Game Time: 1:10pm
Record: 4-3 Era: 4.18 K: 36 BB: 30 WHIP: 1.39
Mets Notes:
- The Mets hope a well-rested lineup will pay dividends in the rubber game of their series with the Marlins on Sunday. The Mets’ only loss this week at Citi Field came on Saturday with regulars David Wright, Gary Sheffield and Luis Castillo all out of the starting lineup. Without those key cogs in the middle of the order, the Mets fielded a lineup that included two players hitting .143 and another two who had yet to have a hit this season in the Majors. “I thought with the way their guy was pitching(JJ) and knowing that he’s been pretty effective against us all season, it would be difficult even with those guys to try to get back in the game,” Manuel said (so basically he threw the game…nice).
- It was Wright’s first day off of the season. Historically, he has responded quite well to his rare rests. Last season, Wright went 7-for-10 the day after a rest, with three home runs. The day following his past 10 off-days, Wright is hitting .576 with five home runs.
- John Maine had one of his best outings this season Monday against the Nationals, allowing one run and four hits in six innings while striking out four. Now he faces the Fish, against whom he has a 1-0 record in two starts this season. Maine has allowed two earned runs and three hits in 11 innings in those games. He has a 4-1 record and 2.49 ERA against the Marlins in his career. Those numbers reflect the best performance of his career; Maine struck out 14 Marlins while yielding one hit in 7 2/3 innings on Sept. 29, 2007.
- Maine however, is 4-1 with a 2.49 ERA in eight career starts versus the Marlins. He allowed one run and one hit in a 7-1 win over Florida at Citi Field on April 27 before the Marlins won the final two games of the three-game set.
- Maine is 3-0 with a 1.00 ERA in his last three home starts, including a 5-2 victory over Washington on Monday when he yielded one run and four hits over six innings.
The Cavalries Back(except for Beltran)
LINEUP
Angel Pagan, CF
Luis Castillo, 2B
David Wright, 3B
Gary Sheffield, LF
Daniel Murphy, 1B
Fernando Martinez, RF
Omir Santos, C
Wilson Valdez, SS
John Maine, P
Record: 4-3 Era: 3.69 K: 51 BB: 19 WHIP: 1.13
Marlins Notes:
- It seems any mistake pitch Volstad is making now results in a home run. The Marlins’ young right-hander has surrendered 11 home runs, which is tied for the fifth most in the National League.
- Last Monday, Volstad opened Florida’s six-game road trip at Philadelphia. He collected a win that day. Sunday will wind up the trip that currently stands at 3-2. On the season, the Marlins are 5-3 against the Mets, and they are seeking their third series win in as many chances.
- The 22-year-old started off Florida’s six-game road trip with a victory against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Monday. In that outing, he worked 6 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on six hits. Now he’s won two straight decisions, and key in both games has been an improved curveball, to go along with his fastball and changeup. Volstad is a sinkerball pitcher, and his curveball is thrown with pretty good velocity. This will be the first time Volstad has faced the Mets since Sept. 26, 2008, when he tossed six scoreless innings in a victory at Shea Stadium. One thing to watch with the righty is home runs allowed. He’s been taken deep six times in his past four starts.
- Hermida is batting .319 (22 for 69) with two homers and 11 RBIs in 27 career games visiting the Mets. He has five hits in 16 at-bats against Maine. Jeremy Hermida had four RBIs and led the Marlins with three hits, including an RBI single in the first inning and a three-run homer in the fifth that chased Redding. Hanley Ramirez went 2 for 5, returning to the starting lineup Saturday for the first time since feeling tightness in his groin in Tuesday’s 5-3 loss at Philadelphia. Ramirez has two homers lifetime against Maine.
- Chris Volstad goes for his third straight victory. In his last start, the right-hander gave up three runs and six hits in Monday’s 5-3 win over Philadelphia. Volstad has gone six or more innings in each of his last seven starts. He is 1-0 with a 0.73 ERA in two career starts against the Mets.
LINEUP
Chris Coghlan, LF
Emilio Bonifacio, 3B
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Jorge Cantu, 1B
Jeremy Hermida, RF
Dan Uggla, 2B
John Baker, C
Cody Ross, CF
Chris Volstad, P
PLAY BALL!!
Dont forget you can talk live during the game in the Real Dirty Dugout. LGM!
23 comments
GravediggerHebner
5/31/2009-1:23pm at 1:23 pm (UTC -4)
Nice cavalry reference, and pic.
LGM!
Kingman 26
5/31/2009-1:25pm at 1:25 pm (UTC -4)
Does look a bit like Wright on that horse.
Thanks for the pic on the other post Grave!
GravediggerHebner
5/31/2009-1:30pm at 1:30 pm (UTC -4)
You’re welcome. I hope I wasn’t stepping over any editorial bounds. If I ever do that to you feel free to tell me where to go. Sometimes I get carried away.
I’m not really clear on the legal issues with the photos I use so when I find some that are fairly recent, I like to credit the photographer, that’s why I put that there, and that’s why I mostly use older pics.
trs86
5/31/2009-1:39pm at 1:39 pm (UTC -4)
Guys I just logged in at my wife’s work. This site looks great on a new computer.
I hope you guys liked the widgets I added yesterday. We are actually listed on the Sportspyder widget.
dirtysanchez
5/31/2009-1:41pm at 1:41 pm (UTC -4)
real you have done an amazing job with this place…top notch..well done buddy!
trs86
5/31/2009-1:42pm at 1:42 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks Dirty and thanks to all the authors. Trying to do code has taken up all of my time. Reall props to Mr. NJ for the banner work and getting me the color codes.
trs86
5/31/2009-1:42pm at 1:42 pm (UTC -4)
By the way, thanks to Mrose on the mobile side. I tried logging on to Metsblog and it would not work. This place works like a charm.
mrose
5/31/2009-1:46pm at 1:46 pm (UTC -4)
so, from the guy who is a systems engineer…is there atrick to logging into the live chat? I put in a username and it gives me a can’t connect error…
dirtysanchez
5/31/2009-1:49pm at 1:49 pm (UTC -4)
there shouldnt be. email me rose
dirtysanchez
5/31/2009-1:50pm at 1:50 pm (UTC -4)
angel pagan….what a year hes having..
Mr. Mets Butler
5/31/2009-1:56pm at 1:56 pm (UTC -4)
LOL…not anymore. Add him to the injured list. geez…when does it stop??
dirtysanchez
5/31/2009-2:14pm at 2:14 pm (UTC -4)
lol…i have no idea…this is getting out of control..
trs86
5/31/2009-2:38pm at 2:38 pm (UTC -4)
Well I guess that means Fmart is hanging around and Church should be back soon? June 6th is what I count but have we had any updates?
trs86
5/31/2009-2:40pm at 2:40 pm (UTC -4)
For now if Pagan has to go on the DL it could be Emil Brown?
GravediggerHebner
5/31/2009-2:44pm at 2:44 pm (UTC -4)
Or Wily “Coyote” Pena?
trs86
5/31/2009-2:49pm at 2:49 pm (UTC -4)
His numbers are even worse than Brown.
Mr. Mets Butler
5/31/2009-2:43pm at 2:43 pm (UTC -4)
What the hell is wrong with Maine now?! This is one truly unconditioned team. So aggravating!! ARGHH!
Mr. Mets Butler
5/31/2009-3:13pm at 3:13 pm (UTC -4)
Wow…Putz has been a big dissappointment so far.
Mr. Mets Butler
5/31/2009-3:14pm at 3:14 pm (UTC -4)
disappointment…sorry.
dentulous
5/31/2009-3:31pm at 3:31 pm (UTC -4)
Man, Putz is bad.
dentulous
5/31/2009-3:44pm at 3:44 pm (UTC -4)
WOOO!
K-Rod 14/14 in saves. 3Ks. Awesome Man.
Putz….not so awesome, so disappointing. Maine, amazing, damn stomach cramps.
trs86
5/31/2009-3:50pm at 3:50 pm (UTC -4)
Not in my Mets lifetime have I been more confident in a Mets closer. Yeah the two headed monster was nice but there was a reason neither were a fulltime closer. Krod is incredible and the confidence he shows is truly something. Even nonMet like to be honest. Johan and Krod are Omar’s best additions to this team.
mrose
5/31/2009-3:50pm at 3:50 pm (UTC -4)
yup…
at least its only cramps though
i’m happy to show we had injury updates on our site