 Great win last night, boys! Lets keep it rollin with our Ace on the mound. Today at 1:00 pm, the Mets (35-33) will hope to win three out of four against the Cardinals (40-33). Standing in their way will be veteran (RHP) Chris Carpenter. Here’s the skinny on Carpenter (5-1 1.53 ERA 0.72 WHIP)…
Full Name: Â Christopher John Carpenter
Born:  April 27,1975  in Exeter, New Hampshire
Height:  6-6  Weight:  225  Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right
High School: Â Trinity (Manchester, New Hampshire)
College: Â None
Drafted: Â Selected by Toronto Blue Jays in 1st Round (15th overall) of 1993 amateur entry draft (June-Reg)
Lifetime Record (105-71 3.99 ERA 1.31WHIP)
 Per MLB.com,
“Despite missing nearly a month with a strained rib cage muscle earlier this season, Carpenter is making a case to be on the mound on July 14 in the All-Star Game at Busch Stadium. Carpenter was nearly flawless in his last start on Saturday against the Royals. He pitched seven scoreless innings before allowing a run across in the eighth. Carpenter exited after allowing one run on three hits in 7 2/3 innings. Carpenter’s fifth victory of the season came one start after he suffered his first loss on June 14 against Cleveland, and the Cardinals’ staff leader has allowed just 10 earned runs in nine starts.”
 *** The last time the Mets faced Carpenter was all the way back on Opening Day 2007. He went 6 innings and allowed 5 earned runs in the Mets 6-1 victory. Carpenter missed the entire season after that.
Per Wikipedia,
“Carpenter was sidelined with elbow problems and the team announced on May 5, 2007 that he would need Tommy John Surgery and another surgery to trim bone spurs. As Carpenter was attempting to return from elbow surgery, further problems developed and on July 19, 2007 the Cardinals announced that his season was over.
On July 30, 2008, Carpenter made his first Major League start since Opening Day 2007, 486 days, against the Atlanta Braves. He lasted four innings, gave up one run on five hits (all singles), walking two and striking out two, on 67 pitches (36 strikes). Though Carpenter got the no decision, the Cardinals went on to win the game 7-2.”
In his previous 2 outings -
(Jun 14, 2009) Carpenter allowed three runs and five hits in seven innings of Sunday’s 3-0 loss to the Indians.
The loss was Carpenter’s first since Aug. 10. He missed a month earlier this year after straining a left rib cage muscle while batting. The 2005 NL Cy Young Award winner was 4-0 with a 1.23 ERA in his first seven starts of the season.(STATS, 6:56pm)
(Wed. Jun 10, 2009) After giving up a combined three runs in his first six starts this season, Carpenter allowed three runs in six innings Tuesday night in Florida but did not factor in the decision in a 4-3 loss.
Carpenter (4-0, 1.23 ERA) is 3-0 with a 1.59 ERA since returning from a strained ribcage muscle. He is scheduled to pitch Sunday night in Cleveland, and Carpenter has not faced the Indians since June 28, 2006. He is 2-0 with a 3.47 ERA in his last four starts versus Cleveland.(STATS, 1:42pm)
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/playerNews?
According to Foxsports,
“Carpenter is known to have five quality pitches and throws two and four-seam fastballs in the 90-93 mph range consistently. He is known to have one of the better curveballs in baseball and has excellent command over his cutter and circle-change up. He is known as being unpredictable to opposing batters in his pitching pattern, as he will throw any of his pitches at any time.”
Â
Scouting Report courtesy of thebaseballcube,Â
| Control: | 67 |
| K-Rating: | 59 |
| Efficiency: | 68 |
Control: Walks compared to batters faced.
k-Rating: Strikeouts compared to batters faced.
Efficiency: Similar to WHIP, a higher rating for pitchers allowing less baserunners per inning pitched.
The ratings are based on formulas that sum a player’s entire career based on available statistics in our database, including minor league and college data. These scouting scores are to be used as indicators of a player’s strength. A career minor leaguer might have a speed rating of 100 though this does not insinuate that he is a better runner than a major leaguer with a speed rating of 90. Though it does indicate that a player was an excellent base-stealer in the minors, we do not know how he would have fared in the majors.
***According to baseball-reference, over a career, Â Chris Carpenter is most similar to Brad Penny.***
40 comments
GravediggerHebner
6/25/2009-11:08am at 11:08 am (UTC -4)
I know they have their valid formula and all, but to me comparing Chris Carpenter to Brad Penny is a huge insult to Chris Carpenter.
I love Chris Carpenter. I know he’s injured a lot, which is just one of the many reasons I’ve always wanted him on the Mets. I lived in Boston when he was coming up and there was lots of press about him since he was from New Hampshire. When he’s healthy he’s fantastic and I really enjoy watching him pitch.
As a baseball fan and a fan of low scoring well pitched games, I am very much looking forward to today’s game. If it unfolds as it should, it will be a pitching clinic and a gem for fans of crisp NL-style baseball. Might even finish in less than 2 1/2 hours!
QnsNative718
6/25/2009-11:16am at 11:16 am (UTC -4)
Winning 3/4 against a very good Cardinals team will give the Mets such a confidence boost that they deperately need with the way things are going.
There's Always '09
6/25/2009-11:18am at 11:18 am (UTC -4)
We’ve seen too many of these games where they can have a great road trip, series, homestand, or month. Where winning can make the difference between 5-3 or 4-4. They generally lose these games. I’d like to see a different attitude and outcome today. Play for blood – not literally.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-11:19am at 11:19 am (UTC -4)
I agree. Since Beltran went down there seems to be some fire in the team and I hope we see that fire today.
QnsNative718
6/25/2009-11:21am at 11:21 am (UTC -4)
On Tuesday, The Daily News called them… Gritty.
metsfan4decades
6/25/2009-11:47am at 11:47 am (UTC -4)
Just heard Straw’s interview on WFAN and he called the team ‘gritty’ as well. He sees them staying in it until the ‘core’ gets back. –In part b/c he said this is not the team of the last two years (I’m thinking he meant they’re putting it all behind them) and in part b/c he said the Phils have their own problems and are not pulling away.
QnsNative718
6/25/2009-11:52am at 11:52 am (UTC -4)
Love the optimism! Just hang in there, boys. Fight.
There's Always '09
6/25/2009-11:33am at 11:33 am (UTC -4)
Don’t blame it on Beltran. It’s not Beltran’s fault with the perceived lack of “fire”. We are nowhere near better off without Beltran, long or short term.
I just think we play like it’s a lazy day in a deciding game.
QnsNative718
6/25/2009-11:41am at 11:41 am (UTC -4)
Where was the fire Tuesday night?
dirtysanchez
6/25/2009-11:44am at 11:44 am (UTC -4)
I think they have been doing the best they can with what they got. I would prefer seeing better management but we havent seen that for 3 months now..dont expect it to start tomorrow lol
QnsNative718
6/25/2009-11:19am at 11:19 am (UTC -4)
btw, I see what you mean, Grave, about the injutice of comparing Carpenter to Penny. You realize Carpenter has 129 more Ks than Penny and played in 4 less games??? Wow..
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-11:20am at 11:20 am (UTC -4)
Carpenter has been nothing short of phenomenal this season. CYA?
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-11:21am at 11:21 am (UTC -4)
Although I think Matt Cain is probably the leader thus far.
GravediggerHebner
6/25/2009-11:23am at 11:23 am (UTC -4)
If he hadn’t missed a month he’d be more likely IMO.
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/25/2009-11:44am at 11:44 am (UTC -4)
It’s Johan! No question about it!
Screw Cain, Carpenter, Johnson, and Lincy
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/25/2009-11:50am at 11:50 am (UTC -4)
Also screw Haren too.
GravediggerHebner
6/25/2009-11:19am at 11:19 am (UTC -4)
Agreed, especially since one of those wins would be in a Carpenter start.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-11:18am at 11:18 am (UTC -4)
Posted this earlier, but it’s more appropriate in this thread.
AccuScore is giving the Cardinals a 60%-40% edge in today’s game. Wow, must be picking up a lot of noise from Santana’s bad stretch.
QnsNative718
6/25/2009-11:20am at 11:20 am (UTC -4)
I think theyre really taking our lineup into effect.
GravediggerHebner
6/25/2009-11:21am at 11:21 am (UTC -4)
Are those things affected by “series” records, because the Mets have been losing lots of series recently and if they were to win today they would get a rare series win.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-11:23am at 11:23 am (UTC -4)
I don’t know if they factor that in. It’s based on thousands of simulations, but I don’t know if it’s programmed for series. I think they are just factoring in Carpenter big time and Santana being a bit shaky recently (last start excepted). Our offense has scored more R/G than the redbirds, so it must come down to pitching.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-11:27am at 11:27 am (UTC -4)
Looking more closely I notice the avg. simulation has Carpenter and Santana going 7 and a third with Santana giving up 2.6 runs, Carpenter 1.7. Bullpens, Mets giving up .7, Birds 1.0.
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/25/2009-11:36am at 11:36 am (UTC -4)
Cards bullpen didn’t look good this series. I think if it comes down to the battle of bullpens, we’ll be okay.
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-11:44am at 11:44 am (UTC -4)
But after three games off, Pedro Feliciano may not remember where the mound is!
He’ll have to look for the toothbrush and towel he stored there earlier in the season.
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/25/2009-11:49am at 11:49 am (UTC -4)
Who?
prismo
6/25/2009-11:27am at 11:27 am (UTC -4)
Some more SNY broadcast news for today’s game.
Ron and Ralph will be in the booth with Kevin, and Jonas will be doing Kevin’s usual job.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-11:28am at 11:28 am (UTC -4)
Has anyone noticed how freaky Kevin’s eyebrows look since he went with the darker hair? My wife freaks out every time she sees him, it is pretty horrendous.
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-11:32am at 11:32 am (UTC -4)
This is the type of game I would expect Jerry to sit David Wright for.
prismo
6/25/2009-11:45am at 11:45 am (UTC -4)
And yet, David’s playing.
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-11:47am at 11:47 am (UTC -4)
hoorah!
then church must be out, right?
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/25/2009-11:48am at 11:48 am (UTC -4)
Nope. Tatis is still playing though.
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-11:51am at 11:51 am (UTC -4)
Reed in CF?
Who is at first? (Am I Lou Costello?)
Jerry usually goes with his best defensive outfield when Johan is on the hill (one of the few things I agree with that Jerry does) so I thought it would be an Fmart, Reed and Church OF, which also happens to be an all LH outfield v. Carpenter (we also know that Jerry likes the L/R matchups).
prismo
6/25/2009-11:57am at 11:57 am (UTC -4)
The lineup is posted in the Morning Open Thread.
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-12:03pm at 12:03 pm (UTC -4)
Thnaks.
Alex Cora SS
Luis Castillo 2B
David Wright 3B
Ryan Church RF
Fernando Tatis LF
Fernando Martinez CF
Nick Evans 1B
Omir Santos C
Johan Santana LHP (8-5, 3.22)
I have to say that I am baffled that Murphy is out of the lineup again — after he’s showing signs of coming out of his slump. Forcing young players to play with the mentality of needing two hits to stay in the lineup is not good.
I don’t get the love affair with Tatis. Why is getting him going a priority over others?
A little surprised to see Castillo in for the ay game after the night game. I like that there’s finally a sense of urgency in that regard.
There's Always '09
6/25/2009-12:14pm at 12:14 pm (UTC -4)
To me, putting Castillo in the lineup is like waving the white flag, not a sense of urgency.
QnsNative718
6/25/2009-12:18pm at 12:18 pm (UTC -4)
According to Jerry, Tatis is THE piece that will make this current team take off. I dont understand it either.
prismo
6/25/2009-12:20pm at 12:20 pm (UTC -4)
I agree that if Tatis gets going (hits .280+ with decent power) he could help the team “take off”. However, if he doesn’t get going, then he’s the one holding the team back.
darknova306
6/25/2009-12:21pm at 12:21 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed. I’m really not liking how Jerry refuses to consistently play guys that are showing good signs. He shouldn’t be benching Murphy if he wants him to develop consistency. This is a great way to throw Murphy back into an ice-cold streak.
Honestly, I’d almost like to see Tatis dumped from the team, or at least riding the pine for use as a pinch hitter. We bought low on him, he produced admirably last year, but that should have been it. Held onto him a bit too long, now it seems like they’re too stubborn to admit that he isn’t what he was last year. The DP machine needs to get out of that lineup fast.
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-12:24pm at 12:24 pm (UTC -4)
TA: Playing Argenis would be more of a surrender than Castillo.
And by sense of urgency I’m referring to throwing caution to the wind, so to speak, by not resting eveyr guy with aches and pains.
GravediggerHebner
6/25/2009-11:49am at 11:49 am (UTC -4)
Never fear, Tatis will have plenty of DP opportunities this afternoon!