Mets Option Jenrry Mejia To Binghamton

April 22 2010: Mets' relief pitcher Jenrry Mejia (32) delivers a pitch in the 9th inning during MLB action between the New York Mets and the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field in Flushing, New York. Mets defeated the Cubs 5-2.

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsThe Mets have finally given up on the idea of Jenrry Mejia relieving at the big league level this season. According to multiple media reports he’s been optioned to Double-A Binghamton to stretch out and start again.

Bobby Parnell will replace Mejia in the bullpen. He’s been pitching fairly well at Triple-A Buffalo where he’s 1-1 with a 4.14 ERA in 41.1 IP. He pitched in 68 games including 8 starts for the awful 2009 Mets to a 5.30 ERA.

I’m still not sure that I see Mejia as a starter. He’s clearly still a “thrower” not a pitcher. But the velocity that he generates and the lack of secondary pitches seems to me would be more of a fit in the bullpen than the rotation. Either way, he’s not developed enough to succeed in the majors in either capacity right now.

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Yankees 4 – Mets 0 June 20, 2010

New York Mets starting pitcher Johan Santana (R) reacts as New York Yankees batter Mark Teixeira runs toward home plate after he hit a grand-slam home run in the third inning of their MLB inter-league baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York, June 20, 2010. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsThe Mets lost the rubber game of the series behind Johan Santana. Mark Teixeira hit a third inning grand slam and that was all they would need. Santana ended up pitching 6 innings and giving up the 4 runs but he gave up 8 hits and a walk. So there were runners on frequently. It looked like Santana was laboring to get outs.

The offense just couldn’t get anything going against Sabathia today. They only had 4 hits and 2 walks. No player had more than 1 hit in the game.

The Mets drop 2 of 3 to even the season series with the Yankees 3-3 and finish a highly successful road trip at 7-2.

Box score

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Preview: Mets at Yankees June 20, 2010

New York Mets (39-29) at New York Yankees (42-26) 1:05 pm

Johan Santana (5-3 3.13) vs CC Sabathia (7-3 4.00)

TV: TBS, YES   Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Mets and Yankees play the rubber game of the series today with a great pitching match-up. Sabathia and Santana hooked up on May 23rd resulting in a 6-4 Mets win. Sabathia got hit pretty hard in that game and Santana pitching 7.2 IP of excellent ball. Jason Bay and Ike Davis had big games that day but Sabathia has been pitching pretty well since then.

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’ John Maine and Hisanori Takahashi

New York Mets starting pitcher Hisanori Takahashi delivers a pitch against the Baltimore Orioles in the first inning of their MLB interleague baseball game in Baltimore, Maryland June 12, 2010. REUTERS/Joe Giza (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsAs the Mets, winners of 19 of their last 25 games, continue to get solid outings from Japanese import Hisanori Takahashi, the future of John Maine becomes more of a question mark with the team. Friday night as Takahashi held the Yankees scoreless over 6 innings of work, John Maine was busy making his second rehab start in Buffalo, lasting 4.1 innings. Maine walked 3 and struck out 4 while throwing 88 pitches and allowing an unearned run, according to the Daily News. The high pitch count suggests more of the same from Maine upon his return.

John Maine’s case has been extremely frustrating recently as he has been forced to combat his surgically repaired right shoulder. We’ve seen his fastball dip from the mid 90’s to the mid to upper 80’s. Maine’s loss of velocity has seemingly gone hand in hand with his poor attitude on the mound and his stubbornness with manager Jerry Manuel and pitching coach Dan Wharthen.

I miss the John Maine of 2007, the pitcher who won 15 games and averaged 8.5 strikeouts per 9 innings. I miss seeing him run that rising fastball up the ladder. Jerry Manuel has already said that Maine will reclaim his role as a starter when he returns to the club. Continue reading “Mets’ John Maine and Hisanori Takahashi”

Yankees 5 – Mets 3 June 19, 2010

New York Mets batter Jose Reyes watches the ball after hitting a two-run home run against the New York Yankees in the third inning of their MLB inter-league baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York June 19, 2010. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsThe Mets finally lost in their eighth game of the road trip. It’s been an incredible run over the last week and a half. Mike Pelfrey gave up 2-run homers to Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson plus a run on a an infield ground ball in the first. His velocity was excellent but he just wasn’t fooling anyone today. The sinker and splitter weren’t moving as much as they normally do. Pelfrey takes the loss but got through 7 innings and gave up all 5 runs for the Yankees.

The Mets didn’t get the big offense that they’ve been getting on their recent run. They got 6 hits and 3 walks. All 3 runs were scored on Jose Reyes home runs. He led off the game with a homer and hit a 2-run shot in his second at-bat. That was it for the scoring. Angel Pagan had another nice game at the plate going 2 for 3 with a double. Oddly, he was caught stealing for the second straight game.

The Mets and Yankees will play the rubber game of the series tomorrow at Yankee Stadium.

Box score

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Preview: Mets at Yankees June 19, 2010

New York Mets (39-28) at New York Yankees (41-26) 1:05 pm

Mike Pelfrey (9-1 2.39) vs Phil Hughes (9-1 3.11)

TV: WPIX   Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Mets try to extend their winning streak to eight games today at Yankee Stadium. It looks like it’s going to be a perfect weather day to be out there. If you’re going, enjoy yourself today. It should be a great pitching match up of two of the best young starters in baseball this season. Pelfrey didn’t have his great stuff in his last start against the Orioles but it was enough to beat a struggling team. Hughes got hit hard by the Astros in his last start but still got the win. He gave up 5 ER over 5.2 IP. His only loss was to the Mets on May 22 when Jason Bay and Angel Pagan had big games against him.

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 4 – Yankees 0 June 18, 2010

New York Mets relief pitcher Hisanori Takahashi (47) is congratulated by shortstop Jose Reyes after he pitched out of a bases-loaded situation against the New York Yankees in the sixth inning of their MLB inter-league baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York, June 18, 2010. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsThe Mets won their seventh straight game behind a strong start from Hisanori Takahashi. He went 6 innings of shutout baseball and got out of a bases loaded jam in the sixth on a beautiful play by David Wright. Pedro Feliciano threw 2 shutout innings and looked better than he has all season.

The Mets had 8 hits and 6 walks on offense. They scored 1 run in the first and that held up until the eighth when they tacked on 2 more runs and 1 in the ninth. Jose Reyes stayed hot going 2 for 5 with 1 double and 1 RBI.

A shutout is a great way to start the three game series in the Bronx and keep the incredible road momentum going.

Box score

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