Month: June 2011

Preview: Mets at Brewers June 9, 2011

New York Mets (29-32) at Milwaukee Brewers (35-27) 8:10pm

Jon Niese (4-5 3.75) vs. Yonani Gallardo (8-2 3.72)

TV: ESPN              Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Mets and Brewers play the rubber game of the series tonight before a four game series starts tomorrow in Pittsburgh. The Mets should have closed out that win last night because they’re going against one of the better pitchers in the league tonight in Gallardo. He’s won the last six straight games that he started. And he hasn’t allowed more than 2 runs in any game during that span. In his career against the Mets (4 games), he’s 1-1 with a 2.84 ERA.

The Mets have a shot with Niese though. He’s pitched extremely well in his last four starts. He’s 2-1 and hasn’t allowed more than 2 runs in a game during those four starts. Maybe Jason Bay could help him out tonight by remembering how to hit.

Brewers 7 – Mets 6 June 8, 2011

DENVER, CO - MAY 10: Starting pitcher Mike Pe...
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The Mets took a tough loss in the bottom of the ninth in this one. What’s worse, is that it was a well pitched game by Mike Pelfrey and Randy Wolf through the first 6 innings. The Mets were down 2-1 after the sixth on a Prince Fielder home run. The Mets scored 5 runs in the seventh off Kameron Lowe on a rally that Jose Reyes (who else?) started.

The Mets bullpen couldn’t hold the lead with Pedro Beato, Jason Isringhausen, and Dale Thayer gave up 5 runs in the final two innings to blow the lead and lose the game.

The Mets offense was solid and the seventh inning explosion was teed up by Reyes but Ronny Paulino hit a 3-run homer. He was 4 for 4 on the night with 3 RBI’s. Big night for Paulino.

The Mets and Brewers will play the rubber game of the series tomorrow night.

Box score

Preview: Mets at Brewers June 8, 2011

New York Mets (29-31) at Milwaukee Brewers (34-27) 8:10pm

Mike Pelfrey (3-4 5.56) vs. Randy Wolf (4-4 3.69)

TV: ESPN              Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Mets can take the series in Milwaukee tonight with a win behind Pelfrey. Although his last start against the Pirates was hideous, giving up 7 runs in 5 innings of a no-decision. The Mets have lost three of the last four games that he started. He’ll need to do better than that tonight to get a win.

Wolf didn’t pitch that well in his last start in Florida either. It was a no-decision for him too when he went 5 innings and gave up 4 runs. But the Brewers have won the last three straight games that Wolf started. In his career against the Mets, he’s 12-5 with a 3.27 ERA.

Mets 2 – Brewers 1 June 7, 2011

DENVER, CO - MAY 12: Jose Reyes #7 of the New...
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Chris Capuano was victorious in his return to Milwaukee tonight. He did a great job again and, this time, got just enough run support to get a win. He went 6 innings allowing only a Prince Fielder solo shot to center field. The bullpen cleaned up with three perfect innings. Pedro Beato, Jason Isringhausen, and K-Rod didn’t allow a batter to reach base after taking over for Capuano. It was exactly how the Mets would have drawn it up.

The Mets didn’t do a lot on offense. They only had 5 hits and 5 walks in the game. But Jose Reyes came through with a 2-run triple in the seventh inning. He may have scored on an infield play but got thrown out at the plate and didn’t slide.

It’s a good start to the three game series in Milwaukee against a hot Brewers team.

Box score

Preview: Mets at Brewers June 7, 2011

New York Mets (28-31) at Milwaukee Brewers (34-26) 8:10pm

Chris Capuano (3-6 5.19) vs. Shaun Marcum (6-2 2.78)

TV: ESPN              Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Brewers are coming off a 4-game sweep of the Marlins in Florida. They’re playing really well this year and are only 1.5 games behind the Cardinals in the NL Central. And Marcum is pitching really well too. He’s 6-1 in his last seven decisions. His last start was a no-decision loss in Cincinnati when he went 7 IP and allowed 2 runs on 5 hits.

Capuano returns to Milwaukee where he spent the last five years pitching for the Brewers. He has lost his last two decisions and has pitched better than his record. The bullpen hasn’t helped him and when he has pitched well, he hasn’t gotten run support. His record and ERA are atrocious but he hasn’t gotten a lot of help.

New York Mets 2011 Draft Coverage

NEW YORK - OCTOBER 29: Sandy Alderson answers...
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The MLB draft in taking place today through Wednesday. It’s a big draft for the Mets, who have the 13th pick in the first round, for a variety of reasons. It’s the first draft for Paul DePodesta with the Mets. He’s Sandy Alderson’s protoge and amateur and minor league expert.

The Mets also appear headed toward a rebuilding process so building through the draft is going to be critical. There are several big contracts like K-Rod, Carlos Beltran, and Jose Reyes that the Mets are poised to trade away this season. Combined with the Mets financial problems, building through the draft and farm system would be the likely emphasis for the organization.

I’m certainly not an amateur player expert so I wanted to put together some links this morning that would allow you to keep up with the best draft coverage over the next three days.

Here are the links:

MLB.com official draft page

Jonathan Mayo – MLB amateur player expert

Baseball America draft page

MLB.com Top 50 Prospects

Mets Minor League Blog

New York Future Stars

Baseball Prospectus

Minor League Ball

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Mets 6 – Braves 4 June 5, 2011

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 08: Starting pitcher R.A...
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R.A. Dickey had another tremendous game going 8 innings allowing 1 run. Even on a bad foot he was dealing. He only allowed 4 hits and 1 walk. The bullpen tried to give it back in the ninth but the Mets held on for the win and take the series from the Braves.

Manny Acosta gave up a walk and a double in the ninth. Terry Collins brought in K-Rod because he’d seen enough of Acosta in his first game back from Buffalo. K-Rod gave up a 3-run homer to the first batter he faced to make the score 6-4. But he struck out Chipper Jones to hold on for the win and get another game finished toward his vesting option.

The Mets offense was solid with 10 hits and 5 walks in the game. It was more of Jose Reyes tonight going 2 for 4 with 2 runs and an RBI. He raised his season average to .337 and continues to be on fire.

Carlos Beltran left the game after fouling a ball off his right leg.

Box score