June 2009 – Page 2 – The Mets Report

Yankees 4 – Mets 2 June 28, 2009

A lot happened during the coarse of this game that could get your blood boiling as a Mets fan. The Yankees completed the sweep of the Mets at Citi Field. But honestly, the game was over in the first inning. The Yankees were putting up runs on Livan Hernandez before he even got an out. As usual, Hernandez’ total effort wasn’t bad as he gave up only 3 runs in 7 innings. But those runs were enough to lose the game.

Probably the worst moment of the game was in the ninth inning. Francisco Rodriguez was pitching in a non-save situation for some reason. I still can’t figure out why. He walks the bases after a questionable decision to pitch to Derek Jeter with a base open and Mariano Rivera on deck going for a four out save. After running a 2-1 count on Jeter, Jerry Manuel realizes that he should walk Jeter and go after Rivera for the third out. Of course, Rodriguez walks Rivera to plate a run! It was an embarrassing, ugly moment as a Mets fan.

As usual, there isn’t much Mets offense to talk about. They were 2 for 10 as a team with runners in scoring position. With this lineup they’re running out there now, they need to do a lot better than 2 for 10 with RISP. The only player of note was Gary Sheffield going 2 for 3 and raising his season average to .280.

And by the way, Rivera got the 500th save of his career.

6.28.09

Mark DeRosa To Cardinals Limits Mets Trade Options

For the last two months, since Carlos Delgado went on the disabled list, I felt that Mark DeRosa was the best fit from a trade perspective for the Mets. That possibility was gone yesterday with the announcement that the Indians traded DeRosa to the Cardinals for Chris Perez and a player to be named later. Perez is a 23 year-old reliever with a very good fastball. That’s a better package than the Mets could have offered the Indians.

DeRosa can play any infield position and the outfield corners. He’s a right-handed hitter with power that would’ve been perfect for the Mets current needs. I don’t like Aubrey Huff or Adam Dunn for the Mets this season. Dunn has too much money coming over the next year and a half. And I never liked his “walk-strikeout-home run” game.

The more limiting possibilities are Matt Holliday and Maglio Ordonez. Holliday doesn’t have the versatility to play first base until Delgado gets back from the DL. And Ordonez is having a terrible season and has a huge contract with the possibility of vesting options guaranteeing future years based on plate appearances.

My guess is that the Mets try to acquire someone like a Ty Wigginton type of player. I don’t think they’ll make a splash by acquiring a big name. There’s too much risk this season with the Mets players that are currently injured. If Delgado, J.J. Putz, Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes, Oliver Perez, and John Maine can’t come back to the team healthy and make significant contributions, the season is over for the Mets anyway. Making a major investment in a trade for a big name would be completely useless. Holliday couldn’t carry this current Mets team to the playoffs… And that’s the bottom line.

Omar Minaya should wait for as long as possible to pull the trigger on any trades until right before the non-waiver deadline on July 31. That’ll give him time to evaluate the health situation of so many key players on this team. No matter what happens with the currently injured players, I don’t expect the Mets to become sellers at the deadline. But I think they would stand pat and ride out the season if they aren’t going to get some of their premier players back this season.

Game Preview: Yankees at Mets [Game 74] June 28, 2009

Yankees Logo New York Yankees (42-32 Road: 21-18) at New York Mets (37-36 Home: 22-16) 8:05 pm

Chien-Ming Wang (0-6 11.20) vs. Livan Hernandez (5-2 4.05)

TV: ESPN Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Mets try to avoid the home sweep tonight on national TV. Wang has been awful this season with the Yankees losing eight of the ten games that he started. Hernandez has been much better than expected, but I keep waiting for him to return to the form that got him released last season by Minnesota.

Don’t forget to visit The Mets Report Live Game Chat during the game to chat with other Mets fans!

Video: Highlights Mets-Yankees June 27, 2009

Yankees 5 – Mets 0 June 27, 2009

The Mets got shutout for the second time this week. As bad as that is, you can’t take anything away from A.J. Burnett. He was excellent tonight combining with two relievers on a 1-hit shutout.

Tim Redding was doing pretty well too until the sixth inning. He completely lost it giving up four straight hits on four pitches. The killer was a 3-run homer by Jorge Posada.

There’s no offense to speak of with this Mets team right now. Thank goodness that Alex Cora got a hit to keep the Yankees from no-hitting the Mets at Citi Field. We’d never hear the end of it from the Yankees fans.

6.27.09

Game Preview: Yankees at Mets [Game 73] June 27, 2009

Yankees Logo New York Yankees (40-32 Road: 19-18) at New York Mets (37-34 Home: 22-14) 7:10 pm

A.J. Burnett (5-4 4.24) vs. Tim Redding (1-2 6.08)

TV: YES, WPIX Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Yankees have lost two of the last three games that Burnett started. Redding is pitching to keep his spot in the rotation with Oliver Perez and John Maine rehabbing from injuries.