Obviously, the most pressing and important issue surrounding the Mets this season is their rotation beyond Johan Santana, and the first test goes to John Maine, tonight’s starter against the Florida Marlins.
Maine (7-6, 4.43 ERA last season) missed most of last season with a sore right shoulder coming off surgery.
Maine is 3-1 with a 1.05 ERA in four starts against the Marlins in New York, and 5-2 with a 3.12 ERA in 10 career starts.
Maine did not have a good spring with a 7.88 ERA, and manager Jerry Manuel said during his pre-game he’s inclined to have a short leash with him.
After the opener, Manuel said he’d stay with the hot hand.
Line-up vs. Ricky Nolasco (13-9, 5.06 last year):
Alex Cora, SS
Luis Castillo, 2B
David Wright, 3B
Mike Jacobs, 1B
Jason Bay, LF
Gary Matthews, CF
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Rod Barajas, C
John Maine, RP
NOTEBOOK: Manuel said Oliver Perez is able to work out of the pen tonight. … As long as Gary Matthews stays hot, he’ll be playing ahead of Angel Pagan. … Manuel said he’d like to use Jenrry Mejia during this home stand.
my burning question is when does m jacobs’ hot hand of 0000 avg become cold?
dave (1): Soon, I hope.-JD
Maine is struggling in this inning. A lot of pitches. His command is off. He was lucky to get out of this with only one run.-JD
Cora had a nice game Monday, too. … Manuel did say Tejada will play tomorrow.-JD
Cora starts off with a triple. Let’s see if the next three guys can get him home.
Forbes magazine has its annual business of baseball on its website. Mets are third most valuable franchise. The most profitable? Florida Marlins with $46.1 in operating income. Only two clubs losing money: Arizona (-$600,000) and Detroit (-$29.5 million).
Two good swings by Jacobs during this at-bat.-JD
Then he watches strike three go by. Oh well.-JD
Dan (5): Marlins are profitable because they don’t use their revenue sharing dollars on player salaries.-JD
Second Inning: Nice hustle by Bay on the grounder to short. You have to like that.-JD
If you haven’t already, vote in our new poll.-JD
John Maine: The right handed Coin Flip. 4 hits after 2 outs?
Dan (11): Isn’t that the truth. His command was horrid. Missed by a foot on the homer and the WP set up the second run. Gift runs.-JD
I have been working so I am not watching. I guess Maine isnt doing well?
dave (13): Maine had a good inning last time, but he hasn’t been sharp.-JD
i like bay. he is agressive but not stupid
thanks john
1962 Mets pitcher with a winning record? Ken McKenzie. Casey told the Yale student to pitch like they were playing the Harvards.
I finally get here and Maine gives up a big homer.
Do these fences move in when the visitors are hitting? Opponents don’t seem to have problems hitting the long ball at Bailout Ballpark.
Dan (17): Funny stuff.-JD
Annie (18): He’s given up a couple tonight.-JD
John – some things never change around here, do they. Heard the Phillies signed Nelson – they won’t be sorry. Mets should sign Pedro, but they won’t.
It’s a beautiful night for a ball game here in the Northeast – how full is Citi Field?
Annie (22): I’m not feeling it with Pedro anymore.-JD
Maine done after five. Ninety-two pitches. Mejia in there. Should be very interesting.-JD
so what happens if he gets bombed? what does sybill do? throw him under the bus as he does with all his non favorite players?
dave (26): Gotta figure there’s a Greyhound revving its engine as we speak.-JD
Nothing hit softly off Mejia.-JD
really. he is a young pitcher with not much command. so they put him in a spot where there is not a lot of room for mistakes.
he should be in AA or st lucie. i hope he doesnt get crushed.
not bad. he got out of it.
dave (29): He got out of that inning with only one run allowed. It could’ve been a lot worse.-JD
Just tuned in late… now I’m ready to tune out again. It’s getting Uggla out there.
Seventh inning: Uggla got all of that one. Three bombs tonight.-JD
Switching over to MythBusters on Discovery. At least it’s fun to watch stuff blow up on there.
Jeff M (32): Maine tuned out early tonight. That’s the story of this one. And, the offense is nowhere to be found.-JD
so the mets look like they will be 500. if they lose let us say 3 in a row, will they panic?
and here i hear ron talk about the pitchers having to go deep into the game. please remind me why we have not improved the rotation for the past few years?
What channel is Cougar Town on?
dave (36): No pitching additions because they are supposed to improve on their own.-JD
Jeff/John – I guess it is really true that there is only one pitcher here at Citi Field. Santana can’t carry the whole load by himself – what were the Mets thinking?
The Mets thinking? You mean the Wilpons, don’t you?
Oh, wait — can’t use the words “thinking” and “Wilpons” in the same sentence.
It’s a shame the Mets can’t find pitchers such as Nelson Figueroa to add to their staff like the Phillies can.
Jeff – You said it….and you’re right. Just like Dan is about Nelson – he’s been here for years, but they just don’t want to keep him. Funny how the Phillies don’t seem to want Maine, Pelfrey or Perez…
What the….???? Tatis thrown out at home on a wild pitch? Only our Mets.
Dan (43): His run meant nothing without a few more behind him. Reckless baserunning.-JD
On a play like the Tatis out, does he make the decision to go or does the third base coach yell something?
Dan (45): The runner makes the decision. He has to make sure he’s going to be safe.-JD
Eighth inning: The Tatis play looks bigger now.-JD
Marlins bullpen seems determined to give this one away. See if Manuel’s Mets can take advantage.
Good at-bat by Francoeur. Lot of patience.-JD
I can hardly believe this game is now tied.
There’s a feel about the Mets tonight. I don’t want to go overboard, but there is a sense about them.-JD
What are you trying to say???
Ninth inning: K-Rod looks untouchable tonight.-JD
Annie (52): I have a feeling about them, that they’ll win.-JD
What? It’s not over yet? I watched South Park and everything!
Jeff M (55): Mets tied it in the eighth on a bases loaded walk and balk.-JD
So what you’re trying to say is, the Marlins gave it away.
Jeff M (57): But the Mets accepted the gift this time. How many times last year did we see opportunities not cashed in?-JD
An unusual game to say the least. Anything is possible with the Mets, isn’t it…
38
I c
Mike Jacobs: the Second Coming of Rico Brogna.
I ran a few errands while I was watching Jacobs’ at-bat.
Jacobs might have been better off missing the pitch. It looks like Wright had the base stolen.-JD
what happened? they were getting killed an now it is tied?
Walking Bay seems like a no-brainer.-JD
Wow… not only did they accept the gift, but Wright didn’t get hurt sliding. Maybe this year IS different?
dave (63): Marlins pen imploded.-JD
they are funny.
k: i dont remember a poorer performance by a bullpen .. in my lifetime
g: remember 08.. september..
Are these guys now being paid by the hour?
dave (67): Yeah, that was funny. He could have said, 07 and 09, also.-JD
Jeff M (68): Four hours for the first nine innings.-JD
john
he couldnt have said 09. they never had a chance to show how bad they could be. they were out of it by the all star break.
is this the guy with the 5 pitches i have been reading about?
Howie and Wayne are being a bit amusing as they try to keep track of what exactly is going on.
he has a hitch in his delivery.
dave (71); I’ll give you that one.-JD
I like the lineup card graphic.
i guess mathews doesnt have an arm
Tenth inning: That might not have been a great slide, but if Helms’ left arm is extended he’d have been out.-JD
ugh.
wishy2 (79): This says a lot about the Marlins. They blow a lead but come back. They always play the Mets tough.-JD
Yep, a true battle of the titans.
Release the Kracken.
Sounds like the end is in sight…although nothing is for sure in this game.
The way the Mets rallied, I thought they’d take this game. -JD
Marlins 7, Mets 6 (10)
Record: 1-1
John, what was that about a different feel… ?
To heck with “Release the Kracken”…
Sign the Kracken.
ANALYSIS: The Marlins did everything they could to lose this but the Mets did not come up with the big hit. A lot of chances. It was a good comeback, but not good enough. …. John Maine wasn’t good at all. He struggled with his command all night and threw 92 pitches.-JD
Jeff M (85): I had a brain cramp. Got carried up in the rally.-JD
They roasted Tatis for getting thrown out at the plate. It wasn’t a good play. But, in fairness to him, had he held the base there was no guarantee the hitter would bring him in. …. They are looking at the play from one angle. Ojeda does that a lot. He should be better than that.-JD
This game goes into the “Book of Unusual Innings of Baseball”
See you tomorrow at 7 for a repeat performance from the Mets and Marlins
S O M
Same
Old
Mets
So we get the rubber game in 20 hours. I have to remember the stock the refrigerator with more “medicine” to get me through that one.
Should I mention how another team won today in part because Chan Ho Park, of all people, pitches three scoreless innings?
Annie, please do not say a “repeat performance”!
Between Maine’s disappointing outing and the mere six hits generated by their offense, the Mets had no business being in this game, let alone taking it to extra innings.
They got a lot of quality ABs tonight where, instead of getting themselves out, they essentially challenged the Marlins to get them out. You have to be very encouraged by their smart approach after falling behind in this one.
I’m certainly not offended by this one… A game that we had no business being in. I just can’t fathom Jacobs in the 4 hole and bringing in Nieve after Takahashi gives up the hit? Might as well let him finish if you were going to let him face the righty. Oh well, at least the horrible play of the Marlins made it interesting.
someone help me with something. tatis is a veteran, correct?
why did he run to homeplate with wright at bat?
Didnt we have a younger player chastized for bonehead plays?
I think Warthen has been screwing with the pitchers to the point they dont remember their bread and butter pitches.
*sigh*