Preview: Phillies at Mets Aug. 22, 2009

phillies logoPhiladelphia Phillies (69-50 Road: 37-21) at New York Mets (57-65 Home: 34-29) 7:10pm

J.A. Happ (9-2 2.66) vs. Tim Redding (1-4 6.53)

TV: SNY

What to watch: Redding is making his first start back in the rotation since the Mets released Livan Hernandez. Redding was the obvious choice for the rotation because he’s been rocked in his last two relief outings, giving up 6 earned runs over 4 innings. On the other hand, Happ has been outstanding this year. He hasn’t allowed more than 2 runs in his last four starts including a complete game shutout of the Rockies on Aug. 5.

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

Enhanced by Zemantahttp://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js

Gary Sheffield Unhappy With Mets; No Surprise

SAN FRANCISCO - MAY 17: Gary Sheffield #10 of...
Image by Getty Images via Daylife

It was bound to happen at some point this season and now it has. Gary Sheffield isn’t happy with the Mets and even asked out of the lineup on Thursday night. He did play Friday but got thrown out for arguing balls and strikes and it looked like it was on purpose.

For all the talk of Sheffield being a team player when they signed him in April, that’s over now. He wants out or he wants a contract extension and neither is going to happen. The reports were that the Giants claimed Sheffield on waivers but they couldn’t work out a trade that was satisfactory to the Mets. So the Mets pulled him off waivers and have to keep him for the rest of the season.

Sheffield was surprised that he had to learn about this development through media reports and not Omar Minaya. He told reporters after Friday’s game that he was confused why the Mets wouldn’t let him go to play for a contender in San Francisco.

The Mets only have to deal with this for nine more games to finish out the month of August. Then they can release Sheffield after September 1 so he wouldn’t be eligible for another team’s postseason roster. If he continues to make a nuisance of himself, that’s exactly what they should do.

Enhanced by Zemantahttp://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js

Mets Billy Wagner Claimed By Red Sox

Wagner
Image by phillenium1979 via Flickr

The Mets have an opportunity to come out from under a total of $3.7 million of Billy Wagner‘s contract. The reports are that he was claimed on waivers by the Boston Red Sox. I’m sure the Mets were shocked that anyone would claim Wagner after coming off Tommy John surgery and only pitching in one game on Thursday night.

The Mets now have until Tuesday to: 1) work out a trade with the Red Sox 2) let Wagner go to the Red Sox for nothing 3) pull Wagner off waivers and keep him for the rest of this season. Of course, option 1 is ideal but it will depend highly on how much of Wagner’s remaining salary ($2.7 million) and next year’s option buyout ($1 million) that the Mets are willing to eat. It also depends on Wagner allowing a trade because he has a full no-trade clause in his contract. The reports are that he wouldn’t allow a trade back to the Phillies but would go to a contender.

The Mets should just let Wagner go for nothing and have the Red Sox pick up the rest of his contract. At this point, the Mets are bordering on becoming one of the worst teams that money can buy in the history of Major League Baseball at almost $2 million per win. The only worse team was the 2008 Seattle Mariners, and that cost almost everyone in the front office and the manager their jobs.

For the sake of his reputation and legacy, Omar Minaya needs to drawn down the Mets financial exposure as much as possible. He’s already responsible for one of the worst trades in MLB history and now he’s on the verge of spending the second most money per win in history. Minaya could very well become known as one of the worst general managers in baseball’s 140 year history.

Enhanced by Zemantahttp://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js

Mets News Aug. 19, 2009 Church, Sheffield, Santana, Wagner

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 28: Manager Jerry Manuel ...
Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Of course, the big news of the day is the continuing feud between Ryan Church and Jerry Manuel. But there’s more on the heels of the Mets 9-4 win over Atlanta at Citi Field last night.

Here’s the news:

Enhanced by Zemantahttp://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js

Mets Jerry Manuel And Ryan Church Trade Shots

DENVER - JULY 11: Ryan Church #25 looks on fr...
Image by Getty Images via Daylife

The Atlanta Braves are in town and Jerry Manuel and Ryan Church took the opportunity to wage a mild war of words. Basically, Manuel said that David Wright’s concussion is being handled differently than Church’s because they’re “different animals”. Manuel later tried to clarify by saying they’re “different individuals” and apologized if Church took offense.

Church responded that he’s fighting for a playoff spot with the Braves and would take the high road by not responding negatively to Manuel’s apparent slight.

It’s difficult to understand why Manuel would use this situation to take a backhanded shot at Church after he’s already been traded away. As Joel Sherman properly points out today, Manuel should be the adult in any situation involving a player.

Despite the public denials, it’s clear for the world to see that these two just don’t like each other and probably never did. That’s fine. It happens. But Manuel needs to tone it down and keep his negative comments to himself about Church. There’s no point in continuing to take jabs at Church. He’s gone. It’s over. Just let it go.

Enhanced by Zemantahttp://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js

Mets In The News Aug. 18, 2009

NEW YORK - DECEMBER 02: New York Mets chief o...
Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Whether it’s a fastball bouncing off David Wright‘s helmet or an almost-forgotten closer returning from Tommy John surgery, the Mets always have something happening to peak our interest.

Here’s the Mets news for today:

  • Matthew Artus of Always Amazin’ hopes that we don’t see David Wright on the field again this season
  • Dave Singer of NY Sports Dog tries to come up with some names for David Wright’s hideous shirt
  • Tejesh at Mets Prospect Hub has his 8/18 links up. The Mets are done, it’s time to keep an eye on what players can help this team next season
  • Dave at Mets Lifers has a great post up comparing the offensive deficiencies of Brian Schneider to Charlie O’Brien. Must read!
  • Joe Janish at Mets Today writes about Jeff Wilpon’s trek across New York state apologizing for the pathetic teams that the organization is fielding, the journey started in Buffalo and should end in Flushing
  • Kerel Cooper of On The Black recaps the Giants series and doesn’t want to see Livan Hernandez start another game for the Mets
Enhanced by Zemantahttp://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js

Preview: Braves at Mets Aug. 18, 2009

braves logoAtlanta Braves (62-56 Road: 30-29) at New York Mets (55-63 Home: 32-27) 7:10pm

Derek Lowe (12-7 4.08) vs. Oliver Perez (2-3 5.97)

TV: SNY

What to watch: The Braves come to town hot, winning seven of their last nine games. Lowe has won his last five decisions and hasn’t lost a game since July 5. You already know about the Mets struggles but Perez has pitched well lately only allowing 2 earned runs over 11.2 innings in his last two starts. This will be Ryan Church‘s first game back at Citi Field since being traded to the Braves. I expect him to get a good welcome back from the crowd and everyone on the team, except for maybe Jerry Manuel.

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

Enhanced by Zemantahttp://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js