Month: July 2009
Braves 11 – Mets 0 July 17, 2009
The Mets suffered a brutal and embarrassing defeat in Atlanta tonight. Watching this game it felt as if the season was disappearing before my eyes. Mike Pelfrey was absolutely putrid tonight giving up 9 runs in 4.1 innings. Once Pelfrey gave up 3 runs in the first inning, the game was all but over. The Mets don’t have the offense to overcome an early deficit like that.
Speaking of the Mets offense, they managed 2 hits and 3 walks in the entire game. Gary Sheffield left the game in the bottom of the fifth inning after chasing down a fly ball. He appeared to have a hamstring problem. But it was later diagnosed as just a cramp.
The Mets get beaten down in their first two games out of the All-Star break. The second half of the season is getting ugly.
Game Preview: Mets at Braves [Game 89] July 17, 2009
New York Mets (42-46 Road: 17-26) at Atlanta Braves (44-45 Home: 22-21) 7:35 pm
Mike Pelfrey (7-4 4.47) vs. Jair Jurrjens (7-7 2.91)
TV: WPIX Radio: WFAN
What to watch: Pelfrey’s last start against the Reds was very good going 7 innings and giving up 3 runs. But he’s been up and down going 2-2 in his last four starts. Jurrjens is a tough luck 2-2 in his last four starts as well. But he only gave up 9 runs over 27 innings in those games. The Braves will retire Greg Maddux‘ number 31 prior to the game. At least the Braves show some respect to their great former players. I hope the Mets front office is watching the ceremony. They could learn something about how to run a top-flight franchise.
Don’t forget to visit The Mets Report Live Game Chat during the game to chat with other Mets fans!
Mets July 2009 Injuries: F-Mart, Beltran, Reyes, Delgado, Maine
The list of Mets injuries is still pretty long and includes some of the players that are key to the team having a successful season. Omar Minaya had a review of player statuses with reporters yesterday prior to the Mets return from the All-Star break in Atlanta.
Fernando Martinez: Out 6-8 weeks. He had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.
Carlos Beltran: He had another MRI during the All-Star break. He still has a significant bone bruise in his right knee. Team medical staff still hasn’t cleared him to begin jogging.
Jose Reyes: He’s running lightly and hitting. Reyes could be back by the end of July
John Maine: He threw live batting practice yesterday. The plan is to get him into rehab games within the next 10 days and back with the Mets by the end of July.
Carlos Delgado: He’s been hitting lightly. The plan is still for him to return in August.
The injury situation is so bad that I see it hampering the Mets motivation to make a big trade this month. There’s so much uncertainty about how these critical players will perform during this season that it doesn’t make sense to unload big prospects to make a run this season.
Braves 5 – Mets 3 July 16, 2009
This game felt like Mets-Braves games of years recently past. Oliver Perez had a pretty good start, keeping the Mets in the game. He went 6 innings giving up 3 runs and left with the game in a tie. The bullpen came in a let the game go. Then the Mets couldn’t put up any offense after the fourth inning. And of course, Chipper Jones was the one to hit the tie-breaking RBI single in the seventh inning.
Bobby Parnell was terrible again giving up 2 hits to the two batters he faced. Pedro Feliciano and Pat Misch threw some gas on the fire as well.
The Mets only had 6 hits and 3 walks in the game. As usual, they only had 1 hit after the sixth inning.
The Mets drop the first game of the four game series in Atlanta.
Video: Highlights Mets-Braves July 16, 2009
Game Preview: Mets at Braves [Game 88] July 16, 2009
New York Mets (42-45 Road: 17-25) at Atlanta Braves (43-45 Home: 21-21) 7:10 pm
Oliver Perez (2-2 8.78) vs. Derek Lowe (8-7 4.39)
What to watch: The Braves come out of the All-Star break after going 4-3 in their last two series’ against the Cubs and Rockies. Lowe hasn’t been pitching that well, going 1-4 in his last five decisions. Perez had a decent comeback game from “injury” against the Dodgers pitching 5 innings and giving up 2 runs. Perez is 6-4 with a 3.46 ERA in 14 career starts against Atlanta. It’ll be interesting to see how Jeff Francoeur and Ryan Church perform against their former teams in this series. I have the feeling that both will want to put on a show.
Don’t forget to visit The Mets Report Live Game Chat during the game to chat with other Mets fans!
The Mets Report 