Saturday, April 16, 2011

Mets Lose Again: When Will It End?

Like the Mets, I am at a loss right now. I honestly don't know what to write about this second game. Two doubleheaders in three days, and they have lost every single game. Check out the ugliness below:


  • Mike Pelfrey took the loss, his second of the season. In 5.1 innings of work, he gave up four runs on 11 hits, while striking out three.
  • The one bright spot was Pedro Beato. Beato was excellent in his two innings of work, getting three strike outs and giving up no hits. 
  • If today was the first time I had ever seen Daniel Murphy play, I would swear he had never run the bases before. He made another base-running blunder, attempting to steal third base. This, after he did the same thing in the game the other day.
  • The Mets were held to just two hits all night.   
Next up: The Mets try to get one win out of this series in Atlanta before heading home. Game time is 1:35 p.m.

Mets Can't Keep Braves In The Park

The fact that I had to listen to Tim McCarver was enough to make me a little cranky for this afternoon's game. Then the Mets decided to pile it on a little more and extend their losing streak, falling 4-2 to the Braves.


  • D.J. Carrasco went 3.2 innings, giving up three runs on four hits, while striking out two. All three runs were home runs. 
  • Pat Misch threw two innings of relief and gave up a solo shot to Freddie Freeman in the bottom of the 6th inning.
  • Mets batters were held to just six hits all game. 
Game two starts at 7:40 p.m. on SNY. Mike Pelfrey gets the start. 

Young Heads To The Disabled List

The Mets placed Chris Young on the 15-day disabled list today with bicep tendinitis. His stint on the DL has been backdated to Monday, and he is eligible to return on April 26.

Pat Misch will take Young's spot on the roster, and will be used in tonight's game. He is expected to back-up D.J. Carrasco out of the bullpen.

For Sunday, Adam Rubin reports that Ryota Igarashi will most likely be demoted, and Dillon Gee will be activated to the 25-man roster.Gee has made two starts this season with Triple-A Buffalo, posting a 1-1 record and a 4.63 ERA.

Mets, Braves Doubleheader Preview

April 16, 2011
Game one: 4:10 PM ET
Game two: 30 minutes after the end of game one
Turner Field, Atlanta
TV: FOX
RADIO: WFAN 660

GAME ONE

NEW YORK METS
Starting Pitcher: D.J. Carrasco (0-0, 4.05 ERA)

ATLANTA BRAVES
Starting Pitcher: Derek Lowe (1-2, 1.45 ERA)

GAME TWO

NEW YORK METS
Starting Pitcher: Mike Pelfrey (0-1, 10.80 ERA)

ATLANTA BRAVES 
Starting Pitcher: Jair Jurrjens (0-0, -.-- ERA)

Friday, April 15, 2011

Friday's Rainout Means Doubleheader On Tap Against Braves

As if playing one doubleheader this week wasn't bad enough, the Mets get to do it again tomorrow against the Braves.

Game one starts at 4:10. Game two is scheduled to begin approximately 30 minutes after the end of the first one.

Mets Look For Luck On The Road

April 15, 2011
7:30 PM ET
Turner Field, Atlanta
TV: SNY
RADIO: WFAN 660

NEW YORK METS
Starting Pitcher: D.J. Carrasco (0-0, 4.05 ERA)
Carrasco will make a spot start tonight against Atlanta, taking over for Chris Young. He competed for a spot in the starting rotation throughout Spring Training, but has been in the bullpen since Opening Day. 

ATLANTA BRAVES
Starting Pitcher: Derek Lowe (1-2, 1.45 ERA)
Despite throwing good games on the mound in his past two starts, the Braves offense hasn't backed him up, resulting in his two losses of the season.

Mets Morning News: Clips From Around The Web

George Willis of the New York Post says the Mets are, "fast becoming what the Knicks used to be in this town — a team short on talent and low on expectations that can’t find a way to keep from losing."

The combined attendance for yesterday's game was 25, 758, and by the end of the second game, those who were still around began chanting "Sell the team."

By the way, the Daily News reports that Mets owners may make their decision as to who will invest in the team, sometime within the next 30 days.

Some good news: Chris Young felt good after throwing a bullpen session, and he is expected to make his next scheduled start this Sunday in Atlanta.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Help Wanted: Pitchers, Hitters, Fielders Needed

The Mets dropped the second game of the doubleheader by a score 9-4. They have now lost eight of their last nine games.

  • Chris Capuano went 5.2 innings, allowing seven runs on eight hits, while striking out five. 
  • Mets batters were held to just five hits, and were 2-11 with runners in scoring position.
There's really nothing else about this game or day that needs to written about. The Mets move on to Atlanta tomorrow for a three game series. 

Game One Was Less Than Stellar

What can be said at this point, other than that the Mets lost another to the Rockies 6-5, and failed to get that elusive "Big hit" that Terry Collins keeps talking about.

  • R.A. Dickey pitched well, but you would never know that looking at his final line. Dickey went 6.1 innings and gave up five runs on eight hits, while striking out four. 
  • The team was defensively challenged this afternoon. They picked up an error when both Angel Pagan and Willie Harris failed to catch a pop fly. The ball dropped and then bounced off Pagan's glove. Later in the game, Daniel Murphy wasn't able to complete a double play.  
  • The Mets staged a comeback of sorts in the bottom of the 9th inning. Loading the bases, Mets batters were able to knock Colorado closer Huston Street from the game. Facing Matt Lindstrom, David Wright ended the inning, and the game, with a 400 foot pop out.
  • For the love of all that is holy, will Mets pitchers please stop throwing to Troy Tulowitzki.
Hey, even if the Mets get swept, they'll still have a better record than the Red Sox. So, there's that.

When Will Fans Hold Players Accountable?

If the Mets continue to lose, it's only a matter of time before fans and the media begin turn their attention to management and coaches. It's inevitable. It happens most years, and with most other teams.

Why would Collins set up his line up like that? Mets hitters aren't doing anything at the plate, we should get rid of Dave Hudgens. The bullpen has been imploding. That must be Dan Warthen's fault.

You can blame the manager. You can blame the pitching coach. When will the day come when we start placing the blame on the players?

At the end of the day, managers and coaches can only do so much. You can only work with what your given.

It's been a rough couple of years, so what have the Mets done? New general manager? Check. New manager? Check. Pretty much the same group of players as last year? Check. As of right now, the same results as last year? Check.

Common denominator in all of this? The players.

When Jon Niese faced Troy Tulowitzki last night, did Dan Warthen force Niese to go to his worst pitch rather than the curveball? No.

Yet who do a lot of fans blame in situations like this? Warthen.

As for hitting, it shouldn't matter where a player is placed in the line up. Yes, I understand that it may effect what pitches the batter sees, but at the end of the day the players job is to hit, and at this level he should be able to hit whether he's in the two hole or batting eighth.

Now, there are players who are blaming their coaches. Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers blames his third base coach for making him round third and head home, consequently breaking his arm.

There's a thing called instinct. If your gut told you not to go, then you shouldn't have.

When are people going to stop blaming coaches, and starting pointing the finger at players?

Met Morning News: Clips From Around The Web

Daniel Murphy's bat may help keep him in the line up and create a platoon situation at second base.

Despite their slow start, Wayne Coffey writes that Sandy Alderson isn't panicking...yet.

Mets prospect (if you even want to still call him that), Fernando Martinez, has yet another hamstring issue. Martinez has been out of the line up for Triple-A Buffalo the past two days.

Mets, Rockies Play Two This Afternoon

April 14, 2011
Game one: 12:10 PM ET, Game two: TBD
Citi Field
TV: SNY
RADIO: WFAN 660

GAME ONE

NEW YORK METS
Starting Pitcher: R.A. Dickey (1-1, 2.45 ERA)

COLORADO ROCKIES
Starting Pitcher: Greg Reynolds (0-0, 3.00 ERA)


GAME TWO

NEW YORK METS
Starting Pitcher: Chris Capuano (1-0, 6.75 ERA)

COLORADO ROCKIES
Starting Pitcher: Jorge De La Rosa (1-0, 1.74 ERA)

Remember: You will not be admitted to any of today's games with a ticket dated "April 12 - Game 5". Today's games are single admission and tickets must have today's date on them.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Mets Struggle To Score...Again

 The Mets lost to the Rockies by a score of 5-4. They have now lost three games in a row.

  • Jon Niese lasted six innings, giving up five runs on seven hits, while striking out five. He gave up two home runs, one to Troy Tulowitzki. Tulo hit Niese well in his previous two at bats, and with first base open in his third trip to the plate, the Mets decided to throw to him. As they say though, hindsight is 20/20.
  • Carlos Beltran had a good night at the plate, going 2-3 with an RBI. 
  • Jose Reyes' 4th inning double extended his hitting streak to ten games.
  • Angel Pagan's bat is starting to wake up. He went 2-2 with a single and a triple. 
  • The Mets were 1-9 with runners in scoring position. 
Next up: The Mets and Rockies have a doubleheader tomorrow beginning at 12:10 p.m. R.A. Dickey starts game one, while Chris Capuano gets game two.

Hits Keep On Coming For Mets

Not the kind of hits their looking for either.

D.J. Carrasco will get the start on Friday in place of Chris Young. Young will miss his start due to bicep tendinitis.

According to all the beat writers on Twitter, Carrasco will be joined by many of his colleagues from the bullpen. 

That's just what this bullpen needs. More innings.

Mets And Rockies: Take Two

April 13, 2011
7:10 PM ET
Citi Field
TV: SNY
RADIO: WFAN 660

Both of the scheduled starters for Tuesday's game will get the start today.
 
NEW YORK METS
Starting Pitcher: Jon Niese (0-1, 6.55 ERA)
Niese gave up six runs in four innings of work his last time out. Lifetime against the Rockies he is 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA.
COLORADO ROCKIES
Starting Pitcher: Esmil Rogers (1-0, 1.23 ERA)
Rogers dominated the Pirates in his season debut, going 7.1 innings and giving up just one run on four hits. He retired 18 in a row at one point.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Rain Out And Ticket Information

Tuesday's game against the Rockies has been rained out. The game has been rescheduled for Thursday as a single admission doubleheader.

Only tickets marked "Thursday, April 14 - Game 7" will be honored. Therefore, if you have a ticket marked "Tuesday, April 12 - Game 5," you will not be admitted to the game.

For more information, visit Mets.com or call (718) 507-TIXX.


Is It Too Much To Ask For a Complete Game Once In A While?

I hate pitch counts.

Nothing bugs me more than when I'm watching a game and things are going well, and out walks the manager to yank their starter because he's up to or over 100 pitches.

Is it sad when fans get excited that their team's starter throws a complete game these days? The answer to that is yes.

Whatever happened to endurance?

So far in 2011, of the 30 Major League teams, there have been just five complete games thrown out of 290 games played. 

Five games.

This season, Mets starting pitching is averaging just 5.1 innings per game. They are also averaging close to 93 pitches per game.

Granted for a few of those starts, the pitcher was taken out early, not because of the pitch count, but because he was just plain awful (I'm looking at you Mike Pelfrey).

Is it so much to ask that the starters go, at the very least, seven innings? 

As Jon Presser points out over at The Shea Faithful, the Mets bullpen is averaging 3.8 innings a game.

Hmm...That almost sounds abusive.

You know how teams, particularly the Mets, can cut down on the daily bullpen meltdowns? Starters need to start going deeper into games. Save yourself, and the fans, the agony and do the work yourself. 

Mets And Rockies Game Two Preview

April 12, 2011
7:10 PM ET
Citi Field
TV: SNY
RADIO: WFAN 660

NEW YORK METS
Starting Pitcher: Jon Niese (0-1, 6.55 ERA)
Niese gave up six runs in four innings of work his last time out. Lifetime against the Rockies he is 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA.
COLORADO ROCKIES
Starting Pitcher: Esmil Rogers (1-0, 1.23 ERA)
Rogers dominated the Pirates in his season debut, going 7.1 innings and giving up just one run on four hits. He retired 18 in a row at one point.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Bullpen Ineffective In Mets Loss - Where Have I Heard This Before

The Mets dropped another, losing to the Rockies 7-6.

  • Mike Pelfrey made his longest outing of the season, going 5.1 innings and giving up four runs on six hits while striking out three and walking four.
  • Jose Reyes had not one, but two, triples in the game. 
  • David Wright went 2-3 with a home run in the bottom of the eighth.
  • Bobby Parnell struggled, yet again, out of the bullpen. In one inning of work, he allowed three runs to score. 
  • Jason Isringhausen made his triumphant return to Queens, pitching a scoreless two-thirds of an inning.
The highlight of this game was Jason Isringhausen. He's possibly the feel good story of the year.

The lowlight is Bobby Parnell. The Mets have made it clear that they are going to make personnel changes if things aren't working out. Well Sandy, things aren't working out with Parnell. The Mets have the option of sending him down to Buffalo. It's early in the season, and he is just not effective at this point.

Next up: The Mets continue their series against the Rockies at 7:10 p.m. 

    Mets Look To Get Back On Track

    April 11, 2011
    7:10 PM ET
    Citi Field
    TV: SNY
    RADIO: WFAN 660

    NEW YORK METS
    Starting Pitcher: Mike Pelfrey (0-1, 15.63 ERA)
    Pelfrey has struggled this year, going just 4.1 innings in his first start, and 2 innings in his last start. He has had success against the Rockies in the past. In the past two seasons, he has gone 14 innings with ten strikeouts.

    COLORADO ROCKIES
    Starting Pitcher: Jason Hammel (1-0, 7.20 ERA)
    In his first start of the season, Hammel struggled, lasting 5 innings and striking out just two. As for career numbers against the Mets, Hammel has two losses and a 9.72 ERA.

    Sunday, April 10, 2011

    Mets Making Moves: Welcome Back Izzy & Iggy

    Ladies and gentlemen, Jason Isringhausen is back in action.

    The Mets announced that Isringhausen, along with Ryota Igarashi have been promoted. To make room on the roster, Blaine Boyer was designated for assignment (after today's performance, can you blame them), and Lucas Duda was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo.

    Duda played in just eight games this season, but has only had two hits in 17 at bats.

    Isringhausen hasn't thrown in a Major League game since 2009 when he was with the Tampa Bay Rays. To be honest, a few of the Mets relievers look like they haven't thrown anything since 2009.

    Igarashi has made two appearances for Buffalo this season. Last season when he was with the Mets, he went 1-1 with a 7.12 ERA.

    Mets Waste Young's Strong Start

    A sluggish offense, a less than productive bullpen, and a loss. Welcome to New York, Chris Young. The Mets dropped the rubber game against the Nationals 7-3.

    • Young went 7 strong innings, allowing one run on one hit, while striking out five.
    • D.J. Carrasco came in in the 8th, and was completely ineffective. In two-thirds of an inning, Carrasco gave up two runs on two hits, and walked one.
    • Blaine Boyer came in to pitch the 11th, and I really wish he hadn't. After giving up an RBI single to Ivan Rodriguez, he then allowed a three run home run off the bat of Laynce Nix. 
    • Despite scoring three runs, the Mets offense was, well, pathetic. Mets hitters struck out 17 times in the game, and didn't have a hit from the 6th inning on.
    Next up: The Mets begin a four-game series with the Rockies at Citi Field. 

    Mets Tidbits: Clips From Around The Web

    Andrew Keh of the New York Times, looks at last night's win over the Nationals.

    The Daily News reports that Bernie Madoff, again, claims the Wilpons knew nothing of his Ponzi scheme, calling them "totally unsophisticated."

    Dan Martin of the New York Post says Jason Bay will take batting practice today as he works his way back from the Disabled List. Martin also reports that Randy Nieman has told Terry Collins that Jason Isringhausen is, "Ready when they need him."

    John Harper of the Daily News, says Jose Reyes Looks, "Like a man without a plan at the plate," and it may be what gets him sent out of New York.

    Mets Hope Offense Continues Against The Nationals

    April 10, 2011
    1:10 PM ET
    Citi Field
    TV: SNY
    RADIO: WFAN 660

    NEW YORK METS
    Starting Pitcher: Chris Young (1-0, 1.69 ERA)
    In his last start against the Phillies, Young went 5.1 innings and helped himself at the plate with three hits. Today, he gets the start against the Nationals, whom he hasn't beaten since 2008.

    WASHINGTON NATIONALS
    Starting pitcher: Jason Marquis (0-0, 2.84 ERA)
    Marquis went 6.1 innings in his last start against the Marlins. Despite getting into jams, he was able to get through unscathed. This could be a challenge for the Mets today, who have been struggling to score with runners in scoring position.