Preview: Mets at Braves August 31, 2010

New York Mets (65-66)  at Atlanta Braves (76-55) 7:10 pm

Jon Niese (8-6 3.63) vs Mike Minor (2-0 4.00)

TV: SNY  Radio: WFAN

What to watch: Niese got hit really hard by the Marlins in his last start for 7 runs in 5.2 innings. It was his first poor start since Aug. 1. Minor is making his fourth start of the year and he’s pitched pretty well so far. He’s won his last two starts but they were against the Nats and Cubs.

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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Video: Oliver Perez on Aug. 30, 2010 Appearance

New York Mets starting pitcher Oliver Perez reacts after being pulled from the game in the fourth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Citi Field in New York City on May 9, 2010. UPI/John Angelillo Photo via Newscom

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsLast night Oliver Perez actually pitched an inning in a game. He allowed 1 run on 1 hit and 2 walks including a solo homer to Brian McCann on his second pitch of the inning. It was his first appearance since Aug. 1. At that rate, Perez is earning $1 million per appearance in the month of August. His ERA in August is a hefty 15.00.

Perez has only been in 15 games this year and started 7. It’s been one of the ugliest seasons for a pitcher that I can remember.

By the way, if you search on Facebook for Oliver Perez you’ll find some great pages. There are pages like: “Oliver Perez Sucks!”, “I’d pay the Mets $10 to get rid of Oliver Perez”, and “I hate to even look @ Oliver Perez”.

ESPN caught up with Perez in the locker room last night after the game. Check out the video below of what he had to say. He’s working hard in the bullpen…

http://espn.go.com/videohub/player/embed.swf

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Braves 9 – Mets 3 August 30, 2010

New York Mets starting pitcher Pat Misch throws against the Chicago Cubs in the first inning at Wrigley Field in Chicago on August 28, 2009. UPI /Mark Cowan Photo via Newscom

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsIt’s really become sad to watch the Mets season dissipate like this. Pat Misch got rocked by the Braves tonight to the tune of 5 runs in 3 innings. The big blow was a 3-run homer by Jason Heyward in the second inning.

Oliver Perez made a rare appearance in a game tonight and Brian McCann deposited his second pitch in the right field seats.

As usual, the Mets had very little offense with 9 hits and 6 walks. They left 12 runners on base and only Jeff Francoeur (2 for 5) had more than one hit in the game.

The Mets drop the opener of the series as the season winds down.

Box score

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Preview: Mets at Braves August 30, 2010

New York Mets (65-65)  at Atlanta Braves (75-55) 7:10 pm

Pat Misch (0-3 3.50) vs Jair Jurrjens (5-4 4.36)

TV: ESPN  Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Braves are coming off winning a series over the Marlins at home. Jurrjens got hit really hard by the Rockies in his last start giving up 7 runs in 5.1 innings. Misch is making his fourth start of the year and the Mets have lost all three games he started. Although Misch didn’t pitch poorly, the Mets have only scored 6 runs over the three games Misch 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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Preview: Astros at Mets August 29, 2010

Houston Astros (59-70) at New York Mets (64-65)  1:10 pm

Bud Norris (6-7 5.03) vs R.A. Dickey (8-5 2.64)

TV: SNY  Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Astros and Mets play the rubber game of the series today before the Mets head to Atlanta to begin a long road trip. The Mets have won the last three games that Dickey started. But he didn’t have his best stuff in his last start against the Marlins giving up 5 runs in 7 innings. The Astros have won the last 6 games that Norris started including Aug. 19 against the Mets. In that game Norris went 7 innings and allowed 2 runs while getting a win.

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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Astros 4 – Mets 1 August 28, 2010

New York Mets starting pitcher Johan Santana throws a pitch to the Colorado Rockies in the fourth inning of their MLB National League baseball game in New York, August 12, 2010. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsJohan Santana took another loss tonight, his third straight. Although this time he didn’t pitch a complete game. He went 7 innings and allowed all 4 runs. Houston put up 2 against him in the first and then two more in the fifth on a 2-run homer by Carlos Lee.

As always, the Mets had no offense. They had 9 hits and 1 walk in the game but only put up 1 run. The Mets didn’t even score the run until the bottom of the eighth when David Wright singled in Luis Castillo. That was the offense…

The Mets and Astros will play the rubber game of the series tomorrow afternoon.

Box score

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Video: Jason Bay Talks Return to Mets

New York Mets Jason Bay (R) is congratulated by teammate Jeff Francoeur after scoring a run against the San Francisco Giants during the 10th inning of their MLB National League baseball game in San Francisco, California July 18, 2010. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsLast night Jason Bay was at Citi Field talking to reporters before the game against the Astros. He’s been out for about five weeks with concussion symptoms from his wild catch into the wall in Los Angeles more than a month ago.

Bay has finally been cleared to start working out and he’s hoping to play again this season. But it doesn’t seem possible that he could start working out, then start baseball activities, and then play in rehab games before the end of the season.

Check out the video from ESPN below of Bay talking about his symptoms and trying to come back.

http://espn.go.com/videohub/player/embed.swf

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