What Will Become of Ollie?

Posted on May 31, 2010 by John Fitzgerald

With the Mets suddenly in the thick of the NL East race with a 26-25 record, they continue to look for an answer to the Oliver Perez situation. Right now, Ollie is languishing in the bullpen after refusing to go to Buffalo to work out his problems in AAA. Neither the Mets nor Team Ollie (population: Scott Boras) wants to see Perez in the bullpen, but he will remain there until someone blinks.

So what can be done?

ESPN’s Adam Rubin is reporting that the Mets still think they can get Perez to accept a minor league assignment. But even if Ollie accepts the assignment, there is no guarantee it would work. Going to AAA might help Ollie by forcing him to focus, but the move could just as easily embarrass him and send his mental state spinning off in another direction, even farther from where he needs to be.

Mike Flam of The New York Times thinks the Mets should take a different path with their troubled southpaw. Rather than demote Ollie, Flam suggests the Mets might be better off releasing Perez. He points out that the Tigers recently got rid of their own troubled southpaw when they designated Dontrelle Willis for assignment.

Bill Price of The Daily News thinks the Mets should consider a Willis-for-Perez swap, basically trading one troubled lefty for another. A change of scenery is a longshot, but it could be the only solution left for either pitcher.

What do you think the Mets should do with Ollie?

Posted in Pitching Staff | Tagged | 21 Comments

Mets Links (Memorial Day Edition)

Posted on May 31, 2010 by John Fitzgerald

ESPN New York – To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first episode of “Seinfeld,” Mark Simon has a list of the show’s many Mets references.

OnTheBlack – Kerel Cooper highlights the many streaks of the 2010 New York Mets. It’s been a roller coaster ride, to say the least.

Daily News – Matt Gagne has a great article about R.A. Dickey’s life as a journeyman knuckleballer. (Note: Check out Jim Bouton’s “Ball Four” if you want to read about the day-to-day madness of being a journeyman knuckleballer)

The Mets Police – Shannon Shark relieves the infamous Tom Seaver trade, via Faith and Fear in Flushing and this SI article.

ESPN – Adam Rubin reports that Padres closer Heath Bell is still sore at the Mets on account of how he was treated in his days with the team. He seems to have a point, but it might be time to let it go, dontcha think?

Daily News – Bill Madden thinks Omar Minaya has done a better job than Brian Cashman so far this season. It’s a long season, Bill. And Cashman has a pretty lengthy track record of putting solid teams on the field. Just sayin…

*Bonus Link* Hangin’ ’em up – After reading the Tom Seaver article at Mets Police, I looked up Steve Henderson’s career stats… which led me to Henderson’s stint with the Senior Professional Baseball Association (SPBA)… The SPBA was a short-lived over-35 professional baseball league. In the league’s first season, George Foster led the league with 11 home runs, followed by Dave Kingman (8), and Bobby Bonds (5).

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Mets Game 51: Win Over Brewers

Posted on May 30, 2010 by Joe Janish

Mets 10 Brewers 4

The game was a little closer than the final score would indicate.

The Brewers and Mets swapped leads early in the contest, until the Mets pulled ahead 4-2 in the sixth, then extended it to 6-2 in the seventh against Jeff Suppan, then trounced Zach Braddock for another four runs in the top of the ninth to put the game away.

Game Notes

R.A. Dickey is starting to make a case to remain in the rotation indefinitely. He tossed 7 full innings, allowing 4 runs on 9 hits and no walks, striking out 3. Not the most brilliant outing ever, but the Mets could use a starter who can provide that kind of length on a consistent basis.

If I told you that a Mets starter would pitch 7 innings and not walk a batter, would you guess it to be a knuckleballer?

Jeff Francoeur had a chat with Jerry Manuel after Saturday night’s game and went 4-for-4 with 2 RBI and 3 runs scored. Cause and effect or coincidence? If the former, then is Jerry to blame for Francoeur’s extended slump? Considering that Frenchy was hitting .400 in the four games previous to his meeting with Manuel, I’m betting on the latter. But I won’t be surprised to hear/see a ton of hype about how Manuel got Francoeur back on track.

Henry Blanco also had a big day, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs, and an RBI. He also threw out Carlos Gomez attempting to steal.

Angel Pagan collected another two hits, including his fourth homer of the season.

Jonathan Lucroy struggled behind the plate for the Brewers, halting the game with incessant mound conferences and unable to get into a rhythm with starter Randy Wolf nor most of the Milwaukee relievers. To be that much of a distraction can negatively affect an entire pitching staff — remember Omir Santos? Don’t be surprised to see the Brew Crew pick up a veteran backstop such as Paul Lo Duca, or deal for someone like Chris Iannetta.

Next Mets Game

The Mets head further west, playing the Padres in San Diego on Monday night. Hisanori Takahashi goes to the mound against Kevin Correia. Game time is 10:05 PM EST. Ugh.

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Game 51 Open Thread

Posted on May 30, 2010 by Joe Janish

Can the Mets avoid a sweep in Milwaukee?

Posted in Mets 2010 Games | 3 Comments

Mets Game 50: Loss to Brewers

Posted on May 30, 2010 by Joe Janish

Brewers 8 Mets 6

My wife summed it up perfectly: a long game is OK if it’s interesting. But when it’s not, it’s like you had your Saturday night stolen from you.

Although there were 14 runs scored, and although the Mets were within 2 runs for the last half of the game, the contest did more to suck the life out of you than provide entertainment. 345 pitches and 10 walks over 3 hours and 28 minutes can do that. Had it not been for an Ike Davis three-run homer to cut the lead to two, I might’ve flipped the remote to Fried Green Tomatoes by the fifth inning.

Game Notes

Jerry Manuel’s managerial decisions were mind-boggling, beginning with the decision to start Fernando Nieve. I realize that Nieve made a request to audition as a starter, but that didn’t mean Manuel had to appease him. Nieve was terrible, despite reaching 95 MPH on the radar gun. It took him nearly 50 pitches to complete the first frame, which was highlighted by a Corey Hart grand slam. The final line was 2 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, 5 ER — and 5 Ks. But that’s to be expected from a relief pitcher who was burned out by the end of April. My guess is Nieve is so worn out he can’t even feel his fingers.

Oliver Perez followed in Nieve’s footsteps, allowing 3 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks in the next two innings.

Offensively, the Mets weren’t terrible — at the beginning. But they petered out after Ike’s blast. Jose Reyes, Jason Bay, Jeff Francoeur, and Angel Pagan all had two hits apiece. Of those four, only Bay didn’t have a stolen base.

Rollie Fingers is back with the Brewers closing out games. Actually, that’s not true — but his waxed handlebar mustache has returned to Milwaukee for save situations, attaching itself to the upper lip of a fireballer named John Axford.

Next Mets Game

Mets avoid the sweep in Milwaukee by sending R.A. Dickey to the mound against Randy Wolf. Game time is 2:10 PM. If it’s between staying at home to watch the game and going to a barbecue, I recommend the BBQ. Fry up some green tomatoes.

Posted in Mets 2010 Games | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Game Day Open Thread: May 29 at Milwaukee

Posted on May 29, 2010 by Joe Janish

Fire away …

Posted in Gameday Open Thread | 9 Comments

Mike, Matt: Can We Duel Already?

Posted on May 29, 2010 by Joe Janish


It seems so long ago, but this wasn’t the first time Mike Francesa criticized Matt Cerrone.

Mike says “who cares what Matt Cerrone thinks“? Matt addresses the comment, then removes the post. Then Mike backtracks (a little). The bloggers unite, calling out Mike and every other old-school media dinosaur who couldn’t power on a computer if their life depended on it — much less “get” this “blog thing”.

In the end, it’s welcome drama to an otherwise slow Memorial Day weekend in the blogosphere.

I still say let’s stage a duel between Matt and Mike to settle this like men, and create an enormous public relations opportunity / fund raiser. I have the ideal location.

Or maybe there’s another way … cast your vote below:

[poll id=”15″]

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Mets Game 49: Loss to Brewers

Posted on May 29, 2010 by Joe Janish

Brewers 2 Mets 0

The bad news: the 1969 Mets record of 42 consecutive scoreless innings remains intact.

Sorry, no good news.

Johan Santana and Yovani Gallardo locked horns in a good old fashioned pitchers’ duel — a real barn-burner of a contest, matching goose eggs for 8 innings. The Mets had a couple of mild threats that were extinguished, and in the end it was the Brewers who finally crossed home plate — but not before Mets pitchers extended their scoreless innings streak to 35 2/3.

Game Notes

Johan Santana allowed only 3 hits and 2 walks in 8 shutout innings, expending 105 pitches. If I were manager, I might’ve allowed Santana to go out there for the ninth. But I’m just a blogger, second-guessing from the comfort of my couch.

Yovani Gallardo gave up 8 hits and a walk, but went the distance, earning the first shutout of his career and completing only his second game ever. He struck out 7 and tossed 121 pitches in all. Several Mets batters were miffed by called strikes by home plate umpire Jeff Nelson, but from the perspective of our TV viewing angle, it appeared that Nelson was fairly consistent with the zone for both sides. Yes, many pitches were close, but I don’t trust the off-center cameras to give us the best viewpoint. Santana was getting several close calls as well.

Interestingly, Santana and Rod Barajas were the only Mets to collect more than one hit in the game. Santana blasted a double off the rightfield wall literally moments after SNY announcer Gary Cohen suggested that Johan could swing for a homerun.

Ryota Igarashi was the scapegoat and losing pitcher, as he allowed an infield single to Ryan Braun and a walkoff 2-run homer to Corey Hart with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.

Next Mets Game

The Mets face the Brewers again on Saturday night at 7:10 PM in Milwaukee. Fernando Nieve attempts to keep his arm anatomically connected while Manny Parra takes the mound for the Brew Crew.

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