Tag: Jerry Manuel

Mets 8 – Pirates 4 May 10, 2009

The Mets got their seventh consecutive win and their third consecutive series sweep today. The team is really clicking now. Livan Hernandez had some good numbers on the day going 6 innings giving up only 2 runs. But he was teetering on the edge of trouble for much of the early going. The Pirates inept offense is the only thing that kept him from having serious trouble.

The Mets offense kept plugging away again today with Jose Reyes, Luis Castillo, and Omir Santos having 2 hits apiece. But they did leave 17 runners on base, a common theme this season that could bite them against better competition than the Pirates.

Of note in the game was manager Jerry Manuel back at the reins after serving a one game suspension. Also, Reyes had his 10th stolen base of the season which was also the 300th of his young career.

The Mets now stand alone in first place in the National League East, one game ahead of the Florida Marlins.

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Mets Jerry Manuel Suspended

Major League Baseball
Image via Wikipedia

Manger Jerry Manuel has been suspended for one game by MLB. Sandy Alomar, Sr. will manage the team today against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The suspension is the result of bumping caps with umpire Bill Welke during an argument Thursday before Manuel was thrown out of the game. If you recall, Manuel argued and obstruction call against Jose Reyes when Shane Victorino forced contact with Reyes during a run down.

This doesn’t come as a surprise. As I wrote on Thursday, a suspension was the likely result of making contact with the umpire.

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Mets 7- Phillies 5 May 7, 2009

The Mets got another 2-game series sweep for their fourth win in a row. Most of this win was thanks to Jamie Moyer would had nothing tonight. He gave up 2-run homers to Carlos Beltran and David Wright in the first inning and 7 runs in his 2.1 innings of work.

Mike Pelfrey had a pretty good game tonight getting through 7 innings and giving up 3 runs. Oddly, he didn’t have any strikeouts for the second consecutive start.

Jerry Manuel was thrown out of the game after arguing a call made on a run-down play. Shane Victorino was in a run-down and stuck out his arm to get contact with Jose Reyes. The first base umpire called obstruction and awarded Victorino second base. It was bad call. Manuel might get a suspension though as he bumped hats with the umpire. That contact could get him a game or two suspension.

A very good sign tonight was that Wright 3 for 3 with 2 runs and 2 RBI’s and a walk. His home run was a straight away bomb to center field that landed right next to the apple. Hopefully, he can start something with the bat. He looked better tonight hitting than I’ve seen him in quite a while.

Click for recap/box score
Click for recap/box score
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Audio: Minaya, Manuel, Maine, Wright May 4, 2009

WFAN logoPrior to last night’s game against the Atlanta Braves Omar Minaya spoke to WFAN’s Ed Coleman about the decision to move Oliver Perez to the bullpen. That decision has certainly been controversial with the media and blogs typically arguing that Perez should have been sent to the minors. Listen to Minaya’s explanation of what happened below.

Minaya audio

After the Mets beat the Braves 6-4 in Atlanta, WFAN got the reaction from the team.

David Wright audio

John Maine audio

Jerry Manuel audio

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Florida Marlins To File Complaint Against Mets

NEW YORK - APRIL 28: Jerry Manuel #53, Manage...
Image by Getty Images via Daylife

The Marlins plan to file a complaint with Major League Baseball about the Mets stalling tactics during the April 29,2009 game at Citi Field. With two outs in the ninth and the bases loaded, Mets manager Jerry Manuel called for a pinch hitter for catcher Ramon Castro. It was a curious move considering that Castro already had two hits in the game. More curious, was that it took about five minutes to get the hitter into the game. Omir Santos was in the bullpen and later admitted that he went into the batting cage under the stadium to get some warm up swings in before the at-bat.

The Marlins even called the stalling tactic Bush League. And I have to admit that I agree. The complaint will center around MLB’s pace of game rules. Although I doubt there will be a fine or suspension, Manuel should be warned about using such tactics again. It’s not in the spirit of the rules of the game.

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Jerry Manuel Plays Favorites, Hurts Mets

Jerry ManuelLast season I was completely on the bandwagon to fire Willie Randolph and I still think it was the right move. At the time I thought the Mets should have hired someone from outside of the organization to manage the team. They didn’t, and I really liked the way Jerry Manuel led the team for the remainder of the 2008 season. But I have to admit that he’s starting to wear on me already this season. Now I can see how he lost the team in Chicago in 2003. He plays favorites with the players to the detriment of the team.

I’m definitely not saying that Manuel should be fired. He won’t be this season no matter what. Omar Minaya just signed him to a 2-year deal before the season started and the team won’t eat the money. Besides, they’re still paying Randolph and there’s no way that they’ll have three managers on the payroll for this season.

What I am saying is that I’m paying much closer attention to his moves now than I have in the past. I’m looking at him with a much more critical eye than I did last season. The honeymoon period is over. Manuel always impressed me with his talk, and actions, about how if players produce they’ll play. That’s the way it should be. But this season he’s not showing it.

Manuel’s Doghouse

Luis Castillo – He was awful last season and deserved the backlash that he received. That being said, he appears to be healthier and in better shape this season. He’s hitting .370 with a .878 OPS. What more does he have to do to get out of the bottom of the order? Alex Cora is hitting at the top of the order when he plays for Castillo. That doesn’t make sense.

Ryan Church – Manuel chided him all spring, then the Mets brought in Gary Sheffield and Manuel said he’ll see time in right field. Church is hitting .313 with a .845 OPS and playing a very good right field. Why is he the outfielder to lose playing time and be chided all spring? Daniel Murphy can’t play the field and has a lower OPS than Church. He should be losing plenty of playing time to Sheffield.

Ramon Castro – The guy is a solid #2 catcher. Sure, he’s not a star player but how does he get pinch hit for by Omir Santos? Castro has 2 hits against the Marlins on Wednesday and gets pinch hit for with two outs in the ninth and the bases loaded. It makes no sense. Castro can hit, let him do his thing.

I’m starting get tired of Manuel’s stubborn attitude. That’s one of the things that I disliked about Randolph. Omir Santos, Daniel Murphy, and Alex Cora are getting favored treatment over players that deserve better. This is a classic recipe to lose the team. Manuel needs to wake up before it’s too late.

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