Mets Beat Sloppy Padres 7-2 April 15, 2009
Oliver Perez did a great job tonight going 6 innings with 1 run on 3 hits and 2 BB’s. It’s amazing how different he can be from start to start. He threw a lot more changeup’s than he has in the past. And I noticed that he wasn’t rocking his upper body in the “bowing” motion that he started last season. Clearly, he’s still trying to figure things out. Hopefully, he’s got something that works now.
The Mets took advantage of some extremely sloppy play by the Padres in the seventh inning scoring four runs. The Padres were throwing the ball around the infield like little leaguers. The two walks and an infield hit didn’t help things either.
Carlos Delgado hit one out to the overhang porch in right field for his 471st career homer. Gary Sheffield got his first start in right field. It was pretty uneventful going 0 for 2 with a walk and a run scored.
Daniel Murphy was absolutely brutal in left field blowing two plays. The league has already caught on to his defensive liability. The Padres were running on him in unusual situations. He also botched the easiest play he could make, he couldn’t even throw to home plate on a runner that was trying to score from second. He’s got no arm out there at all.
The Mets go to 4-4 on the season.
Game Preview: Padres at Mets [Game 8] April 15, 2009
San Diego Padres (6-2 Road: 1-0) at New York Mets (3-4 Home: 0-1) 7:10 pm
Kevin Correia (0-0 4.50) vs. Oliver Perez (0-1 16.62)
What to watch: The Mets host baseball’s main celebration of Jackie Robinson Day at Citi Field. Expect there to be a big pre-game festivity on the field. Gary Sheffield gets his first start as a Met in right field. We have absolutely no idea what to expect from Oliver Perez tonight. He appears to be getting more erratic this season than ever, and that’s saying something. Hopefully, he can get back on track tonight and get the Mets first win at Citi Field.
Don’t forget to visit The Mets Report Live Game Chat during the game to chat with other Mets fans!
Mets 2009 Payroll May Increase
I have to admit that I’m surprised to read a report at MLB.com that Mets GM Omar Minaya says that the team has the flexibility to add payroll this season. Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised given that the Mets have some new revenue from Citi Field. But given the current economy I thought that the Mets would stand pat at just over $139 million. Only the Yankees are higher this season at $206.8 million.
If the Mets do make moves before the trading deadline this season the most likely acquisition targets would be starting pitching and right-handed hitting outfielders. The list of potential targets is pretty impressive and will likely grow as teams fall out of contention and look to dump salaries. The overall economy may even enhance the number of players that become available this season.
The likes of Roy Halladay, Jake Peavey, Maglio Ordonez, Eric Byrnes, and Matt Holliday figure to become available via trade at some point this season. Apparently, the Mets could be in on some of these players during the season.
Citi Field Celebrates Jackie Robinson
The Mets and Citi Field will host the celebration of 62 years since Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier of baseball. The Citi Field Jackie Robinson Rotunda will be officially dedicated tonight. I’ve been critical of the Mets creating Citi Field as a celebration of New York’s baseball history but forgetting about the Mets. But it is nice on Jackie Robinson Day to have Citi Field be the center of the baseball world, at least for a day.
In the past few seasons, commissioner Bud Selig allowed players to wear Jackie’s number 42 that was universally retired in 1997. Some players wore it, and even some complete teams even wore the number. But today all teams will wear number 42.
I could go on about what Robinson did for baseball and the United States. But the real story is that the game that all of us love so much wouldn’t be anything like it is today if it wasn’t for Robinson. Now we have the chance to watch the best players in the world, not just the best white players. We’re all benefitting from what Robinson did.
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- The Spark: “Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball?” (dir.yahoo.com)
Video: ESPN Citi Field Tour
ESPN’s Jim Caple does a tour of Citi Field. If you’ve seen other video tours of Citi Field there really isn’t much new here. But its always interesting to see different vantage points in the stadium.
Padres Over Mets 6-5 April 13, 2009
The San Diego Padres managed to spoil the Mets grand opening of Citi Field by winning a close one 6-5. Mike Pelfrey definitely didn’t have it for the second start in a row. He went 5 innings giving up five runs on 8 hits and 2 walks. Jody Gerut led off the game with a home run to right field and we knew that we could be in for a long night.
The Mets did manage to put together a four run rally in the fifth inning capped by a 3-run homer by David Wright. But it wasn’t enough.
In the top of the sixth Ryan Church misplayed a fly ball off his glove. The runner, Luis Rodriguez, ended up scoring on a balk of all things by Pedro Feliciano. The Mets are finding new ways to lose in the early going this season.
The Padres win their fifth straight game as the Mets drop to 3-4. Heath Bell ended up getting his wish, he got the first save at Citi Field.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia
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