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

Good morning.  It was good to see my family again and I apologize for not being around this weekend.

I tried to keep up with the team as best as I could, and not really all that surprised with how they played and what happened in Philadelphia.

Emblematic of the weekend wasn’t that the lost, but in the release of Alex Cora. They waived him simply because they didn’t want to the $2 million option for next year to kick in.

Small time thinking, but indicative of this franchise. They’ll save $2 million by not having to bring back Cora, but will spend $20 million on the contracts for Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo.

One thing I did like about this weekend was the promotions of Fernando Martinez and Ruben Tejada. If the competitive aspect of the season is over as it surely seems to be, then let’s see what these guys can do.

It was encouraging to see all the homegrown talent in the lineup yesterday. With the exception of R.A. Dickey and Carlos Beltran, the lineup was the by-product of the farm system.

The Mets played with life when Tejada was in the lineup earlier, and seemed to get flat when Beltran and Castillo returned.

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

Here’s this today’s lineup:

Jose Reyes, SS

Angel Pagan, LF

Carlos Beltran, CF

Ike Davis, 1B

Mike Hessman, 3B

Josh Thole, C

Jeff Francoeur, RF

Alex Cora, 2B

RA Dickey, RP

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

Josh Thole stays, in part because of his offense, but sits tonight. What a shock. Alex Cora in at second, which I have no problem with. Every time he plays Cora does something positive.

Here’s tonight’s lineup at Arizona:

Jose Reyes, SS

Angel Pagan, RF

David Wright, 3B

Carlos Beltran, CF

Ike Davis, 1B

Jason Bay, LF

Rod Barajas, C

Alex Cora, 2B

Jon Niese, LP

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

Carlos Beltran was to rest today, but is in the lineup. Jerry Manuel said he’ll sit Beltran tomorrow.

Manuel also said Jose Reyes will start Monday in Arizona.

Here’s tonight’s lineup against the Giants:

Angel Pagan, RF

Alex Cora, 2B

David Wright, 3B

Carlos Beltran, CF

Ike Davis, 1B

Jason Bay, LF

Rod Barajas, C

Ruben Tejada, SS

Hisanori Takahashi, LP

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

Here’s tonight’s lineup. Interesting bit of juggling moving Jason Bay to second in the order.

Ruben Tejada, SS
Jason Bay, LF
David Wright, 3B
Carlos Beltran, CF
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Ike Davis, 1B
Rod Barajas, C
Alex Cora, 2B
Jon Niese, LP

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

MANUEL: Playing Russian Roulette with Reyes.

First Jose Reyes was in the lineup, and then he wasn’t. He still can’t hit left-handed. However, with Barry Zito going tomorrow, they are hoping Reyes will be able to play.

In a word: Stupid.

Jerry Manuel has butchered this decision unbelievably. How is it hard to figure that if he’s not good enough to bat left-handed then he’s not 100 percent.

They were lucky Reyes wasn’t seriously re-injured Sunday instead of merely aggravating the oblique. This whole scenario is absurd. They should stop listening to Reyes and say he won’t play until he’s ready. This can’t go on any longer.

Here’s tonight’s lineup:

Angel Pagan, RF

Alex Cora, 2B

David Wright, 3B

Carlos Beltran, CF

Ike Davis, 1B

Jason Bay, LF

Josh Thole, C

Ruben Tejada, SS

RA Dickey, RP

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

REYES: Out of the lineup.

What do you know, Jose Reyes is out of the lineup this afternoon after aggravating his oblique injury. You saw this one coming a mile away.

It was just ridiculous to have pushed the envelope this way with one of your key players.

It might be too little, too late, but the next step with Reyes is to pull him from the All-Star Game. If he can’t help his team, he can’t help the National League.

Here’s today’s lineup:

Angel Pagan, CF

Alex Cora, 2B

David Wright, 3B

Ike Davis, 1B

Jeff Francoeur, RF

Chris Carter, LF

Rod Barajas, C

Ruben Tejada, 2B

Johan Santana, LP

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

Today’s lineup:

Angel Pagan, CF

Jose Reyes, SS

David Wright, 3B

Ike Davis, 1B

Jason Bay, LF

Jeff Francoeur, RF

Rod Barajas, C

Alex Cora, 2B

Mike Pelfrey, RP

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09