The Mets lost their second game of the season today, with an eleven to five defeat at the hands of the Braves. Tim Hudson induced a plethora of ground balls and John Maine simply struggled to retire batters with an effective pitch count.
5 Points
1. John Maine only lasted four innings, entirely because of a high pitch count, allowed eight hits and walked three batters. Despite recording five strikeouts, Maine allowed four runs --all earned. Maine, who was dominant during the spring, took the loss in his season opener.
2. Carlos Delgado had his best game of the season, driving in a run and scoring two more. He had two hits, including a double and raised his early season average up to .313.
3. David Wright, who went hitless in four at bats, snapped his twenty-game hitting streak, which began last season.
4. Ryan Church and Carlos Beltran continued their hot starts. Each outfielder had two hits in the contest and each scored a run. Both are batting .438 after four games this season.
5. The Mets bullpen struggled today, going four innings and allowing seven earned runs. Jorge Sosa was the biggest victim, giving up a grand slam to Braves second baseman Kelly Johnson.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Game 3; Mets at Marlins
The Mets won game three of the series with the Marlins, leaving them with two wins and one loss as they depart for Atlanta to take on the Braves over the weekend. Every player on the Mets contributed as the team crushed the Marlins thirteen to nothing.
5 Points
1. Oliver Perez threw six shutout innings and struck out eight. So much for that poor spring training. Perez also only allowed five hits and one walk.
2. Ryan Church looked great in the field and even at the plate. He hit the first home run for the Mets, a two-run shot. Church had six total bases in the game.
3. David Wright one upped Church when he hit a three-run home run. Wright led the Mets with seven total bases in the victory.
4. Carlos Beltran finished the game with three doubles, but at least one of those doubles was actually a home run. His first double appeared to be a home run but stayed in the park and led to David Wright being tagged out at home plate. Later Beltran hit a home run that bounced back on to the field after hitting a metal rail beyond the wall, while Beltran was on the bench the umpires called it a ground-rule-double.
5. The Mets' bullpen pitched three scoreless innings. Three relievers, Pedro Feliciano, Nelson Figueroa and Billy Wagner, combined for two strikeouts and just one hit.
5 Points
1. Oliver Perez threw six shutout innings and struck out eight. So much for that poor spring training. Perez also only allowed five hits and one walk.
2. Ryan Church looked great in the field and even at the plate. He hit the first home run for the Mets, a two-run shot. Church had six total bases in the game.
3. David Wright one upped Church when he hit a three-run home run. Wright led the Mets with seven total bases in the victory.
4. Carlos Beltran finished the game with three doubles, but at least one of those doubles was actually a home run. His first double appeared to be a home run but stayed in the park and led to David Wright being tagged out at home plate. Later Beltran hit a home run that bounced back on to the field after hitting a metal rail beyond the wall, while Beltran was on the bench the umpires called it a ground-rule-double.
5. The Mets' bullpen pitched three scoreless innings. Three relievers, Pedro Feliciano, Nelson Figueroa and Billy Wagner, combined for two strikeouts and just one hit.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Game 2; Mets at Marlins
The Mets lost their second game of the season with a five to four extra inning lost in Miami, Florida. Pedro Martinez started the game, but left in the fourth inning with a right hamstring strain. Martinez is likely bound for the disabled list.
5 Points
1. Martinez didn't really have it tonight. He gave up a long home run in the first inning to Dan Uggla and then let Luis Gonzalez hit a screaming line drive over the fence as well.
2. Brian Schneider had a great game. Schneider had three hits in four at bats, walked once, and even drove in a run. Impressive start for the Mets new backstop.
3. The Mets bullpen was dominating tonight. Jorge Sosa replaced Martinez and threw two and two-thirds shutout innings. Scott Schoeneweiss and Joe Smith then combined to pitch a scoreless seventh inning. Aaron Heilman then pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth inning and Matt Wise began the tenth inning with back-to-back strikeouts before giving up a walk-off home run to Robert Andino.
4. The Mets were once again patient at the plate during the game, walking seven times as a team. Carlos Beltran led the team with two walks.
5. Angel Pagan drove in two runs during the game and now has three runs batted in for the season.
5 Points
1. Martinez didn't really have it tonight. He gave up a long home run in the first inning to Dan Uggla and then let Luis Gonzalez hit a screaming line drive over the fence as well.
2. Brian Schneider had a great game. Schneider had three hits in four at bats, walked once, and even drove in a run. Impressive start for the Mets new backstop.
3. The Mets bullpen was dominating tonight. Jorge Sosa replaced Martinez and threw two and two-thirds shutout innings. Scott Schoeneweiss and Joe Smith then combined to pitch a scoreless seventh inning. Aaron Heilman then pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth inning and Matt Wise began the tenth inning with back-to-back strikeouts before giving up a walk-off home run to Robert Andino.
4. The Mets were once again patient at the plate during the game, walking seven times as a team. Carlos Beltran led the team with two walks.
5. Angel Pagan drove in two runs during the game and now has three runs batted in for the season.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Game 1; Mets at Marlins
The Mets won their first game of 2008 with a seven to two final over the Florida Marlins. Johan Santana, Angel Pagan, Ryan Church, Brian Schneider and Matt Wise made their Mets debuts.
5 Points
1. Santana was perfect through three but lost his momentum after a two-strike pitch right down the middle was called a ball to Hanley Ramirez, which led to a walk. Santana pitched seven innings, K'd eight, walked two and allowed only three hits. His only mistake was a high fastball to Josh Willingham, which became a two-run homer.
2. Luis Castillo looked great. He reached base three times in the game with two walks and a perfect bunt. He was also on his game defensively and stole the first base of the Mets 2008 season.
3. The Mets were patient at the plate during the game -- a problem that plagued them at the end of 2007. The Mets drew five walks in total and only struck out three times.
4. The bullpen was sharp today in relief of Santana. Matt Wise came on in the 8th and struggled a bit, but Scott Schoeneweiss and Jorge Sosa stranded both runners he let reach base. Aaron Heilman came in to pitch the ninth and recorded two strikeouts in a perfect inning.
5. The Mets offense was relatively quiet throughout the game, but exploded for six runs in the fourth inning, which included a three-run double from David Wright.
5 Points
1. Santana was perfect through three but lost his momentum after a two-strike pitch right down the middle was called a ball to Hanley Ramirez, which led to a walk. Santana pitched seven innings, K'd eight, walked two and allowed only three hits. His only mistake was a high fastball to Josh Willingham, which became a two-run homer.
2. Luis Castillo looked great. He reached base three times in the game with two walks and a perfect bunt. He was also on his game defensively and stole the first base of the Mets 2008 season.
3. The Mets were patient at the plate during the game -- a problem that plagued them at the end of 2007. The Mets drew five walks in total and only struck out three times.
4. The bullpen was sharp today in relief of Santana. Matt Wise came on in the 8th and struggled a bit, but Scott Schoeneweiss and Jorge Sosa stranded both runners he let reach base. Aaron Heilman came in to pitch the ninth and recorded two strikeouts in a perfect inning.
5. The Mets offense was relatively quiet throughout the game, but exploded for six runs in the fourth inning, which included a three-run double from David Wright.
Opening Day roster
The Mets Opening Day roster was completed on Sunday and it included a few surprises. Pitchers Orlando Hernandez and Duaner Sanchez and catcher Ramon Castro were not included on the roster due to injuries, instead the three players will be placed on the 15-day disabled list.
Hernandez, delayed by a bunion, temporarily surrenders his 5th spot in the rotation to 24-year old Mike Pelfrey, the Mets top pitching prospect.
Sanchez, still recovering from prior surgeries which have cost him the past season and a half, will spend more time working out in warmer weather and under less pressure until he is considered 100 percent. Sophomore Joe Smith will take his spot, making the team for the second straight year out of spring training.
Castro, who strained his right hamstring during spring training, will likely miss the first two weeks of the season. Raul Casanova will take his spot as the backup catcher.
25-man roster for opening day:
Starting Pitchers: Johan Santana, Pedro Martinez, Oliver Perez, John Maine and Mike Pelfrey
Bullpen Pitchers: Scott Schoeneweiss, Jorge Sosa, Matt Wise, Joe Smith, Pedro Feliciano, Aaron Heilman and Billy Wagner
Catchers: Brian Schneider and Raul Casanova
Infielders: Carlos Delgado, Luis Castillo, David Wright, Jose Reyes, Marlon Anderson and Damion Easley
Outfielders: Angel Pagan, Carlos Beltran, Ryan Church, Endy Chavez and Brady Clark
Hernandez, delayed by a bunion, temporarily surrenders his 5th spot in the rotation to 24-year old Mike Pelfrey, the Mets top pitching prospect.
Sanchez, still recovering from prior surgeries which have cost him the past season and a half, will spend more time working out in warmer weather and under less pressure until he is considered 100 percent. Sophomore Joe Smith will take his spot, making the team for the second straight year out of spring training.
Castro, who strained his right hamstring during spring training, will likely miss the first two weeks of the season. Raul Casanova will take his spot as the backup catcher.
25-man roster for opening day:
Starting Pitchers: Johan Santana, Pedro Martinez, Oliver Perez, John Maine and Mike Pelfrey
Bullpen Pitchers: Scott Schoeneweiss, Jorge Sosa, Matt Wise, Joe Smith, Pedro Feliciano, Aaron Heilman and Billy Wagner
Catchers: Brian Schneider and Raul Casanova
Infielders: Carlos Delgado, Luis Castillo, David Wright, Jose Reyes, Marlon Anderson and Damion Easley
Outfielders: Angel Pagan, Carlos Beltran, Ryan Church, Endy Chavez and Brady Clark
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