SNY’s Kevin Burkhardt reporting that Brian Schneider will back up Raul Casanova until he is healthy enough to start. Gustavo Molina looks to be headed back to New Orleans.
-Jonathan Kraft
No DL for Schneider
May 2, 2008 · No Comments
Categories: Mets
Tagged: Brian Schneider, Gustavo Molina, Mets, Raul Casanova
Alou in lineup tonight
May 2, 2008 · No Comments
Moises Alou makes his return tonight. No word on whether Brian Schneider was placed on the DL or if Gustavo Molina was DFA’d. Here’s the Mets lineup for tonight:
Mets: Reyes (SS), Church (RF), Wright (3B), Beltran (CF), Alou (LF), Delgado (1B), Casanova (C), Castillo (2B), Maine (P)
Wow, Castillo is batting behind Casanova. I didn’t expect Alou to be in the 5 spot, but like I said earlier, he needs to re-energize this lineup, so hopefully that will work out.
-Jonathan Kraft
Categories: Mets
Tagged: Brian Schneider, Gustavo Molina, Mets, Moises Alou
The Rest of the East [Pregame Roundup]
May 2, 2008 · No Comments
San Francisco at Philadelphia: The Phillies are in first place and the Giants are not, which should say something about this series. Aaron Rowand returns to Citizen’s Bank Park for the first time since the Giants signed him to a [ridiculous] deal. Kyle Kendrick (2-2, 5.13) tries to find his groove for the Phils against Pat Misch (0-0, 3.00) who makes his first start after being recalled from AAA.
San Diego at Florida: The Marlins will take the field tonight without Josh Willingham, who was placed on the DL today with soreness in his back. Hanley Ramirez moves to third in the order to compensate for the lack of power. The ageless Luis Gonzalez get the start in left. Justin Germano (0-2, 6.04) goes against Mark Hendrickson (4-1, 3.68).
Cincinnati at Atlanta: Young Edison Volquez (4-0, 1.23) is just one of the few bright spots for the Reds this season, and he takes the mound tonight against Tim Hudson (3-2, 3.74), who many suspect might have a nagging injury that has affected his performance this year. We’ll see if he can last more than three innings tonight.
Categories: Braves · Marlins · Phillies
Tagged: Aaron Rowand, Braves, Edison Volquez, Giants, Hanley Ramirez, Josh Willingham, Justin Germano, Kyle Kendrick, Luis Gonzalez, Mark Hendrickson, Marlins, Padres, Pat Misch, Phillies, Reds, Tim Hudson
Mets Pregame: 5/2 at ARI
May 2, 2008 · No Comments
The Game: New York Mets (14-12) at Arizona Diamondbacks (20-8 )
The Matchup: John Maine (2-2, 3.58 ) vs. Micah Owings (4-0, 3.48 )
The Story: After an embarrassing 13-1 loss against the Pirates, the Mets took a day off and flew across the country, and look to bounce back against the red-hot D-Backs. The big story is Moises Alou, who is expected to play very soon, possibly even tonight. That should hopefully put some fire back into the Mets lineup, which has been disappointing to say the least in recent days. My guess is that Willie will bat Alou sixth, moving the struggling Carlos Delgado down to seventh (can you believe it?) in the order. The Mets will be facing some of the league’s best pitching over the next three days, and the key to winning this series is in Jose Reyes’s ability to get on base.
Tonight’s pitching matchup features two of the premier young pitchers in baseball. John Maine has looked shaky on the mound at times, but has still managed to pitch pretty well so far, holding opponents to 2 runs or less in his last four starts. Micah Owings has been a nice surprise this year for the Snakes, posting an incredible 28:9 K/BB ratio. He’s the weakest of the three opposing pitchers in this series, and will be followed up by Brandon Webb (against Mike Pelfrey tomorrow) and Dan Haren (against Johan Santana on Sunday).
The D-Backs are the hottest team in baseball, riding on their young bats, including Justin Upton, Chris Young, Stephen Drew, Orlando Hudson, and Eric Byrnes. It goes without saying that a series win here for the Mets would be a huge statement.
-Jonathan Kraft
Categories: Mets
Tagged: Brandon Webb, Carlos Delgado, Chris Young, Dan Haren, Diamondbacks, Eric Byrnes, Johan Santana, John Maine, Jose Reyes, Justin Upton, Mets, Micah Owings, Mike Pelfrey, Moises Alou, Orlando Hudson, Stephen Drew
Nationals Pregame: 5/2 vs. PIT
May 2, 2008 · 1 Comment
The Game: Pittsburgh Pirates (11-17) at Washington Nationals (12-17)
The Matchup: Phil Dumatrait (0-1, 3.92) vs. John Lannan (2-2, 2.64)
The Story: The streaking Nationals have won four in a row, and look to make it five tonight on the back of their most successful pitcher thus far, John Lannan. Lannan hopes to follow up a great outing last Sunday against the Cubs. He is 2-0 with a 0.45 ERA in his last three starts. In other words, Lannan has been pitching out of his mind. Can he continue his hot start? NL Beast has waited for Lannan to crack all season, but it hasn’t happened yet.
The Nationals offense hasn’t exactly been consistent this season, but it has continued to get the job done from unsuspecting contributors. Wil Nieves, example numero uno, starts behind the plate tonight, as he has become Lannan’s personal catcher. Paul Lo Duca returns to the team after being recalled from Class A Potomac after completing a rehab stint. Ryan Zimmerman continues to suffer from a lack of production…we’ll be watching to see if he can break out of his cold streak.
Phil Dumatrait makes his first start of the season, taking over the rotation spot that used to belong to recently released starter Matt Morris. He wasn’t exactly, err, successful last year as a starter, going 0-4 with a 15.00 ERA with the Reds. He never pitched more than five innings.
It’s a beautiful night for baseball in Washington, enjoy the game.
Lineups
Pirates: McLouth (CF), Sanchez (2B), Bay (LF), Doumit (C), Nady (RF), Mienkiewicz (1B), Bautista (3B), Gomez (SS), Doumit (P)
Nationals: Lopez (2B), Guzman (SS), Zimmerman (3B), Johnson (1B), Milledge (CF), Kearns (RF), Peña (LF), Nieves (C), Lannan (P)
Categories: Nationals
Tagged: John Lannan, Matt Morris, Nationals, Paul Lo Duca, Phil Dumatrait, Pirates, Ryan Zimmerman, Wil Nieves
Outman headed to pen [Down on the Farm]
May 2, 2008 · No Comments
The Reading Eagle reports big news in the Phillies organization as top left-handed pitching prospect Josh Outman moves to the bullpen in preparation for a possible call-up to the big club as a lefty reliever. Outman, currently playing at the AA level, is ranked as the #4 prospect in the Phillies organization by Baseball America, behind RHP Carlos Carrasco, 2B Adrian Cardenas, and LHP Joe Savery.
Here’s what BA has to say about Outman:
Deception is Outman’s biggest strength on the mound…hitters can’t get good reads on his 90-94 mph fastball, his late-biting 83-84 mph slider or his changeup.
Along with Outman, LHP Fabio Castro will make the move to the pen.
Categories: Phillies
Tagged: Adrian Cardenas, Carlos Carrasco, Fabio Castro, Joe Savery, Josh Outman, Phillies
Balester eager to join Nats [Down on the Farm]
May 2, 2008 · No Comments
Great article in the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star today about Nationals right-handed pitching prospect Colin Balester, who has advanced to AAA Columbus after being picked out of high school in the 2004 draft, and could soon follow John Lannan and Mike O’Connor to Washington. So far this year, Balester is 1-2 with a 4.24 ERA, with a 20:9 K to BB ratio in 23 innings.
Here’s what Baseball America has to say about Balester, who they categorize as the Nationals highest pitching prospect.
90-93 mph fastball velocity, touching 94 regularly…above-average curveball at 77-81 with hard downward break.
A potential middle-of-the-rotation starter with a ceiling as a No. 2…could be in Washington by midseason.
That would make Balester the hardest-throwing starter on the Nationals staff. Sounds like this guy has really good stuff. It should be fun to see him (probably sooner than later, as NL Beast has been forseeing a Matt Chico demotion recently.
Categories: Nationals
Tagged: Colin Balester, John Lannan, Matt Chico, Mike O'Connor, Nationals
Dmitri digs massages, will report to Viera tomorrow
May 2, 2008 · No Comments
Remember yesterday when NL Beast reported that Dmitri Young was on his way to the Mayo Clinic for a second opinion on his aching back?
Well apparently after that was announced, Dmitri’s hip flexor was massaged by a Nationals therapist named Tatiana, according to Mark Zuckerman. We can only imagine what kind of magic she worked because immediately after the session, Dmitri decided to take an indoor BP session and is now on his way to Viera to start playing in extended Spring Training games.
“Once she worked on my hip, that was it,” Dmitri said. “It fixed everything, it made all the difference.”
Categories: Nationals
Tagged: Dmitri Young, Nationals
Schneider says he’s ready to play
May 2, 2008 · No Comments
According to Adam Rubin of the Daily News, Brian Schneider said on WFAN today that while he’s not ready to start, he can come off the bench if needed. This means that the Mets should be able to send Gustavo Molina back to the minors in order to bring Moises Alou off the DL. Rubin says that Brian might not be able to start at all in Arizona, but can catch if asked to.
This is great news, hopefully Brian continues to progress steadily and we can have him back behind the plate early next week instead of missing another week, which would have happened if he had to be retroactively placed on the DL.
Categories: Mets
Tagged: Brian Schneider, Gustavo Molina, Mets, Moises Alou
Cordero to DL, Lo Duca recalled
May 2, 2008 · No Comments
As per Nationals.com.
The Nats now have three catchers on their roster–Lo Duca, Johnny Estrada, and Wil Nieves. Hard to imagine demoting Nieves given the way he’s been playing (.400, .483, .520 in 10 games with 6 RBI). This begs the question, why is Johnny Estrada a Washington National? Talk about wasteful spending.
Categories: Nationals
Tagged: Chad Cordero, Johnny Estrada, Nationals, Paul Lo Duca, Wil Nieves
Que pasa, Jose? [MLB 2K8 Curse]
May 2, 2008 · No Comments
I’ve said it time and time again: Jose Reyes is the number one key to the New York Mets. If Reyes gets on base at least a couple times, the Mets are much more likely to win. His OBP this year? .307.
MetsBlog asks today if it’s time to be worried about Reyes. Jose is on pace to hit .250 with 12 HR, 62 RBI and 35 SB. His OBP since last year’s All Star Break is .311. So yes, it is very much time to be worried.
“Everything is going to be good,” Jose told the New York Post.
The bigger question; could this be the infamous MLB 2K8 Cover Curse in action?
-Jonathan Kraft
Categories: Mets
Tagged: Jose Reyes, Mets
Your first place Philadelphia Phillies (Phillies Recap, 5/1)
May 2, 2008 · No Comments
May 1st certainly beats September 27th.
Once again, Adam Eaton pitches well and doesn’t get a decision! An oddity at this point in the season, but a win is a win, regardless of who is credited with the W (Tom Gordon, 3-2). Eaton pitched 6.0 innings, allowing 5 hits and only two runs on a first inning Adrian Gonzalez homer.
Ryan Howard gets the player of the game (yes, you read that correctly). Howard went 2-4, hitting an RBI double in the 3rd, and then being knocked in from second by Pat Burrell. In the bottom of the 8th, Howard crushed the game winning homer to right off of Joe Thatcher for San Diego. Howard may very well be coming out of the slump. Consider this: Howard’s first strike out in the series didn’t come until tonight. He looks patient, reserved and relaxed at the plate. He has a ways to go before I’ll consider him “back,” but this whole series was progress. Step one for Howard, get over .200 for the year.
Giants at home this weekend. I’ll try to post a preview tomorrow, but I’ll be out of town all weekend.
As for now, enjoy first place.
Categories: Phillies
Tagged: Adam Eaton, Joe Thatcher, Padres, Phillies, Ryan Howard, Tom Gordon
