Mets 4 – Cubs 1 Aug. 30, 2009

PORT ST LUCIE, FL - FEBRUARY 26: Pitcher Nels...
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The Mets avoided the sweep in Chicago on the back of Nelson Figueroa. He pitched into the eighth inning with 10 strikeouts and only allowing 1 earned run. He’s auditioning for someone for next season and really put on a show today. It still surprises me that they don’t give Figueroa a shot at the long man job out of the bullpen. I’d rather see him on the roster than someone like Tim Redding next season.

The offense was somewhat potent with 12 hits including 3 by Angel Pagan. Although the Mets only managed 1 extra base hit, a triple by Anderson Hernandez. The wind was blowing in today and the Cubs didn’t have any extra base hits.

The Mets are off tomorrow and start a series in Colorado on Tuesday night with David Wright back in the lineup.

Box score

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Preview: Mets at Cubs Aug. 30, 2009

cubs logo.pngNew York Mets (59-71 Road: 24-40) at Chicago Cubs (65-62 Home: 38-24) 2:20pm

Nelson Figueroa (1-3 5.40) vs. Carlos Zambrano (7-3 3.80)

TV: WPIX

What to watch: The Mets are trying to avoid the sweep today before they have a road off-day and then head to Colorado. Figueroa is making his fourth start of the season and pitched well in his last start at Florida. He went 5 innings only giving up 1 earned run in a 2-1 loss. Zambrano got bombed for 8 runs in 4.1 innings in his last start against the Nationals. But prior to that, the Cubs had won five straight games that he started.

Don’t forget to visit The Mets Report Live Game Chat during the game to chat with other Mets fans!

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Mets News Aug. 30, 2009 Wright, Minaya, Prospects

NEW YORK - MAY 13: Fernando Tatis #17 of the ...
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I’ve already written so much about the Mets injuries this season that I’m really tired of it. Unfortunately, the injuries are the theme of the season and I do have some more links on the topic for you today. But we do have something to look forward to as well with news about the Mets prospects and the ones that’ll be joining the roster in a few days.

Anyway, here’s the news:

  • Bill Madden of the Daily News has a great summarizing column about the injuries. The Mets have lost 1,095 days to the disabled list.
  • Bob Raissman of the Daily News wrote a column about Omar Minaya and his communication problems. This topic has been beaten to death but Raissman brings up some good points like whether Minaya has these same communication issues with his staff or other GM’s.
  • Although this isn’t Mets-related, David Waldstein of NY Times writes about players tipping pitches. Specifically, he gets into the allegation that Miguel Tejada was tipping pitches to his friends on opposing teams in 2001 when he was with the A’s (and Art Howe). It’s definitely an interesting read.
  • Dave Singer of NY Sports Dog has a good piece about Mike Pelfrey and the Verducci Effect.
  • Mark Hale of the NY Post wrote about Adam Wogan who’s been filling in for Tony Bernazard since he was fired.
  • Marc Hulet of FanGraphs wrote about the Mets having hope for the future with some minor league talent coming. Specifically, he writes about Kirk Nieuwenhuis a 22-year old lefty in the Florida State League.
  • The NY Times reports on David Wright returning from the disabled list on Tuesday in Colorado. He’ll immediately start wearing the new, more protective, batting helmet that we saw Ryan Dempster wearing yesterday.
  • Adam Rubin of Surfing The Mets has the September call-up list including catcher Josh Thole who will be with the team in Colorado this week.
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Cubs 11 – Mets 4 Aug. 29, 2009

SAN FRANCISCO - MAY 16: Bobby Parnell #39 of ...
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The Mets got their brains beat in on national TV by the underachieving Cubs today. The biggest culprit was Bobby Parnell getting ripped in his third consecutive start. Today he gave up 8 runs in 4.2 innings. He’s not fooling anyone with his weak slider that only appears to break about half of the time he throws it.

The Mets managed 9 hits but only two were for extra bases. Those were only doubles by Jeff Francoeur and Brian Schneider. Although Schneider had a 2 for 4 day and raised his season average to .188.

The game was over in the bottom of the fifth inning when the Cubs scored 6 including a grand slam by Jake Fox. All of the runs were on Parnell.

We did get our first look at Lance Broadway today. He was acquired from the White Sox in the Ramon Castro deal. He gave up 2 runs in 3 innings of mop-up duty to finish off the blowout game.

The Mets have lost the first two games of the series in Chicago. They try to avoid the sweep tomorrow afternoon.

Box score

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Poll: Mets Angel Pagan An Everyday Player

Angel PagaonOne of the things that I’ve wanted to get your opinion about is whether or not you think that Angel Pagan is an everyday player. He seems to be one of those five-tool players that’s always hurt. Pagan has tremendous athletic ability but he occasionally makes silly plays in the outfield or on the bases that make you shake your head.

Pagan has never played in more than 77 games in a season during his short career. Some of that was due to being an inexperienced player and some due to injuries. Clearly, he’s playing as well as he ever has as a Met since Carlos Beltran went on the disabled list. He has 211 at-bats this season, by far the most of his career.

The most likely determining factor into Pagan getting a shot to play everyday in left field next season is first base. Do the Mets continue with light-hitting Daniel Murphy at first and get a slugging outfielder in free agency? Matt Holliday and Jason Bay are both free agents after this season. Or do the Mets get a slugging first baseman and go with a more athletic outfielder like Pagan in left?

For those viewing this in a feed reader there’s a poll embedded in the post. Please visit the site to vote.

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Preview: Mets at Cubs Aug. 29, 2009

cubs logo.pngNew York Mets (59-70 Road: 24-39) at Chicago Cubs (64-62 Home: 37-24) 4:10pm

Bobby Parnell (3-6 5.08) vs. Ryan Dempster (7-7 4.07)

TV: FOX

What to watch: The Cubs are 2-4 in the last 6 games that Dempster started. Dempster certainly isn’t living up to the 4-year/$52 million contract he signed before this season. His career year last season at 17-6 with a 2.96 ERA is proving to be an aberration. The “Parnell Experiment” has really hit the wall. In his last two starts he’s given up 14 earned runs in 8 innings. If the wind is blowing out at Wrigley today this could be a very long game.

Don’t forget to visit The Mets Report Live Game Chat during the game to chat with other Mets fans!

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Fred Wilpon Denies Forced Sale Of Mets

Fred_WilponThe big news over the last couple of days is the bombshell that Fred Wilpon lost so much money in the Bernie Madoff scandal that he’ll be forced to sell the team. The story originated from author Erin Arvedlund, who’s writing a book about the Ponzi scheme called “Too Good To Be True”. In an interview promoting the book, she confidently told Marketwatch.com that Wilpon’s losses will force a sale of the Mets as early as next year.

Richard Sandomir of the NY Times spoke to Wilpon from his vacation in Aspen, CO.

“I’m fine, my family’s fine, my business family’s fine,” Wilpon said

It’s a good read from Sandomir. He even gets some quotes from Bob DuPuy, the President of Major League Baseball. Of course, DuPuy says that Wilpon is financially sound, etc. What else would he say? DuPuy isn’t dumb enough to start a panic by telling a reporter that one of his owners is financially distressed, not to mention that he’d be devaluing the Mets franchise. DuPuy just finished dealing with one MLB owner in bankruptcy with the Cubs situation.

It’s hard to tell fact from fiction here. Arvedlund has an interest in making splashy headlines to promote her book. And Wilpon has an interest in denying financial distress to maintain the value of his assets like the Mets and SNY. Each has the motivation to act accordingly.

Only time will tell if Wilpon is forced to put the Mets up for sale. We’ll have to look at some potential buyers for the Mets in a future post here. Do you have an extra $900 million?

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