Mets 1 – Phillies 0 August 7, 2010

New York Mets pitcher Johan Santana delivers a pitch to the Philadelphia Phillies during the second inning of their National League MLB baseball game in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 7, 2010. REUTERS/Tim Shaffer (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsThe Mets got a big game out of Johan Santana and they really needed it. Santana didn’t give up a hit until the sixth inning and ended up throwing 7.1 shutout innings. It was a nice comeback from two below-par starts. Cole Hamels was almost as good, only giving up 1 run in 7 innings. It was a classic pitchers duel.

The Mets offense was still sleeping with only 7 hits and 2 walks in the game. The Mets only run was on a solo shot by Jeff Francoeur in the seventh inning.

Ruben Tejada took over second base and made several outstanding plays in the field. Fernando Martinez also got into the game in right field late in the game.

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

Box score

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Preview: Mets at Phillies August 7, 2010

New York Mets (54-55) at Philadelphia Phillies (61-48) 7:05 pm

Johan Santana (8-6 3.20) vs Cole Hamels (7-7 3.56)

TV: WPIX  Radio: WFAN

What to watch: It’s only August, but games like this are starting to be “must-win” games for the Mets or their season will be finished soon. The Phillies have won the last five games that Hamels started but he’s been hit at times giving up 7 runs over his last two starts. The Mets have lost the last two games Santana started. He got rocked by the Cards for 7 runs then gave up 4 to the Braves in losses.

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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Mets Release Alex Cora, Demote Jesus Feliciano

Alex Cora
Image via Wikipedia

According to Adam Rubin of ESPN, the Mets have released Alex Cora and demoted Jesus Feliciano to Triple-A Buffalo. In corresponding moves, Fernando Martinez and Ruben Tejada are being called up and will be with the team tonight in Philadelphia.

Cora is in his second season with the Mets but hitting only .207 this year in 62 games. The problem with Cora is that his $2 million option for 2011 would vest when he played 80 games in 2010 which he would certainly reach. Management decided to nip that in the bud and release him.

Cora is a popular figure in the Mets clubhouse and a leader on the team. It’ll be interesting to see how the players respond to this adversity. Clearly, the message is that nobody is immune from being shipped out if they don’t perform.

Martinez and Tejada wouldn’t be joining the Mets if they weren’t going to get significant playing time. They’re both young, rising stars in the Mets organization. There’s no point in planting them on the bench. So you would expect other moves to be made to clear out more playing time for them. Specifically, Luis Castillo and Jeff Francoeur will probably be the next Mets players to go.

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Phillies 7 – Mets 5 August 6, 2010

July 16, 2010 - San Francisco, CA, United States of America - 16 July 2010; San Francisco, CA: New York Mets Jonathon Niese.

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsThe Mets looked like they were in great shape to win this game in the eighth inning. Jon Niese had an outstanding start going 7 innings and only allowing 1 run. He was in complete control after the first inning when he got out of a bases loaded situation.

The bullpen gave it up in the eighth with Bobby Parnell and Pedro Feliciano getting rocked for 6 runs and blowing the game.

The Mets had some offense going with 10 hits but no walks. Jeff Franoeur is back on a hot streak going 3 for 4. And the Mets made a run at a come back in the ninth but it was too little too late. Mike Hessman hit a 3-run homer to make it closer than the game really was.

The Mets continue their incompetence on the road with another loss as the season goes down the drain before our eyes.

Box score

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Omar Minaya Fails Chemistry 101

New York Mets General Manager Omar Minaya watches batting practice prior to the game against the Washington Nationals on September 18, 2008 at Nationals Park in Washington. (UPI Photo/Mark Goldman) Photo via Newscom Photo via Newscom

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I’ve been silent for almost two weeks because what I have been watching has left me speechless.

I could definitely say I told you so when, before the season started, I predicting this team was not much better than a 4th place team. I also continue to believe that the GM, Omar Minaya,  is the root cause of this teams problems.The Mets inspired play of May and June left me hoping that things were finally going to change. Wrong on that count. Omar’s high priced players are back and with it came the downfall of a lovable team that played above it’s talent level for at least 6 weeks.

 

Why is Omar the root cause of this teams problem?

Any business student could tell you the reason why and they wouldn’t even need to now anything about baseball. Anyone in the military could tell you the same thing. Anytime you have a breakdown in the chain of command your team will know it and respond accordingly. It always gets ugly!The only explanation for a team-wide collapse is that someone just above the manager (cough, cough, ahem… the GM) is cutting the managers feet out from under him by making some decisions that only the manager should be making. A GM should not be making out the lineup card and deciding who plays.

 

When this happens the whole team team chemistry gets screwed up. Players who earned playing time are no longer playing. Players who were leaders are now asked to sit the bench. Playing your butt off no longer earns you playing time, the size of your contract now determines your playing time. There is no incentive to perform.

This bad chemistry keeps breeding and growing turning player against player until even the good players, who play their hearts out, start to screw up. Continue reading “Omar Minaya Fails Chemistry 101”

Braves 8 – Mets 3 August 4, 2010

May 28, 2010- Milwaukee, WI. Miller Park..New York Mets pitcher Mike Pelfrey ..Milwaukee Brewers won over the New York Mets 2-0, taking the first game of the 3 game series against the Mets...Mike McGinnis / CSM.

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsIt’s games like this that make me think that there’s little to no hope left for the 2010 season. Mike Pelfrey couldn’t make it through the fifth inning after giving up 5 runs (3 earned). He gave up back to back homers to Jones and McCann in the third inning. It’s like he completely lost his control and hasn’t been able to find it for more than a month.

It was one of the sloppiest games the Mets have played in a long time with 4 errors. They had 3 errors in the sixth inning. Jose Reyes had two throwing errors himself! This game was a complete joke.

The Mets offense only had 6 hits but did have 6 walks. Luis Castillo was 2 for 3 and seems to have found his slap hitting stroke recently.

The Mets lose the series in Atlanta, have an off-day tomorrow, then head to Philly. It’s hard to imagine them having a chance of winning a series in Philly.

Box score

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Preview: Mets at Braves August 4, 2010

New York Mets (54-53) at Atlanta Braves (60-46) 7:10pm

Mike Pelfrey (10-5 4.10) vs Kris Medlen (6-2 3.66)

TV: SNY  Radio: WFAN

What to watch: Pelfrey just hasn’t been himself for a long time now. The Mets have lost five straight games that he started. They’ll need him to find it if they want to take the rubber game tonight. Medlen has been in and out of the rotation this season. He hasn’t pitched that well but the Braves won the last two games he 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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