Thursday Applesauce

by Joe Budd on Apr 9, 2009 9:53 AM EDT in Applesauce

That was easy, never a doubt in my mind... If only we could combine yesterday's hitting with opening day's pitching and fielding, we wouldn't have anything to complain about.

Assorted Met News

It seems like most of the chatter surrounding last night's 9-7 win over the Reds involves the shaky bullpen effort, but am I the only person who is freaking out more over the Mike Pelfrey we have seen for the last few weeks? Our #2 starter is getting drubbed in his latest starts. The bright spot on last night's performance though was his ability to gut it out through 5 innings, helped along by a great play by Luis Castillo and Brian Schneider on a pickoff in the 5th. And by the way, the Reds defense has been just awful in these first two games.

Newsday's Jim Baumbach feels Citi Field could use a few Met touches, like retiring Doc Gooden and Darryl Strawberry's numbers.

Newly acquired "outfielder" Gary Sheffield says he didn't even pick up a glove during Spring Training and is not ready to play the field for the Mets. This means he's more than happy to sit on the bench for a while and work his way into shape, mostly so that he can hit his 500th home run.

In wild optimist news, Billy Wagner is set to throw off a mound next week. "I'm going to get back. I'm not going to get any saves. But I'd like to help. That could be some bullpen." Yes, Billy, it could.

Check out this lede from Newsday's coverage of the 1969 Met's opening day loss to the Expos. Awesome. H/T to the 'Ropolitans.

Metsblog has an interesting series with NL East bloggers talking about their confidence in their teams, their most feared hitters, pitchers, and the player they'd most like to steal. Be sure to check it out.

Jonathan Niese will make the opening day start for the Buffalo Bisons this afternoon.

Mike Francesa is apparently not very impressed with hitting savant Daniel Murphy. Make snide comments now.

Found this on the Miami Herald's website. Sometimes it seems pretty accurate, doesn't it?

Around the NL East

So, the Braves bullpen is still awful. Philadelphia fans try to spin 4 bases loaded walks in one inning as anything but a Brave implosion (one more here). In case you missed it, the Braves blew a 7 run lead to lose to the Phillies 12-11 yesterday afternoon. Joe Blanton got the start and was sent to the showers early after 4 innings. The comeback salvaged the Phillie world championship ring ceremony that preceded the game. Chipper Jones was scratched from the lineup due to a sore thumb.

Meanwhile, in Florida, the Marlins swept the Nationals in Daniel Cabrera's first Washington start. Chris Volstad made the start for the Marlins, pitching 5 strong innings. Marlin closer Matt Lindstrom looked shaky and was bailed out by left fielder Brett Carroll for the game's last out. Marlin first baseman Jorge Cantu left in the 7th inning with a hand injury and is listed as day-to-day.

Philadelphia has signed recently released National pitcher Gustavo Chacin.

Around MLB

Brandon Webb will miss his next start due to stiffness in his right shoulder.

Could have been Met Manny Ramirez knocked in the go-ahead runs in last night's Dodger victory over the Padres that featured Padre manager Buddy Black confusing his bullpen.

Cardinal manager Tony LaRussa went back to the pitcher in the 8th spot in last night's game against the Pirates.

Ichiro's bloody ulcer is improving and he will play as a designated hitter in today's game in Peoria.

A sad note, as a fan has died after a fight at the Angel home opener, which will keep me from making any comments abou the fight that broke out at the Philadelphia banner celebration.

Chien-Ming Wang made his first start of the season for the Yankees yesterday, as the Yankees lost 7-5 to the Orioles.

Non MLB Baseball News

Mr. Baseball Tuffy Rhodes hit his 444th Japanese league home run yesterday. The 40 year old Rhodes is now the active career leader for home runs in Japan and is in 12th place in Japanese history.

Enjoy some afternoon baseball as Oliver Perez seeks to prove he's almost as good as Derek Lowe. I hope you'll be able to sneak some MLB.TV at work or just watch the gamecast.

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Comments

As much as Darryl and Doc are an important part of Mets' history

I vote for an alternative way to honoring them than retired numbers. Maybe a monument to Doc’s ’85 and ’86 seasons.

King of the bling come to lay down the evidence//Not George Bush, L-Millz be da president

by Sam Page on Apr 9, 2009 10:00 AM EDT reply actions

maybe they can just retire a little empty plastic baggie in the clubhouse for them

or some tiny plastic cylinders.

HELLO HELLO MR WILPON. WE WANT THE MANSION NOT THE CONDO.

by kendynamo on Apr 9, 2009 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions

the mo vaughn memorial golden lunchbox

King of the bling come to lay down the evidence//Not George Bush, L-Millz be da president

by Sam Page on Apr 9, 2009 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions

the awards ceremony could be on Vince Coleman Fireworks Night

HELLO HELLO MR WILPON. WE WANT THE MANSION NOT THE CONDO.

by kendynamo on Apr 9, 2009 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions

Followed by the Roger McDowell Spitting Contest?

'Oh yes, I know all about that duty-of-a-citizen stuff. It doesn't go. There are exceptions to every rule, and this was one of them. When a man risks his liberty to come and root at a ball-game, you've got to hand it to him. He isn't a crook. He's a fan.'

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Apr 9, 2009 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions

agreed.

Plus, they would have to retire Keith’s 17 and Piazza’s 31 before anyone else.

We've got ourselves a ball club, the Mets of New York town!

by kingcritical on Apr 9, 2009 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions

i'm all for that

HELLO HELLO MR WILPON. WE WANT THE MANSION NOT THE CONDO.

by kendynamo on Apr 9, 2009 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions

If I'm not ready to freak out about the bullpen,

I’m not gonna freak out over Big Pelf, either. Frankly, I was impressed that he was able to bounce back and throw four scoreless innings after that first inning. I don’t know that, say, Ollie Perez has shown that kind of composure in the past. But, again, first start of the year.

Also, I feel obliged to point out that Mike Francesa is fat.

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Apr 9, 2009 10:03 AM EDT reply actions

Re: francesa loves diet coke

interesting Daniel Murphy, Paul O’Neil comparison. Oh, except Murphy isn’t a flaming asshole crybaby bitch

by HotChipWillBreakYourLegs on Apr 9, 2009 10:08 AM EDT reply actions

God, I hate Fattcessa

Is it that hard for him to admit that, even for two pretty unimportant games, the Mets looked markedly better than his new and improved Yankees?

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Apr 9, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions

i hope he chokes on a meatball

HELLO HELLO MR WILPON. WE WANT THE MANSION NOT THE CONDO.

by kendynamo on Apr 9, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Pelf

I’m a touch concerned, but it’s too early to freak the F out. Maybe if my top two started got knocked around by nick markakis (SLG 1.286) I’d be worried.

by HotChipWillBreakYourLegs on Apr 9, 2009 10:13 AM EDT reply actions

huh?

Nick Markakis is really, really good.

by jasondg on Apr 9, 2009 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions

I didn't mean to imply that he wasn't

my bad

by HotChipWillBreakYourLegs on Apr 9, 2009 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions

Tuffy is a Japanese Bomber?

Wow, that’s nuts. I was just telling my wife about the Tuffy Rhodes Opening Day nightmare the other day. Weird to see.

The 2009 NY Mets: WE GOT K-ROD! OMG, Putz, too! Sign Lowe! Lowe's a Brave. Sign Manny! Tim Redding, WTF? Sign Manny! Sheets or Perez? SHEETS! Perez?? Oh, Sheets is hurt -- good job, Minaya! WTF?! SIGN MANNY!

by ZaBlanc on Apr 9, 2009 10:18 AM EDT reply actions

In the NPB,

there are limits to how many foreign born players you can have on a team; however, Tuffy has played long enough in Japan that he is now considered “Japanese.” He’s very well liked in Japan, great career.

by Sokojoe on Apr 9, 2009 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Pelfrey and Perez

Well they have something in common…inconsistency. I hope this doen’t persist with Pelfrey and I hope Perez can shake it off. We have a long season ahead!

On the Sheffeld comment: IMHO, that doesn’t sound like the Sheffeld I have been listening to for a little over a year.

Wilson Hines
**CarolinaMet**
http://wilsonhines.wordpress.com

by carolinamet on Apr 9, 2009 10:55 AM EDT reply actions

Not really analysis

But I noticed Pelfrey through his curve ball a lot yesterday, at least relative to his other off-speed pitches, and it seemed to have the exact same break as his slider, just a different release point. Is that normal?

by Gina on Apr 9, 2009 11:15 AM EDT reply actions

Is it just me

Or do HR seem way up in this early season? I mean, how many guys homered in both of their first two games or in two of their first three around the league? Brandon Inge homered in each of his first three? Its wild.

by Mark Himmelstein on Apr 9, 2009 11:42 AM EDT reply actions

Steroid Era 1: 1992-2006

Steroid Era 2: 2009-

King of the bling come to lay down the evidence//Not George Bush, L-Millz be da president

by Sam Page on Apr 9, 2009 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions

CONGRESS!!!

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Apr 9, 2009 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions

The '69 Mets article is awesome

“Now a whole new country can laugh at the Mets, and in two languages no less.”

They sure showed him. I also think one of the craziest stats in baseball is that the Mets lost their first 8 Opening Day games, including the season they won the World Series, and yet they still have the best Opening Day winning percentage in MLB history.

by cjmulrain on Apr 9, 2009 12:37 PM EDT reply actions