Mets(courtesy of mlb.com)
In Pelfrey’s last start, the young pitcher beat the Washington Nationals on a chilly night at Citi Field, giving up two runs on four hits in six innings. He struck out four and walked four.
Pelfrey mixed his signature power sinker and a new cut fastball to great success, baffling the Nationals and impressing his catcher, Rod Barajas.
“Everyone knows about his sinker,” Barajas said. “But the cutter isn’t just a good pitch, it’s a great pitch. And he’s not even that familiar with it yet.”
Mets manager Jerry Manuel said batting usual leadoff man Jose Reyes third this weekend in St. Louis is a “possibility” since outfielder Angel Pagan has proven capable of batting first. The only thing holding Reyes back is whether he’s fully back to health after dealing with thyroid issues that kept him out of action for a month. … Pelfrey is 3-2 in five career starts against Colorado.
Lineup
Reyes, SS
Castillo, 2B
Wright, 3B
Bay, LF
Francoeur, RF
Tatis, 1B
Blanco, C
Pagan, CF
Pelfrey, P
Rockies(courtesy of mlb.com)
Meanwhile, De La Rosa’s 2010 lid-lifter, which also happened to be the Rockies’ home opener, was simply scintillating.
The lefty, who went 16-9 last year in a breakout season for the 2009 National League Wild Card-winning Rockies, silenced the Padres with seven innings of scoreless, one-hit ball, striking out nine in front of a regular-season record crowd of 49,509.
“It’s my first Opening Day in the big leagues, and I want to throw more and more of those,” said De La Rosa, who eclipsed the Rockies’ previous home opener record of eight strikeouts, shared by Pedro Astacio in 1999 and Shawn Chacon in 2003.
Long reliever Esmil Rogers is wowing the Rockies with the movement on his lively fastball. Rogers will most likely be sent down to Triple-A Colorado Springs when the club recalls late-signing left-hander Joe Beimel, but Rockies manager Jim Tracy has big plans for Rogers. “I see this young man as part of the future of this organization, and a very bright part of this future,” Tracy said. “This is starting pitcher-type stuff.” … De La Rosa is 3-0 with a 3.71 ERA in eight career games, only two of them starts, against the Mets.
Lineup
Smith, LF
Fowler, CF
Giambi, 1B
Tulowitzki, SS
Stewart, 3B
Olivo, C
Spilborghs, RF
Mora, 2B
Rosa, P
28 comments
stickguy
4/15/2010-3:07pm at 3:07 pm (UTC -4)
still with the pagan 8th bit. How about tatis 7th and blanco 8th?
also, saw this blurb (which I don’t recall reading before) over on FWICG. Now, I would be real interested in who is debating, and who is taking which side (up or down).
Could give a real interesting dynamic into the running of this team!
“Jerry Manuel said yesterday the Mets have discussed sending Jenrry Mejia back to the minor leagues to be stretched out as a starting pitcher, though, for now, he’ll remain in the bullpen.
“It has come under some debate,†Manuel explained.
“
asod75
4/15/2010-3:19pm at 3:19 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, the team is run with no leadership whatsoever. I believe Jerry is the one who wants him in the pen, and the guys who could and should overrule him, don’t for some reason. Morons.
ceetar
4/15/2010-3:07pm at 3:07 pm (UTC -4)
Pelf for Cy Young!
metsfan4decades
4/15/2010-3:10pm at 3:10 pm (UTC -4)
Like Barajas’ comments on Pelf’s pitches. I’d trust his evaluations over many others.
GravediggerHebner
4/15/2010-3:19pm at 3:19 pm (UTC -4)
Ahh the fickle nature of baseball. The hottest guy on the team, the guy we’ve been clamoring to get moved up in the lineup, gets moved up, comes up with runners on base and grounds into an inning ending double play.
asod75
4/15/2010-3:21pm at 3:21 pm (UTC -4)
The fickle nature of baseball and the continuing unbelievably bad luck of our New York Mets….
rustyjr
4/15/2010-3:21pm at 3:21 pm (UTC -4)
Lord of the flies ?
asod75
4/15/2010-3:24pm at 3:24 pm (UTC -4)
Pelf retires the side in order with a pair of K’s. Nice start to this one for a change.
CaseStreet
4/15/2010-3:34pm at 3:34 pm (UTC -4)
Castillo continuing to prove he is the MVP of this team. Crucial sac fly last night and now he singles and scores in the first.
MVP! MVP!
asod75
4/15/2010-3:40pm at 3:40 pm (UTC -4)
It’s strange, Castillo could hit .320 and I still don’t think I’d like him. Something about his body language (looks disinterested half the time) and his poor fielding skills (plus an inability to drive the ball) that just doesn’t sit with me. That and some true boneheaded plays (the dropped popup at Yankee Stadium, trying to stretch a single into a double down 8-0 the other day). I know he posts a great OBP but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that this team started to tank right around the time he got to the team in ’07.
asod75
4/15/2010-3:53pm at 3:53 pm (UTC -4)
This team is amazing (not in the 1969 sense). A promising inning turns sour with two caught stealings. Was Castillo picked off first by the catcher?
stickguy
4/15/2010-3:59pm at 3:59 pm (UTC -4)
Tried out the new MLB gameday with audio (FAN feed). much better than the old style. Plus can listen to it in the background.
Next best thing to watching it, and at least it doesn’t bog down my PC like the MLB.tv feed does.
OK, pelf doing well. Looks like we still have 3 man rotation (I am still counting Neise for now).
Just gotta get those last 2 sorted out.
metsfan4decades
4/15/2010-3:59pm at 3:59 pm (UTC -4)
So who missed that double steal sign: Jose or Castillo?
CaseStreet
4/15/2010-4:11pm at 4:11 pm (UTC -4)
Small ball. Get some!
CaseStreet
4/15/2010-4:15pm at 4:15 pm (UTC -4)
Just need one more to seal the deal.
asod75
4/15/2010-4:15pm at 4:15 pm (UTC -4)
Our best two-out RISP hitter? Mike Pelfrey, of course!
metsfan4decades
4/15/2010-4:33pm at 4:33 pm (UTC -4)
LOL. Go Big Pelf!
asod75
4/15/2010-4:35pm at 4:35 pm (UTC -4)
Bases loaded one out, Tatis has to make contact and of course, doesn’t.
asod75
4/15/2010-4:36pm at 4:36 pm (UTC -4)
Thank you De La Rose for the gift.
CaseStreet
4/15/2010-5:17pm at 5:17 pm (UTC -4)
My boy Castillo scores the 5th run. Who stinks now?
prismo
4/15/2010-5:20pm at 5:20 pm (UTC -4)
How bout big Pelf?
asod75
4/15/2010-5:23pm at 5:23 pm (UTC -4)
Great outing from Pelf today. And if this holds up, he will have served the role of stopper for the second time this year. Stopped the two-game streak last week and could stop this four-game abominable streak this time out.
metsfan4decades
4/15/2010-5:34pm at 5:34 pm (UTC -4)
Nice outing for Pelfrey. Just what the doctor ordered.
CaseStreet
4/15/2010-5:47pm at 5:47 pm (UTC -4)
We’re back in business!
I officially declare it, “The Season Is Not Over!” Day.
Enjoy the rest of the evening.
stickguy
4/15/2010-5:54pm at 5:54 pm (UTC -4)
ladies and gentleman, I present the 1 day at a time bi-polar met fan!
CaseStreet
4/15/2010-6:03pm at 6:03 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, what you got to say about Castillo now!
stickguy
4/15/2010-5:53pm at 5:53 pm (UTC -4)
that there I guess is your #2 that everyone wanted so bad.
I especially get a kick out of the group that wanted to dump Pelf (making chump change, and only just getting to Arbitration this year) for any used rosin bag just to get rid of him.
prismo
4/15/2010-6:17pm at 6:17 pm (UTC -4)
As I said on twitter, he didn’t pitch like a #2.
He pitched like a #1.