Game Time: 1:10pm
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Record: 8-5 Era: 3.22 K: 97 BB: 27 WHIP: 1.19
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Mets Notes:
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Santana rebounded from one of the worst performances of his career with his longest outing of the season against the Rays on Saturday. Santana allowed just two runs on three hits in 7 1/3 innings, but a Carlos Pena solo homer in the seventh was the game-winner in a rain-interrupted 3-1 Rays victory. Santana has now lost three of his last four starts after beginning the season 7-2. He has started against the Cardinals once in his career — a complete game last July 27. Santana limited the Cardinals to a run on six hits in the 9-1 Mets win.
-
Santana hasn’t been quite as dominant as he was last season, when he had a 2.53 ERA in his first year in Queens, but he’s still provided New York with a quality start 10 times in 14 appearances. The Mets’ offense, however, hasn’t given its ace much assistance. New York has provided Santana with an average of 3.63 runs, among the worst support of any qualifying starter in the majors.
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Santana’s lone career start against the Cardinals (40-33) was a complete-game, 9-1 win on July 27. Albert Pujols homer was St. Louis’ only extra-base hit.
LINEUP
SS Cora
2B Castillo
3B Wright
RF Church
LF Tatis
CF Martinez
1B Evans
C Santos
P Santana
Record: 5-1 Era: 1.53 K: 43 BB: 9 WHIP: 0.72
Cardinals Notes:
- New York should get a much stiffer test when it faces Carpenter (5-1, 1.53) for the first time since opening day of the 2007 season. Carpenter gave up five runs over six innings in that 6-1 loss, the only game he pitched that season before undergoing Tommy John surgery that kept him out until last July.
- Now healthy after recovering from a strained ribcage muscle that sidelined him for a month, Carpenter is looking as good as he did when he won the 2005 NL Cy Young Award. He threw a season-high 105 pitches in his last start Saturday at Kansas City, giving up three hits and a run while striking out six in a 7-1 win.
- Carpenter has received less run support than Santana – 2.76 runs per game – but he really hasn’t needed it. Opponents are hitting .163 against Carpenter, an average that would be the second-lowest in the majors if he’d pitched enough innings to quality.
- Carpenter is 2-0 with a 0.40 ERA in three afternoon starts.
LINEUPÂ
SS Ryan
LF Schumaker
1B Pujols
RF Ludwick
C Molina
CF Ankiel
3B Greene
P Carpenter
2B Thurston
Â
DRAW!!!
Dont forget you can chat live in the Real Dirty Dugout! LGM!
107 comments
metsfan4decades
6/25/2009-1:08pm at 1:08 pm (UTC -4)
Make it two, boys.
Let’s go Johan and LGM!
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-1:19pm at 1:19 pm (UTC -4)
That error is brutal. Giving up a run with Carpenter on the mound could be deadly.
mrose
6/25/2009-1:22pm at 1:22 pm (UTC -4)
i’m sick of the play when Johan is on the mound ugh
GravediggerHebner
6/25/2009-1:33pm at 1:33 pm (UTC -4)
“Don’t say ‘draw.’”
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-1:39pm at 1:39 pm (UTC -4)
lol, that’s what I was thinking!
mrose
6/25/2009-1:40pm at 1:40 pm (UTC -4)
seriously, I want to find stats on how many times Johan walks or gives up hits to pitchers…pathetic for an ace to do that
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-1:42pm at 1:42 pm (UTC -4)
I agree…it’s very disheartening.
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-2:00pm at 2:00 pm (UTC -4)
again? WTF?
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-2:01pm at 2:01 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t know…I’m ill. What the freak is Santana doing? Carpenter comes in with his ‘A’ game and here we go with Santana playing a level below.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-1:40pm at 1:40 pm (UTC -4)
Why can’t we get breaks when our ace is on the mound? Dang it Schneider…
mrose
6/25/2009-1:42pm at 1:42 pm (UTC -4)
santos..not schneider
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-1:43pm at 1:43 pm (UTC -4)
You’re right, my bad.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-1:42pm at 1:42 pm (UTC -4)
Wow, we need to work the count on Carpenter, cause we’re probably not getting a run off of him.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-1:43pm at 1:43 pm (UTC -4)
Over/under on inning of the first Mets’ hit: 5.
GravediggerHebner
6/25/2009-2:00pm at 2:00 pm (UTC -4)
Friday night vs. CC
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-2:09pm at 2:09 pm (UTC -4)
Wow. Luis going for two games with the only hit?
GravediggerHebner
6/25/2009-2:12pm at 2:12 pm (UTC -4)
Glad I was wrong about that.
billydeewilliams
6/25/2009-1:44pm at 1:44 pm (UTC -4)
This game is going a lot like Tuesday night’s game…at least for the offense.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-1:48pm at 1:48 pm (UTC -4)
I hate Yadier.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-1:50pm at 1:50 pm (UTC -4)
This is why we need a 2, so that when our ace “struggles” we have a good pitcher going the next day.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-1:52pm at 1:52 pm (UTC -4)
57 pitches for Johan through 3
22 pitches for Carpenter through 2
Damn it.
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-1:57pm at 1:57 pm (UTC -4)
Speaking of twos, I like the matchup of Pelfrey against the Yanks at Citi. The Yanks won’t be hitting a million homers at Citi off a sinkerballer.
But Pelf will have to throw strikes and avoid his Ollie Perez like middle inning.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-2:11pm at 2:11 pm (UTC -4)
Wanny, I’m curious: at this point in his career do you consider Pelf a 2? I think he’s more of a 3 at this point.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-2:12pm at 2:12 pm (UTC -4)
I should point out that I do think he will be a 2 later in his career (a year or two).
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-2:22pm at 2:22 pm (UTC -4)
I consider him this team’s 2 by default. But I would be much happier if he was to pitch game 3 or 4 of a playoff series (assuming the rotation lined up to have Santana pitch game 1).
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-2:25pm at 2:25 pm (UTC -4)
Okay, we’re on the same page. Do you think we need a two or a power bat more? (Assuming the injuries will heal and we can go forward with our expected roster).
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-2:28pm at 2:28 pm (UTC -4)
If I could choose between them I would probably take the pitcher, so long as it is a clear upgrade over what we have. I think any offense will go in and out of slumps and when Reyes and Beltran get back, the offense will improve dramatically.
I also think there are still good things to be seen from Church, Murphy and some power from Wright.
However, if a pitcher is not doable, you have to improve the team any way you can.
Interested to hear your opinion.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-2:47pm at 2:47 pm (UTC -4)
I would love to see us add an Oswalt/Bedard caliber pitcher. Of course Bedard is hurt and one of our major trading pieces, Nieve, won’t be going to Houston. If we can’t do that I’m up for a big power bat. I would like to see Adam Dunn, but if we have to go next tier Huff could be a nice piece.
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-2:55pm at 2:55 pm (UTC -4)
I’ve never really been sold on Huff. He can be as bad as he can be good. I guess I’d take him so long as it was for no more than one B prospect or 2 Cs, i.e. none of the prospects frequently listed among the team’s top 7 or 8.
Ruben Tejada seems to have a fast rising stock (a 19 y.o. at AA). He’d be the extent of what I’d give for Huff, possibly along with a lower level pitcher.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-3:08pm at 3:08 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed that giving up real stuff for Huff would be silly. I like Huff because he can play a few positions, but yeah if we want a power bat we should go after Dunn, Holliday first, then maybe Dye.
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-3:22pm at 3:22 pm (UTC -4)
I just don’t really care for any of the hitters rumored to be available this summer.
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-1:55pm at 1:55 pm (UTC -4)
The bottom halves of the innings are sure moving quickly.
billydeewilliams
6/25/2009-1:59pm at 1:59 pm (UTC -4)
They sure are. It’s becoming painfully obvious that Santana can’t afford to give up any more runs if they even want to come close to having a chance.
On a positive note, judging by their inconsistency, the mets will score a boatload of runs tomorrow, then none on saturday, and a lot more on sunday.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-2:06pm at 2:06 pm (UTC -4)
They got Jerry’s memo:
“Our goal is .500 baseball, so if we win every other game or so that ought to be good enough.”
What a clown.
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-2:10pm at 2:10 pm (UTC -4)
ditto.
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-1:58pm at 1:58 pm (UTC -4)
This is the type of game in which the Mets’ lack of power will hurt them. They’re just not going to string multiple hits together against Carpenter and may need to score multiple runs on one swing when they have the chance.
QnsNative718
6/25/2009-2:03pm at 2:03 pm (UTC -4)
Can someone fill me in on that Interference call in the first?
GravediggerHebner
6/25/2009-2:06pm at 2:06 pm (UTC -4)
I was out, didn’t see it. I’m guessing Santos’ glove hit Ludwick’s bat when Lud swung.
billydeewilliams
6/25/2009-2:12pm at 2:12 pm (UTC -4)
i think santos just reached forward too far to try to grab the pitch, and it was ruled that he hit ludwick’s bat with his glove rather than ludwich hitting his glove.
CaseStreet
6/25/2009-2:03pm at 2:03 pm (UTC -4)
0 0 1 is not a good line for the Metsies
CaseStreet
6/25/2009-2:04pm at 2:04 pm (UTC -4)
neither is only getting one man on base the first time through the order.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-2:07pm at 2:07 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, their approach (aside from Cora) has been strange too; just not trying to work counts.
mrose
6/25/2009-2:10pm at 2:10 pm (UTC -4)
or your ace allowing the pitcher on base twice with an already high pitch count
* A HIT!
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-2:10pm at 2:10 pm (UTC -4)
A runner on and Wright up. This might be the best chance the Mets will have all game.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-2:13pm at 2:13 pm (UTC -4)
Wow, we got some luck in our favor there.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-2:14pm at 2:14 pm (UTC -4)
Dang it, lady luck wasn’t with us there. Almost.
billydeewilliams
6/25/2009-2:13pm at 2:13 pm (UTC -4)
Who wants to bet Tatis comes up after Church and hits into a double-play???
billydeewilliams
6/25/2009-2:14pm at 2:14 pm (UTC -4)
Here it comes!
billydeewilliams
6/25/2009-2:15pm at 2:15 pm (UTC -4)
I am so glad I was wrong.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-2:15pm at 2:15 pm (UTC -4)
My thoughts exactly. I hope we’re wrong.
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-2:15pm at 2:15 pm (UTC -4)
he’s at least got to hit a fly ball here.
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-2:15pm at 2:15 pm (UTC -4)
well, lookie here…
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-2:16pm at 2:16 pm (UTC -4)
OMG!!! Wow…I was wrong.
billydeewilliams
6/25/2009-2:16pm at 2:16 pm (UTC -4)
Thank god my psychic abilities are non-existant.
billydeewilliams
6/25/2009-2:17pm at 2:17 pm (UTC -4)
or non-existent.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-2:16pm at 2:16 pm (UTC -4)
We need a second run here, because Johan isn’t going as deep as Carpenter.
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-2:19pm at 2:19 pm (UTC -4)
I guess my complaint about sitting Murphy looks foolish now.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-2:23pm at 2:23 pm (UTC -4)
I was with you wholeheartedly. We were wrong, but you know just because Jerry got this one doesn’t mean he’s good at his job. (Thank goodness he was right today).
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-2:19pm at 2:19 pm (UTC -4)
I love Nick Evans!!!!
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-2:20pm at 2:20 pm (UTC -4)
Jerry was right about something that I was wrong about.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-2:22pm at 2:22 pm (UTC -4)
Jerry 1
DirtyBloggers 22
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-2:24pm at 2:24 pm (UTC -4)
:Jerry lets out loud ominous laughter:
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-2:25pm at 2:25 pm (UTC -4)
LOL
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-2:26pm at 2:26 pm (UTC -4)
Johan is at his best when pitching with a lead. He conserves pitches and lets the hitters bat themselves into outs. Perhaps he struggled early on trying to be too perfect.
Hopefully he can employ that strategy and at least get through 6 today.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-2:27pm at 2:27 pm (UTC -4)
Very good observation. I agree with your assessment.
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-2:30pm at 2:30 pm (UTC -4)
It seemed right for one inning so far, at least.
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-2:31pm at 2:31 pm (UTC -4)
Here’s a question: Do you push Santana to 120 pitches (assuming he continues to be effective) to get this very important win? Or defer to a relatively rested (though currently short on talent) bullpen?
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-2:38pm at 2:38 pm (UTC -4)
I would be apt to say 120 pitches is reasonable assuming effectiveness. Keep the pen fresh and get your ace to do what he’s paid to do: go deep.
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-2:39pm at 2:39 pm (UTC -4)
here here.
metsfan4decades
6/25/2009-2:31pm at 2:31 pm (UTC -4)
And that’s what makes Johan an ace. Even w/o his best stuff, he’s gonna make the adjustments and give you everything thing he’s got to keep the boys in the game.
Nick Evans!
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-2:38pm at 2:38 pm (UTC -4)
That was one of many examples of why you don’t bat a pitcher 8th.
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-2:39pm at 2:39 pm (UTC -4)
and there’s an example of why it doesn’t matter either way.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-2:44pm at 2:44 pm (UTC -4)
LOL…you can’t win today Wanny, but I still agree that the pitcher should NOT bat 8th.
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-2:52pm at 2:52 pm (UTC -4)
I’ll be happy to be wrong all day if the Mets go on to win this game.
3 out of 4 v. the cards with this current roster should be inspiring for this team going into the subway series.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-2:57pm at 2:57 pm (UTC -4)
Absolutely. And I like our odds against the Bombers in Citi. This could turn into a good portion of the schedule for us after all.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-2:39pm at 2:39 pm (UTC -4)
Really? Thurston? Come on.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-2:56pm at 2:56 pm (UTC -4)
Sweet! I’m liking Martinez’s defense. Great job. Santana going over 110 is nice too. We can do this with our fresh pen.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-2:56pm at 2:56 pm (UTC -4)
6 up, 6 down we wouldn’t face Albert.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-3:00pm at 3:00 pm (UTC -4)
6 pitches? Have we given up on trying to score again? Here comes the pen…get ‘er done boys.
dirtysanchez
6/25/2009-3:03pm at 3:03 pm (UTC -4)
oh boy..gut check time!
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-3:04pm at 3:04 pm (UTC -4)
Damn it, just our luck.
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-3:09pm at 3:09 pm (UTC -4)
Murphy in on a double switch to play defense late in the game… who would have thunk it?
Seems like Feliciano gets an awful lot of comebackers. I must say I’m surprised at how solid he’s been this year — better than solid, in fact.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-3:13pm at 3:13 pm (UTC -4)
Absolutely. Feliciano has been the biggest difference, aside from K-Rod, in the pen.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-3:12pm at 3:12 pm (UTC -4)
Murphy is currently asking, “Can I play NOW?”
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-3:27pm at 3:27 pm (UTC -4)
Well… sigh … he’ll get his chance to play because I think the kid can hit lefties… even better than Ryan Church… sigh… but every now and again sometimes infrequently and not all that often I need to play all my guys to keep them fresh, you know, for the, well… the season is long… and so to answer your question… the kid will play… when? i’m not so sure but if he hits…i’ll have to get him in the lineup and if he doesn’t hit, well MWAHAHAHA…
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-3:21pm at 3:21 pm (UTC -4)
Bhav (NYC)
What’s the deal with Fernando Nieve? Is he for real, or do Woland and Korovyev have something to do with his luck?
Keith Law
He’s got a decent arm, could be a fifth starter for the Mets, but mostly he’s been lucky.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-3:29pm at 3:29 pm (UTC -4)
I want a Granny!
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-3:31pm at 3:31 pm (UTC -4)
3-0 to K? Churchy, Church, Church.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-3:33pm at 3:33 pm (UTC -4)
Jerry probably gave him the hold sign 3-0 and 3-1.
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-3:33pm at 3:33 pm (UTC -4)
I guess he’ll be on the bench tomorrow with Tatis in RF.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-3:35pm at 3:35 pm (UTC -4)
Golden opportunity wasted. Let’s hope Franky is on top of his game.
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-3:40pm at 3:40 pm (UTC -4)
I can’t remember ever feeling as comfortable as I do now with a one run lead. (please tell me I’m not going to be wrong again)
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-3:41pm at 3:41 pm (UTC -4)
This is K-Rod’s $13m moment.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-3:41pm at 3:41 pm (UTC -4)
Oh man, this is why we got him.
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-3:44pm at 3:44 pm (UTC -4)
well, he copped out. that better not burn him.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-3:46pm at 3:46 pm (UTC -4)
OMG…with Yadier up…the Met killer.
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-3:48pm at 3:48 pm (UTC -4)
i was starting to feel wrong there for a moment.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-3:49pm at 3:49 pm (UTC -4)
lol…Oh man, doesn’t it feel great? Go Rays!
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-3:41pm at 3:41 pm (UTC -4)
What a matchup!
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-3:46pm at 3:46 pm (UTC -4)
WTF Frankie! Throw strikes again.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-3:48pm at 3:48 pm (UTC -4)
Heck yeah!
wannybackstra
6/25/2009-3:49pm at 3:49 pm (UTC -4)
Big win. Important win.
And Johan deserves a Man Up Award for getting his act together and battling through without his best stuff.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-3:50pm at 3:50 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed. Tatis and Evans with big hits too.
sabermetrician
6/25/2009-3:50pm at 3:50 pm (UTC -4)
And lest the naysayers forget Luis got that inning started for us.
trs86
6/25/2009-3:56pm at 3:56 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed, Johan, Evans, and still Krod for getting it done. Those would be mine.
metsfan4decades
6/25/2009-4:06pm at 4:06 pm (UTC -4)
Agree on all 3.
QnsNative718
6/25/2009-4:11pm at 4:11 pm (UTC -4)
Whew, great win. 3/4 against a good Cardinals team. That should spark somethin!!!