The Mets (19-20) take on the Braves (18-20) tonight at Turner Field…
Johan Santana (3-2, 3.88) goes up against Kris Medlen (1-1, 2.35)…
First pitch at 7:10pm EDT…
Discuss…
(By the way, if you see a comment from “planethardball” on Twitter – that’s me)
Who’s in the mood for a link dump?
OnTheBlack – Kerel Cooper analyzes the slow starts of Jason Bay and Jose Reyes
BrooklyMetFan – BMF wants to give all the credit for last night’s victory to “former minor league baseball player” Jeff Wilpon and his 90-minute meeting – but not REALLY
The Apple – A fictional (and hilarious) Top 10 List of Things Discussed at the Mets Super Secret Meeting in Atlanta
Amazin Avenue – As reported in the comments section for yesterday’s game recap by Mike Tomaselli, the Mets will be sending down Jenrry Mejia to start.
The Mets (18-20) take on the Braves (18-19) tonight at Turner Field…
Mike Pelfrey (4-1, 3.14) goes up against Derek Lowe (5-3, 5.73)…
First pitch at 7:10pm EDT…
Discuss…
FYI, I will be in South America for business this week and will have sporadic access to the baseball and the internet. As such, John Fitzgerald will pinch-hit for me and keep you informed. I’m certain his performance off the bench will surpass what you’ve seen from the likes of Gary Matthews Jr. and Smithtown’s own Frank Catalanotto.
That said please continue to check in to MetsToday and chime in with your comments. Please be nice to John. Thanks.
If you’re curious as to my whereabouts, you can follow me on Twitter @joejanish.
I’ll be back in the USA on Saturday. What are the chances that Jerry Manuel and Dan Warthen are still employed when I get back?
First, the bad news: in addition to losing this game, getting swept in a four-game series in Florida for the first time ever, losing the 7th of their last 8, and falling into last place, the Mets also lost the services of Jon Niese, who aggravated his 2009 hamstring injury and likely will miss at least one start.
The good news was that the Mets battled back through the end of the game, and at one point were only one run behind. So if nothing else, these 2010 Mets have spirit. A bit more talent would be nice, but you can’t have everything, I guess.
Jason Bay was 2-for-5, including a triple in the ninth that he hustled out when Cameron Maybin took his time getting to the ball. Bay also hustled out an infield single earlier in the game.
David Wright hit a two-run double in the sixth, but otherwise had all kinds of trouble both at theplate and in the field, with balls taking bad hops, kicking off the bag, and deflecting off his glove. He was charged with only one error but it could’ve been 2 or 3. Wright struck out twice and has struck out at least once in each of his last 13 straight games, and is leading the league in both strikeouts and walks.
Gary Matthews Jr. collected his third and fourth hits of May, including a pinch-hit single to load the bases in the seventh. His RBI single in the 8th was a dribbler that passed through the shortstop hole vacated by Hanley Ramirez, who for reasons unknown was hanging near 2B to keep Angel Pagan close with two outs and a 4-run lead.
Alex Cora ripped a double in the seventh to drive in two and bring the Mets within a run. Keith Hernandez pointed out that he made a “perfect step out” prior to the pitch — calling time just as the pitcher was set. Very sage and savvy, that Mr. Cora … but is it enough to make up for a .220 AVG / .310 OBP?
Cora’s double set up a big, 2-out, RBI opportunity to tie the game for Chris Carter — who made his first start as a Met — but Jerry Manuel removed Carter for pinch-hitter Jeff Francoeur when LHP Dan Meyer came on in relief. Francoeur promptly popped out to right field on the first pitch he saw.
In case you were wondering, Carter was hitting .370 with a .915 OPS vs. lefties down in AAA. He is 2-for-3 lifetime in MLB against LHP. Further, lefthanded hitters are 5-for-8 with a 1.700 OPS this year vs. Dan Meyer.
Fernando Nieve gave up a 3-run homer to Chris Coghlan in his one inning of work. I can’t figure out why Nieve has been struggling so mightily lately. I mean, he’s only appeared in 23 games thus far — that’s barely on pace for 98 over a full season. And he appeared in 29 games as a reliever in 2006 so this bullpen role shouldn’t be difficult to figure out.
Francisco Rodriguez hurled a perfect 8th inning. Is it me, or is he starting to look portly?
Mets start fresh in Atlanta on Monday, sending Mike Pelfrey to the mound against Derek Lowe. Game time is 7:10 PM. GM Omar Minaya will be in attendance.
The Mets (18-19) take on the Fish (19-18) at 1:10pm EST. Jon Niese (1-1, 4.58) will start for the Mets against Ricky Nolasco (3-2, 3.66).
And here is your Open Thread to discuss…
This time, the Mets offense scored some runs — five, in fact. But the Mets pitching allowed more.
In truth, the game never seemed as close as it was. I will not go so far as to say the Mets gave up — they didn’t — but for whatever reason, the run differentiation — even when it was only 3, then 2 — seemed much larger than it was. Maybe it was me.
John Maine began his start by tossing 12 straight balls to walk the bases loaded and allowed 3 runs in the first frame, which required 40 pitches to complete. He threw a total of 112 in 5 weak innings, in which he allowed 6 runs on 7 hits and 5 walks. I truly believe that Maine would look a lot worse, and people would be calling for him to be demoted to the minors, if it were not for Oliver Perez. In other words, Maine is lucky to have Ollie around as the “ugly girl” — because Maine looks a lot prettier in comparison.
Jose Reyes returned to the leadoff spot and went 2-for-5 with a double and 2 runs scored. I’m sure it was just a coincidence.
With Reyes back on top, Angel Pagan and his .326 OBP was the #3 hitter. Not sure why, but whatever. Meantime #5 hitter David Wright (.406 OBP) went 2-for-3 with a run scored and 2 RBI. Even when Wright is slumping, he’s still the best hitter on the Mets. Did you know he’s first or second on the Mets in every major offensive category?
Luis Castillo drove in 2 runs with 2 hits, including a 390-foot double to right-center in the 9th. I know most Mets fans hate him, but his steady if unspectacular production is nowhere close to the reason the Mets are in fourth place.
Though, Castillo was caught napping in the bottom of the eighth, when Pedro Feliciano quick-pitched Hanley Ramirez and fooled Luis instead of Hanley. Castillo was looking down at his shoes as the pitch was delivered, and looked up just in time to see Hanley’s grounder bound up the middle and past him for a base hit. I doubt Castillo would’ve gotten to the ball AND thrown out the speedy Ramirez, but it didn’t look good.
Yes, fourth place. Weren’t they in first about a week ago? And in second a few days ago? Don’t look now, but the last-place Braves are now 17-19, but 6-4 in their last 10, while the 18-19 Mets are 3-7 over the same span — and have lost 4 in a row.
As long as we’re quoting numbers … the Mets’ 4-11 road record is among the worst in all MLB. The only team with a worse record on the road is the Orioles (5-15).
If there was a silver lining in this game, it was the fact the home team didn’t have to bat in the ninth — which saved an inning pitched by the bullpen.
The Marlins go for the sweep in the fourth and final contest at 1:10 PM on Sunday afternoon. Jon Niese pitches for the Mets against the Marlins’ Ricky Nolasco. Nolasco is 3-2 with a 3.66 ERA and 1.09 WHIP, and is averaging a hair under 7 IP per start.