Here is the Mets lineup for tonight’s game vs. the Phillies:
Jose Reyes – SS
Luis Castillo – 2B
Jason Bay – LF
Ike Davis – 1B
David Wright – 3B
Angel Pagan – CF
Rod Barajas – C
Jeff Francoeur – RF
Hisanori Takahashi – LHP
Looks pretty deep, all of a sudden, especially now that Bay is red-hot and Francoeur might be waking from his month-long slumber with the lumber. Takahashi’s soft stuff might keep the Phillies’ bats quiet, considering their problems with the knuckleballers lately.
Never mind the hullabaloo stirred up by the Straw Man the other day in the Mets’ clubhouse — Darryl Strawberry has much more interesting news to convey: his own restaurant.
According to Grub Street, Darryl Strawberry will be opening a restaurant in Douglaston, Queens called “Strawberry’s Sports Grill”.
If you are interested in working for Darryl, head over to CraigsList and see the ad for “GM Needed for Darryl Strawberry’s New Sports Grill“. Three years experience required at minimum.
And if you get the job, don’t slack off or overcook a burger ordered medium-rare — lest Darryl come into the kitchen and let you know you could be doing better.
Maybe the Mets were stealing the Phillies’ signs.
The suddenly high-powered Mets offense pounded Jamie Moyer for four runs in five innings, and added another four against the Philadelphia bullpen, to propel the team to their third straight win and fourth in their last five games.
Meantime, the Phillies were phlummoxed by phloaters phlipped phrom the phingers oph R.A. Dickey. Dickey’s knuckleball shut them down cold as he recorded his first MLB win since April 10, 2009.
R.A. Dickey fluttered his way through 6 strong innings, shutting out the mighty Phillies while spreading around 7 hits and 3 walks, striking out 7. He was drilled in the left (non-pitching) elbow by a line drive off the bat of Ryan Howard early in the game, but toughed it out. His elbow swelled significantly and was x-rayed in the clubhouse between innings but no broken bones were found.
While they had the x-ray machine warmed up, Oliver Perez‘s head was scanned. Nothing was found.
Rod Barajas was using an oversized, pancake-shaped catcher’s glove owned by Dickey to aid his attempt at stopping the knuckleball. To me it looks like a softball catcher’s glove, which is kind of like a cross between a catcher’s and first baseman’s glove.
When I caught Jim Bouton’s knuckler (back in the 1990s), he had an oversized catcher’s glove as well, but it was old-school — thick and more like a big pillow than the pancake-shaped one Dickey has. Personally, I didn’t like using the big mitt because it was heavy — and with the last-moment, unpredictable break of the knuckler, I found it more effective to use my own mitt, or one that was lighter and smaller, so I could move my hands quickly. I have no idea if Dickey’s “pancake” glove is lighter in weight, but Barajas seemed to do OK with it, despite a few pitches deflecting off here and there — believe me, it ain’t easy.
Jamie Moyer and R.A. Dickey combined to throw 144 pitches clocked under 80 MPH. Moyer’s fastball was clocked as slow as 77 MPH — and a few of Dickey’s knucklers reached 78 MPH.
Raul Valdez spun a three-inning save (his first as a Major Leaguer) and blasted an RBI double in the bottom of the eighth. I still can’t figure out how the heck he’s doing it.
Jeff Francoeur busted out of his slump, with a single, a double, 2 RBI, and a run scored. Even his two outs were hard-hit.
The Mets have reached Omar Minaya’s goal of .500, but remain in last place. Though, they’re only 4 games out of first.
The Mets and Phillies do it again on Wednesday night at 7:10 PM. Hisanori Takahashi goes to the mound against Joe Blanton.
Fresh off a series win over their crosstown rival Yankees and on a “roll” of winning 3 out of their last 4, the Mets now host the NL East’s first-place Phillies, with a chance to cut their distance from the top of the standings in half.
Whether they can do it is up for debate, but while we ponder that thought, we can also get some of the inside scoop on the Phillies from fellow ESPN SweetSpot blogger Bill Baer of Crashburn Alley — where, by the way, you will be able to read a similar Q&A, only with yours truly providing feedback on the Mets. Continue reading
Depending on who you talk to, the Mets are either underachieving or overachieving, and accomplishing one or the other because of Jerry Manuel or not because of Jerry Manuel.
It’s a fascinating dichotomy. When the Mets are doing poorly, many point to the weaknesses on the roster — and in particular the starting pitching. Yet, when the Mets went on their 10-1 streak, they looked to have enough talent to contend — to be world-beaters, in fact. On paper, their starting pitching and bullpen both appeared outstanding, and if the offensive ever started clicking … look out!
When that same assembly of pitchers and batters went 5-13 in the first 18 days of May Continue reading
Over the past week or so we’ve been experimenting with some things here at MetsToday and I’d appreciate your feedback.
Specifically:
1. How do you like the new comment system? What in particular do you like / not like?
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Please post answers to any/all of the above in the comments section. I could’ve used an external survey site but that seemed too formal and complicated. Many thanks!
The Mets have won 3 of their last 4, which could be termed a “roll”. With the day off today let’s focus on the positive and savor the moment.
Jason Bay is literally carrying the Mets on his back — he’s 10 for his last 15 in these past four games, scoring 8 runs and driving 4 extra-base hits, including his first two homers after a 92-at-bat drought. He had multiple-hit games in all of the wins, and only one hit in the loss (to the Yankees on Friday).
Bay also has a hit in each of his last 7 at-bats and has reached base in 9 consecutive plate appearances, going back to Friday night.
One more Bay fact: he has a hit in 15 consecutive games at home — tied for the longest at-home streak (with Cody Ross).
Last night’s win marked two milestones: the Mets’ first “rubber game” win of 2010 and their first “Subway Series” win over the Yankees since 2008, when they swept the Bombers in the Bronx.
Johan Santana’s win last night was the first by a Mets starter not named Mike Pelfrey since April 30th. Santana has a 1.35 ERA over his last 3 starts.
Wins by Santana and Pelfrey over the weekend marked the first time Mets starters had back-to-back wins since April 28-30, when John Maine beat the Dodgers and Jon Niese beat the Phillies.
The Mets are 9-3 at Citi Field when they hit at least one home run. They are 3-0 when they hit two or more.
The Mets are 18-7 this year when they score first.
Francisco Rodriguez has caused 76 heart attacks in his last three appearances, tying a mark set by Jesse Orosco in 1986.
Jerry Manuel keeps his job for at least another week, maybe two.
Jason Bay continued his red-hot hitting — he is about as locked in as a batter can be right now — and Johan Santana put forth perhaps his best, most clutch outing of the year as the Mets beat the Yankees and won their first “rubber match” of 2010.
Johan Santana was spectacular through 7 2/3, allowing only 1 earned run on 6 hits and 3 walks, striking out three, relying predominantly on fastballs up and well-placed changeups down. He cruised from his first pitch through his 86th, but quickly lost his command in the eighth as the Yankees loaded the bases on two walks and a single. However, Pedro Feliciano came in and struck out Robinson Cano on three straight sliders — perhaps the sharpest he’s thrown all season.
Meanwhile, Jason Bay continued to carry the Mets on his back, hitting 2 homeruns in as many at-bats, walking once, and getting plunked (unintentionally). He scored two and drove in three. For those who were up in arms about Bay for the first month and a half of the season, you were told he was “streaky”.
Jose Reyes had another two hits and is starting to look a little better at the plate. Remember he sat on a couch for over a month.
Luis Castillo was a late scratch from the lineup and Alex Cora took over the #2 hole. He made all of us eat crow with another clutch 2-out, 2-RBI single, followed by a stolen base. Championship ballplayer, or performing well enough in spots to create that illusion? You decide.
There are rumblings that Castillo will need to go on the DL shortly. If so there’s an outside chance that Cora’s vesting option for 2011 automatically kicks in based on games started (he needs to start 80, he’s started in 17 thus far).
Ryota Igarashi, who was activated from the DL a few hours before game time, came on in the ninth to protect a 6-1 lead. He proceeded to throw the ball all over the place and allow the Yankees to rally, forcing Jerry Manuel to bring in K-Rod. Iggy’s final line was 1/3 inning, 3 runs, 2 hits, 1 walk, 18 pitches.
Francisco Rodriguez caused everyone a minor heart attack en route to his 8th save. He threw 21 pitches in the process, following up his 5-out, 28-pitch performance on Saturday night. That’s 49 pitches in two days and 63 pitches over the last four. The Mets have an off day on Monday but will that be enough rest before they face the Phillies on Tuesday?
As just mentioned, Mets have off on Monday then start a three-game set vs. the first-place Phillies in Flushing on Tuesday at 7:10 PM. R.A. Dickey takes the mound against Jamie Moyer in what promises to be the MLB game with the lowest average MPH per pitch.