Author: Dave Doyle

Frequently disappointed Mets fan

Church May Be In Lineup Tomorrow

Ryan Church could be back on the field for the Mets as early as tomorrow. He’s been on pinch hitting duty only since his concussion last week in Atlanta.

The Mets have been taking some heat for letting Church travel to Colorado and pinch hit but he tells the New York Post:

“They didn’t do anything wrong on their part,” Church said last night after returning from a two-day rest mandated by the team. “They asked me, and I was the final say. I told them I could pinch hit.”

Church’s absence has left a crater in the Mets lineup. He’s carried the team over the first two months of the season. His unexpected production has been the most consistent offense that the Mets have had all season.

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First Base Platoon Might Work

Mets outfielder Fernando Tatis during a Mets/Devil Rays spring training game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Image via Wikipedia

The Mets might be onto something sitting Carlos Delgado against lefties. Damion Easley can play first, so can Nick Evans and Fernando Tatis. All are right handed hitters that can drive the ball. Evans may be a little over matched right now but I’d like to see him continue to get at-bats to see what he can do.

Delgado tells the New York Post that he doesn’t like the platoon idea:

“We’re gonna have to talk,” Delgado said yesterday when asked how he would respond to Randolph about platooning against lefties. “Obviously, I would not talk to you before I talk to him. I haven’t said anything, but I want to make it clear.”

“I don’t want to sound like I’m challenging anybody, but it’s true, I would have to talk to [Randolph] about that,” Delgado said.

It may not be up to him anymore. The Wilpons and Omar Minaya must’ve made it clear to Randolph that he has to do what’s best for the team or he could lose his job as manager. That means that there may be some bruised egos along the way.

Delgado Doesn’t Want To Be Here

When Carlos Delgado signed his four year contract with the Florida Marlins prior to the 2005 season, he spurned the Mets because he didn’t like Tony Bernazard’s pitch. Even Carlos Beltran talking to Delgado about what a great opportunity they could have with the Mets couldn’t get Delgado to sign here as a free agent.

Prior to the 2006 the Mets traded Mike Jacobs and Yusmeiro Petit for Delgado even though Omar Minaya knew that Delgado didn’t want to be here. Wouldn’t it be nice to have Mike Jacobs back? Hindsight is 20/20. In this case, foresight should’ve been too. That was a bad deal by Minaya. Continue reading “Delgado Doesn’t Want To Be Here”

On Deck: May 30- Dodgers At Mets

Los Angeles Dodgers (26-27) at New York Mets (26-26) 7:10pm

Clayton Kershaw (0-0) vs. John Maine (5-4)

TV: SNY Radio: WFAN

What to watch: Kershaw is a 20 year old lefty with a mid-90’s fastball and a nasty curveball. I sure hope Delgado is on the bench again tonight. He has no chance of hitting this guy. Maine went a solid six innings in his last start in Colorado despite taking the loss. This game looks like a pitching duel to me.

Mets Over Dodgers 8-4; Third Win In A Row

There’s no denying that David Wright was the star of tonight’s game. He had two homers off Brad Penny (who can’t do anything against the Mets for some reason). He hit a two run home run in the third inning and then again in the fourth.

The fourth inning was strange with a catchers interference call on Russell Martin with Claudio Vargas hitting. There was a crazy throw by Juan Pierre to third base and he has one of the worst arms I’ve seen since Bernie Williams. The throw got past Blake DeWitt and Brad Penny wasn’t backing him up. The Mets ended up with four runs in the inning.

Claudio Vargas was fair tonight. He went 5.2 innings giving up four runs. It was enough to keep the Mets in the game and give some length to the start, but not a great start for him. He should be trying to take Mike Pelfrey’s job when Pedro Martinez comes back next week. But this start won’t solidify his spot in the rotation.

Once again, the bullpen was incredible. Pedro Feliciano, Carlos Muniz, Scott Schoenweiss, and Joe Smith locked down the Dodgers after Vargas left the game. Those guys have been doing an incredible job. It’s good to see Schoenweiss having some success after last season was such a disaster for him.

I found it hard to believe that I was watching the same team that got clocked by the Braves and Rockies last week. This team has energy, hustle, and desire. Even Carlos Delgado made two nice plays in the field. I can’t believe that I’m even writing that sentence. He must be getting worried about losing significant playing time to guys that want it more than he does.

Box score

Video Highlights

Audio: May 29- Heyman, Wagner And Coleman

Sports Illustated senior baseball writer Jon Heyman (Carlos Delgado’s antagonist) and Mets beat reporter Eddie Coleman call in to talk to WFAN’s Mike and the Mad Dog. Much of the talk centers around the Mets recent series victory over the Marlins and Delgado’s lack of playing time over the last two games.

Billy Wagner joins Michael Kay of ESPN Radio for his weekly spot.

Jon Heyman Audio

Eddie Coleman Audio

Billy Wagner Audio