Month: June 2009
Rays 3 – Mets 1 June 20, 2009
After struggling (relatively) for the last month, Johan Santana came back with another excellent start. He went 7.1 innings giving up 2 runs on 98 pitches. But the game was stopped because of rain in the eighth and that was it for Santana with the Mets losing 2-1. Now that Santana is pitching well, the Mets aren’t scoring behind him again. The guy can’t win…
The Mets went very quietly today only getting 4 hits in the game. There was no offense whatsoever. The only run came on an RBI double to right by Omir Santos in the second inning. That’s it.
The Rays even up the series and they play the rubber game tomorrow afternoon.
Game Preview: Rays at Mets [Game 66] June 20, 2009
Tampa Bay Rays (35-34 Road: 14-22) at New York Mets (34-31 Home: 19-11) 4:10 pm
James Shields (5-5 3.52) vs. Johan Santana (8-4 3.29)
TV: FOX Radio: WFAN
What to watch: Fox Sports gets a good pitching match-up for this nationally televised game. Hopefully, the rain will hold out for long enough to get the game in. Shields has lost his last three road starts and is pitching to a 4.15 ERA on the road. Shields, like Santana, is a changeup pitcher and told the Tampa Tribune this week that he’s been looking forward to going up against Santana. The Mets are trying to get Santana back on track today. He’s been on a rough stretch for about a month now.
Don’t forget to visit The Mets Report Live Game Chat during the game to chat with other Mets fans!
Video: Highlights Mets-Rays June 19, 2009
Mets 5 – Rays 3 June 19, 2009
Well, I guess Fernando Nieve is proving us wrong. I thought after his debut first start against the Yankees that he was due for a beating by the Rays. But he was excellent again. Nieve went 6 innings giving up only one run. He’s going to give Tim Redding a run for a spot in the rotation when John Maine and Oliver Perez come back.
Bobby Parnell was roughed up again tonight. He’s still got good velocity but he isn’t fooling anyone. He’s given up 4 runs in 5 innings during the month of June. Compare that to 3 earned runs given up in 11 innings during May. Pitching coach Dan Warthen needs to put in some overtime with Parnell.
Another suprise on offense was Brian Schneider hitting a real bomb for a 3-run homer to right-center field. I never would have expected him to hit one to the deepest part of the park. David Wright had a nice RBI double but he struck out three more times tonight too. That’s 68 K’s for the season now. And Daniel Murphy had another 3 for 4 night to raise his average to .256. So he’s climbing out of the offensive cave that he’s been in. I still don’t think he has enough offense to be a major league first baseman though.
Francisco Rodriguez bounced back nicely from his first (legitimate) blown save last night, when he didn’t appear to have anything. He got a 1-2-3 ninth for the win. It’s good to see a quick recovery from him.
Game Preview: Rays at Mets [Game 65] June 19, 2009
Tampa Bay Rays (35-33 Road: 14-21) at New York Mets (33-31 Home: 18-11) 7:10 pm
Andy Sonnanstine (5-6 6.65) vs. Fernando Nieve (1-0 2.08)
TV: SNY Radio: WFAN
What to watch: The AL champs come to town after losing 2 of 3 to the Rockies in Colorado. And Sonnanstine has been very inconsistent this season as you can see by his 6.65 ERA. The Mets have been stumbling badly, losing 4 of their last 5 series. Nieve had an unbelievable game in his first start as a Met against the Yankees. Let’s hope that he can keep it up because it looks like John Maine will be on the DL for a while.
Don’t forget to visit The Mets Report Live Game Chat during the game to chat with other Mets fans!
Mets Injury Updates: Maine, Perez, Pagan, Wagner
The Mets media got an update on some of the players that the Mets have on the disabled list right now. Jose Reyes, J.J. Putz, and Carlos Delgado are still in New York. They’re not rehabbing in Florida yet, so we don’t have any updates on them.
Oliver Perez threw three shutout innings in an extended spring training game in Port St. Lucie yesterday. He got through three innings with 48 pitches and his fastball was clocked in the low 90’s. He’s nearly pain-free and is pitching every five days now.
John Maine threw 60 pitches in a simulated game in Florida yesterday as well. He was rusty and felt a “pinch” in his right shoulder that’s been diagnosed as a pinched nerve. Maine won’t come off the disabled list next week when he’s eligible, so we have to get used to Fernando Nieve for a while.
Angel Pagan is rehabbing a right groin strain and should be back with the Mets in 10-12 days.
Billy Wagner is throwing three bullpen sessions per week. And he should start facing hitters in about two weeks.
If the Mets can get Reyes, Maine, and Perez back within a reasonable period of time they should be fine this season. If these key injuries drag on, I think that the Mets will have trouble contending for a playoff position. You can’t lose 2/5 of your starting rotation and expect to have a solid season. I just don’t see that happening.
The Mets Report 