2010 Mets – Chokers or Champions?

That graph to the left says it all. The game yesterday was pretty much over by the fifth inning. With the way Roy Halladay was pitching, you could say it was over by the fourth.

I was looking forward to a pitching duel between, arguably, the best pitcher in the National League and Mike Pelfrey, the current NL ERA leader. Until the fourth inning the matchup was living up to the hype.

Then the old Mets showed up. The ones who choke in critical situations. Two pop-ups in the fourth that couldn’t be handled and the game begins to unravel. Continue reading “2010 Mets – Chokers or Champions?”

Preview: Mets at Phillies May 2, 2010

New York Mets (14-10)  at Philadelphia Phillies (13-10) 8:05 pm

Johan Santana (3-1 2.08) vs. Jamie Moyer (2-2 5.25)

TV: ESPN   Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Mets can take the series in Philly with a win tonight behind Santana. He’s been outstanding recently, giving up only 1 ER in his last three starts over 19.1 IP. He’s opposed by Moyer who’s gone 6 innings in all four starts this year. The Phillies have lost two of the four games he started.

Don’t forget to visit The Mets Report Facebook page during the game to chat with other Mets fans! Connect with The Mets Report on Twitter too.

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Mets Links: Mike Pelfrey, Carlos Beltran, Hubie Brooks

New York Mets at New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in New York

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.jsThe past week has been the best that I’ve felt about the Mets since September 2008. They went into Philly on a great run, even without their best player Carlos Beltran. The month of April was really on the backs of Mike Pelfrey and Johan Santana, for the most part. But the offense did start to come alive towards the end of the month. Here are some month-end links for you for this Sunday.

  • NY Sports Dog– This post has an interesting scatter plot of Pelfrey’s called strikes comparing April 2009 to April 2010
  • Amazin’ Avenue– Sam Page created a stat to measure which Mets player would be the best fighter in a brawl and Henry Blanco came out on top
  • On The Black – A poll to determine the fan pick for Mets player of the month in April
  • ESPN – Adam Rubin writes that Beltran doesn’t appear to be anywhere near returning to the team from his knee surgery
  • Daily News – This is a funny piece on reporter Kevin Deutsch in Philly taunting fans with “Let’s Go Mets!” chants while wearing a Mets jersey and hat
  • Daily News – Catching up with Hubie Brooks
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Arizona Immigration Law and Baseball

Thousands turn out for a May day march and rally in support of immigrant rights in Los Angeles

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.jsThe impact of the new Arizona immigration law on baseball is far-reaching and potentially could cause a problem between labor and management. Of course, this is only a mirror of the effect it will have on society, in general, in Arizona. I’ve spent some time in Arizona on business trips in the past. It doesn’t take long to figure out that this is a serious and overt problem for the legal residents of the state.

I understand, and agree, with the notion that the people that are here in the U.S. should be here legally. If they’re not, they should be deported. That’s not a groundbreaking idea. But the implementation of the law in Arizona is absurd. The police are required to check the legal residency of anyone they think is here illegally? And do so without profiling? It’s beyond comprehension that this can be implemented without racial profiling. “Show me your papers” will be the new mantra in Arizona. Continue reading “Arizona Immigration Law and Baseball”

Mets’ Daniel Murphy To Minors After DL

New York Mets Daniel Murphy walks to the dugout against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field in New York

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.jsThe Mets beat writers all had posts about Daniel Murphy recovering from his strained knee ligament in Florida, then going to Triple-A Buffalo when he comes off the disabled list. The plan is for Muphy to play first base immediately just to get some at-bats. Then they’re going to work with him on becoming a utility player.

The odd thing is that you don’t see many 25 year-old utility players out there. It’s usually older players that have been around for a while doing that job. I wouldn’t be happy about it if I was Murphy. That really cuts into his earning potential. Utility players are typically the lowest paid players on a team. His long-term earning potential in the Major Leagues is cut significantly by being pigeon-holed as a utility player. I’m sure he seems himself differently than the Mets organization does.

If Murphy comes back to the big’s after transforming himself into a utility player, who’s roster spot is he going to take? Frank Catalanotto and Fernando Tatis would be the obvious players to go. They’ve both been rotting on the Mets bench in April. Catalanotto has 20 at-bats this season and Tatis has 29. Continue reading “Mets’ Daniel Murphy To Minors After DL”

Phillies 10 – Mets 0 May 1, 2010

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay in Washington

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.jsThe Phillies took this one in a laugher as the Mets became one of the many victims of Roy Halladay’s greatness. Halladay was the star of the game throwing a complete game, the 52nd of his career. He only gave up 3 hits and 1 walk against 6 strikeouts. This game was the 17th shutout of Halladay’s 13 year career.

Mike Pelfrey got bombed today. It was the first poor start of his 2010 season. He was looking pretty good through the first three innings and completely lost it in the fourth giving up 6 runs on 7 hits including one by Halladay and a three run shot by Victorino.

The Mets eight game winning streak ends today but they’re in a good position to take the series tomorrow night on ESPN. The Mets will have Johan Santana going against Jamie Moyer.

Box score

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Preview: Mets at Phillies May 1, 2010

New York Mets (14-9)  at Philadelphia Phillies (12-10) 3:10 pm

Mike Pelfrey (4-0 0.69) vs. Roy Halladay (4-1 1.80)

TV: Fox   Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Mets are going for their ninth straight win today in Philly. But they’re up against, possibly, the best pitcher in baseball. As great as Halladay is, he took a loss in his last start in San Francisco after giving up 5 ER in 7.0 IP. Pelfrey, on the other hand, has been incredible and hasn’t given up a run in his last three starts. I’ll be surprised in Jeff Francoeur plays today after getting hit by a pitch on his left elbow.

Don’t forget to visit The Mets Report Facebook page during the game to chat with other Mets fans! Connect with The Mets Report on Twitter too.

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