New York Mets (3-2) at Philadelphia Phillies (4-1) 3:05pm
Jon Niese (0-0, 2.57) vs. Roy Halladay (0-0, 1.50)
TV: SNY Radio: WFAN
What to watch: The Mets and Phillies play the rubber game of the series this afternoon before the Mets head home for their home opener tomorrow. Niese had a nice start in Florida going 7 IP and allowing 2 runs in a 6-4 win. Halladay went 6 IP in his first start against Houston allowing 1 run in a 5-4 win.
The Mets are showing some fight in this early season. That’s something we haven’t seen in a couple of years. Expect Halladay to be tough to hit but the Mets could give him a run for his money.
New York Mets (3-1) at Philadelphia Phillies (3-1) 7:05pm
Mike Pelfrey (0-1, 10.38) vs. Joe Blanton (0-0, NA)
TV: SNY Radio: WFAN
What to watch: The Mets try to keep it going with another win to take the series in Philly tonight. They want to get this game with the prospect of facing Roy Halladay tomorrow. Pelfrey is going to try to remove the stink from his opening day start in Florida when he gave up 5 runs in 4.1 IP.
I’m surprised that the Phillies need Blanton this early in the season. Tonight is his season debut and he’s got a reputation as an innings eater but certainly not up to the level that the Phillies’ other four starters are. Blanton will give up runs, his career ERA is 4.30, but he doesn’t usually let the Phillies get out of the game.
New York Mets (2-1) at Philadelphia Phillies (3-0) 7:05pm
Chris Young (0-0, NA) vs. Cole Hamels (0-0, NA)
TV: SNY, WB17 Radio: WFAN
What to watch: The Mets travel south to start a three game series with the Phillies tonight. Coming into the season, many of us didn’t think the Mets could match up at all with the Phillies. But the Mets road series win in Miami gives us hope that 2o11 might not be another lost season for the Mets. Maybe they can compete this year.
Tonight will be our first look at Young in regular season game competition. It’ll be interesting to see how he stacks up against the Phillies lineup in a small park.
It took the Mets until June 13 last year to accomplish what they already have in their first series; win a road series. The first matchup had them pitted against 6’7” 250lb flamethrower Josh Johnson of which they predictably lost. Johnson is tough enough to hit, even had a no hitter going through 6, but then giving up a grand slam to newly acquired John Buck proved to be the nail in the coffin for Mike Pelfrey. The Mets have proven (so far) to be a resilient team. They came back and ripped off the next two games in style, in extra innings and a shellacking of once dominant Javy Vasquez.
While all of this does give each Met fan a small glimmer of hope of “why not us?”…Let’s slow down the World Series ticket buying just for a bit. We beat a Marlins team who lost its power bat 2nd baseman and replaced him with a catcher who had a .281 average last year while previous best was a solid 34 points less. A team that was almost forced by Major League Baseball to spend money on players. I’m not saying that they are an awful team, but they aren’t the Phillies. As I watched the games in Florida I couldn’t help but notice almost a swagger about the Mets. Something about them came off as almost professional. They seem much more energized. Skipper Collins and his brash motivational talks may be exactly what this team needs after 2 years of “it is what it is and let’s get them next game” mantra from Jerry Manuel.
Speaking of which, a Phillies series is right on the horizon. This will be much more telling than Florida series. The Mets somewhat dodged a bullet and won’t have to face Lee or Oswalt but they will have to face possibly the best number 4 and 5 pitchers in all of baseball along with Doc. Hamels was 0-4 last year against the New York Metropolitans and Blanton can shut down a team as easily as he implodes. Beltran, Wright, Hairston, Thole are all batting over .300 versus Doc. So there is hope. It’s not impossible, it is improbable.
Final prediction: Mets win two out of three, World Series ticket purchases from New York area double, Mike Francesca explodes from Mets callers, and Family Guy can eat their heart out.
New York Mets (1-1) vs. Florida Marlins (1-1) 1:10pm ET
R.A. Dickey (0-0, NA) vs. Javier Vazquez (0-0, NA)
TV: SNY, FSFL Radio: WFAN
What to watch: The Mets and Marlins play the rubber game of the series this afternoon. Expect Carlos Beltran to get the day off, maybe play as a pinch hitter if needed. Dickey gets his first start of the year and I’ll be curious to see if last year’s dream season continues this year.
Vazquez has a career record of 10-9 with a 3.16 ERA against the Mets in 25 games.
New York Mets (0-1) at Florida Marlins (1-0) 7:10pm
Jon Niese (0-0, NA) vs. Ricky Nolasco (0-0, NA)
TV: SNY, FSFL Radio: WFAN
What to watch: The Mets try to recover from getting shut down by Josh Johnson last night. They’re playing behind Niese, who was 1-4 with a 6.49 ERA against the Marlins last year in 5 games. Nolasco went 2-0 against the Mets last season with a 3.96 ERA in 4 games.
We’ll get out first look at Lucas Duda this season in left field. Although Willie Harris played well last night, Duda should get the bulk of the playing time while Jason Bay is on the disabled list.
New York Mets (74-79) at Philadelphia Phillies (93-61) 7:05pm
Dillon Gee (1-1 1.80) vs Kyle Kendrick (10-9 4.78)
TV: WPIX Radio: WFAN
What to watch: The Mets try to avoid their seventh straight loss as the Phillies go for their twelfth straight win and march into the playoffs again. Gee has made three very impressive starts this month but Kendrick has pitched well in his last two starts allowing 4 runs in 11 innings.
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New York Mets (3-2) at Philadelphia Phillies (4-1) 3:05pm
New York Mets (0-1) at Florida Marlins (1-0) 7:10pm
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