Greetings from Citi Field. Today it is Johan Santana vs. Josh Johnson in a rematch. To update you, both Delgado and Castillo are out of the line-up but expected back Friday in Philly.
This post was written by John Delcos
METS CHAT ROOM: Game #21; Pitcher’s duel, Part II
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Oliver Perez and John Maine threw live BP today.
Maybin tripled with one out. The Mets remember last time as they are playing the infield in.-JD
Cantu just homered. Marlins lead, 2-0.-JD
Delcos: Manuel is becoming a joke. He won’t bat Castillo second because he saysMurphy is so good there, but he’ll bat a career mediocrity there with Muyrphy in the game. His bullpen management is atrocious. So why did bith throw BP and why on the same day?
Harry (4): All eyes were on Perez trying to find an answer. Today was Maine’s between-starts throw session.-JD
Note: Castillo is still bothered by spasms. They are targeting Friday in Philly.-JD
Hi John – Nice day for a day game – what’s it like there today – are there many people?
I didn’t even have a chance to put the game on yet, and they’re already behind 2-0? With Johan on the mound? Can I go home now? Oh wait I am home.
Annie (7): A decent crowd for a weekday. Little chill in the air.-JD
(9) The “little chill in the air” — are you referring to the weather, or the mood?
(5) I think he needs to find his fastball. He has no chance at 88.
You think Cora bunted on his own?
Jeff M (10): The weather. It’s still early to judge the mood.-JD
Harry (11): Yes, I think he did that on his own.-JD
To be honest – I got a little chill when Santana was behind before he even started.
Santana breezed through the second. He was up in the first.-JD
Well, Murphy should be happy. Santana can’t blame him for these two runs.
John (15) Sorry, I was wrong. It’s been a confusing morning already.
Harry (16): True enough. He can only blame himself. He missed in the zone.-JD
Castro needs to make a case for himself vs. Santos here.
The Mets haven’t decided on whether they’ll keep three catchers but it is possible.-JD
And Castro comes through!
Nice job by Johan. Now Reyes has to do something.
John (20) It is Omir Santos’ birthday today – he is 28.
Reyes spent a lot of time with Manuel before the game taking batting practice in the cages under the stands. He was working at slapping the ball.-JD
oh i thought it was an evening game!!!!
need to put it on!!!
Darn that Cantu!
Jeff (26): He has three homers at Citi Field … more than any player.-JD
(24) Interesting….. Sounds like Manuel doesn’t have faith in his hitting coach. Not a good sign HOJO!
CANTU…. If a three game series could put you in the HoF, he’s done it. No wonder he can’t stop smiling.
I really feel like we’ll never comeback again or hit a two out RBI – i know it will happen but should it be this hard this often so early in a season
mets have the second fewest homeruns in the NL – Giants have one less
i think Hojo is in trouble – seems like even in spring training shines was taking over alot
ed (30): They’ll come back in a game this year. I promise you. It’s too early to write off the season.-JD
John (33)Is there a ‘K’ corner today?
oh im not writing them off – im just saying to feel this bad about them this early isnt right – its a result of expectation – but I dont think those expectations are unrealistic, looking at this roster you should expect them to do better then this
Annie (34): I don’t see one. That doesn’t mean there isn’t one off the upper deck behind the plate, which I can’t see.-JD
ed (35): I’ll give you that. They haven’t played the type of ball that inspires confidence.-JD
Ed (35) I agree with you. That is why I’m having doubts about Jerry Manuel. He should know his team by now and be expecting them to produce, just as you are.
I having a hard time rooting for them…. i mean last night they just gave up , thats not my type of team , i dont mind a loss but i do mind not leaving it all on the field….ie i perfered knight and Dykstra over Carter and hernandez not because they were better but they were fiesty
you cant get what isnt there its the same personality since 2007
fly ball gets a run fundies
ed (39): The Mets certainly don’t have a personality like Dykstra or Knight.-JD
There was booing after the Wright DP. Noticeable.-JD
are you kidding me …. all he has to do is lift the friggin ball – this is exactkly what I mean – law of averages says it should happen once in a while … my expectation wasnt a HR, Double just a fly ball out… im tired of tipping my hat to the pitcher
bench david wright for a game or 2…he legitimately is awful right now. hurting the team. sit him friday and start tatis
they should be this team is his personality … mr nice guy … you think in david’s mind he was saying im hitting a fly ball no matter what or oh shit I hope i dont mess this up
JD- i usually dont agree with booing… its deserved right now for wright. he has been terrible
this will be pathetic if he loses again 2-1 whats more pathetic is in the fourth inning this team has me thinking like this
ed (35) It isn’t simply expectations — it’s expectations amplified by the disastrous ends of the last two seasons. We not only want to see them do well, we want to see them prove that they won’t give up and go into the tank. We want to see them pull way ahead early in the season to make a collapse less likely. So far we haven’t seen anything.
(39,40) I totally agree and have posted basically the same sentiment. Can Manuel please sit wright down so he can figure out how to get his head out of his butt, please, he is killing the Mets right now.
i dont think it helps the players but sometimes the org. needs to know how fustrated the fans – there financial base is – I wish omar got chants “it wasn’t just the pen stupid” every time he was in public
John (42) No they don’t, these players are talented, but not hungry. Maybe that’s the difference.
its a joke that your 3 or 5 hitter, wherever wright is, cant hit a fly ball to tie the game
GET HIM OUT..are you kidding me wright
The phillies and red sox remind me like the 86 mets, especially the red sox who are my second favorite team, plus I hate the yankees and love to see the Red sox kick there butts. This met team doesn’t have the right personality that you need to be a playoff team and a world series championship.
bench him
here we go – nice big inning thank you david – i help coach little leaguers and the first class on grounders is get down
CATCH A LINE DRIVE…HIT A FLY BALL…. HE IS AWFUL RIGHT NOW
E-5. He’s got to make that play.-JD
Wright is making a case for sitting him down.
obvioulsy he has to make that play… a line drive at your “gold glove” 3B. right to his glove…what a joke he is right now
even valentin’s clubs over achieved – was there a hall of famer or all-star other then piazza on those teams 1999-2000
59 – ya think he needed last nights as well
i want to hear that santana called a players only meeting and that he lit up his teammates..went off. he seems to be the only one with the fire i have been calling for
gold is for the bat and personality – along with the depth in the NL not the glove
WE have been calling for ***
(62) exactly, they had the right mix of gritty players, leaders etc..
gold is for playing in NY
Pujols gets on his guys for not sliding hard into second you think anybody gets on anybody on this team
i know its the pitcher but this is a hugeee at bat..since the mets cant come back
jeff (60): He is, but they won’t sit him against Philly or the Braves. Maybe they’ll sit him against the Pirates, May 8-10.-JD
ed- no..this team lacks true leadership. santana is the only true leader but its hard for a pitcher. i wwant him to wax his own guys
Jim (64) Santana really is the only player on this team with any leverage – his record. I think he should act before the upcoming weekend.
JD/jeff- id make a statement and sit his butt friday.. he is hurting the ballclub
annie- i completely agree. this team needs it.
Annie (73): Pitchers don’t call meetings like that. It gives the impression of being selfish and it comes across as pointing fingers.-JD
i know church’s average is high but i feel he wastes a ton of at bats..i dont like seeing him at the plate
JD- this team is different…none of the position players seems to have any balls..so i think johan needs to do it..and good for him if he points some fingers, some guys need to take accountability for playing like garbage
stolen base! .. make a run!
lets see if ramon can do what david wright cant it seems…big hit
HR by castro here..come on ramonnn
YES!
Two hits by Castro. Evidently Santos lit a fire under him-JD
way to battle ramon…thats an AB
santana once again does his job perfectly…what a novel idea..doing your job…
lets go A Cora
John (76) Perhaps I’m remembering some other pitchers, like Pedro who was never shy about talking to other players.
Johan has moved two runners into scoring position. He executes. I know they never do this with pitchers, but maybe if they put a “C” on his chest, he could call a team meeting.
Annie (87): One on one, maybe, But Pedro never called a team meeting.-JD
down looking
Jeff (88): I know you don’t want to hear this, but if the Mets were to name a captain it would be Wright.-JD
Nice job by Cora. He went a long way to cover first.-JD
John (91) Do you think they should do that?
Omar should put two out RBI incentives in the contracts I bet a few guys would amazing start hitting better in thiose situations
(88) They had no problem making Franco Captain, That was John Franco, not Matt or Julio.
Annie (93): If they name a captain, it should be Wright. I don’t know what Jerry’s thinking is on that.-JD
JD- ive heard a lot that delgado is considered a leader of this team? true?
Harry (95): A closer is like a position player in that he’s available every day.-JD
jim (97): The Latin players, especially Reyes, gravitate towards him.-JD
JD- I think thats the problem Wright should be but he’s not his type of captain
harry- i am slowly turning to your side on church…great D.. but his O i think is suspect
i think Wright defers to him
JD- is that a good thing (gravitating toward delgado)…im not so sure it is
ed (102): I’m not sure Wright wants to be a captain.-JD
John (96) Yes, and it should have been done when Willie was here. I don’t have any sense of Jerry’s thinking on anything.
look they’ve tied it back up their comfortable… we’ll see some easy 1-2-3 innings from our offense… we’ve done our job mentally … giving the offense a pass and blaming everything on the pen was a mistake
JD(91) I agree .. wright is the closest thing to a real captain they have.
Annie you want wright as captain… I’m not sure he has what I want in one… how many WS derek Jeter have without Paul Oniel
agreed Ed..needed another big bat…next yr i bet they sign a Big LF and let delgado walk and put murphy at first
minaya is great at fixing the problems of last yr and ignroing ones that may arise
of course he gets a hit no body on
nice hit by wright!
here we go harry…come on church….put a drive in one
ed (108): Excellent point.-JD
JD – is cincy a rough city to live in
JD- is it a good thing to have players gravitate towards delgado?
ed (114): I never lived there.-JD
all the bad guys go through Cincy Knight, Rose, O’Niel etc…
jim (115): Probably not. He won’t be here next year.-JD
what a surprise two outs no runs
mets games have a feeling of doom over them now…come on johan, keep it going
keep the good pitchin going..not doom
should have signed DUnn – use him in left field this year and 1B next
JD- do you like matt holliday, i dont think i want the mets after him..long swing..some holes in that swing (a la david wright when he is off)
ed (117): Interesting. The three do have similar personalities.-JD
ed- perfect point.
I wanted Dunn, and I like Holliday. Yes. They should make a play for him this winter.-JD
here comes the doom. unreal
This place is pretty quiet.-JD
first half of last year does the pen implode in august if there not constantly pitching in one-run games in May, June, and July … some may say they had their playoff run when Jerry took over and you can blame the offense as much as the pen on 2008…
which came first the chicken or egg
because they know the winning run is about to plate
come on johan
i cant rem,.. the last successful middle inning rally by us
a K here could be huge.
great K.. come on
good luck to our mets..im outta here..lets hope howie (and annie) puts a win in the books for us
Ed (108) My sense of a team captain is that he is the liaison between the team and the manager, GM, ownership, media etc. not that he is the best player on the field.
Derek Jeter has proven himself to be a fine Captain – I don’t believe there is any doubt about it. Also much of the Captain’s work is done behind the scenes and not publicized.
David Wright, son of a Police Chief and a teacher, and eldest of four sons, has a similar personality to Jeter’s and would do just fine as the captain of the Mets.
Jim (135) Thanks, I hope so too.
wright will be our captain. just needs to stop pressing in big spots..i love him, we all do…just wanna see him succeed
wow im impressed
My sense of a team captain is what you siad but my sense of a team leader isn’t always the same… David Wright will be the captain i’m absolutely sure – Im not sure if he’ll be the leader – captain’s are annoited – leaders are natural and that doesn’t always me a positive leader either – vince coeman was a leader
HR!
Looks like a HR on the replay to me.-JD
They’ll review it.-JD
The most exciting play in sports — the replay HR.-JD
just like football now.
I do not understand that whole replay procedure. They have this huge video screen, yet they have to pull the umps off the field into some little room and delay the game. Why can’t they just look at the replay on the big screen, along with everybody else?
Jeff M (146): They don’t show replays like that on the big screen. They don’t want the crowd to react and go nuts on a play that goes against the home team.-JD
jeff(146) because it has to be official.
(147) I don’t get the logic. If the call goes against the home team, the crowd goes nuts anyway. At least if they can see the replay so they know what the umps are basing the decision on, they might not go quite so crazy. Isn’t this common sense?
Tatis continues to show that he is the clutchest hitter on the team, so I’m sure the great has been will continue to get more at bats than he gets.
Jeff M (149): Since when has common sense had anything to do with it.-JD
we have a firstbaseman
John (151) Sorry, you’re right. I forgot, MLB hasn’t had a commissioner since they hired that guy from Milwaukee.
You could make a list of things that don’t make any sense.
1. Pitch counts
*L*
annie(154) you can say that again.
watch they take santanna out.
That replay stuff sure takes the air out the game doesn’t it?
Steve C (157): You’re right.-JD
I miss the days when a starter was only taken out when you were losing 2-0 and it was 8th or 9th inning. but if you were winning or within a run. you stayed in to the bitter end.
dammit.
fricken cantu
Putz replacing Santana.-JD
Good for Wright getting a stolen base. But I still don’t get why they gave him the free pass with a man on third — do they know something we don’t?
Anyway, doesn’t matter — Church almost came through — that darn Cantu again!
santann\a earned this game. and u take him out. pen is fricken tired. santana should have been left in and been made an example to the other pitchers!
gee. Putz is throwing so well. fresh as a daisy. 3 weeks old.
2 walks. kiss your win goodbye santana. nice call Jerry!
glad i had a beer .. takes the edge off of being so pissed
team choke – do you blame putz in the end when he gives up the go ahead or the offense who can never get a two out RBI hit
And, here come the boos.-JD
of course. poor santana.
I’m so tired of hear that some guy on another team made an incredible play to save a run against us …. only to have that same team have a guy get a seeing eye hit for runs
JD- i was always so against booing – but im having a harder and harder to not understanding this is so fustrating
its a fricken crying shame. but this is where baseball is now. its little league. everyone has to play. I dont want to see the bull pen for the rest of the year. thats how i feel.
i never boo!
hey santana could have gottern an rbi today – how many pitchers have gotten hits this year against us
Steve C: Putz threw one inning on the 21st, one inning on the 24th, and one inning on the 27th. Please don’t tell me he’s exhausted. K-Rod threw one inning on the 18th, one inning on the 24th and one inning on the 27th. So don’t tell me he’s tired either. Santana was up to 110 pitches. Give me a break.
its the pitch count. no one feels the starter should go past 7th inning
Jj should have been able3 to not be perfect and give up two runs as fustrating as it is to see them get a hit its more fustrating how many we leave behind
Steve-O (176) ok i wont.
First-pitch swinging. Gotta love it.-JD
look at the fight in this offense – first pitch swinging – might as well call it a day
ok. A single fixes everything!
I’m getting the sense that when my son came home and changed the channel, it was a good thing.
theyll never bring him in
first pitch swing. they all think they are Kingman.
nice here it comes
jeff you let your son change the channel. did you give him a swat in the butt?!
a double will do it. but i will take a single.
NIce AB by Reyes. I thought he might go fishing.-JD
Mets are 1-7 with RISP, 9 LOB four different Mets left six on in scoruing position with two outs JJ let two runs score who did nt do there job – im tired of this offense getting a pass
ill beg for a balk or a wild – i have no faith in a hit
(187) Why would I do that? He saved me from all this misery. And he asked me first.
lol
DAMN!
where theres a will theres a way – the Mets found a way to lose – i said it if reed didnt get an in the parker he wasnt scoring
i know, i know it should have been up the middle and cantu shouldnt have been able to score thiose runs …. im so tired of it – someone go up there with some confidence and make it happen dont wish it happens
Jeff(192) ok thats different.
I take it Castillo was completely unavailable to PH/play second in the 9th so Manuel kept Alex Cora to make the third out. The drawback of large pitching staffs with Castillo and Delgado unavailable.
The fate of Jeff’s kid is way more exciting than the ’09 NY Mets!
cora should have had a hit it was reyes stealing tthat moved 2B over – it was just another case of porr execution
harry. my point exactly.
there was no way the mets were getting reed home he should have tried for home and saved us the misery
ed. cora had a hit. it got caught and cora didnt run hard enough.
i dont think theres anyway he couold have beat that
I will tell you. this team really knows how to give up. even the 90 mets fought hard into the 9th.
This is just pitiful.
204- mookie would have
1-8 with RISP left 11 on base
I see the slogan on the Mets website is now ALWAYS BELIEVE. Maybe they should change it to BELIEVE IN SPITE OF WHAT YOU SEE.
it should be this close relievers are going to have bad outing – if we have a cushion it would have been ok – these guys have to pitch perfect or we lose because the offesnse cant score or come back
thats why murphy has problem s in the field he’s covered in coco butter
Since it was obvious the problems of the’08 Mets were entirely the fault of the manager, one Willie Randolph, it is therefore equally obvious that the problems of the ’09 Mets are entirely the fault of the manager, one, Jerry Manuel, I have decided it is time to start the Jerry watch.
Sheffield to PH instead of Delgado. He said Delgado was available in an emergency.-JD
to tag on from a post with tomg.
The SIESTA Mets.
after 6 runs we are done.
*sigh*
I still think they should chuck the bullpen and just rotate all of them… its how they are playing anyway.
Gary Sheffield? That’s a desperation move.
Harry. Its the team.
Annie, desperate times call for desparate measures.
harry – were are you so black and white – i still think willie was an absolutely awful mgr. and the Mets in 2006 won in spite of him and he was in over his head with the collapse of 2007 …. jerry is ok in my book but that doesnt change the fact that there are holes
(214) Do you mean putting him up to hit, or signing him?
JD – no emergency it’s early in the season were still evaluating things … why create a sense of urgency
Sheffield should take the younger players aside and show them how to wait the pitch out.
At least Sheffield got on base. Now it’s up to the Mets’ Big Bats to drive him in.
show them his testorone stash
Work out a walk, Carlos! If the winning run gets on, we have Wright coming up next to drive them in. Piece of cake!
Marlins bullpen 12th ERA and we cant touch it
April 24th 2/3 inning, 7 runs for Lindstrom?? That’ll give you a 9.49 ERA
aint happening for us DW is up – get a pinch runner for shef
i do believe .. i do i do i do ..
2 walks. 3 more and we win this game!
Okay, the Marlins executed the strategy perfectly. They have us where they want us.
There’s a Japanese HOF pitcher named Kaneda who used to say “If you feel like you gonna hit into a double play, then strike out instead”.
Way to go, David. Knew we could count on you.
So has Wright broken Dunn’s strikeout record yet?? Two more empty .300 hitters up next.
see
Yep, 2 on none out quickly becomes 2 on 2 out. The hits just keep on coming.
D-Rod is killing this team
HBP! Bases loaded. It’s Castro’s game.
they have more faith in snatos then anyone else pathetic
a HBP is as good as a walk! Two more to go, guys!!
Santos gets a chance to be a hero on his birthday…….
Santos hitting for Castro. That tells you a lot.-JD
pray for a walk , hbp or wild ball
Not a good commentary on Castro.
I thought Delgado was available in an emergency? Perhaps his condition changed during the course of the game.
And it ends.-JD
And it ends.-JD
DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Put it in the books, and put the books in a furnace.
Howie has put this game ‘in the books’, but I sure didn’t like the ending.
Next game Friday night in Philly.
14 runners left on base
steve you were surprised
I’m sure the Phillies are licking their chops.
Good news is tomorrow is an off day. But Friday we start the lusty month of May in Philadelphia.
The Mets have more of a chance of hitting with RISP on an off day.
I can’t wait to hear how with Castillo and Delgado unavailable, injuries are killing this team. Yada yada yada.
ed- no not really. i had hoped though. i always do its the mets.
bull. i dont think not having delgado made us lose
ed: Manuel demonstrated just how bad a manger he is. He benched Castro for playing bad, fine, then he puts him in the game, the gets two hits, and he takes him out for a pinch hitter. Way to totally lose the guy Manuel. I agree with you that Willie was bad, but Jerry is bad also.
Jerry’s cute has worn out already. He’s lost the team.
Phils will kick our A++ they have more fight in their pinky then we have in this entire team
Well, bye for now. As Mad Magazine used to say, “YECCCCCCCCHHHHHHHHHHHH”
i have 1 or 2 of those somewhere.
What do we make of JJ Putz blowing this game? Is it just one of those things? Does he need to be used more to maintain effectiveness? Is it a mistake to bring in a closer and use him as a set-up guy, even if he says all the right things? How much blame should we give to the non-clutch offense which leaves guys little margin of error? Why is it when the Mets make a coaching visit to the mound, a damaging hit immediately follows?
he had an off day …. you cant always expect them to be perfect which is what every win seems to be
we dont have a bullpen. we have a 12 man pitching rotation.
i am disgusted. they should have left santana in end of story.
Chiti i’m with you. Let the “Fire Jerry” watch begin
I haven’t really blogged this season and am a little rusted but here goes: this NY Mets team has been “heartless” since Yadier Molina’s homer in game 7 of the NLCS 2006. Be it Willie, Wright, Beltran, or Manuel, the team has NO FREAKIN’ HEART! IMHO, the entire coaching staff and Minaya should go. I am so sick of the product they put on the field day in and day out and now year in and year out….
Minaya, if your listening, fire the coaching staff and then fire yourself!
(265) ChiliGTC – Agree 100%. This is Omar’s team. He built this team. The Mets are a very soft team. nothing has changed with this team. it’s the same M.O. for the past 2+ years. I bet you that this soft teams loses all 6 games coming up.