Clock is ticking on some.
On the plus side, John Maine, Pedro Feliciano and Jeff Francoeur will be tendered. No for Tim Redding and Jeremy Reed.
“Thing could get interesting,’’ Mets GM Omar Minaya said. “It’s like a whole new wave of free agents with the non-tender guys coming in.’’
CHAT ROOM
Anyway, he gets the ball tonight with no promises from his manager he’ll get it again if he struggles. That’s the last thing he needs. When Jerry Manuel says stuff like that about a young player it can only add to the pressure. When he says it about a veteran, he can handle it better because he knows the ropes.
Anyway, I think Parnell should keep getting the ball because that’s the only way he can improve. Like I said earlier, Manuel’s waffling damages his confidence more than anything the Braves will do tonight.
Here’s the line-up:
Luis Castillo, 2B
Josh Thole, C
David Wright, 3B
Carlos Beltran, CF
Daniel Murphy, 1B
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Jeremy Reed, LF
Wilson Valdez, SS
Bobby Parnell, RP
CHAT ROOM
It’s rough enough having to watch the Mets play out the string isn’t it?
The Mets try to avoid a sweep today in the wake of Bobby Parnell’s third consecutive horrible start (22 runs in 12 2/3 innings) yesterday afternoon. Parnell gave up eight runs on nine hits and two walks in just 4 2/3 innings to put in jeopardy his experiment as a starter.
Manager Jerry Manuel said Parnell will take his next turn, but isn’t sure beyond that.
“This is the third time he’s had these types of issues, so we’ve got to find a better way to get that straightened out and pitch ahead in the count,” Manuel said. “You’d just like to see better command from a starting pitcher.”
Parnell gave up an 0-and-2 grand slam to Jake Fox on a hanging slider in the fifth. He hasn’t been the only Mets pitcher to give it up while ahead in the count. The staff has given up seven 0-and-2 homers this season, including two slams.
PARNELL: Struggling in new role.
Said Parnell: “I know it’s going to be a process, and there’s going to be some tough lessons learned. I haven’t been keeping my team in the game, so I’m going to have to go back to the drawing board.”
It’s tough to make the conversion from reliever to starter during the season. Parnell has stamina questions because his body hasn’t adjusted to the work load. The team isn’t going anywhere this year, so letting Parnell start for the rest of the season can only benefit him and the Mets in finding out the answers.
Figueroa is 0-4 with a 4.40 ERA in nine career appearances, four starts against the Cubs.
Here’s today’s starting line-up against Carlos Zambrano:
Angel Pagan, CF
Luis Castillo, 2B
Daniel Murphy,1B
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Jeremy Reed, LF
Fernando Tatis, 3B
Brian Schneider, C
Anderson Hernandez, SS
Nelson Figueroa, RP (1-3, 5.40)
CHAT ROOM
Let’s face it, ain’t happening. Also not happening is Gary Sheffield. He won’t start tonight, either, but is available as a pinch hitter like last night.
The Mets go into tonight’s game at Arizona losers of nine of their last 12 games. With the offense on life-support, the rotation has responded with a 5.57 ERA in that span.
At one time, June 7 after throwing seven shutout innings against Washington, was 5-1. He takes a 7-6 record and 5.08 to the mound tonight.
Last Thursday, Hernandez gave up seven runs in five innings in losing at San Diego. He has given up seven runs or more in three of his last six outings. Lifetime, Hernandez is 10-6 with a 3.51 ERA against the Diamondbacks, but his history over the past two months is a greater measure of what to expect.
The Mets will send this line-up against Max Scherzer (6-6, 4.01):
Cory Sullivan, LF
Luis Castillo, 2B
Fernando Tatis, 3B
Daniel Murphy, 1B
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Jeremy Reed, CF
Alex Cora, SS
Brian Schneider, C
Livan Hernandez, RP
CHAT ROOM
Santana was superb yesterday, but it was only a glimmer. One game does not mean a turnaround.
The same scintillating line-up will go against Javier Vazquez:
Angel Pagan, CF
Luis Castillo, 2B
Daniel Murphy, 1B
David Wright, 3B
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Jeremy Reed, LF
Alex Cora, SS
Brian Schneider, C
Fernando Nieve, RP
