Category Archives: Mets News & Notes

Jul 14

Mets Matters: Rough Start To Second Half

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The Mets limped into the break and continued that luck into the second half.

It began with Dillon Gee undergoing shoulder surgery and continued with Frank Francisco aggravating his strained left oblique. He’ll be out indefinitely.

Then there was last night’s game, which began with a 36-pitch first inning from Chris Young, who gave up five runs in three innings.

Let’s take a look at them individually:

1. GEE:  Underwent surgery Friday to repair an artery in his right shoulder in St. Louis and will be discharged from Barnes-Jewish Hospital on Tuesday or Wednesday. In all probability Gee is done for the year. Miguel Batista could take his spot in the rotation for a few starts and the Mets could dip in the minors for another starter. The odds are slim the Mets will make a trade, but if they do they won’t give up any of their highly touted pitching prospects such as Matt Harvey and Zach Wheeler.

2. FRANCISCO: Oblique injuries, as the Mets learned with Jose Reyes, have a tendency to linger. While there doesn’t appear to be a drop off with Bobby Parnell assuming the closer duties, losing Francisco weakens an already thin bullpen. If the Mets do something prior to the trade deadline, it will be adding a reliever.

3. YOUNG: Last night was a serious red flag. Having already lost Gee, the Mets can’t afford  a problem with one of their starters. They know Young is a five, six-inning starter tops. Last night he wasn’t even that good.

 

Jun 13

Terry Collins Named To NL All-Star Squad

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Terry Collins’ solid managing was rewarded this afternoon when National League All-Star manager Tony La Russa named Collins to his staff. It is a well-deserved honor for Collins, and also a testament of how others recognize the Mets are making positive strides.

Considering their pitching questions entering the season, including the physical status of Johan Santana, and a patchwork bullpen, and a list of injuries that encompassed David Wright, Jason Bay, Andres Torres, Ruben Tejada, and nagging slumps of Bay and Ike Davis, there’s a lot that’s happened to this team.

And considering what has gone on with this team, nobody could expect four games over .500. Have the Mets survived their slide? I don’t know, but Collins  has them playing aggressive, alert baseball and instilled a confidence that insists they won’t be pushed around.

“I’ve known and respected him for years,” La Russa said. “But I think the job he’s done last year, with nobody had more adversity than that, and he kept the club competing. And he’s doing it again this year.

“I just think you need to recognize when somebody is handling a ballclub and day in and day out there’s no difference in how they compete. If the starters are hurt, they still keep competing, and he keeps getting contributions. I think it’s a well-deserved honor.”There will remain dry stretches and lulls, but Collins has the Mets playing with a sense of purpose that has the rest of the league watching.

Aside from Collins, two Mets figure to be named to La Russa’s team should they continue at their current paces. I would think Wright would get on with the fan vote and R.A. Dickey should be appointed to the staff.

Here’s tonight’s lineup behind Dickey:

Andres Torres, cf

Daniel Murphy, 2b

David Wright, 3b

Scott Hairston, rf

Jason Bay, lf

Vinny Rottino, dh

Ike Davis, 1b

Mike Nickeas, c

Omar Quintanilla, ss

R.A. Dickey, rhp

Jun 01

Josh Thole and Elvin Ramirez To Join Mets Today

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The Mets announced that catcher Josh Thole and reliever Elvin Ramirez will join the Mets in time for Friday’s series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Who is getting cut or demoted to make room for them has yet to be announced.

Thole, who was hitting .284 with one home run before the concussion, has been on the disabled list since May 8, but started behind the plate for Triple-A Buffalo today and went 1-for-4 at the plate with a single.

The Mets will have to decide between cutting Mike Nickeas or Rob Johnson to make room for Thole. Nickeas is batting .148 compared to .313 for Johnson, but is the better defensive option.

Elvin Ramirez has been lights out this season for Binghamton and most recently Buffalo, and he was just highlighted today by Joe D who wrote:

Okay, I really don’t want to jinx Bisons reliever Elvin Ramirez who is now 3-0 since his promotion to the Herd. But in 14.2 innings pitched so far, Ramirez has yet to allow a run and has limited batters to just five hits, one walk and an amazing 19 strikeouts. Stick your tongues back in your mouths…

I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do for this bullpen. I’m gonna assume that Chris Schwinden will go back down.

The Mets also announced that reliever Manny Acosta, who was designated for assignment last week, cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Buffalo.

Rob Johnson – Mets Merized Online

May 15

Mets Notebook: Josh Thole, Kirk Nieuwenhuis

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Terry Collins said this afternoon Josh Thole has been headache-free for several days and is expected to go on a rehab assignment before he’s activated from the disabled list. The Mets haven’t had a drop off defensively and the pitchers like throwing to Mike Nickeas. However, Nickeas isn’t much of an offensive threat.

Lefty reliever Tim Byrdak is on pace to make over 90 appearances which could force the Mets’ hands and have them seeking another lefty reliever.

Terry Collins said Kirk Nieuwenhuis is feeling more comfortable. He feels as if he belongs. As I wrote earlier today, I believe the Mets’ first option is to rotate Nieuwenhuis when Jason Bay is ready to come off the disabled list.

In what is the least guarded secrets, MLB will announce the Mets to get the 2013 All-Star Game.

In scanning the box scores, I wonder how much the Mets now regret not signing pitcher Derek Lowe, who is winning big for Cleveland. You’ll recall the Mets eschewed the chance to sign Lowe and instead gave Oliver Perez $36 million over three years.

The tarp is off the field, and here’s the Mets’ lineup for tonight:

Andres Torres, cf

Kirk Nieuwenhuis, lf

David Wright, 3b

Lucas Duda, rf

Daniel Murphy, 2b

Ike Davis, 1b

Ronny Cedeno, ss

Mike Nickeas, c

Dillon Gee, rhp

 

May 01

New Poll: Mets Player Of Month For April

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David Wright’s ability to regain his status as an offensive threat is why I chose him as the Mets’ April Player of the Month.

There are other viable candidates, such as Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Johan Santana. Please vote and tell us your thoughts on the Mets Player of the Month for April.

ON DECK: Is this it for Pelfrey as a Met?