the trek out to Shea. But hey, I love doubleheaders!

Super Nova burns out

Raul Casanova was optioned to the minor leagues, as Ramon Castro was activated from the disabled list.

Welcome back, Mr. Castro. I've been yearning to hear that Darth Vader music as you walk to the plate again.

A big round of applause to Casanova for his amazing effort filling more than normal so far this season. Well done, big man.

Movin' out

Mama Leone left a note on the door
She said "Sonny move out to the country"
Ah but working too hard can give you
A heart attack, ack, ack, ack, ack, ack
You ought-a know by now
Who needs a house out in Hackensack Mount Olive?
Is that all you get for your money?

I have successfully complete my sophomore year at Quinnipiac University. I'll be taking my last final of the year at 1 p.m. then packing everything in the family car and my own and heading back to the "country" (at least, that's what my grandma calls it.)

I've seen this blog explode during this last year at school, and to that I am very grateful to all you readers out there in internet land. Thanks for sticking with me as this site grows and evolves. It's only going up from here, so be sure to keep coming back!

Mets vs. Reds tonight at the stadium, so be sure to tune in. I'll most likely hit you with some game updates when I return to my parents humble abode for the duration of the summer.

Let's go Mets, and thank you very much! QU '10!

Dan Graziano, the voice of reason

One of my favorite writers penned an article last night that really puts things in perspective about Willie Randolph. Graziano points out that since June 1 of last year, the Mets record is exactly 71-71. That's .500 baseball, ladies and gentlemen.

From Graziano:

People like to get on Randolph's case for lineups or pitching changes or in-game strategy, but that's all just noise. He's not perceptibly worse at bullpen management than any other manager is. Ripping him for specific moves is just a way for frustrated fans to blow off steam.

Where Randolph comes up short is in his failure to recognize what kind of team he has and manage accordingly. Randolph is a decent man who cares deeply about his team and his job and believes strongly in himself. But he's also stubborn, and that's what has him in trouble.

Exactly. That's what I've been saying all along! Thank you, Dan. You really can't get on Randolph for overusing his bullpen because his starters weren't giving him solid innings. As much as I want to, you really can't blame losses on who's batting second in the lineup.

What you can do, is find fault on how he handles losing and slump and his players. Randolph is turning into Art Howe 2.0. Sitting back and hoping his team does what it's supposed to, without help from the manager.

Something needs to change soon, though I really don't think a managerial change is going to do anything. Randolph and Omar Minaya need to shake things up internally before people get fired and new blood enters the franchise.

Results from Pagan's MRI

Angel Pagan has a bruised shoulder, according to Adam Rubin.

Wonder if he'll still go on the DL to make room. Tough choice for the Mets brass.

Shea Stadium is really going away

OK, so I'm watching Law & Order as I write a paper, and one of the doctors just said "She has an ego big enough to fill Shea Stadium." And it hit me.

Shea Stadium is going away. Gone. Forever.

Obviously, I've known about Citi Field and seen it in person, but it really just sank in for me. That place, our "home" is going away. I'm going to miss that ugly place, but I'll never forget the things I've seen happen there and seen there in person.

[If you want to tell your Shea story, check out this website.]

I'll miss you Shea, for all your wins and losses and special plays that have occurred inside your walls. I have a feeling Citi Field will be just a tad more prosperous for the Metropolitans. Just a hunch.

Repost: LMillz was overhyped

On this well placed off-day (I'm writing a final paper on Catch-22 and "national community.") I dug up an old post of mine and will repost it below. Here's my reaction after the Lastings Milledge for Ryan Church and Brian Schneider trade, originally posted December 1, 2007...

I am most likely the only Mets blogger in the universe who is "OK" with this trade. Lastings Milledge, to me, was entirely overhyped, and now we're seeing the sobering conclusion to the saga that was LMillz in Queens. And this Mets fan is happy.

Everyone seems to be calling for Omar's head as if he had a better deal elsewhere, but decided not to take it. Obviously if Omar thought, or even caught a scent of a better trade elsewhere, he would have held onto Lastings and pursued this better option. Milledge's status dropped considerably when teams saw what he could do with an everyday starting position.

The kid can't hit a breaking ball for the life of him, and takes the most roundabout angles on the easiest fly balls ever. To me, Lastings' climax as a player was two years ago, as a much hyped up minor leaguer, when it was discussed that he could be traded for Manny Ramirez. Since then, it's been pretty downhill. After those botched pop flies at Fenway Park and the high-fiving (which I commended when it happened) down the right field line at Shea, it seemed the kid was doomed as a Met. The fans went back and forth on whether or not his attitude was mature enough to handle the New York stage.

When he finally had a chance to break out and shine, he looked nonchalant running to balls that got past him, and just unmotivated. The lack of hustle on his part was extremely frustrating to me, as someone who supported him through all his early problems. With his ego at full blast, it seemed he could take on the world, but when his skills were put to the test on the field, he did not impress me in the least bit. Fans were once weary of this brash young player, and now seem entirely up in arms that he won't be patrolling Shea, and eventually Citi Field, for years to come.

With Brian Schneider being announced as our starting catcher, and Ryan Church as our starting right fielder next year, we seemingly picked up 2/9 of our starting team, for a player that may or may not pan out. Schneider has great defensive skills, which is what some wild things like Oliver Perez need behind the plate. Church, 29 years old, seems to be a newer, younger Shawn Green. There are no overpowering numbers at the plate, just a decent hitting, decent fielding outfielder who is capable of doing what he is paid to do.

Goodbye Lastings, I'm sure you will be haunting Omar and Mets fans for years to come, but right now, good riddance.