Tag: Johan Santana

Video: Johan Santana Bullpen Session

On Sunday July 11, I gave up my tradition of getting a free Slurpee on 7/11 day to attend the last Mets game before the All-Star break. What a sacrifice! There was a great pitching match up between Johan Santana and Derrick Lowe, perfect weather and it happened to be Jason Bay Bobble head day. Yes, Bay did not play on his Bobble head day but I can understand getting Bay some rest. The tough part of the season starts on Thursday.

Santana had his 2nd great outing in a row and I was able to get some video of Santana warming up in the bullpen just before the game. He was popping the mitt good. I’m confident he will have a great 2nd half.

After that I suffered through the 30 minute wait on the Shake Shack line. I can’t go to Citifield without getting Shake Shack. It’s a tradition even if it’s only a year old one.

I also got a chance to meetup with Dave Doyle of the MetsReport , who allows me to blog the Mets from here. We discussed the in’s and out’s of blogging as well as the Mets and I also was introduced to Kerel Cooper who blogs the Mets from his site, OnTheBlack.com. Continue reading “Video: Johan Santana Bullpen Session”

Mets 3 – Braves 0 July 11, 2010

New York Mets starting pitcher Johan Santana throws a pitch to the Atlanta Braves in the first inning of their MLB National League baseball game in New York, July 11, 2010. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsI’m sorry the recap is a little late today. I was at the game and traffic on the Whitestone was terrible on the way home. Construction!!! It was a great day to be at the game with David Daniels and Kerel Cooper.

Johan Santana was in complete shut down mode for the second straight start. He went 7 strong innings giving up 5 hits and 3 walks but no runs. Bobby Parnell and Francisco Rodriguez cleaned up the eighth and ninth without allowing a baserunner. The Mets pitching completely dominated the Braves today.

The Mets offense was working today too. They had 13 hits and 3 walks. As usual, Angel Pagan was doing the heavy lifting going 3 for 5 with 1 run. Ike Davis was 2 for 3 with a monster home run to center in the sixth off Derek Lowe. It was long and to the left of the apple and I heard on the radio it went 440 feet.

The Mets manage to avoid the sweep before the All-Star break.

Box score

Johan Santana post-game

Jerry Manuel post-game

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Preview: Braves at Mets July 11, 2010

Atlanta Braves (52-35) at New York Mets (47-40) 1:10 pm

Derek Lowe (9-7 4.40) vs Johan Santana (6-5 3.15)

TV: WPIX   Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Mets try to avoid the sweep this afternoon. The good news is that the Braves have lost the last three games that Lowe started. Although, he really didn’t pitch that poorly in those games. Lowe is 3-4 with a 7.01 ERA in his career against the Mets over 8 starts. More good news is that Santana threw one of his best games as a Met in his last start, a complete game shutout against the Reds.

Don’t forget to visit The Mets Report Facebook page during the game to chat with other Mets fans! Connect with The Mets Report on Twitter too.

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Billy Wagner May Keep The Mets From The Playoffs

Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Billy Wagner (R) is congratulated by catcher Brian McCann after Wagner's 400th save of his career at their MLB inter-league baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in Atlanta, Georgia, June 25, 2010. McCann also hit hit the game winning home run. REUTERS/Tami Chappell (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsOk, this is going to hurt. My theory is as follows:

Billy Wagner, who is currently having a great year, could be in a position to kill the Mets chances at the playoffs.  Here are Wagner’s stats… His ERA is ridiculously low at 1.27, he’s 5-0, 55K’s, 19 saves and 3 blown saves. He’s obviously still throwing heat!

How is our closer doing? K-Rod has a 2.57 ERA, 2-2, 52K’s, 20 saves and 4 blown saves. Not too bad. Most teams would love those numbers from their closer.

Pitching wins championships and Atlanta is proof of that. If you don’t remember those dominate Atlanta pitchers of the 90’s, let me refresh your memory:

A Braves pitcher won the Cy Young Award almost every year during the 90’s:

1991 – Tom Glavine
1993 – Greg Maddox
1994 – Greg Maddox
1995 – Greg Maddox
1996 – John Smoltz
1998 – Tom Glavine

But this time around we don’t have to worry about facing three Cy Young’s in the same rotation. I believe the combination of Johan Santana and Mike Pelfrey could match Atlanta’s top two of Tim Hudson and Derek Lowe. The bottom three pitchers of each rotation are also doing very well and these two pitching staffs are pretty evenly matched. Continue reading “Billy Wagner May Keep The Mets From The Playoffs”

Mets 3 – Reds 0 July 6, 2010

Mar. 24, 2010 - Port St Lucie, FLORIDA, United States Of America - epa02090870 New York Mets starting pitcher Johan Santana warms up prior to the game against the Houston Astros during a spring training baseball game in Port St Lucie, Florida, USA , 24 March 2010.

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsTonight was the Johan Santana show. In his last start before the All-Star break, Santana went out on a high note. He threw a complete game shutout only allowing 3 hits and 3 walks. He also hit the first home run of his career in the third inning into the right field foul pole. It looked like Jerry Manuel might pull Santana in the top of the ninth. There were two on with one out and Manuel came out to the mound. He quickly went back to the dugout leaving Santana in to finish off the game and it was a good decision.

The Mets didn’t have much offense tonight with 7 hits and 2 walks. But they didn’t need much behind Santana. Jose Reyes was 2 for 4 with a run in his first game back from straining a muscle in his side. Jason Bay was 1 for 4 but had a big 2-RBI single in the sixth inning that was all the insurance the Mets would need tonight.

The Mets and Reds play the rubber game of the series tomorrow.

Box score

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Preview: Reds at Mets July 6, 2010

Cincinnati Reds (48-36) at New York Mets (45-37) 7:10 pm

Undecided vs Johan Santana (5-5 3.41)

TV: SNY   Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Mets need to take the tonight’s game and tomorrow’s to win the series at home after losing the opener. Santana was excellent in his last start in Washington going 7 IP and allowing 1 run. He had four poor starts prior to that. Hopefully, he’s on the right track permanently. The Reds haven’t announced their starter yet after Aaron Harang couldn’t go yesterday and Travis Wood filled in for him.

Don’t forget to visit The Mets Report Facebook page during the game to chat with other Mets fans! Connect with The Mets Report on Twitter too.

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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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