Not a good game, obviously. I’m not going to do a full recap right now, but suffice it to say that the Mets bats did not come out to play tonight. Nelson Figueroa and Jorge Sosa were both terrible; it was extremely frustrating to watch them both implode against such a weak team. The crowd at Shea was awful–maybe 20,000, maybe. It was a cold and dreary night against an inferior team, but come on.
Figueroa’s line: 5 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, 4 SO
Sosa’s line: 1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO
Categories: Mets · Nationals
Tagged: Mets, Nationals, Nelson Figueroa, Jorge Sosa
I’ll be at Shea Stadium tonight to see the Mets take on the Washington Nationals [BEAST-OFF] as Odalis Perez battles Nelson Figueroa. I’m pumped…this will be my 5th Mets game of the year, but the first one at Shea (2 in DC, 1 in Philly, 1 in PSL). I tried to go Friday night for my dad’s 50th birthday and got only as far as the Diamond Club (where we saw Keith Hernandez and Tom Seaver) before the game was rained out.
I’ll try and take some good pictures to post soon…lets go Mets!
-Jonathan Kraft
Categories: Mets · Nationals
Tagged: Keith Hernandez, Mets, Nationals, Nelson Figueroa, Odalis Perez, Tom Seaver
According to Letteddywin.com, the loveable loser was about to win his first race when he decided to take a detour into the stands and deliver flowers to a fan as part of the Nationals’ Mother’s Day celebrations. Makes you question the winning instinct in TR.
Braves 1B Mark Teixiera had to leave today’s game against the Pirates in the fourth inning with back spasms. He joins Chipper Jones and Kelly Johnson as Braves who have missed time with back spasms so far this season.
Categories: Braves
Tagged: Braves, Chipper Jones, Kelly Johnson, Mark Teixiera
I’ve been to two Nats games this year at the new stadium. One was the opener, so I was willing to forgive any little problems. But I went again and the concession lines were still taking forever. Marlins bloggers Bright Orange Seats headed up to the new stadium this weekend and they found the same absurd lines. Here’s what Nats320 blog has to say about it:
[We] continue to be stumped by the EXTREMELY slow lines at the many Nats Dogs stands. Again this afternoon, a one minute walk to our closest Nats Dogs Stand behind Section 223–took AN ENTIRE INNING just to get to the front of the line, order and return to my seat. Yet, there were just THREE people in front of me. How is that conceivably possible? The first person ordered a pretzel and a beer. The second–two nachos and a two cokes. The third–three Nats Dogs. Why over 10 Minutes to complete the process? There seems to be ZERO effort to move fans through the line promptly. Concession Workers behind the counter constantly yelling at each other. No one in charge.
Sellout or not, I have never seen lines anything like this at Citizens Bank Park. Maybe they just need more staff? I have no idea, but they need to do something.
-Greg Berlin
Categories: Nationals
Tagged: Nationals, Citizen's Bank Park, Nationals Park, Hot Dogs
Pat Gillick doesn’t prefer talking to players about contract extensions in-season. But saying this is his last year, he is willing to consider organization wishes before his own. Todd Zolecki elaborates:
So, will Gillick remain steadfast in his preference not to talk in-season, even though he won’t be back next year? It is believed the Phillies will remain inside the organization and replace Gillick with one of their assistant general managers, Ruben Amaro Jr. or Mike Arbuckle. What if everyone else thinks they should move forward and lock up Lidge or Burrell before they hit the open market?
“If I’m not going to be back and the organization thinks that they would like to move ahead, then it would be something that we would have to consider,” Gillick said before yesterday’s 4-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park.
Lidge and Burrell could fit that description.
“I’d say at this point they’re both having above-average seasons,” Gillick said. “They probably would be somebody we would have to consider retaining.”
The Phillies have not had talks with them yet, but Burrell already has said he would like to return. Lidge so far is happy in Philadelphia.
The resigning of Lidge and Burrell poses many questions to the organization. Firstly, is Brad Lidge having a legitimate season? How do we know he’s not just performing well in a contract year? Lidge has been masterful so far, but his past says this won’t last forever.
It also plays into the Brett Myers situation. Myers gave the Phils a solid closer last season, capable of going multiple innings and throwing with high velocity. This year, Myers is struggling immensely from the mound as a starter. Every sign points to Myers moving back to the closer role eventually, either for the Phillies or another team. He says he likes it, he did well there last season, and he’s not performing well as a starter. Obviously, the Phils aren’t going to keep Lidge and Myers in the pen together. If the Phillies sign Lidge, it means that they are sticking with Myers as a starter. That may not be the best move.
As for Burrell, the questions really start to mount. Burrell is 31, he had a career second-half last year and had a career April this year. So far in May he has struggled. Regardless, say he keeps up solid numbers throughout the season, are the Phillies really going to sign a 31 year-old historically under-performing left fielder? The same questions about performance in a contract year comes up with Burrell. I tend to believe that Burrell has legitimately figured things out. Even so, are you going to keep his average glove in left?
Categories: Phillies
Tagged: Brad Lidge, Brett Myers, Jason Werth, Mike Arbuckle, Pat Burrell, Pat Gillick, Ruben Amaro Jr., Ryan Howard, Todd Zolecki
It’s May 12, and the Florida Marlins are in first place.
That’s right, for the second week in a row, the team that just unloaded its sensational third baseman and its pitching ace is atop a division that includes the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets.
A fluke? Not at all.
This is just one of the surprising storylines that has made this start to the 2008 season one of the more interesting that I can remember. Here are the storylines, one per team, that are making baseball fans scratch their heads right now:
Categories: Braves · Marlins · Mets · Nationals · Phillies
Tagged: Andrew Miller, Austin Kearns, Braves, Burke Badenhop, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, Chase Utley, David Wright, Edgar Renteria, Jair Jurrjens, Jimmy Rollins, John Lannan, John Smoltz, Jose Reyes, Lastings Milledge, Mark Hendrickson, Marlins, Mets, Mike Hampton, Nationals, Nick Johnson, Pat Burrell, Phillies, Ricky Nolasco, Ryan Church, Ryan Howard, Ryan Zimmerman, Scott Olsen, Tim Hudson, Tom Glavine
Hot Foot is reporting that a minor leaguer will start for the Mets on Wednesday against the Nationals. This says something about Willie’s trust in Jorge Sosa, who would have been the in-house candidate to start that game. The move might not be necessary, because tonight’s game will probably be rained out tonight. This could bump Nelson Figueroa to tomorrow and John Maine to Wednesday, both pitching on 6 days of rest. If this doesn’t happen, look for Tony Armas Jr., Claudio Vargas, Brian Stokes, or Adam Bostick to make the start.
-Jonathan Kraft
Categories: Mets
Tagged: Adam Bostick, Brian Stokes, Claudio Vargas, John Maine, Jorge Sosa, Mets, Nelson Figueroa, Tony Armas Jr., Willie Randolph
According to Newsday’s Ken Davidoff, Freddy Garcia will start throwing for teams in the near future. Garcia is expected to return from shoulder rehab by the All Star Break, and could provide a significant impact for a contender down the stretch, Davidoff says. He lists the Mets and Braves as the first and second most likely destinations for the former Philadelphia Phillie. Both teams have holes in their rotations that Garcia could fill nicely if he returns to his pre-Phillies form. Here are Freddy’s career stats:
117-76, 4.07 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 2.28 K/BB
-Jonathan Kraft
Take a look at this catch from former NL Beaster Michael Bourn.
http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=20080511268443
-Greg Berlin
Categories: General
