Mets’ Church Unavailable Today

PORT SAINT LUCIE, FL - MARCH 01: Manager Will...Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Ryan Church left last night’s game in Philadelphia complaining of dizziness. The Mets team doctors spoke to Church and feel that it’s a migraine situation not a recurrance of the post concussion syndrome. He missed two weeks on the disabled list last month due to concussion-related problems.

Church won’t play today against the Phillies in the third game of the four game series. He’s played so well this season for the Mets that it would be a real shame for him and the team if this was an ongoing problem.

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On Deck: July 6- Mets At Phillies (Game 3)

New York Mets (43-44 Road: 21-26) at Philadelphia Phillies (48-40 Home: 23-19) 1:35pm

Oliver Perez (6-5 4.98) vs. Kyle Kendrick (8-3 4.58)

TV: CW11 Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Mets cut the Phillies lead down to 4.5 games last night and have a chance to do some more damage this afternoon. Perez is coming off his best start of the season against the Yankees but hasn’t pitched in seven days so the Mets could separate he and Johan Santana. We’ll see how that affects his game. Kendrick is 6-1 in his last ten starts so he’s been pitching really well for the Phillies.

Maine Hurt As Mets Drop Phils 9-4

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Video Highlights

John Maine went 5.2 innings before a cramp in his non-pitching forearm forced him to leave the game. He looked much better than his previous start in St. Louis when he complained of dead arm symptoms. The cramp in his forearm didn’t appear to be too serious though.

The Mets scored nine runs, so there were many offensive stars. But Damion Easley really stands out. He went 3 for 5 last night with an RBI and has really been a consistent offensive force. It’s going to be tough for Luis Castillo to break into the starting lineup when he comes off the disabled list.

The top of the eighth was tremendously exciting for the Mets (and fans). Easley scored on a wild pitch. Then Brian Schneider came off the bench to hit a huge pinch hit two run double to right. He’s been on the bench a lot lately but after that hit he’s guaranteed to be starting today.

The Mets tacked on three more runs in the ninth to secure the game in a must-win situation for the Mets. It was a great game to watch. Both managers emptied their benches including back up catchers which is really rare for a regular season game. It was obvious that both managers were going all out for the win. Gary Cohen mentioned during the SNY broadcast that it was a playoff atmosphere and he couldn’t have been more correct.

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Link: Rollins Analyzes Reyes

Mets vs. Marlins March 31, 2008Ben Shipgel of the New York Times has a terrific column today interviewing Philadelpha Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins about what he sees in Jose Reyes. There are many similarities in their games. As a matter of fact, I compared the two back in April which you can read here.

Shipgel writes:

“Sometimes it takes a year or two, but with me, it took three,” Rollins said in a recent interview. “I was the same way until I figured out who the heck I was. I could run, I could play, I was fast, but it was all raw ability. But now, I’m showing off my raw ability, with learning, with knowledge. I’ve learned the game. I understand the game. You come out of that, you’re a completely different player.”

That’s a great quote that he got from Rollins. Reyes still hasn’t gotten to that point yet, but he will. Hopefully he’ll still be a Met when he does because he’ll be unstoppable.

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On Deck: July 5- Mets At Phillies (Game 2)

New York Mets (42-44 Road: 20-26) at Philadelphia Phillies (48-39 Home: 23-18) 7:05pm

John Maine (8-6 3.86) vs. Jamie Moyer (7-6 4.13)

TV: SNY  Radio: WFAN

What to watch: After last night’s abysmal loss, the Mets absolutely need to win this one. Maine was really bad in his last start in St. Louis and said his arm felt dead. It would be a huge problem for the Mets if he struggled again tonight. Moyer has lost his last three starts despite not pitching too badly. He’s even gone six innings or more in six of his last ten starts. Not bad for a 45 year old who was drafted in the sixth round of the 1984 draft.

Pulling Santana After Eighth Was The Right Decision

The analysis of Jerry Manuel’s move last night to pull Johan Santana seems to have come down on the side of leaving Santana in to pitch the ninth inning. Hindsight is 20/20 but I would’ve made the same decision as Manuel.

There’s no need to leave Santana in a tie game for the bottom of the ninth inning. All he can do is hold or lose the game, he’s not going to win it for the Mets. Although he had thrown just 95 pitches Santana is going to be here for six more years so that has to be kept in mind. There’s no need to max him out in a game that he can’t win. If the Mets were up by one or two runs, I would’ve left Santana in there to close it out.

The only thing that I might have done would’ve been to pull the plug on Duaner Sanchez after Pedro Feliz doubled off him. Shane Victorino is a much better left handed hitter. So Manuel could have used Scott Schoenweiss or Pedro Feliciano to turn him around. Victorino hits .213 against lefties versus .289 versus righties.

Sanchez hasn’t given up a run since June 10th. That’s ten appearances since the last run he’s given up. He’s earned his spot at the end of the bullpen. So I don’t have a problem with him coming in for Santana in the ninth.

There’s no point in having your best pitcher, whether its Santana or Billy Wagner, pitch the ninth inning of a tie game. I’ve written about that before here. Santana or Wagner should be used to lock down a win at the end of a game not hold it for someone else.

Phils Over Mets 3-2 On Walk Off Hit

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Video Highlights

The Mets dropped the first game of the four game series to the Phillies and wasted another great start by Johan Santana. He went eight innings giving up only two runs on six hits and no walks. He had a hiccup in the sixth giving up two runs but other than that he was masterful.

The offense failed the Mets again tonight. After getting some good hitting in St. Louis the Mets reverted to form. Ramon Castro went 2 for 3 with a double but that was about it for any kind of offensive star of the game.

Duaner Sanchez lost the tie game in the ninth inning after giving up a double to Pedro Feliz, then a single to Shane Victorino scoring Feliz.

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