According to Metsblog, Anderson Hernandez is DL-bound, and Kaz Matsui will be recalled to start against San Diego tomorrow. AHern has a bulging disc.
What is a bulging disc? Well, according to spine-health.com, a bulging disc is just one term of many that is used to describe the general condition of spinal disc abnormality, and the same injury might also be called a herniated disc, slipped disc, or even pinched nerve by a different doctor. From what I can gather, the term 'bulging disc' just describes what is seen on the MRI, and does not tell us what is the root cause of the problem. Spine Inc. says that a bulging disc can be treatable by exercise, anti-inflammatories, and simply learning how to not over stress the bulging discs. How one does that while playing second base I'm not sure...
Speaking of second basemen, Jose Valentin went hitless today and is now 0 for 14 on the season. Did Jeff Keppinger bang Omar Minaya's wife or something?
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
The B-Mets vs. The Braves
The lineup trotted out on Opening Day that looked so impressive has been riddled by injuries, so that the starting 9 this afternoon looked like this:
Reyes SS
Woodward 2B
Delgado 1B
Wright 3B
Nady RF
Valentin LF
Castro C
Chavez CF
Glavine P
This lineup was like lunchmeat for Braves starter Tim Hudson. Over 8 innings he allowed just one walk and one hit with six strikeouts. Meanwhile, Glavine pitched great, but not as great, allowing a solo homer by Andruw Jones and an unearned run which scored on a David Wright error. After eight and a half innings, it was 2-0 Braves.
Finally in the ninth Reyes hit a double with one out, and was driven in with a single by Woodward to make it 2-1 Braves. Delgado flied out to left for the second out, and David Wright came up with a chance to redeem himself. He had three errors on the afternoon. Unfortunately it was not his days, as he grounded out for the last out of the game.
Mets lose, 2-1, and lose the series to the Braves 2-1 as they head out on a road trip. The Braves, with their dreadful bullpen, won teh series by getting two complete games from their starters on consecutive days.
Reyes SS
Woodward 2B
Delgado 1B
Wright 3B
Nady RF
Valentin LF
Castro C
Chavez CF
Glavine P
This lineup was like lunchmeat for Braves starter Tim Hudson. Over 8 innings he allowed just one walk and one hit with six strikeouts. Meanwhile, Glavine pitched great, but not as great, allowing a solo homer by Andruw Jones and an unearned run which scored on a David Wright error. After eight and a half innings, it was 2-0 Braves.
Finally in the ninth Reyes hit a double with one out, and was driven in with a single by Woodward to make it 2-1 Braves. Delgado flied out to left for the second out, and David Wright came up with a chance to redeem himself. He had three errors on the afternoon. Unfortunately it was not his days, as he grounded out for the last out of the game.
Mets lose, 2-1, and lose the series to the Braves 2-1 as they head out on a road trip. The Braves, with their dreadful bullpen, won teh series by getting two complete games from their starters on consecutive days.
Add Anderson Hernandez's back to the List of Injuries
Anderson Hernandez was scratched from last night's game after suffering from back spasms during batting practice. His injury could signal the return of Metsui, who went 1-for-3 with a double, RBI and sacrifice bunt last night in his third game for the Tides last night. Jeff Keppinger is hitting .323 with a .436 on base percentage for the AAA club as well. On the major league club, Valentin still has no hits; he's now 0 for 12 on the season.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Transplanted Ex-Mets Around Baseball
Some transplanted ex-Mets did well last night in losing causes...
Ty Wigginton hit his 6th homerun of the season for Tampa Bay, but Boston still beat the Devil Rays, 7-4. Wiggy's hitting .289 with 14 RBI's on the season.
After taking a day off, Mike Piazza was back in the lineup tonight for San Diego, and had two doubles and an RBI in a 3-2, extra ining loss to Colorado... Mike Cameron may be back with the Padres this weekend, according to Yahoo Sports. He's been on the DL with a strained oblique, an injury that seems to be going around this spring...
Finally, Doug Mientkiewicz went 1 for 4 for the Royals (he's hitting .225 on the season), in a 4-1 loss to the White Sox.
Ty Wigginton hit his 6th homerun of the season for Tampa Bay, but Boston still beat the Devil Rays, 7-4. Wiggy's hitting .289 with 14 RBI's on the season.
After taking a day off, Mike Piazza was back in the lineup tonight for San Diego, and had two doubles and an RBI in a 3-2, extra ining loss to Colorado... Mike Cameron may be back with the Padres this weekend, according to Yahoo Sports. He's been on the DL with a strained oblique, an injury that seems to be going around this spring...
Finally, Doug Mientkiewicz went 1 for 4 for the Royals (he's hitting .225 on the season), in a 4-1 loss to the White Sox.
Mets Vs. Braves Game Two (In Game Notes)
So, when do we finally call it quits on The Zambrano Project? After two and a half innings, it's 5-0 Braves, with Zambrano giving up homers to Andruw Jones and Adam LaRoche. How much better would life be, even with Floyd and Beltran out of the lineup, with Kris Benson in the rotation instead of Zambrano?
...
Chris Woodward hits a solo homer to lead off the Mets' half of the third to make it 5-1 Braves.
...
Another homer for Andruw Jones (with Betemit on first) and it's 7-1 Braves. Anna Benson, you can bang the whole team for all I care...
...
To be fair... Kris Benson was less than mediocre yesterday as well, givng up four runs and nine hits in five innings against the California Angels. The Orioles lost 9-3 to the Angels at home, in front of 19,000 fans including Anna Benson. After three starts, Benson is 1-2, with a 3.32 ERA. Hitters are batting .257 against Benson this season...
...
Final Score: Braves 7, Mets 1. With Beltran and Floyd out of the lineup, and Zambrano on the mound, the Braves were just too much for the Mets. Glavine goes after the Braves tomorrow in the rubber game at 7:05.
...
Chris Woodward hits a solo homer to lead off the Mets' half of the third to make it 5-1 Braves.
...
Another homer for Andruw Jones (with Betemit on first) and it's 7-1 Braves. Anna Benson, you can bang the whole team for all I care...
...
To be fair... Kris Benson was less than mediocre yesterday as well, givng up four runs and nine hits in five innings against the California Angels. The Orioles lost 9-3 to the Angels at home, in front of 19,000 fans including Anna Benson. After three starts, Benson is 1-2, with a 3.32 ERA. Hitters are batting .257 against Benson this season...
...
Final Score: Braves 7, Mets 1. With Beltran and Floyd out of the lineup, and Zambrano on the mound, the Braves were just too much for the Mets. Glavine goes after the Braves tomorrow in the rubber game at 7:05.
Victor Zambrano Goes for 46th Career Victory
Fresh off Pedro's 200th win, The Zambrano Project, as Kranepool calls him, goes for win #46 tonight against the Braves. Beltran and Floyd are still out of the lineup, with the lineup being as follows:
Reyes SS
LoDuca C
Delgado 1B
Wright 3B
Nady RF
Valentin LF
Woodward 2B
Chavez CF
Zambrano P
As you can see, my nemesis Jose Valentin gets his first start of the season. He hasn't gotten a hit all season. And if he doesn't tonight, against Kyle Davies, he of the 8.38 ERA, maybe Valentin should hang 'em up before the Mets do it for him.
Lets Go Mets!
Reyes SS
LoDuca C
Delgado 1B
Wright 3B
Nady RF
Valentin LF
Woodward 2B
Chavez CF
Zambrano P
As you can see, my nemesis Jose Valentin gets his first start of the season. He hasn't gotten a hit all season. And if he doesn't tonight, against Kyle Davies, he of the 8.38 ERA, maybe Valentin should hang 'em up before the Mets do it for him.
Lets Go Mets!
Mets Minor Leaguer Suspended For Steroids
New York Mets minor-league pitcher Jorge Reyes was suspended for 50 games for testing positive for a steroids test today.
According to Scout.com, right-handed pitcher Jorge Reyes is a Dominican who is one of the hardest throwers among the Mets' starting pitching prospects and ranks #32 among the Top 50 Mets' prospects (for the website). According to MetsGeek, just last week on April 13th Reyes pitched a solid six innings of one run ball for the low A-ball Mets affiliate Hagerstown Suns.
No word on any 'roid rage when Jorge Reyes gave up that one run...
According to Scout.com, right-handed pitcher Jorge Reyes is a Dominican who is one of the hardest throwers among the Mets' starting pitching prospects and ranks #32 among the Top 50 Mets' prospects (for the website). According to MetsGeek, just last week on April 13th Reyes pitched a solid six innings of one run ball for the low A-ball Mets affiliate Hagerstown Suns.
No word on any 'roid rage when Jorge Reyes gave up that one run...
An Extra Challenge...
For the next three nights, I am travelling around the country for work, heading to three cities in three days, without access to a radio or TV during game time. I'll have access to the internet though, and though I won't be able to listen, I'll still be able to follow the GameCast on MLB.com.
It's especially tough for me tonight, since I'm oh-so-close to Shea Stadium, in Paramus New Jersey, where it should be easy for me to see the game on television, but my work requires me to instead, pay close attention to thirty women talk about fingernails. (Don't ask).
Lets Go Mets!
It's especially tough for me tonight, since I'm oh-so-close to Shea Stadium, in Paramus New Jersey, where it should be easy for me to see the game on television, but my work requires me to instead, pay close attention to thirty women talk about fingernails. (Don't ask).
Lets Go Mets!
My Fandom Only Goes So Far...
I'm sitting here typing and because I'm not that good a typer I am watching my fingers and can see my Mets watch on the wrist of my right hand. My cell phone rings with the 1962 "Meet The Mets" theme song. I forced myself to drink Rheingold beer during it's resurgence a few years back, even though I can now admit that the beer was dreadful. I have a decal of the Mets circular logo on the back window of my car about the size of a basketball. I even have a tatoo of the interlocking NY on my left shoulder. I am proud of my fandom.
Last night I saw on Mets.com that the club has introduced a new theme song, "Our Team, Our Time." Great! I have been craving a new theme song since the critically acclaimed Lets Go Mets Go in 1986.
I just listened to it. I am embarrassed. I will say no more. Listen for yourself, if you dare.
The lyrics for Our Team, Our Time, the New York Mets song:
New York Mets! Our Team, Our Time.
New York Mets! Our Team, Our Time.
Our Team, Our Time.
We Get the Hits (Hits!)
We Score The Runs (Runs!)
We Shut You Down (Down!)
We're Number One (One, One, One)
New York Mets! Our Team Our Time
New York Mets! Our Team Our Time
New York Mets! Our Team, Our Time
New York Mets! Our Team Our Time
Our Team Our Time!
Pedro Martinez Will Strike. You. Out. Billy Wagner, Coming Through. He's Throwing Heat Heat, No Doubt.
David Wright, Jose Reyes making sure you're not safe. Just in case - Carlos Delgado. He's At First Base.
Cliff Floyd, Carlos Beltran playing the outfield. Come To Shea Stadium. Our Team's The Real Deal.
New York Mets Our Team Our Time
New York Mets Our Team Our Time
Our Team Our Time.
On second thought, I DO still have "Who Let The Mets Out" on my iPod...
Last night I saw on Mets.com that the club has introduced a new theme song, "Our Team, Our Time." Great! I have been craving a new theme song since the critically acclaimed Lets Go Mets Go in 1986.
I just listened to it. I am embarrassed. I will say no more. Listen for yourself, if you dare.
The lyrics for Our Team, Our Time, the New York Mets song:
New York Mets! Our Team, Our Time.
New York Mets! Our Team, Our Time.
Our Team, Our Time.
We Get the Hits (Hits!)
We Score The Runs (Runs!)
We Shut You Down (Down!)
We're Number One (One, One, One)
New York Mets! Our Team Our Time
New York Mets! Our Team Our Time
New York Mets! Our Team, Our Time
New York Mets! Our Team Our Time
Our Team Our Time!
Pedro Martinez Will Strike. You. Out. Billy Wagner, Coming Through. He's Throwing Heat Heat, No Doubt.
David Wright, Jose Reyes making sure you're not safe. Just in case - Carlos Delgado. He's At First Base.
Cliff Floyd, Carlos Beltran playing the outfield. Come To Shea Stadium. Our Team's The Real Deal.
New York Mets Our Team Our Time
New York Mets Our Team Our Time
Our Team Our Time.
On second thought, I DO still have "Who Let The Mets Out" on my iPod...
Monday, April 17, 2006
Now Cliff Floyd's Hurt, Too
Cliff Floyd hurt himself while hitting a double in the fourth inning, apparently straining his rib cage on the swing. He stayed in the game long enough to score on Xavier Nady's single, making it a 4-2 Mets lead. Jose Valentin came in the game to replace him in the next inning and flied out with two runners on, making him 0 for 8 on the season.
...
Valentin's failure to drive in the run became more significant the next inning when Andruw Jones homered, making it a 4-3 game in the sixth. Willie wasn't worried about the narrow deficit, however, allowing Pedro Martinez to bat for himself in the bottom of the sixth with Nady on base (again) even though Pedro had thrown 100 pitches to that point. Pedro struck out, and headed to the mound to start the 7th inning.
Pedro retired the first two batters in the seventh, but after Pete Orr hit a rocket up teh middle that had Martinez diving out of the way, Duaner Sanchez came on to strike out Marcus Giles to retire the side. Headed to the Seventh Inning Stretch and 'Lazy Mary,' Pedro was still poised to win his 200th win.
...
Sanchez pitched a perfect 8th, and Valentin led off the bottom of the inning doing what he does best: grounding out so that he became 0 for 9 on the season. Nady and Chavez couldn't do any better against Lance Cormeir, so it was 'Sandman' time in the ninth.
After Franceour fliedout, Wagner hit Matt Diaz in the shin, but Wagner recovered to strike out Betimet and old buddy Todd Pratt to preserve the victory.
Pedro gets win #200, Wagner gets a save, and the Mets improve to 10-2 on the season.
...
Beltran Still Ailing
Carlos Beltran is not in the lineup tonight, still recovering from his hamstring stiffness. This is bad news for Pedro, based on how well Beltran seems to hit when Pedro's on the mound.
Is Omar Minaya a Reader of TransplantedMetsFan.com?
I've been calling for the demotion of Victor Diaz for the past two days, and today it happened. The Mets have called up Pedro Feliciano to take his roster spot. Hopefully this gives Willie another reliable arm to go to when he needs his 'pen. Hey Omar! If you're reading this, Valentin and his pornstar mustache have to be the next to go.
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Easter (or Passover) With The Mets
Brian Bannister showed off his magician skills today, working himself out of several jams, including a bases loaded with no outs situation. X-Man drove in three, with a homer and sacrifice fly, and LoDuca drove in one as well.
Jose Valentin struck out in a pinch-hit opportunity, and Howie Rose speculated that he's the odd-man out when Metsui returns from the DL. Finally, a reason to root for Matsui... Anyway, after five innings, it was 4-1 Mets and a fatigued Bannister handed the game over to the bullpen to try and preserve the lead.
...
Against Darren Oliver, Corey Hart led off the sixth with a pinch hit. Oliver should have gotten out of the inning unscathed, because he had Hart picked off. Corey "never surrendered" though, and lasted in a rundown long enough for Delgado to make a throwing error, allowing Hart to get all the way to third. Jenkins then hit a two-out homer to narrow the lead to 4-3. Chad Bradford came in and induced a groundout by Carlos Lee to end the half-inning.
...
Heilman did a nice job in relief, allowing 1 hit and 2 walks over two innings in a tight game. But in the bottom of the eighth, Carlos Delgado hit a three run homer to extend the Mets lead and make it a 7-3 game. Howie Rose said Delgado's shot, a line drive, reminded him of Darryl Strawberry's homer off Nolan Ryan in Game 5 of the 1986 LCS.
Earlier I said Victor Diaz should be sent to Norfolk to get him regular at-bats and preserve his trade value. Well, Diaz got into the game on a double switch, and in his second at-bat he put the game out of reach with a two-run double, making it a 9-3 game. Perhaps he is valuable off the bench after all?
...
Billy Wagner was all set to come into the game even when Delgado's homer made it a four run lead. But then, after Diaz broke open the game, Willie decided to bring in Jorge Julio. I've decided to stop comparing Julio to Armando Benitez. That's too much of an insult to Benitez. After all, like my buddy Tubby and I were discussing, Benitez only seemed to fail in big spots, and against the Yankees and Braves. Julio stinks pretty much all the time. Even though he resembles Benitez in pitching style, he's much more like Mel Rojas in his ineffectiveness.
As Julio began pitching, broadcaster Tom McCarthy talked about how "flat" Julio's fastball was. Julio retired the leadoff batter Koskie, but Bill Hall teed off on a fastball for a long double. Julio's heater comes in at around 95 mph, but McCarthy and Rose noted that any major league hitter can hit a fastball, no matter how fast, if it has no movement to it. Julio did get Prince Fielder to strikeout on a fastball for the second out.
Julio threw a slider (or splitter?) in the dirt that got away from LoDuca, allowing Hall to reach third, but Damien Miller eventually flied out to center to end the game. Mets win 9-3, and are now 9-2 on the season, their best start in franchise history.
Maybe Julio gains some confidence after this outing and starts to be more successful? I'm not betting on it.
...
Meanwhile. the Mets have won all four series they've played so far this season, and are set to take on the Braves tomorrow. Pedro Martinez goes for win #200 against Jorge Sosa. Lets Go Mets!
Jose Valentin struck out in a pinch-hit opportunity, and Howie Rose speculated that he's the odd-man out when Metsui returns from the DL. Finally, a reason to root for Matsui... Anyway, after five innings, it was 4-1 Mets and a fatigued Bannister handed the game over to the bullpen to try and preserve the lead.
...
Against Darren Oliver, Corey Hart led off the sixth with a pinch hit. Oliver should have gotten out of the inning unscathed, because he had Hart picked off. Corey "never surrendered" though, and lasted in a rundown long enough for Delgado to make a throwing error, allowing Hart to get all the way to third. Jenkins then hit a two-out homer to narrow the lead to 4-3. Chad Bradford came in and induced a groundout by Carlos Lee to end the half-inning.
...
Heilman did a nice job in relief, allowing 1 hit and 2 walks over two innings in a tight game. But in the bottom of the eighth, Carlos Delgado hit a three run homer to extend the Mets lead and make it a 7-3 game. Howie Rose said Delgado's shot, a line drive, reminded him of Darryl Strawberry's homer off Nolan Ryan in Game 5 of the 1986 LCS.
Earlier I said Victor Diaz should be sent to Norfolk to get him regular at-bats and preserve his trade value. Well, Diaz got into the game on a double switch, and in his second at-bat he put the game out of reach with a two-run double, making it a 9-3 game. Perhaps he is valuable off the bench after all?
...
Billy Wagner was all set to come into the game even when Delgado's homer made it a four run lead. But then, after Diaz broke open the game, Willie decided to bring in Jorge Julio. I've decided to stop comparing Julio to Armando Benitez. That's too much of an insult to Benitez. After all, like my buddy Tubby and I were discussing, Benitez only seemed to fail in big spots, and against the Yankees and Braves. Julio stinks pretty much all the time. Even though he resembles Benitez in pitching style, he's much more like Mel Rojas in his ineffectiveness.
As Julio began pitching, broadcaster Tom McCarthy talked about how "flat" Julio's fastball was. Julio retired the leadoff batter Koskie, but Bill Hall teed off on a fastball for a long double. Julio's heater comes in at around 95 mph, but McCarthy and Rose noted that any major league hitter can hit a fastball, no matter how fast, if it has no movement to it. Julio did get Prince Fielder to strikeout on a fastball for the second out.
Julio threw a slider (or splitter?) in the dirt that got away from LoDuca, allowing Hall to reach third, but Damien Miller eventually flied out to center to end the game. Mets win 9-3, and are now 9-2 on the season, their best start in franchise history.
Maybe Julio gains some confidence after this outing and starts to be more successful? I'm not betting on it.
...
Meanwhile. the Mets have won all four series they've played so far this season, and are set to take on the Braves tomorrow. Pedro Martinez goes for win #200 against Jorge Sosa. Lets Go Mets!
Carlos Beltran injury
Beltran isn't in the lineup today because of "tightness in his right hamstring." He might be available as a pinch hitter, but Endy Chavez is playing center in his absence. Oofah.
Is Alan Thicke a Mets Fan?
Just logged onto MLB.com to listen to the Mets broadcast, and Howie Rose is talking about Growing Pains. Why, you ask? Well, apparently on that show, the "Seaver" family had neighbors named "The Koosmans". Weird.
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