Tag: Henry Blanco

Dodgers Claim Rod Barajas on Waivers

New York Mets Rod Barajas reacts at the plate in the eighth inning against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field in New York City on May 12, 2010. The Nationals defeated the Mets 6-4. UPI/John Angelillo Photo via Newscom

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsThe Mets assigned Rod Barajas to the Dodgers today on a waiver claim. It’s a good move for both teams and Barajas as well. The Dodgers have absolutely no offense at catcher with Russell Martin on the disabled list, Brad Ausmus and A.J. Ellis couldn’t hit their way out of a paper bag. So they’ll gain a little benefit from having Barajas.

It seems like this is the rare win-win-win situation. The Mets unload a useless player and dump salary in a meaningless season, the Dodgers get a little more offense from the catcher, and Barajas gets to go home to L.A. Jesus Feliciano will take over Barajas’ roster spot which is much more useful for the Mets.

Barajas has done next to nothing for the Mets for most of this season. He has 17 hits since the end of May! Although he seems like a good guy, he’s wasting a roster spot at this point.

Josh Thole is doing a nice job and Henry Blanco is a capable backup that the pitchers like to throw to.

Take a look at Barajas’ stats for 2010 by month and it’s easy to see why he’s history.

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Is Jerry Manuel Ruining the Mets Future?

July 22, 2010 Los Angeles, CA..New York Mets Josh Thole at bat in action during the Major League Baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium July 22, 2010 in Los Angeles, California..The Dodgers defeat the Mets 2-0.Louis Lopez/CSM.

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsEvery time a left-handed starter for the opposing team pitchers New York Mets Manager Jerry Manuel decides to sit left-handed hitters Ike Davis and Josh Thole.

For example, last night the Mets faced left-hander Wandy Ramirez. Both Josh Thole and Ike Davis sat and Mike Hessman and Henry Blanco took their place.

Davis has struggled since the All-Star break batting just .212. Thole has had only five at bats in the major leagues against lefties.

Manuel continues to sit the youngsters against the lefties. Last evenings win against the Houston Astros put the Mets at 59-59, 9 games back of the wild card. Continue reading “Is Jerry Manuel Ruining the Mets Future?”

Video: Oliver Perez in Arizona

May 09, 2010 - Queens, NEW YORK, United States - epa02150562 New York Mets starting pitcher Oliver Perez firing a pitch to home plate to the San Francisco Giants in the first inning at Citi Field, in Queens, New York, USA, 09 May 2010.

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsThe day we all feared is here. It looks like Oliver Perez will be activated from the disabled list today. Likely, Josh Thole will be sent down to Triple-A Buffalo but we’ll find out for sure later this afternoon.

Perez threw in the bullpen in front of Dan Warthen and Jerry Manuel yesterday. From their comments, they didn’t sound impressed. Manuel said that Perez will be the second lefty out of the bullpen and he’ll try to find spots to use him. Not exactly a ringing endorsement for Perez’ return to the team.

I’m really disappointed to see Thole leave, if that’s what they decide to do. I understand that he has options and that’s a factor. But Rod Barajas certainly isn’t in the Mets long term plans. And there’s hardly anything left on his 1-year contract. They could easily release Barajas and go with Thole and Henry Blanco.

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Nationals 2 – Mets 1 July 1, 2010

New York Mets starter Johan Santana pitches against the Washington Nationals in the first inning of their National League MLB baseball game in Washington, July 1, 2010. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsThere actually was some good news in a night when Jose Reyes, Angel Pagan, and Jason Bay didn’t start the game. That news? Johan Santana pitched really well after four really bad starts in a row. As usual, the Mets didn’t back up Santana with any runs. The just couldn’t do anything against Livan Hernandez. Santana went 7 strong innings giving up 1 run on 98 pitches. It looked like he made an argument to Jerry Manuel to stay in the game but lost the argument.

The Mets offense was weak against Hernandez and the Nationals with only 8 hits and no walks. Henry Blanco and Jesus Feliciano had two hits apiece but all 8 Mets hits were singles.

The game was 1-0 until the bottom of the seventh when the Nats tied it off Santana. It was lost in the bottom of the ninth when Pedro Feliciano loaded the bases and Ryan Zimmermann hit a sac fly off Ryota Igarashi.

Box score

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Video: Mets’ Minaya on Beltran, Matthews, Castillo

Luis Castillo batting for the New York Mets on...
Image via Wikipedia

Mets GM Omar Minaya addressed the media before last night’s game to talk about a flurry of roster moves the Mets made and the one that will be made today. Here’s the breakdown:

  • Gary Matthews – designated for assignment and will go home to count his money
  • Luis Castillo- on the 15-day disabled list for his bad foot/gimpy legs
  • Ruben Tejada- re-called to play second base
  • Omir Santos- re-called because Henry Blanco is slightly hurt
  • Jon Niese- starting tomorrow and they need to find a roster spot but Oliver Perez won’t leave

Carlos Beltran also played in an extended spring training game but didn’t run. So he’s starting to work his way back.

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Mets 5 – Giants 4 May 8, 2010

New York Mets Oliver Perez, Jose Reyes and David Wright welcome batter Henry Blanco at home plate after his solo home run beat the San Francisco Giants in New York

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.jsThis post is a little late coming but I was out and listening to most of the game on the radio this afternoon. The Mets won their second game in a row on a walk-off home run, this time by Henry Blanco in 11 innings. It’s the ninth straight home win for the Mets and takes the series from the Giants.

Johan Santana recovered nicely from his horrible start in Philly. He went 7.2 IP giving up 4 ER. But it should have been 3. Fernando Nieve and Pedro Feliciano relieved Santana in the eighth and both gave up hits without getting an out.

K-Rod pitched pretty well in the ninth and tenth innings. He did give up 2 walks and has a 1.15 WHIP, which is a little higher than you’d like to see from a top of the line closer.

The Mets had 7 hits in the game and Blanco was 3 for 5 in the game including the game winner in the eleventh. Clearly, he was the offensive hero of the game.

Box score

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Mets Links: Mike Pelfrey, Carlos Beltran, Hubie Brooks

New York Mets at New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in New York

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.jsThe past week has been the best that I’ve felt about the Mets since September 2008. They went into Philly on a great run, even without their best player Carlos Beltran. The month of April was really on the backs of Mike Pelfrey and Johan Santana, for the most part. But the offense did start to come alive towards the end of the month. Here are some month-end links for you for this Sunday.

  • NY Sports Dog– This post has an interesting scatter plot of Pelfrey’s called strikes comparing April 2009 to April 2010
  • Amazin’ Avenue– Sam Page created a stat to measure which Mets player would be the best fighter in a brawl and Henry Blanco came out on top
  • On The Black – A poll to determine the fan pick for Mets player of the month in April
  • ESPN – Adam Rubin writes that Beltran doesn’t appear to be anywhere near returning to the team from his knee surgery
  • Daily News – This is a funny piece on reporter Kevin Deutsch in Philly taunting fans with “Let’s Go Mets!” chants while wearing a Mets jersey and hat
  • Daily News – Catching up with Hubie Brooks
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