Mets 9 – Phillies 1 April 30, 2010

New York Mets starting pitcher Jonathan Niese throws against the Colorado Rockies in their MLB baseball game in Denver

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.jsThe Mets put the beat down on the Phillies tonight led by an outstanding start from Jon Niese and two homers by Rod Barajas. Niese was in complete control through 7 IP, helped by having a lead from the second inning on. The Mets win their eighth straight game in a route. The best way to win one in Philly.

The offense really came alive in the bandbox Citizens Bank Ballpark. The Mets had 10 hits including four homers, the two by Barajas plus David Wright and Jeff Francoeur had one each.  And Angel Pagan was 3 for 5 with a triple and two RBI’s.

Francoeur was hit by a pitch pretty badly on the left elbow in the seventh inning. He ran the bases, and even scored, but had to leave the game. X-rays were negative though. I was disappointed that Niese didn’t go for payback in the bottom of the inning. Jenry Mejia did hit Chase Utley in the eighth but it was a breaking ball. Clearly, he wasn’t trying to hit him.

Overall, it was an excellent game. There were some great plays in the outfield including two by Francoeur and one at the wall by Jason Bay. The Mets are really firing on all cylinders right now. It’s exciting to watch again.

Box score

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Preview: Mets at Phillies April 30, 2010

New York Mets (13-9)  at Philadelphia Phillies (12-9) 7:05 pm

Jon Niese (0-1 3.68) vs. Kyle Kendrick (0-0 7.71)

TV: WPIX   Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Mets are hot! They’ve won seven in a row. The Phillies have lost four of their last six games. Niese has only allowed 1 ER over his last 11 IP over two starts. Kendrick has been rocked in three of his four starts this season giving up 16 ER in 18.2 IP. This is the most anticipated series against the Phillies that we’ve had in several years. The first place Mets are in Philly through Sunday.

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 2010 Locker Room Harmony Overrated

Dave Doyle writes that the Mets harmonious locker room is completely overrated. Don’t credit Jeff Francoeur. Winning games makes everyone happy and working well together.

Whenever the Mets go on a really good run or a really bad one the media comes out in force. The latest bandwagon jumper is Mike Lupica. He’s all over the Mets this week because they’re winning and doing it in style.

The focus of his latest column is how Jeff Francoeur saved the Mets locker room. Francoeur didn’t save anything. Winning a few games saved the Mets locker room.

It really doesn’t matter if everyone likes each other or not. It’s a job to these guys. Most people don’t go to work together and get along with everyone at their job. But most can work productively with others. It’s the same thing on a baseball team. It’s their jobs. They don’t have to get along with everybody and to expect them to do so is ridiculous.

Let’s save the talk about the harmonious locker room until the Mets raise the World Series trophy over their heads. That’s when we can talk about the love-fest in the clubhouse.

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Mets 2010 TV Schedule Is National

ESPN (UK)
Image via Wikipedia

The day off today gave me a chance to catch up on a column from Richard Sandomir for the Times that I haven’t gotten to yet this week. Between the hoopla surrounding the Mets resurgence and working hard this week, I just hadn’t gotten to it. But the day off is a good chance to address an important topic: the Mets have been on national TV a lot this season.

It’s especially surprising that ESPN and FOX would put the Mets on so frequently considering how pathetic they were last season. Apparently, the network execs expected a comeback when they worked out the season scheduling. Continue reading “Mets 2010 TV Schedule Is National”

Mets’ Ike Davis A Hit With Collectors

Davis is congratulated by teammates after a home run against the Atlanta Braves in the fifth inning of their MLB National League baseball game in New York

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.jsDarren Rovell writes in his Sports Biz column that collectors are lining up pre-orders for autographed baseballs from Ike Davis. Steiner Sports is selling his autographed photos for $49.99-$59.99 and baseballs for $59.99.

I’m not a collector but I like what I’ve seen from Davis in his first week and a half with the Mets. He certainly looks like he’s got the goods to stick around for a long time. If he does, the memorabilia should only increase in value.

Rovell talked to the founder and chairman of Steiner Sports Brandon Steiner:

Steiner says he never tells fans to buy autographs for the investment, but can’t help but mention that he sold Mariano Rivera’s autograph for $25 ten years ago. Signed Rivera balls now go for ten times that amount. In 1996, fans who paid for Derek Jeter’s first autograph signing paid $20.

“It’s one of the biggest pre-order responses we’ve had,” Steiner said. “It’s good for the industry.”

Maybe it’s time I get into the memorabilia game.

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Report: Mets 2010 Attendance Much Lower

Citi Field
Image via Wikipedia

The Mets had to expect some drop off from last year’s attendance. Even though the 2009 Mets were a horrible team, it was the opening season for Citi Field. The curiosity factor of the new stadium was sure to draw, and it did.

The luster of the new stadium is gone. It’s still new but not shiny and new anymore. The Mets did add some significant trimmings recognizing the history of the team. They forgot when they opened the stadium that the Mets did, indeed, exist prior to 2009. But that’s mostly fixed now.

If you’ve been to a game this season or watched on TV, you’ve noticed the abundance of empty seats. According to Fanhouse, the Mets set a new all-time low for single game attendance at Citi Field. And they’re down an average of 6,690 fans per game this year. Continue reading “Report: Mets 2010 Attendance Much Lower”