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

The Mets will try to win their first road series tonight since a three-game sweep of Cleveland in mid-June. They are 10-20 on the road since then, a stat that pretty much says it all about their slide from contention.

Game #121 at Astros

They’ve only won two road series this season, both in interleague play.

Here’s another one: they are hitting a major-league worst .214 since the All-Star break. For good measure, they haven’t scored more than three runs in six straight games.

The frustrating thing is their weakness going into the season – their starting pitching – has been lights out lately. Definitely good enough to contend if they had any offense.

Tonight it will be Pat Misch going for the Mets.

The Mets activated Rod Barajas this afternoon and he’ll be in the lineup tonight. Jerry Manuel said the Mets are still in the race and Barajas is likely to get more playing time than Josh Thole.

The catching situation typifies the dysfunctional nature of the Mets. They are carrying three catchers, which makes no sense in the National League. And, making it worse is they continue to play shorthanded because Oliver Perez is useless.

Here’s tonight’s lineup at Houston:

Jose Reyes, SS

Luis Castillo, 2B

Angel Pagan, CF

David Wright, 3B

Ike Davis, 1B

Jeff Francoeur, RF

Chris Carter, LF

Rod Barajas, C

Pat Misch, LP

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

Jason Bay hit a bases clearing double last night hitting low in the batting order. He’s seventh today, which is a good spot for him as it alleviates some of the pressure.

Today’s lineup at Dodgers:

Jose Reyes, SS

Luis Castillo, 2B

Angel Pagan, RF

David Wright, 3B

Carlos Beltran, CF

Ike Davis, 1B

Jason Bay, LF

Rod Barajas, C

Mike Pelfrey, RP

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

Backed by a patchwork lineup, the Mets’ Hisanori Takahashi is being asked not only to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, but stop a free fall.

Game #96 at Dodgers

The Mets have lost six of seven since the break – and should’ve lost the game they won – and eight of ten. Once 11 games over .500, tonight they are only three.

They are hitting .192 with 15 runs in the seven games since the break, prompting tonight’s sitting of Jason Bay, Carlos Beltran and Rod Barajas. Enter Jeff Francoeur and Chris Carter in the outfield and Josh Thole behind the plate.

Francoeur, acknowledged as a team leader, has been in a long funk even before losing his job with Beltran’s return from the DL. His public image is one of happy-go-lucky, but in the end it’s all about playing time and Francoeur said he’d welcome a trade. Perhaps even requested.

Against that backdrop is Takahashi, who didn’t make it out of the third in his last start, Saturday at San Francisco.

Impressive when he first entered the rotation as a fill-in, Takahashi has struggled, going 1-2 with a 10.90 ERA in his last four starts. In that span he’s given up seven homers.

This stretch is why the Mets believe he’s better suited for the bullpen, which is why it is surprising he’s getting the ball despite other options.

The Mets won’t give Pat Misch a start and the Mets refuse to start Oliver Perez, despite giving him medical clearance. Jerry Manuel said Perez will work out of the bullpen, something he proved last night he’s not equipped to do.

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

As promised, Jerry Manuel is sitting his Killer B’s: Jason Bay, Carlos Beltran and Rod Barajas are all on the bench for tonight’s game at Los Angeles.

No real surprises. I thought Barajas might play because he homered last night and tends to hit them in bunches. But, Manuel did go to bat to keep Josh Thole so he might as well play.

Here’s tonight’s lineup:

Jose Reyes, SS

Angel Pagan, CF

David Wright, 3B

Ike Davis, 1B

Jeff Francoeur, RF

Chris Carter, LF

Josh Thole, C

Luis Castillo, 2B

Hisanori Takahashi, LP

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

BAY: Just horrible.

His lineup finally intact, Jerry Manuel said he is contemplating juggling things tonight in Los Angeles.

After last night’s game Manuel told reporters he might sit Jason Bay – which I called for a couple of days ago – Carlos Beltran and Rod Barajas.

Beltran and Barajas drove in runs last night, with the latter breaking out of a long home run drought.

Sitting Bay is deserved. He went 0-for-6 with four strikeouts last night and is hitting .111 with no RBI in his past ten games.

“Just lost,’’ is how Bay describes himself.

Read More…

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