Tag: Johan Santana

Brewers Top Mets 5-3 To Even Series

Image of Ben Sheets before a game in St. Louis. Ben Sheets was on the disabled list at time of photoImage via WikipediaNew York- Johan Santana’s (1-2) first start at Shea Stadium for the Mets didn’t go as planned. He took the loss after going 6.2 innings giving up six hits (three home runs), two walks, and five runs (four earned). He also had two wild pitches and seven strikeouts.

Ben Sheets (2-0) was the story of the day. He overcame some early trouble to pitch 7.2 innings while giving up five hits and two walks, and allowing three earned runs.

The Brewers had three home runs today by Bill Hall, Rickie Weeks, and Gabe Kapler. David Wright did hit a homer off Ben Sheets in the eighth but had two errors in the field.

The Brewers and Mets play the rubber game of the series tomorrow at 1:10pm with Oliver Perez (1-0) going against Jeff Suppan (1-0).

Box score

Video Highlights

MLB Video Highlights 

On Deck: April 12, 2008

Milwaukee Brewers (6-4) at New York Mets (5-4)   1:10pm   TV: SNY   Radio: WFAN

Ben Sheets (1-0) vs. Johan Santana (1-1)

What to watch:  This is a big-time premium pitching match up, ace vs. ace. Luis Castillo should return to the lineup for the Mets and Jose Reyes will probably be out with a tight hamstring.

Johan Santana May Win 30 Games

After watching Santana pitch against the Florida Marlins on opening day last week, one A.L. executive told Sports Illustrated’s Tom Verducci:

“Santana’s going to win 30 games in that league. Mark it down. Who’s going to hit him with those lineups? In that league he might win 30 and strike out 300. I’m not kidding.”


Verducci put the over/under on Santana’s wins this year at 21. I’ll take the over. If he gets 35 starts in this season, I think that he could win 22 or 23. As the column states, Bob Welch won 27 games in 1990. He was the last pitcher to win over 25.

Braves Sweep Mets With 3-1 Win

Atlanta- Despite a solid performance by Johan Santana, the Mets lose 3-1 to the Braves in Atlanta today. John Smoltz pitched very well giving up only two hits and two walks in five innings. Santana was almost as good only giving up one run over seven innings.The Mets offense was stifled by Braves pitching with Santana having the Mets only extra base hit, a double. The Mets had only five hits in the game.

Aaron Heilman was the goat of this game, walking Chipper Jones in the eighth and Mark Teixeira hit a two-run homer to right field.

The Mets made a comeback attempt in the ninth inning but it was too little too late. Teixeira snagged a shot by Brian Schneider down the first base line to end the game. See the box score here.

Yesterday the Mets pitching let them down and today the offense couldn’t generate anything against the Braves pitching. The Mets have the day off tomorrow and return to New York for the home opener on Tuesday at Shea Stadium.

View ESPN video highlights.

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On Deck: April 6, 2008

New York Mets (2-2) at Atlanta Braves (2-3) 1:30pm TV: SNY Radio: WFAN-AM

Johan Santana vs. John Smoltz

What to watch: I thought John Maine vs. Tim Hudson would be a good pitching match-up but it didn’t turn out that way. Santana and Smoltz are both headed for the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Smoltz is already in. Santana is well on his way. The Mets don’t want to drop a two-game series in Atlanta. They need a win today to remain above .500.

Braves Change Rotation

I took this photo on June 5, 2007 Photo personnelle prise le 5 juin 2007Image from WikipediaThe Atlanta Braves decided to bring John Smoltz back from the disabled list tomorrow to face Johan Santana in the finale of the two game series. This is the second good pitching matchup of the short series.

Smoltz has been bothered by soreness in his 40 year old shoulder. He’ll be 41 on May 15th. Tom Glavine will pitch in Denver now on Monday night.

I have to wonder if this has anything to do with Glavine being a former Met. He’s been around long enough not to be bothered by something like that. And he’s had the experience of facing the Braves with the Mets. It is curious though that the Braves choose to make the change at the last minute like this.

Revised Starting Pitching Order

The rainout in Atlanta last night caused the Mets to revise their starting pitching order. The new order is:

  • Sat. 4/5- John Maine vs. Tim Hudson
  • Sun. 4/6- Johan Santana vs. Tom Glavine
  • Tues. 4/8- Jamie Moyer vs. Oliver Perez
  • Wed. 4/9- Kyle Kendrick vs. Mike Pelfrey
  • Thur. 4/10- Adam Eaton vs. John Maine

After the Phillies series, the Brewers come to town next Friday. Everyone with tickets for opening day at Shea can breathe a sigh of relief that Oliver Perez is pitching instead of Mike Pelfrey. I agree with the decision to skip Pelfrey’s spot and keep Santana on his regular day tomorrow, and Perez for the home opener. It would’ve been too much pressure for Pelfrey to pitch the home opener. He needs to put in the least pressurized situations so he has the best chance of pitching successfully.

The rainout game yesterday will be played on May 20th as part of a double header. I’m sure it will be a dual entry double header, as most teams do now. The good old days of buying one ticket for a double header are gone.

Picture: Turner Field 

turner field
Creative Commons License photo credit: nate steiner