ASTROS (64-64)
2 Erstad, RF
14 Bourn, CF
10 Tejada, SS
17 Berkman, 1B
27 Blum, 3B
21 Wigginton, LF
31 Newhan, 2B
Quintero, C
41 Backe, RHP
METS (72-57)
7 Reyes, SS
4 A. Reyes, 2B
5 Wright, 3B
21 Delgado, 1B
15 Beltran, CF
28 Murphy, LF
19 Church, RF
23 Schneider, C
33 Maine, RHP
UPDATE, 6:54 p.m.: This will be your in-game thread tonight as John Maine (10-7, 3.82) opposes Brandon Backe (7-12, 5.62).
Backe has struggled vs. the Mets in his career. Carlos Beltran is 5 for 12, and Carlos Delgado is 3 for 10 with a home run and three walks.
Overall, Backe is 1-2 with a 5.18 ERA in six career outings, four of which are starts.
John Maine, on the other hand, is 3-0 with a 1.57 ERA in three career starts against the Astros. He’s struck out 16 and walked just four.
UPDATE, 7:13 p.m.: Who said John Maine hadn’t been sharp lately? Nine pitches in the first, two strikeouts, 91 MPH on the gun…not bad.
UPDATE, 7:54 p.m.: Things turned ugly for Maine and the Mets here in the third. Ironically, despite all the talk about his velocity dipping it doesn’t appear to be the issue. He’s been in the 90s all game. On the brushback to Miguel Tejada he actually hit 94 on the gun, and was at 93 earlier in the at-bat.
I dunno. Maybe it’s just a poor start.
Before the game Jerry Manuel told Dan Warthen, “I want your eagle-eye on him tonight.” Warthen’s eagle-eye can’t like what he’s seen: five runs, five hits and 60 pitches in three innings.
UPDATE, 8:13 p.m.: Bring back Castillo! Reyes is 0 for 2 and 2 for his last 12 with no walks.
Seriously though, I know the club is playing well, but Castillo may be the best option at this point. Easley’s last extra-base hit was on Aug. 2, and Reyes hasn’t had one since July 25. The idea that Castillo won’t provide adequate pop is absurd. These guys haven’t either.
UPDATE, 8:19 p.m.: Hey, maybe chemistry accounts for something. Why? Get a load of this:
Mets with Castillo — 28-37
Mets without Castillo — 44-20
UPDATE, 8:25 p.m.: Rejoice Met fans! Daniel Murphy’s walk was the Mets first baserunner in their last 35 batters. Roy Oswalt retired the last 20 hitters he faced yesterday and Brandon Backe retired the first 14 tonight. Ugly.
The Mets last hit was Brian Schneider’s home run last night.
UPDATE, 8:35 p.m.: If there’s one thing I’ve noticed about Ryan Church tonight, it’s that he looks tentative in the field. That’s the third in-between ball he’s let drop in. All three were tough plays — probably too tough to expect him to make — but it’s either his hesitance or a reluctance to go full-out.
His glovework was one of the Mets highlights in April and May.
UPDATE, 8:53 p.m.: Here’s the line on John Maine tonight: 5 2/3 IP, 10 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 2 BB, 4 K.
Here’s the line on Maine since June 30 (his last nine starts): 2-2 (four ND), 5.09 ERA, 38 H, 28 BB, 43 K.
In spring training he looked like a budding ace. Not anymore.
UPDATE, 9:26 p.m.: Brian Schneider now has four home runs in his last six starts. He’s also 14 for 43 in his last 14 games, good for a .326 clip.
21 Comments
give up a hit to the pitcher and walk a leadoff hitter who has 13 hrs in over 1300 abs you deserve to be in trouble
Looks like maine has jump the sharrk as much as this site ugh
We may see Stokes soon.
You know his two starts prior Maine killed the bullpen by only going 5 although he hadnt given up a run today he’ll be lucky to go 5. I dont see how the mets can hope to give Pelfrey rest if they cannot count on Maine.
David…I completely agree with you about Pelfrey. I think you pitch him until you have a playoff berth in hand because you want to keep him in this rhythm. If you sit him now, what says he’ll be able to rediscover his form?
Also, I’m not sure this bullpen could handle a trip through the rotation with Stokes, Pedro and Maine (the way he’s pitching) right now.
Anyone else think its a bit amusing that the mets are getting no hit by a man with an ERA near 6
As for the pelfrey thing i have no problem giving him an extra day here and there but skipping his starts is asking for problems.
Wright sure does make those highlight reel plays with the best of them at third. Its the routine ones that kill him !
Great play by Wright.
One comment about possibly skipping a start for Pelfrey.
Sept 1 is around the corner and the Mets can add a whole bunch of pitchers to help on those nights when the starters don’t pitch to long. At least I think Manuel will use them unlike his predessor who refused to use the extra pitchers in Sept.
Well i dont have to worry about that no hitter. Great to see curch with the double and the rbi there.
Nice hustle by Murphy.
Gotta tell you I am real happy Castillo was not activated for tonights game. If Castillo was playing Met fans would blame him for the way Maine has pitched tonight.
well while this game isn’t over yet. We must understand that you can’t win every game.
Josh tks for tellin like it is about the production from Easley and A. Reyes. I am more interested in seeing how Castillo plays in the field. If he is really bad in the field then they should leave him on the bench.
Craig,
Great point about winning every game, the thing that sucks is obviously philly picking up a game. The biggest issue is not the lost its definitely John maine.
Barring a miracle, this teams lead will be 1 1/2 games tonight. They cant afford to baby Pelfry now. The Phillies are not going to fade away. I dont understand all the Castillo hate. His OBP is 70 points better than the beloved Argenis. Thats what he was doing with 2 barking knees.
Sadecki: You want to replace Delcos as my sparring partner but you write this stuff that I agree with from top to bottom. This isn’t working at all. The Phillies seem to be coming out of their offensive funk, and while I like A Reyes because he seems to be all hustle, if Castillo is OK A Reyes can be nothing more than a Castillo lite. Babying Pelfrey. Sure, if you’re eliminated. This is a pennant race isn’t it? Here comes the 6 man rotation in a few years.
Chiti, Now I am really going to blow your mind. I offer an apology for calling you a yankee troll. You must be a mets fan to still be coming here when so many posters have left. Btw, I notice your latest moniker came shortly after i gave a trivia question here about the infamous Chiti. Dont worry though, I am sure we will find something to argue about soon.
Actually, I think someone else must have done what you are talking about. I missed a Chiti trivia question. I told the late Delcos that I’d stick to one and I have kept my word even tho he is gone. I really don’t care who is here or gone. The place is an easy place to post. And don’t apologize cause then I have to apologize and then we’ll start crying and ruining our monitors and all that stuff. By the way I’d rather have you coming out of the pen than Heilmann even tho you must be in your 70s or 60s..
Im 47. You must think I am old because I am so wise. Meanwhile the pen gives up the go ahead run in the 10th. Homers off Feliciano. Good nite, Gracie.
I was referencing the Sadecki who pitched for the Mets and various other teams. But I’d take you over the junk in the pen as well. The Astros have the Met number just like they did in the 60’s.
Ah, Silly me. thats why I chose the name when I started posting here at the end of the season last year. The Mets middle relievers sucked and they still do. I remember Sadecki wasnt flashy, but he was dependable, which this group will never be. At least Ayala pitched good again today.