Author: Dave Doyle

Frequently disappointed Mets fan

Mets Injury Report

New York Mets general manager Omar Minaya before a Mets/Devil Rays spring training game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.Image via Wikipedia

Pedro Martinez– Threw in Port St. Lucie last Friday and again on Tuesday. The Mets are just seeing how he feels after throwing before putting him up against live hitters.

Orlando (El Duque) Hernandez– Doctors allowed him to take the boot off that he’s been wearing. He’ll be in Port St. Lucie starting a light running and throwing program.

Matt Wise– He’s pitching in a Florida State League game today. The Mets will evaluate his performance. He’s eligible to come off the disabled list now. The Mets want to see how he looks pitching back to back days.

Angel Pagan– He flipped over the railing into the stands catching a fly ball in Los Angeles. He stayed in the game for another inning but Endy Chavez substituted in left field for him. It sounds like it isn’t anything serious.

The big decision for the Mets will come when Matt Wise comes back. Do they DFA Joe Smith or Jorge Sosa? That seems to be the logical choice. Smith has options so it would be easier to do it that way. The problem is that Smith has been more effective than Sosa. This is sure to create a big debate among us in the near future.

Read the full story at ESPN.

Maine, Mets Clobber Dodgers 12-1

Mets pitcher John Maine before a Mets/Devil Rays spring training game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.Image via Wikipedia

The story of the day was John Maine returning to his spring training form. He went 8.1 innings and carried a shutout into the ninth. That was the longest start by a Mets pitcher this season and a nice break for the bullpen with an off-day tomorrow.

Ryan church again was in the middle of the offense with another home run. Even Maine came through with a hit and two RBI’s. There was tons of offense by the Mets as you would guess by the final score. I don’t think it was coincidence that Carlos Delgado was out of the lineup and Marlon Anderson played first base. The lineup has a better flow when Delgado’s not in the middle.

The Mets come back to Shea on Friday night against the Reds after having a 3-3 road trip. If they can play .500 on the road that’s just fine, especially on the West coast.

Box score

Video Highlights

On Deck: Wednesday May 7, 2008 Mets-Dodgers

New York Mets (16-15) at Los Angeles Dodgers (19-14)   3:10pm

John Maine (3-2) vs. Brad Penny (5-2)

TV: SNY Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Mets need to take this game to avoid a sweep in LA. Brad Penny is a tough pitcher so it’ll be a challenge today. Getting swept in LA would give the Mets a losing West coast road trip and may cause the fans to be more bitter when they get back home against Cincinnati on Friday.

Mets Drop Another To Dodgers 5-4

Nelson Figueroa pitched well enough to keep the Mets in the game although his line doesn’t show it. He was victimized by Ryan Church sitting on the ground while the winning run went around the bases for an inside the park home run and adding two more earned runs for Figueroa.

Blake DeWitt hit a ball off the top off the wall in right field. Church made a play on the ball but couldn’t come up with it. Mistakenly, Church sat on the ground while DeWitt rounded the bases. It turned out to be a huge blunder that cost the Mets the game. It’s the first time this season that I’ve seen Church make a big mistake so I won’t go crazy about it.

Moises Alou is a freak of nature. He keeps hitting going 2 for 5 last night. He took an extra base on Gold Glover Andruw Jones, and he stole home plate. The guy is 41 years old, coming off hernia surgery and an ankle injury. It’s incredible. The guy plays harder than anyone. I’m so happy that he’s on the Mets even though he’s frequently injured. When he’s in the game he’s making an impact.

The Mets need to take the third game to avoid a sweep and a losing road trip.

Box score

Video Highlights

Video: John Franco On Fox

Franco is interviewed on Fox’s Best Damn Sports Show. It’s disturbing to have to look at David Wells sitting next to Franco but I tried to look past that. The highlights include talking about ordering pizzas in the bullpen at Shea and growing a garden with bullpen coach Joe Pignatano.
BDSSP: John Franco saves the day
BDSSP: John Franco saves the day