Tag: Johan Santana

My Mets Rant After a Week to Forget

Angry Arsenal Fans after Emmanuel Adebayor's 3rd goal Celebration Arsenal 2009/10 Manchester City V Arsenal (4-2) 12/09/09 The Premier League Photo Robin Parker Fotosports International

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsSo far in the second half of this season, the bad has far out-weighed the good in Mets land. The team has lost 6 of 8 and is currently 4 games out of the wild card spot while trailing the Braves by 6.5 games in the NL East. Jason Bay, despite valiant offensive and defensive contributions in Friday night’s 6-1 win against the Dodgers, is giving fans reason to believe he is a bust. The team has won 4 of 15, all 4 of those wins have been started by ace Johan Santana who everyone (including myself) was writing off prior to the break. Mike Pelfrey has seen his ERA inflate to 4 and hasn’t been the same since Father’s Day weekend at Yankee Stadium. Carlos Beltran has returned quietly. He looks capable at bat, although he is still adjusting. However, not surprisingly, he does not appear to possess the same spring in his step as he has in years past roaming center field. With all this said, and more, this team somehow still finds itself in the mix for a playoff spot.

The San Francisco and Arizona series were extremely painful to watch. The team traveled to the West coast with no vigor, no fight. Instead of making a statement, they were embarrassed, and should have been swept by a solid Giants club, then went to the desert and bowed to Barry Enright and the last place Diamondbacks in a 3 straight. The managing was questionable, the execution was lackluster, and the heart was non-existent. The team looked dead on their feet. The 2009 New York Mets appeared to have been reborn. Continue reading “My Mets Rant After a Week to Forget”

Mets 6 – Dodgers 1 July 23, 2010

New York Mets runner Jason Bay is congratulated by his team mates after a home run solo in the second inning against Florida Marlins during their MLB National League baseball game in San Juan, June 28, 2010. REUTERS/ Ana Martinez (PUERTO RICO - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsThe Mets got only their second victory on this long road trip and, really, their first legitimate win. Johan Santana was in complete control again going 7 innings and allowing only 1 run. He only gave up 5 hits and 1 walk. He was in control throughout the game. It was a classic Santana start.

The offense finally came alive after sleepwalking for the last week. The Mets had 8 hits and 4 walks. Surprisingly, Jason Bay was the star going 2 for 4 with a 3-run double in the eighth inning that broke the game open. He was out for early batting practice and it showed, not to mention he was moved down to seventh in the lineup so the pressure was off. Ike Davis also hit his 14th homer of the year off Vicente Padilla on a ridiculous Bugs Bunny curveball he was throwing.

The Mets outfield defense was on tonight too. All three outfielders were making plays including Bay doing a faceplant into the wall in left while making a great catch.

Box score

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Preview: Mets at Dodgers July 23, 2010

New York Mets (49-46) at Los Angeles Dodgers (51-45) 10:10pm

Johan Santana (7-5 2.87) vs Vicente Padilla (4-2 3.65)

TV: SNY   Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Mets are falling fast on this road trip but they may have a chance tonight behind Santana. He’s been pitching brilliantly in his last four starts only allowing 2 runs over that span. But the Mets still need to score. That could be a problem against Padilla who has pitched really well in his last five starts only allowing 5 runs over that span.

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 Trade Needs – Bullpen

New York Mets relief pitcher Francisco Rodriguez reacts in the 10th inning of their MLB National League baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco, California July 18, 2010. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

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Another big game from our ace who is now 2-0 with a 0.39 ERA in 4 starts this month and if we had a reliable closer he would be 3-0.

Johan Santana has made an awesome comeback, has retaken the team lead in ERA at 2.98 and lead’s the team in K’s with 83. He should also have the team lead in wins but the Mets bullpen and offense have not always been as good.

After yesterday’s game, the Mets biggest pressing need is some bullpen help because our closer could have a 10 win season with 20 blown saves at the rate he’s going and that’s going to cost the Mets a spot at the playoffs.

Unless we find a flaw in K-Rod’s delivery and correct it fast, as Santana has recently done, the Mets really should consider making a trade at the trading deadline for a reliever. Continue reading “Mets 2010 Trade Needs – Bullpen”

Mets 4 – Giants 3 July 18, 2010

July 18, 2010 - San Francisco, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES - epa02252957 New York Mets Ike Davis follows through with an RBI double off a pitch by San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Chris Ray during the eighth inning at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California, USA 18 July 2010.

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsThe Mets avoided the sweep in San Francisco with an extra innings win that was marked by some of the worst umpiring work I’ve seen in a long time. Johan Santana was outstanding for his fourth consecutive start going 8 innings and only allowing 1 run. Unfortunately, he didn’t get a win for the great work that he did.

Francisco Rodriguez blew the save in the ninth with a 3-1 lead allowing the Giants to score 2 runs. The Giants were the victims of a blown call at home plate by Phil Cuzzi. Travis Ishikawa was called out on a play at home that would have scored the winning run. He was clearly safe. You didn’t even need a replay to see that. That was just the start of some horrible umpiring in the ninth inning.

The Mets offense was solid with 10 hits and 2 walks in the game. The hero of the game was Ike Davis going 3 for 5 with a long double off the brick wall in right field in the tenth inning to score Jason Bay and win the game. Bay was also 3 for 5 in the game.

The Mets get lucky to escape San Francisco with a win and head to Arizona.

Box score

Johan Santana post-game

Francisco Rodriguez post-game

Jerry Manuel post-game

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Preview: Mets at Giants July 18, 2010

New York Mets (48-43) at San Francisco Giants (50-41) 4:05 pm

Johan Santana (7-5 2.98) vs Jonathan Sanchez (7-6 3.47)

TV: WPIX   Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Mets try to avoid the sweep this afternoon behind Santana who’s been outstanding in his last two starts before the break. He’s given up 1 run in his last 23 innings. Sanchez got rocked in his last start in Washington giving up 5 runs in 3.2 innings.

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 Midseason Report Card

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At the halfway point the Mets sit 8 games over .500 and 4 back of the surging Braves. This season has seen a number of surprises and has exceeded expectations (if there were any after last year). Let’s take a look at my report card for the 2010 Mets so far.

Starting Rotation   –   B

If you would have told me in January that the rotation would be a bright spot, I most likely would have called you a liar. Jon Neise has bounced back from injury to solidify the rotation. He has used his newly acquired cutter in better variation with his signature curveball. His 6-3 mark with a 3.61 ERA will continue to improve if he is able to keep the momentum he has said since his return. R.A. Dickey may be the name most synonymous with the 2010 Mets. A former first round fireballer, Dickey has come into his own at an ideal time for the Mets. He has shown an ability to get out of jams, and drive in his own run support. He set a team record winning the most consecutive starts for a pitcher in his first season with The Mets. His 2.77 ERA could be even lower if he didn’t have a small setback in Puerto Rico against the Marlins. Hisanori Takahashi has served valiantly in his time in the rotation. It seems that he runs out of gas around the 6th inning, but remarkable performances against the Yankees have marked his time here. His return to the bullpen, if and when The Mets acquire another starter, will put him back to where he was dominant early in the year. Mike Pelfrey sprinted out of the gate in 2010. He was an early candidate for the All-Star team (Thanks Charlie) and even the Cy Young Award. He has slipped lately but we have seen the flashes that we needed to see. Hopefully, he was just experiencing a little fatigue, and the break is exactly what he needed. Johan Santana has gotten an undeserved beating from the press this year. The media has questioned his status as an ace and continuously posted his dropping velocity as an issue. Santana could easily have 9 or 10 wins, and still retains in ERA under 3. His big issue has been the problems he has had in big games. He was shelled by the Phillies and then again by the Yankees. Nonetheless, his last start against the Braves put a lid on the constant media banter. He threw a complete game shutout and deterred Jerry Manuel from pulling him after Jason Bay dropped a fly ball in the 9th. We all understand he is not throwing as hard as he used to but his body of work should always give him the benefit of the doubt. Continue reading “Mets 2010 Midseason Report Card”