Category: Interviews

Video: Mets’ Minaya on 2010 Trading Deadline

April 27 2010: Mets' starting pitcher Oliver Perez (46) delivers a pitch during game 2 of a double header MLB game between the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citi Field in Flushing, New York. The Mets beat the Dodgers 10-5.

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsHere’s some video from ESPN with Omar Minaya talking about the Mets lack of activity at the non-waiver trading deadline yesterday. The biggest issue he talks about is that other teams were interested in the Mets young players that are making an impact in the bigs this year like Jon Niese, Josh Thole, Ike Davis, and Bobby Parnell.

It wouldn’t make sense to me to trade those guys for a rental pitcher like a Ted Lilly or Jake Westbrook. The Mets are 6.5 games out of the division and the wild card today. It wouldn’t make sense to make bold moves when they’re not really in either race at the moment.

The Mets need to keep working hard to unload the dead weight on the roster in August. It’s a guarantee that Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo will be going through waivers this week. It wouldn’t surprise me if Jeff Francoeur went through waivers this month either. There’s no chance he’ll be offered arbitration after this season. So there’s no reason not to put him through waivers to see if there’s a taker out there.

Here’s the video:

http://espn.go.com/videohub/player/embed.swf

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Mets 8 – Cardinals 2 July 27, 2010

New York Mets' Jeff Francoeur (C) celebrates his two-run home run against the Minnesota Twins with team-mates during the fourth inning of inter-league MLB baseball action at Citi Field in New York June 27, 2010. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsI was at the game last night so I got home too late to work on the game recap. Here’s the box score of the game for you. Big three-run homer from Jeff Francoeur and another nice start from Jon Niese were the stories of the game. Not to mention that the Mets continue their winning ways after home after getting beaten to a pulp on the west coast.

Here’s the post-game audio.

Jon Niese post-game

Jerry Manuel post-game

Carlos Beltran post-game

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Mets 4 – Giants 3 July 18, 2010

July 18, 2010 - San Francisco, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES - epa02252957 New York Mets Ike Davis follows through with an RBI double off a pitch by San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Chris Ray during the eighth inning at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California, USA 18 July 2010.

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsThe Mets avoided the sweep in San Francisco with an extra innings win that was marked by some of the worst umpiring work I’ve seen in a long time. Johan Santana was outstanding for his fourth consecutive start going 8 innings and only allowing 1 run. Unfortunately, he didn’t get a win for the great work that he did.

Francisco Rodriguez blew the save in the ninth with a 3-1 lead allowing the Giants to score 2 runs. The Giants were the victims of a blown call at home plate by Phil Cuzzi. Travis Ishikawa was called out on a play at home that would have scored the winning run. He was clearly safe. You didn’t even need a replay to see that. That was just the start of some horrible umpiring in the ninth inning.

The Mets offense was solid with 10 hits and 2 walks in the game. The hero of the game was Ike Davis going 3 for 5 with a long double off the brick wall in right field in the tenth inning to score Jason Bay and win the game. Bay was also 3 for 5 in the game.

The Mets get lucky to escape San Francisco with a win and head to Arizona.

Box score

Johan Santana post-game

Francisco Rodriguez post-game

Jerry Manuel post-game

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Video: David Wright at 2010 All-Star Game

Mets third baseman David Wright addresses the media at the 2010 All-Star game. Check out the video. He’s one of those guys that really “gets it” and appreciates what’s going on around him. You can tell by the way he talks about getting a chance to play with Reds third baseman Scott Rolen.

http://espn.go.com/videohub/player/embed.swf

Mets’ Carlos Beltran Returns From DL

New York Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran (15) warms up prior to the game against the Washington Nationals on September 18, 2008 at Nationals Park in Washington. (UPI Photo/Mark Goldman) Photo via Newscom Photo via Newscom

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsThe Mets made room on the roster for Carlos Beltran by optioning Jesus Feliciano to Triple-A Buffalo after yesterday’s game. Jerry Manuel has told reporters that Beltran will slot into the cleanup spot and start on Thursday in center field. It’s too bad for Feliciano. He hit .278 in 54 at-bats and did a nice job. He’s no All-Star but I like his game as a solid fielder and a consistent bat off the bench.

Manuel also told reporters that Angel Pagan will start in right field on Thursday in San Francisco. Jeff Francoeur will hit the bench. Clearly, that’s the right decision. There’s no way that Francoeur deserves to play over Pagan. Pagan’s game is so much more dynamic with his ability to hit consistently and the speed he has.

When asked by reporters if he thought he would be rusty at the plate:

“Who knows? I mean, the way I played in Port St. Lucie, I think I swung the bat well. But at the big league level it’s a different story,” Beltran said. “I do feel like I need to make adjustments. It will take me time. I don’t expect to come here and rake. I just expect to come here and like I say, do my part. Being able to contribute any way I can, and I believe in that.”

You can listen to Beltran’s interview from Citi Field yesterday with Wayne Hagin of WFAN.

Carlos Beltran audio

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Mets 2010 All-Stars Wright and Reyes

David Wright will be the lone Mets starter in the 2010 MLB All-Star game. He’s making his fifth appearance this season and is making a really nice comeback from a dreadful 2009 season. I have to admit that I didn’t vote for Wright. My 2010 All-Star vote was for Scott Rolen at third base. I tried to be objective and I just think that Rolen is having a better season than Wright and he’s playing for a first place team. That has a little bit of weight in my mind.

Jose Reyes is coming off the bench this year behind Hanley Ramirez. It’s his third All-Star appearance and he’s on the roster because Troy Tulowitzki is hurt. Fellow Mets report writer John Wenk voted for both Wright and Reyes this year. I just didn’t see either one as a solid starter.

I’ve heard some griping from Mets fans that Mike Pelfrey wasn’t selected by manager Charlie Manuel for the pitching staff. But he’s scheduled to pitch Sunday against the Braves, so there’s no way that he could pitch in the game. It’s too bad because his numbers are right there for the All-Stars despite the fact that he hasn’t had his best stuff for the last four starts.

Audio-David Wright on 2010 All-Stars

Audio-Jose Reyes on 2010 All-Stars

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