Mets 10 – Brewers 4 May 30, 2010

Mets batter Francoeur hits a solo home run off of Braves starting pitcher Medlen in MLB National League action in Atlanta

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.jsThe Mets avoided the sweep with a win in the finale of the series in Milwaukee. Jerry Manuel ran a strange lineup out there with Fernando Tatis playing first and hitting cleanup. Tatis has been historically poor against Randy Wolf, so the idea was clear that Ike Davis would get into the game at some point. Davis came in as a defensive replacement in the sixth.

R.A. Dickey was solid going 7 IP and giving up 4 ER. His knucler wasn’t working that well so we saw a lot more fastballs than in prior starts. But he managed to keep the Mets in the game without his best stuff.

The Mets offense exploded today with 16 hits and 8 walks. Jeff Francoeur was 4 for 5 with 2 doubles, 3 runs, and 2 RBI’s. A huge game for him. Hopefully, that will get him going again. Angel Pagan also had another good game at the plate. He went 2 for 5 with his fourth homer, 2 runs, and 2 RBI’s. Even Luis Castillo got in on the act with a big two-out single to score 2 in the sixth.

It was a good way to finish a series that started badly. The Mets are off to San Diego to begin a series tomorrow night.

Box score

Mets’ Daniel Murphy To Minors After DL

New York Mets Daniel Murphy walks to the dugout against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field in New York

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.jsThe Mets beat writers all had posts about Daniel Murphy recovering from his strained knee ligament in Florida, then going to Triple-A Buffalo when he comes off the disabled list. The plan is for Muphy to play first base immediately just to get some at-bats. Then they’re going to work with him on becoming a utility player.

The odd thing is that you don’t see many 25 year-old utility players out there. It’s usually older players that have been around for a while doing that job. I wouldn’t be happy about it if I was Murphy. That really cuts into his earning potential. Utility players are typically the lowest paid players on a team. His long-term earning potential in the Major Leagues is cut significantly by being pigeon-holed as a utility player. I’m sure he seems himself differently than the Mets organization does.

If Murphy comes back to the big’s after transforming himself into a utility player, who’s roster spot is he going to take? Frank Catalanotto and Fernando Tatis would be the obvious players to go. They’ve both been rotting on the Mets bench in April. Catalanotto has 20 at-bats this season and Tatis has 29. Continue reading “Mets’ Daniel Murphy To Minors After DL”

Mets 4 – Cubs 0 April 20, 2010

New York Mets starting pitcher Mike Pelfrey throws a pitch to the Chicago Cubs in the second inning of their MLB National League baseball game in New York

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.jsI have to admit that it’s surprising to see the Mets win two in a row and have a shot to finally win a series this season. This is how the Mets drew it up in the offseason. Mike Pelfrey had another dominant performance for his third win of the season. Pelfrey has been unbelievable and the split finger that he’s throwing now is completely working for him.

The offensive hero of the game was Jose Reyes going 4 for 5 with a 2-run triple in the second inning. Reyes finally looked like he was on the ball after appearing to be have no timing over the last couple of weeks.

Fernando Tatis chipped in with a nice pinch-hit 2-run homer in the eighth to tack some run onto the lead. That’s exactly what you need to win close games. And pinch hitting is where Tatis can be really valuable to the Mets. He’s just not an everyday player, especially at first base. He isn’t consistent enough on a daily basis, but really seems to have a knack for pinch hitting. At least he did in 2008. Maybe he can recapture some of that magic.

Box score

Rockies 11 – Mets 3 April 13, 2010

MLB: New York Mets at Los Angeles Dodgers

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.jsThe Mets lost their third straight game to start the series in Colorado. John Maine was crushed for 8 runs in 3 IP. He had absolutely nothing and gave up 6 runs in the third inning with two outs. It’s starting to get ugly again for the Mets, not exactly the hot start that Jerry Manuel talked about all spring.

The Good – nothing

The Bad – Maine was horrible again and appears to have lost velocity; Jason Bay and Angel Pagan muffing a fly in left-center; Fernando Tatis looking uncomfortable at first base on a bad throw from Maine; Fernando Nieve giving up 3 runs in 0.1 IP

Just an awful effort from the Mets. That’s all there is to say. And I hate the live calls coming into the booth during blowouts. It’s so desperate, and  leads to Cohen and Hernandez senselessly defending their employer.

Box score

Cubs 5 – Mets 2 Aug. 28, 2009

CHICAGO - AUGUST 28: Pitcher Pat Misch #48 of ...
Image by Getty Images via Daylife

The Mets and Cubs were tied 1-1 after the first two innings. Pat Misch pitched an unbelievable game too. He went 7 strong innings only allowing the 1 run on 6 hits and 2 walks.

The Mets took a 2-1 lead on a double off the wall in left by Fernando Tatis in the eighth. But the bottom of the inning was a disaster for Brian Stokes. And he’s been pitching so well lately. He gave up 3 hits and a walk while only getting one out. One of those hits was a 3-run bomb by Alfonso Soriano. That was the game.

The Mets and Cubs play two more day games over the weekend.

Box score

Padres 8 – Mets 3 Aug. 6, 2009

Livan Hernandez
Image by tedkerwin via Flickr

If you didn’t stay up late to watch this one, you didn’t miss anything. The Mets made the nondescript Padres look like a good team. And the game was over in the third inning anyway. Livan Hernandez was horrible giving up 7 runs in 5 innings to a very weak San Diego lineup.

The Mets had very little offense and it didn’t help that Gary Sheffield couldn’t play. They only managed 8 hits and 4 walks. The only extra base hit was a double by Fernando Tatis. The impotent Mets offense couldn’t get much going against Padres rookie Clayton Richard.

Box score

Mets 7 – Rockies 3 July 27, 2009

It was another average, or maybe below-average start for Oliver Perez tonight. He went 5 innings giving up 3 runs on 103 pitches. And again, he had 4 walks. Perez just hasn’t been able to cut those down. The 3 runs he gave up were on two home runs as well. Brian Stokes put up two nice, scoreless innings in relief.

Jeff Francoeur homered again in the fourth inning. And the Mets put up 2 runs in the sixth inning to tie the game. The big hit came in the bottom of the eighth inning. Fernando Tatis hit a pinch hit grand slam with one out on an 0-2 count. I was completely expecting him to hit into another double play. But he hit a bomb to left-center. It’s great to see that from him. He’s had such a bad year after his big comeback last season.

7.27.09