Tag: Mike Pelfrey

Mets Wrap Up Successful Homestand – Look Ahead

The Mets have had a big home stand against the Cubs, Braves, and Dodgers. David Daniels writes that the next series in Philadelphia could set the tone for the rest of the season.

Image courtesy of Wikimedia

Are we getting excited yet!?! Our Met’s are now on a 6 game winning streak and hopefully we can make it a 7 game winning streak before heading off to Philly. This was a wildly successful homestand.

Yes, It’s a little early in the year but I’m so looking forward to this weekend series with the Phillies. I love the rivalry. Considering the rough start the Mets had, catching the Phillies will make this series that much more entertaining.

Jon Niese will open the series Friday followed by Mike Pelfrey and then Johan Santana. The Phillies pitchers have yet to be announced. This lines up our top two pitchers for a crucial series that will set the tone for the entire year. Will the Phillies embarrass the Mets or will the Mets show they can play toe-to-toe with the defending NL Champs and leave Philly in first? Continue reading “Mets Wrap Up Successful Homestand – Look Ahead”

Mets 1 – Braves 0 April 25, 2010

Colorado Rockies vs New York Mets at Citi Field in New York

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.jsThe Mets swept the Braves with a 1-0 win in a 6 inning rain shortened game. It was finally called just after 11:30 pm. That’s a rough night for the fans that were at Citi Field for this one. I’ve been to a few rain outs but a Sunday night game in April is a really tough one to sit through.

Mike Pelfrey went to 4-0 with the win and extended his scoreless inning streak to 24 innings. He definitely didn’t have his best stuff tonight giving up 5 hits and 5 walks. But he was able to navigate the base runners without giving up a run. It’s a real sign of maturity that he’s able to do that.

The only run of the game was scored when Jose Reyes singled in the first inning, stole second, and scored on a throwing error by Larry Jones. The Braves were kicking the ball around throughout the series. So it’s fitting that they get swept on a run scored on an error.

The Dodgers come to town tomorrow night with Oliver Perez on the mound.

Box score

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Preview: Braves at Mets April 25, 2010

Atlanta Braves (8-9) at New York Mets (9-9)  8:05 pm

Tommy Hanson (1-1 2.81) vs. Mike Pelfrey (3-0 0.86)

TV: ESPN   Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Mets attempt to put the hammer down on the Braves tonight on national TV and go for the sweep. Pelfrey has been unbelievable this season with 3 wins and 1 save in the four games he’s appeared in. The word is that Henry Blanco will be catching Pelfrey again, even though he started yesterday’s game. Hanson has pitched pretty well so far this season. The Braves won two of three games that he started.

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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Jon Niese is “Nice”

Mets starting pitcher Niese leaves the game against Braves in New York

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.jsOk, I have to admit I really was down on this pitching staff early this year. I thought that Jon Niese would never make it as a fifth starter and that we would be going through one retread pitcher after another in our quest to find that decent fifth starter who can also eat innings.

Neise was Nice! This was a solid 5 1/3 innings of 5 hit, 1 run pitching that will lock down the fifth starter position. I will accept a game pitched like this from our #5 starter any day of the week.

The 116 piches and 5 walks allowed prevented him from staying in the game longer and getting the win. If Niese can improve on his “Nice” he could turn in a decent year.

With Johan Santana holding his own, Mike Pelfrey turning into Superman and even Oliver Perez showing signs of life, having four of our five pitchers in good form is a pleasant surprise. Good enough to win the division? No. Good enough to stay in the race until the trading deadline in July? Definitely! Continue reading “Jon Niese is “Nice””

Mets Catchers Barajas, Blanco Not Cutting It

The Mets made a big mistake when they signed Rod Barajas and Henry Blanco. They should have gone with a platoon of Omir Santos and Josh Thole.

Image courtesy of Wikimedia

The problem that I had with Brian Schneider in 2008 and 2009 was that he was an automatic out. Now, I’m starting to long for the days of Schneider hitting .218. After watching Rod Barajas and Henry Blanco over the last three weeks, I’m wishing we had a .218 hitter behind the plate.

Mike Pelfrey has been astounding so far this season and he’s given credit to his personal catcher, Henry Blanco. And everyone seems to like what Barajas is doing in the field as well. But let’s not forget that catchers have to bat! Barajas and Blanco are rally killers.

I wrote last October that the Mets needed a youth movement at catcher. As it turns out, I was right. Although Omir Santos and Josh Thole haven’t done much hitting at Buffalo in the early season. But they aren’t doing any worse than Barajas and Blanco. Continue reading “Mets Catchers Barajas, Blanco Not Cutting It”

Mets’ Mike Pelfrey 2010 Early Season Success

Mike Pelfrey’s 3-0 start to the 2010 season has Mets fans buzzing that he’s finally developed into a legitimate #2 starter. It looks like the split finger fastball is the big difference.

Courtesy of Wikimedia

The biggest surprise for me this season has been Mike Pelfrey’s astounding success through his first three starts. His ERA is down to 0.86 after his start against the Cubs last night. It’s a huge turnaround from the regression he experienced in 2009 with a 10-13 record and 5.03 ERA.

The only physical difference is that he lost about 25 pounds in the offseason. But that can’t account for his tremendous early success after such a disappointing 2009. He wasn’t exactly overweight before this year.

It looks like the biggest difference is the development of the split finger fastball this year. He seems to have quickly developed a feel for it to get a nice, late sink on it. His motion with it is so deceptive because he doesn’t appear to deviate from his motion when throwing a fastball, which always had some sink on it anyway. I’m curious to know if Dan Warthen had any role in his development of the split finger. Continue reading “Mets’ Mike Pelfrey 2010 Early Season Success”

Mets 4 – Cubs 0 April 20, 2010

New York Mets starting pitcher Mike Pelfrey throws a pitch to the Chicago Cubs in the second inning of their MLB National League baseball game in New York

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.jsI have to admit that it’s surprising to see the Mets win two in a row and have a shot to finally win a series this season. This is how the Mets drew it up in the offseason. Mike Pelfrey had another dominant performance for his third win of the season. Pelfrey has been unbelievable and the split finger that he’s throwing now is completely working for him.

The offensive hero of the game was Jose Reyes going 4 for 5 with a 2-run triple in the second inning. Reyes finally looked like he was on the ball after appearing to be have no timing over the last couple of weeks.

Fernando Tatis chipped in with a nice pinch-hit 2-run homer in the eighth to tack some run onto the lead. That’s exactly what you need to win close games. And pinch hitting is where Tatis can be really valuable to the Mets. He’s just not an everyday player, especially at first base. He isn’t consistent enough on a daily basis, but really seems to have a knack for pinch hitting. At least he did in 2008. Maybe he can recapture some of that magic.

Box score

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