Get your morning dose of Mets in the Papers.
Ben Shpigel, “Bullpen Lapse Has Mets Off on Wrong Foot”
By extension, when a reliever comes in with a runner on base, it is imperative not to let him score. That was Parnell’s responsibility when he replaced Pedro Feliciano with a runner on first and one out in the seventh. Martin Prado grounded a single, putting runners on the corners for Jones, who did what he always does against the Mets.
Marty Noble, “Four-game set seems to spell Meets success”
So they’ve won six of eight games on their two four-game series. Perhaps therein lies their hope. Including the current series in Atlanta, the Mets play six four-game series in their final 65 games — one each against the Braves, Rockies, Giants and Padres, and two against the first-place Phillies.
Charles Odum, “Mets open second half with loss to Braves”
“This is a big series,” Jones said. “It’s a chance for us to play a good team. They’re in our rearview mirror now. Hopefully we keep them there. You certainly want to get the second half kicked off on the right foot, and tonight was a good one.”
Bart Hubbuch, “Familiar Failures Leave Mets 7 1/2 Back”
“Painful” described the whole debacle of a day. The Mets’ modest two-game win streak going into the All-Star break was snapped on the same day they learned most of their lengthy disabled list won’t be returning anytime soon.
Bart Hubbuch, “Francoeur Survives Reunion Night”
Jeff Francoeur couldn’t have looked more relieved last night as he stood in the Mets’ clubhouse after a 5-3 loss to the Braves.
Bart Hubbuch, “Beltran No Better; Fernando Martinez Has Surgery”
Not only did the general manager reveal that outfielder Fernando Martinez will miss at least six weeks after undergoing surgery on his right knee, but the outlook isn’t promising for Carlos Beltran, either
Adam Rubin, “Omar Minaya can only wait as injured Mets slowly emerge from disabled list”
Omar Minaya made this clear Thursday: Don’t expect much help the rest of this month from Mets players currently on the disabled list.
Adam Rubin, “In first game against Mets since trade, Ryan Church won’t rip former team”
“Why? There’s nothing to rip,” he said. “It’s just been a whirlwind, especially with being traded during the season. It’s the first time it ever happened to me.”
40 comments
CaseStreet
7/17/2009-10:27am at 10:27 am (UTC -4)
what does everyone think about the Mets having the easiest Strength of Schedule?
We just went throught the toughest part and have played pretty well (by well I mean not disastrous), the last few games.
stickguy
7/17/2009-10:47am at 10:47 am (UTC -4)
I think they are going to need it, and are probably going to make some of those teams look better than they are!
GravediggerHebner
7/17/2009-11:33am at 11:33 am (UTC -4)
I was thinking that was a hopeful thing provided the Mets got their injured back ASAP and performing well. Now that ASAP is out of the question, I think it won’t matter, because they are an AAAA team playing this schedule, not a major league team.
The fully stocked healthy Mets could’ve romped through this 2nd half. I don’t see how this group can.
Kingman 26
7/17/2009-11:43am at 11:43 am (UTC -4)
I think it is about the only piece of info which keeps me even remotely hopeful.
We went 12–21 in our hell stretch….even with a 5-2 record against StL and Cin. 7–19 against the rest.
Not good.
CaseStreet
7/17/2009-11:46am at 11:46 am (UTC -4)
what’s grandpa taking at the old folks home? It’s nuts.
Kingman 26
7/17/2009-11:51am at 11:51 am (UTC -4)
Totally and ridiculously nuts.
I knew Ibanez was really good and really underrated and undervalued, but this is crazy already!
He is going to finish 2nd to Pujols for MVP, unless Pujols and the Cards slow down.
CaseStreet
7/17/2009-12:03pm at 12:03 pm (UTC -4)
think he would’ve made a difference on the Mets?
Kingman 26
7/17/2009-12:06pm at 12:06 pm (UTC -4)
Definitely. He wouldn’t have us in first place, but I certainly think his offense and presence in the lineup, excellent fundamentals, and overall great attitude would probably have us a game or two over .500 at least.
Which would be a pretty big difference.
3 or 4 more wins, and we are in 2nd place, and considerably closer to the WC.
Kingman 26
7/17/2009-12:07pm at 12:07 pm (UTC -4)
Well, also considering what he wouldn’t have given the Phils, damn, yeah, he would have made a huge difference in our division for us.
trs86
7/17/2009-11:28am at 11:28 am (UTC -4)
OK lets be realistic. Best case I can see is 88 wins. Thus the Mets need to go 46-29. Possible but lets look at it this way, best they can do until mid August is .500. That’s going to make that really hard.
CaseStreet
7/17/2009-11:44am at 11:44 am (UTC -4)
Luckily, it’s the NL Least!
Kingman 26
7/17/2009-11:52am at 11:52 am (UTC -4)
And we are SO lucky to have the Nats to keep us out of the cellar…damn, that would make this even worse….
Kingman 26
7/17/2009-11:48am at 11:48 am (UTC -4)
With 74 games left, how about 39–35 to finish .500? That sounds realistic to me. Wright’s mannerisms seem to show he is losing hope, and our bullpen, other than KRod, is very, very mediocre right now. With the starters incapable of going 6 or 7 other than Johan, the pen is going to kill us even when we do score runs.
I am an optimist, and already am looking forward to next year, but we have a better record than only Wash, Pitt, SD, and AZ right now. We have to leapfrog 8 teams for the wild card.
The fat lady may not be singing, but she is in her dressing room, VERY warmed up, and ready to start belting out a tune.
trs86
7/17/2009-11:49am at 11:49 am (UTC -4)
Agreed.
steveo
7/17/2009-12:02pm at 12:02 pm (UTC -4)
I think krod is mediocre because the guy is pitching like every 4-5 days he is used to pitching 5 I times a week in annahiem
Kingman 26
7/17/2009-12:09pm at 12:09 pm (UTC -4)
Steve–do you even watch baseball?
KRod is on pace to appear in 75 games….last year he appeared in 76, which was his career high.
How the hell can you use the words “mediocre” and “KRod” in the same sentence?
johan4cy
7/17/2009-12:52pm at 12:52 pm (UTC -4)
you did twice. not that i disagree with you… jut saying.
Kingman 26
7/17/2009-12:54pm at 12:54 pm (UTC -4)
Uhhh, dumb comment.
Kingman 26
7/17/2009-12:56pm at 12:56 pm (UTC -4)
Obviously, I meant how can one say KRod IS mediocre….not to mention that he is pitching exactly as often this year as last year.
Jut saying….
johan4cy
7/17/2009-1:06pm at 1:06 pm (UTC -4)
if that’s what you meant, you probably should have said it. And there was no need to insult Steveo’s knowledge of baseball, just tell him that hes wrong.
Kingman 26
7/17/2009-1:22pm at 1:22 pm (UTC -4)
OK, but he often makes comments like this, and recently made some inane Latino remarks, and I don’t appreciate the Metsblog flashbacks.
steveo
7/17/2009-1:17pm at 1:17 pm (UTC -4)
My term mediocre was in defence of k rod I meant that k rod is not used to being shelved for 4 or 5 days he needs to pitch more in annaheim he pitched every day or every other day. Ive seen this guy allot for a few years as I live out west been to to many angels games krod is a work horse type of guy that need to pitch
Joe R
7/17/2009-1:24pm at 1:24 pm (UTC -4)
He is pitching alot though?? He needs rest.
Kingman 26
7/17/2009-1:26pm at 1:26 pm (UTC -4)
The last 6 years he appeared in 76, 64, 69, 66, 69, and 59 games. This year he is on pace to appear in 75. 1 less than his career high.
Joe R
7/17/2009-1:41pm at 1:41 pm (UTC -4)
Men lie….numbers dont!!
steveo
7/17/2009-2:19pm at 2:19 pm (UTC -4)
Also kingman I have never commented on metsblog that site is a sell out site.I’ve read it but won’t participate in there team sponcered bs spin
mrbill
7/17/2009-1:10pm at 1:10 pm (UTC -4)
Great post Kingman!
Kingman 26
7/17/2009-1:26pm at 1:26 pm (UTC -4)
LOL! Thanks mrbill…but I must warn you, I am very optimistic about NEXT year!!
mrbill
7/17/2009-1:56pm at 1:56 pm (UTC -4)
oh, nooooooooooooooooo j/k
Joe R
7/17/2009-1:23pm at 1:23 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah its pretty much over. I just cant believe its July and our season, hopes, dreams, excitement, etc are done. Way too early. maybe they will win 10 in a row lol to keep me in uspense for another month!
CaseStreet
7/17/2009-11:52am at 11:52 am (UTC -4)
“Rage, rage against the dying of the lightâ€.
GravediggerHebner
7/17/2009-11:56am at 11:56 am (UTC -4)
“It means…don’t take (expletive) from nobody.”
CaseStreet
7/17/2009-11:58am at 11:58 am (UTC -4)
+1
GravediggerHebner
7/17/2009-12:00pm at 12:00 pm (UTC -4)
“Bring us a pitcher of beer every seven minutes until somebody passes out. And then bring one every ten minutes. “
CaseStreet
7/17/2009-12:06pm at 12:06 pm (UTC -4)
they just don’t make ‘em like they used to
Kingman 26
7/17/2009-12:12pm at 12:12 pm (UTC -4)
LOL! You beat me to it, Thornton Mellon!
wannybackstra
7/17/2009-1:42pm at 1:42 pm (UTC -4)
Marty Noble is an idiot.
wannybackstra
7/17/2009-1:45pm at 1:45 pm (UTC -4)
Rob Neyer asks a very good question:
Mets need another miracle
July 16, 2009 5:31 PM
The Mets are six-and-a-half games out of first place in the National League East, behind three teams. The Mets are six-and-a-half games out of first place in the wild-card standings, behind seven teams. The Mets have been outscored by 33 runs. They have not, with the exception of two glorious weeks in May, looked anything like contenders.
But still, they’re the Mets, you know? They’ve got a $150 million payroll. Before this season, on paper they looked an awful lot like a 95-win team. Sure, they’re behind a lot of teams and haven’t played well enough to inspire anything but (at best) apathy or (at worst) derision. But that 95-win talent is still there, right? Sure, they’ll need some breaks in the second half, but when everyone is healthy the Mets have a legitimate shot of storming back into contention, right?
Well, sure. But as Ben Shpigel reports this afternoon, there’s still no telling when everyone’s going to be healthy:
The Mets won’t be seeing Carlos Beltran soon, and perhaps not at all this season.
Jose Reyes might be able to play in a couple of weeks, but, then again, he might not.
Fernando Martinez — no great shakes, but still — is going to miss another six or eight weeks.
According to this, Carlos Delgado might return to the lineup at some point in August.
Sorry, folks, but August is too late. The Mets need a miracle. They need to rip off eight or 10 wins before the end of this month. If they don’t, it’s time to start thinking about 2010. Do you think management has the guts to make that decision before the trade deadline?
billydeewilliams
7/17/2009-2:02pm at 2:02 pm (UTC -4)
At least the mets have let me have my summer back.
GravediggerHebner
7/17/2009-3:01pm at 3:01 pm (UTC -4)
Well yeah, but with all the rain that we’ve been having in the New York area, they gave us back a summer in the rain forest.