Author: Dave Doyle

Frequently disappointed Mets fan

Padres Complete Sweep of Mets With 8-6 Win

Tony Clark’s pinch hit, three run homer off Billy Wagner in the bottom of the eighth inning capped a sweep for the Padres. With two men on, Willie Randolph brought in closer Wagner for a four out save. That also turned switch hitter Tony Clark to his right side, much weaker hitting than his left. But Tony Clark came through with a bomb to center field that won the game.

Pedro Martinez had a bad start today going five innings and allowing four runs. He gave up ten hits during the start and looks like an old pitcher whose career is running on fumes.

Surprisingly, Carlos Delgado had his second straight three hit game including a triple. He hadn’t hit a triple since 2006. But his effort was wasted again as the Mets continue to find new ways to lose.

Ramon Castro was scheduled to start at catcher but overslept and showed up an hour before the game at the stadium. Randolph benched and fined him. Raul Casanova started in his place.

Box score

Video Highlights

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Mets Losing Sight Of Phillies

PHILADELPHIA - MARCH 31: Chase Utley #26 of the Philadelphia Phillies gets congratulated by teammate Ryan Howard #6 after Utley hit a walk off home-run in the bottom of the sixth inning during the game against the Washington Nationals on Opening Day at Citizens Bank Park March 31, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Nationals won 11-6.

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

The Philadelphia Phillies are starting to pull away from the pack in the National League East. They’re now 6.5 games ahead of the fourth place Mets. Actually, the Mets record is closer to the last place Washington Nationals than it is the first place Phillies.

Despite the Mets early season problems, I’ve been telling myself “It’s still early in the season” and “We’re still within striking distance of first place”. But neither of those statements is true anymore. It’s not early in the season anymore, and we’re not within striking distance of first place.

The Phillies are 8-2 in their last ten games and the Mets are 5-5, a microcosm of their season. Just wading along waiting for some player to catch fire but it doesn’t happen. The Mets have scored 54 fewer runs than the Phillies this season, and the Mets dismal 13-20 road record is the mark of a team going nowhere.

Two weeks ago the Wilpons met with Willie Randolph and Omar Minaya to discuss the state of the team. There was a brief surge and blast of energy by the team, mostly by bench players including Fernando Tatis and Endy Chavez.

But the bench players have been exposed as who they are. Good bench players that are better off seen in small doses. The Mets regulars just can’t get anything going on a consistent basis offensively.

Without changes made, this team will continue to scuffle along at or near .500. It’s time for Minaya to make a move, whether it be letting hitting coach Howard Johnson go or bring in an offensive player like a Kevin Millar. Or maybe it’s time to get more drastic and let Randolph go… Before the season is completely lost.

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Mets News Today- June 8- Church, Santana, Alou, And Casanova

Several Mets players are in the news today as they finish the fourth game of their series against the San Diego Padres.

  • Ryan Church seems to be having an adverse reaction to his concussion suffered two and a half weeks ago. He’s not going to play again today and will be examined by a neurologist when the Mets return to New York tomorrow. This will be the second time since the injury that he’s been examined by a neurologist.
  • Moises Alou is scheduled to come off the disabled list on Tuesday against the D-Backs. He’s been unavailable for almost three weeks since straining his calf in Atlanta.
  • Johan Santana seems to be fine after being hit by a pitch in his left shoulder on Friday in San Diego. He doesn’t expect the shoulder to interrupt his pitching schedule.
  • Raul Casanova is back from the bereavement list. His father passed away this week. Robinson Cancel was sent back to Triple-A New Orleans.
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On Deck: June 8- Mets At Padres

New York Mets (30-31) at San Diego Padres (27-37) 4:05pm

Pedro Martinez (1-0 6.75) vs. Wil Ledezma (0-2 4.43)

TV: CW11 Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Mets try to avoid a four game sweep in San Diego today. The Mets are now 2-4 on this road trip and one game under .500. If the Mets get swept today, the coaching staff may not be the same when they resume play against the D-Backs on Tuesday.

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Padres Over Mets 2-1 For Third Consecutive Game

Oliver Perez improved greatly over his last start in San Francisco but it wasn’t enough to beat the lowly Padres. For the third consecutive game the Padres beat the Mets by a score of 2-1. This time it was in ten innings on a home run by Scott Hairston off Pedro Feliciano.

The Padres only other run in the game was also a solo homer by Michael Barrett in the fifth inning off Perez.

The Mets left 11 men on base and just can’t seem to come up with a big hit in this series despite missing Greg Maddox, Jake Peavey, and Chris Young the Padres three best pitchers.

Surprisingly, Carlos Delgado went 3 for 4 in the game to raise his average to .237 for the season.

Box score

Video Highlights

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Injury Updates: Church And Santana

Ryan Church is out of the lineup again tonight against the San Deigo Padres. It’s the third game in the last four that he hasn’t played. Last night there was an obvious opportunity for him to pinch hit in the ninth. Instead Carlos Delgado got the nod. After the game Church told reporters that he couldn’t play and got annoyed at the line of questioning.

Church has been the most consistent offensive force on the Mets this season. He’s also played a Gold Glove caliber right field. I can see why the Mets are hesitant to put him on the disabled list and lose him for two weeks. It’s not like the Mets have someone in the minors that can come up and rake at the big league level. That’s obvious by the brief callup’s of Raul Casanova and Nick Evans. If it’s a couple of days off that he needs, keep him on the active roster and deal with it.

Last night Johan Santana was hit in the left shoulder by a Randy Wolf pitch. He went down to the ground and stayed there for a minute before recovering and continuing the at-bat. He pitched the bottom of the sixth inning after being hit and told reporters after the game that he didn’t think that it affected his pitching.

Anybody that’s played baseball and been hit by a pitch knows that it’s usually more surprising than it is painful. Unless you take one in the back, knee, or face it’s not a big deal. The only concern here is that it’s his pitching shoulder and might bruise up. I haven’t seen any injury reports on Santana today so I don’t think this will affect his next start.

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On Deck: June 7 Mets At Padres

New York Mets (30-30) at San Diego Padres (26-37) 10:05pm

Oliver Perez (4-4 5.70) vs. Cha Seung Baek (1-2 5.60)

TV: SNY Radio: WFAN

What to watch: Both starting pitchers are struggling this season. So if there ever was a game that we might see some offense at Petco Park, this is it. The Mets need to win both remaining games in the series against the Padres just to go home even. Unfortunately, they have to rely on Perez tonight. He only went .1 innings in his last start in San Francisco but you never know what you’ll get from him.

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