Results tagged ‘ John Maine ’
Johan Santana: I Hope They Play Him Right
With the constant talk of Johan Santana, I can’t help but worry. It seems every time I go to another website, there is a new report. Literally, one says he will miss opening day, the next says he’ll start opening day, the next says he’ll miss it, the next says he will miss the season, the next says he’ll be fine. Optimistically, I am thinking he will start opening day. But I would rather he start a week later than miss a few months. I think what’s going to happen is they are going to rush him, have him start opening day, and then he will get hurt and miss a lot of time. If he does miss opening day, who will start for the Mets?
Mike Pelfrey is the young, number two fire baller who is the future of the Mets rotation. Pelfrey did very well last year and could have a breakout season in 2009. The only problem is he *might* get hurt this year since he threw so many innings last year. I think he is the next in line but the Mets staff want to be careful with him.
Oliver Perez is the number 3 starter, but since he has been in the league for a while and has ace stuff, he would probably assume ace responsibilites. Perez is very wild and very eratic at times, so he can’t be trusted, but ace is just a title and it doesn’t make a difference if you start opening day or the second day.
John Maine is very good for a number 4 starter. I would probably prefer Andy Petitte, but Maine is younger. John Maine has been working on a curve ball this spring, which could make him a better pitcher, but he is coming off shoulder surgery so this could hurt him in the end. He showed some good signs last year but is expected to take a step back in 2009.
By the way, about the contest. It said on the rules that the essays had to be mailed in by Monday. We had a snow day on Monday so my teacher couldn’t get to her school inbox, where us students had given her our essays. She said she mailed them to the post office yesterday, Tuesday, but she didn’t seem to remember that they were late. She sounded very happy about how good the essays were but she said that next time she needs to enter a happier contest. Anyway, this really disappointed me and gave me something else to worry about because I really want to win that contest. And when I don’t, I am going to lose a lot of sleep thinking about if I just didn’t write a good essay, or if I lost a laptop, a visit from Sharon Robinson and a trip to the All-Star game because of a snow day.
Why the Mets WILL Resign Oliver Perez
The Mets have to resign Oliver Perez. It is as simple as that. I know he will cost a lot more than last year, but the Mets need to give him that. Here is why. (more…)
Castillo Up, Maine Down
After delaying his return from the DL for “the need of more rehab” (I think Castillo gave an extra day because he knew the Mets were better without him), Luis Castillo was finally taken off the DL. So who was the unlucky soul who got sent down? Argenis Reyes? Nick Evans? Brian Stokes?
None of them. They got lucky. With John Maine going down with a possible season ending bone spur in his shoulder, he was placed on the 15 day disabled list. The platoons will stay in place.
Stokes, however, will stay in the bullpen as the Mets plan to go with a 4 man rotation until they can get some September callups. With the back-to-back complete games (and so he doesn’t have to face the Marlins who beat him three times this season), Mike Pelfrey is in need of an extra day of rest, and so Pedro Martinez will go tonight against the Phillies, Oliver Perez tomorrow, an off day, Johan Santana, then Stokes will get a spot start before Pelfrey will start on 6 days rest. Once September rolls around, the Mets will probably just go with whoever is hot. Nelson Figueroa, Claudio Vargas, and Jon Niese are all possibilities.
This is What Makes Jerry Manuel Successful
We were all holding our breaths last night, just waiting to see Joe Smith or Pedro Feliciano blow the save. When Eddie Kunz didn’t come in during the ninth inning I thought Jerry Manuel was off his rocker. But it worked. Just like all of the wierd moves he makes for no apparent reason, it worked. And that is what makes Manuel a success as a manager. He makes all the right moves, and he has a great presence in the clubhouse. All of the players respect him, and they all have a great relationship with him, but he isn’t afraid to get down and dirty when need be. Jerry Manuel takes a situation where you have one everyday outfielder, no second baseman, a backstop that is constantly taking turns getting hurt, and a pitching staff that is never has a full 5-man rotation, and he scraps together a playoff-calibur team with a bunch of no-names. Incredible.
2 trades were made in the past days. Adam Dunn was shipped to the D-Backs for 2 players to be named later. There are rumors that Micah Owings might be one of them. And Paul Byrd was traded to the Red Sox for a player to be named later or cash. I say neither trade will have an impact, because I predict the Dodgers winning the NL West, the Rays winning the AL East, and the Twins winning the AL Wild Card.
Gary Sheffield was placed on waivers after complaining he doesn’t like his DH platoon role in Detroit. Should the Mets place a claim? I don’t think so. Sheffield has an option for 2009 in his contract, and with Fernando Martinez around the corner, and the emergence of Daniel Murphy and Nick Evans, the Mets just need a rental. Sheffield also has a history of ruining the team chemistry, which throughout the bullpen woes and hitting slumps, remains the Mets high point. I say stick to what you have now. Let the prospects show what they can do in a pennant race, it will have to happen sooner or later. Ryan Church should be back soon so there really is nothing to do. When Wagner comes back the bullpen should be solid again, so I say no worries.
One last note, John Maine was taken off the DL and the Mets optioned down to AAA Carlos Muniz. Maine will start tonight and there is a possibility that he will then move to the bullpen, although I say the Mets rotation will stay intact.
Stokes to Start Tonight
It was announced yesterday that former Devil Ray Brian Stokes will get the ball tonight in the spot start of John Maine, who is ready to come off the DL soon. When asked why top prospect Jon Niese was not chosen, GM Omar Minaya said it was because he didn’t want to call up Niese for one game and then have to protect him on the 40-man roster. I agree with this reasoning, but there was also the point of the Marlins having a mostly right-handed lineup against a lefty Niese. Nice move, Omar. Now lets wait and see if you are proven an airhead again tonight.
In other news, Brian Giles was almost traded to the Red Sox, but he vetoed the deal, because San Diego is his home town. Could this perhaps mean that the Mets picking him up are slim? Even if Giles would allow a trade to New York, I doubt it would happen. Ryan Church was just cleared by doctors to play baseball again, and he will work out with the Mets tonight. I am thinking he will be in the lineup by this time next week, but there is still no timetable on his return.
And by the way, I am stunned by Aaron Heilman’s 6-up-6-down save performance last night. This guy is waaaaaaaay too inconsistent, and Brandon Eddy of metsblog.com threw around the idea of Heilman starting again. If neither Pedro Martinez or Oliver Perez return, I don’t see why Heilman can’t get a shot in Spring Training.
Mets Need to Make a Really Big Move
Over the past few days the Mets have made quite a few moves, placing Marlon Anderson and John Maine on the DL and calling up Dan Murphy and Eddie Kunz. Looking at possible waiver acquisitions like Rich Aurilia, and also scouting out Free Agent Freddy Garcia. The Mets did a lot of things over the weeked in order to improve the club and make a stretch for October. But they did forget one little detail. Getting swept by the Houston Astros is against the rules.
The Mets are not hesitating to call up prospects from the minors, and they are certainly being very bold in that they have no idea how these guys will perform. But you know what? It doesn’t matter how well Nick Evans or Dan Murphy hits, it doesn’t matter how well Eddie Kunz or Jon Niese pitches. It doesn’t matter who you call up from the minors at all. What the Mets need is veteran production. Guys like Brian Schenider need to start hitting. Sure, they were doing great in that 10 game winning streak, but then the All-Star break came and went and they cooled down. The Mets have now lost 5 of their last 6 games. Carlos Beltran seriously needs to pick up the slack. He needs to carry the team on his shoulders. Beltran is a leader on this ballclub, and needs to play like one. Remember back in ’05, Beltran’s first year as a Met? He hit 16 homers. Then he hit something like 25 and then last year the team record, 42. Now he is having a slump year. What will happen next year? Another 25 homer season? Carlos Beltran is way too inconsistant, and he is overrated. Don’t get me wrong, I really like Beltran, but he is just too expensive for this kind of production. I say he needs to be traded. Just think of the players the Mets could rake in, they could get a pitcher or a proven vet, maybe a even a mini-star in his prime, like Jason Bay, and it wouldn’t even cost them any prospects.
This teams needs a change. A really big change. And if they have any hope of making the postseason, that change needs to come now. Minaya made a gigantic mistake not trading at the deadline, now he will need to take advantage of the waiver wire. And let me say this. If the Mets make another collapse like last year, and they don’t make the postseason, Omar Minaya won’t have another chance to win it all. Lets just say he couldn’t take the heat of the kitchen but stuck around for one more cookie anyway.
Various Entries from Abroad
I was going to make an entry a couple days ago, but my Internet wasn’t working very well. Sorry.
I was going to post about the All-Star Game, but since that news is old already, I’ll just say this. The NL team lost for reasons out of its control. Let me first say that both managers managed an extremely good game. But it all comes down to 1) Corey Hart not deserving to be an All-Star, he should have gotten Morneau out at the plate, I actually think he was out but there should have been a better throw and 2) the NL was down a pitcher. While the AL had the required 12, the NL’s Tim Lincecum had a flu and couldn’t play. Brad Lidge did not need to pitch 2 innings. He is not that kind of pitcher.
Omar Minaya, you need to make a deal RIGHT NOW! The Phillies just traded 3 minor league prospects for Oakland’s Joe Blanton. Blanton is only 5-11 this year, but his contract has his locked up through 2010. Time is running out, and so are the starters on the market. Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez got hurt again in his rehab start, so don’t expect him. Pedro Martinez will miss his scheduled start on Sunday, but he should pitch Tuesday. Outfield should be fine, as Ryan Church should be back around the series against the Cardinals. Angel Pagan, though, may need season-ending surgery. Tatis and Chavez continue to play great ball, so even if Church and Pagan can’t come back, I’m not too concerned. And with the way Argenis Reyes and Damion Easley are playing, Luis Castillo will stay on the DL.
Another trade was made Thursday, although it won’t affect the Mets as much. Tony Clark was sent to the D-Backs to Minor League pitcher Evan Scribner. Big deal.
The Yankees signed Richie Sexson to a deal for the rest of the year. He is getting payed only 150K, so why not go for it?
The current 10 game winning streak is the Mets’ first since 1991. Now they try and get only the fifth 11 game winning streak in club history. John Maine takes the rubber against Bronson Arroyo and the Reds. This should be a good test for Maine, as lefty sluggers Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn can hit the long ball. Maine has given up 10 homers this year, only less than Johan Santana and Oliver Perez on the Mets.
Last Day Before All-Star Break
Well, its the last day before the All-Star break and the Mets look to continue their winning streak to 9 games. The last time the Mets won 8 in a row was that fantastic road trip to the west in 2006. The Mets haven’t won 9 straight since 2000. I wouldn’t count on this streak to go much longer, seeing as the players will undoubtedly cool down with 3 days off.
Pedro Martinez was taken out of yesterday’s game after just 4 innings with muscle soreness. He says he is okay though. Carlos Muniz worked 2 innings in relief, and then Schoenweis, Heilman, Sanchez and Wagner all came on as well. Had Claudio Vargas been up in the majors this wouldn’t be necessary. Now Johan Santana might be used in relief of Mike Pelfrey today. Pelfrey just came off a 114 pitch outing, so he should get pulled early, and Johan Santana last pitched just 5 innigns because of a rain delay. If Santana doesn’t pitch long relief, he could close out the game. Billy Wagner has been used in multiple straight games, and he will be in the All-Star game, so Jerry Manuel might be looking to give him a day off now. Pedro’s injury leads me to believe that maybe the reason for John Maine’s inadequacy in his last start was because of his elbow hurting. He said his elbow was killing him a couple days prior to that game, and I haven’t heard any news of it lately so it should be fine, but just throwing out a possibility.
Bobby Murcer died on Saturday from brain cancer. A tumor was discovered in 2006 and he had surgery to remove it, but the cancer hung around. Murcer, a long time Yankee player and announcer, was 62.
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