Author: Dave Doyle

Frequently disappointed Mets fan

Mets In the News Today: Delgado, Church, And More

Here’s a summary of what’s happening for the Mets in the news today. Joe Torre and the Dodgers come to town for a four game series that has a few interesting story lines.

  • Carlos Delgado– He’s been on the bench for two straight games. I would guess that he’ll start tonight against righty Brad Penny. The way I see it is that the Wilpons told Willie Randolph to start playing his best lineup no matter what. Randolph realized that if he kept up his blind respect for Delgado’s career numbers, he might lose his job. Willie’s always the last one to figure these things out. It’s amazing to me that he can’t see what’s going on with this team. He just pays way too much homage to veterans. As Jim Leyland said “I’ll take talent over experience anytime.” I don’t necessarily like Fox Sports Dayn Perry but read this column about players not earning their pay this season.
  • Ryan Church– He hasn’t been at Shea Stadium for two games in a row because of the concussion that he sustained in Atlanta. There have been plenty of newspaper columns about the Mets handling the situation poorly by flying him to Colorado, pinch hitting him, and then flying back to New York. I come down on the side of the team on this one. I’m sure they went on how Church said that he felt at the time. Read the NY Times article here.
  • Pedro Martinez– He threw well in Port St. Lucie last night. But the question becomes: what roster move do they make next week to get him off the disabled list? There’s plenty of speculation like sending Mike Pelfrey down to get himself together. There’s also speculation that the Mets may keep both Claudio Vargas and Mike Pelfrey on the roster and make one of them a long man. I suspect that would leave Joe Smith as the odd man out in the bullpen with a one way ticket to New Orleans.
  • Marlon Anderson– His leg injury has the Mets considering making a play for Scott Hatteberg to be a lefty off the bench who can play first base. Read Marty Noble’s column for MLB.com. It’s a bad idea in my opinion. Hatteberg complained about coming off the bench and didn’t hit well in that role. I would consider Hatteberg if the Mets were looking to get Delgado off the roster whether via trade or release.
  • Moises Alou– His calf injury is progressing well and it looks like he’ll be off the disabled list on schedule next week. That’ll send Nick Evans back to Binghamton most likely, possibly New Orleans.

On Deck: May 29 Dodgers-Mets

Los Angeles Dodgers (26-26) at New York Mets (25-26) 7:10pm

Brad Penny (5-5 5.32) vs. Claudio Vargas (1-2 3.93)

TV: SNY Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Mets, winners of two in a row, suddenly appear to be alive after two months of slumber. The second place Dodgers and Joe Torre are in town for four games. The Mets usually have Brad Penny’s number, but shouldn’t take him for granted. He’s still a big right handed power arm. Claudio Vargas is auditioning to keep his job when Pedro gets back next week. We’ll see if Willie keeps the same or similar alternate lineup that he’s won with the last two nights.

Mets Come From Behind In 12 Innings To Win 7-6

If the Mets turn things around this season, mark this date on your calendar. The Met have their first come from behind win after the seventh inning this season. Fernando Tatis had the big hit off Justin Miller to score Carlos Beltran for the win.

There are so many things to talk about in this game. Endy Chavez hit a pinch hit solo homer in the ninth inning to tie the game and send it to extras. Luis Castillo and Jose Reyes also homered earlier in the game.

I like this lineup much better without Carlos Delgado in there. Damion Easley and Fernando Tatis are doing some nice things at the plate. They were both looking to hit behind runners and lift the ball for sacrifice flies. Those are the little things that you don’t get from Delgado, who’s usually swinging for the fences no matter what the situation dictates.

Aaron Heilman had another really nice outing. He pitched two scoreless innings in the eighth and ninth with four strikeouts. It would be great to have him come back to form.

Oliver Perez was his typical unpredictable self tonight. He went six innings giving up five runs on four hits and four walks with seven strikeouts. The wheels came off in the sixth inning when he gave up six runs.

For the Marlins, Cody Ross hit two bombs. And I mean bombs. His second home run may have actually damaged Citi Field, it went that far. Both homers were off Perez.

The Mets take the series from the Marlins 2 games to 1. The Dodgers come to town tomorrow.

Box score

Video Higlights

Former Mets Transactions: Sosa and Julio

There was some activity on the transaction wire today for former Mets pitchers Jorge Julio and Jorge Sosa.

Julio was designated for assingment by the Cleveland Indians to make room for Jake Westbrook coming off the disabled list from a strained muscle.

Sosa was signed by the Houston Astros to a minor league contract. He’ll report to Triple-A Round Rock tomorrow.

Audio: Randolph, Backman, and Johnson

WFAN audio with Willie Randolph doing his weekly spot with Mike and the Mad Dog. Wally Backman and Davey Johnson talk to Boomer & Carton.

Randolph talks about his meeting with Omar Minaya and the Wilpons on Monday. Wally Backman talks about his desire to get back to the big leagues after the D-Backs let him go after four days in 2004. Davey Johnson talks about being the Mets manager when things aren’t going so well

Willie Randolph Audio

Wally Backman Audio

Davey Johnson Audio

Martinez Rehab Start Tonight

St. Lucie Mets

Image via Wikipedia

If you’re in the Port St. Lucie, FL area tonight you should head over to Tradition Field to check out the Vero Beach Rays vs. St. Lucie Mets game. You won’t see a much better game than this one. The Rays top pick in last year’s draft David Price is pitching against Pedro Martinez.

There aren’t many Class A games with pitching matchup’s like that. I wish I was there for this game. It’s the old (Pedro) against the new highly touted prospect (Price).

Pedro has already told the Mets that he feels ready to pitch at the Major League level. But tonight will be a good test for him. I’d like to see him have some level of success tonight before making a start next week in San Francisco.