The John Delcos New York Mets Report Featuring Mets' commentary, analysis and news.

Not surprisingly, Mets GM Omar Minaya was unable to pull off a trade by this afternoon’s deadline for a multitude of reasons.

The Mets had to balance out their place in the standings – six games behind in the wild card – and protecting their farm system. There was also the fact not one of the big names traded today (Jake Peavy, Nick Johnson or Victor Martinez) would compensate for all the injured players on the DL.

“We were just not able to get it done,’’ Minaya said. “We had some opportunities to do some things, but, in the end, I felt that what teams were asking for we couldn’t find a match.

“Unless it is someone we were going to hold on to beyond one year, we’re going to hold on to as many prospects as we can.’’

Meanwhile, the Mets start a four-game series against the Diamondbacks tonight. The tarp is on the field but the Mets are hoping to get the game in. However, it won’t start before 8 p.m.,

Livan Hernandez (7-5) goes against Doug Davis (5-10).

Here’s the line-up:

Angel Pagan, CF
Luis Castillo, 2B
David Wright, 3B
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Fernando Tatis, LF
Daniel Murphy, 1B
Omir Santos, C
Alex Cora, SS
Livan Hernandez, RP

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

Johan Santana rebounded from a bad start with a sterling performance in today’s 7-0 whipping of Colorado in the first game of a day-night double-header.

Santana threw seven sharp innings and streaking New York won its fifth straight game, beating the Colorado Rockies 7-0 in the opener of a day-night doubleheader.

“Every time you win a game it’s good. But it’s even better when you have a chance to just keep adding to it,” Santana said. “That’s what I was trying to do today and at the same time I was having fun. It’s good to see that. It’s good to see that everybody feels comfortable.”

The victory was the Mets fifth straight.

Santana (12-8) struck out eight, walked one and gave up four hits. He finished July with a 3-2 record and 1.82 ERA in five starts. The Mets broke it open with a five-run second highlighted by Angel Berroa’s two-run double. It only the sixth time in 21 starts by Santana that they’ve supported him with at least five runs.

The Mets (49–51) will throw Jon Niese (1–0, 4.08 ERA) against lefty Jorge De La Rosa (8-7, 4.78 ERA).

Here’s the line-up for the second game:

Angel Pagan, CF
Luis Castillo, 2B
David Wright, 3B
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Fernando Tatis, LF
Daniel Murphy, 1B
Angel Berroa, SS
Omir Santos, C
Jon Niese, LP

NOTEBOOK: The day began with GM Omar Minaya announcing he had apologized to Daily News writer Adam Rubin for comments directed at him during Monday’s press conference. … The Mets recalled catcher Robinson Cancel from Triple-A Buffalo and designated RHP Elmer Dessens for assignment. … Catcher Brian Schneider has a sore knee. … Luis Castillo missed the first game as his wife gave birth to a baby girl.

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

The Mets (48–51) go for five straight wins tonight against Colorado, with Johan Santana (11–8, 3.12 ERA) going against Jason Hammel (5–5, 4.28 ERA).

The game could be delayed, but they are saying they’ll play.

A lot going on with the Lee trade to the Phils and Maine’s injury.

Here’s tonight’s line-up:

Angel Pagan, CF
Luis Castillo, 2B
David Wright, 3B
Daniel Murphy, 1B
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Cory Sullivan, LF
Omis Santos, C
Alex Cora, SS
Johan Santana, LP

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

The Mets could get disturbing news from Birmingham, Ala., when John Maine’s right shoulder is examined by sports surgeon Dr. James Andrews.

The Mets aren’t even thinking about Maine returning this season and his career could be in jeopardy. The pinched nerve in his shoulder isn’t getting any better. Last season there was brief talk about Maine being moved to the bullpen and that option could be revisited.

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

While the Mets were fighting with reporters and embarrassing themselves, the Philadelphia Phillies were doing everything they could to wrap up the NL East and possibly their second World Series title.

While there are no guarantees, the Phillies did real good this afternoon by adding AL Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee along with outfielder Ben Francisco for four minor leaguers.

The sobering news to the Mets and the rest of the NL is the Phillies didn’t have to part with top prospects pitchers J.A. Happ and Kyle Drabek or outfielders Dominic Brown and Michael Taylor, whom the Blue Jays were asking for in exchange for Roy Halladay.

Lee, 31 next month, has a 3.14 ERA with just 33 walks in 152 innings. He will make $8 million in 2010, then be eligible for free agency. Lee said he’ll likely test the FA market, but who is to say if he wins a World Series title or two?

The Indians have now traded the 2008 and 2007 Cy Young Award winners (CC Sabathia).

The deal speaks volumes between the differences of the Phillies and Mets, notably the depth in the minor league system and the aggressiveness of the front offices.

The Phillies were superior before the trade and widened the gap. The Mets will need a monumental offseason just to close it a bit, and from where they stand now that’s not going to happen.

They’ve won four straight and are in contention for the wild card, but there are too many teams ahead of them to leap frog and they don’t have the chips to make much of a wild card run. And, even if they get their injured players back they have a long way to go.

The Mets can’t improve themselves now to make much of a dent. Their opportunity was two months ago when the cracks were starting to show.

This trade should be an awakening to the Mets their window of contention since 2006 is barely a crack if it hasn’t slammed shut and they have a lot of work to do.

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

The Mets are still crawling out of the rubble from yesterday’s disastrous press conference. Jeff Wilpon talked to the press today and admitted GM Omar Minaya created a huge mess when he called out the Daily News’ Adam Rubin.

Wilpon apologized to Rubin on and said Minaya would do the same. Wilson said the club was embarrassed and hurt by Minaya’s actions. He also reiterated Minaya still is, and will be, the Mets’ general manager.

Manager Jerry Manuel said Jose Reyes is still progressing, but there’s not a definitive timetable for his return.

Meanwhile, the Mets will try to pick up another game on the Colorado Rockies in the wild-card race as they go for four straight victories.

Here’s tonight’s line-up:

Angel Pagan, CF
Luis Castillo, 2B
David Wright, 3B
Daniel Murphy, 1B
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Cory Sullivan, LF
Brian Schneider, C
Alex Cora, SS
Mike Pelfrey, RP

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

Leave it to the Mets to make a bad situation worse. They were ridding themselves of an embarrassing situation by firing Tony Bernazard and had just won two of three in Houston. There was reason to be having a positive tone, but that’s all gone now with the trashing of Adam Rubin. This story has legs and will knock tonight’s game out of the papers tomorrow.

And, it will only snowball with a loss, which is very possible considering the Rockies are very good and tonight’s Mets’ pitcher, Oliver Perez, he of the 2-3 record and 7.68 ERA, is not.

Here’s tonight’s line-up:

Angel Pagan, CF
Luis Castillo, 2B
David Wright, 3B
Daniel Murphy, 1B
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Cory Sullivan, LF
Omir Santos, C
Alex Cora, SS
Oliver Perez, LP

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

There are few reporters I admire and respect as much as I do Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News. He is among the first to arrive and last to leave. He works the clubhouse as well as any colleague I have competed against. I consider my work ethic one of my strong suits and I envy his. As far as I am concerned, his integrity is above reproach.

Rubin has been critical of the Mets, and rightfully so. Just look at their record. Also look at Rubin’s record for being right.

I believe Rubin when he said he once probed Jeff Wilpon about how to get a job in major league baseball, “but that’s it.” I don’t believe for a second he torpedoed Tony Bernazard to get a job in baseball. Rubin is right, the accusation from Omar Minaya toward him was “obscene” and “deplorable.”

If Minaya had a problem with Rubin, he should have addressed it privately behind closed doors as part of his in-depth investigation. Bernazard, an embarrassment to the Mets, has been fired and is gone. The Mets’ embarrassing behavior still remains.

The bottom line is Bernazard is gone by his own doing, with his behavior coming to light as the result of solid, ethical reporting.

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09