Tag: Gary Sheffield

Mets 6 – Nationals 1 May 26, 2009

Tonight’s game was the Livan Hernandez show. He went the distance only giving up a solo homer to Adam Dunn. He gave up 9 hits and 1 walk and threw 127 pitches in the game.

The Mets offense was solid but the big hit came from Gary Sheffield. For the second night in a row he hit a 3-run homer, this one a line shot to straight away left field. His average is up to .291 for the season and he’s filling in quite capably as the Mets cleanup hitter.

The Mets take the second game of three from the Nationals and go for the sweep tomorrow night behind Johan Santana.

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Mets Delgado Needs Surgery; Out Two Months

Carlos DelgadoBreaking news this afternoon that Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado will have surgery tomorrow to repair a torn labrum and remove a bone spur in his hip. The surgery will keep Delgado away from the team until mid-July. Unfortunately, this is the kind of thing that happens with older players in the last year or two of long term contracts. The Mets were bitten by similar situations with Pedro Martinez.

Delgado will be 37 years old in June and leaves the Mets with somewhat of a hole in the lineup and at first base. I don’t think the Mets will be pursuing a trade before the deadline in July as some of the baseball know-it-all’s have speculated in recent days.

Expect Fernando Tatis, Daniel Murphy, and Jeremy Reed to split time. Murphy can consider this an audition for next season when Delgado certainly will be gone from the Mets. I believe that he’ll have a hard time holding off Tatis for playing time. Tatis has proven that he’s more than capable in the field and has some good power in his bat. The only question is whether his warts will be exposed with increased playing time.

Not to be lost in this story is the foresight of Omar Minaya acquiring Gary Sheffield last month. He’ll have the next two months to prove that he’s still got that old lightning in his bat that the Tigers thought was gone when they released him.

If Delgado doesn’t look like he can make a successful comeback in July the Mets can pull the trigger ona deal before the trading deadline on July 31. Unless the Mets can get something for nothing, there’s no reason to hit the panic button yet.

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Mets 9 – Giants 6 May 16, 2009

It wasn’t a classic game for Johan Santana, but he got enough run support to get the win. He went 7 innings giving up 6 runs (4 earned) and had 7 strikeouts and no walks. He overcame two errors by Luis Castillo and David Wright to get through 7 innings, which was critical with Francisco Rodriguez having pitched four days in a row.

The middle of the Mets lineup was devastating to the Giants today. Carlos Beltran, Gary Sheffield, and Wright had three hits apiece of the Mets 16 hits on the day. Randy Johnson was no match for the Mets offense giving up 7 runs in 4 innings of work. It’s painful to watch him throwing 89 mph fast balls now after seeing his glory years in Seattle and Arizona.

The Mets were running on the Giants again today as well with two more stolen bases. They’re seemingly running at will against their pitchers and Bengie Molina. It’s got to be embarrassing at this point for the Giants.

The Mets are putting an old fashioned beat down on the Giants this weekend at their home park. The team is really playing like a well oiled machine this month at 12-3 so far.

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Mets Carlos Delgado On Disabled List

Flickr photo courtesy of Rafael Amado Deras
Flickr photo courtesy of Rafael Amado Deras

The Mets put first baseman Carlos Delgado on the disabled list retroactive to May 10, 2009. He hasn’t played because of soreness in his hip that hasn’t been relieved by the treatment he’s received from team trainers. He’s on his way back to New York to be examined by doctors and may require surgery to resolve the problem.

Angel Pagan will replace Delgado on the roster. He’s played in three games at Triple-A Buffalo hitting 4 for 14 (.286) with 2 triples and 2 RBI’s. Pagan had elbow surgery in March.

I expect to see Daniel Murphy, Fernando Tatis, and Jeremy Reed to split time at first base in Delgado’s absence. Murphy’s stint at first could be a preview for next season as Delgado’s contract end this year with the Mets.

This also means that Gary Sheffield will be playing almost every day in left field. Jerry Manuel feels that Sheffield adds the power to the lineup that’s missing without Delgado. Of course, this reduces Murphy’s playing time so he’ll need to get some at-bat’s at first base.

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Bonds And Sheffield Speak Again

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia

Gary Sheffield took the opportunity of being in San Francisco to catch up with his old friend Barry Bonds according to the San Francisco Chronicle. I had always wondered if those two ran into each other after their public friendship split.

Sheffield blamed Bonds for getting caught in the BALCO scandal and for him unknowingly taking steriods. You should definitely go back and read this article by Tom Verducci on the whole saga.

Apparently, the two patched up their BFF breakup a long time ago according to Sheffield. Can I take this opportunity to say that I’d rather see Bonds playing left field every day for the Mets than Daniel Murphy stumbling around out there?

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Braves 8 – Mets 7 May 13, 2009

The Mets lost to the Braves in 12 innings to lose the home series 2 games to 1. Jonathan Niese was terrible today unable to get out of the fifth inning after giving up five runs. Seven Met relievers combined to pitch the rest of the game. J.J. Putz gave up another run in the eighth inning to raise his ERA to 4.05. Ken Takahashi gave up the game winning home run to Martin Prado of all people in the twelfth.

I would guess this is Niese’s last game with the Mets. The word is that Tim Redding is about ready to come back from the disabled list.

The Mets offense was pretty solid with the highlights being Fernando Tatis hitting a grand slam in the fourth inning to take a 6-4 lead. Gary Sheffield hit a solo homer in the eighth to tie the game. Jose Reyes was 3 for 5 with 3 doubles including one off the top of the left field wall in the twelfth inning.

The Mets are off to San Francisco to begin a 10 game road trip.

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Game Preview: Pirates at Mets [Game 29] May 9, 2009

pirates-logoPittsburgh Pirates (12-17 Road: 5-10) at New York Mets (15-13 Home: 9-6)  1:10 pm

Paul Maholm (3-0 2.97) vs. John Maine (2-2 5.20)

TV: SNY    Radio:  WFAN

What to watch:  The Mets are going for their sixth straight win this afternoon. Maholm is a tough lefty with left-handed hitters batting only .133 against him this season. Expect to see Fernando Tatis and Gary Sheffield in the lineup today. Maine has started to turn things around recently winning his last two starts.

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

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