METS CHAT ROOM: Game #19; Maine tries again.

CHAT ROOM

CHAT ROOM

John Maine goes tonight against the Florida Marlins, a team he’s shown success with a 3-1 record and 2.85 ERA in seven career starts. Maine (0-2, 7.47 ERA) is coming off a stinker of a start, giving up five runs on seven hits and five walks against the Cardinals.

Carlos Delgado is out of the line-up tonight with soreness in his hip. Fernando Tatis replaces him in the field and Gary Sheffield bats clean-up and is in left. With Daniel Murphy sitting tonight, Luis Castillo will bat second.

Here’s the line-up:

Jose Reyes, SS
Luis Castillo, 2B
Carlos Beltran, CF
Gary Sheffield, LF
David Wright, 3B
Ryan Church, RF
Fernando Tatis, 1B
Omir Santos, C
John Maine, P

This post was written by John Delcos

85 Comments so far

  1. John Delcos April 27, 2009 5:37 pm

    Nice to be back. Thanks for taking care of the blog while I was away. … BTW: In reference to my earlier post today, manager Jerry Manuel said Oliver Perez would start against the Phillies this weekend.-JD

  2. jim bmore April 27, 2009 5:43 pm

    JD- hope all is well with you and your family

    anyword on the seriousness of delgado’s sore hip JD? just a night or two off and better or could this be more?..either way he has looked tired and a day off should be a good thing..i would have given wright or reyes a day off during that nationals series..jerry has not been good at giving them any break and i doubt they will sit vs the fish or phils this week

  3. John Delcos April 27, 2009 5:53 pm

    jim (2): Day-to-day. Manuel said Delgado wouldn’t be available to pinch-hit.-JD

  4. John Delcos April 27, 2009 5:54 pm

    jim (2): And, I agree with you that Delgado needed a rest anyway. He’s been a funk.-JD

  5. jim bmore April 27, 2009 6:11 pm

    maine 90-93 early…all fastballs…wish he had a good breaking ball to go with it

  6. John Delcos April 27, 2009 6:13 pm

    Amazing. Can’t anybody catch the ball in left.-JD

  7. Harry Chiti April 27, 2009 6:14 pm

    I thought you wrote that Murphy was benched ?

  8. jim bmore April 27, 2009 6:14 pm

    absolutely awful. get a K here johhny come on

  9. John Delcos April 27, 2009 6:15 pm

    Harry (7): That did look like him, didn’t it?-JD

  10. jim bmore April 27, 2009 6:18 pm

    come on john…double play ball here

  11. Annie Savoy April 27, 2009 6:23 pm

    Hi John – Do you know how to change the time on the blog? It’s still on EST.

  12. jim bmore April 27, 2009 6:23 pm

    like to see that…way to battle back john

  13. Harry Chiti April 27, 2009 6:26 pm

    Delcos: Is Santos the first string catcher now?

  14. John Delcos April 27, 2009 6:29 pm

    Harry (13): They want to see as much of him as possible before Schneider comes back at the end of the week.-JD

  15. Annie Savoy April 27, 2009 6:42 pm

    Here is Santos chance to make a splash for this team….

  16. Annie Savoy April 27, 2009 6:43 pm

    YES!!!

  17. Annie Savoy April 27, 2009 6:44 pm

    Harry (13) He’s on his way……..

  18. Harry Chiti April 27, 2009 6:45 pm

    I guess Santos is the first string catcher!

  19. jim bmore April 27, 2009 6:45 pm

    atta boy snatos…very nice..now come on johnny..keep pumping in strikes

  20. Jeff M. April 27, 2009 6:45 pm

    Hi, all. Welcome back, John!
    Just started checking GameDay and see Santos hit a grand slam? I must be dreaming.

  21. John Delcos April 27, 2009 6:46 pm

    Harry (18): I’d keep starting him. He’s done well and the pitchers like throwing to him.-JD

  22. jim bmore April 27, 2009 6:47 pm

    hey jeff…a site for sore eyes for us met fans

  23. Jeff M. April 27, 2009 6:48 pm

    So…more significant than the fact Santos hit a HR is the fact the Mets didn’t die, for once, with the bases loaded. And Wright singled with a man in scoring position. It’s like Christmas in April!

  24. jim bmore April 27, 2009 6:50 pm

    wright taking the ball to right is always a great thing

  25. jim bmore April 27, 2009 6:50 pm

    JD- maine looks like his fastball has some of its life back so far…

  26. Jeff M. April 27, 2009 6:51 pm

    I was listening to Mike Francesa this afternoon… he and a caller agreed that the Mets lack “grit” and haven’t had it since losing Cliff Floyd, whose importance to the team he says he “underestimated”…

  27. jim bmore April 27, 2009 6:51 pm

    uncle cliff was great in the clubhouse

  28. Jeff M. April 27, 2009 6:52 pm

    Nice inning by Maine.

  29. John Delcos April 27, 2009 6:52 pm

    Jeff (26): Cliff Floyd? They must joking.-JD

  30. jim bmore April 27, 2009 6:55 pm

    29- JD- not a fan of cliff? or just think he was overrated as a clubhouse guy (heard how good he was in there a lot)?

  31. John Delcos April 27, 2009 6:56 pm

    jim (30): Think that’s overrated with him. Just a feeling I had when I was around him.-JD

  32. Annie Savoy April 27, 2009 6:57 pm

    Howie reporting that David has a new, very short haircut – whatever works………..

  33. John Delcos April 27, 2009 6:57 pm

    Also overrated is that the Mets don’t have any grit. What they don’t have is good starting pitching. Hopefully, Maine can hold this lead.-JD

  34. Jeff M. April 27, 2009 6:59 pm

    I’m going to watch House. Hope things don’t fall apart while I’m gone.

  35. John Delcos April 27, 2009 6:59 pm

    Tell the good doctor hello.-JD

  36. jim bmore April 27, 2009 7:01 pm

    i think maine’s pitches look good early..lot of life

  37. jim bmore April 27, 2009 7:02 pm

    still throws a ton of pitches

  38. John Delcos April 27, 2009 7:03 pm

    jim (37): He’ll be gone by the sixth at this rate.-JD

  39. jim bmore April 27, 2009 7:07 pm

    JD- getting to or through the 6th is an improvement for this rotation hah

  40. jim bmore April 27, 2009 7:08 pm

    teams and players turn into willie mays vs. the metropolitans

  41. jim bmore April 27, 2009 7:09 pm

    unbelievable…now thats some defense from the marlins

  42. Annie Savoy April 27, 2009 7:10 pm

    John (29) Cliff Floyd?? I barely remember him.

  43. jim bmore April 27, 2009 7:11 pm

    i remember him well annie…you know..the pinch hitter willie used in the 9th of game 7 NLCS wiht 1st and 2nd and NOBODY OUT…ugh yes i still remember.

  44. John Delcos April 27, 2009 7:12 pm

    jim (43): Turned out well, didn’t it?-JD

  45. jim bmore April 27, 2009 7:14 pm

    43 JD- i wish..i wish

  46. John Delcos April 27, 2009 7:15 pm

    jim (45): Had my hotel already booked in Detroit.-JD

  47. Annie Savoy April 27, 2009 7:22 pm

    Word is that Gary Sheffield’s Uncle Doc is in town and may be moving back to NYC.

  48. Ray Sadecki April 27, 2009 7:32 pm

    Since I can only listen to streaming, I got the Braves game on the tube. They have a big baseball head mascot now like Mr. Met. Bring Back Chief Nacahoma I say. Does anybody remember Stearns taking him out that time?

  49. John Delcos April 27, 2009 7:33 pm

    There’s no way Castro would have made that play Santos just made.-JD

  50. Annie Savoy April 27, 2009 7:34 pm

    John (49) – I know nothing about Santos except the stats on the Mets roster. Where has he been?

  51. John Delcos April 27, 2009 7:35 pm

    Annie (50): Was in the Orioles organization.-JD

  52. John Delcos April 27, 2009 7:39 pm

    Maine has really settled down. High pitch count, though. It would be nice if he could go seven.-JD

  53. Annie Savoy April 27, 2009 7:41 pm

    John (51) seems to feel at home with the Mets

  54. jim bmore April 27, 2009 7:54 pm

    team needs to add on runs….quick ABs are a waste…work the count.and add on…i hate seeing the bats just go to sleep

  55. dave April 27, 2009 7:55 pm

    Good to see Maine had a decent game.

  56. Ray Sadecki April 27, 2009 7:55 pm

    Nice start by Maine. Gives me hope.

  57. John Delcos April 27, 2009 7:56 pm

    Maine goes out on a high note. That last inning each ball was hit hard.-JD

  58. dave April 27, 2009 7:57 pm

    (52) I’m just glad he didn’t spit the bit. It looked like he might implode again in the 5th.

  59. John Delcos April 27, 2009 8:00 pm

    dave (58): It was a good start, but he still threw enough pitches to where he should have lasted seven. Three innings by the pen every night is still a lot.-JD

  60. Harry Chiti April 27, 2009 8:01 pm

    UhOh Sadecki….. Castillo is out of the game…. hurt running to first?
    These cable companies are amazin… My cable company adds the YES, so I think good,more ballgames, except its YES without the ballgames. when the game starts they put some interview show on. What’s the sense?

  61. John Delcos April 27, 2009 8:02 pm

    Harry (60): That’s like SNY without the Mets. Just stupid.-JD

  62. Harry Chiti April 27, 2009 8:07 pm

    (61) You got it! I’m sure they’ll tell everyone what a great addition to the lineup it is!

  63. Annie Savoy April 27, 2009 8:08 pm

    Harry(60) I’ve given up on the cable companies – I don’t get SNY at all, yet I get YES and NESN. Live about 5 miles from ESPN who often blacks me out as does FOX. That’s why I stay with good old Howie. FYI Yankees losing 0-4 to Detroit top of 8th.

  64. Jeff M. April 27, 2009 8:15 pm

    So, House was good; I come back here and Mets are still ahead 6-1, but Castillo got hurt? Any update on his condition?

  65. Ray Sadecki April 27, 2009 8:25 pm

    Chiti, Hope Looie isnt out too long. I hope the Citi not so faithful didnt boo him off the field.

  66. Jeff M. April 27, 2009 8:26 pm

    (60-63) I’ve had Dish Network for years. I get SNY and SNY HD, but no YES — which is fine with me!

  67. John Delcos April 27, 2009 8:26 pm

    Ray (65): He stayed in to run the bases but didn’t come out to play defense.-JD

  68. Ray Sadecki April 27, 2009 8:30 pm

    thx JD, I tuned in late

  69. John Delcos April 27, 2009 8:34 pm

    Dare I say it? They are about to score a tack-on run.-JD

  70. Jeff M. April 27, 2009 8:36 pm

    Call me a Killjoy, but I’ll take a single with RISP by Wright over a triple with nobody on and a 6-1 lead any day. The only reason he scored is because it wasn’t him up to bat with himself on third!

  71. John Delcos April 27, 2009 8:37 pm

    Jeff (70): Wright did deliver a RBI single in the first.-JD

  72. Jeff M. April 27, 2009 8:39 pm

    JD (71) Yes he did. As Dr. Zoidburg says on Futurama, “Hurray!”

  73. Jeff M. April 27, 2009 8:41 pm

    (72) My mistake — it’s Zoidberg.

  74. Harry Chiti April 27, 2009 8:45 pm

    Sadecki… The be too busy booing wright too notice Castillo limping. Man, the best guy on the team ain’t allowed to have a slump…… I bet Teddy Willimans even had one or two….

  75. Jeff M. April 27, 2009 8:47 pm

    Great play by Wright at 3rd. I’ll be ready to acknowledge he’s coming out of it if he keeps this up tomorrow.

  76. Annie Savoy April 27, 2009 8:50 pm

    Howie has put this one ‘in the books’ now and forever to be known as the Santos Grand Slammer game book.

  77. Jeff M. April 27, 2009 8:52 pm

    Wow, that was a quick game. Also a good game all around for the Mets — unless it turns out Castillo is really hurt. Total opposite of yesterday. Go figure!

  78. Jeff M. April 27, 2009 8:54 pm

    John, how do you explain a team turning it around 180 degrees from one day to the next? Was this strictly a case of Ollie pitching like crap yesterday and Maine pitching well today?

  79. John Delcos April 27, 2009 8:56 pm

    A big night for Santos, for sure. But tonight was about Maine showing signs of turning it around. He threw a lot of pitches, but rebounded after the first. The Mets need Maine to keep it up.-JD

  80. John Delcos April 27, 2009 8:57 pm

    Jeff (78): Yes. It’s that simple in my mind.-JD

  81. jim bmore April 28, 2009 1:10 am

    solid win…lets go livan..give us the same result you did in miami..lets get another W
    4 out of 5 would be nice to see

  82. Steve The Original April 28, 2009 8:31 am

    JD or anyone who knows: Does Santos have options left? I’d hate for them to cut or trade Castro and give Santos the back up job if he’s only going to be a flash in the pan guy. I mean he didn’t exactly light up the minor leagues either in his 8 year stint down there.

  83. Jeff M. April 28, 2009 11:21 am

    Filip Bondy has an interesting piece on Santos in the Daily News: http://tinyurl.com/c8fe46. He was with the Yankees’ Staten Island A team for years before going to Baltimore. But it doesn’t say anything about options — just that Manuel has a “tough” decision when Schneider comes back.

  84. Annie Savoy April 28, 2009 12:04 pm

    Jeff/Steve –

    I don’t know much about the ‘options and contracts’ that ballplayers have, but the Mets would be nuts not to let Santos ride out this stretch of play that he’s having. I hope the powers that be think a little bit about the player, his contribution to the team and his needs. Sometimes, you just have to go with the flow.

    Here’s a piece from the Times that goes back to last week:

    April 21, 2009, 8:26 pm
    The Facts About Omir Santos
    By Ben Shpigel

    Omir Santos scored the only run for the Mets on Saturday.ST. LOUIS – J.J. Putz loved pitching to Omir Santos in spring training, so count him as someone who was “impressed but not surprised” at how Santos secured the Mets’ 1-0 victory Saturday against Milwaukee. With one out in the ninth inning, Santos signaled to Francisco Rodriguez to throw a full-count changeup to J.J. Hardy. As Ryan Braun broke for second, Santos stayed back to frame the pitch – strike three – then, with a quick release, fired to second to catch Braun stealing to end the game.

    “What was really impressive was that his priority was to get the strikeout, then to get the guy at second,” Sandy Alomar Jr., the Mets’ catching instructor, said before Tuesday night’s game against the Cardinals. “He got rewarded.”

    In three games since being recalled, Santos has flashed the solid defense and right-handed power that won him admirers throughout the clubhouse and front office. Before Santos, who turns 28 next week, left for Class AAA Buffalo, Jerry Manuel thanked him and said, “See you soon.” When Brian Schneider landed on the disabled list Friday, the Mets picked him and not either of the other two catchers at Buffalo, Robinson Cancel and Rene Rivera, to back up Ramon Castro.

    “They could have chosen anybody, but they chose me,” said Santos, who is 2 for 5 with a double and a triple and has scored two runs. “That’s a great feeling.”

    I say keep him.

  85. Steve The Original April 28, 2009 1:06 pm

    (84) Annie: I understand what you are saying, but alot of times players have real good weeks but it doesn’t last. More playing time ends up exposing them. I think if they cut Castro it also removes a power hitting threat from the bench.

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