Tag: Jason Bay

The 2010 Homegrown New York Mets

Apr. 27, 2010 - Flushing, NY, USA - April 25, 2010: New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes, left, has a laugh with rookie teammate Ike Davis before a rain-filled Major League Baseball game vs. visiting Atlanta Braves at Citi Field in Flushing, NY.

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsSince the 2010 season started, Mets fans have had a soft spot for many of the players on the New York Mets. I have always wondered why the fans have embraced this team so much. Right now the Mets are three games behind the Atlanta Braves for the National League East.

With those numbers many of the fans wouldn’t embrace the team as much as they do. Yet, this team fights. This team cares. Finally it seems like the Mets players care about their fans.

I wondered why, so I did some research and found out that this team is one of the most homegrown teams the Mets have had in a long time.

Take Saturday afternoon for example. The New York Mets starting four in the infield were all homegrown. Ike Davis at first, Rueben Tejada at second, Jose Reyes at shortstop and David Wright at third are all homegrown. All drafted and played through the minors with the Mets. Even pitcher John Niese was homegrown.

That might not seem like that big of a deal. Yet, the last time that had happened was on September 20,1996 when the Mets had Butch Huskey at first, Tim Bogar at second, Rey Ordonez at short and Edgardo Alfonzo at third. The infamous Paul Wilson pitched that day as well. He was homegrown too. Continue reading “The 2010 Homegrown New York Mets”

Mets 6 – Yankees 4 May 23, 2010

New York Mets Johan Santana reacts after the Mets pulled off a double play on New York Yankees Brett Gardner in their MLB game in New York

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.jsThe Mets got a huge game from Johan Santana and Jason Bay to take two of three from the Yankees. Santana was rock solid through 7.2 IP only giving up 1 ER. He started to get into trouble in the eighth but he had been in shut down mode throughout the game only giving up the one run in the seventh.

Jason Bay has been starting to break out for a few games. He’s been hitting the ball well but still hadn’t shown any real power. Until tonight. Bay was 2 for 2 with 2 homers. He was totally on the ball. It’s exactly what we’ve been expecting from him for the past seven weeks.

K-Rod made things interesting in the ninth. After Ryota Igarashi returned from the disabled list with a stinker. He allowed 2 hits and a walk before he needed help. K-Rod gave up two hits also and faced A-Rod as the winning run. It was a long at-bat and really tense but K-Rod got the strikeout to win the game. It shouldn’t have been that tight but a win is a win.

It’s a very nice series win for the Mets and may just keep the pink slip away from Jerry Manuel for a while.

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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Yankees 2 – Mets 1 May 21, 2010

New York Mets starting pitcher Hisanori Takahashi throws a pitch to the New York Yankees in New York

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.jsI have to admit that I was shocked that Hisanori Takahashi had a great start going 6 shutout innings. I never would have expected that. He was really outstanding especially considering that he got no run support.

Speaking of run support, the Mets had absolutely no offense again. Last night’s 10 run outburst seems like a mirage. They only put together 4 hits as a team and two of them were in the ninth inning when Jason Bay singled and Ike Davis doubled him in. That was the offense. Don’t blink or you might miss it.

Alex Cora blew the game in the seventh inning for the Mets. His costly throwing error allowed an unearned run to score that would have made a difference in the game.

The Mets and Yankees will play two more on national TV this weekend.

Box score

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Mets 10 – Nationals 7 May 20, 2010

New York Mets starting pitcher John Maine delivers a pitch to the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.jsThe Mets finally got some offense for a change but the game started with a bizarre episode involving John Maine. He threw 5 pitches to the first batter and got pulled from the game. His fastball was at 85 mph and it looked like something was wrong. He and Jerry Manuel argued in the dugout. Maine appeared to have wanted to stay in the game.

Raul Valdes was warming up right from the start of the game. So the Mets knew something was wrong with Maine. Valdes did an unbelievable job going 5 innings and giving up 3 runs. You can’t ask for a better long relief job than Valdes did tonight. I was really impressed.

On offense the Mets put up 15 hits and only had 3 strikeouts. Talk about a turnaround! Jason Bay and Ike Davis both had 3 hits and Rod Barajas had a home run, his 10th of the season. David Wright even got in on the act with a bases clearing double in the first inning.

The Mets head home to face the Yankees this weekend.

Box score

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Mets’ Howard Johnson Should Go

New York Mets first base coach Howard Johnson ...
Image via Wikipedia

With the team struggling, Jerry Manuel is on the hot seat, and rightfully so! Manuel and Mets management had a 90 minute meeting before Monday’s game at Atlanta. Manuel’s job insecurity is one that is expected. One thing that hasn’t been looked at is the hitting coach position. Howard Johnson should be on the hot seat at well and many of the teams struggles should be placed on him.

Yet the offense as a whole has been struggling, especially with runners in scoring position. Coming into Thursday’s game against the Florida Marlins the Mets are batting a dismal .247 as a team which ranks 23rd in the majors. Over the offseason they brought in Jason Bay who is hitting a whopping .277 with one homer and just 16 RBI’s so far in 2010. It seems for the last few seasons the Mets have been lacking the “big hit.” The fans and the media have been quick to blame the players, yet I think the philosophy at the plate with RISP is the problem. That problem is placed on the shoulders of Howard Johnson the New York Mets hitting coach. Has Howard Johnson worn out his welcome as New York Mets hitting coach?

I understand Johnson was an outstanding player in his hay day and Omar Minaya has stated that having Johnson around is a link to Mets history. Yet the offense has been down this season. Is it time to replace Howard Johnson as the hitting coach? I think it’s a legitimate argument!

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Marlins 2 – Mets 1 May 13, 2010

MLB: Cubs vs Mets APR 22

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.jsThe Mets got a great start from Johan Santana. He locked up with Josh Johnson in an excellent pitchers dual. The aces were as good as advertised tonight. And it was a nice comeback from a couple of rough starts for Santana. He went 7 IP only giving up 1 run, an unearned run on his own throwing error.

As expected, the Mets didn’t do much hitting against Johnson. They only had 4 hits in the game and Jerry Manuel promised changes to the lineup in the coming days. The only run they scored was on a Rod Barajas single in the second inning scoring Jason Bay.

The game was lost in the bottom of the ninth when Fernando Nieve threw a wild pitch that allowed Cody Ross to score from third. Dan Uggla was pinch hitting at the plate and Nieve uncorked a wild breaking ball inside and in the dirt that Barajas couldn’t handle. It’s an ugly way to lose a game and the Mets fourth loss in their last five games.

Box score

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