Author: Dave Doyle

Frequently disappointed Mets fan

Schneider, Johan Santana Working Together

Jack Curry of the New York Times wrote a good article for the New York Times today about the working relationship between Johan Santana and Brian Schneider. It looks to me like Schneider’s working well with all of the Mets pitchers.

I have to admit that I didn’t like the Milledge for Church/Schneider trade but it’s working out pretty well so far. We won’t know the full implications of the trade for a few years when Lastings Milledge gets into his prime playing years. He just turned 23 last week.

Paul LoDuca has been dreadful for the Nationals and I was really never a fan of his anyway. Read a Nationals blog post here. If you’ve read some of my previous posts, you know that my opinion of him is that his mouth is bigger than his bat or glove.

If Brian Schneider can keep up a little bit of hitting, and he’s over.300 right now, he’ll have made the trade much more palatable.

Johan Santana Brings Mets To Different Level

This is a must-read column from ESPN’s Jayson Stark, especially for everyone that boo’d Santana at Shea last week.

“There’s not too many players or pitchers in this game that can single-handedly bring your team to a different level,” said Mets third baseman David Wright, whose four-hit evening had a little something to do with the outcome, too. “But Johan is one of them.”

Mets Television Crew Profile

I found a column from an unusual source this morning: The Wall Street Journal Market Watch. Jon Friedman did kind of a fluff piece on the Mets television broadcasting crew of Gary Cohen, Ron Darling, and Keith Hernandez. From the ways it’s written I have to assume that Jon Friedman is a Mets fan. Nice!

Personally, I think those guys are great. I have absolutely no critique of them. They’re the best crew that I’ve seen including the national networks.

Billy Wagner’s Comedy

Bart Hubbach of the New York Post writes that after last night’s game in Philadelphia Billy Wagner had some comments about the rude reception he received from the Philly crowd:

“They were booing so loud, I thought Schoeneweis was running in with me,” Wagner, an ex-Phillie, said of the reaction he received from the crowd during his ninth-inning appearance.

It’s good that they can joke about Schoenweiss being the target of frequent boo birds. Schoenweiss doesn’t put smiles on Mets fans faces but that comment from Billy made me laugh.

On Deck: April 19, 2008

New York Mets (9-6) at Philadelphia Phillies (8-9)   3:55pm

TV: Fox    Radio: WFAN

Oliver Perez (1-0) vs. Jamie Moyer (1-0)

What to watch:  The Mets are on a four game winning streak headed into the Fox game of the week. You never know what you’re going to get from Oliver Perez, and Jamie Moyer is pretty consistent but not a lot of fun to watch. David Wright’s been hot at the plate and Citizens Bank Park is a good place to be when that happens. It’s still unknown if Jimmy Rollins will be back from his uncle’s funeral in Oakland in time for the game today.

Mets Take First Game in Philly 6-4

Philadelphia, PA- The Mets held on to win 6-4 in front of over 45,000 in Philadelphia tonight. Johan Santana was stellar, pitching seven innings with 10 strikeouts, no walks, and giving up three runs. It would’ve been only one run if Aaron Heilman hadn’t come into the game in the eighth and promptly given up a pinch hit home run to Greg Dobbs.

Can we all agree now that Johan Santana shouldn’t be boo’d? If you feel the compulsion to boo a home player, make it Aaron Heilman. He gave up the big bomb tonight. Granted, he’s pitched three good games prior to tonight. Maybe there isn’t anyone that deserved to be boo’d at home right now. How about that?

David Wright was 4 for 4 with two doubles and a triple. He’s on fire right now. Brian Schneider had a nice offensive game as well going 3 for 4. He’s hitting .306/.306/.375 so far.

Jose Reyes stole second and took a header into Chase Utley’s knee. He stayed in the game but I think Willie Randolph should give him the day off tomorrow considering his hamstring kept him out of a couple games this week. He could use a day right now.

The Mets and Phillies do it again tomorrow on Fox at 3:55pm.

Box score 

ESPN Video Highlights 

Latest Injury Updates

  • Carlos Beltran’s stiff neck is still bothering him when he looks to his left (bats right handed). But he didn’t even think about sitting out against Cole Hamels and the Phillies tonight.
  • Pedro Martinez is still working on his strained left hamstring with personal trainer Angel Persinal. You may remember his name from getting linked, at the Toronto airport, to a bag of performance enhancing drugs with Juan Gonzalez. Omar Minaya says Persinal is a Domincan legend and has no concerns about Pedro’s work with him.
  • Moises Alou played in an extended spring training game in Port St. Lucie, FL and got five at-bats. The Mets are encouraged by his progress but needs to be able to play in the field before going to the Florida State League.
  • Ramon Castro suffered some further tightness in his hamstring while running and is going for further evaluation.

Read the full story at the New York Times.