Oliver Perez in the Bullpen

Posted on May 5, 2009 by Joe Janish

ollie-wide

So it’s official: Oliver Perez will be “working out his issues” in the bullpen.

40-year-old rookie Ken Takahashi will take Perez’s spot in the starting rotation, at least for this Friday evening’s game.

Though Takahashi was a starter in Japan last year, he was conditioned as a short reliever in spring training this year and pitched 11 innings through 6 games in AAA this year. I imagine he can throw 50, maybe 60 pitches. He did throw 55 pitches in a game with Buffalo earlier this season. Under perfect circumstances, that could get him through the fifth inning.

Mets manager Jerry Manuel says he will use Oliver Perez in both long-relief / mopup situations and in critical points of a close game. He cited Jon Garland (as a 21-year-old in 2001) and James Baldwin (1998) as previous examples of struggling starters he had sent to the bullpen in the past to work things out.

There was no official word on whether Nelson Figueroa, Dillon Gee, Jonathan Niese, Brandon Knight, or Pedro Martinez were considered.

I refuse to pass judgment or state an opinion on any of this information. The Mets obviously know what they’re doing.

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Mets Game 24: Win Over Braves

Posted on May 5, 2009 by Joe Janish

Mets 6 Braves 4

For once, the Mets displayed some “edge”, as well as some moxie, in coming back to beat the Braves in the later innings after falling behind early.

And David Wright, of all people, was the one to deliver the go-ahead bomb.

The Braves jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning, and Javy Vazquez set down the Mets like bowling pins for the better part of five innings. In the sixth, however, things changed, as Danny Murphy led off with a single and scored on a two-run homer by Carlos Beltran. A few minutes later, Wright blasted his four-bagger, pushing Carlos Delgado home with him to give the Mets a 4-3 lead.

Beltran popped another 2-run dinger in 7th to put the game away, and the bullpen that leads the NL in ERA cashed in the win.

John Maine barely pitched well enough to win, and was the recipient of the victory. Frankie Rodriguez notched his sixth save of the year and second of the month.

Game Notes

Though Maine struck out 7 and gave up only 3 hits and 3 earned runs, his command was awful — he walked 6 and might have walked more if not for the free-swinging of rookies Jordan Schafer and Brandon Jones, among others. Maine was consistently high and away to lefties, the same symptom of a mechanical flaw we’ve been talking about for nearly a year. It’s stunning to me that he can continue to do the same wrong thing, every time out, and no one in the Mets organization can seem to figure it out. Did the Wilpons cut video equipment from the 2009 budget with everything else?

During the TV broadcast, and using SNY’s slow-motion technology, Keith Hernandez pointed out:

“watch his throwing arm come back, look how far it comes back, and he has to … behind his body on the first base side … whoa!”

As if on cue, Maine released the ball early and high, and sent the pitch way up and away from a left-handed batter — so far, in fact, it resembled Nuke LaLoosh hitting the bull.

A few minutes prior, Kevin Burkhardt reported that Maine said he hasn’t felt like himself since the last game before the All Star break in 2007.

DOES NO ONE READ METSTODAY ??????!!!!!!

The intelligent Mets fans — you, of course — know we identified Maine’s mechanical flaw last June. Remarkably enough, it is the exact same issue that Keith Hernandez began to illustrate during the broadcast. To quote Mel Allen: how about that?

After closer analysis, and comparison to that July 5, 2007 game, I found one or two other seemingly minor issues with Maine’s mechanics that can be easily corrected. If his agent doesn’t email me for the details, I’ll post them for all the world to see later in the week.

David Wright’s go-ahead homer drove in the 500th and 501st RBI of his career.

Jose Reyes blew another sacrifice bunt, for the second time in as many games. Shame on him, because a ballplayer should be able to put down a bunt when needed. However, I’m not sure I get it … you wouldn’t have Carlos Beltran or David Wright bunt, ever, because of their ability to drive in a runner from first with a double or HR. Likewise, why would you have Reyes bunt, a guy who can send a runner from first home with a double, HR, or triple? Mind you, I’m a big-time, old-school, small-ball guy. But at the same time I realize that the sac bunt should be reserved for players who generally have lower slugging percentages — i.e., the pitchers, Alex Coras, and Luis Castillos of the world.

What happened to the old Bobby Cox Braves teams with disciplined hitters, sure fielders, and players with perfect fundamentals — the ones that used to bore you into a loss? It appears they have several youngsters rushed to the bigs who need more seasoning in the minors. Not the “Braves’ Way”.

Hey, the Mets can’t lose this series!

Next Mets Game

The Mets and Braves lock horns for the series finale at 7:00 PM. Livan Hernandez faces Kenshin Kawakami. I like the Mets’ chances in this matchup.

Posted in Mets 2009 Games | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

5 Things You Should Know About the Braves

Posted on May 4, 2009 by Joe Janish

braves-capInsulated by our New York cocoon, we may not know what exactly is going on with the Braves — outside of what we can glean from the stat lines and the ESPN highlights. So, we’ve called on Mac Thomasonfrom BravesJournal.com to give us a quick update on the Atlanta Nine.

1. Vazquez vs. Maine & Kawakami vs. Hernandez : how are you liking / not liking these matchups?

I like the first one a whole lot. Vazquez has looked good in all his starts (he lost his last one, but that was due to a fluke inning) and is among the league leaders in strikeouts, while Maine has struggled this year. Of course, he’ll be facing the Braves offense, which is a heck of an equalizer right now. The second, by all rights, should be a game where each team uses about six pitchers, but given the Braves’ offensive strugges I can’t too optimistic. Although Braves fans still remember 1997, in the regular season Livan is 3-15 against Atlanta with a 5.52 ERA, so thanks to Jerry Manuel for pushing Santana back.

2. Jordan Schafer: the real deal?

I think so. He’s an odd player, a guy who walks a lot and strikes out a lot, but who has only midrange power. I don’t care about the strikeouts the way some do, but it’s hard to maintain a good batting average when you strike out nearly a third of the time.

3. As a Braves fan, do you care much / worry about the Mets? What team in the NL East concerns you most / do you see as the favorite and why?

To be honest, I think the Phillies are the team to beat. They’re the champs, they’ve won the division the last two years, and they’re right in the race (ahead of both the Braves and the Mets) despite not really playing their best ball yet.

4. Braves’ biggest issue thus far is … ?

Lack of power on offense. The Braves are sixth in the NL in OBP, but eleventh in runs scored, largely because they’re tenth in slugging and thirteenth in home runs. Nobody on the team has more than three homers, and the leading slugger among the regulars is Chipper at .456. (Actually, Dave Ross, who is filling in for McCann, is slugging .543. He usually hits eighth.) The most-usual cleanup hitter with McCann out is Casey Kotchman, who hasn’t hit a home run this year.

5. One thing about the Braves this year that a Mets fan might not know ?

The Braves, despite their offensive struggles, have probably the second-best strikeout/walk ratio in the league. They’re third in walks, third from last in strikeouts. The Mets, however, are second and second from last…

Thanks to Mac, who keeps regular tabs on the Braves at BravesJournal.com. Be sure to check it out.

Posted in Series Previews | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Where They Are Now: Casey Fossum

Posted on May 4, 2009 by Joe Janish

Casey Fossum pitching for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees

Casey Fossum pitching for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees

Remember Casey Fossum? It was a while back, I know, but try. Here’s a reminder.

Anywho, as you may also remember, Fossum was DFA’d to make room for Ken Takahashi. We assumed he’d simply report back to Buffalo and return to orange and blue when needed.

Instead, Fossum elected free agency, and is now in pinstripes. The Yankee kind. The Yanks signed him and sent him to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to take the injured Ian Kennedy’s place on the roster.

Last night, Fossum started against the Norfolk Tides and, on a limited pitch count, tossed 3 2/3 “sharp” innings, helping the AAA Yankees to a 5-1 win.

Also, as mentioned earlier this morning, Jason Vargas picked up the win for the Mariners in a 15-inning affair last night. Vargas threw 2 1/3, striking out 4. And in other news, Darren O’Day — who is developing his own “Six Degrees of Separation” — threw another perfect inning in relief for the Rangers last night, striking out two. He’s now appeared in 6 games, pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings, and struck out 4. Who says the American League has better hitters?

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Link Roundup: Monday Morning Coming Down

Posted on May 4, 2009 by John Fitzgerald

As the Mets get ready to take on the Braves, here are your Monday morning Mets links:

And there you go.  Have a great morning and don’t drink too much coffee. And if you do, be sure to visit the comments section and type really fast.

Posted in Latest Post | 5 Comments

Picture Lesson: The Albatross

Posted on May 3, 2009 by Joe Janish

Today we have our weekly wildlife lesson for the children. Kiddies, this is an albatross:

albatross

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

Mets Game 23: Loss to Phillies

Posted on May 2, 2009 by Joe Janish

Phillies 6 Mets 5

It was another poor outing by Oliver Perez, and it appeared the Mets would eradicate it with their bats.

Perez allowed four runs on five hits and six walks before being removed from the game with one out in the third inning. Newest Met Ken Takahashi did his best Darren Oliver impression in relief, holding the fort until the sixth inning.

And for once, the Mets did not give up. The bats kept coming back, matching the score, and even took a brief lead in the top of the sixth.

However, their one-run lead lasted only minutes. Pedro Feliciano came on in relief of Takahashi in the bottom of the sixth and gave up a homer to a LH batter for the second time in as many days.

The two teams remained deadlocked through four more frames, with the Mets holding an apparent advantage — they still had closer Frankie Rodriguez at the ready, while the Phils burned through Brad Lidge in the top of the ninth.

Unfortunately, the Mets couldn’t leverage that advantage.

They mounted a rally in the tenth that was quickly extinguished by a stellar double-play turn, and then put the game in the hands of Sean Green. However, those hands proved to be below the challenge. Green got a quick groundout from Jimmy Rollins, but Pedro Feliz followed with his second cheap swinging-bunt hit in the game. Green then hit pinch-hitter Matt Stairs, induced a flyout from Greg Dobbs, and walked Chris Coste to load the bases for Shane Victorino. Victorino worked the count full before watching ball four drop below his knees, forcing in Feliz to end the game.

Game Notes

J.J. Putz was remarkably efficient, expending only 17 pitches in his scoreless, two-inning stint. Though he’s pitched in both games of this series, and three times in four days, he probably will be available if needed on Sunday.

Someone check Alex Cora’s Wheaties, because he’s hitting like Rod Carew lately.

Ryan Church ripped what could’ve been a key pinch-hit single to chase Alex Cora to third base in that tenth inning rally off Jack Taschner — who happens to be a lefthanded pitcher — but a double play grounder by Carlos Beltran killed the rally.

I was dead wrong on Raul Ibanez. The guy hits lefties and righties, is clutch, can run the bases well enough, and can play the field a lot better than advertised.

Brad Lidge is not nearly the lights-out closer we saw in 2008. His fastball was topping out at 92 MPH and his slider is missing its bite. It looks like he’s worried about that right knee and staying too stiff, not getting good push off the rubber nor good downward leverage / bend in the back.

Danny Murphy must love Citizen’s Bank Park. If it were his home field, he might have 15 homers by now.

Jerry Manuel’s rebuilt and vaunted bullpen has now lost six times in seven chances, and has blown two saves in the last three games.

Next Game

The series finale takes place at 1:35 PM in Philadelphia, with John Maine taking the mound against Joe Blanton.

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The Mets’ Edge

Posted on May 2, 2009 by Joe Janish

ford-edge1

Derek Jeter has one. The WWE has one (hey, he looks like Jayson Werth, too). Do the Mets?

Omar Minaya says no. Then he says yes. Jerry Manuel said yes, but that was immediately after beating Chan Ho Park. Would they still have an “edge” if a healthy Cole Hamels was on the mound instead?

Shame on Omar Minaya for backtracking on what his gut tells him and toeing the company line. He’s right when he says:

“We have good guys, solid professionals,” Minaya says. “There is a smile on David Wright’s face, a smile on Jose Reyes’s face. But there is not an edge to them. Some people see edge as leadership. Sometimes, you need a little meanness to your game. Some people perceive leadership as meanness. I couldn’t tell you that we have that type of guy.”

Indeed, before Gary Sheffield came on board, you didn’t have “that type of guy”.

Minaya describes Wright and Reyes perfectly, and there’s nothing wrong with them not having a mean streak. Same with Carlos Beltran — would you ever expect Beltran to barrel over a catcher? How about Carlos Delgado? He’s a large man who can look fierce but is an obvious pussycat. Brian Schneider seems like a really nice guy, too. Ramon Castro has a better chance of neutralizing an opponent with a funny joke than his fists. No one fears Luis Castillo. And Danny Murphy may look “serious”, but I doubt any middle infielders are worried about him sliding in with his spikes high.

The pitching staff is similarly cordial. Johan Santana is spectacular but isn’t going to dust anyone. Neither will Mike Pelfrey, Oliver Perez, or Livan Hernandez. John Maine and J.J. Putz look like they might, but I haven’t seen it yet. K-Rod? His stuff is intimidating, his demeanor isn’t. The rest of the staff seems like a bunch of guys you’d hope to have on the opposing side of a brawl.

This Mets team is devoid of nasty, clawing, scratching, throw-the-gloves-down competitors that marked, for example, the ’86 Champions. No Ray Knights, Lenny Dykstras, Wally Backmans, or Kevin Mitchells here — just a bunch of Rafael Santanas. Good players, some great players, but gentlemen all.

At this blog, I’ve been pining for a “gamer” since a month after the Mets blew the 2006 NLCS. I wasn’t asking to overhaul the roster — rather, just suggesting that the Mets pick up a couple scratchers and clawers. Guys such as Mark Loretta, David Eckstein, Craig Counsell, Mark DeRosa, Frank Catalanotto, Darin Erstad, Kevin Millar, Jim Edmonds. They’re out there, they’re not superstars and they’re generally not overly expensive.

You don’t necessarily have to “break up the core”, as some have suggested. You merely need to add a few more spicy ingredients to the mix — Gary Sheffield was a start. You have to not worry about “disrupting the clubhouse”, or bringing someone in who “might not fit”. Quite the contrary — get someone in here who WILL shake things up, who might turn things upside down. Bring in a guy who might upset other members of the team — though for the right reasons. For example, you don’t bring in a perennial loser and selfish personality such as Milton Bradley, but you DO bring in another guy like Sheffield or Keith Hernandez or Ray Knight — a proven winner who will not be afraid to privately call out teammates, or challenge them, if they have a less-than-intense attitude or slack off.

After three years of the same old, same old, it’s time to inject something new. Going with the same overall team attitude that choked three years running and hoping things will work out is simply madness.

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