Jumat, 31 Agustus 2012
Darin Gorski on his 2012 Improvements
Slightly under the radar, LHP Darin Gorski has put together a solid season for the AA Binghamton Mets.
Overall, he is 9-7 with a 3.66 ERA (where league average is 3.90) with a 2.4 K/BB ratio (where 2.2 is league average).
In the first half, he had a 3.89 ERA with a 1.9 K/BB ratio (66 K/34 BB) in 88 innings.
Terry Collins could platoon Ronny Cedeno and Ruben Tejada
After yesterday's 3-2 loss to the Phillies, Terry Collins said Ruben Tejada might be getting worn down, which is why he decided to start Ronny Cedeno at shortstop yesterday afternoon.
Collins suggested he could continue to rotate Tejada and Cedeno through the remainder of the season.
Tejada is hitting .295 with a .339 on-base percentage this season. However, he is just 6-for-his-last-42 dating back to August 18, and is hitting .259 with a .298 on-base percentage in 108 at-bats in August.
Kamis, 30 Agustus 2012
Harvey wasn't at his best, but persevered into the 7th inning
In last night's 3-2 win over the Phillies, Matt Harvey allowed two runs and six hits with two walks and six strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.
'You look at their lineup, I think every single one of them has almost been an All-Star,' Harvey said after the game. 'You definitely look at it from the outside wanting to do well. It's one of the ballparks you get pretty amped up to come in and do the best you can.'
Harvey improved to 3-3 with a 2.76 ERA in seven starts this season ' he now has 49 strikeouts in his first 42 1/3 innings of his career.
'The defense was on point and made every play ' this win goes to them.'
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com
Harvey certainly was not at his best last night, but his ability to manage his troubles and maintain his composure made this one of the more impressive starts he's had in his young career. He battled through command issues of all four of his pitches (and walked the opposing pitchers twice). While he threw a high percentage of strikes, the quality of those pitches weren't as good as they have been in his previous outings. But he was able to record some big strikeouts on his change-up (which seemed to improve as the game went on) and he got some help defensively which kept the Phillies off the board.In watching Harvey over the last two years, no matter what he's got, he is someone who just doesn't give in at any point of the game. He makes the most out of whatever he's got, adjusts to his in-game strengths quickly, and shies away from what's not working for him. If that means he needs to pitch to more contact (like he did last night), than he does that and gets the ball to his defense. When he's on, Harvey can power his way through at-bats and record outs that way by throwing 99 mph fastballs on the corner. Harvey is proving to be a bulldog, and it's been enjoyable to watch his evolution. He is so focused out there and never gets shaken by adversity. He seems to have the mentality to be a big game pitcher ' that is something I hope comes in handy in the years to come.
Rabu, 29 Agustus 2012
Final Score: Mets 9 Phillies 5
The New York Mets (60-69) defeated the Philadelphia Phillies (61-68) tonight by a final score of 9-5.
The Least You Should Know:
Ike Davis delivered an opposite field, RBI double in the tenth to drive in David Wright with the eventual game-winning run.
After Davis' double, the Mets tacked on three more runs on a Lucas Duda RBI single and a towering two-run bomb by Kelly Shoppach.
Wright picked up two RBI, one on a first inning single, the other on a fifth inning sacrifice fly. He was 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.
Chris Young lasted just 4.1 innings and allowed five runs on four hits and three walks. He struck out two and did not factor into the decision.
Mike Baxter slugged his first home run of the year, a two-run shot off Vance Worley in the fourth.
Daniel Murphy collected three hits in five trips.
For a full recap and box score, check out SNY's In-Game Live.
Brian Erni, MetsBlog.com
It felt borderline strange to see a team that struggled to mightily to score runs on their six-game homestand to explode offensively, especially in the manner they did in the tenth. It was certainly nice to see. Davis contributed a great piece of hitting, driving the ball to the left centerfield gap. He also provided an interesting moment when he ran through Tim Teufel's stop sign to score on Duda's single. And Shoppach's homer, an absolute moon shot to left, put the capper on what turned out to be a very good night.The outlook didn't always look promising tonight, as Young just didn't have it early. After three straight singles put the Mets on top in the first, Young allowed the first three Philadelphia batters to reach base, then surrendered a grand slam to Ryan Howard. Afterwards, Young looked as though he may have settled down, despite having to work around some base runners. But in the fifth, Chase Utley homered to break a 4-4 tie, and Young found himself the participant of an early shower. He threw 89 pitches over his 4.1 innings of work. I have to wonder at what point Young continuing to go out there this year has reached a point of diminishing returns. Considering he's coming off capsule surgery, it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility to shut him down soon. And with Colin McHugh's impressive first start fresh in the organization's mind, I wouldn't be shocked to see Young's work load diminish as we make the turn towards September.
Murphy showed no ill effects of the inflammation in his right shoulder that forced him out of the game on Sunday. Murph's swing was quick and compact en route to his three hit night. The one lowlight on his night was when he was charged with an error for dropping a foul ball and prolonging Jimmy Rollins' at bat in the second. It was his 12th error of the season, though it had a minimal impact since Rollins flew out two pitches later.
Here's something I don't get to type very often: the Mets bullpen was great tonight. After Terry had to go to them early, the pen allowed just two hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. Robert Carson, Ramon Ramirez, Josh Edgin, Jon Rauch, and Bobby Parnell can all take a bow. This was probably the best collective effort from the bullpen all season.
The Mets will continue their three-game set at Citizen's Bank Park tomorrow evening. Matt Harvey (2-3, 2.75 ERA) will go to the hill against Cole Hamels (14-6, 2.99 ERA). Game time is 7:05 PM.
W.B. Mason Post Game Extra
Gavin Cecchini to finish season with Cyclones
2012 NY Mets first round pick Gavin Cecchini will join the Cyclones later today when the team heads to Hudson Valley.'
Brooklyn Cyclones (@BKCyclones) August 29, 2012
In 53 games with Rookie League Kingsport in the Appalachian League, Cecchini hit .246 with a .311 on-base percentage, nine doubles, two triples, one home run and 22 RBI in 191 at-bats.
Selasa, 28 Agustus 2012
Mets were losers of Dodgers-Sox deal, according to Joel Sherman
This past weekend, the Red Sox sent Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez (and their roughly $250 million in contracts) to the Dodgers for a package of prospects and James Loney.
According to Joel Sherman of the New York, 'the Mets were the biggest loser in the deal.'
Why? 'Because the Mets could not get even enough health and production from Jason Bay and/or Johan Santana to make the kind of financial reset trade the Red Sox just did by unloading Beckett and Crawford, in particular,' Sherman explains.
Sherman also wonders why the Mets didn't look to trade David Wright to the Dodgers, who are also in need of an upgrade at third base.
Matthew Cerrone, MetsBlog.com
I don't know, I've read this column by Sherman three different times, and I still can't tell what he actually thinks the Mets should have done or should do going forward. He contradicts himself so many times it's dizzying, not to mention he's using a bizarre, once-in-a-lifetime deal (which looks pretty bad for the Dodgers) as the foundation of his argument' I think. Maybe. That said, sure, it would have been great had Jason Bay overachieved this season so he could be traded, but he didn't. I don't see how that makes the Mets losers of a trade that didn't involve them'
Lastly, I want the Mets to re-sign Wright, not trade him. Yes, they too want to keep him long term, and so do most fans. So, why trade him now when he has an option for next season? At the very least, try to sign him (and RA Dickey) this winter and if all else fails they can look to deal him next summer ' if they have to.
Anyway, for a more in-depth, well-worded rebuttal to Sherman's column, check out Ted Berg's post at TedQuarters, which is a must read.
Scott Hairston claimed off waivers, unlikely to be moved
Scott Hairston has been claimed off trade waivers, reports Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.com.
Heyman says the Giants were not awarded the claim on Hairston.
Meanwhile, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says the claim put in on Hairston was designed to block him from another team and he is unlikely to be traded.
Matthew Cerrone, MetsBlog.com
I mean, at this point, keeping him can't be about competing or pennant races or September' so, it must indicate the team's real interest in trying to attain Hairston for next season in the face of getting back very little in a trade. They obviously feel it's worth more to them to keep him than let him go. I wonder if this also essentially means they'll offer him salary arbitration, as well.
Yesterday, Adam Rubin of ESPN New York said both Hairston and Andres Torres were on trade waivers.
The Mets could attempt to work out a trade with the team that put in the claim for Hairston.
If they can't work out a deal or do not wish to trade Hairston, he can be pulled back from waivers. However, at that point, he cannot be placed on trade waivers again.
Alternatively, the Mets could simply give Hairston to the claiming team.
If Hairston had passed through trade waivers unclaimed, he could've been traded to any team.
Senin, 27 Agustus 2012
Terry Collins' job appears to be safe for 2013
'There is 'no chance' the Mets manager will become a scapegoat for the team's second-half collapse and be fired this offseason or before the season concludes,' a club source told Mike Puma of the New York Post.
However, the source told Puma the team's goal is to finish ahead of the Phillies and Marlins this season to help create some positive vibes as they move forward into next season, and Puma writes, 'don't be surprised if a potential Collins contract extension is tied to how the Mets finish this season.'
Collins had the option in his contract for 2013 exercised last September.
Sandy thinks payroll will be in excess of $100m next season
During a Q&A with ticket plan holders at Citi Field this morning, Sandy Alderson said he thinks payroll will be around $100 million, 'if not higher,' in 2013, according to Mike Vorkunov of the Star Ledger.
However, Alderson added he has yet to speak with ownership about increasing their payroll for next season.
In addition, Alderson said he plans to retain David Wright and R.A. Dickey over the long-term.
'As you all know, we have options on both those players and it's not our intention to simply rely on those options and go into next season and deal with their free agency after 2013,' Alderson said to season ticket holders on Sunday. 'We're going to deal with it up front while we still have a little bit of room to maneuver. We're committed to trying to bring those two back.'
According to Cot's Contracts, the Mets payroll is around $94.5 million this season. In regards to 2013, the Mets already have $80.5 million committed to Johan Santana, David Wright, Jason Bay, R.A. Dickey, Frank Francisco and Jon Niese.
Jon Rauch ($3.5 million), Ramon Ramirez ($2.65 million), Ronny Cedeno ($1.15 million), Scott Hairston ($1.1 million) and Tim Byrdak ($1 million) are eligible for to become free agents after this season.
Mike Pelfrey ($5.7 million) and Andres Torres ($2.7 million) are arbitration eligible, but Adam Rubin of ESPN New York believes both will be non-tendered this winter.
Earlier this week, Alderson told Mike Francesa of WFAN he expects to be active in the trade market this winter and said, 'We need an infusion of players, productive players. ' after having watched this team for a couple of years, maybe it's time to make some moves.'
Matthew Cerrone, MetsBlog.com
He's right, the Mets need an infusion of productive players. ' Alderson is also right when he says a new roster must be built in trades. There is lots and lots of talk in media and among fans about 'spending money,' but it's talked about in such a nebulous, idealistic way' as if dropping $150 million new dollars out the window will magically bring an All-Star Team to St. Lucie next Spring. It's not that easy, even if you print money and have no budget. You can only spend on what's available, and the free-agent market is average at best. Impact players will only be had by negotiating with other teams.
In either case, I think the big moves this winter will be in locking up Wright and Dickey to long-term contract extensions, which could end up costing as much as $200 million. But, even by spending that much money, it doesn't necessarily add new talent to the team ' it simply keeps the team's two biggest starts.
To read Michael Baron's thoughts on this topic, click here.
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com
The main issue in the short-term is there is a whole lot of baggage contained in the $80.5 million they have committed for next season. Regardless of whether or not Bay is on the roster next season, the Mets are going to pay him $19 million next season. They owe Francisco $6.5 million, and he's a major question mark next year. They are also going to pay Santana $31 million next season, and they don't know what he's capable of producing once again. On top of that, they have to reconstruct their bullpen, find catchers and outfielders, and build more depth on their roster ' there is a very small window from a financial perspective to make that happen, even if Sandy can go modestly above $100 million next year.
After 2013, their payroll commitments dwindle to nobody, but presumably they'll sign, acquire, and hopefully retain some players into that year. Nevertheless, it's going to be important the organization not just show a willingness to invest in the roster, but an ability to invest in the roster in 2013 and beyond ' it's important they do that very soon as well. It's not to say they should sign everybody on the free agent market or make trades for high priced players just to appease fans, but they have to start making progress and make moves which are geared towards improving the team and winning. Some of that might be achievable internally, but it's clear the Mets must go outside the organization to address a lot of their problems both for the short and long-term.
Minggu, 26 Agustus 2012
Terry explains Ruben Tejada failing to run hard in 5th inn.
After Saturday's 3-1 win over the Astros, Terry Collins said the reason Ruben Tejada did not run hard on a fly ball he hit in the fifth inning was due to the fact he was hit in the crotch on a ground ball in the fourth inning.
Collins said Tejada was not wearing a cup.
With that said, both Bob Geren and David Wright were seen speaking to Tejada in the dugout after he made out on that fly ball.
According to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, Collins had spoken previously to Tejada about running hard to first base regardless of the outcome.
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com
We are seeing a lot of these kinds of things lately ' players not covering bases, players not hustling, players shrugging their shoulders and hanging their heads, and so on. In the case of Tejada, I get that things like that hurt, but if he was hurt so bad that he couldn't run properly, he should have been taken out of the game. I know, it's a byproduct of losing, and I'm sure none of them are particularly proud of their performances in the second half. And, they're human, and being upset about the way things are going is both fair and reasonable. But the listlessness and apparent indifferences are just not acceptable, and it reflects poorly on everyone in uniform. But, as I said yesterday, there doesn't seem to be any public accountability for these issues.Look, I don't need Terry Collins to blow a gasket every time the team embarrass themselves or do something they shouldn't do. But these are things Terry has said countless times (including the day he was hired in November, 2010) are intolerable in this organization, yet the incidents only seem to be increasing with time. I've said over and over again how much I believe in the direction of this organization despite these difficult times, but seeing these issues surface isn't a good sign to me, even if it involves players who might not be part of the plan going forward.
Lucas Duda recalled, Mets option Valdespin
The Mets announced they will recall Lucas Duda in time for Sunday's series finale against the Astros.
Aug. 26, 9:39 am: To make room for Duda on the active roster, the Mets optioned Jordany Valdespin to Triple-A Buffalo.
Aug 25, 4:55 pm: Before being demoted to the Minor Leagues, Duda hit .241 in 89 games with 12 home runs and 44 RBI in 307 at-bats.
Duda hit .260 with three home runs and eight RBI in 96 at-bats over 25 games with Triple-A Buffalo after his demotion.
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com
It's a little strange they're deciding to bring Duda back right now. Rosters expand in a week, and so Duda was likely to return at that time anyway. It would make more sense if they've executed a trade or they intend to place someone on the disabled list, but neither have been indicated at this time. I guess we will find out tomorrow'Sunday's Mets/Astros lineups at Citi Field (1:10 PM)
#Mets Sunday lineup vs. Houston: Torres-8, Murphy-4, Wright-5, Davis-3, Duda-7, Tejada-6, Baxter-9, Shoppach-2, Hefner-1'
New York Mets (@Mets) August 26, 2012
Sabtu, 25 Agustus 2012
Jon Niese's cutter, ability to throw strikes, and growth this season
In last night's 3-1 loss to the Astros, Jon Niese allowed three runs and six hits with two walks and five strikeouts in seven innings.
'Jon did a good job,' Terry Collins said afterwards. 'I told him when he came out of the [second] inning: 'You put up some zeroes. Just put up some zeroes and let us have a shot.' And he did that. So we can't ask more than that.'
Niese fell to 10-7 for the year and his ERA rose slightly to 3.51 in 24 starts ' he is 3-2 with a 2.29 ERA in four starts in the month of August.
It was Niese's 15th consecutive outing he's walked two batters or less in a game, and he has gone at least six innings in each of those 15 starts ' he owns a 5.5:1 strikeout to walk ratio over that span.
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com
The line for Niese looked good, but I thought his cutter was a little flat yesterday. He was able to throw it for strikes, but he left a few in the middle of the plate, and the Astros got to it when he did. Similar to his start against the Astros in May, Niese threw a lot of cutters at them last night, which was interesting considering how much he struggled with it in that outing. It was frustrating that the 7-8-9 hitters did the damage against him ' four of the six hits the six hits he allowed came from that part of the Houston lineup. But he's going to have days when he doesn't have it all, loses his focus at times, or suffers through challenges which are out of his control ' it's about how he manages those times, but he was able to manage it well last night. Unfortunately, the runs he allowed were outside the margin for error for the rest of the team.Maturity and growth are keys for Niese, especially now that he signed a long-term contract with the Mets. Call it a bright spot in what has turned into a miserable summer, but so far, he has been able to do that, as he's shown an ability to stop the bleeding and limit damage in innings. As it was evidenced in last night's outing, he's also learning how to pitch without his best stuff, and that starts with his continued ability to throw strikes and keep that cutter down in the strike zone. In the past (and even at times earlier this season), Niese would simply meltdown and allow crooked numbers, but he's clearly able to identify his shortcomings now and adjust from pitch-to-pitch during his outings.
Jumat, 24 Agustus 2012
It's time to start building
Matthew Cerrone, MetsBlog.com
I'm a patient person, but I'm starting to lose it.
Look, I acknowledge the challenge Sandy Alderson walked in to roughly two years ago. I knew then and know now that it would not be fixed overnight. But, two years later, not only do I see a lower payroll, I see less talent and more losses. The way things have been going, by the end of next month, they'll almost certainly be in last place and possibly ending their worst season since 2003. The thing is, while I can accept the losing, I'm furious about the poor fundamentals, lack of hitting and general sense of lethargy I'm seeing. Alderson and Terry Collins vowed that this type of baseball would end under their watch, and so far that hasn't happened.
Worse, I hear Collins essentially excusing this behavior in his post-game comments. I'm not saying he needs to go berserk every night, but (at this point in the season) considering they've lost 30 of their last 42 games) I'd like to hear and see him hold his players and himself more accountable. Because, right now, it looks like either he lost the team or he's lost a sense of himself.
There are players on this team who look too comfortable being in fourth place. They look like they're just happy to be here. I know people will say 'swagger,' and, 'grit,' and attitude are all a by-product of winning, and I think that's true. But, I also think you can tell a lot about a person by how they respond during tough times. And, right now, I see some players who look defeated, apathetic and uninspired. I'm not foolishly suggesting that with better attitudes or more hustle that the Mets would have a better record. Ultimately, talent rules. However, I am saying that by having less hustle ' and what seems to be a careless attitude now ' it doesn't bode well for the next time things get tough for these people, perhaps (someday) in the middle of a pennant race. In other words, if Alderson and Collins intended on changing the team culture, they probably need to take another look at the team'
The point is, as Alderson told WFAN earlier this week, the Mets need an infusion of productive players. The way I see it, looking at the current 25-man roster, only RA Dickey, Matt Harvey, David Wright and Ruben Tejada should be guaranteed spots on next year's team' the rest can all be debated. Alderson is also right when he says a new roster must be built in trades. There is lots and lots of talk in media and among fans about 'spending money,' but it's talked about in such a nebulous, idealistic way' as if dropping $150 million new dollars out the window will magically bring an All-Star Team to St. Lucie next Spring. It's not that easy, even if you print money and have no budget. You can only spend on what's available, and the free-agent market is average at best. Impact players will only be had by negotiating with other teams, and I have no idea what type of assets Alderson is working with these days (especially since I just said the majority of his roster is questionable).
I'm not the GM, though. I'm a fan. And, what I know is that it's time to make moves. It has to be. Mets fans are shockingly patient and tolerant, but only to a point. Alderson had two years to rip the house down, which he's done. He's had two years to evaluate and develop talent and take stock in what he has to work with. He's had two years to create a new infrastructure and shed bad contracts (with one, maybe two more to go). He's had two years to let it bleed, and let us anticipate, and imagine, and be patient, which I think we've done rather well considering the soap opera we were forced to root for in the four seasons prior to his arrival. He's done his due diligence and demolition, this off season it's time to start building.
Daniel Murphy is fatigued, to get some time off
Terry Collins said after today's game Daniel Murphy is 'out of gas,' and he will get some time off.
Murphy went 1-for-5 in today's 1-0 loss to the Rockies ' he is just 14-for-66 in 20 games this month.
Kamis, 23 Agustus 2012
Standings, Beat Reports & What's Next for the Mets
The Mets, Marlins, Phillies and Nationals lost last night, while the Braves won.
To read about last night's loss to the Rockies, check out this post on MetsBlog, as well as beat reports from MLB.com, the Wall Street Journal, Star-Ledger, Bergen Record, Journal News, ESPN New York, Newsday, the Daily News and New York Post.
In case you missed it yesterday, Sandy Alderson said on WFAN that his team's roster will be much different next season.
'So we need an infusion of players, productive players, players who are going to hit for power,' he said.
Though he wouldn't rule out signing a free agent outfielder like a Michael Cuddyer, Jason Kubel or a Josh Willingham, he said he is more likely to add players by trades.
'We definitely have trade chips. We have players that we can trade if we decided that is the way to go,' he explained. 'I think we have assets. I don't know what kind of cash assets we'll have. That's to be determined. But I think our system is in a much better position today to make trades than it was two years ago, even a year ago.'
Matthew Cerrone, MetsBlog.com
He's right, and I'm glad Alderson said this. The bottom line is he needs better players. The Mets have some nice stories, nice personalities, decent young players on this team, but they're also just not that good. There is a base here, but that's it. It's time for Alderson to begin Phase 2 here, and I'm glad to hear it might begin now.
Lastly, later today, the Mets will look to salvage the final game of their four-game series with the Rockies this afternoon at Citi Field, with Collin McHugh facing Tyler Chatwood at 1:10 pm.
Terry's post game comments on Harvey and Francisco
After the Mets 5-2 loss to the Rockies, Terry Collins spoke to reporters and had the following to say about:
Matt Harvey, who allowed one run on three hits in six innings and has forty-three strikeouts in his first six starts:
'I was extremely impressed tonight with the way he handled himself'As I told him when I took him out, I said look I'm trying to lengthen your outings here'He's the first guy on the bench before the game starts. He's there throughout the game. He listens. He wants to learn. He's truly living up to I'm not just here to be one of the guys I'm here to be 'the guy''Through an absolute brutal stretch there have been bright spots and he's one of them.'
Frank Francisco, who allowed two runs in the ninth and his outburst in the dugout:
'I only have an issue with it if he gets hurt. Those water coolers were made for other things besides holding water. They are nice and easy to beat up. Now if he gets hurt, I got an issue with it.'
Rabu, 22 Agustus 2012
Mets at home since the All-Star break
The Mets have scored 40 runs in 14 home games since the All-Star break, an average of 2.86 per game.
The Mets have been outscored 86-40 at Citi Field since the break ' they have lost 12 of 14 home games over that span.
Overall, the Mets have scored 132 runs in 37 games since the break, an average of 3.57 per game.
Collin McHugh on tax squad, in case of news on Johan
The Mets said Collin McHugh will be on the taxi squad for Thursday in the event Johan Santana is unable to make his scheduled start.
If McHugh is activated, he must be added to the 40-man roster ' currently, there are 39 players on the 40-man roster.
McHugh is 2-4 with a 3.39 ERA in 12 starts with Triple-A Buffalo. He is a combined 7-9 with a 2.88 ERA in 24 starts between Buffalo and Double-A Binghamton.
Triple-A manager Wally Backman recently told ESPN that McHugh had the best control on his staff, drawing comparisons to Mets RHP Dillon Gee.
On Monday night, the Mets said Santana would undergo an MRI on his back, although he remains the scheduled starter for Thursday's series finale against the Rockies.
Terry Collins said the team did not have the results of Santana's MRI from team doctors as of Tuesday night.
Santana allowed six runs in five innings to the Nationals last Friday night . He is 3-7 with a 8.27 ERA in the 10 starts since his no-hitter on June 1, during which he is averaging just under five innings per start.
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com
Based on what Sandy said yesterday, it sure sounds like they're planning to shut him down ' if not this week, then very soon' As far as the six-man rotation goes, Terry Collins said he did not want his pitchers to have more than six days rest, which will be difficult with the coming off days. I wonder if they'll skip Jeremy Hefner or maybe Chris Young in order to keep other pitchers from pitching beyond the sixth day. Alternatively, they could simply skip Santana's start, go back to a five-man rotation through the off-day, and then insert Jenrry Mejia into the rotation after that.To read McHugh's blog, click here.
Selasa, 21 Agustus 2012
Johan Santana to have MRI on his back
The Mets said after Monday's game that Johan Santana will have an MRI on his back, though he is still on schedule to start Thursday.
Matthew Cerrone, MetsBlog.com
Monday morning I said I expected Johan to make one more start (this Thursday) and that's it. I figured, with the off day one week from today, they could drop back to five guys for the week, skip Johan and then replace him with Jenrry Mejia the next time through (as it will be after September 1). However, I wonder if this MRI will lead to yet another season-ending trip to the DL for Santana, who can then be immediately replaced in the rotation by Mejia before September.Aug. 20, 5:03 pm: Collins said earlier today, while Santana's shoulder is healthy, he is experiencing a stiff back and lingering issues associated with the ankle injury that landed him on the disabled list earlier this season.
According to Collins, Santana will be on strict pitch count of less than 100.
GM Sandy Alderson later said Santana could be shut down after rosters expand Sept. 1, at which point the team might revert back to a five-man rotation.
'We think Johan is good for another start or two minimum,' Alderson explained.
Aug. 20, 3:33 pm: Santana made his scheduled bullpen session earlier today at Citi Field.
This weekend, it was reported that Terry Collins, Dan Warthen and Sandy Alderson would discuss today what to do with Santana the remainder of the season.
In 10 starts since his no-hitter, Santana is 3-7 with an 8.27 ERA.
Suggested links for Tuesday August 21
Andres Torres is batting a lowly .230 on the season, yet he offers no excuses for his struggles, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post.
The Mets need to shut down Johan Santana before his next start, Tim Smith explains in the Daily News.
In Newsday, David Lennon writes, 'As much as the Mets try to prepare for the future, they inevitably get blindsided by it. What happened Monday with Santana really wasn't their fault ' it only looks that way. Now they just have to prevent it from getting any worse.'
Senin, 20 Agustus 2012
Final Score: Nationals 5 Mets 2
The New York Mets (57-64) lost to the Washington Nationals (75-46) today by a score of 5-2.
The Least You Should Know:
Jeremy Hefner (2-5) threw five innings and allowed five runs on eight hits in a losing effort. He did not walk a batter and struck out three.
Danny Espinosa opened the scoring with a two-run home run off Hefner in the second.
Bryce Harper homered, tripled, drove in two runs, and scored twice.
The Mets had 11 hits, but were a combined 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
Kelly Shoppach was one of five Mets with two hits today. His second hit of the game drove in the Mets second run.
Daniel Murphy was ejected for arguing balls and strikes after being rung up to end the top of the eighth.
The Mets dropped to 4-7 in rubber games this season. They have lost nine of 11 series in the second half.
For a full recap and box score, check out SNY's In-Game Live.
Brian Erni, MetsBlog.com
Nice to see David Wright chip in with a multi-hit effort today. After a red hot first half, Wright has leveled out a bit, hitting .244 in the second half coming into this game. Even though there were some pitches that Wright fouled back that he probably would tell you he could and should have driven, the approach seemed a lot more sound. So..there's at least something to take out of this afternoon.Murphy was pretty hot at rookie home plate umpire Jordan Baker. And while it doesn't count for anything, it's nice to at least see Murph get amped up after losing an at bat in a game and a season that has plummeted into irrelevance. Will Murphy be a part of this team when it's a winner? I'm not sure, but he has the attitude that makes me hope that he is.
W.B. Mason Post Game Extra:
The Mets will return home to Citi Field tomorrow to open a four-game series against the Rockies. R.A. Dickey (15-4, 2.89 ERA) will oppose Alex White (2-6, 5.74 ERA). Game time is 7:10 PM.
Game 121: Mets vs. Nationals at 4 PM
Today at Nationals Park, the Mets (57-63) will look to take the rubber game of their three-game series with the Nationals (74-46) at 4:00 pm.
Minggu, 19 Agustus 2012
Jon Niese has become efficient and unpredictable
In last night's 2-0 win over the Nationals, Jon Niese allowed just five hits with seven strikeouts and no walks in 7 1/3 innings last night.
'I actually feel just about as good, or better, than I felt at the beginning of the year,' Niese said after the game. 'Definitely better than I felt in May; I was really struggling with dead arm.'
Niese improved to 10-6 with an ERA of 3.49 in 152 innings this season.
'It was just another of those nights where everything felt good and [Josh Thole] called a great game,' Niese said. 'We had the game plan of working in and out and we just executed pitches and it worked out.'
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com
Ever since the fourth inning of his start against the Marlins last week, Niese has seemed like a different pitcher. As I said yesterday, he had either been relying on either his cutter or his curveball, and the opposition clearly had a better idea of how to attack him. But since that rough inning, he has begun to mix his four seamer, cutter, and curveball. Now he is using both his curve and his cutter in any count, he's throwing them for strikes, and while he doesn't get many swings and misses, he gets a lot of called strikes due to that unpredictability. Obviously, his command has helped him find this success regardless of what pitch he throws - he has now walked two or less batters in 14 straight starts. But his improved approach has led to a greater ability to avert major damage and to stymie threats in general. That's a key growth point for Niese, and something I hope continues for not just the remainder of the season, but into next season as well.Suggested Mets reading for Sunday, August 19
Andy Martino of the Daily News weighs the Mets' ability to trade Johan Santana this winter.
In his Sunday column for the Bergen Record, Mike Kerwick says it's wrong to evaluate the Mets by their final record.
Lastly, Brian Costa of the Wall Street Journal says the Mets hope Frank Francisco finishes his season strong.
Sabtu, 18 Agustus 2012
Davey Johnson admits having umpires cover Santana's Gold Glove logo
According to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, Nationals manager Davey Johnson acknowledged he had the umpires force Johan Santana to cover the gold Rawlings logo on his glove in the third inning.
'I went to the umpire, I said, 'We haven't had anybody on base, but I wish you'd check that glove, because I don't think it conforms to the rules.' It's supposed to be one color, or similar color, and gold ' shiny gold ' is not a similar color,' Johnson explained, according to Rubin.
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com
With all due respect to Davey, that move was ridiculous. It was clearly designed to rattle Santana and the Mets. Why? Because every player who wears a Rawlings fielders glove and wins a Gold Glove Award in this game gets a gold Rawlings logo on it. Whether it's a catcher, first baseman, pitcher or an outfielder ' if that player wears a Rawlings glove, they are awarded a gold Rawlings logo. Period. The thing is, I hold the umpires more accountable for the decision than I do Davey, because ultimately it's their decision and they see enough of these pitchers to a point they need to be consistent and fair. It seems every pitcher has a bracelet (including Felix Hernandez, who wore one during his Perfect Game on Thursday), loose laces, necklaces flapping everywhere, and so on. But the umpires need to have consistent standards for every player in every game, and enforce those rules accordingly. In recent years, the umpiring has been less than consistent in more ways than one, and that has to improve not just for this team, but in baseball in general.Suggested Mets reading for Saturday, August 18
Mike Puma of the New York Post writes 'Frank Francisco isn't running from the truism that his first season with the Mets has been brutal.'
Arthur Staple of Newsday says Terry Collins is onboard with expanding instant replay in Major League Baseball.
Mike Kerwick of the Bergen Record says Jason Bay knows the Mets are running out of patience with him.
Nitkowski, Nieuwenhuis could be called up in September
According to Andy Martino of the Daily News, C.J. Nitkowski could be among the September call-ups once rosters expands in two weeks.
'He is certainly in the conversation. If he keeps doing what he's doing, he'll be up,' A team official told Martino.
Nitkowski, 39, hasn't allowed a run in 13 Minor League games with Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Buffalo this season. The Mets signed Nitkowski to a Minor League contract on July 13.
Nitkowski last pitched in the Major Leagues in 2005 with Nationals. That year, he appeared in seven games and allowed three runs in 3 1/3 innings. In ten big league seasons from 1995-2005, Nitkowski went 18-32 with a 5.37 ERA in 336 games and 44 starts.
He was with the Mets in 2001, and allowed no runs in 5 2/3 innings in five relief appearances.
Nitkowski auditioned for the Mets as a sidearm pitcher during Spring Training this past March, but the two sides did not come to terms on an agreement at that time.
In addition, Adam Rubin of ESPN New York says Kirk Nieuwenhuis, who has not played since August 3 due to a torn plantar fascia in his foot, could be among those called-up once rosters expand as well.
Nieuwenhuis went just 2-for-11 with Triple-A Buffalo before landing on the seven-day disabled list.
Jumat, 17 Agustus 2012
Terry on the Mets 8-4 win over the Reds
After the Mets win over the Reds, Terry Collins talked to reporters and had the following to say about:
Matt Harvey, who pitched 7 2/3 innings and also drove in two runs on a double:
'What you saw tonight was a little taste of what this guy is going to be able to do. When he's got the command going like he did tonight and everything is working, he's going to be tough to hit'I thought the big key tonight is that he used his breaking ball very effectively tonight.'
Frank Francisco, who gave up three runs in the bottom of the ninth and his level of concern:
'He just hasn't had enough work. The command of his fastball is not there. One of the things he was doing before the oblique issue was he was commanding that fastball'I told him the other day I said look you've got to keep going out there. I'm not getting you enough work because we haven't been in games, but you've got to understand we've got to get you on the mound and get you better'I'm hoping if we can get him out there again tomorrow after being in tonight's game, he might have a little bit better rhythm.'
Jason Bay, who went 2-for-5 with a solo home run:
'Everybody's rooting for him. It was nice to see Jason get a couple hits and contribute with a home run'If we can jump start him somehow someway he's going to help.'
Suggested links for Friday August 17
No one expected the Mets to be a legitimate contender this season. But nearly six years after their last playoff appearance, it is hard to say when such an expectation will be reasonable again, Brian Costa writes in the Wall Street Journal.
According to Andy Martino of the Daily News, Terry Collins believes R.A. Dickey should be treated like Felix Hernandez, who wore bracelets during his perfect game.
Meanwhile, Roderick Boone of Newsday writes Collins was upset over the umps removing Dickey's bracelets on Wednesday night.
Lastly, according to WFAN.com, Matt Harvey showed the Mets what he can do when he is on his game.
Kamis, 16 Agustus 2012
Duda expected back before Sept. 1. Who are the other Call-ups?
Lucas Duda missed four games last week with Triple-A Buffalo due to 'dental issues,' Terry Collins told WFAN yesterday.
Since his return to Buffalo's starting lineup, Duda has five hits in 17 at bats.
Collins also told WFAN that he expects Duda to be promoted in the next two weeks, before the September 1 call-up date.
In the 19 games before being demoted, Duda hit just .138 with one home run, two RBI, and 23 strike outs in 77 plate appearances.
Matthew Cerrone, MetsBlog.com
Good. At this point, at seven games below .500 and just six weeks left in the season, Duda should be up here, hitting big-league pitching and galvanizing opinions on whether he is or isn't in this team's long-term plan.By the way, if he returns, he has to play left field. Enough of this right-field nonsense. I like Lucas, I love his power, but he isn't a right fielder. He never would have been out there had it not been for Jason Bay, who the organization didn't want to overburden with moving positions (considering he was already bogged down in trying to figure out what his problem is at the plate). That's fine. I get that' for then. But, today is a different story. Bay is a part-time player and Duda has no business in right.
In regards to actual September call-ups, I expect to also see Jenrry Mejia and Robert Carson return to the roster. And I hope to see Jeurys Familia as well, since most insiders I talk to think he could be a terrific closer rather quickly. It might also be smart to get 3B Zach Lutz some at bats at this level to see what he's all about'
Suggested links for Thursday August 16
In the New York Post, Mark Hale believes if the Mets do not give Terry Collins an extension between now and spring training, Collins will enter next season in the final year of his deal as a potential lame duck.
According to Andy McCullough of the Star Ledger, the Mets will use the rest of the season to audition newly acquired Kelly Shoppach.
Lastly, Adam Rosenbloom of Mets.com reviews last night's soccer match at Citi Field, which featured a 3-0 victory for Ecudor over Chile.
Rabu, 15 Agustus 2012
Alderson is unsure how much he will have to spend this off-season
According to Brian Costa of the Wall Street Journal, general manager Sandy Alderson said he is unsure how much money he'll have to invest in talent this winter.
'I haven't had any conversations with ownership about it,' Alderson said, according to Costa. 'I'm still focused on 2012, as is the rest of the front office. Over the next several weeks, that focus will shift, but it really hasn't yet.'
Meanwhile, Alderson told Costa he is much more confident in re-signing Wright than he was last year with Jose Reyes, saying:
'I don't think it has to do with leverage exclusively,' he said. 'I think it's because at least there's a period of time when it's not do or die. I think he would like to stay in New York, not to the exclusion of all other considerations. And I think there's a willingness on our part to accommodate that.'
In addition, Alderson told Costa he hasn't thought of extending Terry Collins nor would he speculate on the likelihood of reaching a deal with R.A. Dickey.
'That depends on what R.A. wants to do,' Alderson told Costa. 'I've told him personally I think he's part of our long-term solution and we'd like to have him here beyond next year.'
Matthew Cerrone, MetsBlog.com
I don't expect payroll to be more than $100 million next season, based on what I recall hearing back in March.
Basically, for the budget to be more than that, the team needed to drive deep in to September and sell a ton of tickets, which isn't going to happen. The thing is, even if they had, and even if the budget was more than that, I'm not sure they would be spending a ton of money on new acquisitions this winter anyway' mostly because the talent isn't available.
The Mets could be flush with cash, and I still wouldn't expect Alderson to spend $20 million on an average starting pitcher when he has Jon Niese, Zack Wheeler and Matt Harvey slated for his rotation and Johan Santana making $30 million next season.
I think the big moves this winter will be in locking up David Wright and RA Dickey on long-term contract extensions, which will end up costing at least $150 million.
Also, as Peter Gammons pointed out in an interview with WFAN yesterday, no other team in the National League is expected to spend a ton of money this winter either, especially with the Phillies bogged down in contracts like they are and given how much trouble the Marlins are now in.
The early buzz in the division indicates the Nationals will make a strong push to sign Michael Bourne, who is likely to draw interest from the other four teams in the division (as well as the Giants and others). In the end, though, I bet the Mets back off because they will see five years and $75 million as too much money for a guy who is 30 years old, strikes out so much and has a low OBP.
Terry's comments on Chris Young and the Mets offense
After the Mets loss to the Reds, Terry Collins talked to reporters and had the following to say about:
Chris Young, who threw 5.2 shutout innings:
'He had better stuff tonight. He had better command'He had a game plan and he executed it to perfection with guys on base'We've seen Chris enough to know if he's locating it he gets people out. I don't care how hard he throws.'
What he's seeing out of the offense in the last week or two:
'Obviously we're not swinging the bats very good. We talked all summer long that some place along the line we had to get David some help. Right now he's not swinging like he was in April. We've got to get some guys to step up and try to get some runs in.'
Selasa, 14 Agustus 2012
Tim Byrdak says surgery scheduled for his shoulder AND knee
Surgery schedueled for September 5 getting the capsule repaired and the right meniscus fixed. Holy painkillers Batman!'
Tim Byrdak (@Givemethelefty) August 13, 2012
Tim Byrdak was placed on the 15-day disabled list on August 3 with a sore left shoulder. An MRI later revealed he had a torn anterior capsule in his shoulder.
Byrdak had surgery to repair the meniscus in his left knee during Spring Training ' he missed approximately three weeks of camp but was ready for Opening Day.
Byrdak can become a free agent after this season.
Suggested links for Tuesday, August 14
The fact that a knuckleballer is in the NL Cy Young conversation is a testament to the amazing season R.A. Dickey has put together, Benjamin Hoffman writes in the New York Times.
In the Wall Street Journal, Jared Diamond wonders if the Mets should shut down Johan Santana.
Mike Baxter has gone through his share of frustrations this season, but through it all, he's remained patient, according to Ethan Asofsky of MLB.com.
Ike Davis told Roderick Boone of Newsday he is starting to feel more comfortable at the plate saying, 'I wouldn't say that I'm steaming hot right now. But I definitely feel more comfortable.'
According to Andy Martino of the Daily News, there is little reason not to summon C.J. Nitkowski, who has not allowed an earned run in 8.2 innings between Double-A and Triple-A.
Mike Kerwick of the Bergan Record asks the questions, Is Santana hurt? What are the Mets doing with Jason Bay? And, Are David Wright and R.A. Dickey pricing their way out of town?
Senin, 13 Agustus 2012
Game 115: Braves vs. Mets at 8:05 PM
Tonight at Citi Field, the Mets (54-60) will look to salvage the final game of their three-game series (66-47) at 8:05 pm.
Tonight's game can be seen on ESPN.
Final Score: Mets 6 Braves 5
The Mets (55-60) defeated the Braves (66-48) by the score of 6 to 5 in Citi Field tonight.
David Wright and Ike Davis each knocked in a run in the first inning, after which Jon Niese let up just one run and six hits in eight innings of work.
Josh Edgin loaded the bases to start the ninth inning, after which Frank Francisco entered with two outs. However, Francisco walked in two runs, then gave up an RBI double before being removed from the game. Jon Rauch then struck out Jason Heyward to end the game.
Davis later drove in another run, as did Ruben Tejada, Andres Torres and Jordany Valdespin, who pulled a line-drive home run to right field in the sixth inning.
For a full recap and box score, check out SNY's In-Game Live.
Matthew Cerrone, MetsBlog.com
Only the Mets can make me feel frustrated, despite winning the game' Thankfully, Rauch stopped the bleeding, mixing pitches well to Heyward to get the final strike out. Of course, the pitch was dropped and the throw to first nearly went wild, but it didn't and a win is a win.Speaking of mixing pitches, Niese did a really nice job tonight keeping the Braves off balance, moving his pitches around the zone, but for strikes, and using his cutter and curve ball to compliment one another, and getting a double play when he needed it (in the first inning). He was in command of his pitches all night, he dictated the game and it was great to see.
Wright has been in a funk these last few weeks, but in his first at-bat tonight he looked like vintage Wright, pushing a ball to right field (after being down in the count) to drive in the game's first run.
Nice job by Murphy, by the way, who made a nice back-handed play behind second base to scoop a ground ball and throw out the leadoff runner in the third inning.
Also, hat's off to Valdespin, who now has eight home runs this season, and who should continue to play every day so we can all get a better idea of what he's about.
To hear from Terry Collins, Jon Niese, and Frank Francisco about tonight's win, watch this:
The Mets are off Monday. They begin a three game series against the Reds in Cincinnati on Tuesday, when Chris Young (3-6, 4.87 ERA) takes on Mat Latos (10-3, 3.81 ERA) at 7:10 pm ET.
Minggu, 12 Agustus 2012
Terry Collins on Johan Santana's outing on Saturday
'I'd say it was rust. That's probably the best fastball I've seen him have since early in the season. Just balls in the middle of the plate. And, as I told him when I took him out, no disrespect to the Braves. They've got a very, very good club. But when they hit it, they hit it where nobody was standing. He didn't have a ball hit at anybody.'
Suggested Mets reading for Sunday, August 12
Anthony McCarron of the Daily News believes the Mets should consider shutting down Johan Santana for the season.
Jeff Bradley of the Star Ledger says Mike Baxter was happy to give up his body to preserve Johan Santana's no-hitter on June 1.
Chris Young is an avid participant in Amazin' Calls, a program connects Mets players personally with the community, according to Adam Ronis of Newsday.
Sabtu, 11 Agustus 2012
Lucas Duda could return to the Mets this month
Lucas Duda could return to the Mets before rosters expand on September 1, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post.
According to Puma, Duda did not take his demotion to Triple-A particularly well, as he felt he deserved the same flexibility Ike Davis has received through his struggles this season.
'He's finally done sulking,' a club source told Puma.
Duda has hit .239 with two home runs and six RBI in 46 at-bats with Triple-A Buffalo. He has played both in the outfield and at first base since his demotion.
Duda was demoted on July 24 after enduring a 6-for-43 stretch with the Mets. He was hitting .241 with 12 home runs and 44 RBI in 307 at-bats over 89 games this season.
Suggested Mets reading for Saturday, August 11
Tim Bontemps of the New York Post recently visited with Wilmer Flores in Binghamton and writes 'it's hard to believe he's in his fifth professional season.'
Anthony McCarron of the Daily News says Tim Byrdak doesn't regret his heavy workload with the Mets.
Hunter Atkins of the New York Times explores the relationship between Matt Harvey and his father.
Brian Costa of the Wall Street Journal says the Mets are 'eager to see which Santana shows up' today.
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com
In regards to Santana, I am curious to see if this hiatus has helped him as well. Santana has said the no-hitter had nothing to do with his struggles lately, but the numbers most definitely don't lie ' he has a 6.54 ERA and he had been getting smoked since he threw his no-hitter. The thing is, what he was doing before until the no-hitter was so unexpected considering he was still rebuilding from major shoulder surgery. The wall he hit wasn't necessarily unexpected ' I just don't think it was expected he would hit that wall as hard as he did, and the team's success seemingly followed suit. If Santana does come out strong, refreshed and looking like the Santana through June 1, I wonder how the Mets will go about affording him rest not just for the remainder of this season, but next year as well. No matter what, the Mets need to find better starting pitching depth behind the starting five so to better support fatigue and injury to not just Santana, but to everyone else too.Jumat, 10 Agustus 2012
Mets end long losing streak at home
The Mets snapped a nine-game home losing streak with today's 6-1 win. Today is the club's first win at home since beating the Cubs, on July 7. It was the team's longest losing streak at home since losing nine straight at home from August 28-September 12, 2004.
The nine-game home losing streak tied for the sixth-longest in team history and was the longest by a National League team this season.
Kamis, 09 Agustus 2012
Metsblog
Terry Collins said he never would have pitched Tim Byrdak as much as he did had Byrdak not repeatedly said he was feeling well, according to SNY's Matt Dunn. Byrdak was placed on the disabled list last Friday with soreness in his left shoulder and was diagnosed with a torn anterior capsule in his throwing shoulder yesterday.
Collins said being a lefty reliever is an 'occupational hazard,' in that they are asked to go out every day and pitch. However, Byrdak has told Collins in the past that the more he pitches the better he feels.
Collins also said Byrdak's injury is likely from years of wear and tear. And, even though there are some guys who have the capability of pitching in 80 or 90 games a year, eventually an injury might transpire.
Matthew Cerrone, MetsBlog.com
I was in the media room when Collins first mentioned this yesterday, and I wondered how the people upstairs felt about his comments ' since he more or less made it sound like it was the team's doing that ' by pitching Byrdak as often as they did he now has this injury. Why? Imagine if he has surgery and it goes bad, or there is some issue with the MLBPA, etc. Oh well, because the player's manager is now on record for admitting it was the team's fault. It's a small thing, and probably something that doesn't matter, but it crossed my mind when Terry said it.Byrdak leads the league with 56 relief appearances and is 2-2 with a 4.40 ERA in 30 2/3 innings, having allowed 18 hits, 18 walks, 15 earned runs with 34 strikeouts but faced 125 batters over that span.
Byrdak, 38, signed a one-year, $1 million contract last September for the 2012 season. He can be a free agent this winter.
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