Twitter Poll: Will Johan Santana throw a no hitter in 2009?

Johan Santana takes the mound today against the Milwaukee Brewers at 1:10 p.m.  Last night, I asked my Twitter followers if they though Santana would throw a no hitter this year, which would be the first in Mets history.

Here are their responses…

• gwong said: Depends - will he be traded away from the Mets?
• jessicarubin said: I HOPE SO!!!! vamos johan =)
• susi__ said: Hell yeah! & It'll be tomorrow!
• letsgoduke said: no, were the mets :(
• mets_geekette said: Yes! No one better to be the first Met to do it. Should we even be talking about this? I feel like we're going to jinx it.
• MetsGal said: no. We traded Nolan Ryan we will never get one.
• fscker said: i doubt it. if he hasnt thrown one yet, i dunno if it will ever happen.
• JTKrycek said:: i hate when announcers say "can u believe the mets have never thrown a no-hitter?" johan's the perfect guy to shut them up.
• fullnelson said: Johan Santana will not throw a no-hitter in 2009. I give 60% of a no-no. (secretly, I hoping I'm wrong)
• darknova306 said: Hell no. There won't be no-hitter for the Mets until I give up being a fan. That'll be a looooong time, cause I like pain.
• lvadgal said: no johan will not throw a no hitter
• resamor said: Santana has a better chance of winning 25 than pitching a no-hitter.
• Thommy7893 said: Let's be optimistic ... YES HE WILL
• thebrowncoat said: Only if the Cubs win the WS and the Nationals lose 121 games, proving the entire natural baseball order has been upset.
• pattigibbons said: no, but not because of Johan; it will be a defensive support problem.

Quite an interesting array of answers.  I don’t think he will, but I’m holding out hope and hope he proves me wrong.

Not on Twitter?  Hit the comments to toss in your 2¢ about Santana and if he’ll toss a no-no in ‘09.

Follow me on Twitter to participate
in the next Twitter Poll!

Game Recap: Mets 5 – Brewers 4

The 1997 Marlins come through for the 2009 Mets again.

The Mini Recap

Livan Hernandez looked beautiful for the first four innings of work.  As his pitch  count slowly inched toward 100, his control slipped and his velocity dropped.  Hernandez started the sixth, but couldn’t record an out before allowing a three-run home run to Ryan Braun.  Another solid outing from the bullpen kept it close.

Again, the Mets got on the board early, scoring three in the first inning.  After Dave Bush settled in, the Mets had to wait to get into the Brewers bullpen.  Gary Sheffield came on to pinch hit in the seventh inning and cracked his 500th career home run deep into the left field stands to tie the game.  Luis Castillo delivered in the bottom of the ninth with two on and two out to give the Mets the win.

For the full recap, head over to Baseball Digest.

Sheffield hits No. 500

Gary Sheffield just picked up his first hit in a Mets uniform, which was also his 500th home run in his career.

Sheffield’s blast landed in the seat in left, just under the Acela Club restaurant.  More importantly for the Mets, Sheffield’s home run tied the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Congratulations, Sheffield, on No. 500!

Brian Schneider to DL; Omar Santos recalled

Brian Schneider will be put on the 15 day disabled list with a strained muscle in his back.

Omir Santos has been recalled from Triple-A Buffalo to take his place on the roster.

Surprising that they recalled Santos and not Robinson Cancel.  The Mets were discussing trading Ramon Castro before spring training began because they were so high on Cancel.  Santos did have a very nice spring, though.

Live Blog: MIL @ NYM – 4/17

Join in for another game thread / chat about the Mets, baseball or anything we feel like talking about!

Report: Pelfrey’s start to be skipped

Jon Heyman of SI.com is reporting that the Mets are likely going to skip Mike Pelfrey in the rotation on Sunday.

“Skipping his start” would mean that he’s going to stay off the disabled list and a roster move is forthcoming.  The most obvious move would be to send down / let go of Darren O’Day, who would have to be offered back to the Angels.  O’Day was a Rule V draft pick this year.

Coming up to make the start would probably be Nelson Figueroa, who was pulled from his start with Triple-A Buffalo after only two innings.  Jon Niese is scheduled to start on Sunday for Binghamton, but his 9.00 ERA is probably holding him back.

Smart move by the Mets here.  No need to push Pelfrey through any injury.  Let him rest and let him heal.

The State of the Mets [4/17/09]

Here is the next edition of The State of the Mets, the official web show of The ‘Ropolitans.  Hosted by me, Andrew Vazzano.

Topics: Season so far, inconsistent pitching and looking ahead.

Enjoy.

Twitter Poll: What should the Mets do with Mike Pelfrey?

With the news that Mike Pelfrey has been pitching with forearm tendinitis and the fact that Nelson Figueroa was pulled from his start with Triple-A Buffalo after just two innings makes one wonder what the Mets are planning on doing with their No. 2 pitcher.

Last night, I asked my Twitter followers what the Mets should do.  Here are their responses…

• fscker said: put him on the D/L and call pedro, he's too young, no reason to take a chance that leads to surgery.
• Jbones72 said: he should go on the DL, why risk it...it's still early..
• thebrowncoat said: They shoot horses, don't they? Just kidding. I'd put him on the 15-day DL to be on the safe side this early in the season.
• Section518 said: DL. I'm concerned about the cold weather/Verducci effect. Give him 2 wks & get Figueroa a couple of starts. Can't hurt.
• darknova306 said: Definitely DL. Lots of innings last year for Pelf, I'd say be cautious, we'll (hopefully) need him strong in September.
• MetsNY81 said: They should put him on the DL. It's way too early in the season to risk furthering the injury.
• willrmc said: I say sit him a start. Let Figgy come up and give it a whirl.

And my favorite of the night…

• Retire31 said: Keep Big Pelf on the shelf!

I don’t think they should sit him, but they should call up Figueroa to replace Darren O’Day, who would have to be offered back to the Angels.  The team looks like it’s going to need pitchers who can go for multiple innings out of the bullpen, considering the starting pitchers are having a hard time finishing out six innings.

Not on Twitter?  Hit the comments to toss in your 2¢ about how the Mets should handle Pelfrey’s pain.

Follow me on Twitter to participate
in the next Twitter Poll!

Game Recap: Padres 6 – Mets 5

Another day of too little, too late for the Mets.

The Mini Recap

A strong start from John Maine turned into a debacle in just one inning.  The San Diego Padres scored five runs in the third inning.  Four scoreless innings from the Mets bullpen kept them in the game and the offense attempted to scratch back.

Two home runs were the way the Mets scored  their five runs.  A three-run blast in the first put the Mets up early and a two-run dinger in the eighth brought the Mets within one.  But that’s all they could manage off of Jake Peavy and the Padres ‘pen.

For the full recap, head over to Baseball Digest.

John Maine’s final line

John Maine’s final line against the San Diego Padres…

5 IP, 7 hits, 6 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 7.20 ERA