Tag: Fernando Nieve

Game Preview: Cardinals at Mets [Game 70] June 24, 2009

st_louis_cardinals_logoSt. Louis Cardinals (40-32 Road: 19-16) at New York Mets (35-34 Home: 20-14)   7:10 pm

Brad Thompson (2-2 3.89) vs. Fernando Nieve (2-0 1.84)

TV: SNY  Radio:  WFAN

What to watch: I’ll be at the game again tonight so you can follow my posts at Twitter. Thompson was working out of the bullpen earlier this season but he’s made four starts recently and hasn’t done too badly. The Cardinals have won three of the games that he started. He’s going up against David Wright and the Mets Triple-A all stars tonight so he has a good chance of continuing his success in the rotation. Nieve is hoping to continue his Cinderella performance with the Mets. If he has another good start, it could move Tim Redding to the bullpen when John Maine comes back from the disabled list.

Don’t forget to visit The Mets Report Live Game Chat during the game to chat with other Mets fans!

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Mets 5 – Rays 3 June 19, 2009

Well, I guess Fernando Nieve is proving us wrong. I thought after his debut first start against the Yankees that he was due for a beating by the Rays. But he was excellent again. Nieve went 6 innings giving up only one run. He’s going to give Tim Redding a run for a spot in the rotation when John Maine and Oliver Perez come back.

Bobby Parnell was roughed up again tonight. He’s still got good velocity but he isn’t fooling anyone. He’s given up 4 runs in 5 innings during the month of June. Compare that to 3 earned runs given up in 11 innings during May. Pitching coach Dan Warthen needs to put in some overtime with Parnell.

Another suprise on offense was Brian Schneider hitting a real bomb for a 3-run homer to right-center field. I never would have expected him to hit one to the deepest part of the park. David Wright had a nice RBI double but he struck out three more times tonight too. That’s 68 K’s for the season now. And Daniel Murphy had another 3 for 4 night to raise his average to .256. So he’s climbing out of the offensive cave that he’s been in. I still don’t think he has enough offense to be a major league first baseman though.

Francisco Rodriguez bounced back nicely from his first (legitimate) blown save last night, when he didn’t appear to have anything. He got a 1-2-3 ninth for the win. It’s good to see a quick recovery from him.

6.19.09

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Game Preview: Rays at Mets [Game 65] June 19, 2009

Rays logoTampa Bay Rays (35-33 Road: 14-21) at New York Mets (33-31 Home: 18-11)   7:10 pm

Andy Sonnanstine (5-6 6.65) vs. Fernando Nieve (1-0 2.08)

TV: SNY  Radio:  WFAN

What to watch: The AL champs come to town after losing 2 of 3 to the Rockies in Colorado. And Sonnanstine has been very inconsistent this season as you can see by his 6.65 ERA. The Mets have been stumbling badly, losing 4 of their last 5 series. Nieve had an unbelievable game in his first start as a Met against the Yankees. Let’s hope that he can keep it up because it looks like John Maine will be on the DL for a while.

Don’t forget to visit The Mets Report Live Game Chat during the game to chat with other Mets fans!

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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.

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Mets 6 – Yankees 2 June 13, 2009

I think the biggest surprise for everyone in this game is that Fernando Nieve was outstanding in his first start as a Met. He hasn’t started a game in the majors since 2006. He really shut down the Yankees with a good mid-90’s fastball and a solid slider. Nieve went 6.2 innings giving up 2 runs to a really good Yankees lineup. He’ll certainly rival Tim Redding for his spot in the rotation when John Maine comes back from the disabled list if he can keep this up.

The Mets pounded the Yankees pitchers for 17 hits, 12 off Andy Pettite who only went 5 innings. Omir Santos and Gary Sheffield hit homers and Fernando Martinez went 3 for 4. David Wright was also 2 for 5 raising his average to and eye-popping .365.

It was a nice game for the Mets but the biggest factor is that they didn’t show any hangover from last night’s brutal loss. I think part of their ability to recover is due to Jerry Manuel’s openness about these things. He doesn’t sugarcoat tough losses or shut down to the media like Willie Randolph did. I’m sure he’s the same way with the players too.

6.13.09

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Game Preview: Mets at Yankees [Game 60] June 13, 2009

Yankees LogoNew York Mets (31-28 Road: 13-17)  at New York Yankees (35-26 Home: 19-11) 4:10 pm

Fernando Nieve (0-0 0.00) vs. Andy Pettite (6-2 4.22)

TV: FOX  Radio:  WFAN

What to watch: The Mets need to pick themselves up after their brutal loss yesterday. That’s probably easier said than done. Nieve is making his first start since he was with the Astros in 2006. Pettite’s been pitching okay this season. The Yankees have won 5 of the last 6 games that he’s started. The real story here will be to see if the Mets fold after yesterday’s loss.

Don’t forget to visit The Mets Report Live Game Chat during the game to chat with other Mets fans!

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Mets Nieve To Start; Switzer Called Up

NEW YORK - MAY 15: John Maine #33 of the New ...
Image by Getty Images via Daylife

The Mets have decided to start Fernando Nieve in John Maine’s place against the Yankees tomorrow. He’s been with the Mets for about a week and he had been starting at Triple-A Buffalo. He started four games at Buffalo going 3-0 with a 3.70 ERA and .205 BAA.

Jon Switzer is getting the call up to replace Maine on the roster. He’s been doing well as a reliever at Buffalo. He’s pitched in 21 games out of the bullpen going 0-2 with a 2.13 ERA and .219 BAA. He’s a lefty that has a .186 BAA versus lefty hitters.

It’s more of a patchwork for the Mets roster and it’s really a dangerous situation when the starting pitchers are involved. At this point, the Mets really just need to hang on until some players come off the disabled list. If they can play .500 baseball until Jose Reyes and a few others come back there still should be plenty of time in the season to stay in playoff contention.

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