Dodgers- Mets Rain Out April 26, 2010

Raining on the NYPD's 'souped up street sweeper'
Image by John Wardell (Netinho) via Flickr

The Mets and Dodgers game is rained out tonight at Citi Field. They’ll play two games tomorrow starting at 4:10pm. Get this… It’s a single admission double header. Johan Santana will pitch the first game and Oliver Perez the second.

I think it’s been a while since they’ve played a single admission double header. Let me know in the comments if you know when the last one was.

I have to assume that the recent abundance of empty seats at Citi Field played a part in that decision. Imagine how many empty seats there would be if they were charging for both games.

If you had tickets for tonight you can exchange them for any future game based on availability. Check with the Mets box office (718) 507-TIXX.

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Preview: Dodgers at Mets April 26, 2010

Los Angeles Dodgers (8-10) at New York Mets (10-9)  7:10 pm

Hiroki Kuroda (2-0 2.18) vs. Oliver Perez (0-2 3.71)

TV: ESPN, SNY   Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Dodgers come to town for a three game series. They’re 5-5 in their last ten and just lost two of three in Washington. The Dodgers have won all three of Kuroda’s starts this season but he’s 0-2 with a 10.45 ERA in career against the Mets. The Mets have lost all three games that Perez started this year but he hasn’t pitched terribly in his last two starts. He’s only given up 3 ER in his last 11.1 IP.

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: Carlos Beltran and Bobby Bonilla

Bobby Bonilla 1990 Home
Image by BaseballBacks via Flickr

That’s a strange title for a post. Isn’t it? We haven’t heard Bobby Bonilla’s name for a long time and we’ve probably been the better for it. It’s a great way to start a Mets Links post though.

Here are the links:

I Heart Mets – They pick up a great story from CNN of how Bobby Bonilla is going back on the Mets payroll next year. It’s part of his deferred payment plan after he was waived by the Mets in 2000. The team owes him just over a million dollars every July from 2011-2035. What a deal!

Daily News – You have to love these occasional post from Mike Lupica about the Mets. He even writes with an air of superiority to the rest of us. This one start out like a fluff piece on Jose Reyes coming back and how well he’s starting to play. Then it turns ugly on Carlos Beltran. Lupica writes that Beltran is a bad contract and he’s staying away from the team so he can come back at 100% for his contract year in 2011. He also likens Beltran to Jason Giambi’s bad deal with the Yankees. It’s a bizarre turn in the column, even for Lupica.

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Mets 1 – Braves 0 April 25, 2010

Colorado Rockies vs New York Mets at Citi Field in New York

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.jsThe Mets swept the Braves with a 1-0 win in a 6 inning rain shortened game. It was finally called just after 11:30 pm. That’s a rough night for the fans that were at Citi Field for this one. I’ve been to a few rain outs but a Sunday night game in April is a really tough one to sit through.

Mike Pelfrey went to 4-0 with the win and extended his scoreless inning streak to 24 innings. He definitely didn’t have his best stuff tonight giving up 5 hits and 5 walks. But he was able to navigate the base runners without giving up a run. It’s a real sign of maturity that he’s able to do that.

The only run of the game was scored when Jose Reyes singled in the first inning, stole second, and scored on a throwing error by Larry Jones. The Braves were kicking the ball around throughout the series. So it’s fitting that they get swept on a run scored on an error.

The Dodgers come to town tomorrow night with Oliver Perez on the mound.

Box score

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Mets’ John Maine should go on Disabled List

New York Mets starting pitcher John Maine leaves the game after being injured against the Atlanta Braves in New York

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.jsWhen John Maine left Friday night’s game in the fourth inning, I thought it was something pretty bad to force him out of the game. It turns out that he was having spasms in his left (non-pitching) elbow that was causing pain. He told reporters that he’s expecting to make his next scheduled start on Wednesday at Citi Field against the Dodgers.

The problem is that Maine shouldn’t be making his next start. He should be headed for the disabled list. Even if it’s a faux injury like Oliver Perez had last season, he should take some time to get himself right at Triple-A Buffalo.

Something is clearly wrong with Maine this season. If you look at the radar gun readings, he just doesn’t have the same velocity that he had in years past. Maybe it’s the bone spur surgery that he had on his shoulder. Maybe he’s injured and doesn’t want to admit it. There’s no way to tell.

In four starts this season Maine has only pitched 16.2 innings and given up 25 hits, including 4 home runs, and 10 walks. His WHIP is a ridiculous 2.10 right now. Right-handed batters are hitting .421 against him. This just can’t continue. Continue reading “Mets’ John Maine should go on Disabled List”

Preview: Braves at Mets April 25, 2010

Atlanta Braves (8-9) at New York Mets (9-9)  8:05 pm

Tommy Hanson (1-1 2.81) vs. Mike Pelfrey (3-0 0.86)

TV: ESPN   Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Mets attempt to put the hammer down on the Braves tonight on national TV and go for the sweep. Pelfrey has been unbelievable this season with 3 wins and 1 save in the four games he’s appeared in. The word is that Henry Blanco will be catching Pelfrey again, even though he started yesterday’s game. Hanson has pitched pretty well so far this season. The Braves won two of three games that 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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Jon Niese is “Nice”

Mets starting pitcher Niese leaves the game against Braves in New York

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.jsOk, I have to admit I really was down on this pitching staff early this year. I thought that Jon Niese would never make it as a fifth starter and that we would be going through one retread pitcher after another in our quest to find that decent fifth starter who can also eat innings.

Neise was Nice! This was a solid 5 1/3 innings of 5 hit, 1 run pitching that will lock down the fifth starter position. I will accept a game pitched like this from our #5 starter any day of the week.

The 116 piches and 5 walks allowed prevented him from staying in the game longer and getting the win. If Niese can improve on his “Nice” he could turn in a decent year.

With Johan Santana holding his own, Mike Pelfrey turning into Superman and even Oliver Perez showing signs of life, having four of our five pitchers in good form is a pleasant surprise. Good enough to win the division? No. Good enough to stay in the race until the trading deadline in July? Definitely! Continue reading “Jon Niese is “Nice””