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Pelfrey had been relatively effective for the past six weeks until his blowup against the Braves on July 17. Allowing nine earned runs in less than five innings of work. Prior to that, Pelfrey hadn't given up more than four earned runs in a start since June 4.
The Mets season is relatively over at this point, with the Phillies on fire and the Braves with a shot at a postseason birth still. But Pelfrey needs to establish himself as at least a No. 3 starter on this staff if the Mets are going to feel comfortable with him going into next season. He showed great promise last year, but needs to prove he's not a one-season wonder.
Stammen hasn't given up more than three earned in four straight outings coming into tonight, and has given up three or less earned runs in seven of his last 10 starts. He's not a strikeout artist by any means, but pitches to contact and exhibits good control in the zone, leading to a low amount of walks - 12 in his last 10 starts combined, as opposed to 26 strikeouts. In two previous starts against the Mets this season, he's 0-2, allowing three runs in five innings on May 26 and five runs in as many innings on June 7. But that was when Reyes and Beltran were still playing.
Back at 7:05 for first pitch.
- Cody Derespina
]]>Mets:
A. Pagan cf .320, 0, 5
L. Castillo 2b .291, 0, 20
D. Wright 3b .318 , 5, 44
J. Francoeur rf .258, 6, 42
F. Tatis lf 0 .246, 4, 20
D. Murphy 1b .242, 5, 31
O. Santos c .258, 4, 25
A. Cora ss .245, 0 ,12
O. Perez p .300
Washington:
N. Morgan cf .289 AVG, 2 HR, 32 RBI
C. Guzman ss .297 , 3 ,24
R. Zimmerman 3b .282, 15, 56
A. Dunn 1b .265, 24, 54
J. Willingham lf .284, 12, 26
A. Kearns rf .201, 3, 16
A. Gonzalez 2b .315, 1, 23
W. Nieves c .267, 0, 13
J. Lannan p .125
Definitely more power on the Nationals side and probably also a lineup with more potential. Can the Mets be considered the favorites today? What do you guys think?
-Mark Macyk
Manuel is signed through 2010, and Minaya's three-year contract extension doesn't even begin until next season. So it wasn't surprising that a source confirmed today that COO Jeff Wilpon already has assured both Manuel and Minaya that their jobs are safe. The story was first reported by SI.com.
If you want to read more about why Wilpon came to this decision, check out this Mets Insider from July 9, entitled "Mets' Manuel, Minaya will get pass thanks to injuries."
Good evening! Adam Ronis here to bring you through Injuries 101 and Mets therapy. What's another day without another injury in Mets land? We'll get to that in a bit. First, here are the lineups.
Mets (43-48)
Pagan (CF)
Castillo (2B)
Murphy (1B)
Wright (3B)
Francoeur (RF)
Reed (LF)
Cora (SS)
Schneider (C)
Hernandez (P)
Nationals (26-65)
Morgan (CF)
Belliard (2B)
Johnson (1B)
Dunn (LF)
Guzman (SS)
Kearns (RF)
Harris (3B)
Bard (C)
Martin (P)
On Livan Hernandez: It was good while it lasted. Hernandez was pitching better than anyone could have anticipated, but he has been awful lately. He has lost four straight and hasn't won since June 7, which came against the Nationals. He has thrown a total of seven innings over his past two starts allowing 21 hits and 15 runs. In 17 starts, he is 5-5 with a 5.10 ERA and 1.58 WHIP.
On J.D. Martin: With Scott Olsen just placed on the disabled list, Martin gets the start as he makes his major league debut. Martin went 8-3 with a 2.66 ERA at Triple-A Syracuse and gets to face a lineup not much better than a Triple-A caliber. Martin, 26, was in the minor leagues for eight years with the Indians before signing with the Nationals this season.
More injuries: It didn't look good when Fernando Nieve was carted off the field on Sunday and he was placed on the disabled list with a torn quad muscle. He could be out for the season. Nieve was 3-3 with a 2.95 ERA. Outfielder Corey Sullivan was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo. Sullivan, 29, was hitting .290 with two homers and 24 RBIs. Jon Niese is expected to take Nieve's spot Saturday. He is 5-0 with a 0.72 ERA in his last seven starts at Triple-A...Gary Sheffield, who said he has cramps, is out of the lineup again and hasn't played since leaving the game Friday night.
News and notes: The Nationals designated reliever Julian Tavarez for assignment Sunday. The Nationals have lost 10 of 11. The Mets have dropped 9 of 13. The Mets are nine games behind first-place Philadelphia in the NL East. The Nationals are in last place; 26 games out.
]]>Pagan ............ CF
Castillo ........... 2B
Murphy ........... 1B
Wright ............ 3B
Francoeur ....... RF
Reed .............. LF
Cora .............. SS
Schneider ...... C
Hernandez ...... SP
Sorry, but I have to laugh when people start talking about how the Mets should just become sellers as they approach the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. Like that's going to help them rebuild for next season or restock their farm system.
Right. We all agree that the season is over. There's no debating that. But if you're a contending team, is there anyone on the Mets you would even want? Even if Omar Minaya bought the plane ticket and sent the player to you?
Forget the players on the DL. It's tough to trade guys that can't run on dry land. Unless other teams are looking for someone to vacuum their pool, count out Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado.
There's about three guys the Mets have that would interest other teams: Johan Santana, Francisco Rodriguez and David Wright. I highly doubt the Mets are moving any of them.
Who's next in line? Jeff Francoeur? Gary Sheffield? Alex Cora? Brian Schneider? Jeremy Reed?
And if the Mets were able to move any of these players, who will replace them from Triple-A Buffalo? Jonathan Malo? Cory Sullivan? Robinson Cancel? Emil Brown?
Even if the Mets have a 0.00 chance of making the playoffs, they still have to field a major-league team of some sort to play out the remaining 71 games on the schedule. Let's not overrate Citi Field as a gate attraction. You can get Shack Burgers in Madison Square Park, too.
Fernando Nieve (3-3, 3.03 ERA) faces the Braves Javier Vazquez (6-7, 2.95).
Johan Santana got the Mets back in the winner's circle yesterday, tossing seven innings of scoreless baseball in a 5-1 win for his team. The Mets dropped the first two of the series and had lost 13 of 18 prior to the win.
Nieve started off hot winning his first three starts. He dropped his last three starts, including a 3-0 loss to the Reds on July 10. Nieve can hardly be blamed for all three losses. In his three losses the Mets have scored a grand total of one run.
Offensively, the Mets will be without Gary Sheffield again. Jeremy Reed gets the start again in the left field. He went 0-for-4 yesterday. The hope is that Angel Pagan, who went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI can pick up where he left off. The Mets will also rely on Luis Castillo, who in addition to being the team's hottest hitter lately, is 24-for-70 lifetime against Vazquez.
We'll see everyone after the top of the first.
Mets fail to get run in from third with one out. Angel Pagan doubled down the rightfield line to start the game for the Mets. Luis Castillo sacrificed Pagan to third. Daniel Murphy lined to the pitcher for the second out. David Wright lined out to right to end the inning. Braves 0, Mets 0 - Middle of 1st.
Nieve has smooth first inning. Nate McLouth popped out to rightfield. Martin Prado grounded out to third. Chipper Jones walked. Brian McCann flied out to shallow center to end the inning. Mets 0, Braves 0 - End of 1st.
Former Brave Jeff Francoeur grounded out to short. Jeremy Reed struck out swinging. Alex Cora singled to right. Brian Schneider singled to left. Nieve grounded out to the pitcher for the third out and hurt himself as he landed awkwardly on first. Tim Redding is in to pitch for the Mets. Mets 0, Braves 0 - Middle of 2nd.
Tim Redding is pitching for the Mets. Garrett Anderson flied out to centerfield. Escobar hit a solo homer to left to give the Braves a 1-0 lead. Kotchman grounded out for the second out. Church flied out to center. Braves 1, Mets 0 - End of 2nd.
Pagan struck out looking. Castillo singled to shallow center. Murphy flied out to center. Wright walked. Francoeur singled to right, scoring Castillo. Wright moved to third.Reed grounded out to second to end the inning. Mets 1, Braves 1 - Middle of 3rd.
Redding gets out of trouble for Mets. Vazquez singled to center. McLouth walked. Prado grounded into a 4-6-3 double play. Vazquez moved to third. Chipper Jones grounded out to first to end the inning. Mets 1, Braves 1 - End of 3rd.
Cora flied out to center. Schneider grounded out to the pitcher. Redding struck out swinging to end the inning. Mets 1, Braves 1 - Middle of 4th.
Braves get run off Redding. McCann flied out to right. Anderson doubled down the rightfield line and moved to third after Francoeur had trouble picking up the ball. Escobar singled to left, scoring Anderson. Kotchman grounded into a double play to end the inning. Braves lead 2-1. Braves 2, Mets 1 - End of 4th.
Mets fail to get a run across. Pagan flied out to deep center on a nice running catch by McLouth. Castillo reached on an infield single. Castillo was caught stealing for the second out. Murphy flied out to right to end the inning. Braves 2, Mets 1 - Middle of 5th.
Mets relief pitching breaks down. Church walked. Vazquez reached on a fielder's choice error, Cora dropped a throw from Murphy, allowing Church to second safely. McLouth walked, loading the bases. Redding was lifted for Elmer Dessens. Prado singled to left, scoring Church. Braves lead 3-1. Jones flied out to deep left, scoring Vazquez. Braves lead 4-1. Dessens was lifted for Pat Misch. McCann singled to center. Prado to second, McLouth moves to third. Anderson flied out to short left. Escobar doubled to right, scoring McLouth and Prado. Kotchman singled to right, scoring McCann. Escobar was thrown out at the plate to end the inning. Braves 7, Mets 1 - End of 5th.
Mets go down in order in sixth. Wright struck out swinging. Francoeur popped out to left. Reed grounded out to first to end the inning. Braves 7, Mets 1 - Middle of 6th.
Church walked. Vazquez sacrificed Church to second. McLouth walked. Prado lined into a double play on a nice diving stop by Murphy, who tagged first to get McLouth out. Braves 7, Mets 1 - End of 6th.
Mets down in order for the second straight inning. Cora grounded out to second. Schneider lined out to the pitcher. Angel Berroa struck out to end the inning. Braves 7, Mets 1 - Middle of 7th.
Mets get through 7th unscathed. Brian Stokes is pitching for the Mets. Jones grounded out to second. McCann flew out to left. Anderson singled to right. Escobar grounded into a force play to end the inning. Braves 7, Mets 1. End of 7th.
Braves cruise in 8th. Mike Gonzalez is pitching for the Braves. Pagan popped out to second. Castillo flied out to deep right. Murphy struck out to end the inning. Braves 7, Mets 1 - Middle of 8th.
Parnell gets through 8th. Kotchman grounded out to first. Church grounded out to first. Norton walked. McLouth walked. Prado flied out to deep right. Braves 7, Mets 1 - End of 8th.
Soriano is pitching for the Braves. Wright flied out to center. Francoeur flied out to center. Reed grounded out to third to end the game. Braves win, 7-1.
The Mets drop to 43-38 and are 9 games behing the Phillies, while the Braves improve to .500 46-46. The Mets are in Washington tomorrow to take on the Nationals in a three-game set. Tim Redding gets the loss (1-4, 7.16 ERA) and Javier Vazquez (7-7, 2.86) gets the win.
Mets starting pitcher Fernando Nieve left the game in the second inning with a quad injury, running out a ground ball. He will have an MRI done on Monday.
It was a pleasure. Good night everyone.
Pagan - cf
Castillo - 2b
Murphy - 1b
Wright - 3b
Francouer - rf
Reed - lf
Cora - ss
Schneider - c
Nieve - sp
