Tag: Francisco Rodriguez

Mets 2010 All-Star Lost Bonuses

One of the most interesting things about MLB contracts are the bonus clauses. They’re not allowed to give bonuses for most statistical performance entities. Many bonuses are structured around playing time or award selections. This is particularly true of free agent contracts and some arbitration eligible player contracts. I looked through Cot’s Baseball Contracts to see which Mets lost out on bonuses this year by not being selected to the 2010 All-Star game.

Here’s the list of lost bonuses:

  • Johan Santana – $100,000
  • Carlos Beltran – $100,000
  • Francisco Rodriguez – $100,000
  • Henry Blanco – $50,000

The Mets ended up saving $350,000 in bonus money this year and didn’t have to send the players above on a cross-country trip with the potential of getting hurt. It worked out really well for the Mets that none of their pitchers made the All-Star team. It’s always nice to have your players in the game for the exposure but the risk of a pitcher getting hurt is tough to swallow.

By the way, who would’ve ever thought that Blanco would have an All-Star clause in his contract?  He’s never been an All-Star in his career, so I don’t know where that came from.

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K-Rod and the Mets 2010 Bullpen

New York Mets pitcher Francisco Rodriguez follows through on a pitch against the Washington Nationals in the ninth inning of their National League MLB baseball game in Washington, July 3, 2010. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsForget Cliff Lee, how about solidifying the bullpen so that the anxiety levels of Mets fans throughout the Tri-State can subside late in games?

Yesterday (7/3), Francisco Rodriguez blew his fourth save of the season as he failed to protect a 5-3 Met lead in the bottom of the ninth against the Nationals. Following Ivan Rodriguez’s walk-off single to right, there was no pounding of the chest, no blowing kisses and pointing to the sky for our closer. Instead, the loss dropped the Mets to a disappointing 2-4 on the current road trip against sub-.500 NL East foes.

At this point, I am reluctant to even keep my television tuned into games when K-Rod enters in a save situation. Simply put, K-Rod is lacking as a stopper. He lacks the intimidation factor he once possessed with the Angels. He lacks good movement and location of his pitches. And he no longer is able to blow hitters away with plus velocity. His fastball is as straight as an arrow, and he often hangs his curveball. K-Rod’s control is erratic, and he has made a habit of getting behind in counts and putting runners on base. Basically, Franky has not given Mets fans a reason to feel confident in the 9th inning with a 1-3 run lead this season. With all of this said however, the one ounce of acclaim I will give him is that when his change-up is working he can be effective. Continue reading “K-Rod and the Mets 2010 Bullpen”

Mets 7 – Indians 6 June 15, 2010

New York Mets Ike Davis (29) is high fived by teammate David Wright after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning of the Mets MLB inter-league baseball game against the Cleveland Indians in Cleveland, Ohio June 15, 2010. REUTERS/Aaron Josefczyk (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsThe Mets won their fifth straight game behind Johan Santana. It was a shaky beginning for Santana giving up 3 runs in the second inning. But he settled down and ended up lasting 7 IP and giving up 4 runs.

The Mets offense was clicking again with 12 hits and 2 walks. David Wright was 3 for 5 with 3 RBI’s and has his average up to .293 now. Ike Davis was 2 for 4 with a long 2-run homer to center field.

The Indians helped them out with some ugly infield defense. Jason Donald especially was horrendous at shortstop and 2 errors. The Indians had 3 errors in the game.

Francisco Rodriguez did his best to give the game back to the Indians. He surrendered a 2-run homer in the ninth to Shelley Duncan. But he managed to squeak out of  it with a run to spare and another shaky save.

Box score

Padres 5 – Mets 1 June 2, 2010

San Diego Padres center fielder Tony Gwynn steals second base on New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes in the ninth inning during their National League MLB Baseball game in San Diego

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.jsFor the ninth time this season the New York Metropolitans lose a road series. After a promising home stand where the Mets won five of six against last year’s world series teams the Mets go on the road and lose series to the Milwaukee Brewers and the San Diego Padres.

Wednesday night’s game was the ultimate worst for Met fans.

The team got off to a nice start. Ace pitcher Johan Santana struggled but held the Padres scoreless and a fourth inning single by Jeff Francoeur scored Jason Bay. It wasn’t much but it was all Santana needed.

Santana held the Padres scoreless through 7 innings.

In the eighth inning the Mets use three different relievers, Pedro Feliciano, Elmer Dessens and Francisco Rodriguez, to get to the ninth inning.

Former Met Heath Bell shut down the Mets in the ninth, and K-Rod was set to save the 1-0 game.

However, K-Rod found trouble in the ninth when Tony Gwynn Jr, singled into right field and then surprisingly stole second on catcher Henry Blanco. That would prove to be huge. Rodriguez would strike out pinch hitter Matt Stairs and Jerry Hairston, Jr. Then the pesky David Eckstein would single to left field, scoring Gwynn and knotting the game at one a piece.

After a scoreless 10th inning, the Mets would come to bat in the 11th, without success. Then the Mets brought in lefthander Raul Valdes to pitch the 11th. Valdes would struggle. He would give up a double to Tony Gwynn Jr. A bunt was tried by John Garland, it was picked up by Valdes who fired it to third and the Mets had life. Valdes would load the bases for the Padres big hitter Adrian Gonzalez.

Gonzalez made solid contact and that sick in the gut feeling came for Met fans again. Gonzalez’s hit landed into the left field bleachers for a grand slam and the Mets lost a tough one in San Diego 5-1.

It’s the sixth grand slam given up by Mets pitching this season, the most in the majors.

The Mets failed to win their first road series since July of last year.

Box score

Mets 4 – Padres 2 June 1, 2010

New York Mets Wright beats tag at second by San Diego Padres Eckstein for third inning stolen base in San Diego

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.jsThe story of this game was the continuation of Mike Pelfrey’s fantastic season. He went 8 strong innings only giving up 1 run on 4 hits and 2 walks. He was in complete control. Francisco Rodriguez took over in the ninth and things went a little crazy but he got out of trouble. Rodriguez gave up 3 hits and 1 run but managed to work out of a jam.

The offense was led by David Wright going 3 for 4 with a solo homer. And Ike Davis was 2 for 4 with a 2-run homer. Overall, the Mets had 10 hits and 4 walks making a nice recovery from last night’s disaster.

Box score

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Video: Mets 5 – Yankees 3 May 22, 2010

Here’s some post-game video with Francisco Rodriguez and Jason Bay talking about their 5-3 win over the Yankees last night. You can see the details in the box score.

http://img.widgets.video.s-msn.com/flash/customplayer/1_0/customplayer.swf<br/><a href=”http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/mlb-on-fox-mets-down-yankees/12vd0ogg?fg=sharenoembed” target=”_new”title=”MLB on FOX: Mets down Yankees”>Video: MLB on FOX: Mets down Yankees</a>

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