22 Run Applesauce - Pagan returning to Mets soon, another Niekro knuckleball, and why so many injuries

by Joe Budd on Jul 7, 2009 10:00 AM EDT in Applesauce

Johnny Cueto has an ERA of 121.50 for my fantasy team this week after he got shelled by Philadelphia last night. The Mets have scored 22 runs in their last 7 games.

Meet the Mets

Jenrry Mejia has been placed on the disabled list with a strained right finger. He will be eligible to return as early as Saturday.

The New York Times spotlights the rise of injuries in Major League Baseball. Teams paid $500 million to players on the disabled list last season.

Angel Pagan got in some game action yesterday and the Mets are hoping he returns soon.

Ted Berg no longer sees a half full/empty glass. It's just plain empty.

The folks at the Philadelphia Inquirer feel bad for us. Thanks.

Around the NL East

Philadelphia scored 22 runs against the Reds. And they won. It was the biggest deficit in Red history.

The Phillies are going to scout out Pedro Martinez.

The Nationals lost a 1-0 game in Colorado.

Florida was dropped by San Francisco. Hanley Ramirez did not play.

The Cubs beat Jair Jurrjens and the Braves in Jurrjens' Wrigley debut 4-2.

Injured Atlanta pitcher Tim Hudson threw 20-25 pitches against his Brave teammates.

Around MLB

The Cubs may have a buyer for $900 million.

The Cubs have traded Ryan Freel to the Royals.

Former first baseman Lance Niekro is trying to make a comeback in the mold of his father and uncle: as a knuckleballer.

Randy Johnson has been put on the DL with shoulder problems.

John Smoltz and the Red Sox lost 6-0 to Oakland behind Brett Anderson's complete game shutout.

Ken Rosenthal says the Blue Jays may be ready to trade Roy Halladay.

Jarrod Washburn threw a one-hitter against Baltimore.

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Comments

Lance Niekro being a first baseman always did seem weird

by JoshNY on Jul 7, 2009 11:25 AM EDT reply actions

Rosenthal's pretty douchey in that article.

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

by squid92 on Jul 7, 2009 11:49 AM EDT reply actions

Rosenthal is always douchey!

He’s the Steve Phillips of the internet. Not regarding his feelings towards the Metsies, but he’s just ALWAYS WRONG!

by bones_boy on Jul 7, 2009 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions

from my blackberry

I wouldn’t say always wrong. But he does rely on too much heart grit ect. And not enough stats.

"We have to find a way to play better, there's no doubt. Overall. I'm not pointing fingers at anybody. Offense, defense, pitching -- we have to find a way to play better. The reality of this is, coming here to Pittsburgh and being swept -- personally, I feel embarrassed." -- Carlos Beltran

by EMSfan9 on Jul 7, 2009 5:43 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

He's worse than Steve Phillips

Derosa.

by vivaelpujols on Jul 8, 2009 6:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Why does it seem

like the Cubs are always on the market?

"I have discovered in twenty years of moving around a ball park, that the knowledge of the game is usually inverse in proportion to the price of the seats." - Bill Veeck

by Prince on Jul 7, 2009 2:36 PM EDT reply actions

As our season slowly circle the drain

we eagerly away the return of ANGEL PAGAN!!!!!!

I still can’t get over Minaya sitting on his hands doing nothing for the last two months while the injuries just pile up on this team. This guy is made of Teflon. I’ve never seen anything like this.

Any GM with his team hurting like this would make a move to help his guys out and not wait months on end. Meanwhile the Yankees and St Louis make moves to help their causes.

This is a joke.

by Chickendirt on Jul 7, 2009 3:20 PM EDT reply actions

What would you have him do?

One bat puts us where we were before we lost Beltran. It is a whole lot more complicated than just making a move, any move. There is so much that has to go into it.

by EMSfan9 on Jul 7, 2009 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I might look at maybe Nik Johnson to play first

He’s hittin .293 and already has 48 walks.

His OBP is .402.

His eye at the plate and the fact that he can draw walks might be enough to improve the pitch quality to guys like Wright. I would most likely consider Delgado done for the year and if he comes back is gonna take two-three weeks just to get his timing back.

You have Johnson, Wright, and Beltran (this is not even considering Reyes coming back) that gives enough to make a run in the second half. i’d happily replace Danile Murphy’s bat at first with Johnsons.

by Chickendirt on Jul 7, 2009 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Eh

Johnson’s OBP and walk totals are great, no doubt. However, he has all but lost his power this season (.110 ISO), and his success is being fueled by a rather high BABIP. He currently has a .366 wOBA, which is about average for a first baseman, and his defense is poor.

Derosa.

by vivaelpujols on Jul 8, 2009 6:08 AM EDT up reply actions

I always was under the impression he played good defense...

Then again, I thought Beltran was doing great defensively again this year too.
To be fair, I’m not sure how trustworthy defensive metrics are yet. They’re less of an indicator of what will happen as they are a results based stat.

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

by squid92 on Jul 8, 2009 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions