Game Recap: Mets 7 – Indians 6

Not the prettiest of games.

The Good

Infield hits.  David Wright went 3-5 and drove in three RBI.  The three rib-eye steaks all came on infield hits.

Hustle.  Jose Reyes is owed a steak dinner from Wright, as he busted from second base on one of Wright’s infield hits and scored.  Wow.

A five-run fifth inning.

Ike Power.  Davis hit his 8th home run of the year to straight-away center field.  I thought it was going to be a can of corn but it kept carrying and carrying and carrying…

Johan Santana’s fifth, sixth and seventh.  After a rocky start (see: below), Santana allowed only one hit over his last three innings on the bump.

The Bad & Ugly

Johan Santana’s first four innings.  After being handed a 1-0 lead before he even threw a pitch, Santana surrendered a three-spot in the second and another run in the fourth.  I didn’t think he was going to make it out of the fifth inning. 

Seriously, K-Rod?  What should have been a nice and easy 9th inning turned into a nail biter after K-Rod surrendered a two-run blast to Shelley Duncan.

The Indians defense.  Jason Donald had a rough night in the field and the Indians got charged for three errors.  Yikes.

Game Ball

Wright.

On Deck

7 p.m. Wednesday night.

Megdal for GM speech

Howard Megdal, who you may know from his writing on many different sites, is campaigning to be the General Manager of the New York Mets.  Here are his campaign issues.

And for the rest of the speech, click here.

Mr. Megdal has made himself available to TheRopolitans.com for an interview, chat or something else.  What would you be interested in hearing from Mr. Megdal?  Let me know in the comments.

Manuel’s Musing

“I approach it like I'm here to manage this team for a 162-game season.”

-Jerry Manuel

And frankly, it’s hard to argue with him right now.

Mets sign 25 picks

The Mets signed 25 of their picks, but not their first round pick Matt Harvey.

Here’s who they signed, via Andy McCullough…

-Fourth-round pick outfielder Cory Vaughn (from San Diego State; son of former major league All-Star Greg Vaughn)
-Seventh-round pick RHP Jeff Walters (Georgia)
-Eighth-round pick RHP Kenny McDowall (College of Southern Nevada)
-Ninth-round pick RHP Jacob deGrom (Stetson)
-11th-round pick LHP Adam Kolarek (Maryland)
-12th-round pick RHP Bret Mitchell (Minnesota State)
-13th-round pick third baseman Brian Harrison (Furman)
-14th-round pick second baseman James Brown (University of the Pacific)
-15th-round selection outfielder Tillman Pugh (Sonoma State)
-16th-round pick RHP Ryan Fraser (Memphis)
-17th-round pick RHP Chad Sheppard (Northwestern State)
-18th-round pick RHP A.J. Pinera (University of Tampa)
-19th-round pick RHP Jonathan Koutis (Embry-Riddle)
-20th-round pick first baseman Luke Stewart (Alabama-Birmingham)
-22nd-round pick shortstop Brandon Brown (University of South Alabama)
-25th-round selection RHP Peter Birdwell (Vanguard University)
-26th-round pick shortstop James Butler (Mississippi State)
-27th-round pick RHP Michael Weldon (Wayland Baptist University)
-28th-round pick LHP Jeremy Gould (Duke)
-29th-round selection LHP Hamilton Bennett (Tennessee Wesleyan College)
-30th-round pick LHP Joshua Edgin (Francis Marion University)
-32nd-round pick catcher Patrick Farrell (Regis University)
-33rd-round pick RHP Hunter Carnevale (University of the Pacific)
-34th-round selection shortstop Justin Schafer (UC-Davis)
-37th-round pick outfielder Dylan Brown (University of Tampa)

As I said on Draft Day, I just can’t get excited over baseball picks.  Most of them are years away from every making an impact at the major league level.  It just doesn’t have the quick result a la the NFL.

Manuel’s Musing

“The offense kind of carried us today. The offense pretty much took over the game.”

-Jerry Manuel

Game Recap: Mets 11 – Orioles 4

Nothing like a road funk a little Orioles Magic can’t fix.

The Good

Homer happy.  Four home runs on the day, two off the bat of David Wright, as he drove in four on the day.  Chris Carter hit his second three-run home run of the series and Jason Bay finally hit a home run on the road while wearing a Mets uniform.

Jason Bay went 4-4, driving in one and scoring four times.  He was a triple short of the cycle.

Every player in the Mets starting lineup collected at least one hit.

Seven of the Mets 18 hits went for extra bases.

The Bad & Ugly

I’m not sure a six inning, three earned run effort belongs in “bad & ugly,” but for Mike Pelfrey against the Orioles, it’s close enough.  Pelf surrendered nine hits and walked three yet was able to work out of any significant damage.  He allowed the three runs in the first three innings, but settled in a bit after that.  Not his best start, but not his worst.  He was able to work around his bad start and earn his 9th win of the year thanks to the offensive explosion.

Oh, Jenrry.  Mejia gave up one run on two hits in his one inning of work.

Game Ball

Bay!

On Deck

Monday is an off-day.  The Mets pull into Cleveland for a three-game set against the Indians, starting Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.

Look at the standings

Who would’ve thunk it?  Not I.

Manuel’s Musing

“I guess that is hard to believe. Is that right? Wow.”

-Jerry Manuel on winning back-to-back road games for the first time since July of last year

Game Recap: Mets 3 – Orioles 1

Back-to-back road wins!

The Good

For the first time since late July of last year, the Mets won back-to-back road games.  Hey monkey, get off their back!

Taka!  After a few rough outings, Hisanori Takahashi bounced back with a one-run, seven-inning effort.  Taka allowed six hits, walking one, while striking out two.  Ninety-three pitches and a stellar outing for him.  It helps to play the Orioles, doesn’t it?

Solo shots.  Jose Reyes homered to lead off the game and Jeff Francoeur knocked one in the 8th for a little breathing room.

Pedro to K-Rod.  They both allowed baserunners, but they both escapes without damage.  I’ll take it.

The Bad & Ugly

Ruben Tejada’s baserunning.  Not sure what went wrong on that play – looked like he just got a bad read on the ball – as he should have scored.  Thankfully, he came in on a botched double play by the O’s.

Jason Bay is cold again, hitless in his last five games.

Game Ball

TaKKa!

On Deck

Mets go for the sweep tomorrow at 1:35 p.m.

Citi Field to host 2013 All-Star Game

As I relayed all the way back on March 13, 2008 (and July 16 and July 15, 2009), Citi Field will indeed host the 2013 All-Star Game.

I really can’t wait to hear everyone complain that the park is too big and that the Home Run Derby will be ruined.  Actually, yes I can.