D-Backs 7 – Mets 4 Aug. 10, 2009

PHOENIX, AZ - MAY 6:  Mike Pelfrey #34 of the ...
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Mike Pelfrey came back to the Mets with a thud, giving up 5 runs in 6 innings. He didn’t get any help from Angel Pagan in center field. Pagan had a throwing error and made a terrible diving attempt at a line drive by Doug Davis that went for a double. Elmer Dessens threw some gas on the fire too, giving up 2 runs in the seventh inning, including a solo home run.

The Mets offense wasn’t terrible. They actually managed to get two extra base hits of their nine total hits. That’s an explosion for this weak team. Anderson Hernandez and Luis Castillo had two hits apiece.

The Mets did score two in the ninth but it wasn’t even close to enough for a comeback.

The Mets are back to their losing ways after a brief respite yesterday.

Box score

Mets 9 – Cardinals 0 August 5, 2009

NEW YORK - APRIL 15:  Gary Sheffield of the Ne...
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The Mets broke out the bats for this one and rocked the Cardinals before leaving for San Diego today. The bad news is that they lost two more players in the process. Jon Niese started the game and went 1.2 innings only giving up 1 hit and 1 walk. But in the second inning he was covering first base on a ground ball and appeared to be hurt badly. He went into the splits with his front leg slipping in the dirt. He attempted to throw a pitch to test the leg and went down in a heap on the mound. And he was carried off the field by the trainers. It looked pretty serious.

Gary Sheffield left the game in the bottom of the sixth inning after hitting a ball to the wall in left center. It looked like an easy double but Sheffield stopped at first base and immediately walked off the field. Apparently, his right hamstring was bothering him again.

The Mets got some outstanding offense for a change. They were all over Kyle Lohse for 5 of their 9 runs. He couldn’t make it out of the third inning. David Wright and Angel Pagan did the most damage getting three hits apiece and both homered in the game.

Nelson Figueroa got another chance today and made the most of it going 4.1 scoreless innings in relief of Niese. Bobby Parnell then came in and threw 3 scoreless innings. After the game, Jerry Manuel said that they’re stretching Parnell out in anticipation that he’ll be moving to the rotation.

The Mets leave for San Diego feeling a little better about themselves after taking a beating at home by the D-Backs and splitting the two-game series with the Cardinals.

Box score

Mets 4 – Reds 0 July 11, 2009

Tonight’s game was marked by the debut of Jeff Francoeur with the Mets and Johan Santana getting back to his old form. Santana went 7 shutout innings giving up only five hit and 1 walk. He was outstanding and appears to be over whatever problems have plagued him over the last month and a half.

All of the Mets runs were scored in the first and second innings. And Francoeur chipped in with 2 RBI’s on a bloop single in the first inning down the right field line. That was one of his 2 hits on the night. Although he did have an ugly steal attempt and was picked off by the pitcher. Angel Pagan also had 2 hits including a triple and played a very nice center field tonight. Omir Santos was 3 for 4 tonight which is a nice recovery for him from a slump that had me doubting his viability as a big league hitter.

7.11.09

Mets Injury Updates: Maine, Perez, Pagan, Wagner

John MaineThe Mets media got an update on some of the players that the Mets have on the disabled list right now. Jose Reyes, J.J. Putz, and Carlos Delgado are still in New York. They’re not rehabbing in Florida yet, so we don’t have any updates on them.

Oliver Perez threw three shutout innings in an extended spring training game in Port St. Lucie yesterday. He got through three innings with 48 pitches and his fastball was clocked in the low 90’s. He’s nearly pain-free and is pitching every five days now.

John Maine threw 60 pitches in a simulated game in Florida yesterday as well. He was rusty and felt a “pinch” in his right shoulder that’s been diagnosed as a pinched nerve. Maine won’t come off the disabled list next week when he’s eligible, so we have to get used to Fernando Nieve for a while.

Angel Pagan is rehabbing a right groin strain and should be back with the Mets in 10-12 days.

Billy Wagner is throwing three bullpen sessions per week. And he should start facing hitters in about two weeks.

If the Mets can get Reyes, Maine, and Perez back within a reasonable period of time they should be fine this season. If these key injuries drag on, I think that the Mets will have trouble contending for a playoff position. You can’t lose 2/5 of your starting rotation and expect to have a solid season. I just don’t see that happening.

Report: Mets Deal With Injuries, Swine Flu Scare

Carlos BeltranBart Hubbuch of the New York Post is reporting today that SNY producer Dan Barr was sent back to New York and put in isolation while being evaluated for swine flu. With Carlos Beltran and John Maine already missing time due to the flu, this is a scary situation.

Beltran hasn’t played since he left Saturday’s game feeling ill. And Maine left his start on Sunday feeling ill with stomach problems as well. The Mets feel that both players are not at risk for swine flu.

Barr did travel on the team flight to Pittsburgh on Sunday, that’s when he started feeling sick. The Mets are so banged up right now that this is the last thing they need.

Maine stayed in New York to recover and flew to Pittsburgh today. I was surprised that Beltran wasn’t playing again today. The good news is that Alex Cora is back on the roster today. He replaced Angel Pagan who went on the disabled list yesterday with a strained groin.

Dodgers 3 – Mets 2 May 18, 2009

The Mets got a good game from Tim Redding (6 IP 2 ER) and five relievers. But the game turned into a complete joke for the Mets in the eleventh inning. They had five errors in the game. You read that correctly, five errors in the game.

In the eleventh Ryan Church scored from first on a double to the wall by Angel Pagan. Pagan had a great game going 4 for 6 batting leadoff. The Dodgers appealed at third base and the umpire ruled that Church missed the base and was called out. The replay appeared to show that Church did miss the base. The Mets lead was erased.

Fast forward to the bottom of the eleventh. Pagan and Carlos Beltran let a ball drop between them in left-center. That led to a bases loaded no outs situation with Brian Stokes on the mound. Beltran was called in to play a five man infield. Jeremy Reed picked up a ground ball and made a wild throw home to allow the winning run to score.

This was an ugly, ugly loss. You’re not going to win many games when you’re kicking the ball around like the Mets did tonight. Five errors is like a bad high school team.

Before the game Alex Cora was put on the 15 day disabled list with a strained thumb ligament suffered in San Francisco. Ramon Martinez was called up to replace him and started at short. Of course, he promptly had 2 errors in his first (and maybe last) start there.

51809

Mets Angel Pagan Arrested In Florida

MLB: MAR 04 Spring Training - Mets at Nationalshttp://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.js
Several media outlets are reporting today that Mets OF Angel Pagan was arrested in Florida yesterday after being stopped for speeding on I-95. The Florida state trooper ran a routine check of Pagan’s license and found out that it was suspended. Apparently, he has warrants out for him for unpaid traffic tickets from 2005 and failure to appear in court for those tickets.

Pagan has been in Florida rehabbing after having right elbow surgery during spring training. I know that Mets ownership hates to appear in the police blotter. But this certainly isn’t a terrible offense like Ambiorix Burgos. Although embarrasing, it certainly isn’t at the level of David Cone exposing himself in the bullpen or Mark Corey and Tony Torasco smoking pot near the stadium.