Mets Game 44: Win Over Nationals

Posted on May 26, 2009 by Joe Janish

Mets 5 Nationals 2

The Mets bullpen tried their mightiest to blow the game, but discovered what a tall order it is to hand a game to the lowly Nationals.

John Maine pitched six innings of four-hit ball, and the Mets pitchers escaped with a win despite issuing nine walks to the Nats. Though, Washington pitching wasn’t much better, giving the Mets seven free passes in a contest that could have been termed a walk-a-thon.

In the end, the Mets emerged the victor, thanks in part to a three-run homer off the bat of Gary Sheffield in the sixth inning. After Sheff’s blast, Maine hit the showers and four Mets relievers combined for 6 walks in the final three innings before claiming victory.

Notes

For the third straight game, a video review of a homerun call stopped play momentarily. Sheffield’s homer deflected off the hands of a fan reaching over the wall in left field.

Sheffield, Carlos Beltran, and Luis Castillo collected two hits apiece. Beltran and Ramon Martinez drove in the other two Mets runs.

It took J.J. Putz and Francisco Rodriguez a combined 52 pitches to record the final 7 outs of the ballgame.

Several times during the game, because of the MLB-issued red hats for Memorial Day, I had to look twice to figure out who was on the field. I kept thinking it was the Nationals on defense when it was actually the Mets.

For the record, the red hats clashed mightily against the orange and blue uniforms, but as long as they help raise money for veterans, it’s something I’m happy to deal with for one day.

In the first inning, Carlos Beltran attempted to score on a Gary Sheffield two-out single. As he approached home plate, he had to gingerly step around Sheffield’s bat, which was resting in the baseline, in front of home plate. Beltran had no chance to score — the throw beat him by 20 feet — but the fact the bat was out there was absolutely inexcusable. On-deck hitter David Wright should know better, and should have cleared the bat. Little things like that are inexcusable.

Speaking of short rosters, Jose Reyes sat AGAIN. Enough is enough — the moment he wasn’t in the lineup, Reyes should have been placed on the 15-day DL retroactive to his last game appearance. Continuing this “day to day” stuff is stupidity.

If the Nats couldn’t win this one, they ain’t winning any of ’em — they left 13 runners on base, bad even by Mets-in-April standards. Pencil in a sweep.

Next Mets Game

The Mets and Nats do it again at 7:10 PM on Tuesday night. Livan Hernandez faces Craig Stammen.

Posted in Mets 2009 Games | Tagged , , | 20 Comments

Mets Game 43: Loss to Red Sox

Posted on May 25, 2009 by Joe Janish

Red Sox 12 Mets 5

A sweep would’ve been nice, but beating the Red Sox in Boston two out of three is nothing to sneeze at — particularly the way the Mets took their two.

As it was, a sweep looked like a real possibility in the early innings, as Tim Wakefield’s knuckleball was flat and Tim Redding was doing a decent if inefficient job of setting down the Bosox sluggers. Through the first four innings, the Mets enjoyed a 4-3 lead and looked like they would be tacking on more, as Wakefield had walked four and wasn’t fooling anyone with his knuckler. Then, in the fifth frame, the floater started fluttering, Redding faltered, and before you could blink the Bosox blasted nine runs in three innings to salvage one win from the series.

Redding left the game in the fifth with two outs and a 5-4 lead, but one pitch from reliever Sean Green turned him from potential victor to loser, as non-brother Nick Green ripped a two-run single. Nick Green was caught in a rundown between first and second to end the inning, but not before the go-ahead run scored. From there, the Mets’ bullpen was battered for six runs and the Omir Santosless lineup never had a chance to make up that kind of deficit against the likes of Manny Delcarmen and Takashi Saito.

Notes

Danny Murphy played another sharp game at first base, but was 1-for-4. His average has now dipped below .250, to .248. Perhaps as he gets more comfortable (i.e., can think less) at the position, he can get his “hitting mind” back on track. And, facing a knuckleballer is rarely a way to work out of a slump.

Fernando Tatis played the last inning of the game at shortstop and successfully handled one ground ball. Since Jose Reyes is expected to start in the opener against the Nationals, the experiment of Tatis at SS may be an indication that Ramon Martinez’s days are numbered. After a week of watching him, I can’t believe the Mets think Martinez is a better option for the Alex Cora role than picking up Alex Cintron, or making a deal for a minor leaguer such as Chris Woodward or Angel Berroa. Easier said than done, of course, but you don’t necessarily have to give up a prospect for a veteran like that — sometimes you can outright purchase a player (as the Mets did with Trot Nixon a few years back) or pull the old “player to be named later” out of your hat.

Curious, would Andy Green have been given this much of an opportunity in the Reyes / bench role? Meaning, would he still be on the 25-man roster after going 2-for-23 with four errors in five games? I realize he’s not really a shortstop and he’s hitting under .200 in AAA, but he was super in spring training — doesn’t that count for something? I know Martinez has hundreds of games of experience at the position, but gee whiz, you promote a 36-year-old like him after appearing in only 9 minor league games? Why not hunt down Jose Valentin if you’re that desperate? I’ll take him after nine fungoes in his backyard.

Next Mets Game

Mets come home to play the Nationals for a three-game set beginning on Memorial Day at 7:10 PM. John Maine faces John Lannan.

Posted in Mets 2009 Games | Tagged | 6 Comments

Mets Game 42: Win Over Red Sox

Posted on May 24, 2009 by Joe Janish

Mets 3 Red Sox 2

This was a game the Mets shouldn’t have won, and they by unexpected means with the involvement of unlikely men.

Mike Pelfrey pitched a brilliant ballgame, allowing just two runs on six hits in seven innings, but Josh Beckett was just a bit better, allowing one run on five hits in eight frames. It appeared that the Bosox were to deliver a heartbreaker as Jonathan Papelbon stepped on the mound to face the second half of the Mets lineup.

Things looked even bleaker after Papelbon struck out David Wright and Jeremy Reed. Down by a run with two outs and Omir Santos at the plate, many Mets fans likely turned off the TV.

But this Fenway Park, where anything can happen, at any time. Just ask Russell “Bucky” Dent.

Santos lashed a Papelbon pitch over the Green Monster, scoring Gary Sheffield from first and giving the Mets a one-run lead. Now all the Mets had to do was send out K-Rod to seal the victory, right?

Instead, J.J. Putz took the mound in the bottom of the ninth, and despite walking leadoff batter Kevin Youkilis, managed to earn his second save of the season — but not before getting some help from Ramon Martinez, who made a diving snare of a Mike Lowell ground ball and threw a one-hopper to Danny Murphy to end the game.

Notes

Nothing for me to add. Either you saw the game or you didn’t. Mets won the series, regardless of what happens today. I think it’s clear: the Mets and Oliver Perez have quite a bit in common, in that we’ll never know which one (good Mets / bad Mets) will show up on a particular day.

Comment away.

Next Mets Game

The series finale begins at 1:35 PM on Sunday afternoon. Tim Redding pitches against Tim Wakefield.

Posted in Mets 2009 Games | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Mets Game 41: Win Over Red Sox

Posted on May 22, 2009 by Joe Janish

Mets 5 Red Sox 3

For the first time in five tries, the Mets won a ballgame.

Ace Johan Santana gave the Mets seven strong innings, allowing only three hits, and the offense gave him sufficient support for the second time in as many starts.

This is why the Mets broke the bank to pay for a “stopper” last February.

Offensively, it was a team effort, with runs driven in by Angel Pagan, Gary Sheffield, David Wright, Omir Santos, and, unbelievably, Ramon Martinez.

Francisco Rodriguez came on in the ninth to earn his 12th save in a dozen tries.

Notes

Sheffield’s RBI was the Mets’ first homerun since May 13. Sheffield also hit the Mets last homerun.

The home plate umpire had a huge strike zone, for both sides.

The Mets made three errors behind Santana — two were by Ramon Martinez.

In the fifth inning, Angel Pagan sacrificed Danny Murphy to second, and Murphy inexplicably tried to continue on to third base. First baseman Kevin Youkilis TOOK HIS TIME throwing the ball across the diamond and still pegged Murphy by ten feet. Apparently, hitting in the leadoff spot confused Daniel into thinking he has Reyes-like running speed.

In the sixth inning, Santana plugged Youkilis with a fastball on the middle part of the plate. Youkilis crowds the plate and had he not been hit by the pitch, it might’ve been a strike. In any case, Youkilis took his time walking to first and Santana told him (in so many words) to move his keister. The two exchanged words but nothing came of it.

Several times during the broadcast, Ron Darling pointed out Dice-K’s “gyro ball”. Just for the record, the “gyro ball” is a myth, and Matsuzaka himself denied that he threw such a pitch several years ago. Here in the USA, we call that particular pitch a “hanging slider”.

Speaking of Matsuzaka, I was extremely pleased to see him leave the game after the fifth. His methodical rhythm and laborious attempt to make batters swing and miss at every single pitch drive me crazy. It’s like watching Steve Trachsel all over again — except, Trax rarely caused hitters to miss.

Bobby “Don’t Call Me Mel” Parnell was clocked at 100 MPH on the SNY radar gun for one pitch against J.D. Drew. Where did that come from? Parnell threw a perfect 8th frame to set up the save for K-Rod.

K-Rod was clocked at 95, which is a speed he hadn’t reached earlier. I wonder if the gun was on the fast side, or if the pitchers were emotionally hopped up for the ballgame.

Gary Sheffield did a pretty nice job dealing with the Green Monster in left field. Originally slated to be the DH, he went to left and Jeremy Reed to center so that Carlos Beltran, who is suffering from a sore knee, could be the designated hitter.

Reed didn’t have too many chances in center, but he made a fantastic running catch in the ninth on a Jason Varitek line drive, jumping at the last moment and slamming into the outfield wall with an impressive “thud”.

Ryan Church left the game early with a sore right hamstring. The infirmary is getting crowded.

Julio Lugo reminds me of those logic / IQ test questions … you know, “which of these does not belong?” Can’t put my finger on it, but he just doesn’t “fit” into the mold that all the other Red Sox players seem to be cut from.

Next Mets Game

The Mets and Red Sox do it again in Fenway on Saturday at 7:10 PM. Mike Pelfrey goes to the hill against Josh Beckett.

Posted in Mets 2009 Games | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Tonight’s Interleague Lineup: Sheffield as DH and the “Small Ball DH Theory”

Posted on May 22, 2009 by John Fitzgerald

Here is tonight’s lineup. Predictably, the Mets will use Gary Sheffield as their designated hitter:

Daniel Murphy  1B
Ryan Church  RF
Carlos Beltran  CF
Gary Sheffield  DH
David Wright  3B
Jeremy Reed  LF
Omir Santos  C
Ramon Martinez  SS
Luis Castillo  2B

On a related note, Joe and I have been working on a theory that National League teams might be better off letting pitchers hit in certain games at AL ballparks. For lack of a catchier title, we are calling it the “Small Ball DH Theory” – named after a new minor league website we are working on.

Now, before you call me crazy, consider this:

  • Jeremy Reed might be more useful as a LH pinch hitter and/or defensive replacement than as a #6 hitter
  • If Santana can go seven solid innings and leave with a lead or a close game, he will likely only hit 3 times. If he can lay down two good sacrifice bunts, we are only talking about “giving up” one at-bat.
  • Most NL teams lack an extra competent bat and therefore they have a hard time winning on the road in interleague play. Since 1997, only two NL teams have winning road records.
  • Since 2004, the number of NL teams with winning yearly road records since 2004 is 15 out of a possible 80 (16 teams x 5 years = 80 teams). This suggests to me that NL teams do themselves no favors by asking a part-time bat to step into a regular role. Jeremy Reed is a solid ballplayer, but he’s no David Ortiz.
  • By contrast, the number of AL teams with winning yearly road records since 2004 is 40 out of a possible 70 (14 teams x 5 years = 70 teams). This suggests to me that the AL is able to adapt to NL rules easier because they wind up with an everyday bat coming off the bench in later innings.
  • American League rules dictate that a team’s bench players will be used sparingly. However, NL teams typically have a deeper bench which allows a manager to play matchups in the late innings. This advantage is squandered by using the DH.

This theory would probably only work when there is an above average pitcher going for the NL team, because you want to be able to use sac bunts, double switches and late inning pinch-hitters in a close game. For instance, if Santana leaves tonight with a 2-1 lead, Jerry Manuel will have a distinct advantage because he will have his entire bench (including Reed) at his disposal as he mixes and matches his pitchers and his pinch-hitters.

In contrast, if Livan Hernandez was starting, you might expect him to go five innings and leave the game trailing 5-2 (or worse). In that case, it’s probably better to get Reed into the lineup from the get-go, just to keep the team in the game.

As I said, this is just a theory we have been working on. We may be wrong, but it’s something to think about during tonight’s game. We will be posting more about this when our research is completed.

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Filling the Holes

Posted on May 22, 2009 by Joe Janish

Carlos Delgado is out for at least two months, Jose Reyes is “day to day”, Alex Cora is out indefinitely, J.J. Putz may or may not have a chronic elbow issue, and Brian Schneider (yes, he’s still officially a Met) is hanging out with Oliver Perez in Port St. Lucie — and neither have a timetable for return.

Did I miss anyone?

Naturally, the question is, are the Mets serious about inserting Ramon Martinez in the sixth spot in the order on a daily basis, or will there be changes made to the current roster?
mark-derosa
Over at NY Sports Dog, Dave Singer suggested that the Mets flip Martinez for Argenis Reyes and work a deal for both Mark DeRosa and Kelly Shoppach. Several blogs are wondering about a promotion for Fernando Martinez, who is suddenly lighting up the International League. Some rumors have the Mets talking to the Nationals about Nick Johnson. Afternoon talk radio is suggesting tons of other possibilities. (Hat tip to MetsToday reader Micalpalyn for pointing out many of these links.)

What will the Mets ultimately do? Most likely, nothing.

Unless Reyes is out for an extended period — meaning, several weeks — I doubt we’ll see any big-name players come to the Mets. And we hopefully quelled the fear that Reyes is THAT hurt. Someone like Mark DeRosa would be great, but I don’t see the Mets handing over the package necessary to obtain him. The pie-in-the-sky suggestion by Singer that the Indians might consider Jon Niese, Omir Santos, and Eddie Kunz for DeRosa AND Shoppach is a pipe dream (sorry, Dave) — those players might not be enough for DeRosa by himself. Similarly, I doubt the Mets are going to go nutty and obtain someone over the top like Matt Holliday, as many fans have hoped. The organization simply can’t afford to trade away any more of their major prospects, and I don’t know that they’re ready to ship off Ryan Church, Bobby Parnell, or J.J. Putz, the only men on the 25-man who immediately come to mind as legitimate trade bait.

The Mets might be able to pick up Nick Johnson, but not until the Nats’ asking price (Manny Delcarmen from the Bosox?) drops considerably. And before they get that desperate, let’s see what “first baseman of the future” Danny Murphy can do, huh?

As for Ramon Martinez, I’m not too confident in his ability to replace Reyes over a two-week period, if that becomes necessary. But I’m not sure I like the other in-house options any better (Argenis Reyes, Jose Coronado, Jonathan Malo).

Reese Havens is hitting only .240 for Port St. Lucie but has 16 extra-base hits in 146 ABs

Reese Havens is hitting only .240 for Port St. Lucie but has 16 extra-base hits in 146 ABs


If they’re not going to keep Martinez around, and not going to sign free-agent utilityman Alex Cintron, I say go for broke and give Reese Havens a one-week audition — especially if you think you’d be happy with Mark DeRosa filling in at short. Havens right now is considered a decent hitter with power but the jury is out on his defense. In other words, a young version of DeRosa. Crazy? Maybe. But a small-market team would consider such a move. The big-market Mets, though, likely won’t.

As for Fernando Martinez, I’m not sure it makes sense to promote him now — where would he play? I suppose he could play some left field while Gary Sheffield is at DH during interleague play, but isn’t that a slap in the face to Jeremy Reed, who is hitting very well and playing excellent outfield defense? F-Mart is getting close to forcing the issue, but he’s not there yet. And the Mets aren’t desperate to add yet another outfielder to the mix — Jerry Manuel already has too many options to juggle. If F-Mart hit from the right side, and/or played 1B, I might think differently. Let him continue to build his confidence. When he’s dominating AAA, then promote him. There’s a difference between a hot streak and domination.

Another name that comes to mind as a good fit is Damion Easley, as suggested at MetsFever. But he’s one of “Willie’s guys”, so don’t expect that phone call to be made — no matter how much sense it makes.

And speaking of ex-Mets, where the heck is Jose Valentin? Wouldn’t right now be a perfect time for him to show up?

Post your ideas below …

Posted in Around the Blogs, Mets Injuries | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Jerry Manuel Is a Dinosaur

Posted on May 22, 2009 by Joe Janish

jerry-dinosaur

David Lennon confirmed what we all suspected: Jerry Manuel is a dinosaur.

In today’s Newsday, Lennon details the Mets manager’s reliance on “instinct” and ability to “read” players on a particular day, as opposed to relying on stats.

“A lot of it is based on an ability to read individuals,” Manuel said on Wednesday. “To try to put them in situations that are best for them and then how does that fit in the context of winning.

“That’s why I like early hitting. I watch that very carefully because I think that can be critical in making the right decision on what you think is best. Not just study a number and say, ‘OK, he’s nine out of 10 against this guy.’ Am I going to get that one out of 10 or that nine out of 10? I don’t like to rely on stats.“

For example, he must have thrown way that “stat” that said Ramon Castro collected two hits against 98-MPH heaters from the hand of Josh Johnson on one particular May afternoon. “Hits” of course, are overrated. Manuel could “read” that Castro’s long, slow swing would never catch up to Matt Lindstrom’s fastball, which was as at least .03 MPH quicker than Johnson’s. And Manuel could see from the way Omir Santos was warming up pitchers in the bullpen that day, that Santos would have a better shot to get a hit in that particular situation.

Lennon also quotes Manuel in regard to learning his players as the season wears on, and supports Manuel’s declaration that his teams are stronger in the second half.

“Historically for me, my teams play better late than early, because I kind of know how they fit,” Manuel said. “Unless there’s been a rash of things thrown into the mix, and it takes me a little longer to figure out who fits where.

“But once I find out where everybody fits, what I can do with everybody, then we start to understand each other, then everything kind of clicks. It’s really our job to know our players better than anybody. If we don’t, we’re not doing our job.”

Since Lennon didn’t have space to provide that supporting information, I have it for you here:

1998 White Sox First Half: 35-51 | Second Half: 45-31
1999 White Sox First Half: 42-43 | Second Half: 33-43
2000 White Sox First Half: 55-32 | Second Half: 40-35
2001 White Sox First Half: 41-44 | Second Half: 42-35
2002 White Sox First Half: 42-46 | Second Half: 39-35
2003 White Sox First Half: 45-49 | Second Half: 41-27

2008 Mets First Half: 51-44 | Second Half: 38-29

Obviously, 1999 and 2000 were anomalies (and the Mets’ second half had NOTHING to do with Carlos Delgado). You can see the extraordinary difference between first and second half records from all the other years and understand Manuel’s process.

Something bugs me though, about this year’s Mets and Manuel’s figuring out “where everybody fits”. This 2009 team isn’t remarkably different from the 2008 version — at least not in regard to the position players and the starting rotation. Yes, the bullpen is completely revamped, but Manuel wasn’t able to understand “who goes where” after “managing” last year’s pen for four months. And it’s not like Manuel wasn’t around prior to last June — he was sitting next to Willie Randolph in the dugout as bench coach.

If you have read MetsToday for any length of time, you know that I’m an “old school” guy who tends to eschew many of the modern stats and sabermetrics. But at the same time, you have to recognize some stats, and consider them in your decision making.

But at least we now know why Manuel would send up Angel Pagan to hit for Danny Murphy against a lefthander, despite the fact that Pagan hadn’t yet faced an MLB pitcher in over a year, and Murphy is supposedly such a great hitter against all pitchers that the team needs to find a position for him. Clearly, these decisions are based on information that is inaccessible to the average fan. So sit back, shut up, and let the master perform his wizardry. Have faith — there are 120 games left for Jerry to figure out how to manage this team.

Posted in Manuel Being Manuel, Shea What? | Tagged | 2 Comments

Could Jose Reyes Be Out for the Season?

Posted on May 22, 2009 by Joe Janish

jose-reyes-slid
The official word from Mets.com is that Jose Reyes has been diagnosed with “tendinitis in calf” (that’s the actual headline). From Mets.com:

The MRI showed that Reyes has tendinitis behind his right calf and he is officially listed as day-to-day.

As usual, we are getting mixed signals and mysterious information from the Mets in regard to an injury. I don’t blame the medical staff, but rather the people acting as the filter between the doctors and the public.

First of all, I didn’t think it was possible to have “tendinitis in the calf”. The calf is a muscle, not a tendon, right? There is one major tendon “behind the calf”, and that is the achilles. Most people who have been around sports long enough know that an injury to the achilles is a major problem — something that could put an athlete out of action for 3-4 months, possibly longer. Knowing the history of incomplete information the Mets have provided us in the past, there’s every reason to suspect that Reyes’ injury is in fact “achilles tendinitis”, but they’re not telling the public that — partially so they don’t lose leverage in any trade negotiations.

But, I’m just a semipro athlete and semipro blogger with outrageous suspicions and conspiracy theories. To put my mind at ease, I spoke with Dr. James Gladstone, a sports medicine specialist in the Department of Orthopaedics at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, and a board certified orthopaedic surgeon who received sports medicine training under Dr. James Andrews at the American Sports Medicine institute in Alabama. He has extensive experience in sports injuries, from muscle strains, tendinitis and other overuse injuries to acute ligament tears and joint dislocations.

Now, to be clear, Dr. Gladstone IS NOT treating Jose Reyes and has NO CONNECTION to the Mets. I merely asked him to provide some background information on the calf, the achilles, and the associated muscles and tendons in that area of the leg.

According to Dr. Gladstone, the calf is indeed muscular:

“It’s actually a group of muscles. There are two layers, the gastrox and the soleus, which is deeper. And there is a whole set of smaller muscles that go down to help them — extensor flexor, there’s the posterior tibialis … so, yeah, there are a whole bunch of them. But the main ones are the gastrox and the soleus, which join to form the achilles tendon further down.”

Dr. Gladstone did confirm that there are tendons behind the calf muscle,

“… a tendon attaches muscle to the bone … every muscle has a tendon”.

I asked if an injury was described as “tendinitis behind the calf”, is it possible that the injury would in fact be “achilles tendinitis”. His answer:

“Achilles tendinitis is so well known that it probably would be called that. We don’t know where it is in the calf, so it could be the upper portion of that muscle where it attaches to the back of the knee.”

When I asked Dr. Gladstone if it could be something OTHER THAN the achilles, his answer was

“absolutely”.

Further, even if it Reyes does have achilles tendinitis, it’s not something that would cause grave concern:

“When you look at people who have had achilles tendon tears, over 85% of them have never had ANY achilles tendon symptoms. Achilles tendinitis is NOT part of the spectrum that goes on to rupture. So that’s generally not something we worry about.”

Armed with this information, my fears that Jose Reyes could tear his achilles and be out for the season have been quelled. The conspiracy theory is out the window, and the Mets will probably be fine with finding a temporary stopgap at shortstop, be it Ramon Martinez, Argenis Reyes, or some other low-cost, short-term solution. So if Danny Murphy can handle first base and start hitting again, there’s every reason to believe that the Mets don’t need to make any major acquisitions — unless you think replacing Alex Cora counts as “major”.

Posted in Mets Injuries | Tagged , , | 10 Comments