New York Mets 2011

[sonny10305]

This will be short no time to write much today
I am sure we can all agree saucy put everything into perspective in his last two posts excellent writing

After a very promising spring and lots of hope for the 2011 season the Mets have been unraveling pretty badly. Our starting pitchers are not throwing strikes or going deep enough into games and the pen has been dreadful. Not much better in the defense area where guys like Angel Pagan , Scott Hairston and Willie Harris have stunk up the outfield while Brad Emaus, at short has just been awful with three errors including failing to convert double plays.

Chris Young is still uncertain he is still feeling the effects of that bicep tendinitis.
Last night Young met with Collins and Warthen and later Young said he really does not want to put the team in a bind, and leave the team shorthanded over the next two days so he is preparing to pitch tomorrow even thou he still has some discomfort in his arm.
HUH???? Are you kidding me???
Good grief for Gods sake someone come to their senses here and activate both Pat Misch and Dillon Gee.

As to the double header today The Mets aren’t happy about having to play two doubleheaders in three days and they submitted a complaint to the commissioners office about it.

Mets and Braves will wear JRs No. 42s in first game of Saturday's doubleheader.

Game one is on Fox and SNY will carry game two shortly after game one ends.

 

[Sausy]

Thankfully sonny the Mets did come to their senses,putting Chris Young on the 15-day DL retroactive to April 11 and called up Pat Misch,one of your boys from AAA.He will pitch game 2 behind DJ Carrasco this evening.Atlanta had the Mets coming in twice more this year,so really no pressing need to make up yesterday's rainout today.Caught the Mets at a vulnerable period,with the staff uncertainty.Hopefully we will take it to them today.Can't play stupid or supercharged but with a chip on your shoulder and a determined sense of purpose.That's the only way our boys are going to be competitive.

 

[Sausy]

Really disappointing tonight....not shocked,but Mets played as dreary as the weather tonight in the Northeast.I would have pitched Pat Misch in the first game(he pitched an inning of relief) over DJ Carrasco,who while not awful wasn't very good and you know as a middle reliever wasn't going to go very far.Mike Pelfrey wasn't as bad as his stats indicated(five innings,11 hits,four runs)but he struggled...sure a few hits were dinky type bouncers or bloops but look at the at bat with Hinske....he never challenged him,why was he using all secondary stuff?Fell behind and paid for it with Hinske muscling a bloop to center for an RBI.

Mets bats were awful,so bad Daniel Murphy committed the ultimate blunder(tried to make something out of nothing,as Terry Collins said after the game while indicating it was inexcusable no matter how well intentioned,can't happen again)of getting caught making the first out trying to steal third base after doubling down the right field line.Mental and physical blunders,no timely hitting.....giving a struggling Atlanta squad a couple of feel good wins,4-2 and 4-0.Jurrgens in the second game was masterful over seven allowing what,two hits?

The only good thing was the relief for once,particularly young Pedro Beato,a New York area kid with a lively arm.Misch was sent back down after the game and Dillon Gee was called up for tomorrow's getaway game.Collins afterwards as well as the players seemed to be controlled and measured but disappointed,knowing things can't go on like this.Even Mike Pelfrey admitted though he was most comfortable throwing this game so far,he has a ways to go and must do more...must pitch more confidently,pitch longer into games.The way teams react to adversity says a lot about their character,and right now the Mets have seen as much adversity as any club should.We'll see what happens...know Sonny will have his own great perspective about this doubleheader and where the Mets are going.

 

[sonny10305]

This is starting to feel like Wile E. Coyote, and his endless losing battles with the Roadrunner
…Kevin Burkhardt

This just saderer and saderer but hang in Mets fans just when you thought all was lost Jason Bay may return on Tuesday yah that’s just what we need another dud at the plate

I am not going to go on and on about that Atlanta mess I just am not in the mood for it today. I’m guess you all saw it and if you didn’t consider yourself one of the lucky ones.

I was happy to see that smart heads prevailed and Young went on to the DL, he is an amazing talent and as I said before could be our RA Dickey this year but he needs to heal no rushing him back. Dono if Gee is the answer to stop the bleeding if not we can always call Ollie back.
Josh Stinson will take Dillon Gee's spot with Buffalo and Misch goes back today

The Mets are off to their third-worst start in franchise history next their starts in 1962 and 1964.and have now lost seven games in a row, It’s the first time the Mets have lost back to back doubleheaders since 1982, and their longest losing streak since losing 11 in a row in August and September, 2004.
To quote the one and only Gary Cohen, “This team, right now, cannot do anything right”. They can’t hit, they can’t run the bases, and they can’t pitch right now, which are all vital parts to winning a baseball game. There probably isn’t any one single aspect I can think of that this team can improve upon to right the ship. It’s a combination of so many different things, one of which is clearly their on-field demeanor.

I should mention Pelfrey, once again he as a little better I just wish he would go after a hitter and be aggressive on the mound, But he improved a bit and I guess that’s all we can ask at this point
at least he isn’t turning into Ollie

NO Murphy bashing from me here NONE. He is trying to make something happen anything and he knows you don’t run on a ball that falls in front of you and he knows you don’t try to steal third with nobody out, and down three runs. I mean you get that in little league training. He knows it I know it we all know it now let’s move on.

I loved that, Carlos Beltran played in both games now that’s a team player

I last irritation as if the Mets were not playing badly enough we were subjected to those Braves fans and that goofy incessant Chop Chop all day God those folks are irritating.

 

[Scrub]

I last irritation as if the Mets were not playing badly enough we were subjected to those Braves fans and that goofy incessant Chop Chop all day God those folks are irritating.

Oh Sonny, we do agree on something.

That chop, chop makes me crazy.

 

[Sausy]

I hate the Chop Chop!

I hate the Phillies more!


Good win today,we need to win games like this...got great pitching for five and two third innings by Dillon Gee and even saw starters usedd for an out in Chris Capuono and RA Dickey,both scheduled the be throwing anyway so Terry Collins decided why not use them....he really wanted this game and so did the guys I'm sure.I agree with sonny,Daniel knows he really shouldn't have tried to do so much and he knows he's a much smarter player than that.Sometimes when things go wrong for such a prolonged period sometimes you'll try something risky and wild to get things going.Murph and Collins seem to have a good relationship and I'm glad instead of flying off the handle and making things worse Collins just talked to a few guys about his concerns including Murph.He's addressed his disapppointment but knows Murph is a dedicated,passionate team guy and will learn from this.No good will come in tearing a player down in this situation especially one who works so hard and so well liked as Murph.


I'm taking a positive approach to the Mets activation of Jason Bay possibly as early as Tuesday.We need to keep taking it to thew opposition to win and Bay plays hard,has been much more solid defensively than originally feared and has except for last year always been a clutch run producer and gets a lot of walks.Fingers,toes,and eyes crossed Jason will be able to get into some productive runs this year and provide Carlos Beltran,David Wright and Ike Davis some protection.Speaking of Ike,good to see him get on track today with two hits and an RBI.He had gotten frustrated some lately after a scorching start.



Loved Thole batting second for the first time and paid off immediately driving in Jose Reyes twice today with a pair of hits.Josh makes contact and has hit .300 in his last two minor league seasons...learning to drive the ball some but most importantly uses the whole field...slaps the ball around when he's going well.Think he could be an excellent two hole hitter in time....very tantalizing taste today!


Finally did anyone hear about David Wright getting into a nice game of catch with some young fans before the game?Threw a ball in the stands as a souvenir...and it got thrown back by some kid.Instead of getting a prima donna attitude and getting all huffy unexpectedly and delightfully it turned into a game of catch as he and some young fans threw the ball back and forth.Such a sweet and nice thing to do...David just loves the game so much,has so much fun and joy playing it's such a nice story he could make some kids day by just interacting playfully with them.Had a tough game with three strikeouts but gave some young fans a great memory.

 

[sonny10305]

Ok so in order to keep the pen from blowin leads we need to use starter. Well what ever gets it done I guess. Chris Capuano and R.A. Dickey made the game interesting I loved watching Dickey going out there and help his team out.

Another fun point was watching Josh Thole in the two hole he seemed to really enjoy that and produced well for us driving Jose Reyes in twice. But Collins was quick to point pout that we should not get used to that, he does not plan on using Thole hitting second on a regular basis. I get that and of course there are many advantages to Thole hitting in 7-8 spot and of course when Pagan is hot he needs to bat second. Which is the rub cause Angel has been in a major slump one I am sure he will come out of very soon. It will not surprise me to see Angel back in the two hole next week. If you think about Collins thought here you have to agree that we needed to try and limit the pressure on Pagan while he is struggling, his average has dropped to .169 and those bunt calls Angel made, and yes they were his, was not good at all he needs to be swinging the bat. However Collins said about the bunts that Angel did those things because he’s trying to help the club win by moving runners along. Angel realizes that he’s not swinging the bat well and he took it upon himself to think that he has got to try whatever he can to help the club and Collins liked that.

How bout my boy Dillon Gee comin up and getting it done. He will get at least one more start while Chris Young is on the disabled list. I was really happy they chose Dillon and not Mejia who was seriously considered to fill in, along with Pat Misch. It just shows how much Mejia's pitching arsenal has improved since he was at the major league level last season. In fact just the other day Mejia tossed 12 2/3 scoreless innings over two starts in the International League, with seven hits and five walks and 11 strikeouts. The kid is developing well and it would have been a bad move for the Mets to mess it up as they have done with him before and bring him back to early. Let the kid cook a little longer then watch his smoke. Buffalo manager Tim Teufel said Mejia has been very productive with all of his pitches. He's been throwing that cut fastball that he's known for, locating it well. He's been moving the ball in and out. He has greatly improved his curveball, throwing it anytime in the count. That along with his changeup which he is now getting very comfortable with putting hitters very off-balance. Buffalo pitching Coach Ricky Bones jumped in and said that Jenrry has been able to adjust himself into the rotation and been able to command his three pitches, he’s pitching ahead, even when he's behind in the count, Also he's working on his secondary pitches and is able to throw the changeup and the curveball for a strike. Especially noticed by both guys is Mejia’s confidence to use the changeup and the curveball has been a lot better. Mejia said that every day out there he learns a little bit more. So like I said let him cook a little more.

Saucy I wish I cold share your hopes for Jason Bay but I can not, he has done absolutely nothing for us from day one coming from Boston and I see nothing that is going to change that. Oh boy do I hope I am wrong but right now he is playing his rehab in left field with Class A St. Lucie. And yesterday he played 7 innings and was 0 for 3. The expectation is Bay will be activated for Tuesday’s series opener against the Houston Astros on Tuesday but, but Collins also said it may come down to Bay continuing his rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo. Bay will travel to New York today, and they will decide whether he should be activated or continue his rehab with Triple-A Buffalo. Normally if we could count on Bay he could be a great help to relieve pressure on David Wright, who has gone into a sudden slump like going 0-for-4 yesterday with three strikeouts. Not to worry of course cause David has until the last two days played very well.

Just an observation about the Braves, has anyone noticed the management style of Fredi Gonzalez compared that of Bobby Cox? It is night and day and even thou the Braves won two outta three I thought the way the game was managed was a bit little league. To me it just seems he makes some odd choices in the way he plays the game. For example that failed suicide squeeze bunt attempt with two strikes by Tommy Hanson which killed that inning for the Braves with the bases loaded, I doubt Cox would have done that.Gonzalesis no Bobby Cox. But he will improve no doubt I m just sayin the difference watching the Braves play is way obvious.

Yes that was awesome, as KB described it, watching DWright playing catch with some kids in the stands. David was playing catch with Ike Davis when he noticed a kid in the stands with a glove watching him So we all know how much David loves kids so it was just like him to offer to play catch with the kid. Well soon more kids came down and then more and more that had to be a thrill for them. David remembers his days as a kid sitting in the stands watching the Mets minor league games in Virginia he remembers what it is like to be in that position and how much he would have loved for a big league player to have played catch with him. That’s our David.

Here is a short clip.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZbcmiovf-A[/ame]

 

[sonny10305]

Brad Emus is done Justin Turner will replace him. Justin will play second tonight against the Astros lefty.
Also Harris and not Harriston in Left field againts the Lefty.
Jason Bay met with Collins and Alderson yesterday and the decision has been made to activate him on Thursday, he will play two more games with Class A St. Lucie. He was originally going to go to Buffalo but the weather has been bad there and so he is back to Florida. The Mets are going to stay with an eight-man bullpen until Jason Bay is activated Thursday and not go to a five-man bench, after that I expect Igarashi would be most likely to go. I spoke with Nick Evans yesterday and he had hoped to see Bay play with the Bisons and I could have gotten a first hand report from Nick on how Bay looks. When Bay does come back Terry Collins Says he will play Angel Pagan in the No. 2 hole, maybe he will get a lot of fastballs with Jose Reyes on base.

Yup yesterday it was still snowing in Buffalo, in fact the game had to be postponed cause it was so cold and snowy Nick said they will play a makeup doubleheader today each going 7 innings. Mejia is going to pitch one.

Yesterday I posted that great video of DWright playing catch with some kids in Atlanta. Well we now know more about one of those kids, his name is Mason and last night his dad sent out this e-mail

What a great experience for Mason yesterday!!! he just adores the Braves; he had no clue the All-Star that he was playing catch with at the time. My wife and I were just amazed at what was happening! We didn't think the day could get any better than that until David threw his arm band into the stands after the game, and Mason got it! He hasn't wanted to take it off since. He even tried to sleep in it last night, but we wouldn't let him! He did wear it to his T-ball game tonight, though! If you get a chance, please let David know how much that 15 minutes meant to the kids. His fan base grew a little larger in the South over the weekend. All Mason normally talks about is Chipper Jones, and now if you ask him who his favorite player is, he says David Wright. ... Maybe we'll be lucky enough to have him as a Brave one day Nice huh

If you ever wondered what the RA in Dickey’s name stands for its Robert Allan,
but his kids say it means Really Awesome…come on…that’s just adorable.

Not much else gong on but I want to send out a happy birthday to one of my favorite guys, Cyclones pitching Coach Frank Viola. Happy 51st uncle Frank many more. We are inching closer, tickets for the 2011 Brooklyn Cyclones season will go on sale Sunday, May 1st. season starts June 17th with the home opener on the 18th against SI Yankees

Here is a clip I hope you will enjoy, it s the Murphster talking about his on deck circle routine and his new hitting coach.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfG0o12cvwE[/ame]

 

[sonny10305]

Our pitching continues to be subpar although Niese was better than his last outing he still gave up 2 runs and walked 5 walks his ERA is now at 5.87 ERA .
Niese talked to reporters after the game, and basically said he was grateful for the team’s defense for keeping him in the game (obviously he was not talking about Hariston) and that he didn’t have a good feel for or grip of the baseball, could not make an adjustment his whole body just didn’t feel right. Maybe that explains why he was behind in the count o often. I dono what happened to that curveball but it stunk last night and he was slinging the ball again. He continues to be very inconsistent this season, not just the effectiveness of his pitches or start to start, but inning to inning. He is just too reliant on that one pitch. Maybe he needs another pitcher or maybe figures out a different approach.

Then there was Bobby Parnell who said after another lousy outing that he was feeling some discomfort and numbness. So now they are checking to see if there is something wrong him physically. Something is wrong for sure, just look at what has happened to his fastball. Parnell also said he’s been having a hard time gripping the baseball with his middle finder for about a week and a half, so he’s going to get it looked at and go from there.
A WEEK AND A HALF!!!! Good grief why would he continue to pitch and fuck up all those outings?
He has to be shut down NOW. And not continue to pitch and injure his shoulder or elbow by overcompensating.

Meantime Matt Harvey has not allowed an earned run in 16 pro innings and is the Florida State League Pitcher of the Week.

Pat Misch again clears waivers and accepts assignment to Buffalo

If there any good news yesterday it came form Florida regarding Jason Bay who
hit a pair of two-run homers, going 4-for-4 and driving in four runs at St. Lucie last night. The Mets got so excited and thought about bringing him up as early as tonight but soon came to their senses and decide to stick to the original plan and he is expected on Thursday. Unless of course he runs into a wall or breaks his leg or goes suddenly blind. Hey….with the Mets ya never know.
I am happy he is doing well perhaps I Was Wrong and he will return strong and help our lifeless offense….. Maybe

Last night Harris was to play left field but Collins changed his mind and played Harrison and we all know who well that turned out. When will we be rid of Hariston and bring up Nick Evans. Anyways tonight Scott is out and Willie is in. Murph will play second. Dickey will pitch.

 

[sonny10305]

Well as my friend Saucy would say The Mets always find a way to loose.
Last night it was Angel Pagan who was tagged out trying to score from third on a passed ball in the bottom of the eighth, Josh Thole popping up a bunt and Jose Reyes getting doubled off first in the ninth inning.
The Astros are not a good team but thanks to our Mets just won two straight for the first time this season. Looking at the numbers The Mets have the worst record in baseball, but I did not need to look that up to know it I just need to watch them play
But things weren't all bad. R.A. Dickey pitched eight innings which is the longest a starter has gone so far this short season He did allow four runs, but he only walked two and he forced twice as many ground outs as fly outs, In those eight innings he threw just over 100 pitches, with about 70 for strikes I consider that a good sign for him.
Even Reyes who messed up in the ninth did have four hits and two stolen bases and I have to say so far this year he has looked pretty good at the plate. Carlos Beltran had three hits, including two doubles, and I am so thrilled to see him look so healthy in the field as well as the bases. Nest step for him will be watching him steal a base or two that will be nice. Then there is my boy Daniel Murphy who went 3-for-4 and hit his first home run of the season, a two-run blast to tie the game. He also turned some very excellent double plays which he, in Murph-like style, credited Dickey for generating it and Reyes and Wright for smoothly getting the ball to him. Clearly his work on the turns is working for him. .
Tonight Jason Bay returns and while he has been doing well in AAA all eyes will be on him tonight we need him to return to pre Mets form we need that With Bay in the lineup you can expect the boys to see a lot of fastballs and that isn’t a bad thing..

Bobby Parnell is due to have an angiogram (what ever that is) today to determine whether there is clotting in his arm that might be causing numbness in his middle finger. His landing on the DL is something I screamed for yesterday it absolutely was the right move which will make room for Bay. I like that this will give Terry Collins a five-man bench something we have missed the last few weeks and need.

I am a major Mets fan and never dwell on the negative even when things are as bad as they are right now. We have seen the Mets play poorly before, but right now they just can’t seem to do anything right. Yet somehow someway I refuse to give up as many have especially the sports writers who have had a field day with the Mets failure. I am in a constant e-mail, battle with several of them I wont give up I support my team and I am confident they will turn this bus around and get going again. The coaches have got to work tirelessly on avoiding the errors we are making THAT”S THEIR JOB. I want to the players to start by doing the little things, like getting a bunt down, or make routine defensive plays at all nine positions like a major leaguer is supposed to do. The mental mistakes worry me the worst stuff like what happened last night is embarrassing and well rather mind boggling, Think about it both Angel Pagan and Jose Reyes made two critical base running mistakes late in the game which cost us big time.

I posted this in the other baseball thread but it is worth repeating here I have to clarify something I read the other day that was that Murphy and Collins had a “Heated argument “ in the dugout after Daniel pulled that blunder trying to steal third on a ball that was hit in front of him. THAT DID NOT HAPPEN, Murphy and Collins had a discussion about it but there was no arguing or shouting going on. In fact the discussion did not even happen in the dugout it was in the tunnel. Daniel understood it was a boneheaded move and admitted it. Collins who is a big Murphy fan coached him on it discussion over. The only disagreement they had was the next night when Murph asked to pinch hit late in the game and Collins refused to let him go up against the lefty. There were some words but nothing hot. As a matter of fact last night Collins decided to let Murph bat against a lefty he rewarded him by hitting a single. I just need to clear the air about that in case someone you read that false report, there is no bad blood between Murph and Collins NONE.

 

[Sausy]

Going over my sister's place soon for Easter but gotta apologize to sonny, all our Mets fans,and especially our Mets for taking my frustratrion on them and calling them not even worth pond scum....no way that's fair to the guys,now they are showing what they just hadn't most of the early going and I'm proud of em.Win or lose the best we can ask and expect is to play to win every game,to be professional and the guys have to just focus at that and not put pressure on themselves.They're doing that now and God,what a difference!Mike Pelfrey really showed he DOES have the guts to move forward and give the ckub some needed stability on the mound....he felt horrible but was able to pitch almost masterfully.Capuano was really impressive Friday,Dillon Gee wasn't as great as he was in his first start but kept the guys in the game and Jason Isringhausen and K-Rod have done the job in the late innings.

Ike Davis has been incredible....two moon shot home runs and another that originally was called a double but upon reply clearl;y went over the line on the center field wall...a good 408 ft in its own right!The boy has serious power,and especially that monster to dead center and that screaming drive to the top of the Pepsi Porch area....wow!Ike is showing he's one of the new generation of sluggers and hopefully will have 500-600 more of these home runs to give to the Mets through his career.He is almost becoming an event....you want to watch him hit because he might just unleash another titanic clout.That he drives balls like he does to dead center shows how gifted and smart he is as a hitter.

A few nice words about Jason Bay,though,sonny?He definitely seems to have helped solidify the lineup....glad to see him ripping that first home run yesterday so soon into his return.The guys seem to really have a positive view of his contributions and personality....and that guy just busted his fine ass (oops,did I say that?)going around the bases scoring with David Wright on that two run flub by Hunter Pence in right the other night.

And Daniel Murphy is really showing his stuff,solid defensively(couple of great double play turns the other night)and hitting in key situations.You can tell his intensity and dsire to compete and win in his facial expressions and loved that golf swing liner homering down the right field line the other night!



Happy Easter everyone....let's go Mets for four in a row!!!

 

[syam24]

It's been a very nice 4 game run, lots of good solid starting pitching, solid relief, and timely hitting, with contributions from everyone from Nick Mickeas, and Jason Pridie to the DWright, Reyes, Ike, Beltran, Daniel Murphy, and Jason Bay. THis is why they're paid, to produce at a major league level, not act like they've never played the game. It was enjoyable to see, let's hope this carries to the road trip to DC and Philly. Let's go Mets!!

 

[Sausy]

Yep syam,now a five game winning streak after beating the Nationals 6-4.Hopefully next time Young could stay in the game a bit longer but there was more than enough offense.Josh Thole had the decisive two run double in the sixth that gave the Mets a cushion they were able to hold on to.Great seeing so many guys who need to take the pressure off David Wright and Carlos Beltran doing well....good performances by Ike Davis who continues to pound the ball with three hits including his seventh double.Speaking of Carlos Beltran he lashed a run scoring double.Daniel Murphy and Jason Bay added two hits apiece,Murphy including a double ana a run and Bay scoring twice.Even Jason Pridie has been having some good moments...know sonny loves the kid and it's good to see him making a contribution while he's playing for injured Angel Pagan,out for n indefinite time with on of those dicey oblique muscle pulls.All Mets fans have wanted is for the club to give its fans reason to give their huge support because Mets fans really want to see a competitive,fun NL club in New York again....don't forget as much a Yankee town there were the NL Giants and Dodgers in the city.If the fans see the effort and heart,and we expect to be in most games,and have a shot to contend for the playoffs...they will be 100% in full force "Let's go Mets!"mode.

 

[sonny10305]

You guys did not think I would let what Murph did last night go with out comment now did you?
After that ridiculous, goofy, inept and stupid call by the third base ump on Reyes Murphy came up to bat and tied the game with a home run and later delivered a two run double. The kid is on fire at the bat he just looks sooo good at the plate, especially in a pinch-hit role.
He owns that!
As Murph later told KB, he wanted to do some damage, be it a double or something more. He was obviously looking to pull the ball, based on the two pitches he fouled off. But, he was given off-speed pitches to start a rough at bat, but as he always does, stayed calm, stepping out of the box, taking a breath, and re-focusing. Then, he connected on a 3-2 fastball, turned on it, and cranked it over the wall oh not once but again later on his double. Yeah yeah ok so he got a little lost in the field not covering second but ya have to remember he is learning a new position, but his bat has been huge during this winning streak.

Here are both hits and his talk with KB
http://hotfile.com/dl/116083682/17be540/Murphy_pinch_hits.avi.html

http://www.fileserve.com/file/ZBpD8Hv

My friend my hero my boy

 

[Sausy]

You guys did not think I would let what Murph did last night go with out comment now did you?
After that ridiculous, goofy, inept and stupid call by the third base ump on Reyes Murphy came up to bat and tied the game with a home run and later delivered a two run double. The kid is on fire at the bat he just looks sooo good at the plate, especially in a pinch-hit role.
He owns that!
As Murph later told KB, he wanted to do some damage, be it a double or something more. He was obviously looking to pull the ball, based on the two pitches he fouled off. But, he was given off-speed pitches to start a rough at bat, but as he always does, stayed calm, stepping out of the box, taking a breath, and re-focusing. Then, he connected on a 3-2 fastball, turned on it, and cranked it over the wall oh not once but again later on his double. Yeah yeah ok so he got a little lost in the field not covering second but ya have to remember he is learning a new position, but his bat has been huge during this winning streak.

Here are both hits and his talk with KB
http://hotfile.com/dl/116083682/17be540/Murphy_pinch_hits.avi.html

http://www.fileserve.com/file/ZBpD8Hv

My friend my hero my boy

I think sonny REALLY,REALLY thinks highly of Daniel Murphy!Great to see him perform at such a high level in key spots....was kinda wondering just how excited sonny was seeing those at bats!I tell ya I was getting pretty pumped as this certainly was the most spirited win of the season so far.Daniel is as sonny mentioned still a work in progress defensively at second,though Collins didn't fault him much for not being at the bag quick enough and replays made it look more a quibble than a really bad play by Daniel.He's gotten so much better though,really nice turning double plays.A quiet night tonight in the Mets 4-3 loss in the final game in the series but Daniel's got the confidence going...as those pics surely indicate!He's gonna do just fine!And the best thing was Daniel crediting Hu for driving that sacrifice fly deep to the right field warning track as the key at bat of the game.Bases loaded and no one out it was essential the Mets score a run down 3-2 opening the ninth.I've been down on Hu,he's not known as a hitter in his ML career with the Dodgers and here this season with the Mets.....big moment probably most Met fans like myself were wondering how overmatched Hu was gonna be.Hu just was patient and drove that ball as hard and far as he could knowing he needed a sacrifice fly and got it done.Classy move by Daniel putting that at bat by Hu as the key at bat of the game....but I'm telling ya,seeing Daniel cream that homer to right and lash that double to right,turning on the pitches with a quick bat...I've always had the faith he could do the job if given a serious opportunity,and he's showing it.Sonny knows him and has that perspective and an equally strong belief in Daniel as we all knowso I really feel glad to see sonny enjoying the moment so much.


Right you are sonny about that call on Reyes,he should have had a triple and no way in any replay shown did his hand come off the bag sliding into third.I'll add boneheaded and blind to sonny's adjectives refering to the third base ump's call that took out Reyes.That immediate passionate,outraged reaction with Reyes animatedly and adamantly disputing the call did serve to help energize the Mets,the kid really enjoys playing and wants to help the Mets win so badly.Had two more hits tonight,got caught trying to steal by the combination of a great throw by Ivan Rodriguez who has nailed many guys trying to steal in his career and Livan Hernandez who was holding him prettyclose....Livan gives the Mets fits and continued that mastery tonight.I know sonny isn't enarmored with Bobby Ojeda but he made an interesting point that Capuano was throwing the ball well but being too fine,pitching too close to the plate....unlike Livan who was mixing things up it appeared almost everything Capuano threw was around the plate,accounting for why he gave up ten hits and four runs in his five and two third innings.Washington is a free swinging club and he didn't fool them enough,caught too much of the plate when he should have made em chase some pitches.Wonder what sonny thinks of that perspective....could Capuano been too fine tonight?

Good to see Ike still going at it tonight,another two hits and RBI....I wanna hear what sonny thinks of Ike's growing confidence not just as a hitter but his power when he gets pitches to drive....Ike goes for it now,not just thinking about doubles but home runs.Having that intimidating power to drive the ball out of any park,even CitiField has got to help deepen that lineup especially now Josh Thole is strating to hit.When you have a slugger like Ike Davis batting SIXTH in the lineup,hopefully with Angel Pagan coming back soon and starting to hit again and if Thole hits like the contact hitter for high average Terry Collins expects will hit and develop into a consistent force....the Mets have a pretty damn good lineup,certainly a deep one if several people can get hot at the same time.

 

[sonny10305]

Saucy your comments regarding my feelings about Murphy are spot on; He is one of nicest people you could ever hope to know. I am also happy you picked up on his comments about Chin-lung Hu cause that’s what Murphy does he never talks about himself always about his team and giving credit to everyone but himself a very humble down to earth guy which he gets from his mom who I met when she drove down to St. Lucie one weekend during spring training.. If you watch any of his interviews you will hear him say this guy did this or that guy did that or the team came thru. And never about what he did. You really can’t complement him much because he just always feels anything he accomplished is due to the other players the coaches and his managers support and never about Murphy.

As to Ike well you have read my comments about him many times he has become a powerhouse of a player which is no surprise, he was drafted for his power bat. Baseball America ranked him the third-best college power hitter in the draft. I first met Ike in Brooklyn when he started with the Cyclones and followed him to Buffalo with the Bisons and eventually to Flushing. I was first taken with his baseball skills and then found out that he is one of the good guys as well. Always upbeat, often the goofball but very serious about baseball. He is currently on a 9 game hitting streak his average is now .352.
Ike will tell you he has a more patient approach at the plate now something he credits Collins and Dave Hudgens .He is far more selective at the plate you will notice that with pitches outside the strike zone, Murph does that as well.Last year he was told over and over again If you want to improve plate discipline, stop swinging at balls outside the strike zone something he did way to often.
Watch and notice his restraint from chasing off-speed pitches and how selective he has become with curveballs and sliders, far better than last year. Add to that his better pitch recognition which he is most excited about, which is why when the balls don’t leave the park he hits line drives not so many ground balls. Ike currently ranks ninth in the National League with 19 RBIs, on his way to 120. Now if I could only get him to stop giving stink eye to the umps and stop grumbling and growling at them so much….but he is working on that

Not much to say about last nights game saucy covered it very well as he so often does. I just hated losing to Livan Hernandez a person I have absolutely no respect for, he is an egotistical ass hole of the first caliber and I just can not stand the site of him. He is the only pitcher in baseball who when I watch him pitch I pay no attention to what he is doing, usually I study every pitch of every game but not his. I hate baseball players who are dirty in any way you may recall he was the subject of a federal investigation when he was a Mets in 2009. The money-laundering suspicions reportedly partly involve a drug trafficker having fancy cars registered in Hernandez's name. If it walks like a duck……

I am sure Josh Thole regretted allowing Jerry Hairston to score from third base in the fifth inning on that Hernandez bunt. If you saw that you noticed Josh was slowed up just enough by Hernandez making his way out of the box that he could not retrieve the ball and return to the plate in time to apply the tag

So how sick are we of Willie Harris and Scott Hairston, In the final minutes of last nights game when we had a chance to come back who comes waddling up to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the Ninth but Harris with Hariston in the on deck circle. Check please ….game over. Why are those two still playing for us with all that talent in Buffalo? Fortunately Terry Collins has seen the light and plans to go back to regularly using my boy Jason Pridie as the starting center fielder on Friday in Philly until Angel Pagan returns.

Speaking of Bisons I went up there with a few of the boys on Monday and had a great afternoon of watching our future stars play. You know I love watching those guys develop and grow it just means so much to me to see that. Yes kiddies the future looks bright with pitchers guys in line like Manny Acosta, Jennry Mejia, DJ Corrasco, Boof Bonser (currently on DL) and Pat Misch. Then there are the players like Nick Evans, Rubin Tejada, Lucas Duda, F-Mart, Russ Adams and Kirk Nieuwenhuis Kirk by the way is currently bating .333
I spent most of the day with those guys talking baseball and their future hopes and plans and it don’t get much better than that.

Big Pelf will pitch tonight poor guy has been sick as a dog for close to a week but says he feels well enough now to pitch It was so bad the Mets had him tested for an ulcer because of the burning sensation whenever he ate, but tests revealed he only had a blockage in is system, He was vomiting and having diarrhea almost everyday To be sure Collins and Warthen will be watching him closely tonight Rookie Vance Worley replaces Joe Blanton, who went on the DL, on the mound for the Phillies

 

[Donat1]

So does anyone think that the Mets will get taken over by MLB like the Dodgers did?

 

[syam24]

Nice extra inning win by the MEts to get one game in Philly, especially on the nite the US nailed bin Laden!! Didn't stay up to see the end of the game, but certainly a nice way for Ronny Paulino to start his Met career with 5, count 'em, 5 hits!! ...and that includes the game winner. Nice bullpen work from Beato, and Bucholtz to seal the win. Except for Friday's debacle, good starting pitching again, just not enough from the bat side of things.

As for MLB taking over the Mets, I don't see it happening as yet, especially if someone picks up 25% stake in the team.

 

[sonny10305]

Donat1 I have stayed away from writing about the Mets money problems and MLB takeover cause the players almost never speak about it The overall feeling amongst the players is that they are there to do a job and what ever is going on in the office is out of there control, and until it effects them personally have little to say about it. So I too will l just sit back and see how it all unravels. Of course I talk to other people other than the players and what they are saying is that the Wilpons have wanted $150 million to $200 million, and the actual percentage of 49 percent would be variable based on how much the sides agreed the team is worth. I have also heard that as of now the sale has hit a snag. The Wilpons reportedly identified three final groups but now two of those have pulled out, and the third person (Cohen)wants to buy Mets debt from banks too, but the Wilpons will never agree to that cause if you think about it Cohen could just call that debt and force them out completely. And no one thinks they would bring on a partner who will oust them some day as majority owners without their consent. Non-controlling means non-controlling and nothing has changed on that. As it looks now the sale of a minority stake in the New York Mets likely will be completed by the end of this month, expect an announcement by about June 1. Keep in mind that the Mets are looking at this as a vehicle to make stadium bond payments and payroll and pay off debt I am thinking that would include the $25 million MLB loan. But ya have to think if there isn't enough money floating around even before the resolution of the $1 billion lawsuit; tat could be that the sale of a minority share and adding some $200 million might be the first step toward a full blown sale, even if it means dragging the Wilpons in kicking and screaming. Stay tuned.

So the road trip was 3-6 not bad, I am satisfied manly cause except for game one with the Phillies we did really well fighting and playing hard and you cant ask for too much more than that. Young was spectacular and Pelfrey was burned again. Dono how much longer we can expect Pelf to pitch as inconsistently as he does before we start calling him Ollie.

Syam I too was happy with Ronny Paulino's five hits which are the most for any player in his first Mets start in team history. Lets hope he can keep that going and not end up like Jason (here we go again) Bay back to struggling after just a couple of good days. I hate to say I told you so about Bay….but….I did.

Very very sad news coming from Buffalo Jenrry Mejia appears headed for Tommy John surgery. He was examined by doctors and was found to have a complete MCL tear of the right elbow. He came into NY over the weekend and underwent an MRI at the Hospital for Special Surgery after feeling discomfort I his last outing. He will seek a second opinion. Does not look like we will see him on the mound again this year. It's certainly a blow; Mejia was a viable option to be in the rotation later this year, and certainly to begin the 2012 season. Now that's out the window. If you consider last year when he was in the major league bullpen a wasted development opportunity, that's two years then that his progress has been slowed. If there is any good news to be taken by this it would be Matt Harvey's chances of being a factor in the rotation to open next season. Other than Dillon Gee, and maybe Josh Stinson there really aren't viable young options to use in the rotation to open 2012.

Angel Pagan played five innings in an extended spring training game Monday and went 1-for-4 with a walk

Danniel Murphy has been making progress at second base Collins very pleased with his defense lately. I had forgotten he is still wearing that knee brace until I saw it again. Murph is still wearing the brace on his right knee, but is still optimistic he will never need surgery on that knee he banged up; the brace is there to help stabilize the knee. He wants to stick with the brace for now and will have further tests at some point to determine if it's still necessary. Actually just last week he talked about getting an updated look at what's happening inside the knee since the injury happened which is almost a year now. He has felt no issues with the knee and since.
Daniel had no idea WTF was going on when he came up to the plate Sunday and the fans starting chanting USA USA after the Osama news hit. After the at bat he came back to the dugout and DWright filled him in on what had happened. Interesting to me was that the team did not focus at all on the news but instead with the game tied in the ninth went out there and concentrated on one thing and that was to win that game. Plenty of to me to think about the Obama thing later or the next day but at that moment it was all baseball.

The New York Mets have donated 4,000 tickets to military members and their families for Tonight's game against the Giants at Citi Field. Working with the USO, the Mets distributed 2,000 tickets to Tuesday’s game to all five branches of the military In addition, the first 2,000 members of the military who show a valid military I.D. at the Day of Game Ticket Sales Window at Citi Field will receive complimentary tickets for themselves and their guests. In keeping with the USA USA USA feeling right now a member of the Marine Corps will sing God Bless America during the seventh-inning stretch of Tonight’s game.

Spoke with Darrell Ceciliani yesterday he is felling much better and is expecting to be ready to come off the DL and back to Buffalo later this week.

 

[Sausy]

The news about Jennry Mejia hit me like a ton of bricks....they're hopeful of a full recovery within a year,lots of guys recover and are as good as before if not better after the Tommy John surgery for the elbow ligament tear.Yet at best we won't see Jennry at Citi til September 2012 callups...better hope as sonny says for Matt Harvey to make a quick run through the system.Very tough,durable....says to have Mike Pelfrey stuff but a much tougher demeanor.

I give Pelf some slack on coming back pretty drained from his stomach flu...he really pressed to go out there and Collins gave in,as he now says he regrets.I don't put him in Ollie status just yet,he did show the previous start when he just focuses what he can do,instead of not having a decisive approach.It is though imperative Pelf make significant strides from his piss poor first month,we need him to give some sense of being an anchor.

RA Dickey just didn't have it Tuesday,and it's so frustrating the Mets with the exception of that six game streak.Even Sunday night's victory,Paulino knocked in the winning run only after a good number of Met failures to get runs in with runners in scoring position,an all too common sight not only this year,but in the previous several.Jose Reyes on base six times and only scores once...you gotta make the most of your opportunities.Again,Mets just can't do it....they are in the game but after the good feeling from the streak,and that rousing win against the Phillies Sunday night with the buzz of finally getting Osama bin Laden generating through the park is again seeming like the tease the Mets have been known to do.It's as if the Mets fans are like the Charlie Browns of baseball...you know,when Lucy convinces Charlie he will get to kick the football without her pulling it away and have him winding up flat on his tailbone.You know what happens...Chjarlie goes for the kick,Lucy pulls the ball back and ouch Charlie is flat on his ass.But always hopeful the next time will be for real...it's gotten to that with me,and a whole lot of Mets fans.When will it be for real?Losses will happen,but come on...we gotta beat the Giants Tuesday night,anyway anyhow,so down with RA not doing it....then we face Lincecum and he makes em his bitches,striking out twelve...even walking three,not being absolutely tight on his game,you knew he was still in control.Capuano wan't brilliant but gave a good effort,two runs in almost seven innings,not enough.

Great stuff on the Mets partial sale of the club.....it does look like the original 25-30% of control won't generate enough money invested,and it will have to approach close to 50%.I know sonny hates to dwell on this part of the game,the guys on the field have to do their jobs no matter what the situation is....it's a distraction sure but what can the players do besides go out there and give their full focus to the task at hand?It looks like the Mets will have to put SNY in the mix to entice the perspective buyers but from what I read(and sonny has more direct perspective on this from his player and other contacts around the organization)like he said despite any of the snags that have cropped up some resolution will happen soon.Like sonny I do wonder ultimately if the Wilpons can hold on even with a sizable influx....and I'm thinking the Mets have to be worth in excess of 600 million,especially with the new CitiField,I think 200 million is too low,might need to go to 300 million.



As for Jason Bay,sonny's mancrush on the MetsI understand his frustration and skepticism,and it does boggle my mind how someone who flourished replacing Manny Ramirez in Boston simply doesn't drive the ball with any regularity anymore.But we're stuck with him at least two more seasons(wonder if sonny knows how easily achieved is his fifth year option status)and whether we love him or not,we gotta root for him to produce to some consistent extent.Sonny can tell you that when it came to Jason Bay or Matt Holliday,we both preferred Holliday as a muh more reliable bat for CitiField....and Matt has definitely proven inSt.Louis he would have provided a ton of protection for David Wright,Carlos Beltran and the surging young slugger Ike Davis.Jason though has proven very well liked,great clubhouse guy,always hustles,plays the right way,actually solid on defense but damn when is he going to do it on a consistent basis at bat.Whether we like it or not,we need him to produce or we're not going far....D Wright is still striking out like crazy and I don't know if he's feeling he needs to do more or what,and having a consistent Jason Bay will only help him out.Carlos Beltran is playing as well as can be expected but with all he has had to do coming back from his knee problems,he can't be expected to shoulder the offense.Maybe when Pagan comes back,bat Daniel Murphy third(after all,he did say back in college after being asked what position he plays,"Third in the batting order")Keep Beltran at cleanup,bat Wright fifth and with Ike Davis sixth and Jason Bay seventh,if everyone hits to potential that is a deep lineup if Jason Bay could accept that....you imagine how stoked Daniel would be seeing speedy guys like Reyes and Pagan on base for him?He's a doubles machine and the possibilities would be well,"Amazing"!Ah,probably stupid but just a thought...hell,the way things are going it couldn't hurt!

Glad to see Darren Ceciliani is close to playing again,gotta root for him,always been an overachiever who will hit,play fearless baseball and could well be the guy to lead off for the Mets for years if Jose Reyes is dealt by the end of the trade deadlin.Another topic that Mets fans have to be concerned about....just as Reyes is back to the dynamic all-star he can be,we may lose him because of the Madoff mess and the need for reinforcements in the system.How much can you get for him if he will only be a rental to someone?He's gotta be traded,if he is traded(and I don't know for sure about sonny,but I don't want to lose him if I had the choice)to someone we know can/will sign him or we aren't going to get the best deal for him....we're not deep enough to lose a ton of minor league enticements especially after Mejia's elbow injury.

Okay now,out of breath and done for the moment....but as a Mets fan you know something will pop up soon enough!