Before yesterday's game, one Met made a big change. Paul Lo Duca shaved his head. But more change is needed if the team's recent misfortune is to be reversed.
One of the causes of the team's misfortune has been, according to New York Times writer George Vecsey, the fact that "The Mets have looked awful, particularly because José Reyes has been clumsy and indecisive in every phase of the game."
Reyes got two hits last night, including a double, and scored two runs, but also made a throwing error, his twelfth error of the season. He also failed to show patience at the plate in three of his five at-bats, something essential from a leadoff batter. Twice he hit the first pitch and once the second pitch.
The New York Mets won yesterday, 8-4, but their victory didn't convince me that they've set aside their problems, though their luck might be changing. The Phillies finally lost a game, 2-1.
Mets fans have to thank Cardinal pitcher Adam Wainwright for pitching the type of game that Mets fans have prayed for from a Mets pitcher. In eight innings Wainwright limited the Phils to four hits and a run, That's a lot better than Mets starter, Mike Pelfrey, did. In his 92-pitch, five inning stint Pelfrey surrendered nine hits, walked three batters, and gave up three runs, exiting the game with runners on first and third and no out in the sixth.
Despite the win, the pennant's still far from won. As Moises Alou said after the win, "We're not over the hump yet." It's a hump the Mets created.
The team's now in Florida for four games against the Marlins. Hopefully, the Mets won't become Fish food.
Finally, before yesterday's game, Mets manager Willie Randolph made another strange statement, something he's been in the habit of doing lately. Speaking about the Washington Nationals, Randolph said "I’d rather be playing the Phillies and Atlanta, to be honest with you.”
Showing posts with label Alou. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alou. Show all posts
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Mets and Cyclones win, Zephyrs get swept
I'll start with the good news.
This Sunday, August 12, at KeySpan Park, the Cyclones will give the first 2,000 fans at least 21 years old a replica of Ebbets Field. There's a photo of it on the Cyclones Web site, and it looks hot.
More good news. On the field yesterday, the Cyclones shut out Mahoning Valley, 2-0. Mahoning Valley, for geography buffs, is in Niles, Ohio.
In Ohio, Cyclone Dylan Owen notched his sixth win with a three-hit performance. His five innings of shutout ball lowered his ERA to 2.05. Relievers Daniel McDonald and Stephen Clyne, both 2007 draftees, polished off the Scrappers in the final two innings, allowing just a sole hit.
The New York Mets selected Owen in the 20th round of the MLB 2007 First-Year Player Draft. He could turn out to be one of the steals of the draft.
His success with the Cyclones isn't as surprising when you look at his college record. Before joining the Cyclones this season, he pitched for Franklin Marion University. Its Athletics Department reported that "Of the 77 hits he [Owen] allowed this season, only eight were for extra bases and he did not surrender a home run. He leads Division II in ERA and strikeouts. His lone loss came in the season opener."
His college accomplishments earned Owen first team recognition on the 2007 Rawlings/ABCA Division II Baseball All-America Team; Rawlings also selected him as their National Pitcher of the Year. Plus, Owen was the NCBWA Pitcher of the Year and made the 2007 National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association Division II All-American first team.
Even more good news. The Mets won! Down 3-0 to the Braves in the bottom of the seventh, the Mets tied the game on three singles and a walk and then won it in the bottom of the eighth on Moises Alou's fifth home run.
The Mets had a close call in the ninth with Billy Wagner pitching. After surrendering two singles, he walked ex-Met Chris Woodward to load the bases with no outs. Luckily, Wagner got the next batter, Jeff Francoeur, to ground to Wright at third. Wright's throw to the plate beat Chipper Jones. One out. The other Jones, Andruw, then grounded into a double play. Game over. Mets won!
A Mets star of the game was Shawn Green, the subject of criticism of late in some Mets discussion boards. He went 4 for 4. And recent addition Luis Castillo upped his Mets average to .344 with 2 for 3 hitting. Coincidentally, Castillo now has the same batting average as the man he replaced, Ruben Gotay.
The Mets needed this win as the Phillies also won.
The bad news. Jason Vargas lost his seventh as the Fresno Grizzlies swept the Zephyrs. In five innings he gave up five runs, upping his ERA to 5.52.
Omar, why does Vargas' career seem to be regressing?
This Sunday, August 12, at KeySpan Park, the Cyclones will give the first 2,000 fans at least 21 years old a replica of Ebbets Field. There's a photo of it on the Cyclones Web site, and it looks hot.
More good news. On the field yesterday, the Cyclones shut out Mahoning Valley, 2-0. Mahoning Valley, for geography buffs, is in Niles, Ohio.
In Ohio, Cyclone Dylan Owen notched his sixth win with a three-hit performance. His five innings of shutout ball lowered his ERA to 2.05. Relievers Daniel McDonald and Stephen Clyne, both 2007 draftees, polished off the Scrappers in the final two innings, allowing just a sole hit.
The New York Mets selected Owen in the 20th round of the MLB 2007 First-Year Player Draft. He could turn out to be one of the steals of the draft.
His success with the Cyclones isn't as surprising when you look at his college record. Before joining the Cyclones this season, he pitched for Franklin Marion University. Its Athletics Department reported that "Of the 77 hits he [Owen] allowed this season, only eight were for extra bases and he did not surrender a home run. He leads Division II in ERA and strikeouts. His lone loss came in the season opener."
His college accomplishments earned Owen first team recognition on the 2007 Rawlings/ABCA Division II Baseball All-America Team; Rawlings also selected him as their National Pitcher of the Year. Plus, Owen was the NCBWA Pitcher of the Year and made the 2007 National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association Division II All-American first team.
Even more good news. The Mets won! Down 3-0 to the Braves in the bottom of the seventh, the Mets tied the game on three singles and a walk and then won it in the bottom of the eighth on Moises Alou's fifth home run.
The Mets had a close call in the ninth with Billy Wagner pitching. After surrendering two singles, he walked ex-Met Chris Woodward to load the bases with no outs. Luckily, Wagner got the next batter, Jeff Francoeur, to ground to Wright at third. Wright's throw to the plate beat Chipper Jones. One out. The other Jones, Andruw, then grounded into a double play. Game over. Mets won!
A Mets star of the game was Shawn Green, the subject of criticism of late in some Mets discussion boards. He went 4 for 4. And recent addition Luis Castillo upped his Mets average to .344 with 2 for 3 hitting. Coincidentally, Castillo now has the same batting average as the man he replaced, Ruben Gotay.
The Mets needed this win as the Phillies also won.
The bad news. Jason Vargas lost his seventh as the Fresno Grizzlies swept the Zephyrs. In five innings he gave up five runs, upping his ERA to 5.52.
Omar, why does Vargas' career seem to be regressing?
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