Mets Game 88: Win Over Braves

Posted on July 11, 2010 by Joe Janish

Mets 3 Braves 0

The Mets avoided a sweep and went into the All-Star break on a high note by shutting out the Braves behind a stellar performance by Johan Santana.

Game Notes

Johan Santana pitched like an ace on this afternoon, throwing 7 shutout innings and allowing only 5 hits and 3 walks, striking out 5. He has won back to back starts for the first time all year, and extended his scoreless innings streak to 16.

Bobby Parnell threw a perfect eighth to bridge the gap to Francisco Rodriguez, who also was perfect. Parnell surprised the heart of the Braves’ order with nasty sliders; if he can continue to mix in quality sliders like that to keep batters from sitting on the heater, he could settle into a setup role. But before we get ahead of ourselves, it was one appearance and three outs — let’s hope he can continue to consistently command the breaking pitch going forward.

Angel Pagan went 3 for 5 with a triple and a run scored. Is there really a possibility that he is put into something other than an everyday job when Carlos Beltran returns? If so, such a decision defies logic.

Ike Davis was hands-down the star of the game (after Santana). He hit a majestic, tape-measure homer over the apple in dead center to lead off the sixth, and he made several sparkling plays in the field.

Josh Thole had ANOTHER pinch-hit RBI single. Can you say, “Gates Brown” ?

Chris Carter started the game in left field and went 2-for-3. It may very well be his last start as a Met, since there is little chance of him getting into the rotation once Beltran returns.

Prior to the game, Jerry Manuel was asked if Carter might see any time at first base going forward. According to Howie Rose, Manuel replied with a chuckle and answered, “that’s a little too close to the ball”. Nothing like showing confidence in your players. With managers like Manuel, who needs enemies? Stay classy, Jerry.

In related news, the NYPD was asked if Jerry Manuel would be managing their charity softball game against the NYFD. “That’s a little too close to the dugout,” the chief of police answered with a chuckle.

OK, I made that last one up.

Next Mets Game

The Mets have a few days off while MLB puts on a spectacle that no one takes seriously but somehow includes a contest that affects the World Series. They return to game play on July 15 in San Francisco. Game time is 10:15 PM EST. Rumor has it that R.A. Dickey will take the ball for the Mets.

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July 11: Sunday Mets Links and Open Thread

Posted on July 11, 2010 by loge mezzanine

MetsGazette – Jason Adamowicz didn’t like the idea of batting Jose Reyes in the #2 hole… He thought it was another example of mismanaging injured players. Keep in mind, Jason Adamowicz turned out to be 100% correct.

Bergen Record – Oh, Jose Reyes injured himself while playing hurt? Is it July already?

MetsToday – According to Joe Janish, Mike Pelfrey’s “dead arm” is actually a subtle mechanical flaw. Do you think Dan Warthen knows how to turn on a computer? Let’s hope so…

MetsBlog – Jerry Manuel claims Carlos Beltran will bat cleanup when he returns. This is the same Jerry Manuel that delayed putting Ike Davis in the #4 hole because he believed once he hit cleanup he couldn’t be moved back down in the order. Anyone else remember that?

And here is Jose Reyes explaining his decision to withdraw from the All-Star Game:

TODAY’S GAME

The Mets (47-40) look to avoid a sweep today, as they take on the surging Atlanta Braves (52-35). Johan Santana (6-5, 3.15) faces Derek Lowe (9-7, 4.40). First pitch at 1:10pm.

METS LINEUP

Pagan-CF
Cora-2B
Wright-3B
Davis-1B
Francoeur-RF
Carter-LF
Barajas-C
Tejada-SS
Santana-LHP

Note: Why is Jason Bay sitting on the day before the All-Star break in a game against the division leader? Seriously, I’m asking because I haven’t heard anything about it.

Posted in Gameday Open Thread, Link Dump | 3 Comments

Mets Game 87: Loss to Braves

Posted on July 10, 2010 by Joe Janish

Braves 4 Mets 0

Any chance of gaining ground on the Braves in this series are now gone.

The Mets were shut out by the Braves and are now five games behind the NL leaders — and only a game ahead of the third-place Phillies (who were in the midst of playing the Reds when this post was published). The way the Mets are looking lately, the All-Star break cannot come soon enough.

Game Notes

Mike Pelfrey had another bad outing — his third straight poor performance, and also the third consecutive time he failed to pitch at least five innings. Big Pelf allowed 4 earned runs on 12 hits and 3 walks in 4 innings, and the scary thing is, it could’ve been worse. Pelfrey allowed the leadoff batter to reach base in four of the five frames he started, and was in trouble in every inning. However, he was like a cat with nine lives, and escaped trouble twice thanks to the double play. It was only a matter of time before his luck ran out, and it did in the fifth.

All week we’ve been hearing that Pelfrey is suffering from a “dead arm phase”, but it looks to me like a mechanical issue — one that’s been mentioned here before. After collecting more video stills, we’ll investigate this further.

Elmer Dessens did not have an earned run charged against him, but he did allow two inherited runners to score — both charged to Pelfrey.

The offense was anemic — an alarming recent trend. While the Braves pounded out 15 hits, the Mets managed only 4 — three of them were smacked by Angel Pagan. Pagan hit his 17th double and stole two bases. Carlos Beltran better be comfortable playing right field, because there is no reason to remove Pagan from the lineup.

Jose Reyes left the game in the top of the 7th after making a throw from deep in the hole to put out Troy Glaus — presumably after aggravating his nagging oblique injury. I would hope that he is placed on the DL and held out of the All-Star festivities. I wonder if Mike Bordick is available?

Next Mets Game

The Mets and Braves play the final game of the first half on Sunday at 1:10 PM. Johan Santana faces Derek Lowe. Is anyone else surprised that Lowe has a better won-loss record than Santana?

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Pelfrey’s Dead Arm Explained

Posted on July 10, 2010 by Joe Janish

Mike Pelfrey is not struggling with a “dead arm” issue, despite what he thinks and despite what the Mets’ dinosaurs coaching staff would like us to believe.

If Mike Pelfrey has a problem that is affecting his performance, it is a mechanical flaw that has crept up here and there sporadically since last spring. It’s very, very subtle, but it can be avoided.

Check out these two stills, one taken from Pelf’s June 1 victory in San Diego and the other taken from his last start against the Reds:

Again, it’s very subtle, but do you notice anything different in the two photos?

In the left image, Pelfrey is slightly more upright as he begins his descent from the knee lift and is about to take the ball out of his glove. In the right image, see how he’s just slightly hunching his shoulders and leaning a hair toward third base? It seems like a little thing but it is enough to throw off his balance and cause his body to make a contrasting adjustment — which in turn throws off his mechanics just enough to affect his command. As Sir Isaac Newton once observed, “for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction”.

I’ll go further into this later, but in case you are watching the game, keep an eye on Pelfrey’s upper shoulders and his follow-through. When you see that little lean over, you will see his follow-through take him toward 1B, and the ball will likely be off-target. When you see him straighter, you’ll see a follow-through more in line and facing home plate — and likely his pitch reaching its intended target.

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July 10: Saturday Mets Links and Open Thread

Posted on July 10, 2010 by loge mezzanine

MetsToday – A recap of last night’s 4-2 loss at the hands of the division-leading Atlanta Braves.

MetsBlog – Jason Bay is getting booed. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy… But, you know what? The guy is handling it well.

BrooklynMetFan – BMF sees a couple of silver linings in last night’s loss and he is happy to see Billy Wagner healthy again.

MetsToday – Ruben Tejada is one of the worst-performing offensive players in baseball, over the last couple of weeks. In related news, 75% of MetsToday readers said they would prefer that Ruben Tejada remains the everyday second baseman, even after Luis Castillo returns.

TONIGHT’S GAME

The Mets (47-39) take on the Braves (51-35) in the second game of a three-game series at Citi Field. Mike Pelfrey (10-3, 3.39) will face Tim Hudson (8-4, 2.44). First pitch at 4:10pm.

Mets Lineup:
Pagan-CF
Reyes-SS
Wright-3B
Davis-1B
Bay-LF
Francoeur-RF
Barajas-C
Cora-2B
Pelfrey-RHP

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Ruben Tejada or Luis Castillo? Pick Your Poison.

Posted on July 10, 2010 by Matt Himelfarb

Two weeks ago, mostly everyone was singing the praises of Ruben Tejada. He appeared to be holding his own at the plate, while providing the best defense seen at the position in a decade.

Since than, Tejada’s come crashing back down to earth. Overall, in 101 plate appearances, he is hitting .221/.299/.267 (.566 OPS. .255 wOBA.) If Tejada qualified, he would be tied for the worst hitting regular in all of baseball with Cesar Izturis (.569 OPS. .255 wOBA).

This is hardly surprising. Here are some of Tejada’s projections coming into this year, including his MLE from AAA this year: Continue reading →

Posted in Opinion and Analysis, Stats | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Mets Game 86: Loss to Braves

Posted on July 10, 2010 by Joe Janish

Braves 4 Mets 2

It may happen every spring, but not necessarily every summer.

The R.A. Dickey Story took a slight turn away from a happy ending, as the Mets lost for the third time in his last three starts.

Dickey actually pitched well — and has pitched relatively well in these past three contests — but it wasn’t enough to push the Mets to victory. His knuckler danced and dipped all evening, but it wasn’t enough to fool big-time sluggers Omar Infante and Melky “Not Quite Miguel” Cabrera.

Game Notes

Dickey worked his way through 6 2/3 innings, keeping the Mets in the game by allowing only 2 runs, before Cabrera and Infante went yard back to back to chase R.A. from the game. Infante’s blast came off a knuckler with too much spin, but Cabrera’s seemed to come off a flat slider.

Angel Pagan was the leadoff batter with Jose Reyes in the two-hole for reasons unknown. Pagan had two hits and stole his 17th base. Reyes looked very uncomfortable — he was hitting righthanded against RHP Tommy Hanson — and proved to be worse at sacrifice bunting than most little leaguers. In his defense, I’m not sure why a manager would ever ask Reyes to sac bunt, particularly knowing that Reyes is so dreadful at the activity.

The only other Met with more than one hit was R.A. Dickey, who also happened to score both of the Mets’ runs.

Omar Infante was a last-minute substitute for Chipper Jones, whose back is ailing. Infante finished the night 4-for-5 with 2 runs scored.

Melky Cabrera also scored twice and had three hits. Cabrera and Infante kind of remind me of Oakland’s “Bash Brothers” from the days of yore.

Josh Thole did an admirable job of stabbing at, and stopping, Dickey’s knucklers. Though I must admit I absolutely hate his catching stance, which is a really old-school position from the 1970s, is off-balance, and limits his mobility.

Next Mets Game

The Mets and Braves do it again at 4:10 pm on Saturday afternoon in Flushing (that game time smells of a FOX broadcast). Mike Pelfrey goes to the hill against Tiim Hudson in an epic battle of heavy sinkers.

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July 9: Afternoon Mets Links and Open Thread

Posted on July 9, 2010 by loge mezzanine

NY Times – LeBron James Cliff Lee is going to the Yankees. Probably…

Joel Sherman on Twitter – …or not?

MetsToday – The Mets farm system wasn’t good enough to land Cliff Lee, according to sources close to the Daily News. But I thought Omar Minaya had the prospects but chose instead to exercise caution to keep his prized farm system intact?

Faith and Fear in Flushing – Greg Prince writes about Bobby Valentine’s recent flirtation with the Marlins and the track record of former Mets managers (usually) failing to establish themselves as managers for other franchises.

Newsday – The Mets were giving away free tickets on Tuesday, to former season ticket holders.

The Daily Stache – Edwin Vasquez wants the real Mets to stand up. He also wants Alfonso Soriano to play second base.

MetsToday – The Mets have promoted Nick Evans and demoted Ryota Igarashi.

TONIGHT’S GAME

The Mets (47-38) take on the Braves (50-35) in the first of a three-game set at Citi Field. R.A. Dickey (6-1, 2.62) will face Tommy Hanson (8-5, 4.19).

Tonight’s lineup features Jose Reyes (who will only bat from the right side, due to his lingering oblique injury) batting second:

Pagan-CF
Reyes-SS
Wright-3B
Davis-1B
Bay-LF
Thole-C
Francoeur-RF
Tejada-2B
Dickey-RHP

Posted in Mets 2010 Games | 1 Comment