Jason Heyward’s three run homerun capped a six-run fourth inning on Friday for the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field in New York. The Atlanta rookie helped the Braves win 6-4 over the Mets, and stay three games behind the Phillies in the NL East race. The Braves still lead the NL Wildcard and pushed their advantage to a full game over the Padres. All six runs in the fourth frame were unearned after an error by Mets’ third baseman, David Wright. Tommy Hanson turned in six innings of five hit ball to get the win for Atlanta. Billy Wagner earned his 34th save with a perfect ninth frame.
The Mets led 1-0 in the second following an Ike Davis walk and a pair of base hits by Josh Thole and Lucas Duda. New York added two more runs in the frame off the Braves’ right-hander. Mets’ pitcher, Jon Niese added a single and Jose Reyes drove in the third run to give the home team a 3-0 edge. Atlanta would get all three runs back and then some during a four-hit fourth.
Wright misplayed a ground ball by leadoff man, Matt Diaz, to begin the inning. The Mets recorded two outs before Derrek Lee scored on a Melky Cabrera RBI single for the first Atlanta tally. After he withstood a shaky second inning, Hanson drew a full count walk to load the bases in the fourth. The Braves’ comeback rally was just starting. Omar Infante doubled off Niese to score a pair of runs, and Heyward followed with a three run blast. It was the 18th of the season for the young right-fielder.
Hanson allowed one run in the bottom of the fourth. Duda smacked a 2-0 offering for a solo homer, his first of the season. It provided the Mets some temporary life in a game that already saw Atlanta skipper, Bobby Cox, ejected during the second inning. But the Braves’ bullpen handled the rest, posting zeros through the final five frames. Hanson is now 10-11 as a starter. He won for the just the second time in his last 14 games and was previously 0-4 in his last six road starts. Niese fell to an even 9-9 on the season as the Mets’ four game winning streak was snapped.
Parting Points: A bunch of duds on the college football slate today…
Showing posts with label New York Mets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New York Mets. Show all posts
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Phillies Pound Parnell
I often wonder how Mets fans sleep at night with their team being as awful as they were last night. The hopeless baseball team that is the New York Mets fell 7-5 to the Philadelphia Phillies Friday after the bullpen allowed six runs in the eighth inning. The two run loss occurred against a beat-up, injured defending NL champion team. The Philly victory pushed them within 1 ½ games of the division-leading Atlanta Braves, while New York erased an encouraging starting pitching performance by Jonathan Niese. The 23 year old lefty tossed seven innings of one-run ball, striking out seven batters. It was the tenth time in twenty starts the young southpaw yielded one run or less in an outing. Niese’s unreliable and shaky bullpen imploded with a one-run lead in hand during the eighth to send the Mets below .500 with a 54-55 record.
Phillies’ pitcher, Joe Blanton, did not stick around for the decision but also pitched a strong game for the home team. Blanton allowed two runs and seven hits for his best outing of the season. Philadelphia scored in the first frame on Placido Polanco’s RBI double. The Mets tied the game two innings later with a run on a Jose Reyes base hit. New York tacked on a second run in the fourth following a string of three consecutive singles. Jose Thole poked home the go-ahead tally, plating David Wright for the backstop’s seventh RBI of the year.
Bobby Parnell began the bottom of the eighth in relief of Niese. Parnell faced four batters, giving up four hits and four earned runs in being tagged with the loss and ruining Niese’s gem. Ben Francisco dumped a single to the outfield to tie the game at 2-2. Carlos Ruiz followed by smacking a single off Parnell for the hometown edge. Pedro Feliciano took over after the Phillies punished pitiful Parnell. Wilson Valdez slapped a bunt base hit to load the bases with nobody out, and Ross Gload drew a walk to pad the Phillies’ lead to 4-2. Shortstop, Jimmy Rollins’ RBI single made it 5-2 in favor of Philadelphia and ended the evening for Feliciano. Manny Acosta entered the game with just one out in the epic eighth. The right-handed reliever from Panama couldn’t prevent the Phillies from extending their lead. Polanco launched a sacrifice fly, scoring Valdez from third to put the Phillies up by four runs. A Mike Sweeney single plated Gload as Philadelphia completed their six run comeback.
Mike Hessman, the Mets’ pinch-hitter, collected a three-run homerun to highlight the ninth inning, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the damage done during the dismal eighth. Closer Brad Lidge was summoned from the bullpen and put an end to the Mets’ night with a strikeout of Jesus Feliciano. The depleted Phillies, playing without Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Shane Victorino, held on to defeat their division rivals in a messy affair at Citizen’s Bank Park. Sweeney, in his first start since joining the Phillies, trigged the decisive rally and finished it off with a base hit in leading the team with two RBIs. The Phillies prevailed, despite stranding 14 runners on base. Chad Durbin was credited with the win, his third of the season. The Mets have dropped nine of their last ten series starters on the road. The Phillies will try to pick up where they left off last night when Cole Hamels opposes Johan Santana in the middle game of a three-game series.
Parting Points: NFL Hall of Fame inductees today include Emmitt Smith and Jerry Rice---two of the greatest players of their decade.
Phillies’ pitcher, Joe Blanton, did not stick around for the decision but also pitched a strong game for the home team. Blanton allowed two runs and seven hits for his best outing of the season. Philadelphia scored in the first frame on Placido Polanco’s RBI double. The Mets tied the game two innings later with a run on a Jose Reyes base hit. New York tacked on a second run in the fourth following a string of three consecutive singles. Jose Thole poked home the go-ahead tally, plating David Wright for the backstop’s seventh RBI of the year.
Bobby Parnell began the bottom of the eighth in relief of Niese. Parnell faced four batters, giving up four hits and four earned runs in being tagged with the loss and ruining Niese’s gem. Ben Francisco dumped a single to the outfield to tie the game at 2-2. Carlos Ruiz followed by smacking a single off Parnell for the hometown edge. Pedro Feliciano took over after the Phillies punished pitiful Parnell. Wilson Valdez slapped a bunt base hit to load the bases with nobody out, and Ross Gload drew a walk to pad the Phillies’ lead to 4-2. Shortstop, Jimmy Rollins’ RBI single made it 5-2 in favor of Philadelphia and ended the evening for Feliciano. Manny Acosta entered the game with just one out in the epic eighth. The right-handed reliever from Panama couldn’t prevent the Phillies from extending their lead. Polanco launched a sacrifice fly, scoring Valdez from third to put the Phillies up by four runs. A Mike Sweeney single plated Gload as Philadelphia completed their six run comeback.
Mike Hessman, the Mets’ pinch-hitter, collected a three-run homerun to highlight the ninth inning, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the damage done during the dismal eighth. Closer Brad Lidge was summoned from the bullpen and put an end to the Mets’ night with a strikeout of Jesus Feliciano. The depleted Phillies, playing without Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Shane Victorino, held on to defeat their division rivals in a messy affair at Citizen’s Bank Park. Sweeney, in his first start since joining the Phillies, trigged the decisive rally and finished it off with a base hit in leading the team with two RBIs. The Phillies prevailed, despite stranding 14 runners on base. Chad Durbin was credited with the win, his third of the season. The Mets have dropped nine of their last ten series starters on the road. The Phillies will try to pick up where they left off last night when Cole Hamels opposes Johan Santana in the middle game of a three-game series.
Parting Points: NFL Hall of Fame inductees today include Emmitt Smith and Jerry Rice---two of the greatest players of their decade.
Friday, July 30, 2010
R.A. Riles Redbirds
The Mets blanked the Redbirds behind the resurgent R.A. Dickey’s remarkable 8 1/3 innings of four-hit ball. The New York hurler, pitching on three days’ rest, pulled away from Citi Field with his seventh victory of the season as the Mets prevailed 4-0 over St. Louis. Thursday’s win propelled the Mets to take two out of three games against the rival Redbirds. It was New York’s fifth win in their last 18 tries. For Tony LaRussa’s Cardinals, Thursday was the tenth time the team has been shutout this year.
The Mets have played three 13 inning games in the last eight days, but showed no ill effects at the plate last night against Cardinal starter, Blake Hawksworth. Jose Reyes doubled to lead off the third inning and advanced on Angel Pagan’s drag bunt between the mound and first base to get the Mets’ offense rolling. Ike Davis drove the first pitch he saw from Hawksworth three rows deep to center for a three run bomb and 3-0 Mets lead. The stellar first baseman for New York reached base in all four at-bats Thursday, drawing three walks in addition to his three RBIs. Davis has 52 RBIs this season and 15 homeruns. He also started a pair of double plays at first base. The Mets scored again during a three hit fifth inning, with Carlos Beltran earning an RBI single following Pagan’s seventh triple of the season. New York left 18 runners on base, however, an ongoing probably for Jerry Manuel’s team.
Dickey was smooth sailing through eight innings, allowing only a first inning double by Jon Jay and a fifth frame leadoff slap by Ryan Ludwick before a pair of eighth and ninth inning base hits by Skip Schumaker and Colby Rasmus. It was the lengthiest outing of the year for Dickey, and one of the best of his career. Francisco Rodriguez was summoned from the Mets’ bullpen to record the final two outs of the game. KRod succeeded in getting the league’s best slugger, Albert Pujols, to fly out and retired power-hitting outfielder, Matt Holliday a game-ending strikeout. St. Louis is 56-46, a half a game behind Cincinnati in the NL Central.
Parting Points: Feel good Friday band- The Supremes
The Mets have played three 13 inning games in the last eight days, but showed no ill effects at the plate last night against Cardinal starter, Blake Hawksworth. Jose Reyes doubled to lead off the third inning and advanced on Angel Pagan’s drag bunt between the mound and first base to get the Mets’ offense rolling. Ike Davis drove the first pitch he saw from Hawksworth three rows deep to center for a three run bomb and 3-0 Mets lead. The stellar first baseman for New York reached base in all four at-bats Thursday, drawing three walks in addition to his three RBIs. Davis has 52 RBIs this season and 15 homeruns. He also started a pair of double plays at first base. The Mets scored again during a three hit fifth inning, with Carlos Beltran earning an RBI single following Pagan’s seventh triple of the season. New York left 18 runners on base, however, an ongoing probably for Jerry Manuel’s team.
Dickey was smooth sailing through eight innings, allowing only a first inning double by Jon Jay and a fifth frame leadoff slap by Ryan Ludwick before a pair of eighth and ninth inning base hits by Skip Schumaker and Colby Rasmus. It was the lengthiest outing of the year for Dickey, and one of the best of his career. Francisco Rodriguez was summoned from the Mets’ bullpen to record the final two outs of the game. KRod succeeded in getting the league’s best slugger, Albert Pujols, to fly out and retired power-hitting outfielder, Matt Holliday a game-ending strikeout. St. Louis is 56-46, a half a game behind Cincinnati in the NL Central.
Parting Points: Feel good Friday band- The Supremes
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Rich in Relief
New York Mets’ southpaw starter-turned-reliever, Oliver Perez, escaped a bases-loaded jam in the 12th inning of yesterday’s game against the Dodgers. Perez, activated from the disabled list Tuesday, gave up a game winning homerun to James Loney in the bottom of the 13th as Los Angeles clipped the Mets 3-2. Loney drove Perez’s 1-0 offering into the seats in right-center field, giving L.A. a walk-off victory and making a winner out of much-maligned reliever, George Sherrill. Sherrill, the Dodgers’ eighth reliever used during the game, earned his first win after pitching a perfect 13th frame. Perez took the loss for New York, his fourth of the year.
The Mets were charged with two errors during the road contest yesterday. L.A.’s Rafael Furcal singled past Mets’ shortstop, Jose Reyes, to lead of the bottom of the first. The ground ball was playable but Furcal was credited with a single. Mets hurler, Mike Pelfrey, attempted to pick-off Furcal at first base, but launched the throw wide right to Ike Davis, allowing the runner to advance to third base. Joe Torre’s Dodgers needed only a sacrifice fly to ring in a tally, and the offense did just that. Xavier Paul, the Dodgers’ number two hitter, lifted a fly to right field to drive Furcal home for the 1-0 L.A. lead.
Carlos Monasterios kept the Mets off the scoreboard with five solid innings of six hit ball. New York loaded the bases in the fourth inning but failed to cross the plate. David Wright led off the fourth with a single. The third baseman reached second on Monasterios’ balk before Carlos Beltran drew a full count walk. Jason Bay, somewhat breaking out of a batting slump, slapped a base hit to left to load the bags for New York. Monasterios retired the next two Mets to end any scoring threats.
The Dodgers tallied their second run in the bottom of the fourth. The Dodgers’ Blake Dewitt got L.A. started with a one-out triple. New York skipper, Jerry Manuel, decided it would be best to intentionally walk Garret Anderson. The move did not pay off for the Mets because Brad Ausmus singled up the middle to send Dewitt home. Pelfrey lasted five innings for New York and was removed for a pinch hitter in the sixth. The New York starter was effective despite the two blemishes. His team’s offense was ineffective, however.
The visitors finally found the plate in the top of the sixth off James McDonald. McDonald faced four batters and only recorded one out. Davis doubled to center off McDonald and was brought home on Rod Barajas’ base hit to left. Reyes earned his 35th RBI of the season when he singled home Bay in the Mets’ three hit sixth frame. Reyes’ base hit came off reliever Jack Taschner. Taschner is still looking for his first out as a Dodger pitcher. Travis Schlichting entered for the white and blue after Taschner loaded the bases. Schlichting needed only one pitch to induce a double play by Luis Castillo for the third out.
The game remained knotted at 2-2 as the teams combined to use 14 men out of the bullpen. Kenley Jansen was perhaps the most impressive of the Dodgers’ relief core. The converted catcher threw a one-two-three seventh frame, striking out two Mets in an impressive major league debut. Jansen faced the heart of the Mets’ lineup in a tie ballgame without flinching. Hong-Chih Kuo and Jonathan Broxton also set down the New York batters with scoreless eighth and ninth innings, respectively. Jeff Weaver provided the Dodgers dominant relief through two extra innings before handing it over to Sherrill. Raul Valdes, Manny Acosta, Pedro Feliciano, Bobby Parnell and Elmer Dessens were all summoned from Manuel’s bullpen. The five relievers combined to allow just two hits through six innings. L.A.’s Clayton Kershaw will face R.A. Dickey in the series finale today.
Parting Points: Thoughts and prayers go out to Bill Cowher and his family.
Congrats to the Hall of Fame inductees. It’s great to see another Expos player in there!
ARod is still sitting on 599 homeruns. I doubt he will receive any praise if he hits #600 on the road, so he better club one today at home.
The Mets were charged with two errors during the road contest yesterday. L.A.’s Rafael Furcal singled past Mets’ shortstop, Jose Reyes, to lead of the bottom of the first. The ground ball was playable but Furcal was credited with a single. Mets hurler, Mike Pelfrey, attempted to pick-off Furcal at first base, but launched the throw wide right to Ike Davis, allowing the runner to advance to third base. Joe Torre’s Dodgers needed only a sacrifice fly to ring in a tally, and the offense did just that. Xavier Paul, the Dodgers’ number two hitter, lifted a fly to right field to drive Furcal home for the 1-0 L.A. lead.
Carlos Monasterios kept the Mets off the scoreboard with five solid innings of six hit ball. New York loaded the bases in the fourth inning but failed to cross the plate. David Wright led off the fourth with a single. The third baseman reached second on Monasterios’ balk before Carlos Beltran drew a full count walk. Jason Bay, somewhat breaking out of a batting slump, slapped a base hit to left to load the bags for New York. Monasterios retired the next two Mets to end any scoring threats.
The Dodgers tallied their second run in the bottom of the fourth. The Dodgers’ Blake Dewitt got L.A. started with a one-out triple. New York skipper, Jerry Manuel, decided it would be best to intentionally walk Garret Anderson. The move did not pay off for the Mets because Brad Ausmus singled up the middle to send Dewitt home. Pelfrey lasted five innings for New York and was removed for a pinch hitter in the sixth. The New York starter was effective despite the two blemishes. His team’s offense was ineffective, however.
The visitors finally found the plate in the top of the sixth off James McDonald. McDonald faced four batters and only recorded one out. Davis doubled to center off McDonald and was brought home on Rod Barajas’ base hit to left. Reyes earned his 35th RBI of the season when he singled home Bay in the Mets’ three hit sixth frame. Reyes’ base hit came off reliever Jack Taschner. Taschner is still looking for his first out as a Dodger pitcher. Travis Schlichting entered for the white and blue after Taschner loaded the bases. Schlichting needed only one pitch to induce a double play by Luis Castillo for the third out.
The game remained knotted at 2-2 as the teams combined to use 14 men out of the bullpen. Kenley Jansen was perhaps the most impressive of the Dodgers’ relief core. The converted catcher threw a one-two-three seventh frame, striking out two Mets in an impressive major league debut. Jansen faced the heart of the Mets’ lineup in a tie ballgame without flinching. Hong-Chih Kuo and Jonathan Broxton also set down the New York batters with scoreless eighth and ninth innings, respectively. Jeff Weaver provided the Dodgers dominant relief through two extra innings before handing it over to Sherrill. Raul Valdes, Manny Acosta, Pedro Feliciano, Bobby Parnell and Elmer Dessens were all summoned from Manuel’s bullpen. The five relievers combined to allow just two hits through six innings. L.A.’s Clayton Kershaw will face R.A. Dickey in the series finale today.
Parting Points: Thoughts and prayers go out to Bill Cowher and his family.
Congrats to the Hall of Fame inductees. It’s great to see another Expos player in there!
ARod is still sitting on 599 homeruns. I doubt he will receive any praise if he hits #600 on the road, so he better club one today at home.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Stars, Stripes and Slams
Happy Independence Day, America. Today’s blog focuses in on the nation’s capital, where Washington baseball prevailed over NL East opponent, New York. Ivan Rodriguez was the star of the day, and Francisco Rodriguez was possibly seeing stars after suffering the loss. The Mets’ four-time All-star closer, Francisco Rodriguez, blew a 5-2 lead as the Nationals capped a comeback in the ninth inning of Saturday’s 6-5 win. Matt Capps earned the win for Washington after keeping the Nats within a run in the ninth. The Mets pitted runners on first and second with nobody out in the top of the ninth before Capps recorded three consecutive outs. Washington bats came through in the bottom of the ninth, and a little patience at the plate paid off. Christian Guzman walked on four pitches from Rodriguez and scored on Adam Dunn’s one-out double to tie the game. Dunn’s drive merely missed going over the wall for a grand slam and instant replay was needed before the ruling was reduced to a double. Ivan Rodriguez singled in the winning run to right to lift the Nationals over the Mets in the middle of a three game set. It was Washington’s seventh win in eleven tries over the Mets.
Washington’s sizzling starter, Stephen Strasburg was scorched for four hits and surrendered two runs. Strasburg walked two Mets and fanned five in the five inning outing for the Nationals. New York was impressive against the rookie hurler, working Strasburg to a season-high pitch count. Jason Bay striped the ball to center in the top of the first to score Ike Davis from third base and give the Mets and early 1-0 road edge. Davis was on base three times Saturday in what continues to be a breakout year for the first baseman. The Mets surged to a 2-0 lead in the third when 30 year old backstop, Josh Thole, knocked in his first RBI of the season on a Strasburg fastball. Thirty-five year old, R.A. Dickey, toed the rubber for the visiting Mets. Dickey pitched seven innings of six hit ball. He allowed just two unearned runs with his tricky knuckleball. The Nats scored twice in the bottom of the sixth on a pair of base hits by Josh Willingham and Rodriguez. Ruben Tejada was charged with a fielding error, resulting in the two unearned tallies for Washington. The Mets got ahead of Strasburg early in the count and made the Nationals’ starter labor. The Mets reached base seven times against Strasburg. The right-hander needed 74 pitches to get through three innings, but never folded.
David Wright wringed a tie breaking RBI infield single to third during the Mets’ three run eighth frame. Thole torched a double to right and Tejada’s sacrifice fly scored the final run of the inning off the Nats’ bullpen. Adam Kennedy smoked a single to center in the eighth to score Dunn and put the home team within two runs before Rodriguez imploded in the decisive ninth. Kennedy’s run-scoring base hit came off reliever, Bobby Parnell.
Parting Points: Kudos to Andy Pettitte on win#10 and Brett Gardner on his grand slam during the 11 run third inning for the Yankees.
And another Williams’ sister wins another Wimbledon.
Let’s go Germany!
Washington’s sizzling starter, Stephen Strasburg was scorched for four hits and surrendered two runs. Strasburg walked two Mets and fanned five in the five inning outing for the Nationals. New York was impressive against the rookie hurler, working Strasburg to a season-high pitch count. Jason Bay striped the ball to center in the top of the first to score Ike Davis from third base and give the Mets and early 1-0 road edge. Davis was on base three times Saturday in what continues to be a breakout year for the first baseman. The Mets surged to a 2-0 lead in the third when 30 year old backstop, Josh Thole, knocked in his first RBI of the season on a Strasburg fastball. Thirty-five year old, R.A. Dickey, toed the rubber for the visiting Mets. Dickey pitched seven innings of six hit ball. He allowed just two unearned runs with his tricky knuckleball. The Nats scored twice in the bottom of the sixth on a pair of base hits by Josh Willingham and Rodriguez. Ruben Tejada was charged with a fielding error, resulting in the two unearned tallies for Washington. The Mets got ahead of Strasburg early in the count and made the Nationals’ starter labor. The Mets reached base seven times against Strasburg. The right-hander needed 74 pitches to get through three innings, but never folded.
David Wright wringed a tie breaking RBI infield single to third during the Mets’ three run eighth frame. Thole torched a double to right and Tejada’s sacrifice fly scored the final run of the inning off the Nats’ bullpen. Adam Kennedy smoked a single to center in the eighth to score Dunn and put the home team within two runs before Rodriguez imploded in the decisive ninth. Kennedy’s run-scoring base hit came off reliever, Bobby Parnell.
Parting Points: Kudos to Andy Pettitte on win#10 and Brett Gardner on his grand slam during the 11 run third inning for the Yankees.
And another Williams’ sister wins another Wimbledon.
Let’s go Germany!
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Bombers Blanked in Bronx
The New York Mets haven’t lost any luster away from luxurious Citi Field. The Amazin’s extended their road winning streak to seven after prevailing Friday night at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. The Bombers were shut out for just the second time at home this season, fall to their inter-city rivals 4-0. Hisanori Takahashi yielded four hits in six innings for the Mets. The 35 year old Japanese southpaw stymied the Bronx bats for the second time this season as the Mets blanked the Yankees in the Subway Series opener. Takahashi improved to 6-2 as a starter in outdueling Vasquez for the second time this season.
Losing pitcher, Javier Vasquez, couldn’t prevent the Mets from vaulting to a season-high eleven games over .500. The Mets trail Atlanta by a half-game for first in the NL East and are an impressive 9-1 against AL East clubs this season. The Yankees are tied with Tampa for the top spot in the division. Vasquez pitched respectively through seven strong innings of one run ball, but the slumping Yankee bats were sluggish and lazy in backing their 6-6 starting pitcher. Vazquez issued three walks and fanned four Amazins after allowing an Ike Davis RBI base hit in the top of the first. Takahashi and Vasquez settled into their grooves and matched mound mastery through six innings in front of a sold out stadium. The low-scoring dual was shattered in the eighth after Angel Pagan pelted a two-run double off Yankee reliever, Chan Ho Park. Jose Reyes collected his second hit and 25th RBI in the ninth with a base hit off Boone Logan to give the Mets a 4-0 cushion. The Yankees were shut down by closer, Francisco Rodriguez, in the bottom of the ninth after loading the bases with one out against Raul Valdes. Rodriguez was on the sour side of a 12-pitch walk to Brett Gardner before striking out captain, Derek Jeter and getting Nick Swisher to pop-up for the final out. It was K-Rod’s 16th save of the season. Francisco Cervelli and Swisher starred for the Yankee offense with two hits apiece, neither of which drove in any runs.
The Yankees send 9-1 hurler, Phil Hughes, to the hill this afternoon to face the Mets’ own 9-1 tosser, Mike Pelfrey. It’s Lou Gehrig’s birthday, so I fully expect the pinstripes to pull out a win for the Ironhorse.
Parting Points: In addition to Gehrig’s birthday, it also happens to be Paula Abdul’s birthday.
Song for Saturday- “Opposites Attract” by Paula Abdul
Losing pitcher, Javier Vasquez, couldn’t prevent the Mets from vaulting to a season-high eleven games over .500. The Mets trail Atlanta by a half-game for first in the NL East and are an impressive 9-1 against AL East clubs this season. The Yankees are tied with Tampa for the top spot in the division. Vasquez pitched respectively through seven strong innings of one run ball, but the slumping Yankee bats were sluggish and lazy in backing their 6-6 starting pitcher. Vazquez issued three walks and fanned four Amazins after allowing an Ike Davis RBI base hit in the top of the first. Takahashi and Vasquez settled into their grooves and matched mound mastery through six innings in front of a sold out stadium. The low-scoring dual was shattered in the eighth after Angel Pagan pelted a two-run double off Yankee reliever, Chan Ho Park. Jose Reyes collected his second hit and 25th RBI in the ninth with a base hit off Boone Logan to give the Mets a 4-0 cushion. The Yankees were shut down by closer, Francisco Rodriguez, in the bottom of the ninth after loading the bases with one out against Raul Valdes. Rodriguez was on the sour side of a 12-pitch walk to Brett Gardner before striking out captain, Derek Jeter and getting Nick Swisher to pop-up for the final out. It was K-Rod’s 16th save of the season. Francisco Cervelli and Swisher starred for the Yankee offense with two hits apiece, neither of which drove in any runs.
The Yankees send 9-1 hurler, Phil Hughes, to the hill this afternoon to face the Mets’ own 9-1 tosser, Mike Pelfrey. It’s Lou Gehrig’s birthday, so I fully expect the pinstripes to pull out a win for the Ironhorse.
Parting Points: In addition to Gehrig’s birthday, it also happens to be Paula Abdul’s birthday.
Song for Saturday- “Opposites Attract” by Paula Abdul
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Mired in Metropolitan Malaise
The first installment of the 2010 Subway Series went to the Bronx Bombers. The Mets hosted the Yankees at Citi Field Friday night in the opening game of a three game New York-New York series. Javier Vazquez enjoyed an outstanding outing, a six inning shutout stint for his second solid start in as many tries. The Yankee hurler pitched one-hit ball as the Bombers outlasted their cross town rivals, 2-1. The Mets didn’t score until the final frame and fell for the fifth consecutive time to the players wearing pinstripes. They clearly need an urgent survival kit if they anticipate any semblance of a playoff berth.
The Yankees’ offense provided a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to finally break a scoreless tie. Kevin Russo took the only Yankee RBIs of the night when he launched a two run double off 39 year old Met reliever, Elmer Dessens. It was rookie Russo’s second major league hit. The first came during the third inning off New York starting lefthander, Hisanori Takahashi. The Japanese pitcher was making his Major League debut and succeeded in stifling the Bombers through six innings. Takahashi scattered six hits and struck out five. The Yankees couldn’t score until Russo’s crack found the right field grass in the seventh off the bullpen. Alex Rodriguez shared a pair of hits and a walk in the victory to reach base three times.
Vazquez earned his third win of the season for Joe Girardi’s Yankees with a pinpoint fastball. He walked Alex Cora in the first inning before setting down eight straight batters. It was the righty’s first look at a National League club since he threw for Atlanta a season ago. Vazquez dominated the Mets through six, but was pulled after fouling off a bunt and bloodying his finger. Girardi swapped his starter with just 70 pitches on his ledger with reliever, Dave Robertson. Jerry Manuel’s Mets mustered a meager hit off Vazquez and added one more against the Bomber bullpen until Mariano Rivera in the ninth. Vazquez allowed a one-out single in the fifth to Angel Pagan and Robertson yielded a hit to the first batter he faced in the seventh, Cora. Damaso Marte and Joba Chamberlain rescued the Yankees after backstop, Francisco Cervelli’s seventh inning errors. Chamerbalin fanned three of the five Mets he faced.
Rivera entered the ninth inning seeking his first save since the last day in April. The future Hall-of-fame closer recorded the first two outs before Jason Bay shot the ball off the left field wall for a double. Ike Davis doubled to cut the deficit to one on the first offering he saw from Rivera. Struggling third baseman, David Wright, ruined the harried Mets’ hapless hopes for a home rally with a game ending groundout. The banged-up Yankees defeated the deflated Mets during a tight contest in front of a record Citi Field crowd. Phil Hughes opposes the Mets’ Mike Pelfrey in tonight’s game two of the series.
Parting Points: The Blackhawks are very much in control of the Sharks.
Song of the moment- “My Hero”- Foo Fighters
The Yankees’ offense provided a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to finally break a scoreless tie. Kevin Russo took the only Yankee RBIs of the night when he launched a two run double off 39 year old Met reliever, Elmer Dessens. It was rookie Russo’s second major league hit. The first came during the third inning off New York starting lefthander, Hisanori Takahashi. The Japanese pitcher was making his Major League debut and succeeded in stifling the Bombers through six innings. Takahashi scattered six hits and struck out five. The Yankees couldn’t score until Russo’s crack found the right field grass in the seventh off the bullpen. Alex Rodriguez shared a pair of hits and a walk in the victory to reach base three times.
Vazquez earned his third win of the season for Joe Girardi’s Yankees with a pinpoint fastball. He walked Alex Cora in the first inning before setting down eight straight batters. It was the righty’s first look at a National League club since he threw for Atlanta a season ago. Vazquez dominated the Mets through six, but was pulled after fouling off a bunt and bloodying his finger. Girardi swapped his starter with just 70 pitches on his ledger with reliever, Dave Robertson. Jerry Manuel’s Mets mustered a meager hit off Vazquez and added one more against the Bomber bullpen until Mariano Rivera in the ninth. Vazquez allowed a one-out single in the fifth to Angel Pagan and Robertson yielded a hit to the first batter he faced in the seventh, Cora. Damaso Marte and Joba Chamberlain rescued the Yankees after backstop, Francisco Cervelli’s seventh inning errors. Chamerbalin fanned three of the five Mets he faced.
Rivera entered the ninth inning seeking his first save since the last day in April. The future Hall-of-fame closer recorded the first two outs before Jason Bay shot the ball off the left field wall for a double. Ike Davis doubled to cut the deficit to one on the first offering he saw from Rivera. Struggling third baseman, David Wright, ruined the harried Mets’ hapless hopes for a home rally with a game ending groundout. The banged-up Yankees defeated the deflated Mets during a tight contest in front of a record Citi Field crowd. Phil Hughes opposes the Mets’ Mike Pelfrey in tonight’s game two of the series.
Parting Points: The Blackhawks are very much in control of the Sharks.
Song of the moment- “My Hero”- Foo Fighters
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Mets' May Momentum
The Metropolitans are the hottest baseball team in New York City. The Mets ended April with a one game lead in the NL East and a 14-9 record. The hottest team in baseball is coming off a 9-1 home stand and shows little sign of cooling as the calendar flips to May. New York buried rival Philadelphia 9-1 Friday night behind a solid start from Jonathon Niese. Niese tossed seven innings to pick up his first victory of the season as the Mets coasted to their eighth straight win. New York faces Phillies’ ace, Roy Halladay, at Citizens Bank Park Saturday. League ERA leader, Mike Pelfrey, will toe the rubber for the Mets as they hope to extend their successful soaring streak. They would love nothing more than to win a series against the arch rivals Phillies to accumulate more victories.
Former Philadelphia backstop, Rod Barajas, drilled a pair of homeruns in the win for New York. Outfielder, Jeff Francoeur, and third baseman David Wright, also went deep. It was the fourth tater of the year for the Mets’ All-star. Wright’s second inning two-run smack was followed by Francoeur’s solo blast two batters later. The Mets’ right fielder also contributed in the field, running down a Raul Ibanez fly ball in the second inning. Francoeur’s right knee took a beating on the play and could be sidelined today. Singles by Juan Castro and Carlos Ruiz produced the only Phillies’ tally. Ruiz knocked Jayson Werth home during the second frame. It was Niese’s only shaky inning of the game but the corner outfielders saved the Phillies from scoring more. Left fielder, Jason Bay’s leaping snatch of a Shane Victorino liner with two outs ended the threat. Niese dominated the Phillies’ powerful lineup the rest of the way. The rookie retired the next 14 batters. He threw just six pitches during the third inning and finished the night with seven strikeouts. Niese stunned the sluggers with an effective cutter and was able to get ahead in the count against the defending NL champs.
Kyle Kendrick endured the loss for the home team. Kendrick allowed four runs on five hits through five poor innings on the mound. Barajas belted Kendrick’s full count offering over the fence in the top of the fifth to give the Mets a 4-1 lead. Francoeur was hit by a pitch and stole a base in the seventh with Cuban reliever, Danys Baez replacing Kendrick. Barajas doubled to centerfield for the RBI and went to third on a wild pitch by Baez. The Philadelphia pitcher yielded four runs in the seventh and exited with his team losing 8-1. Angel Pagan pounded a two-run triple and Jose Reyes singled him in for the fourth tally of the frame. Closer, Brad Lidge, was summoned from the Philadelphia pen in the ninth. Lidge gave up New York’s fourth homerun and the second by their 34 year old catcher. Barajas hit his fifth homer on a 1-1 pitch to lead off the ninth. Pagan added a single in the ninth to complete a three hit, two RBI night for the Mets’ leadoff man. Jenrry Mejia and Manny Acosta tossed back-to-back scoreless innings for the Mets out of the bullpen.
Parting Points: Song of the day- “Glycerine” by Bush
Former Philadelphia backstop, Rod Barajas, drilled a pair of homeruns in the win for New York. Outfielder, Jeff Francoeur, and third baseman David Wright, also went deep. It was the fourth tater of the year for the Mets’ All-star. Wright’s second inning two-run smack was followed by Francoeur’s solo blast two batters later. The Mets’ right fielder also contributed in the field, running down a Raul Ibanez fly ball in the second inning. Francoeur’s right knee took a beating on the play and could be sidelined today. Singles by Juan Castro and Carlos Ruiz produced the only Phillies’ tally. Ruiz knocked Jayson Werth home during the second frame. It was Niese’s only shaky inning of the game but the corner outfielders saved the Phillies from scoring more. Left fielder, Jason Bay’s leaping snatch of a Shane Victorino liner with two outs ended the threat. Niese dominated the Phillies’ powerful lineup the rest of the way. The rookie retired the next 14 batters. He threw just six pitches during the third inning and finished the night with seven strikeouts. Niese stunned the sluggers with an effective cutter and was able to get ahead in the count against the defending NL champs.
Kyle Kendrick endured the loss for the home team. Kendrick allowed four runs on five hits through five poor innings on the mound. Barajas belted Kendrick’s full count offering over the fence in the top of the fifth to give the Mets a 4-1 lead. Francoeur was hit by a pitch and stole a base in the seventh with Cuban reliever, Danys Baez replacing Kendrick. Barajas doubled to centerfield for the RBI and went to third on a wild pitch by Baez. The Philadelphia pitcher yielded four runs in the seventh and exited with his team losing 8-1. Angel Pagan pounded a two-run triple and Jose Reyes singled him in for the fourth tally of the frame. Closer, Brad Lidge, was summoned from the Philadelphia pen in the ninth. Lidge gave up New York’s fourth homerun and the second by their 34 year old catcher. Barajas hit his fifth homer on a 1-1 pitch to lead off the ninth. Pagan added a single in the ninth to complete a three hit, two RBI night for the Mets’ leadoff man. Jenrry Mejia and Manny Acosta tossed back-to-back scoreless innings for the Mets out of the bullpen.
Parting Points: Song of the day- “Glycerine” by Bush
Monday, August 17, 2009
Murphy Mobbed
Daniel Murphy clubbed the game winning hit in the bottom of the ninth inning yesterday at Citi Field to lift the New York Mets to a 3-2 win over the visiting Giants from San Francisco. Jeff Francoeur scored the final run for the home team in a game that featured solid starting pitching from both teams. The Mets didn’t make a grand statement or a dramatic exit but the walkoff was thrilling nonetheless.
The Mets, an already ailing ball club, were minus their All-Star third baseman, David Wright. Wright could miss as much as the rest of the season after suffering a concussion during Saturday’s second game of the four game set with the Giants. Wright was beaned on the left ear piece of his helmet by a 90 mph fastball from San Francisco youngster, Matt Cain. Cain did not intentionally throw at Wright, but was clearly trying to pitch Wright up and in. The Met slugger could not get out of the way quick enough and dropped to the batter’s box dirt as soon as the pitch struck his head. Wright was carried off the field and taken to a hospital, where he underwent testing. He spent the night at the hospital and his CT scan came back negative. Jerry Manuel, the first year Mets manager, stated the staff is unsure when Wright will return to play. The club is also undecided as to whether or not David should be placed on the disabled list. It’s one horror after another for the Metropolitans. Wright had been a formidable figure in Queens and seeing him go down in the manner he did was enough to raise the hair on my arm.
Scrappy, slap-hitting Luis Castillo, made up for some New York’s missing offense Sunday afternoon against the Giants’ no-hit tosser, Jonathan Sanchez. The second baseman belted his first homerun of 2009 with an upper-deck two-run shot to give the Mets a 2-1 lead in the fifth. Mike Pelfrey made the start for the Amazin’s. Pelfrey allowed a run in the top of the fifth inning on left fielder, Eugenio Velez’s single. Velez, a .292 hitter for San Francisco, connected for one of his two hits on the day to score Eli Whiteside. Angel Pagan hit a two out double that bounced off the glove of the Giants’ Fred Lewis in left field during the fifth.. Castillo then put the Mets on top with his two out, 3-1 blast into the stands to finely finish the bottom of the frame. You have to wonder about a pitcher who throws a no-hitter and gives up a homerun to Castillo in the same season.
The Giants came back to tie the game in the eighth inning. Randy Winn doubled to centerfield to score Velez. The Mets bullpen held strong in relief of Pelfrey. Brian Stokes, Pedro Feliciano and Francisco Rodriguez combined for a 1 2/3 scoreless and hitless effort. Feliciano successfully retired pinch hitter, Ryan Garko. Garko has hit lefties well but he smoked a 3-2 offering directing into the glove of Castillo at second. San Francisco tried to tack on more runs in the ninth but KRod struck out the side. In the bottom half, New York ended the game, making Sergio Romo the losing pitcher. Francoeur lined a base hit off Romo to open the ninth. Then, Fernando Tatis placed down a perfect sacrifice bunt before Murphy drove a Jeremy Affeldt curveball to right field to decide the game. Perhaps skipper, Bruce Bochy, should have left Romo in the game to face right-handers. Bochy chose to summon Affeldt from the bullpen instead of having Romo intentionally walk Murphy to face Omir Santos. The Mets mobbed Murphy and went home winners. Murphy is only hitting .279 on the season, with seven long balls. He has 40 RBIs but only two in his last 17 at-bats. It’s about time Daniel came up with a game-winning crack. The walkoff single was a feel-good moment for a team that has had anything but this summer.
Rodriguez was the hurler on the winning side for the Mets. It was a well-fought game on both fronts but you have to give Pelfrey credit for keeping the team in the game. He is only an even 8-8 this year but provided a quality 7 plus innings yesterday at home. Pelfrey pitched one of his best outings, whiffing five batters and giving up just five hits. It was the third time in 2009 Pelfrey went at least seven innings for Manuel. Sanchez and Pelfrey both got no-decisions in the contest but pitched well enough to deserve mention. The team still trails in NL East by eleven or so games. I was very surprised to see Castillo go deep. It was his first homerun since May 2008, and it was certainly hard hit. The Giants don’t have much of a lineup, but their pitching is as good as any staff in the National League. Their six losses in nine games have not destroyed their playoff chances. The team just tends to specialize in flat defeats and failing to capitalize early in games. They are currently in a heated playoff race for the wildcard. The Giants and Florida Marlins trail the Colorado Rockies by one game for the NL wildcard.
On a different note, I would love to see the Mets return to a uniform similar to the throwback ones they wore during the Giants series. I dig the cream color, pinstripes and the lettering on the jerseys. Even the Mets announcers alluded to the handsome digs the team was sporting. It would be an improvement over the bland black road silks the Mets are currently swaddled in.
Parting points: There’s an interesting new book about UT football coming out this week. It’s called “On Rocky Top” and written by Clay Travis. Legendary coach, Bill Walsh, also has a new sports philosophy book coming out later this month.
Happy Birthday to Jorge Posada! Too bad the Mariners clobbered the Yankees yesterday.
Today’s lyric: “Everybody needs to cry or needs to spit. Every sweet tooth needs just a little hit”- from U2’s “I’ll Go Crazy”
The Mets, an already ailing ball club, were minus their All-Star third baseman, David Wright. Wright could miss as much as the rest of the season after suffering a concussion during Saturday’s second game of the four game set with the Giants. Wright was beaned on the left ear piece of his helmet by a 90 mph fastball from San Francisco youngster, Matt Cain. Cain did not intentionally throw at Wright, but was clearly trying to pitch Wright up and in. The Met slugger could not get out of the way quick enough and dropped to the batter’s box dirt as soon as the pitch struck his head. Wright was carried off the field and taken to a hospital, where he underwent testing. He spent the night at the hospital and his CT scan came back negative. Jerry Manuel, the first year Mets manager, stated the staff is unsure when Wright will return to play. The club is also undecided as to whether or not David should be placed on the disabled list. It’s one horror after another for the Metropolitans. Wright had been a formidable figure in Queens and seeing him go down in the manner he did was enough to raise the hair on my arm.
Scrappy, slap-hitting Luis Castillo, made up for some New York’s missing offense Sunday afternoon against the Giants’ no-hit tosser, Jonathan Sanchez. The second baseman belted his first homerun of 2009 with an upper-deck two-run shot to give the Mets a 2-1 lead in the fifth. Mike Pelfrey made the start for the Amazin’s. Pelfrey allowed a run in the top of the fifth inning on left fielder, Eugenio Velez’s single. Velez, a .292 hitter for San Francisco, connected for one of his two hits on the day to score Eli Whiteside. Angel Pagan hit a two out double that bounced off the glove of the Giants’ Fred Lewis in left field during the fifth.. Castillo then put the Mets on top with his two out, 3-1 blast into the stands to finely finish the bottom of the frame. You have to wonder about a pitcher who throws a no-hitter and gives up a homerun to Castillo in the same season.
The Giants came back to tie the game in the eighth inning. Randy Winn doubled to centerfield to score Velez. The Mets bullpen held strong in relief of Pelfrey. Brian Stokes, Pedro Feliciano and Francisco Rodriguez combined for a 1 2/3 scoreless and hitless effort. Feliciano successfully retired pinch hitter, Ryan Garko. Garko has hit lefties well but he smoked a 3-2 offering directing into the glove of Castillo at second. San Francisco tried to tack on more runs in the ninth but KRod struck out the side. In the bottom half, New York ended the game, making Sergio Romo the losing pitcher. Francoeur lined a base hit off Romo to open the ninth. Then, Fernando Tatis placed down a perfect sacrifice bunt before Murphy drove a Jeremy Affeldt curveball to right field to decide the game. Perhaps skipper, Bruce Bochy, should have left Romo in the game to face right-handers. Bochy chose to summon Affeldt from the bullpen instead of having Romo intentionally walk Murphy to face Omir Santos. The Mets mobbed Murphy and went home winners. Murphy is only hitting .279 on the season, with seven long balls. He has 40 RBIs but only two in his last 17 at-bats. It’s about time Daniel came up with a game-winning crack. The walkoff single was a feel-good moment for a team that has had anything but this summer.
Rodriguez was the hurler on the winning side for the Mets. It was a well-fought game on both fronts but you have to give Pelfrey credit for keeping the team in the game. He is only an even 8-8 this year but provided a quality 7 plus innings yesterday at home. Pelfrey pitched one of his best outings, whiffing five batters and giving up just five hits. It was the third time in 2009 Pelfrey went at least seven innings for Manuel. Sanchez and Pelfrey both got no-decisions in the contest but pitched well enough to deserve mention. The team still trails in NL East by eleven or so games. I was very surprised to see Castillo go deep. It was his first homerun since May 2008, and it was certainly hard hit. The Giants don’t have much of a lineup, but their pitching is as good as any staff in the National League. Their six losses in nine games have not destroyed their playoff chances. The team just tends to specialize in flat defeats and failing to capitalize early in games. They are currently in a heated playoff race for the wildcard. The Giants and Florida Marlins trail the Colorado Rockies by one game for the NL wildcard.
On a different note, I would love to see the Mets return to a uniform similar to the throwback ones they wore during the Giants series. I dig the cream color, pinstripes and the lettering on the jerseys. Even the Mets announcers alluded to the handsome digs the team was sporting. It would be an improvement over the bland black road silks the Mets are currently swaddled in.
Parting points: There’s an interesting new book about UT football coming out this week. It’s called “On Rocky Top” and written by Clay Travis. Legendary coach, Bill Walsh, also has a new sports philosophy book coming out later this month.
Happy Birthday to Jorge Posada! Too bad the Mariners clobbered the Yankees yesterday.
Today’s lyric: “Everybody needs to cry or needs to spit. Every sweet tooth needs just a little hit”- from U2’s “I’ll Go Crazy”
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Figueroa Fine in Flushing
Nelson Figueroa lifted the measly Mets over the St. Louis Cardinals in the second contest of a two game series at Citi Field this afternoon. The New York pitcher earned his first win since last September after contributing 4 1/3 innings of four hit ball in relief of the injured scheduled starter, Jonathan Niese. Niese went down in the first inning of the game with a right leg ailment. Figueroa fanned five and did not issue a walk against a potent lineup featuring the most captive Cardinal, Albert Pujols. The Mets won the game and completed a 5-5 homestand on a positive note. St. Louis loaded the bases in the fifth inning with Figueroa on the hill. The hurler worked out of trouble, striking out newly-acquired Cardinal outfielder, Matt Holliday, to end the inning. The threat was the closest the visiting team would come to scratching a run across the plate to notch a digit on the scoreboard.
The Mets shutout St. Louis 9-0 backed solid relief pitching and sturdy and steady slugging. Angel Pagan and David Wright each smacked two run homeruns and collected three hits by the end of the nine innings. Wright stroked an opposite field long ball, going deep off Kyle Lohse in the bottom of the first. The tater was just the eighth for the All-Star third baseman this season, and fifth at spacious Citi Field. Figueroa helped his own cause at the plate in the second when he brought home two more Mets runs on a triple. Rick Ankiel, the Cardinals’ centerfielder, was charged with an error in the second frame on a Pagan fly ball, resulting in another New York tally. Pagan came through again in the sixth with an RBI triple and Alex Cora creamed an offering for a hit, pushing the lead to 7-0 Mets. In the eighth, Pagan pounded a pitch off Trevor Miller into the seats for the game’s final blow. Pagan had four RBIs total and clubbed his second homerun in four games.
Bobby Parnell kept St. Louis hitless after taking over for Figueroa in the sixth. Parnell picked up his first save of the season. Bobby also bashfully banged his first major league hit with an eighth inning single. It seems like the pitchers are producing at the plate more than the position players. New York needed this one bi g time, especially after Tuesday night’s devastating extra inning affair in which Pujols stole the stage at Citi. The offense looked alive on their way to a 15 hit day. It was just the second win in seven games for the Amazins. Figueroa filled in nicely but the bad thing is the Mets suffered yet another injury to a key player. Niese was inserted into Jerry Manuel’s rotation because of an injury to Fernando Nieve. Figueroa and Parnell combined to allow just six St. Louis hits. That feat is phenomenal when you think of the circumstances of the spot start and tattered, shattered Mets’ bullpen. Then again, Mets pitching has allowed the fewest homeruns in the NL all year, and they held together this afternoon. Pujols did manage to strike two doubles In his first two at-bats, but otherwise, the Cardinals were held in check with the wood.
Parting points: That was some finish last night in Tampa.
Congrats to Eli Manning on his reported $97 million deal.
The Mets shutout St. Louis 9-0 backed solid relief pitching and sturdy and steady slugging. Angel Pagan and David Wright each smacked two run homeruns and collected three hits by the end of the nine innings. Wright stroked an opposite field long ball, going deep off Kyle Lohse in the bottom of the first. The tater was just the eighth for the All-Star third baseman this season, and fifth at spacious Citi Field. Figueroa helped his own cause at the plate in the second when he brought home two more Mets runs on a triple. Rick Ankiel, the Cardinals’ centerfielder, was charged with an error in the second frame on a Pagan fly ball, resulting in another New York tally. Pagan came through again in the sixth with an RBI triple and Alex Cora creamed an offering for a hit, pushing the lead to 7-0 Mets. In the eighth, Pagan pounded a pitch off Trevor Miller into the seats for the game’s final blow. Pagan had four RBIs total and clubbed his second homerun in four games.
Bobby Parnell kept St. Louis hitless after taking over for Figueroa in the sixth. Parnell picked up his first save of the season. Bobby also bashfully banged his first major league hit with an eighth inning single. It seems like the pitchers are producing at the plate more than the position players. New York needed this one bi g time, especially after Tuesday night’s devastating extra inning affair in which Pujols stole the stage at Citi. The offense looked alive on their way to a 15 hit day. It was just the second win in seven games for the Amazins. Figueroa filled in nicely but the bad thing is the Mets suffered yet another injury to a key player. Niese was inserted into Jerry Manuel’s rotation because of an injury to Fernando Nieve. Figueroa and Parnell combined to allow just six St. Louis hits. That feat is phenomenal when you think of the circumstances of the spot start and tattered, shattered Mets’ bullpen. Then again, Mets pitching has allowed the fewest homeruns in the NL all year, and they held together this afternoon. Pujols did manage to strike two doubles In his first two at-bats, but otherwise, the Cardinals were held in check with the wood.
Parting points: That was some finish last night in Tampa.
Congrats to Eli Manning on his reported $97 million deal.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Met Mess
Miguel Tejada leads the major leagues in multi-hit games with 39. The Houston Astros are winners of seven straight games. They just swept the St. Louis Cardinals and extended their home winning streak to a season high five games when they won the opener of a three game set at Minute Maid Park. The Astros, of course, welcomed the a New York Mets team mingled in a mirage of muddled chaos. The Mets have lost six of eight games since coming back from the All-Star break and are all but out of contending for the NL East. The Phillies hold a ten game lead in the division and there are seven teams ahead of the Mets for the NL wildcard.
The grisliness that is the New York Mets reached epic proportions with Vice President, Tony Bernazard’s diatribe on the Binghamton Mets. Sources say the top executive took off his shirt and challenged the minor league players to a fight, while cursing out Met management. Bernazard reportedly also had a bout with closer, Francisco Rodriguez on the team bus returning from Atlanta last week. The ongoing investigation of Bernazard will continue and so will the plague of pathetic play as long as Jerry Manuel fields this team. New York is nothing more than a Triple A team in shambles. The offense is weakened due to injuries but the Mets cannot use that as an excuse for not hitting. They lack deep and dominant pitching and have precious little to trade before the July 31st baseball deadline. The Mets do not have a stacked minor league system and aside from a handful of serviceable relievers and Gary Sheffield, have nothing to offer opposing clubs. If Jose Reyes could stay on the field and prove himself in good health and a good attitude, the Mets would have a chip to offer. But Reyes is currently damaged goods and teams are not going to risk acquiring the All-star shortstop. Daniel Murphy is viable trade bait as well. However, the Mets cannot lose Murphy at first base despite his mediocre production. With Carlos Delgado’s return pending, the Mets either need to trade for a first baseman with a big bat or move David Wright to the other side of the infield. Then, the problem of filling the hot corner becomes number one on the agenda. The Mets are just not hitting and are leaving too many runners on base when they do reach safely. Manuel has seen his team shut out five times in July and nine times this season.
Last night, the team ace Johan Santana, endured one of his worst outings on a muggy Houston mound. Santana allowed 15 runners to reach base in six plus innings. He struck out just three Astros, and gave up a two-run homerun to opposing pitcher and former Amazin’ Mike Hampton. The veteran Hampton allowed four runs on eight hits in the 5-4 Houston victory. The southpaw fanned seven Mets and walked four over 5 2/3 impressive innings to pick up his sixth win. The Astros received crisp contributions from every batter in the lineup, and from the shining defense. Chris Coste provided the difference-making double with his two-run smack in the fifth. The Mets drew first blood with a Wright RBI single in the first inning. New Met, Jeff Francoeur and fill-in, Fernando Tatis thwarted the Mets opportunity with consecutive outs.
The Astros responded to the 1-0 New York lead in the bottom of the first. Kaz Matsui and Tejada stroked back-to-back singles with one out against Santana. Johan ended his 15 inning scoreless streak when Astros’ sluggler Carlos Lee delivered an RBI single. After a Jeff Keppinger double with two down in the fourth, Hampton gave himself a 3-1 margin with his 16th career long ball. The Mets’ Omir Santos went deep in the sixth for a solo shot and was 3 for 4 on the evening. Second baseman, Luis Castillo, was also 3 for 4 with an RBI. Francoeur and Wright added an RBI each, but it wasn’t enough to propel the Mets to a win. Coste’s creaming gave the Astros the lead for good despite a late threat by New York’s putrid offense in the eighth. With runners at the corners and two outs, LeTroy Hawkins got Castillo to pop out to left field. Jose Valverde tossed a hitless ninth to collect the save, his 11th of the year.
The Mets pounded out the hits Friday night but were unable to get the runs in. The lack of run production is a major problem, even in the low-scoring National League. Ten runners were stranded even though the Mets worked Astros hurlers to 160 pitches. The offense continues to regress, and their biggest hitter, Wright, has yet to reach double digits in homeruns. When Sheffield is the team leader in taters, the offensive struggles should be addressed. I am not sure how to fix the Mets. I do know their HR and front office needs to look in the mirror and realize they are embarrassing to fans and the league. The Phillies are the frontrunners as the World Series champions and are not slowing down to allow the Mets back into the playoff race. If Philadelphia lands Roy Halladay, the Mets can forget about making the playoffs for the next three seasons. The Mets are a mess and marred. They are in a public relations nightmare with Bernazard, yet the Wilpons are unwilling to fire the destroying VP. The owners feel the Mets are thriving in the minor leagues because of Bernazard. GM Omar Minaya is generally liked by the public but his team is unmatchable. Minaya’s diminishing power in the organization should concern fans because the Wilpons are clearly in control. As long as they call the shots, New York will be perceived as a laughable organization.
Twenty-two year old, Jon Niese, throws for the Mets tonight. Niese was 5-0 in his last seven starts in Buffalo. The Mets look to the youngster for a much-needed turnaround in the middle game of this series. He won’t completely clean up the mess, but should he provide a quality start, he will alleviate some of the stench.
Parting points: I am still flabbergasted by the Dwayne Wise catch Thursday night. He looked more like Dwayne Wade going up for a hook shot.
Song of the day- “Hero” by Mariah Carey
The grisliness that is the New York Mets reached epic proportions with Vice President, Tony Bernazard’s diatribe on the Binghamton Mets. Sources say the top executive took off his shirt and challenged the minor league players to a fight, while cursing out Met management. Bernazard reportedly also had a bout with closer, Francisco Rodriguez on the team bus returning from Atlanta last week. The ongoing investigation of Bernazard will continue and so will the plague of pathetic play as long as Jerry Manuel fields this team. New York is nothing more than a Triple A team in shambles. The offense is weakened due to injuries but the Mets cannot use that as an excuse for not hitting. They lack deep and dominant pitching and have precious little to trade before the July 31st baseball deadline. The Mets do not have a stacked minor league system and aside from a handful of serviceable relievers and Gary Sheffield, have nothing to offer opposing clubs. If Jose Reyes could stay on the field and prove himself in good health and a good attitude, the Mets would have a chip to offer. But Reyes is currently damaged goods and teams are not going to risk acquiring the All-star shortstop. Daniel Murphy is viable trade bait as well. However, the Mets cannot lose Murphy at first base despite his mediocre production. With Carlos Delgado’s return pending, the Mets either need to trade for a first baseman with a big bat or move David Wright to the other side of the infield. Then, the problem of filling the hot corner becomes number one on the agenda. The Mets are just not hitting and are leaving too many runners on base when they do reach safely. Manuel has seen his team shut out five times in July and nine times this season.
Last night, the team ace Johan Santana, endured one of his worst outings on a muggy Houston mound. Santana allowed 15 runners to reach base in six plus innings. He struck out just three Astros, and gave up a two-run homerun to opposing pitcher and former Amazin’ Mike Hampton. The veteran Hampton allowed four runs on eight hits in the 5-4 Houston victory. The southpaw fanned seven Mets and walked four over 5 2/3 impressive innings to pick up his sixth win. The Astros received crisp contributions from every batter in the lineup, and from the shining defense. Chris Coste provided the difference-making double with his two-run smack in the fifth. The Mets drew first blood with a Wright RBI single in the first inning. New Met, Jeff Francoeur and fill-in, Fernando Tatis thwarted the Mets opportunity with consecutive outs.
The Astros responded to the 1-0 New York lead in the bottom of the first. Kaz Matsui and Tejada stroked back-to-back singles with one out against Santana. Johan ended his 15 inning scoreless streak when Astros’ sluggler Carlos Lee delivered an RBI single. After a Jeff Keppinger double with two down in the fourth, Hampton gave himself a 3-1 margin with his 16th career long ball. The Mets’ Omir Santos went deep in the sixth for a solo shot and was 3 for 4 on the evening. Second baseman, Luis Castillo, was also 3 for 4 with an RBI. Francoeur and Wright added an RBI each, but it wasn’t enough to propel the Mets to a win. Coste’s creaming gave the Astros the lead for good despite a late threat by New York’s putrid offense in the eighth. With runners at the corners and two outs, LeTroy Hawkins got Castillo to pop out to left field. Jose Valverde tossed a hitless ninth to collect the save, his 11th of the year.
The Mets pounded out the hits Friday night but were unable to get the runs in. The lack of run production is a major problem, even in the low-scoring National League. Ten runners were stranded even though the Mets worked Astros hurlers to 160 pitches. The offense continues to regress, and their biggest hitter, Wright, has yet to reach double digits in homeruns. When Sheffield is the team leader in taters, the offensive struggles should be addressed. I am not sure how to fix the Mets. I do know their HR and front office needs to look in the mirror and realize they are embarrassing to fans and the league. The Phillies are the frontrunners as the World Series champions and are not slowing down to allow the Mets back into the playoff race. If Philadelphia lands Roy Halladay, the Mets can forget about making the playoffs for the next three seasons. The Mets are a mess and marred. They are in a public relations nightmare with Bernazard, yet the Wilpons are unwilling to fire the destroying VP. The owners feel the Mets are thriving in the minor leagues because of Bernazard. GM Omar Minaya is generally liked by the public but his team is unmatchable. Minaya’s diminishing power in the organization should concern fans because the Wilpons are clearly in control. As long as they call the shots, New York will be perceived as a laughable organization.
Twenty-two year old, Jon Niese, throws for the Mets tonight. Niese was 5-0 in his last seven starts in Buffalo. The Mets look to the youngster for a much-needed turnaround in the middle game of this series. He won’t completely clean up the mess, but should he provide a quality start, he will alleviate some of the stench.
Parting points: I am still flabbergasted by the Dwayne Wise catch Thursday night. He looked more like Dwayne Wade going up for a hook shot.
Song of the day- “Hero” by Mariah Carey
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Eerie End
June 12, 2009. 11:00 p.m. That was the time of the disastrous definitive drop.
Game 1 of the 2009 Subway Series will be remembered forever. It was perhaps the worst regular season loss the Mets have ever had. I am still in stunned disbelief after the way the Yankees topped the Mets 9-8 last night. In a wild-scoring contest, I was half-expecting a crazy conclusion. It was the Yankees who played giveaway the entire game, but the Mets who suffered the galling defeat with one eerie ending error.
The Bombers took an early one run lead in the bottom of the second on Robinson Cano’s full count blast off Amazin’ starter, Livan Hernandez. Joba Chamberlain momentarily gave up the Yankees lead in the top of the third. Chamberlain walked Carlos Beltran on a full count. Luis Castillo scored, making the Mets’ first impression, and fittingly so. It would be Castillo in the bottom of the ninth leaving a lasting impression as he bobbled and dropped an Alex Rodriguez popup. The Subway Series is surely intensified with this most recent remorse.
Chamberlain struck out David Wright in the third but unintentionally hit Ryan Church with a pitch with the bases loaded. The second run was a gift from the Yankees, as Alex Cora reached home for New York’s National League team. Joba’s defense did not help him during the third inning. Cano picked up an error at second base. The Bombers answered right back in the bottom half of the frame. Mark Teixeira hit a towering ball to center field for a two-run homer. Teixeira connected for the ninth time in his last 15 home games. He has 13 bombs in his last 25 overall games and continues to tear the cover off the ball and play a fabulous first base. Mark’s RBI total stands at 54 on the season.
The Mets feasted off the Yankees bullpen in the top of the fifth. The Yankees were able to milk five innings out of their relief core. Chamberlain lasted just four innings, throwing 100 pitches to 20 batters. He also walked five of the nine Yankee pitchers allowed. Chamberlain was done in by two hit batters, the five free passes and fact the Mets could not stay off the bases. Ryan Church doubled to right, scoring Beltran and Wright. Gary Sheffield slammed a shot over the left field seats on a 2-2 offering for the two-run tater and 6-3 Mets lead. The long balls piled up from there. Derek Jeter racked a round-tripper in the bottom of the fifth and Hideki Matsui landed one in the right field stands the next inning. Yesterday was Matsui’s birthday, so I figured he would have a great game. He has a tendency to perform well and rise to the occasion in celebratory situations. On his 34th birthday, he hit a grand slam off Oakland’s, Joe Blanton.
The Yankees scored three runs total in the sixth, highlighted by Matsui’s ninth of the year off Jon Switzer. Hernandez was removed after issuing a full count walk to Jorge Posada. I had no idea Switzer was even on the Mets’ roster prior to Friday. The former Tampa Bay Ray has four major league years experience. He faced two batters last night as a New York Met reliever. Sean Green and Pedro Feliciano split time in relief too. Green threw a scoreless inning and a half, walking two and striking out one batter. Feliciano held the Bombers hitless in an effective bullpen stint of four pitches, all for strikes. The Mets hitters would not go down easily nor give up the fight in this back-and-forth fluctuating scoring session. The lead changed hands six times. Beltran, Church and Castillo all stole bases during the game. It was Jeter snagging a bag in the ninth that would be an important play later.
But, before we recount that incredible, dumbfounding ninth inning, let’s trace back to the seventh. The Mets tied the score at seven in the top half of the inning. They scored one run on two hits. Fernando Tatis pinch-hit for Brian Schneider. He grounded into a double play to second. Sheffield scored on the two-out grounder. In the eighth, the Mets took the lead 8-7 with Mariano Rivera on the mound. Rivera was making a rare eighth inning appearance, going against the protocol. Wright got the best of Mo’s cut fastball with a double to right field. The All-star third baseman is on fire, hitting .633 in his last eight games. The potential game winning hit allowed Beltran to score. Rivera walked Beltran prior to serving up the Wright extra base hit. It was just the third time in 26 plus innings Rivera has been walked on. The Yankees did not score in the bottom of the eighth. The team left five runners on base throughout the entire game.
Francisco Rodriguez, arguably the best closer in baseball this season, was summoned to close the game for the Mets in the ninth. Jeter singled with one out. Krod slowly struck out a pinch-hitting, Johnny Damon on nine pitches. Jeter scrambled to second with a steal on the strikeout. Mets manager, Jerry Manuel, opted to intentionally walk Teixeira to create the force out situation. Rodriguez got ahead on the count, 3-0, before taking a strike from Krod. Francisco appeared to escape the ninth inning jam when the three-time AL MVP promptly popped up and pounded his bat into the ground. The Yankee third baseman was only 1 for 17 lifetime against Krod. His ball arched towards a drifting and backpedaling Castillo in midfield. In a weird twist of events, Castillo simply dropped a ball he was under and able to catch. He was only using one hand on the attempt, and suffered for it. The Gold Glove second baseman’s excruciating error allowed two more Yankee runs. Jeter and Teixeira were both able to score on the slip-up. I still can‘t fathom how Castillo dropped the ball, but more amazing is the fact Teixeira was speedy enough to score from first base. Teixeira easily beat Alex Cora’s relay from Castillo by sprinting hard all the way. It was utterly amazing how his hankering hunch happened to handily help by heaping the heroic run.
The Mets continue to find unique ways to lose. Krod came into the game without a blown save. He would not pick up his 17th save but instead endure his first loss and blown save of the year. The Mets are now 31-28 and the Bombers boast a 35-26 record. The Yankees snapped a three game losing skid and look to take the series by winning today. I can’t wait for this afternoon’s game, although I doubt anything can top the drama of last night. The ghosts of Yankee Stadium haunted the New York Mets in their first appearance at the new park. The improbable and unlikely game-ending error lifted the Bombers in sprit and in the Subway Series win column. The Mets’ fortunes turned in an eerie instant. Lucky number 13, Alex Rodriguez, lobbed a pop fly to hand the Mets a win, but Castillo chucked it away. The Amazins annunciated awfully an anomalous allowance. The gift-wrapped dropped and infamous popup adds a new development to the cross-town rivals. As eerie as the ending was, I felt in my gut something was going to happen when Arod was at-bat. I listen to the games on the radio instead of watching them on television most of the time. Times like last night are the very reason I do. It’s so surreal to capture sports by listening to the game calls. My indirect involvement and personal connection with the New York Yankees has no basis in reality of course. As sports fans, we like to believe we are active participants in our teams’ fortunes. I know just because I felt something would happen didn’t mean I was influential in their weird win. I think I was just looking for a remedy from Thursday night. I found my cure in Castillo’s cursed catch.
Parting points: Congratulations to the 2009 Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins. If not for the outrageous Yankees win, The Pens Game 7 win would have been the bigger surprise.
We’ve heard of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. How about Castillo the Empire Slayer?
Game 1 of the 2009 Subway Series will be remembered forever. It was perhaps the worst regular season loss the Mets have ever had. I am still in stunned disbelief after the way the Yankees topped the Mets 9-8 last night. In a wild-scoring contest, I was half-expecting a crazy conclusion. It was the Yankees who played giveaway the entire game, but the Mets who suffered the galling defeat with one eerie ending error.
The Bombers took an early one run lead in the bottom of the second on Robinson Cano’s full count blast off Amazin’ starter, Livan Hernandez. Joba Chamberlain momentarily gave up the Yankees lead in the top of the third. Chamberlain walked Carlos Beltran on a full count. Luis Castillo scored, making the Mets’ first impression, and fittingly so. It would be Castillo in the bottom of the ninth leaving a lasting impression as he bobbled and dropped an Alex Rodriguez popup. The Subway Series is surely intensified with this most recent remorse.
Chamberlain struck out David Wright in the third but unintentionally hit Ryan Church with a pitch with the bases loaded. The second run was a gift from the Yankees, as Alex Cora reached home for New York’s National League team. Joba’s defense did not help him during the third inning. Cano picked up an error at second base. The Bombers answered right back in the bottom half of the frame. Mark Teixeira hit a towering ball to center field for a two-run homer. Teixeira connected for the ninth time in his last 15 home games. He has 13 bombs in his last 25 overall games and continues to tear the cover off the ball and play a fabulous first base. Mark’s RBI total stands at 54 on the season.
The Mets feasted off the Yankees bullpen in the top of the fifth. The Yankees were able to milk five innings out of their relief core. Chamberlain lasted just four innings, throwing 100 pitches to 20 batters. He also walked five of the nine Yankee pitchers allowed. Chamberlain was done in by two hit batters, the five free passes and fact the Mets could not stay off the bases. Ryan Church doubled to right, scoring Beltran and Wright. Gary Sheffield slammed a shot over the left field seats on a 2-2 offering for the two-run tater and 6-3 Mets lead. The long balls piled up from there. Derek Jeter racked a round-tripper in the bottom of the fifth and Hideki Matsui landed one in the right field stands the next inning. Yesterday was Matsui’s birthday, so I figured he would have a great game. He has a tendency to perform well and rise to the occasion in celebratory situations. On his 34th birthday, he hit a grand slam off Oakland’s, Joe Blanton.
The Yankees scored three runs total in the sixth, highlighted by Matsui’s ninth of the year off Jon Switzer. Hernandez was removed after issuing a full count walk to Jorge Posada. I had no idea Switzer was even on the Mets’ roster prior to Friday. The former Tampa Bay Ray has four major league years experience. He faced two batters last night as a New York Met reliever. Sean Green and Pedro Feliciano split time in relief too. Green threw a scoreless inning and a half, walking two and striking out one batter. Feliciano held the Bombers hitless in an effective bullpen stint of four pitches, all for strikes. The Mets hitters would not go down easily nor give up the fight in this back-and-forth fluctuating scoring session. The lead changed hands six times. Beltran, Church and Castillo all stole bases during the game. It was Jeter snagging a bag in the ninth that would be an important play later.
But, before we recount that incredible, dumbfounding ninth inning, let’s trace back to the seventh. The Mets tied the score at seven in the top half of the inning. They scored one run on two hits. Fernando Tatis pinch-hit for Brian Schneider. He grounded into a double play to second. Sheffield scored on the two-out grounder. In the eighth, the Mets took the lead 8-7 with Mariano Rivera on the mound. Rivera was making a rare eighth inning appearance, going against the protocol. Wright got the best of Mo’s cut fastball with a double to right field. The All-star third baseman is on fire, hitting .633 in his last eight games. The potential game winning hit allowed Beltran to score. Rivera walked Beltran prior to serving up the Wright extra base hit. It was just the third time in 26 plus innings Rivera has been walked on. The Yankees did not score in the bottom of the eighth. The team left five runners on base throughout the entire game.
Francisco Rodriguez, arguably the best closer in baseball this season, was summoned to close the game for the Mets in the ninth. Jeter singled with one out. Krod slowly struck out a pinch-hitting, Johnny Damon on nine pitches. Jeter scrambled to second with a steal on the strikeout. Mets manager, Jerry Manuel, opted to intentionally walk Teixeira to create the force out situation. Rodriguez got ahead on the count, 3-0, before taking a strike from Krod. Francisco appeared to escape the ninth inning jam when the three-time AL MVP promptly popped up and pounded his bat into the ground. The Yankee third baseman was only 1 for 17 lifetime against Krod. His ball arched towards a drifting and backpedaling Castillo in midfield. In a weird twist of events, Castillo simply dropped a ball he was under and able to catch. He was only using one hand on the attempt, and suffered for it. The Gold Glove second baseman’s excruciating error allowed two more Yankee runs. Jeter and Teixeira were both able to score on the slip-up. I still can‘t fathom how Castillo dropped the ball, but more amazing is the fact Teixeira was speedy enough to score from first base. Teixeira easily beat Alex Cora’s relay from Castillo by sprinting hard all the way. It was utterly amazing how his hankering hunch happened to handily help by heaping the heroic run.
The Mets continue to find unique ways to lose. Krod came into the game without a blown save. He would not pick up his 17th save but instead endure his first loss and blown save of the year. The Mets are now 31-28 and the Bombers boast a 35-26 record. The Yankees snapped a three game losing skid and look to take the series by winning today. I can’t wait for this afternoon’s game, although I doubt anything can top the drama of last night. The ghosts of Yankee Stadium haunted the New York Mets in their first appearance at the new park. The improbable and unlikely game-ending error lifted the Bombers in sprit and in the Subway Series win column. The Mets’ fortunes turned in an eerie instant. Lucky number 13, Alex Rodriguez, lobbed a pop fly to hand the Mets a win, but Castillo chucked it away. The Amazins annunciated awfully an anomalous allowance. The gift-wrapped dropped and infamous popup adds a new development to the cross-town rivals. As eerie as the ending was, I felt in my gut something was going to happen when Arod was at-bat. I listen to the games on the radio instead of watching them on television most of the time. Times like last night are the very reason I do. It’s so surreal to capture sports by listening to the game calls. My indirect involvement and personal connection with the New York Yankees has no basis in reality of course. As sports fans, we like to believe we are active participants in our teams’ fortunes. I know just because I felt something would happen didn’t mean I was influential in their weird win. I think I was just looking for a remedy from Thursday night. I found my cure in Castillo’s cursed catch.
Parting points: Congratulations to the 2009 Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins. If not for the outrageous Yankees win, The Pens Game 7 win would have been the bigger surprise.
We’ve heard of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. How about Castillo the Empire Slayer?
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Fantastic Finish (Interleague Intrigue Part II)
Fine and fantastic finishes are frequently becoming festivities for our featured New York baseball teams. The New York Yankees won in walk-off style Saturday to even the interleague series with Philadelphia 1-1. Melky Cabrera capped off a ninth inning three-run rally with the game winning RBI off Phillies closer, Brad Lidge. The confident Cabrera captured his centerfield job back and collected his third game-ending hit of the year. He is no longer an afterthought following Saturday’s sendoff single. The team grabbed their major league leading 17th come-from-behind victory with the 5-4 final.
Raul Ibanez got things started for the Phillies in the top of the second. The designated hitter clocked a 1-1 pitch off Yankee ace, Andy Pettitte, to give Philadelphia a 1-0 lead. It was Ibanez’s 17th missile of the year to lead all major leaguers. New York answered back in their half of the second facing rookie pitcher, J.A. Haap. Haap was inserted into the rotation in place of fraught veteran, Chan Ho Park. Haap allowed a Yankee hit in the second inning and Robinson Cano was able to reach home on Nick Swisher’s groundout to Jimmy Rollins at shortstop.
The Phillies scored again in the fifth inning on a three run homerun by John Mayberry, Jr to build a 4-1 lead. Mayberry tagged a double later in the game. The new right-fielder for Philadelphia was making his major league debut after being called up from Triple A Lehigh Valley. The Phils sent down left handed pitcher, Sergio Escalona, to bring up the rookie. Mayberry is the son of former major leaguer, John Mayberry, Sr., a two-time All-star in fifteen major league seasons. To make room for Mayberry in the outfield, Philadelphia shifted Jayson Werth to left and plugged Ibanez into the DH role. The fifth inning shot off Pettitte also came on a 1-1 count from the Yankee southpaw. Pettitte shrugged off starting strains to throw seven innings of five hit ball. Andy threw 114 strikes to 67 balls through 27 batters. Phil Coke relieved him with 1.2 innings of shutout ball, succumbing one hit.
Down by three runs in the bottom of the sixth, Derek Jeter homered for the second straight day on the first pitch from Haap. The Jeter blast appeared to be Haap’s only real gaffe and he was in line for his first big league win after eight innings. He pitched six innings, walked none and struck out four in a noble effort. Chad Durbin and Ryan Madson each combined with an inning of scoreless relief on the afternoon.
The Phillies were three outs away from improving their NL East lead over the Mets. Lidge, the best closer in baseball last season, came in to shut down New York in the ninth. The Yankees scraped out three runs off the closer to complete the walkoff win. Johnny Damon worked Lidge to a full count before walking to lead off the inning. Lidge responded by slinging three straight sliders to send Mark Teixiera down swinging. Alex Rodriguez arrived at the plate batting .204 since his return from hip surgery. Lidge got ahead on Rodriguez 1-2. The famous third baseman fought off the signature slider twice and took a few pitches. On a full count, Rodriguez sent a fastball into the short porch in right to tie the ball game at 4-4. The ball sailed just over Mayberry’s glove for a terrific two-run masterpiece. The next batter, Cano, singled to center and immediately stole second base with Cabrera at bat. Cabrera singled to center and Cano trucked home without a play at the plate. Jose Veras recorded the win for the Yankees, getting one out in the ninth. Veras is now 3-1 and the Yankees have won 10 of their last 11 games. In today‘s series finale, World Series MVP, Cole Hamels, throws for the Phils and C.C. Sabathia takes the hill for the Yankees. It should play out as a left-handed pitcher’s duel, but anything is possible in this game. Will they overcome another deficit to nip the rubber game of the series?
I like how the Yankees generated runs again on Saturday in ecstatic manner. They scored by stealing bases and getting clutch clubbing from their starters. Rodriguez may not be hitting for a high average but his 560th homerun helped stamp out another comeback win. Arod is now three shy of Reggie Jackson for 11th place in the long ball department. Alex, antics aside, is a high-impact player who has desecrated pitchers, with seven homers, since putting on the pinstripes in 2009. I realize his dinger came off Lidge, who is not the same closer he was a year ago. Lidge converted 48 saves in 2008 , including the post-season, but has a 9.16 ERA as of May 24th. Still, The Yankees plated three runs off the Philadelphia reliever in resounding fashion. It is encouraging to witness win after comeback win in the Bronx. The Yankees are 12-3 since their third baseman’s return. The roster is filling out nicely and the pitching is coming around. New York has to stretch out their starters because the bullpen is overworked and injured. The defense has gone ten straight games without an error. The Yankees only trail by a half game in the AL East, and with the Red Sox on the verge of being swept at Fenway, I am one happy Bomber backer.
Speaking of that potential sweep in Boston…
The Red Sox were 16-0 when leading after nine innings going into Saturday’s contest. Jonathan Papelbon blew his first save of the year after going 11 for 11 in save opportunities for the Red Sox. Omir Santos got on top of a four-seam fastball and drove it over the left field wall of the Green Monster in the top of the ninth. Santos is a nice young hitter and capable catcher who might eventually be the Mets’ everyday starter at the position. The hard-nosed hero hails from Puerto Rico and is becoming a regular for Jerry Manuel’s Mets. He was originally in the Yankee farm system as a 2001 draft pick. The excessively energetic Papelbon began the inning looking like his vintage self. He did walk leadoff hitter, Gary Sheffield, but blew away David Wright and chipped Jeremy Reed with explosive high speed fastballs. Santos unloaded on a 97 mph pitch to give New York the eventual game-winning hit. Papelbon’s first blown save negated a solid outing from Boston ace, Josh Beckett. The Mets mustered only a run, an unearned one, in the first inning off the starter’s own throwing error. Beckett was deprived of victory when Santos’ shot put the chance to a bitter end. Instead of his fifth win of the season, Beckett came away with a no-decision.
The umpires initially ruled Santos’ long fly a double, but on replay review, overturned the call. The 3-2 Mets victory placed them in line for the Sunday sweep this afternoon. The Red Sox went 3-0 against New York in 2006 but now it seems the tables have turned. New York snuck past Boston, backed by a strong defensive stance in the bottom of the ninth. J.J. Putz was called on to close in place of Francisco Rodriguez. K-Rod was shipped to the hospital with back spasms during the game and was unavailable to close. Putz issued a leadoff walk to Kevin Youkilis but managed two hard-hit outs off the bats of Jason Bay and J.D. Drew. Mike Lowell struck a ground ball to 36 year old journeyman, Ramon Martinez as Boston’s last hope. The sure-handed Martinez, replacing the injured Jose Reyes at shortstop, dove into the hole for the snag. He fired to first just in time as Daniel Murphy made the clean pick on a short hop for out number three. Lefty, Pedro Feliciano, notched the win as the Mets clipped the Red Sox.
Runs were of prime importance against Beckett on Saturday. Beckett harrowed the Mets with his longest effort of the season. He allowed a two-out single to left field in the first by Carlos Beltran. Beltran moved to second on Beckett’s error. The ace was trying to diplomatically pick off the teasing base runner, but the ball misfired to first. Sheffield singled in Beltran, giving the Mets the early advantage on the road. Sheffield hit a foul pop up between home and third prior to singling in Beltran. Beckett and Lowell converged and charged the ball but neither came away with the catch. Reed and Santos reached base in the seventh inning, with one out against Beckett. Josh proceeded to strike out Ramon Martinez and force Luis Castillo into a line drive out to centerfielder, Jacoby Ellsbury. Beckett was perfect in the eighth, working a 1-2-3 inning and striking out two. Boston took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first. Youkilis yielded a two-run base hit off Mike Pelfrey. Pelfrey cruised through the game and left after seven innings. Neither starting pitcher was knocked around. The game was decided on a defense and timely hitting. Santos’ controversial blast proved a profound punch to the punch-less Sox.
Boston’s staff ace will be on the mound this afternoon against Tim Redding for New York. That ace is the 5-2 knuckleball pitcher, Tim Wakefield. The veteran has a 3.59 ERA, with two complete games this year. He has only allowed four homeruns, the lowest for Red Sox starters. Sheffield is batting .237 in 49 appearances against Wakefield. He homered in 2005 off a Wakefield fastball but clearly struggles against the knuckle offerings. The Mets cannot afford to sit Sheffield with an already depleted lineup. Wakefield on the mound today is a major pitfall for the murky Mets. Redding cannot realistically be trusted on the mound every five days. Maybe the Mets are suitors for Jake Peavy, maybe not. They do need to address pitching if Oliver Perez is ineffective and Jon Niese is not ready to take off the diapers. Aside from their rock, Johan Santana, the rotation is shaky. I can’t see how New York is going to win three straight games in Boston, but as I will reiterate, anything is possible in this game. Read it and weep, do I smell a sweep?
Parting points: Girl power- Sheryl Crow, Sarah Mclachlan, Toni Braxton and Paula Abdul crooning this morning.
Raul Ibanez got things started for the Phillies in the top of the second. The designated hitter clocked a 1-1 pitch off Yankee ace, Andy Pettitte, to give Philadelphia a 1-0 lead. It was Ibanez’s 17th missile of the year to lead all major leaguers. New York answered back in their half of the second facing rookie pitcher, J.A. Haap. Haap was inserted into the rotation in place of fraught veteran, Chan Ho Park. Haap allowed a Yankee hit in the second inning and Robinson Cano was able to reach home on Nick Swisher’s groundout to Jimmy Rollins at shortstop.
The Phillies scored again in the fifth inning on a three run homerun by John Mayberry, Jr to build a 4-1 lead. Mayberry tagged a double later in the game. The new right-fielder for Philadelphia was making his major league debut after being called up from Triple A Lehigh Valley. The Phils sent down left handed pitcher, Sergio Escalona, to bring up the rookie. Mayberry is the son of former major leaguer, John Mayberry, Sr., a two-time All-star in fifteen major league seasons. To make room for Mayberry in the outfield, Philadelphia shifted Jayson Werth to left and plugged Ibanez into the DH role. The fifth inning shot off Pettitte also came on a 1-1 count from the Yankee southpaw. Pettitte shrugged off starting strains to throw seven innings of five hit ball. Andy threw 114 strikes to 67 balls through 27 batters. Phil Coke relieved him with 1.2 innings of shutout ball, succumbing one hit.
Down by three runs in the bottom of the sixth, Derek Jeter homered for the second straight day on the first pitch from Haap. The Jeter blast appeared to be Haap’s only real gaffe and he was in line for his first big league win after eight innings. He pitched six innings, walked none and struck out four in a noble effort. Chad Durbin and Ryan Madson each combined with an inning of scoreless relief on the afternoon.
The Phillies were three outs away from improving their NL East lead over the Mets. Lidge, the best closer in baseball last season, came in to shut down New York in the ninth. The Yankees scraped out three runs off the closer to complete the walkoff win. Johnny Damon worked Lidge to a full count before walking to lead off the inning. Lidge responded by slinging three straight sliders to send Mark Teixiera down swinging. Alex Rodriguez arrived at the plate batting .204 since his return from hip surgery. Lidge got ahead on Rodriguez 1-2. The famous third baseman fought off the signature slider twice and took a few pitches. On a full count, Rodriguez sent a fastball into the short porch in right to tie the ball game at 4-4. The ball sailed just over Mayberry’s glove for a terrific two-run masterpiece. The next batter, Cano, singled to center and immediately stole second base with Cabrera at bat. Cabrera singled to center and Cano trucked home without a play at the plate. Jose Veras recorded the win for the Yankees, getting one out in the ninth. Veras is now 3-1 and the Yankees have won 10 of their last 11 games. In today‘s series finale, World Series MVP, Cole Hamels, throws for the Phils and C.C. Sabathia takes the hill for the Yankees. It should play out as a left-handed pitcher’s duel, but anything is possible in this game. Will they overcome another deficit to nip the rubber game of the series?
I like how the Yankees generated runs again on Saturday in ecstatic manner. They scored by stealing bases and getting clutch clubbing from their starters. Rodriguez may not be hitting for a high average but his 560th homerun helped stamp out another comeback win. Arod is now three shy of Reggie Jackson for 11th place in the long ball department. Alex, antics aside, is a high-impact player who has desecrated pitchers, with seven homers, since putting on the pinstripes in 2009. I realize his dinger came off Lidge, who is not the same closer he was a year ago. Lidge converted 48 saves in 2008 , including the post-season, but has a 9.16 ERA as of May 24th. Still, The Yankees plated three runs off the Philadelphia reliever in resounding fashion. It is encouraging to witness win after comeback win in the Bronx. The Yankees are 12-3 since their third baseman’s return. The roster is filling out nicely and the pitching is coming around. New York has to stretch out their starters because the bullpen is overworked and injured. The defense has gone ten straight games without an error. The Yankees only trail by a half game in the AL East, and with the Red Sox on the verge of being swept at Fenway, I am one happy Bomber backer.
Speaking of that potential sweep in Boston…
The Red Sox were 16-0 when leading after nine innings going into Saturday’s contest. Jonathan Papelbon blew his first save of the year after going 11 for 11 in save opportunities for the Red Sox. Omir Santos got on top of a four-seam fastball and drove it over the left field wall of the Green Monster in the top of the ninth. Santos is a nice young hitter and capable catcher who might eventually be the Mets’ everyday starter at the position. The hard-nosed hero hails from Puerto Rico and is becoming a regular for Jerry Manuel’s Mets. He was originally in the Yankee farm system as a 2001 draft pick. The excessively energetic Papelbon began the inning looking like his vintage self. He did walk leadoff hitter, Gary Sheffield, but blew away David Wright and chipped Jeremy Reed with explosive high speed fastballs. Santos unloaded on a 97 mph pitch to give New York the eventual game-winning hit. Papelbon’s first blown save negated a solid outing from Boston ace, Josh Beckett. The Mets mustered only a run, an unearned one, in the first inning off the starter’s own throwing error. Beckett was deprived of victory when Santos’ shot put the chance to a bitter end. Instead of his fifth win of the season, Beckett came away with a no-decision.
The umpires initially ruled Santos’ long fly a double, but on replay review, overturned the call. The 3-2 Mets victory placed them in line for the Sunday sweep this afternoon. The Red Sox went 3-0 against New York in 2006 but now it seems the tables have turned. New York snuck past Boston, backed by a strong defensive stance in the bottom of the ninth. J.J. Putz was called on to close in place of Francisco Rodriguez. K-Rod was shipped to the hospital with back spasms during the game and was unavailable to close. Putz issued a leadoff walk to Kevin Youkilis but managed two hard-hit outs off the bats of Jason Bay and J.D. Drew. Mike Lowell struck a ground ball to 36 year old journeyman, Ramon Martinez as Boston’s last hope. The sure-handed Martinez, replacing the injured Jose Reyes at shortstop, dove into the hole for the snag. He fired to first just in time as Daniel Murphy made the clean pick on a short hop for out number three. Lefty, Pedro Feliciano, notched the win as the Mets clipped the Red Sox.
Runs were of prime importance against Beckett on Saturday. Beckett harrowed the Mets with his longest effort of the season. He allowed a two-out single to left field in the first by Carlos Beltran. Beltran moved to second on Beckett’s error. The ace was trying to diplomatically pick off the teasing base runner, but the ball misfired to first. Sheffield singled in Beltran, giving the Mets the early advantage on the road. Sheffield hit a foul pop up between home and third prior to singling in Beltran. Beckett and Lowell converged and charged the ball but neither came away with the catch. Reed and Santos reached base in the seventh inning, with one out against Beckett. Josh proceeded to strike out Ramon Martinez and force Luis Castillo into a line drive out to centerfielder, Jacoby Ellsbury. Beckett was perfect in the eighth, working a 1-2-3 inning and striking out two. Boston took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first. Youkilis yielded a two-run base hit off Mike Pelfrey. Pelfrey cruised through the game and left after seven innings. Neither starting pitcher was knocked around. The game was decided on a defense and timely hitting. Santos’ controversial blast proved a profound punch to the punch-less Sox.
Boston’s staff ace will be on the mound this afternoon against Tim Redding for New York. That ace is the 5-2 knuckleball pitcher, Tim Wakefield. The veteran has a 3.59 ERA, with two complete games this year. He has only allowed four homeruns, the lowest for Red Sox starters. Sheffield is batting .237 in 49 appearances against Wakefield. He homered in 2005 off a Wakefield fastball but clearly struggles against the knuckle offerings. The Mets cannot afford to sit Sheffield with an already depleted lineup. Wakefield on the mound today is a major pitfall for the murky Mets. Redding cannot realistically be trusted on the mound every five days. Maybe the Mets are suitors for Jake Peavy, maybe not. They do need to address pitching if Oliver Perez is ineffective and Jon Niese is not ready to take off the diapers. Aside from their rock, Johan Santana, the rotation is shaky. I can’t see how New York is going to win three straight games in Boston, but as I will reiterate, anything is possible in this game. Read it and weep, do I smell a sweep?
Parting points: Girl power- Sheryl Crow, Sarah Mclachlan, Toni Braxton and Paula Abdul crooning this morning.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Interleague Intrigue
The New York Yankees are rapidly raking in wins as they set to host the NL defending champion Philadelphia Phillies this weekend. In the first installment of interleague play this season, both New York teams face intriguing matchups. The Phillies visit the new ballpark in the Bronx and the Mets finish their three city road trip in Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox.
Winning is infectious for the Yankees, while the Mets still have a few wrinkles to work out. The Yankees initially struggled to find chemistry, but now seem to have picked themselves up. The team is even winning without catcher, Jorge Posada’s bat and mitt. Francisco Cervelli has handled the pitching staff with emotion and there is no timetable yet for Posada’s return. The Yankees took all three games against the Twins at home and swept aside the Orioles with ease. The Bombers won their ninth consecutive game and made their new home a record for most homeruns hit in the first 20 games of existence. The Yankees won 7-4 to sweep Baltimore out of the Bronx. They did so without their starting pitcher, Joba Chamberlain, throwing past the first inning. The raucous right-hander exited the game after bruising his knee on Adam Jones’ one-out line drive. He stayed in the game long enough to allow Nick Markakis to single into the right field corner. Markakis would later go deep for the Orioles in the 7th inning. The solo shot was the 75th long ball hit in Yankee Stadium.
Alfredo Aceves filled in for Joba and went 3 1/3 scoreless innings for the surging Yankees. He has not allowed a run since May 13th. Jonathan Albaladejo allowed four Baltimore runs on five hits. He followed Aceves with 2 1/3 innings of relief work. The depleted bullpen gave way to Jose Veras and Mariano Rivera to close out the game. Robinson Cano starred on offense, driving in three runs. He hit a two run shot in the second after doubling for an RBI in the first inning. Cano is in a groove and has taken over as a star. He seems much more concentrated this season. Derek Jeter, Cano and Mark Teixeria opened the inning with consecutive doubles off Baltimore starter, Adam Eaton. Melky Cabrera also had a double in the first inning, good for two Yankee runs. Hideki Matsui’s fifth inning homerun signaled the record for four bag totals in the new park’s opening twenty games. . Eaton allowed seven runs on eight hits for the Orioles. He was ineffective through 4 2/3 innings, but Baltimore had a chance to come back, pitting the tying run at home plate during the game. Brian Roberts belted a homerun for Baltimore and Ty Wigginton blasted a sixth inning double to score two runs.
Mariano Rivera earned his second save in as many days and 57th against the Orioles lifetime. The pitcher with the master cutter tossed a perfect ninth inning, throwing seven pitches. The last time the Yankees won nine in a row was June of 2007. Chamberlain believes he will be well enough to make his next start. The Yankees start the first portion of the interleague schedule with A.J. Burnett on the mound. Burnett brings a 2-1 record and 5.02 ERA against the Phillies. Philadelphia will counter with Brett Myers. Myers is 3-2 this year with a 4.5 ERA. Andy Pettitte pitches game two of the series against Jay Happ, and C.C. Sabathia closes out the weekend facing Cole Hamels in a feature matchup. Sabathia leads the Yankees in strikeouts and Hamels has pitched his best baseball of the year as of late for the Phillies.
Alex Rodriguez went 0-4 last night and is batting just .171. However, the Yankees are a better team with Alex in the batter’s box. He gives the Yankees more muscle by floating fastballs beyond the reach of outfielders. The Yankees have adjusted well to injuries and bounced back from their recent slump superbly. The team is coming on with a vengeance to close the gap in the AL East race. Cabrera, Cano, Texeria and Brett Garnder are making plays on defense, and the bullpen is producing well enough to keep the team reeling. The team has seen a barrage of situational hitting and dramatic homeruns to maneuver their way to nine straight wins.
The Phillies always pose a threat with their balanced lineup and swell hitters. Second baseman, Chase Utley, drove in four runs last night for the Phillies’ 12-5 knocking of the Reds. The cool and composed Utley knocked in one of the team’s four solo homers. Greg Dobbs, Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez all connected for Philadelphia. It was Raul’s 15th nip of the year. The Phillies scored in seven of the game’s nine innings. The hit parade made series winners out of the Phillies on the road. A dozen runs was enough for mediocre starter, Joe Blanton. They overcame a sub par start from Blanton with the first three hitters in the order combining for five runs and going 9-of-15 collectively. Jimmy Rollins was hard to keep off base as the productive and deadly leadoff bat. The Phils raced ahead 6-0 and Blanton consistently shut down Cincinnati . He got ahead on the batters and struck out four. But, Blanton almost let a six run lead slip away, despite registering the win. The right-hander gave up five runs in five innings, highlighted by Brandon Phillips’ three run dinger. The bomb by Brandon ended Blanton’s blighted night.
The Phillies starting rotation have a hideous 6.31 ERA, worst in the majors. They also have given up the most homeruns by any other team, with 46 in 2009. The offense keeps the team in the game to dismantle opponents, and they continue to pull off stunning victories. They own the NL’s highest scoring offense and should clobber the ball at the launching pad known as Yankee Stadium. I am a little concerned Aceves will not be available for a few days because he has pitched so much lately, but Brian Bruney should be ready to bridge the gap to Rivera if needed. The Phillies’ homer-friendly batters are capable of sending lasers into the stands, and both Burnett and Pettitte are prone to allow them. However, the Bombers have big bats of their own and Philadelphia starters throw out homeruns as if they are going out of style. That should determine which team is successful. The team is living proof you can win with a premier offense. The Phillies also have the game’s best winning percentage on the road. Their 14-5 road record will be blemished if New York pitching can contain a lashing lineup. Philadelphia has won six of their last seven games on the road and look to increase that in New York this Memorial Day weekend.
Meanwhile, in Boston, the Red Sox capped off a sweep of the Bluejays with a 5-1 win. Jon Lester rebounded from two bad outings to blank Toronto through six innings. Boston is baseball’s highest scoring team and Jason Bay continues to sizzle at the plate. Bay gave Lester support with his 13th homerun to the opposite field bullpen. It was Bay’s 11th straight homer with runners on base. Bay is now second in the league in long balls this season. Jacoby Ellsbury buried a double off Bluejay starter, Robert Ray, to extend his hitting streak to 16 games. The Red Sox handed Toronto an 0-4 deficit in the third inning on Dustin Pedroia’s double and Kevin Youkilis’ single. An RBI came in the fifth inning off Pedroia’s bat again to give Boston their final tally. Lester left with one out in the seventh after navigating the mound. Ramon Ramirez came in from the bullpen to end a bases-loaded Bluejay threat.
The Bluejays only scored one run off Lester and were held to just five during the entire three games. The Red Sox remain in the flow of the game and keep beating teams with small ball tactics. The Mets will have their hands full this weekend, punctuated by the loss of their leadoff shortstop, Jose Reyes. Reyes is not on the DL but is listed as day-to-day. Without Carlos Delgado and Reyes, the Mets look to David Wright and Carlos Beltran to be the run producers. Jerry Manuel is fielding a bunch of Triple-A caliber fill-ins, but the Mets pitching is good enough to keep Boston at bay. Manuel finally moved Daniel Murphy to first base and the kid was great Wednesday in L.A. I am curious to see how he does at Fenway and glad the Mets made one right move. It sure beats cringing at Murphy fetching flies in the field.
Johan Santana goes tonight for New York. He is 5-2 this year with an outstanding ERA of 1.36. Boston starts an on-the-mend Daisuke Matsuzaka. The Red Sox ace is 0-1 with a 12.79 ERA and will be making just his third start of the year. Boston’s sweep of Toronto cut the AL East lead to a half game. Boston is 15-2 in their last 17 games at Fenway Park. The Mets are coming off a four game losing streak on the road after winning 11 of 13. That does not bode well for New York, especially since they have not been fundamentally sound in the field. They have to play better baseball if they expect to buck the odds in Boston.
Parting points: The return of Rancid, “Last One To Die”, marks a great new song.
The Minnesota Twins weren’t exactly frugal in the run department last night. How many runs did they end up scoring against the Whitesox? 20!?
“A wrong decision is better than indecision”- Tony Soprano
This is 200th blog post!
Winning is infectious for the Yankees, while the Mets still have a few wrinkles to work out. The Yankees initially struggled to find chemistry, but now seem to have picked themselves up. The team is even winning without catcher, Jorge Posada’s bat and mitt. Francisco Cervelli has handled the pitching staff with emotion and there is no timetable yet for Posada’s return. The Yankees took all three games against the Twins at home and swept aside the Orioles with ease. The Bombers won their ninth consecutive game and made their new home a record for most homeruns hit in the first 20 games of existence. The Yankees won 7-4 to sweep Baltimore out of the Bronx. They did so without their starting pitcher, Joba Chamberlain, throwing past the first inning. The raucous right-hander exited the game after bruising his knee on Adam Jones’ one-out line drive. He stayed in the game long enough to allow Nick Markakis to single into the right field corner. Markakis would later go deep for the Orioles in the 7th inning. The solo shot was the 75th long ball hit in Yankee Stadium.
Alfredo Aceves filled in for Joba and went 3 1/3 scoreless innings for the surging Yankees. He has not allowed a run since May 13th. Jonathan Albaladejo allowed four Baltimore runs on five hits. He followed Aceves with 2 1/3 innings of relief work. The depleted bullpen gave way to Jose Veras and Mariano Rivera to close out the game. Robinson Cano starred on offense, driving in three runs. He hit a two run shot in the second after doubling for an RBI in the first inning. Cano is in a groove and has taken over as a star. He seems much more concentrated this season. Derek Jeter, Cano and Mark Teixeria opened the inning with consecutive doubles off Baltimore starter, Adam Eaton. Melky Cabrera also had a double in the first inning, good for two Yankee runs. Hideki Matsui’s fifth inning homerun signaled the record for four bag totals in the new park’s opening twenty games. . Eaton allowed seven runs on eight hits for the Orioles. He was ineffective through 4 2/3 innings, but Baltimore had a chance to come back, pitting the tying run at home plate during the game. Brian Roberts belted a homerun for Baltimore and Ty Wigginton blasted a sixth inning double to score two runs.
Mariano Rivera earned his second save in as many days and 57th against the Orioles lifetime. The pitcher with the master cutter tossed a perfect ninth inning, throwing seven pitches. The last time the Yankees won nine in a row was June of 2007. Chamberlain believes he will be well enough to make his next start. The Yankees start the first portion of the interleague schedule with A.J. Burnett on the mound. Burnett brings a 2-1 record and 5.02 ERA against the Phillies. Philadelphia will counter with Brett Myers. Myers is 3-2 this year with a 4.5 ERA. Andy Pettitte pitches game two of the series against Jay Happ, and C.C. Sabathia closes out the weekend facing Cole Hamels in a feature matchup. Sabathia leads the Yankees in strikeouts and Hamels has pitched his best baseball of the year as of late for the Phillies.
Alex Rodriguez went 0-4 last night and is batting just .171. However, the Yankees are a better team with Alex in the batter’s box. He gives the Yankees more muscle by floating fastballs beyond the reach of outfielders. The Yankees have adjusted well to injuries and bounced back from their recent slump superbly. The team is coming on with a vengeance to close the gap in the AL East race. Cabrera, Cano, Texeria and Brett Garnder are making plays on defense, and the bullpen is producing well enough to keep the team reeling. The team has seen a barrage of situational hitting and dramatic homeruns to maneuver their way to nine straight wins.
The Phillies always pose a threat with their balanced lineup and swell hitters. Second baseman, Chase Utley, drove in four runs last night for the Phillies’ 12-5 knocking of the Reds. The cool and composed Utley knocked in one of the team’s four solo homers. Greg Dobbs, Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez all connected for Philadelphia. It was Raul’s 15th nip of the year. The Phillies scored in seven of the game’s nine innings. The hit parade made series winners out of the Phillies on the road. A dozen runs was enough for mediocre starter, Joe Blanton. They overcame a sub par start from Blanton with the first three hitters in the order combining for five runs and going 9-of-15 collectively. Jimmy Rollins was hard to keep off base as the productive and deadly leadoff bat. The Phils raced ahead 6-0 and Blanton consistently shut down Cincinnati . He got ahead on the batters and struck out four. But, Blanton almost let a six run lead slip away, despite registering the win. The right-hander gave up five runs in five innings, highlighted by Brandon Phillips’ three run dinger. The bomb by Brandon ended Blanton’s blighted night.
The Phillies starting rotation have a hideous 6.31 ERA, worst in the majors. They also have given up the most homeruns by any other team, with 46 in 2009. The offense keeps the team in the game to dismantle opponents, and they continue to pull off stunning victories. They own the NL’s highest scoring offense and should clobber the ball at the launching pad known as Yankee Stadium. I am a little concerned Aceves will not be available for a few days because he has pitched so much lately, but Brian Bruney should be ready to bridge the gap to Rivera if needed. The Phillies’ homer-friendly batters are capable of sending lasers into the stands, and both Burnett and Pettitte are prone to allow them. However, the Bombers have big bats of their own and Philadelphia starters throw out homeruns as if they are going out of style. That should determine which team is successful. The team is living proof you can win with a premier offense. The Phillies also have the game’s best winning percentage on the road. Their 14-5 road record will be blemished if New York pitching can contain a lashing lineup. Philadelphia has won six of their last seven games on the road and look to increase that in New York this Memorial Day weekend.
Meanwhile, in Boston, the Red Sox capped off a sweep of the Bluejays with a 5-1 win. Jon Lester rebounded from two bad outings to blank Toronto through six innings. Boston is baseball’s highest scoring team and Jason Bay continues to sizzle at the plate. Bay gave Lester support with his 13th homerun to the opposite field bullpen. It was Bay’s 11th straight homer with runners on base. Bay is now second in the league in long balls this season. Jacoby Ellsbury buried a double off Bluejay starter, Robert Ray, to extend his hitting streak to 16 games. The Red Sox handed Toronto an 0-4 deficit in the third inning on Dustin Pedroia’s double and Kevin Youkilis’ single. An RBI came in the fifth inning off Pedroia’s bat again to give Boston their final tally. Lester left with one out in the seventh after navigating the mound. Ramon Ramirez came in from the bullpen to end a bases-loaded Bluejay threat.
The Bluejays only scored one run off Lester and were held to just five during the entire three games. The Red Sox remain in the flow of the game and keep beating teams with small ball tactics. The Mets will have their hands full this weekend, punctuated by the loss of their leadoff shortstop, Jose Reyes. Reyes is not on the DL but is listed as day-to-day. Without Carlos Delgado and Reyes, the Mets look to David Wright and Carlos Beltran to be the run producers. Jerry Manuel is fielding a bunch of Triple-A caliber fill-ins, but the Mets pitching is good enough to keep Boston at bay. Manuel finally moved Daniel Murphy to first base and the kid was great Wednesday in L.A. I am curious to see how he does at Fenway and glad the Mets made one right move. It sure beats cringing at Murphy fetching flies in the field.
Johan Santana goes tonight for New York. He is 5-2 this year with an outstanding ERA of 1.36. Boston starts an on-the-mend Daisuke Matsuzaka. The Red Sox ace is 0-1 with a 12.79 ERA and will be making just his third start of the year. Boston’s sweep of Toronto cut the AL East lead to a half game. Boston is 15-2 in their last 17 games at Fenway Park. The Mets are coming off a four game losing streak on the road after winning 11 of 13. That does not bode well for New York, especially since they have not been fundamentally sound in the field. They have to play better baseball if they expect to buck the odds in Boston.
Parting points: The return of Rancid, “Last One To Die”, marks a great new song.
The Minnesota Twins weren’t exactly frugal in the run department last night. How many runs did they end up scoring against the Whitesox? 20!?
“A wrong decision is better than indecision”- Tony Soprano
This is 200th blog post!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Mitigating Manuel’s Moot Move
Motivated Marlins Maul Mets
The Mets were on the brink of another Johan Santana win. They held a one run lead against the Florida Marlins with their left-handed ace on the mound in the 7th inning. Johan escaped the inning at home unscathed, and the 3-2 New York lead was in tact. The Mets failed to score in the bottom half of the inning, and Jerry Manuel called upon J.J. Putz. Santana sat the bench after delivering 108 pitches preparing for his reliable reliever to preserve the game.
Putz began his expedition with back-to-back walks. You always hear how issuing leadoff walks burns you in the end. It certainly did so for the Mets. With runners on first and second, Florida catcher Ronny Paulino, laid down a great bunt. The runner advanced to set up the potential go-ahead scoring opportunity. Florida clubber, Cody Ross, raked a two run single as the two batters Putz walked scored. Putz was basically finished when he relinquished the two passes to start the inning. Walks change the complexion of the entire inning and I thought Santana should have been left to complete the game anyway.
Jeremy Reed reeled a triple in the bottom of the 8th for the Mets. Reed was inserted for Daniel Murphy as a defensive replacement as part of the double switch. Then, Alex Cora socked a hart hit grounder off Leo Nunez that Emilio Bonafacio back-handed at second base. Bonafacio’s put-out meant two more New York base runners were left lingering. Eleven in total were stranded on the bags by the Mets through eight innings.
Closer, Francisco Rodriguez took over in the 9th inning for his ninth appearance of the season. He allowed a Bonafacio double. The ball was shellacked to the right side gap of first baseman, Fernando Tatis, into right field. Ryan Church fielded the ball, but Bonafacio raced to second. Cameron Maybin was next up at the plate to face Krod. Maybin, who entered the at-bat 0-17 with runners-in-scoring position, grounded out on a soft infield hopper. Rodriguez ruined any Marlin threat when he got Wes Helms to pop-up to end the 9th.
The pitcher’s spot was due up for New York in the bottom of the 9th. Manuel substituted pinch hitter, Gary Sheffield, for Rodriguez. Luis Castillo was on the bench for the skipper and probably would have been the better choice had he not been dealing with a nagging injury. Carlos Delgado did not start either but was also unavailable from the bench. Sheffield came in to face Marlins closer, Matt Linstrom. Linstrom’s horrific claim to fame so far this year has been floating around with an above 9 ERA. He enabled seven Phillies to score in a recent relief effort. The closer throws particularly hard but has been susceptible to suspending the ball up in the air for an easy hitter‘s target. His fastball tops 100 mph, and he threw the heat that hard to the Mets. He wasn’t in command, however. A Sheffield walk represented the tying run on first base for hot-hitting, Carlos Beltran. The centerfielder was fooled by Lindstrom’s slider on a 1-1 count. Lindstrom is still fine-tuning and tweaking his slider though, and Carlos wrested a walk from the Florida pitcher.
David Wright wriggled his way to a 0-2 count, fouling off the flames fired at him. David hasn’t had glaring success fighting off pitches this year. It’s been a problem for him to climb out of deep counts, and this at-bat, he struck out looking for the second time during the day. Wright was doubled up in the third inning when he grounded in a double play. Fans are starting to get on Wright’s case for his failure in the clutch and leaving too many runners in scoring position. I say, give the guy a chance. Wright has so much pressure on him and his bat will come through. Granted, he never really did seem like the same hitter after he participated in the homerun contest at the all-star game. The third baseman looks too anxious at the plate and is typically an automatic out. He also let a ball through the wickets for an error at third base yesterday. Wright can’t allow his poor plate malfunctions are carrying over onto the field.
With one out, Church strolled to the plate. Lindstrom got Church to ground out, but Sheffield and Beltran advanced to third and second base. Fernando Tatis, who had three hits on the day, including a homerun, stepped into the batter’s box. Lindstrom’s first offering was a fastball about a foot off the plate. It’s clear Matt was avoiding throwing anything worthy to tantalizing Tatis. He hit Fernando with a pitch and the bases were loaded.
Manuel decided to roll the dice and play the hot hand. Manuel’s Mets had two outs and the bases loaded when he chose to tinker with his lineup card. He put backup catcher, Omir Santos, up as a pinch hitter for Ramon Castro. Castro corralled two hits earlier in the game, so the move was not entirely justifiable. Santos, on his 28th birthday, came up empty. He flied out to end the game in what is quickly becoming an antiquated affair for the Mets. Marlins win 4-3.
It will be debated whether Manuel should have batted Castro in his usual spot. The rookie Santos had a breakout series and was seeing the ball well. Santos belted his first homerun, a grand slam, on Monday night. He came out of the bullpen to pinch hit yesterday. I don’t think the game should come down to a moot managerial move, but I do disagree with Manuel in this case. Jerry manages instinctively and that often is a good way to manage. However, putting a novice in that position was not the right approach. Castro is a relatively reliable situational hitter and Santos could not have been too prepared coming out of the bullpen.
This was a frustrating game for the Mets as they lose another series to Florida. The team is now three games under the .500 mark. They stranded 14 runners, including leaving the bases loaded in the 9th. The Mets were 1-11 with runners in scoring position. Each team made an error, but it was the Florida defense that stole the show. Jorge Cantu was excellent in the field on a team not known for defensive prowess. Cantu robbed Jose Reyes in the second inning and Ryan Church was greeted by his glove later in the game. Both hits could have resulted in Met runs had Cantu not flashed his fancy leather. Jorge was no slouch at the plate this series either.
The Marlins are tied with the Nationals for the league lead in team strikeouts. Yet, the Met relievers struggled to send them away swinging. Number 57 Santana did strike out seven batters. The bullpen imploded for the second straight game. Tuesday night, they gave up four runs in the 7th inning and yesterday Putz allowed two in the 8th. The relievers conceded runs after the starters put the ball in their hands. Obviously, the team has improvements and adjustments to make immediately. There is something “off” with the nucleus of the Mets and has been for quite some time. The questionable move by Manuel can be discussed at nausium and only adds to the confounding methods the Mets find ways to lose.
Some scoring highlights for New York did occur. The Mets scored on a safety squeeze off the bat of Cora in the first inning. Reyes had a leadoff triple over right-fielder Ross and ran home on Cora’s bunt. The Mets scored again in the 6th inning when Tatis tanked a Josh Johnson pitch over the fence. It was Fernando’s first homer of the year.
The Mets travel to Philadelphia losers of two straight and holders of a 9-12 record. They might be without slugger Carlos Delgado and second baseman, Castillo. Philly is a bandbox of a ballpark, so if there is any time for New York break out the pine, this is the weekend.
Parting points: Three song to close out the month of April: “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard”- Paul Simon; “Satellite” by Dave Matthews Band; “Black Heart Inertia” by Incubus
Good Yankees back-to-back pitching efforts by Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain before the team’s nemesis, Anaheim, comes to town.
The Mets were on the brink of another Johan Santana win. They held a one run lead against the Florida Marlins with their left-handed ace on the mound in the 7th inning. Johan escaped the inning at home unscathed, and the 3-2 New York lead was in tact. The Mets failed to score in the bottom half of the inning, and Jerry Manuel called upon J.J. Putz. Santana sat the bench after delivering 108 pitches preparing for his reliable reliever to preserve the game.
Putz began his expedition with back-to-back walks. You always hear how issuing leadoff walks burns you in the end. It certainly did so for the Mets. With runners on first and second, Florida catcher Ronny Paulino, laid down a great bunt. The runner advanced to set up the potential go-ahead scoring opportunity. Florida clubber, Cody Ross, raked a two run single as the two batters Putz walked scored. Putz was basically finished when he relinquished the two passes to start the inning. Walks change the complexion of the entire inning and I thought Santana should have been left to complete the game anyway.
Jeremy Reed reeled a triple in the bottom of the 8th for the Mets. Reed was inserted for Daniel Murphy as a defensive replacement as part of the double switch. Then, Alex Cora socked a hart hit grounder off Leo Nunez that Emilio Bonafacio back-handed at second base. Bonafacio’s put-out meant two more New York base runners were left lingering. Eleven in total were stranded on the bags by the Mets through eight innings.
Closer, Francisco Rodriguez took over in the 9th inning for his ninth appearance of the season. He allowed a Bonafacio double. The ball was shellacked to the right side gap of first baseman, Fernando Tatis, into right field. Ryan Church fielded the ball, but Bonafacio raced to second. Cameron Maybin was next up at the plate to face Krod. Maybin, who entered the at-bat 0-17 with runners-in-scoring position, grounded out on a soft infield hopper. Rodriguez ruined any Marlin threat when he got Wes Helms to pop-up to end the 9th.
The pitcher’s spot was due up for New York in the bottom of the 9th. Manuel substituted pinch hitter, Gary Sheffield, for Rodriguez. Luis Castillo was on the bench for the skipper and probably would have been the better choice had he not been dealing with a nagging injury. Carlos Delgado did not start either but was also unavailable from the bench. Sheffield came in to face Marlins closer, Matt Linstrom. Linstrom’s horrific claim to fame so far this year has been floating around with an above 9 ERA. He enabled seven Phillies to score in a recent relief effort. The closer throws particularly hard but has been susceptible to suspending the ball up in the air for an easy hitter‘s target. His fastball tops 100 mph, and he threw the heat that hard to the Mets. He wasn’t in command, however. A Sheffield walk represented the tying run on first base for hot-hitting, Carlos Beltran. The centerfielder was fooled by Lindstrom’s slider on a 1-1 count. Lindstrom is still fine-tuning and tweaking his slider though, and Carlos wrested a walk from the Florida pitcher.
David Wright wriggled his way to a 0-2 count, fouling off the flames fired at him. David hasn’t had glaring success fighting off pitches this year. It’s been a problem for him to climb out of deep counts, and this at-bat, he struck out looking for the second time during the day. Wright was doubled up in the third inning when he grounded in a double play. Fans are starting to get on Wright’s case for his failure in the clutch and leaving too many runners in scoring position. I say, give the guy a chance. Wright has so much pressure on him and his bat will come through. Granted, he never really did seem like the same hitter after he participated in the homerun contest at the all-star game. The third baseman looks too anxious at the plate and is typically an automatic out. He also let a ball through the wickets for an error at third base yesterday. Wright can’t allow his poor plate malfunctions are carrying over onto the field.
With one out, Church strolled to the plate. Lindstrom got Church to ground out, but Sheffield and Beltran advanced to third and second base. Fernando Tatis, who had three hits on the day, including a homerun, stepped into the batter’s box. Lindstrom’s first offering was a fastball about a foot off the plate. It’s clear Matt was avoiding throwing anything worthy to tantalizing Tatis. He hit Fernando with a pitch and the bases were loaded.
Manuel decided to roll the dice and play the hot hand. Manuel’s Mets had two outs and the bases loaded when he chose to tinker with his lineup card. He put backup catcher, Omir Santos, up as a pinch hitter for Ramon Castro. Castro corralled two hits earlier in the game, so the move was not entirely justifiable. Santos, on his 28th birthday, came up empty. He flied out to end the game in what is quickly becoming an antiquated affair for the Mets. Marlins win 4-3.
It will be debated whether Manuel should have batted Castro in his usual spot. The rookie Santos had a breakout series and was seeing the ball well. Santos belted his first homerun, a grand slam, on Monday night. He came out of the bullpen to pinch hit yesterday. I don’t think the game should come down to a moot managerial move, but I do disagree with Manuel in this case. Jerry manages instinctively and that often is a good way to manage. However, putting a novice in that position was not the right approach. Castro is a relatively reliable situational hitter and Santos could not have been too prepared coming out of the bullpen.
This was a frustrating game for the Mets as they lose another series to Florida. The team is now three games under the .500 mark. They stranded 14 runners, including leaving the bases loaded in the 9th. The Mets were 1-11 with runners in scoring position. Each team made an error, but it was the Florida defense that stole the show. Jorge Cantu was excellent in the field on a team not known for defensive prowess. Cantu robbed Jose Reyes in the second inning and Ryan Church was greeted by his glove later in the game. Both hits could have resulted in Met runs had Cantu not flashed his fancy leather. Jorge was no slouch at the plate this series either.
The Marlins are tied with the Nationals for the league lead in team strikeouts. Yet, the Met relievers struggled to send them away swinging. Number 57 Santana did strike out seven batters. The bullpen imploded for the second straight game. Tuesday night, they gave up four runs in the 7th inning and yesterday Putz allowed two in the 8th. The relievers conceded runs after the starters put the ball in their hands. Obviously, the team has improvements and adjustments to make immediately. There is something “off” with the nucleus of the Mets and has been for quite some time. The questionable move by Manuel can be discussed at nausium and only adds to the confounding methods the Mets find ways to lose.
Some scoring highlights for New York did occur. The Mets scored on a safety squeeze off the bat of Cora in the first inning. Reyes had a leadoff triple over right-fielder Ross and ran home on Cora’s bunt. The Mets scored again in the 6th inning when Tatis tanked a Josh Johnson pitch over the fence. It was Fernando’s first homer of the year.
The Mets travel to Philadelphia losers of two straight and holders of a 9-12 record. They might be without slugger Carlos Delgado and second baseman, Castillo. Philly is a bandbox of a ballpark, so if there is any time for New York break out the pine, this is the weekend.
Parting points: Three song to close out the month of April: “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard”- Paul Simon; “Satellite” by Dave Matthews Band; “Black Heart Inertia” by Incubus
Good Yankees back-to-back pitching efforts by Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain before the team’s nemesis, Anaheim, comes to town.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Pristine Pitching, Porous Players
Josh Johnson’s fastball clocked in at 96 MPH during the 9th inning Sunday in Florida. The Marlins’ starting pitcher was still on the mound trying to close out his second career complete game. The visiting New York Mets pushed across a single run thanks to the bat of centerfielder, Carlos Beltran. Beltran’s RBI single came with two outs in the final chance for the Mets. New York lost the game 2-1 in a contest of pristine pitching and porous defensive plays. Misplays and errors were the sidebar to a game that featured two tremendous pitching performances.
The economical Johan Santana threw seven innings for the Mets. The profound ace punched out 13 Marlin hitters, a franchise single game record. He blistered and blazed his way through the opposing lineup with engaging elegance. Santana did not allow an earned run but will still be tagged with the loss. Florida scored on a Daniel Murphy dropped fly during the second inning. The drop led directly to the Fins’ runs. The left fielder misplayed Cody Ross’s two out fly and looked uneasy going back on the ball. The shot seemingly got lost in the sun, resulting in Murphy’s gaff. The result was Jeremy Hermida racing home for run number one. The Mets should have been out of the inning on Ross’s ordinary hit. Instead, Ronny Paulino singled on Santana’s next pitch to increase the lead to two runs.
Mets fans who are enamored with Daniel’s offense have to realize he is not a natural outfielder. Murphy is still learning how to play left field. He hasn’t played in all the major league parks and it will take the kid time to adjust accordingly.
Murphy can take the brunt of the blame for yesterday, but the fact the Mets could not cross the plate is the main reason the team lost. Offensively, this team needed to pick up their left-fielder. The Mets are not good situational hitters. The could not fold under the pressure of facing a pitcher in Johnson they have never before beaten. There is no excuse for failing to score runs to back Santana‘s stellar start. Instead, the offense continued to strand runners and leave men on base. Even when they were able to catch a few breaks, the Mets could not score. Jose Reyes and Murphy managed to hit back to back ground balls to the first baseman for easy outs. Most the of the other Met hitters couldn’t get the ball past the infield either. Save for Reyes to lead off the game, no Met reached base until Luis Castillo’s sixth inning bloop single. Jose reached base on Wes Helms’ dropped throw at first base. Reyes was picked off first by the cannoned arm of Marlins catcher, Paulino.
Luis’s broken bat single went for naught as Reyes preceded to end the threat with a groundout. Reyes also failed to drive in a run, leaving men stranded at the corners in the eight. Beltran was unsuccessful to advance the runners in scoring position in the seventh when he hit into a double play.
Other miscues yesterday included Castillo watched a routine ground ball go through his legs into the outfield. Ryan Church recovered the misplay but not in time to tag out the runner. In the seventh with David Wright on base, earnest Emilio Bonafacio bobbled a double play ball that put the tying run aboard.
Johnson out-dueled Santana, but only in the final outcome. Johan’s first loss in 19 starts was not an accurate assessment of the actual mound occurrence. Santana was absolutely brilliant statistically and extremely economical. He was accurate in allowing one walk during the seven innings he pitched. The left-hander was relieved by Bobby Parnell in the eighth inning. Parnell kept it a two run game but the Mets’ late rally fell short. New York was finally able to figure out Johnson by the seventh inning. Josh was equally dominant, issuing five hits and throwing Mets hitters off balance the entire game. Johnson showed his change-up more often than he has in the past. He tossed 113 pitches and struck out seven of his own. The two-run lead was enough leg room for him to fire his way to victory. Johnson’s velocity showed no signs of slowing down, even as he threw his final pitch to Church. Ryan has been “Mr. Doubles” so far in this six game season. He had another double yesterday afternoon in Florida. Church caressed a soft liner to Brett Carroll, defensive-replacement player, put in the outfield to make that exact catch in a close game. Carroll didn’t disappoint and dramatically dawdled the ball near his shoe straps.
This loss typifies, in a way, the Mets. They always get the short end of the stick despite very positive facets. The rusty playing should not have crippled their chances of winning the ballgame. The fish were off to a hot start, reeling off four straight wins before losing to the Mets Saturday. The team shows grit offensively and they got what they need yesterday to add another win to their record. Bonifacio, Florida’s darling leadoff man, came into the contest with the major’s highest hit total and average. Santana kept him off base for the first time this year. The Marlins took advantage of the early error but had several of mishaps themselves on the field. New York realistically had seven innings to overcome a mere two run deficit but they couldn’t battle back. You have to fault the team for their inability to push across runs when it matters most.
Johnson and Santana pitched gems and are both in the pinnacle of their careers. They are two explosive pitchers with defined deliveries. It’s unique whenever baseball games are quick affairs with pitching duals. The two hour game would have been better if played cleaner on the field, but the errant plays proved to be major conditions. Santana’s efforts were wasted in what is a game of inches, unfair at times. If you are an Amazin’ fan, you can’t help but feel ripped off. Nonetheless, the game’s intensity was incredible. Both haulers field their position really well. I am continually awed by Santana’s speed in getting to bunted balls and making catches on the mound. He dusted the Florida batters off the plate with unreserved and regal revere. Santana should continue piling astronomical numbers this year. Johnson’s defense was desirable, as Josh took charge with six putouts from the pitching position.
Tonight, the San Diego Padres fly into the Metropolitan area. They will be the first visiting team to play in the new Citi Field. The Mets open their ballpark in a home opener with Mike Pelfrey tossing the first pitch. I am looking forward to how players will handle the adventurous right field. The new park looks exciting enough on the surface.
I am also curious to see how receptive the crowd is to Castillo. He is not a fan favorite in New York but he hasn’t had a shaky start to warrant too many boos. Still, Luis has a delicate ego and the second he has an 0-for night, he will hear it from the crowd. Festivities get underway around 6pm tonight when Terrific Tom (Seaver) throws out the first pitch to Mike Piazza.
Parting points: Trivia- What baseball team was sold by the founder of Domino’s Pizza to the founder of Little Caesars in 1992?
The economical Johan Santana threw seven innings for the Mets. The profound ace punched out 13 Marlin hitters, a franchise single game record. He blistered and blazed his way through the opposing lineup with engaging elegance. Santana did not allow an earned run but will still be tagged with the loss. Florida scored on a Daniel Murphy dropped fly during the second inning. The drop led directly to the Fins’ runs. The left fielder misplayed Cody Ross’s two out fly and looked uneasy going back on the ball. The shot seemingly got lost in the sun, resulting in Murphy’s gaff. The result was Jeremy Hermida racing home for run number one. The Mets should have been out of the inning on Ross’s ordinary hit. Instead, Ronny Paulino singled on Santana’s next pitch to increase the lead to two runs.
Mets fans who are enamored with Daniel’s offense have to realize he is not a natural outfielder. Murphy is still learning how to play left field. He hasn’t played in all the major league parks and it will take the kid time to adjust accordingly.
Murphy can take the brunt of the blame for yesterday, but the fact the Mets could not cross the plate is the main reason the team lost. Offensively, this team needed to pick up their left-fielder. The Mets are not good situational hitters. The could not fold under the pressure of facing a pitcher in Johnson they have never before beaten. There is no excuse for failing to score runs to back Santana‘s stellar start. Instead, the offense continued to strand runners and leave men on base. Even when they were able to catch a few breaks, the Mets could not score. Jose Reyes and Murphy managed to hit back to back ground balls to the first baseman for easy outs. Most the of the other Met hitters couldn’t get the ball past the infield either. Save for Reyes to lead off the game, no Met reached base until Luis Castillo’s sixth inning bloop single. Jose reached base on Wes Helms’ dropped throw at first base. Reyes was picked off first by the cannoned arm of Marlins catcher, Paulino.
Luis’s broken bat single went for naught as Reyes preceded to end the threat with a groundout. Reyes also failed to drive in a run, leaving men stranded at the corners in the eight. Beltran was unsuccessful to advance the runners in scoring position in the seventh when he hit into a double play.
Other miscues yesterday included Castillo watched a routine ground ball go through his legs into the outfield. Ryan Church recovered the misplay but not in time to tag out the runner. In the seventh with David Wright on base, earnest Emilio Bonafacio bobbled a double play ball that put the tying run aboard.
Johnson out-dueled Santana, but only in the final outcome. Johan’s first loss in 19 starts was not an accurate assessment of the actual mound occurrence. Santana was absolutely brilliant statistically and extremely economical. He was accurate in allowing one walk during the seven innings he pitched. The left-hander was relieved by Bobby Parnell in the eighth inning. Parnell kept it a two run game but the Mets’ late rally fell short. New York was finally able to figure out Johnson by the seventh inning. Josh was equally dominant, issuing five hits and throwing Mets hitters off balance the entire game. Johnson showed his change-up more often than he has in the past. He tossed 113 pitches and struck out seven of his own. The two-run lead was enough leg room for him to fire his way to victory. Johnson’s velocity showed no signs of slowing down, even as he threw his final pitch to Church. Ryan has been “Mr. Doubles” so far in this six game season. He had another double yesterday afternoon in Florida. Church caressed a soft liner to Brett Carroll, defensive-replacement player, put in the outfield to make that exact catch in a close game. Carroll didn’t disappoint and dramatically dawdled the ball near his shoe straps.
This loss typifies, in a way, the Mets. They always get the short end of the stick despite very positive facets. The rusty playing should not have crippled their chances of winning the ballgame. The fish were off to a hot start, reeling off four straight wins before losing to the Mets Saturday. The team shows grit offensively and they got what they need yesterday to add another win to their record. Bonifacio, Florida’s darling leadoff man, came into the contest with the major’s highest hit total and average. Santana kept him off base for the first time this year. The Marlins took advantage of the early error but had several of mishaps themselves on the field. New York realistically had seven innings to overcome a mere two run deficit but they couldn’t battle back. You have to fault the team for their inability to push across runs when it matters most.
Johnson and Santana pitched gems and are both in the pinnacle of their careers. They are two explosive pitchers with defined deliveries. It’s unique whenever baseball games are quick affairs with pitching duals. The two hour game would have been better if played cleaner on the field, but the errant plays proved to be major conditions. Santana’s efforts were wasted in what is a game of inches, unfair at times. If you are an Amazin’ fan, you can’t help but feel ripped off. Nonetheless, the game’s intensity was incredible. Both haulers field their position really well. I am continually awed by Santana’s speed in getting to bunted balls and making catches on the mound. He dusted the Florida batters off the plate with unreserved and regal revere. Santana should continue piling astronomical numbers this year. Johnson’s defense was desirable, as Josh took charge with six putouts from the pitching position.
Tonight, the San Diego Padres fly into the Metropolitan area. They will be the first visiting team to play in the new Citi Field. The Mets open their ballpark in a home opener with Mike Pelfrey tossing the first pitch. I am looking forward to how players will handle the adventurous right field. The new park looks exciting enough on the surface.
I am also curious to see how receptive the crowd is to Castillo. He is not a fan favorite in New York but he hasn’t had a shaky start to warrant too many boos. Still, Luis has a delicate ego and the second he has an 0-for night, he will hear it from the crowd. Festivities get underway around 6pm tonight when Terrific Tom (Seaver) throws out the first pitch to Mike Piazza.
Parting points: Trivia- What baseball team was sold by the founder of Domino’s Pizza to the founder of Little Caesars in 1992?
Monday, March 30, 2009
Opportune Opening
The first storm of the Spring signaled April showers are on the way last night. Wonderful is the word to describe one week from today. Opening Day of the 2009 Major League Baseball season will be wonderful. Rain delays are bound to happen in the beginning of the baseball year, but let’s hope next Monday’s skies are clear and friendly.
The New York Yankees are putting together the finishing touches on Spring training and finalizing their roster spots. The cross-town Mets are figuring out what they have in their returning pitching prowess and on the mend position players. Both New York managers are still toying with their team’s loaded lineups.
The Yankees five starting pitchers will go about their final tune-ups before the season officially begins. C.C. Sabathia is slated to sling his first strike in pinstripes when the game starts at 4:05 in Baltimore April 6th. Sabathia will also get the call for the home opener. The centerfield job is no longer up in the air now that field boss, Joe Giradi, named Brett Gardner his guy. Joe is intent on shaking things up this year and doing away with the old order. Gardner beat out Melky Cabrera by hitting well and running down routine fly balls with great speed and excellent accuracy in Tampa. Cabrera has a better arm but Gardner earned the chance and opportunity to begin April as the starting centerfielder in the new Yankee stadium. Gardner represents the Yankees’ speed. He runs better than any other player on this team and he very well could steal 50 bases this season.
Melky can play any outfield position and will make a menace of himself coming off the bench. The switch hitting Cabrera and fellow pine rider, Nick Swisher, provide an upgrade to the pinstripe bench this year. Gardner will light up the bottom of the order without Arod present as long as he continues to shine his hefty bat. Melky played 109 games at the position he no longer can claim his in 2009. His offense was very underwelming however. He was even demoted to Triple A in the middle of August. Melky is still learning but I feel he won’t be the megastar New York once believed he could turn into. He does give the Bombers security on the bench if Gardner loses his preseason prowess and touch.
The Yankees had an open competition for the final long reliever and the field was narrowed to three. Brett Tomko, Alfredo Aceves, and Dan Giese were all being considered this weekend. Girardi’s decision is leaning towards Jonathan Albaladejo now. Albaladejo is not equipped to be a long reliever. The 26 year old right-hander joins a sufficient bullpen of Mariano Rivera, Phil Coke, Brian Bruney, Jose Veras, Damaso Marte and Edwar Ramirez. Girardi could go with Coke and Albaladejo in shorter relief roles when the starters are pulled. Both pitchers will be crucial when the Yankees limit the innings of starter, Joba Chamberlain. Tomko has shown he can still pitch effectively this Spring. If Girardi ultimately decides to keep a long reliever, Brett is the leading candidate. It’s hard to project how elbow surgery will affect Tomko in the long run. Brett’s ERA is good but it might be a gamble for Giradi to put faith and trust in him. I was never completely sold on Albaladejo’s ability either though.
Twenty-two year old, Ramiro Pena, and veteran Angel Berrora, are also hoping to earn a roster position this summer. Pena is the heir apparent to Derek Jeter if all goes well for the youngster. Playing time in the majors would help him but Pena would see more at-bats and in the minors. Berrora has had a good Spring and might be the better choice with Rodriguez on the mend. Cody Ransom is slotted to fill in for Arod for the majority of the MVP’s downtime.
Jeter’s decreased range at shortstop isn’t he only concern about the captain’s skills heading into Opening Day. His on-base-percentage went down in 2008, and now Girardi is considering moving him to the leadoff spot. That would spell a swap of Damon for Jeter. Damon is ideally suited for the one hole because he can get to first off his left-handed swing quicker than Derek. But the move might be okay. Yankee fans should be grateful they have flexibility in their lineup varieties.
I know you shouldn’t put a lot of stock in Spring training numbers, but Amazin’ fans have to be concerned about their pitching staff. Most notably, the performances of Mike Pelfrey, health of John Maine, and overall attitude of Oliver Perez, are discerning. Pelfrey has all the tools and an upbeat persona to perform at this level. But his Spring numbers have not been suitable. Everyone recalls his string of seven straight wins beginning last June and ending in July. He looked on his way to ace status. Now it’s possible he may not even be the Mets’ fifth starter come Opening Day. Perez signed a brand spanking new bloated contract to return to the Mets rotation. His conditioning was called into question recently and his work habits were scrutinized. Crazy Ollie has a tendency to beat great teams and flop when facing feeble ones. Changes are needed in all aspects of his dispassionate and unconcerned mindset. John Maine’s inconsistency and inability to remain strong and healthy are creating red flags around the Mets camp. Maine has to be able to give the team solid starts every five days. John was on his way to winning anywhere in the range of 12-20 games a season ago. Something happened to his form late in the summer and he never recovered completely. After Johan Santana, the New York rotation could be very, very good or just plain morbid.
Luis Castillo and Ryan Church are players praying for profiting play. Castillo was re-signed and assigned the second base position after the worst year of any second baseman in my Mets recent memory. Luis has creaky veteran knees that Mets fans are hoping will hold up all year. I think fans are willing to give him a second chance but the minute he goes into a slump, the boobirds will come out. It does not help that Manuel is considering moving him to the leadoff spot. Castillo does not make things happen the way Jose Reyes does and increasing his workload is not astute. An intelligent idea would be have Reyes remain the force he is and stop trying to turn the shortstop into something he is not: a power hitter. Church had a terrific Spring, only to be knocked out, literally, by mid-summer. He never rebounded and wasn’t the same player the rest of 2008. Church will be manager, Jerry Manuel’s, Opening Day outfielder.
I am personally looking forward to one fresh face in camp for the Mets. Daniel Murphy looks like a real player who could have a breakout year. His impact was felt late in 2008 and most fans are suspecting a seismographic season for young Murphy. Comparisons are being made to Don Mattingly. Even though Murphy was born on April Fools’ Day, let’s not be a fool. He has a long way to go before he reaches Donnie Baseball status. While I am not about to put the horse before the cart, I do think Daniel will deliver in his first test as the Mets’ left fielder. Perhaps the forgotten man in all of this is Nick Evans, who also produced some highlights last year. Evans is being overshadowed and lost in the shuffle because of Murphy hogging the spotlight. Nick and Daniel should give Mets fans reasons to purchase their tickets to the new Citi Field.
Manuel’s leadership and influence provide the backbone of the 2009 New York Mets. He is well-respected in a clubhouse of men who must redeem their team from consecutive September collapses. Jerry is a player’s manager and that works in the Mets system. It might not suffice in the Bronx. Girardi is too much an intellectual coach who manages by the book. This should be the year the Mets return to the playoffs. The Phillies are still the division and league favorites, and rightly so. Next week when the Mets open play against the Reds, their stud Santana will show why New York still shines.
Here’s hoping both New York teams start the new season with a storming statement game next week.
Parting points: Happy Birthday to Ian Ziering
The New York Yankees are putting together the finishing touches on Spring training and finalizing their roster spots. The cross-town Mets are figuring out what they have in their returning pitching prowess and on the mend position players. Both New York managers are still toying with their team’s loaded lineups.
The Yankees five starting pitchers will go about their final tune-ups before the season officially begins. C.C. Sabathia is slated to sling his first strike in pinstripes when the game starts at 4:05 in Baltimore April 6th. Sabathia will also get the call for the home opener. The centerfield job is no longer up in the air now that field boss, Joe Giradi, named Brett Gardner his guy. Joe is intent on shaking things up this year and doing away with the old order. Gardner beat out Melky Cabrera by hitting well and running down routine fly balls with great speed and excellent accuracy in Tampa. Cabrera has a better arm but Gardner earned the chance and opportunity to begin April as the starting centerfielder in the new Yankee stadium. Gardner represents the Yankees’ speed. He runs better than any other player on this team and he very well could steal 50 bases this season.
Melky can play any outfield position and will make a menace of himself coming off the bench. The switch hitting Cabrera and fellow pine rider, Nick Swisher, provide an upgrade to the pinstripe bench this year. Gardner will light up the bottom of the order without Arod present as long as he continues to shine his hefty bat. Melky played 109 games at the position he no longer can claim his in 2009. His offense was very underwelming however. He was even demoted to Triple A in the middle of August. Melky is still learning but I feel he won’t be the megastar New York once believed he could turn into. He does give the Bombers security on the bench if Gardner loses his preseason prowess and touch.
The Yankees had an open competition for the final long reliever and the field was narrowed to three. Brett Tomko, Alfredo Aceves, and Dan Giese were all being considered this weekend. Girardi’s decision is leaning towards Jonathan Albaladejo now. Albaladejo is not equipped to be a long reliever. The 26 year old right-hander joins a sufficient bullpen of Mariano Rivera, Phil Coke, Brian Bruney, Jose Veras, Damaso Marte and Edwar Ramirez. Girardi could go with Coke and Albaladejo in shorter relief roles when the starters are pulled. Both pitchers will be crucial when the Yankees limit the innings of starter, Joba Chamberlain. Tomko has shown he can still pitch effectively this Spring. If Girardi ultimately decides to keep a long reliever, Brett is the leading candidate. It’s hard to project how elbow surgery will affect Tomko in the long run. Brett’s ERA is good but it might be a gamble for Giradi to put faith and trust in him. I was never completely sold on Albaladejo’s ability either though.
Twenty-two year old, Ramiro Pena, and veteran Angel Berrora, are also hoping to earn a roster position this summer. Pena is the heir apparent to Derek Jeter if all goes well for the youngster. Playing time in the majors would help him but Pena would see more at-bats and in the minors. Berrora has had a good Spring and might be the better choice with Rodriguez on the mend. Cody Ransom is slotted to fill in for Arod for the majority of the MVP’s downtime.
Jeter’s decreased range at shortstop isn’t he only concern about the captain’s skills heading into Opening Day. His on-base-percentage went down in 2008, and now Girardi is considering moving him to the leadoff spot. That would spell a swap of Damon for Jeter. Damon is ideally suited for the one hole because he can get to first off his left-handed swing quicker than Derek. But the move might be okay. Yankee fans should be grateful they have flexibility in their lineup varieties.
I know you shouldn’t put a lot of stock in Spring training numbers, but Amazin’ fans have to be concerned about their pitching staff. Most notably, the performances of Mike Pelfrey, health of John Maine, and overall attitude of Oliver Perez, are discerning. Pelfrey has all the tools and an upbeat persona to perform at this level. But his Spring numbers have not been suitable. Everyone recalls his string of seven straight wins beginning last June and ending in July. He looked on his way to ace status. Now it’s possible he may not even be the Mets’ fifth starter come Opening Day. Perez signed a brand spanking new bloated contract to return to the Mets rotation. His conditioning was called into question recently and his work habits were scrutinized. Crazy Ollie has a tendency to beat great teams and flop when facing feeble ones. Changes are needed in all aspects of his dispassionate and unconcerned mindset. John Maine’s inconsistency and inability to remain strong and healthy are creating red flags around the Mets camp. Maine has to be able to give the team solid starts every five days. John was on his way to winning anywhere in the range of 12-20 games a season ago. Something happened to his form late in the summer and he never recovered completely. After Johan Santana, the New York rotation could be very, very good or just plain morbid.
Luis Castillo and Ryan Church are players praying for profiting play. Castillo was re-signed and assigned the second base position after the worst year of any second baseman in my Mets recent memory. Luis has creaky veteran knees that Mets fans are hoping will hold up all year. I think fans are willing to give him a second chance but the minute he goes into a slump, the boobirds will come out. It does not help that Manuel is considering moving him to the leadoff spot. Castillo does not make things happen the way Jose Reyes does and increasing his workload is not astute. An intelligent idea would be have Reyes remain the force he is and stop trying to turn the shortstop into something he is not: a power hitter. Church had a terrific Spring, only to be knocked out, literally, by mid-summer. He never rebounded and wasn’t the same player the rest of 2008. Church will be manager, Jerry Manuel’s, Opening Day outfielder.
I am personally looking forward to one fresh face in camp for the Mets. Daniel Murphy looks like a real player who could have a breakout year. His impact was felt late in 2008 and most fans are suspecting a seismographic season for young Murphy. Comparisons are being made to Don Mattingly. Even though Murphy was born on April Fools’ Day, let’s not be a fool. He has a long way to go before he reaches Donnie Baseball status. While I am not about to put the horse before the cart, I do think Daniel will deliver in his first test as the Mets’ left fielder. Perhaps the forgotten man in all of this is Nick Evans, who also produced some highlights last year. Evans is being overshadowed and lost in the shuffle because of Murphy hogging the spotlight. Nick and Daniel should give Mets fans reasons to purchase their tickets to the new Citi Field.
Manuel’s leadership and influence provide the backbone of the 2009 New York Mets. He is well-respected in a clubhouse of men who must redeem their team from consecutive September collapses. Jerry is a player’s manager and that works in the Mets system. It might not suffice in the Bronx. Girardi is too much an intellectual coach who manages by the book. This should be the year the Mets return to the playoffs. The Phillies are still the division and league favorites, and rightly so. Next week when the Mets open play against the Reds, their stud Santana will show why New York still shines.
Here’s hoping both New York teams start the new season with a storming statement game next week.
Parting points: Happy Birthday to Ian Ziering
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