Pre-Game Notebook

July

-Willie Randolph said Mets pitchers have helped themselves this season at the plate. They are hitting .198 as a staff with nine runs scored and seven driven in. Randolph said it wasn’t all about average, but making the opposing pitcher work and by improving their bunting (25 sacrifices this season). “We’re not as automatic (outs) as the last couple of years,’’ Randolph said.

-Dave Williams cleared waivers.

PROBABLES at Los Angeles

At Los Angeles

Thursday: LHP Tom Glavine (8-6, 4.15) for the Mets vs. RHP Derek Lowe (8-8, 3.05) for Los Angeles, 10:10 p.m., Radio: WFAN, 660-AM; WADO (Spanish), 1280-AM/TV: SportsNet New York (SNY).

Friday: LHP Oliver Perez (8-6, 3.13) vs. RHP Brett Tomko (2-7, 5.88), 10:40 p.m., Radio: WFAN, 660-AM; WADO (Spanish), 1280-AM/TV: SportsNet New York (SNY).

Saturday: RHP Jorge Sosa (7-4, 3.84) vs. RHP Brad Penny (11-1, 2.33), 3:55 p.m., Radio: WFAN, 660-AM; WADO (Spanish), 1280-AM/TV: FOX.

Sunday: RHP Orlando Hernandez (6-4, 2.96) vs. LHP Mark Hendrickson (4-5, 4.54), 4:10 p.m., Radio: WFAN, 660-AM; WADO (Spanish), 1280-AM/TV: SportsNet New York (SNY).

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 18th, 2007 at 9:04 pm by John Delcos.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Print This Post |

8 Responses to “Pre-Game Notebook”

danny July 19th, 2007 at 12:37 am
The Worst Manager Ever.
The Name IS
Willie Randolph..

So Yeah I forgot that Joe Smith was the 8th inning set-up man.. O wait he’s not.. Willie great move.. Smith has been proving more and more lately he’s not just a one batter guy great job getting him in there for the full inning.. And wow you even suprised me with the great move to keep him in facing blum with 2 outs and 2 on.. Willie you are Great!!

Hey Willie just because he didn’t get up doesn’t mean we didn’t realize that you would of put the game in David Newhans hands.. another terrific move if only it would of happend so we could of all had a good laugh.

So why are we carrying 3 catchers again? O yeah i forgot if we pinch hit Castro then what if Lo Duca gets hurt then 37 year old Sandy Alomar breaks his back bending down to catch the warmup pitches..

Jose Valentin he’s a great player im glad he’s my starting 2B.. atleast we know Willie you are the only manager who will continue to play him every day when you only have ruben gotay on the bench..
ed July 19th, 2007 at 12:47 am
three Mets fan sitting here watching the game none of us had a problem with Smith coming in but when he couldn’t throw a strike we all said he doesn’t have it get him out. Then the walk, then a hit and were all saying its our first comeback in so long get Feliciano in he doesnt have it but he stays with him. We all said he’s going to blow it get him out and sure enough he does. Who comes in to clean up feliciano. If it’s so obvious to us why is it so hard to them. it’s been a while since they made a stupid pen call but they do it alot. this was a no brainer…
Gil July 19th, 2007 at 3:53 am
Danny and Ed, I feel your pain.

I was sitting behind the Mets’ pen in Petco with four other Mets fans, watching, stunned, when The Jacket didn’t call on Pedro with Geoff Blum coming up.

Pedro’s body language said it all when The Jacket didn’t call on him. It said something like, “what the @&?!”

Willie’s decision making this season – well, actually going back to NLCS Game 7 last year – is at best questionable and at worst, suspect.

1) Why deviate from batting LoDuca second, when it worked all of last year?

2) Why stick with an unproductive Jose Valentin as the everyday second baseman when the guy on the bench is hitting 100 points higher and the guy who filled in earlier in the season has more than twice the number of home runs?

3) Why confuse every member of the bullpen as to what his role is? The setup man by committee isn’t working.

4) Why did he stick so long with Julio Franco as his first option off the bench when it’s obvious to everyone that Franco couldn’t pull a fastball if his life depended on it and hasn’t yet pulled one this decade?

5) Why, when David Newhan was on the roster, did he ever bat higher in the order than Lastings Milledge?

6) Why does he insist on batting rookies eighth, except on rare occasions?
dave July 19th, 2007 at 8:55 am
I agree with you guys on Valentin vs Gotay. Altho Jose went 1 for 3 with a sb.

and Smith. He seems to have his control issues. The only thing I can think of is they are testing him. Better now than later. And yes I thought he was getting pulled also.
JR July 19th, 2007 at 10:06 am
Why does he insist on batting rookies eighth, except on rare occasions?

It’s not like Lastings had such a great time in San Diego. I believe he was 0 for the series?
dave July 19th, 2007 at 10:46 am
Yes, And that is why Willie doesn’t trust a rookie like a vet.
ed July 19th, 2007 at 11:43 am
Yeah but you have no protection in the eight spot because of the pitcher, thats a spot on an NL for an experience hitter who never strikes out and always puts the ball in play, which raises the pitch count (Lo Duca). move the rookie up one and he has protection where he has a chance to hit, see better pitches and gain confidence.
JR July 19th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
He went 0-4 when he batted 2nd also.

Either way, I think LoDuca or Valentin (assuming he’s playing) really should be batting 8th.

It is a condition of your use of the comment features associated with the blogs that you do not: Use the site to post or transmit any unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane or indecent information of any kind, including without limitation any transmissions constituting or encouraging conduct that would constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability or otherwise violate any local, state, national or international law. You alone are responsible for the material you post or send. Refer to the Terms of Service.