Month: August 2009

Contest: Shea Stadium DVD

essential games of sheaI thought that all Mets fans could use some positive feelings about the team this week. You sure aren’t going that by watching the 2009 version of the team. To make you feel a little better about this franchise, I’m giving away a copy of the six DVD set The New York Mets Essential Games of Shea Stadium. It’s a $53.99 value at Amazon.

You’ll see the emotional first sporting event in New York after 9/11 against the Braves on Sept. 21, 2001, the Lenny Dykstra walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth against the Astros in the 1986 NLCS, and more. In all, there are six great Mets games that’ll make you feel good about this team. Even if it’s just until you watch the next live game.

The contest is for the best comment of the week (ending Wednesday Aug. 12, 2009). That’s when the current road trip wraps up in Arizona. The rules are:

  • You are NOT eligible to win if you’ve already won a prize from Metsreport.com since Jan. 1, 2009
  • Your shipping address must be in the continental United States
  • Your comment must appear on Metsreport.com, not any other website (like Facebook or Twitter)
  • I’ll judge the entries and determine one winner of the contest
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Mets In The News Aug. 9, 2009

Billy Beane's Parking Spot
Image by pursuethepassion via Flickr

The Mets are playing to avoid a sweep in San Diego this afternoon and the piling on continues. Kevin Kernan of the New York Post writes that the team should fire GM Omar Minaya and hire Billy Beane. Beane was the Mets first round draft choice in the 1980 draft and played 13 games in the outfield for the Mets in 1984-1985. I find it extremely difficult to believe that the Wilpons would fire Minaya and keep him on the payroll for three more years. He just signed an extension before this season. I don’t see it happening for financial reasons more than anything.

The New York Post Mets Blog notes that Billy Wagner threw another scoreless inning during a rehab game in Florida yesterday. The target date for him to come back to the Mets is Aug. 21. Wagner is scheduled to pitch back to back games for the first time on Monday and Tuesday. I have a hard time seeing Wagner pitching anything but the ninth inning. The Mets don’t want him back. They’ve already told him that they’re not picking up his contract option for 2010. Let him pitch a game or two in the bigs and then see if he has any trade value before the Aug. 31 waiver deadline.

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Pre-Game: Mets at Padres Aug. 9, 2009

PadresNewLogoNew York Mets (51-59 Road: 29-28) at San Diego Padres (47-65 Home: 30-29) 4:05pm

Johan Santana (12-8 3.10) vs. Tim Stauffer (1-3 3.12)

TV: WPIX

What to watch: The Mets are trying to avoid the dreaded four game sweep to a last place team today. They’ll rely again on Santana to get a win when nobody else seems to be able to. He gave up 5 runs over 8 innings in his last start, a no decision. Stauffer has made five starts over the last month for the Padres and hasn’t allowed more than 3 runs in any of them.

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

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Padres 3 – Mets 1 Aug. 8, 2009

Bobby Parnell
Image by Keith Allison via Flickr

The big news in this game was that Bobby Parnell was making his first big league start. It turned out to be a pretty rotten one. He only went 2.1 innings 2 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks. It took him 68 pitches to get into the third inning. He’ll get stretched out in future starts but this first one wasn’t pretty.

The Mets non-existent offense only managed 1 run on a solo homer by Alex Cora in the first inning. They only put together 5 hits and 3 walks as a team. Unbelievably bad.

Luis Castillo did make a pinch hitting appearance but Gary Sheffield didn’t play again.

The Mets drop their third straight game to a pitiful Padres team and try to avoid the sweep tomorrow afternoon.

Box score

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Pre-Game: Mets at Padres Aug. 8, 2009

PadresNewLogoNew York Mets (51-58 Road: 29-27) at San Diego Padres (46-65 Home: 29-29) 10:05pm

Bobby Parnell (2-3 3.74) vs. Mat Latos (3-1 2.66)

TV: SNY

What to watch: The Mets try to pick themselves up from the floor after last night’s devastating loss. They need to win both remaining games in San Diego just to split the series. Parnell makes his first Major League start after being rushed into the rotation after Mike Pelfrey left the team for the birth of his first child. Latos has made four starts for the Padres and hasn’t allowed more than 2 runs in any of them. Don’t expect this game to be an easy one.

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

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Audio: Manuel, Perez, K-Rod Aug. 7, 2009

Here’s the post-game audio from last night’s devastating loss. It’s ironic that Oliver Perez had such a terrific start and the Mets end up losing one of their more stunning losses of the season. And that saying something for this team.

Jerry Manuel:

Oliver Perez:

Francisco Rodriguez:

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Padres 6 – Mets 2 Aug. 7, 2009

NEW YORK - MAY 13: Oliver Perez #46 of the Ne...
Image by Getty Images via Daylife

The Mets found another stunning way to lose which they specialize in doing, especially in San Diego. Tonight they got an astoundingly good start from Oliver Perez. He cruised through the first 6 innings only allowing 1 hit and no walks. But he started to lose it in the seventh giving up a hit and two walks to score a run. Overall, it looked like a real breakthrough start for Perez. He was using a new pause during his windup that seemed to really help him.

The Mets didn’t do much on offense again, only getting 7 hits and 3 walks. They scored both runs in the first inning. Then nothing for the rest of the game. For the second straight game they only had one extra base hit in the game, a double by David Wright. Very poor hitting against a sub-par Padres team.

The ninth inning is when things got crazy. Francisco Rodriguez blew his second straight save opportunity. As a matter of fact, he didn’t even get an out in the ninth. The Padres scored the tying run on a bad call at the plate. But that wasn’t the real issue. K-Rod loaded the bases on 2 hits and 3 walks (1 intentional), then gave up a grand slam to light-hitting shortstop Everth Cabrera of all people. And that was the game.

Another stunning loss for this team.

Box score

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