NL Beast was about to attend its first game at Shea this year until it got rained out a little after 8 tonight. The game will be rescheduled for tomorrow as part of a day-night doubleheader.
Game One: Johan Santana vs. Matt Belisle, 1:10 PM
Game Two: Mike Pelfrey vs. Bronson Arroyo, 7:30 PM
Categories: Mets
Tagged: Bronson Arroyo, Johan Santana, Matt Belisle, Mets, Mike Pelfrey, Reds
The Game: San Francisco Giants vs. Philadelphia Phillies
The Matchup: Patrick Misch (0-0, 5.40, 8/3 K/BB, 1.30 WHIP) vs. Cole Hamels (3-3, 3.10, 41/14 K/BB, 1.07 WHIP)
The Story: The Phillies look to get back to their winning ways in San Francisco after splitting a four game set in Arizona. The series starts off with stud Cole Hamels, looking for his fourth win of the season, facing off against Patrick Misch, who is appearing in only his third game this season. In one previous start a week ago, also against the Phillies, Misch lasted only four innnings, allowing 5 hits, 4 earned runs, 2 walks, 2 home runs, and struck out 4. Misch has let up 4 home runs on the season in only 10 IP.
The big news of the is Jimmy Rollins back with the team for the first time since April 20. Rollins is listed as the lead off man in tonight’s lineup, and no one is trying to hide the Phils’ sigh of relief that their MVP is back. The offense hasn’t stalled, but it has certainly cooled off in the last week. Rollins’ speed, coupled with that of Shane Victorino, who is also just back from injury, are essential to the functioning of the lineup. In addition, it sends utility man Eric Bruntlett back to the bench. Bruntlett is hitting .303 in the month of May and will add depth to an already strong bench. Australian infielder Brad Harman has been sent back to Lehigh Valley to make room for Rollins.
Stat of the Day: Former Phillies center fielder Aaron Rowand is hitting .336 in his first season with San Francisco.
Lineups:
Phillies
Rollins (SS)
Victorino (CF)
Utley (2B)
Howard (1B)
Burrell (LF)
Werth (CF)
Feliz (3B)
Ruiz (C)
Hamels (P)
Giants
Lewis (LF)
Castillo (3B)
Winn (RF)
Molina (C)
Rowand (CF)
Aurilia (1B)
Velez (2B)
Burriss (SS)
Misch (P)
Categories: Phillies
Tagged: Aaron Rowand, Brad Harman, Cole Hamels, Eric Bruntlett, Giants, Jimmy Rollins, Patrick Misch, Phillies, Shane Victorino
Why is Ryan Howard stuck in his early season funk? He’s ice cold of course. And why is he ice cold? Because the Reading Phillies are giving away a Ryan Howard snow globe tonight.
This might be the worst giveaway in the history of sports. Hell, look how short that bat is. And what the $@&% is Ryan Howard doing in a Santa suit in MAY?
Hat tip to Philly Edge
-Greg Berlin
Categories: Phillies
Tagged: Phillies, Reading Phillies, Ryan Howard
According to MLB Trade Rumors, Derrick Turnbow has accepted his assignment to Triple A Nashville, squashing any rumors of a deal. MLBTR says that the Mets were never actually in serious discussions with Milwaukee, despite rumors of interest in the former All Star reliever.
-Jonathan Kraft
Categories: Mets
Tagged: Derrick Turnbow, Mets
The Mets need to win 5 out of the next 7. The season might depend on it.
That sounds awfully premature in May, right? Here’s my reasoning. The next 7 games are at home against two teams that the Mets should dominate in the Reds and Nationals. Two very beatable teams, at home. After that, this season gets a lot harder: three in the Bronx, four in Atlanta, three in Colorado, then home for three against the [first place] Marlins and three against the Dodgers to close out the month. That’s not an easy stretch.
In the Reds, the Mets take on a team that’s batting .250. The Nationals? .242. The Mets, by the way, are also batting a collective .250, for what it’s worth. Except for Johnny Cueto, who will oppose Oliver Perez on Sunday, the opposing pitchers are not very good (Matt Belisle, Bronson Arroyo, Odalis Perez, John Lannan, Tim Redding, Michael O’Connor.)
If the Mets take 5 of 7, they go into the Bronx with momentum, and probably in first or second place. The booing at Shea will soften, the calls for Willie to be fired will subside. The Mets will reestablish themselves as a top team in the league, after a less than stellar start to the year.
If the Mets don’t dominate these two teams, they limp across the river to play another underachieving club from New York. Shea will not be a pleasant place, and the Fire Willie movement will reach a new high. We’ll understand that this team is underachieving, and this year will start to look a whole lot more ominous.
It’s time for the Mets to step up and prove that they belong in the conversation of the elite teams in the National League. Sure, it’s only May, but this is a turning point.
-Jonathan Kraft
Categories: Mets
Tagged: Bronson Arroyo, John Lannan, Johnny Cueto, Matt Belisle, Mets, Michael O'Connor, Nationals, Odalis Perez, Oliver Perez, Reds, Tim Redding, Willie Randolph
The Nationals’ most consistent pitcher this year? None other than John Lannan, the 23-year old southpaw who looks like he’s about to cry after every pitch. Lannan was dominant last night, shutting down an Astros team including sluggers Miguel Tejada, Lance Berkman, and Carlos Lee. He had great stuff, going 6 full, giving up 1 run on 7 hits, striking out 3 and walking 1. More importantly, on a team that has seen starting pitchers like Micah Bowie, Mike Bacsik, and Billy Traber in recent years, Lannan can (hopefully) be seen as a sign of positive things to come for the Nats.
Categories: Nationals
Tagged: Billy Traber, Carlos Lee, Lance Berkman, Micah Bowie, Miguel Tejada, Mike Bacsik, Nationals
Doesn’t look good for the game tonight. Weather.com is reporting a “100% chance” of precipitation at gametime. Too bad, NLBeast was excited about going to Shea for the first time this year. That will have to wait for Monday night. I’m guessing that Mike Pelfrey will get skipped over in the rotation and that Johan Santana will start tomorrow, as scheduled, no matter what happens tonight.
-Jonathan Kraft
Categories: Mets
Tagged: Johan Santana, Mets, Mike Pelfrey
Two of the three catchers on the Nationals roster are headed to the DL. One of the roster spots will be filled by Jesus Flores, who, according to Manny Acta, will be the starter, backed up by Wil Nieves. The other roster spot will be filled by Elijah Dukes, who comes off of a rehab stint with Triple-A Columbus.
Categories: Nationals
Tagged: Elijah Dukes, Jesus Flores, Johnny Estrada, Manny Acta, Nationals, Paul Lo Duca, Wil Nieves
It’s official now, Braves RHP Peter Moylan will miss the rest of the year after Dr. James Andrews of Birmingham, Alabama performed ligament-replacement surgery on his elbow yesterday. Needless to say, this is a big blow to the Atlanta bullpen.
Categories: Braves
Tagged: Braves, Dr. James Andrews of Birmingham Alabama, Peter Moylan
