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

Game Summary

Mets took an early lead but just got completely out slugged by the Bronx Bombers. Capuano got hit hard in his start, bullpen gave up a run, and Reyes and Turner led the Mets to three runs. However, Mets lose game two of the Subway Series 7-3.

Game Notes

What looked like was going to be a good start to the game for the Mets in the first inning, quickly became mute once the sandbox of a ballpark came into play. Four homeruns were given up by Mets pitchers with only one of them possibly being a homerun that would count at Citi Field. Of course Capuano was completely out matched in the game. He went 5.1 innings giving up six runs on six hits, four homeruns, no walks and five strikeouts. He receives his fifth loss of the season and an ERA over five. However, if this was Citi Field, it would have been a completely different outcome as the Yankees only scored one run that didn’t come from a cheep homerun.

The bullpen comprised of the still perfect Pedro Beato as he pitched a hitless and scoreless 1.2 innings with one strikeout. Glad to have him back. Also, Buchholz pitched an inning giving up that sac-fly run.

Mets and Yankees both had only seven hits, but Mets only went 3-8 with RISP, the biggest problem this season for the offense.

Jose Reyes comprised of three of those hits and two of the runs scored for the Mets. Daniel Murphy had two hits and scored the other run for the Mets. RBIs came from Beltran, “Big Red” Justin Turner, and Jason Bay, despite Bay not having a hit in the game.

As my colleague mentioned, Justin Turner drove in a run for the seventh straight game during the first inning, setting a Mets rookie record. Congratulations to him. I wonder if Wright will turn into Wally Pipp?

F-Mart, Pridie, Bay, Thole, and Tejada all had 0-fers. Thole’s average is reaching the Mendoza line with a .205 average.

Game Ball

Justin Turner for his RBI in the first setting a Mets rookie record.

Up Next

Mike Pelfrey starts the rubber match for the Subway Series against the Yankees who will have rookie pitcher Ivan Nova on the mound for them. Game time is 1:05 PM on WPIX.

Courtesy of Mets Merized Online

Posted under Blog news/Loose Threads

Game 1 Pitching Match-up

RHP R.A. Dickey (2-4, 5.03) vs. RHP Freddy Garcia (2-2, 3.40), 7:05 p.m. ET

Starting Lineup

1. Jose Reyes, SS
2. Daniel Murphy, 1B
3. Carlos Beltran, RF
4. Jason Bay, LF
5. Fernando Martinez, DH
6. Justin Turner, 3B
7. Josh Thole, C
8. Jason Pridie, CF
9. Ruben Tejada, 2B

Subway Series Mets Notes

BEL-TRON: Carlos Beltran is 14-for-31 against Freddy Garcia and has been consistently good against him. He was 7-for-his-first-15 and is since 7-for-his-last-16 against him. Of the 86 pitchers that Beltran has faced at least 20 times, his .452 batting average against Garcia ranks sixth-best (Kyle Lohse tops his favorites list, .541).

METS ON THE MOUND IN MAY: The Mets are 10-6 this month. New York’s pitching staff has the fourth-best ERA in the month of May (2.76). The Mets bullpen is 4-2 and has a 1.12 ERA (six earned runs/48.1 innings) this month, the third-best in the majors. Mets starters are 5-4 this month with a 3.54 ERA (40 earned runs/101.2 innings).

INFIELD: The Mets’ starting infield yesterday of Daniel Murphy, Ruben Tejada, Jose Reyes and Justin Turner, had the youngest average age for the starting infield for any major league team in any game this season (25.5 years old).

BAY WATCH: Jason Bay is hitting a Ted Williams-esque .406 against the Yankees over the last two seasons. In that span, he rates in the top 3 against the Yankees in batting average (2nd), on-base percentage (.500, 1st), and slugging percentage (.739, 3rd).

FRANCISCO RODRIGUEZ: Converted his 14th straight save chance yesterday, his longest such stretch since saving 16 straight to start the 2009 season. Rodriguez, who is tied for second in the majors in saves, also extended his scoreless innings streak to 18.0 innings, the fourth longest active streak in the majors.

APPLE TURNER: Turner has reached base safely in his last 10 games dating back to May 7. During this span, he’s batting .382 (13-34) with six runs, four doubles, one home run and 12 RBI.

SUBWAY BUZZ: Entering tonight, 11 members of the Mets active 25- man roster have played in a Subway Series game (Reyes, Beltran, Bay, Evans, Isringhausen, Martinez, Misch, Murphy, Pelfrey, Tejada and Rodriguez). There have been 111 players to play for both the Mets and Yankees including two to join that list this year (Gustavo Molina and Luis Ayala).

INTERLEAGUE PLAY: The Mets begin their 15th season of Interleague play tonight. The Mets are 118-111 (.515) all-time during Interleague action. The Mets’ .515 winning percentage is the fourth best all-time among NL clubs. The Mets went 13-5 against the American League last year, setting a franchise record for wins in a single season. The Mets won five of their six series vs. AL squads and Jose Reyes led the majors with 19 runs scored during Interleague play in 2010. Francisco Rodriguez was second in the majors with seven Interleague saves in 2010 and ranks sixth all-time with 33 Interleague saves.

Game Preview

It’s that time of year again where the Mets and the Yankees play each other, and the 2011 Subway Series opens up in the Bronx this year. For the Mets, they are coming off of a two game shutout sweep of the Nationals as they look to return to .500 in tonight’s game. Since the game is happening in the Bronx, the Mets will have a DH tonight, and as of last night (when this article was written) the DH was penciled in as Fernando Martinez as he looks to get some much needed AB’s. Tonight Dickey will look to bounce back as he takes on Freddy Gracia.

R.A. Dickey has struggled at points this season, and hopefully he can turn back to his consistent self tonight. This season he is 1-5 with a 5.08 with over 50 innings logged. Things have been rough this month, as he has posted a 7.36 ERA in three starts. The last time Dickey faced the Yankees was in 2009 where he pitched 9.3 innings where had an ERA of 0.93. The Yankees have the following numbers on Robert Allen:

Granderson 3-10, 2 2B
Jeter 1-8
A-Rod 5-8, 2B
Swisher 0-6
Posada 0-3

The Mets will get a look at Freddy Garcia tonight who is 2-3 this season with a 3.22 ERA. This month he has pitched 18.1 innings and has posted an ERA of 4.42. The last time he faced the Mets was back in 2007 where he pitched 4.2 innings allowing 3 ER over 8 hits on his way to a loss. The Mets have posted the following numbers on Freddy:

Beltran 14-31, 2 2B, 3B, 3 HR
Harris 3-12
Bay 0-7
Paulino 3-3, HR
Reyes 1-3

Let’s Go Mets!

Subway Series Game Preview, Courtesy of Mets Merized Online

Note:

John is ill and will resume blogging again in a day or too. He apologizes for not being able to post, but does have a special message for all his readers for the Subway Series; LETS GO METS!

Posted under Blog news/Loose Threads

Posted under Blog news/Loose Threads

Pretty basic really since there’s nothing but old news in baseball. Who’s watching today and who do you like? Enjoy this unofficial holiday.

Posted under Blog news/Loose Threads

I’m really glad Orlando Hudson has signed with Minnesota, ending all that silly talk of the Mets signing him and trading Luis Castillo. That was never going to happen. So, with nothing going on with the Mets right now – as opposed to the entire offseason – let’s open it up today to talk about the Super Bowl.

Like everybody else Sunday, I’ll be watching the Colts and Saints. I’m glad the Saints are in it, but I’ve always liked the Colts, even when they were in Baltimore and crushed my Browns in the playoffs.

Since everybody thinks this will be high scoring, watch the final be 17-14. It usually works out that way, doesn’t it?

So, if you’d like to take a break from baseball – kind of like how the Mets have this winter – let’s hear your thoughts on the Super Bowl.

Posted under Blog news/Loose Threads

Hi folks …. I have not been feeling well lately and spent much of the day getting poked and prodded at the doctor. I will be back tomorrow. Thanks.

Posted under Blog news/Loose Threads

JETS v. COLTS

It’s fashionable to call the Jets a Cinderella, but when you have the No. 1 defense and No. 1 rushing game you’re no fluke. And, as long as they balance the offense enough to keep the Colts’ pass rushers off Mark Sanchez, they should be in decent shape. I’d want to see Sanchez throw more on first down to stay out of third-and-long.

The key, as it was in beating San Diego, is to play virtually error free and hold onto the ball to keep Peyton Manning off the field. But, Manning is so good, and he can score so quickly, that time-of-possession doesn’t always work against him.

As they did against the Chargers, the Jets need to keep this as low scoring a game as possible. The other game, however, I expect to be more wide open with both teams in the high 20s if not the 30s.

I wouldn’t be too quick to downplay Week 15 in this one either. The Colts are miffed at losing, but also teed off at the Jets’ yapping later about wanting “credit” for the win. They were given a gift, they should have kept quiet about it and moved on.

Posted under Blog news/Loose Threads

Let's Go Jets

I’m thrilled the Jets are doing so well. They are kindred spirits with the team they once shared Shea Stadium with, and not just because of the housing link.

They also have a history of being disappointed.

I covered the Jets during the Joe Walton Era, and I’ll never forget on 3-18 Mark Gastineau being called for roughing Bernie Kosar. It kept the drive alive and the Browns eventually won in overtime. That was the year the Jets started out 10-1 and limped into the playoffs.

Well, they are rolling now. I hope you’ll add to the link, and if I get comments asking me about blogging the Jets-Colts game on Sunday I’ll do it.

Posted under Blog news/Loose Threads