Tag: Pedro Martinez

Padres at Mets- August 5-7 Series Preview

Tues. Aug. 5 7:10pm Chris Young (4-4 4.12) vs. Mike Pelfrey (9-7 3.91)

Wed. Aug. 6 7:10pm Cha Seung Baek (3-6 5.22) vs. Pedro Martinez (3-2 6.16)

Thurs. Aug. 7 12:10 pm Josh Banks (3-4 3.65) vs. Johan Santana (9-7 2.86)

What to watch: The Padres are in last place in the worst division in baseball. Only the Mariners and Nationals have worse records this season. The Padres swept the Mets in a four game series in San Diego during the first week of June. So the Mets owe them a beating. Anything less than a sweep will be a failure in my mind.

The Mets rotation is unaffected by John Maine’s injury for this series. So there are no excuses not to clobber a bad team like the Padres.

There’s been some talk about whether Trevor Hoffman should still be closing game for the Padres. He took the loss Friday night when he gave up a run in the 10th inning against the Giants. He’s converted 23 of 26 save opportunities this season but he’s 1-6 with a 4.59 ERA. Not very closer-like numbers.

Astros Grand Slam Does In Mets 7-3

There are several story lines in this game but the biggest is the grand slam by Mark Loretta in the eighth inning off Aaron Heilman. That broke the 3-3 tie and sunk the Mets. Heilman was victimized badly by home runs early in the season but seemed to have worked out his problems until tonight. I think they’re leaning too hard on Heilman to go multiple innings now. Manuel needs to do a better job of working more relievers into the game. There’s no true long man in the bullpen so Manuel needs to make an adjustment.

Another story line is that the Mets had ten hits in this game. They had several opportunities to score though, leaving seven runners on base. Carlos Delgado and Jose Reyes both went 2 for 4 but the Mets couldn’t capitalize on several opportunities.

A side note is that Damion Easley made several stellar plays at second base. He made a great turn for a double play, and a great sliding stop and throw to first from his knees. The Mets haven’t missed Luis Castillo at all. Easley and Argenis Reyes have both played really well since Castillo’s been out.

Pedro Martinez was fair tonight, kind of like he has been for most of his starts. He went five innings giving up three runs. That’s a typical game for him now. Jerry Manuel was going to limit him to 80 pitches and he ended up going for 87 (49 strikes). The runs he gave up were on three solo homers, including one to the Astros pitcher Brandon Backe. Granted, Backe is a good hitter but that still shouldn’t happen. Kaz Matsui led off the game with a homer too.

The Phillies lost tonight too so the Mets won’t lose any ground in the NL East.

Box score

Video Highlights

Mets Quiet At Trade Deadline Is Just Fine

image The trade deadline came and went without a peep from Omar Minaya. And that’s okay with me for two reasons:

  1. The Mets most likely trade target, Raul Ibanez of the Seattle Mariners, was overpriced. The reports that I read said that the Mariners wanted two of the top four Mets prospects. That’s ridiculous for a two month rental players that’s an average offensive and defensive player.
  2. The Mets divisional rivals didn’t do anything during the last month of trading to worry me. The Phillies got Joe Blanton from the A’s. And the Marlins got Arthur Rhodes from the Mariners. No big deal.

I know there’s some dissatisfaction out there that the Mets didn’t get better yesterday. But I’m fine with where they are right now. There’s still time to evaluate the effectiveness of Pedro Martinez and Ryan Church during August to determine if a waiver trade is necessary.

Flickr photo courtesy of bryce_edwards

On Deck- August 1- Mets at Astros [Game 1]

New York Mets (58-50 Road: 26-30) at Houston Astros (50-57 Home: 26-26) 8:05pm

Pedro Martinez (3-2 6.25) vs. Brandon Backe (6-10 4.73)

TV: SNY  Radio: WFAN

What to watch: Pedro makes his return to the mound from the bereavement list tonight in Houston. The Mets front office will be watching closely to help determine if they need to acquire another starting pitcher before the end of August.

Pedro May Pitch For Mets Tonight

Pedro Martinez waves goodbye after signing som...Image via Wikipedia

The word from the Mets is that Pedro Martinez may pitch in relief for the Mets tonight against the Florida Marlins. He’s scheduled to re-join the team after being home in the Dominican Republic for his father Pablo’s funeral.

Pedro is still on the schedule to start Friday night in Houston. And the team will decide this afternoon whether he should do a bullpen session today or work in relief during the game.

Pedro last pitched on July 12th, going four innings against Colorado in a 3-0 win.

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On Deck- July 26- Cards at Mets Game 2

St. Louis Cardinals (57-48 Road: 27-23) at New York Mets (56-47 Home: 31-19) 7:10pm

Joel Pineiro (3-4 4.52) vs. Brandon Knight (0-0 0.00)

TV: SNY   Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Mets are going for their fourth straight win. But they’re relying on Triple-A call up Knight making a spot start for Pedro Martinez. Pineiro’s last two starts haven’t been that good. Hopefully, the Mets can skate by for a game until Pedro gets back.

Join The Mets Report live game chat during the game tonight here.

Pedro’s Father Passes Away

Pedro Martinez learned during last night’s game that his father, Pablo, had died due to the brain cancer that he’s struggled with for some time. Pedro left the team for the Dominican Republic and there’s no immediate timetable for when he’ll re-join the Mets.

Pedro has been playing the season, and past few years, with his father’s condition deteriorating due to inoperable brain cancer.

The Mets will need a starter against the Cardinals on Saturday. Most likely they’ll call up a pitcher from Triple-A New Orleans and replace Carlos Muniz on the roster. Brian Stokes is scheduled to start for the Zephyrs on Saturday, so he may get the call.