COO Jeff Wilpon and GM Omar Minaya met with manager Jerry Manuel prior to tonight’s game at Atlanta.
“I didn’t come here to fire anybody,” Wilpon said. “If I was going to make a change that quick I would have done something last year.”
According to all parties, the meeting was about how to improve what’s there with the present pieces. However, the whispers of Manuel’s job security will continue until the Mets give them reason to stop, and their play on the road isn’t it, where they are 1-8 in May and 4-12 overall, the latter a NL worst.
The Mets are coming off being swept out of Florida in four games by the Marlins. They’ve also lost five straight and 11 out of 15 games to go from first to worst in the NL East.
“We’ve got to get some things straightened out,” said Manuel, the master of the obvious. “We have to make decisions and find the pieces that can get it done.”
One aspect of the team not getting it done has been the starting pitching, which has gone 15 straight games without a win. Mike Pelfrey, despite his hot start, is now part of the slide. Pelfrey won his first four starts while posting a 0.72 ERA, but has gone 0-1 with a 6.88 ERA in his last three starts.
Pelfrey is coming off a 119-pitch no-decision against Washington in which he went 5 2/3 innings, giving up four runs and seven hits.
With Oliver Perez not getting out of the fourth Friday night – and subsequently dropped from the rotation – and Jon Niese leaving in the third inning yesterday with a right hamstring injury, the Mets bullpen has been severely taxed.
The Mets are expected to dip into the minor leagues for a starter Wednesday in Washington and go with Hisanori Takahashi Friday night against the Yankees at Citi Field.
Here’s tonight’s line-up:
Jose Reyes, SS
Luis Castillo, 2B
Jason Bay, LF
Chris Carter, RF
David Wright, 3B
Ike Davis, 1B
Rod Barajas, C
Gary Matthews, CF
Mike Pelfrey, RP
NOTEBOOK: Reliever Ryota Igarashi (left hamstring strain) continues his rehab assignment tonight at Class A St. Lucie. Barring a setback, he will pitch back-to-back games for Class AAA Buffalo Thursday and Friday and then be activated. …. Reliever Kiko Calero, who at one time looked like he’d make the major league roster coming out of spring training, was released by Buffalo.
Manuel said he’s not ready to put Ike Davis clean-up. That’s the newest poll question.-JD
atlanta is not such a good place for the mets to turn things around. Need a big start from pelfry.
FIRST INNING: First or third, Reyes is still a pop-up machine.-JD
Ray (2) You’re right. Mets are 4-14 here since 2008.-JD
Wilpon was here today and said nobody is getting fired. Some followers of this blog aren’t happy.-JD
Bay on pace to hit four homers.-JD
didnt wilpon say the same thing just before he axed willie. i missed 1st inning. had to make dinner for family. i am finished. off to watch the game
lets go mets go!
Come on Wilpon bring keith down from the booth and show manuel the showers!
*L*
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
SteveC (7): I know you’re not a Manuel fan, but the team hasn’t quit on him. It’s just that they aren’t that good. I don’t know how much it really falls on the manager.-JD
ok/ whew pelf didnt get hurt.
and they didnt DL Niese. I hate the mets doctors.
i know the players are giving their all. but they dont have good direction. from the games and things i have been seeing .. who knows what goes on in the back rooms.
so technically Pelf had a 1-2-3 inning.
SteveC (10): You have to think they’ll DL Niese to make room for RA Dickey. … I just wonder if they’ll have second thoughts on Perez because Wednesday is his turn. You never know.-JD
i can see their wheels spinning. good ollie. bad ollie. good ollie bad ollie.
its like 2 face from baman. you have to flip the coin and see what happens.
SECOND INNING: Here’s Wright. He’s on pace to strike out 212 times this year.-JD
SteveC (14): It wouldn’t surprise me in light of Niese’s injury. Hate to see it, but it wouldn’t be a shock.-JD
Here’s Davis …. I’ve got a new poll on where he should hit in the order.-JD
that was on purpose. lowe hit him.. absoultely.
my bet is – pelf drills a brave.
SteveC (19): I don’t see it happening. Don’t think it was on purpose that he hit Davis.-JD
Just a horrible call. Get it right, guys. Use replay if you have to.-JD
Mathews was robbed. always happens at braves.
ridiculous.. i can understand if it was close. but Mathews was on and past the base by the time the ball was caught.
JD: its the braves. Pelf needs to drill a brave.
SteveC (24): If he was going to do it, he would have done it by now.-JD
(25) He might save it for Heyward.
Pagan would have had that ball.
Beltran definitely.
25. not at all. There are certain players you hit. for effect. like cjipper.
Hit the rookie we hit the big guy.
Tiffany (26): Why hit anybody and wake up the Braves? Maybe if another Met gets clipped, but not now.-JD
its the game JD. you cant let that happen. but ok. i will give you that . if lowe hits another met be assured Pelf will bean someone.
SteveC (28): He did come in tight on McCann.-JD
(29) Where were you, Delcos, the day Jerry Koosman plunked Rick Reuschel on his sizable ass? Reuschel had hit Steve Henderson, who still a young phenom at the time, and, despite there being warnings issued, Koosman wasted no time in retaliating against Reuschel. I believe Koosman’s quote was something along the lines of, “Who cares about one game when we’re talking about sticking up for our young hitters?”
32. Tiffany on this we agree!
Tiffany (32): Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe Pelfrey is waiting for the right guy to drill.-JD
34. if he’s the pitcher i think he is.. he is..
SteveC (35): OK … something to look forward to.-JD
THIRD INNING: Huge DP. Nice positioning by Reyes.-JD
he’ll probably hit chipper. just because its chipper.
bah. i bet manuel told him not to retaliate..
SteveC (39): Probably so. They talk about such things during the game.-JD
32. you know its like when franceour got hit on the elbow.
look what u found :
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1828&dat=19780412&id=WcsyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ocAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3423,1210203
SIXTH INNING: Good pitch count for Pelfrey…. Good game for Carter.-JD
*ugh*
1 run ball game, with this team. worries me. Pelf is really hanging in there..
SteveC (44): Pelfrey is having a good game. Pitching one of his best. His pitch count is very good.-JD
7 innings out of pelfrey so far. dont anyone say it .. you’ll jynx it,. just think about it!
EIGHTH INNING: Pelfrey has thrown 89 pitches. Gut check for him. …. A run or two tack-on runs would be nice.-JD
tack on runs. with this team?!
SteveC (48): I know, I know …. I knew that wouldn’t fly when I wrote it.-JD
Pelfrey is done, but he has to feel good about this outing.-JD
WHY!WHY! let the man finish the inning!
I hate the pitch count and I despise manuel.
JD: so do you think this was a good move?
SteveC (51): They never would have let it happen with the Feliciano match-up.-JD
But, sooner or later you have to trust your starter. That is, if you think Pelfrey is all you think he can be.-JD
Thank you. All i saw was another blown win for a starter. See Pelf’s reaction..
that was way too close.. Manuel still should have left Pelf in..
This is what I mean about Manuel. The starter is keeping the game going. Keeping the runs low. leave him in.. No. Rather just abuse the bullpen. every night..
NINTH INNING: K-Rod time. It is never easy with him.-JD
K-Rod is reminding me more and more of benitez.
See what I mean.-JD
Wheeeeew. Had them all the time, right?-JD
talk about a nail biter. Classic pitching duel.
I still would have left Pelf in, but we won and in the end thats all that counts.
Have a great night JD. et al.
i see the team won on pitching.
we had a pitcher who actually went into the 8th.
good to see the team win a game.
A QUICK WRAP/Game #39
FINAL: Mets 3, Braves 2.
RECORD: 19-20.
THUMBNAIL ANALYSIS: Mike Pelfrey pitched a gem to snap the Mets’ five-game losing streak and give them their first victory in 16 games by a starter.
ON THE MOUND: Pelfrey gave up two runs on six hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings. … Pedro Feliciano got out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth and Francisco Rodriguez worked the ninth for the save.
AT THE PLATE: Rod Barajas drove in two in the second with a double. … Chris Carter doubled and scored, walked and drove in a run with a groundout.
IN THE FIELD: Carter started a second straight game in right, but Jeff Francoeur is expected to return to lineup tomorrow.
LOOKING AHEAD: Johan Santana starts tomorrow at Atlanta.-JD