Month: March 2008

Video: Braves GM Frank Wren on Fox Sports

I wish this video was a little longer because I can’t figure out what this guys strategy is for this season. I think that he’s trying to rebuild without sacrificing the season entirely. John Smoltz and Tom Glavine will still put some fannies in the seats and most of team isn’t ready for championship level baseball. He should just torch the major league club like the Marlins do. They have two World Series wins since 1997 to show for it.
Braves GM ready for '08
Braves GM ready for '08

Phillies News: Brad Lidge on 15 Day DL

ESPN reports that Brad Lidge will start the season on the disabled list. Last month he had arthroscopic surgery on his knee. The Mets won’t see Lidge in their home opening series at Shea April 8-10. The news is disappointing to Mets fans. We can’t wait to see him implode and lose a game for the Phils. Read the full article here.

The Mets Won’t Show Braves/Marlins Starters

Willie Randolph announced today that he won’t start Johan Santana and Pedro Martinez in their final scheduled spring training games. Instead they’ll start in minor league spring games. Randolph also said that John Maine probably won’t start the final spring game, the Civil Rights Game in Memphis either.
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This strategy is less about caring for the pitchers than it is hiding them from the Marlins and Braves. Three of the last five games are against these two teams. The first two series of the regular season are in Miami and Atlanta before coming home for the last opening day at Shea against the Phillies on April 8th.
The “hiding starters” strategy is standard operating procedure for the Mets. Frankly, I agree with it. I’m sure that Major League Baseball isn’t happy about it because they’re trying to make money at these last few games with marquis names. There’s no sense in showing starters to the division rivals before opening the season. Good job Willie.

John Maine in Mid-Season Form Again

The Mets beat the Orioles 1-0 today and John Maine was fantastic again. His spring ERA is down to 1.85. He went six innings giving up only one hit with six strikeouts. Luis Castillo was 2-3 with an RBI and Ryan Church was 1-3 and showed off his wheels by stealing second. He only had 3 SB’s last season and 2 CS. That just goes to show that Willie Randolph will run with anyone, which I like. I know the “moneyball” theory places little value on stolen bases but I disagree.

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St. Louis Cardinals 14- New York Mets 4

Orlando Hernandez was pretty bad today. You could chalk it up to being his first real start of the spring, but I think that he may be finished as far as being an effective major league pitcher.
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Today El Duque went only three innings giving up five earned runs, two walks, with one strikeout. Only 55% of his 69 pitches were strikes. He also hit a batter and was frequently behind in the count.

It’s a good thing that the Mets don’t need a fifth starter for the first couple weeks of the season. After today’s disaster Mike Pelfrey would be the logical choice but he looked even worse today giving up eight earned runs in 4.1 innings including 13 hits to bring his spring ERA to 8.31.

Someone call David Wells’ agent… we need a fifth starter ready to go in three weeks.