John Maine was very upset hours after being removed from last night’s game after facing one batter on five pitches. Clearly, he and Jerry Manuel have a major difference of opinion on this.
http://espn.go.com/videohub/player/embed.swf
The mystery injury to John Maine last night leaves the Mets starting rotation in a bigger mess than we thought it was already. And it couldn’t come at a worse time for Jerry Manuel. Many of us already have a death watch on his managerial career. Of course, injuries aren’t his fault but he needs some good things to happen soon.
R.A. Dickey and Hisanori Takahashi are already in the rotation. That’s something we never would have thought before the season. With Maine appearing to be out for some period of time, we might be looking at another call-up from Triple-A Buffalo. Fortunately, Pat Misch and Dillon Gee have been pitching pretty well. But at this rate there won’t be anybody left in Buffalo.
To be left with Johan Santana and Mike Pelfrey before the end of May is just a nightmare. I think with Jon Niese injured and Maine possibly hurt, we may need to re-visit the issue of the Mets medical and training staff. It doesn’t seem possible that this many players could be hurt within two seasons. The Mets chose not to change the medical and training staff after the 2009 “season of the injury” and we may be headed down that road again.
http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.jsThe Mets lost two of their starting pitchers in Florida, Jon Niese due to a hamstring injury, and Oliver Perez due to being dreadful.
Hisanori Takahashi will start in Jon Niese’s place on Friday night, while R.A. Dickey will start in Perez’s place tonight against the Washington Nationals.
Takahashi has seemed to relish in the long man spot, a la Darren Oliver in 2006 for the Mets, and he should be kept there as he’s been extremely valuable in that spot. R.A. Dickey, who started 14 games in 2008 for the Seattle Mariners, went 5-8 with a 5.21 ERA. Continue reading “Mets Starting Pitching Options – Niese and Perez”
With the team struggling, Jerry Manuel is on the hot seat, and rightfully so! Manuel and Mets management had a 90 minute meeting before Monday’s game at Atlanta. Manuel’s job insecurity is one that is expected. One thing that hasn’t been looked at is the hitting coach position. Howard Johnson should be on the hot seat at well and many of the teams struggles should be placed on him.
Yet the offense as a whole has been struggling, especially with runners in scoring position. Coming into Thursday’s game against the Florida Marlins the Mets are batting a dismal .247 as a team which ranks 23rd in the majors. Over the offseason they brought in Jason Bay who is hitting a whopping .277 with one homer and just 16 RBI’s so far in 2010. It seems for the last few seasons the Mets have been lacking the “big hit.” The fans and the media have been quick to blame the players, yet I think the philosophy at the plate with RISP is the problem. That problem is placed on the shoulders of Howard Johnson the New York Mets hitting coach. Has Howard Johnson worn out his welcome as New York Mets hitting coach?
I understand Johnson was an outstanding player in his hay day and Omar Minaya has stated that having Johnson around is a link to Mets history. Yet the offense has been down this season. Is it time to replace Howard Johnson as the hitting coach? I think it’s a legitimate argument!
http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.jsOk, first we find out Omar Minaya is in town for the Atlanta series to “Support his team”. Now we find out Mets owner Jeff Wilpon has also strolled into town right behind him. NOT a good sign.
Somewhere, Willie Randolph is smiling.
Somebody’s got to go and if I had my way it would be both Omar and Jerry Manuel. In the beginning of the season I stated that if the Mets had a slow start that these two would have to go. I would consider last place, six weeks into the season, a slow start.
On top of that here come the Yankees and Phillies who could bury them in last place for a long time. It’s not looking good, my fellow Mets fans, but I have always followed an age old rule, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results“. Continue reading “Mets Owner Jeff Wilpon In Atlanta… Why?”
Jeff Wilpon spoke to the media before tonight’s game about the reason he’s in Atlanta. Nobody is getting fired. At least not today. He wouldn’t be there if he wasn’t really ticked off. I’m sure he expressed that in his meeting with Jerry Manuel, Dan Warthen, Omar Minaya, and John Ricco.
Here’s the video from ESPN.
http://espn.go.com/videohub/player/embed.swf
Mets GM Omar Minaya was with the team while they got swept in Miami. He was scheduled to come back to New York but changed his plans after the Marlins completed the sweep. Minaya will travel with the team to Atlanta to “offer support”.
The last time Minaya traveled with the team to “offer support” was in 2008 before Willie Randolph got fired. He went to Denver and then Anaheim for his midnight firing. Having Minaya around “offering support” is like getting a pat on the back from the grim reaper.
I don’t expect Jerry Manuel or anyone else to get fired this week. But I do expect the Mets to shake things up if they’re still in last place at the end of May. It seems to be almost a consensus that Bob Melvin will get the job if Manuel is canned. If so, expect Dan Warthen and Howard Johnson to go too.
It should make for an interesting two weeks. With the Mets, it’s always interesting.
The Mets Report 