In-game, Mets vs. Phillies, Game 2
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- August
- 27
UPDATE, 6:42 p.m.: Johan Santana (12-7, 2.64) vs. Kyle Kendrick (11-7, 4.87).
Here’s what Jerry Manuel had to say earlier about trying to bounce back:
“Once the guy says play ball today it’s all behind us. As long as we entertain it in here, in the clubhouse, it’ll be there. But once this game starts tonight we have to move forward. That’s the way baseball is. You’ll have some tough, tough nights, but you have to endure that. As difficult as tough losses are, in some sense it toughens you. You have to endure some tough things if you want to be a good team.â€
I’ll have more to say during the game, including updates on Al Reyes, Ricardo Rincon and Billy Wagner, three more members of reliever row. Check back in a bit…
UPDATE, 7:23 p.m.: That’s 114 first-inning runs for the Mets, who still lead baseball.
Since you’re thinking “What’s wrong with these guys? Why can’t they play like this late in games?” I’ll give you Manuel’s quote about the late-game struggles with the bats:
“We are trying to address that,” he said. “That’s a good question, that’s kind of an issue that we have that we’re trying to figure out different ways why we’re having that problem. It’s just one of those things that hopefully at some point, it might be better to reverse that.â€
A wishy-washy answer to be sure. Problem is, it’s not really something they can address. He said perhaps they can improve upon the quality at-bats. Other than that, does anyone have other suggestions? 
UPDATE, 7:51 p.m.: This was bound to happen to Santana, who has thrown a lot of pitches in recent starts because the games have been close. We’ll see how well he can buckle down. The Mets still need him to go six or seven, even if he must reach deep.
The bullpen tossed eight innings last night and Manuel said both Aaron Heilman and Scott Schoeneweis were unavailable tonight. Can the offense bail them all out for once?
UPDATE, 8:04 p.m.: Daniel Murphy is now 0 for his last 14.
Also, I don’t know what Jose Reyes was doing there. Sure, he ran on the pitch, but he hadn’t reached second base and it was clear Shane Victorino had it. Rather than stop and run back to first, Reyes rounded the base and then jogged back to first. Not his best effort.
UPDATE, 8:32 p.m.: Here are a few updates, courtesy of Omar Minaya and Mets PR czar Jay Horwitz:
— Billy Wagner has returned to New York. He saw a doctor yesterday and told Minaya the swelling had subsided. What’s that mean? I don’t know if it means much. Wagner is still throwing off flat ground (playing catch) and has no timetable as to when he’ll return to a mound. That’ll be the big step. If he feels pain throwing off a mound? “That would probably be it, similar to John Maine,†Minaya said.
So there you have it. There’s no timetable on Wagner. Not great news, even it he does feel better.
— Marlon Anderson will start in LF tonight for Port St. Lucie.
— Al Reyes pitched another scoreless inning last night. He had two K’s. Minaya said he looks good, but he’s still working on getting his arm strength back. I asked if Reyes could be promoted before Sept. 1 and Minaya said probably not.
— The team activated Ricardo Rincon today and shipped him to New Orleans. Rincon had been on loan to the Mexico City Reds of the Mexican League. The Reds won the championship, in case anyone cares. Rincon, a lefty who hasn’t pitched in the bigs since 2006, is another candidate come Sept. 1.
— The Mets still haven’t named a starter for Sunday. Knowing Pedro, it’ll probably be up to him.
UPDATE, 9:05 p.m.: Here’s the real question: With Dan Murphy 0 for his last 15 and taking poor routes to fly balls in LF (he looked like an old Hideki Matsui chasing that ball hit by Pat Burrell), I’m surprised Jerry Manuel didn’t pinch-hit Fernando Tatis for him in the top of the sixth.
I know it’s hindsight, but Tatis may be the best option in LF right now no matter who’s pitching.
Burrell, by the way, had been 0 for 9 with 10 LOB in the series before hitting that leadoff double.
UPDATE, 9:18 p.m.: That’s all we’ll see from Santana, who was good over six innings but not as good as the Mets needed him to be: 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 K (106 pitches).
As I said before, they keep asking him to bail out the bullpen and a slumbering late-game offense. He’s done it for six weeks, just not quite today.
UPDATE, 9:50 p.m.: Who would’ve thought it? Carlos Delgado with 30 home runs.
He has truly been a monster, 19 HRs and 58 RBI since June 27th. … That’s now the 11th time Delgado has hit 30 HRs in a season.
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, August 27th, 2008 at 6:45 pm by Josh Thomson.
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Ok, I hope im not the only one posting tonight. Last night was tough. Very tough, but when the going gets tough the tough get going. thank you Billy Ocean. Lets go Santana.
It feels like they are just going through the motions tonight
The immortal kendrick shutting down the Mets. Its still early though. Are there any other bloggers who have not given up yet?
Jay L. ... I get that sense here as well, although I’m not a believer that teams mail in games.
Perhaps they are tired on a night they could ill-afford to play like they’re tired.
You got a bit of comapny Sadecki…... Last night’s game was about as bad as it gets. I was out got in my car with a 7-0 lead, and all I saw was Sept 2007 again. Did you see the bozo on Metsblog call it the best game he saw this year. He must have fallen asleep around 8:30.
So far the Mets look like last Sept again. All kinds of guys on base and 1 freakin run. And the guy pitching was warming up last night. And we have guys unavailable!!!! This organization is horrible. When the hell does football start??? G-Men rule…..
Chiti, Im glad for the few who havent given up. I hope ron hall is not one of your posting names. He was here last night to break balls, and I am just starting to like you. Say it aint so, chiti.
Delgado hasnt given up. you are the man, Carlos.
A year of bitchin about Delgado and he’s gonna have better numbers than he had in ‘06.
How about hitting Tatis for Murphy?
Its easy to second guess, but after Eyre made church look silly, Manuel may have had evans up there against the lefthander. Chiti, you still didnt answer me about Ron Hall.
you asked about me and here i was being nice and not rubbing it in.Even though game was loss soon as santana left lol deny it.
might want to check out how many dps mets have had last 2 games.I agree with the manager with a line up this fierce why play small ball lol these guys are clowns top to bottom
ron hall ain’t me Sadecki. if i remember right he showed up during the great collapse last year as well.
I left to watch Bill Clinton. See I didn’t miss anything.
that is correct i was here for the great collapse this one will just be a good collapse.How the heck does a supposed contender field this relief staff? omar a miracle worker got everyone thinking he has a clue.His style is if there spanish sign em,His goal is to stimulate latin americas economy
if its any consolation im a yankee fan with my own miseries
I hope the one who runs this site will ensure that people are not posting under alternate names. It is deceptive and provides a shield for trolls. Are you there Josh?
If you be a Yankee fan, you should be getting ready for football season instead of wasting your time here. This one won’t be a collapse. Collapses are only such if they happen at the end of the year. Mets ‘07, Phillies ‘64, Red Sox whatever year the Yanks caught them from a million games behind, ‘51 Dodgers. This is just a bunch of mediocre tams showing their stuff for a day or two and then reverting back to form.
I see Pat the Bat has returned to his normal state of mediocrity. I think he is FA this Winter. Wonder what team is going to overpay for that almost one dimensional player next year.
Del God OH !!!!!
I guess the Carp fan club has been disbanded.
Ron Hall is not posting under multiple names from what I can tell.
People, if you are posting here we ask that you please stick to one name. Thanks.
If Michael Bloomberg could just issue Carlos Delgado a city-wide apology on behalf of the people of NY, I think we could at least begin the process of dislodging the foot from our collective mouths.
funny wheres the rah rah delgado tied it ?Can ot be you know they will lose anyway.Ok good night all i feel bad ribbing you ill leave you guys to watch the inevitable loss
God i want this win.
Ahh man i missed ronnie hall. Ive been caught up in the DNC to post tonight. However, Murphy drove me to post. He’s struggled tonight and for a couple days but that was a huge hit against one of the best closers going right now.
Ha Ha Ha, Metsies up now, Chiti, You are a real mets fan. Sorry I had doubts after the DC nonsense before, I am glad to see there are some Mets fans who dont give up on their team after one bad loss. Then fightin Metsies yeah. Come back here hall. Yankee troll that you are.
ok i cant resist jm for that to happen two things would have to happen 1 they have to score a run
2 bullpen has to hold it hahahahahahahahahahaha it would take an act of god for that to happen
Ray,
Could of used you last night when i battled the witless ronnie hall.
Retain Willie as a roving instructor and then can him when Delgado struggles next season.
Wow David Wright does it again.
Ok Wright makes an amazing play. Much different then last Sept.
come on guys you know bullpen cant hold this lead man im already feeling your pain good luck though
David, Where have you been? listening to lying politicians? Man, when are people gonna wake up?
Hey Ron you know why the Yankees have not won a WS since 2000 ?
Its called the curse of the Mets.
and 20 years from now when the Yankees have still not won another WS it will be know all over the world as the curse of the Mets.
gee i thought it was torre an ancient pitching staff and bad defense never thought it was the mets go figure
Ray,
Yeah im a sucker ive been drawn into the politics. Flipping back and forth. Glad to see Murph come through after his first tough patch here in the bigs and schneider the hitting machine as well. Hopefully Ayala can put it away.
You know Sadecki the DC thing was a lot of work. Trying to make like you know something about a team that you know nothing about and totally sucks was almost a full time job. Especially when that Keith guy started asking real questions. By the way I went to Dc when the Mets were there a week or two ago. The place was very sterile and I hope Citi park is not like it. The other new parks I’ve been to, Baltimore, Denver, Pittsburgh, Philly, Atlanta were all a lot nicer than that DC park.
I like this team better then the April version. Young guys bring life and energy.
and scott how the hell is a pelham boy a met fan?
Haven’t had time to read the blog yet. Walked in just in time to see the fireworks. I know I must be a front runner. But my feeling is, last night not withstanding – The Mets are the (slightly) better team. Still a lot of baseball in this game and season though. Hope all are well – even Ron Hall.
Sadecki: Lying politicians. When did Minaya go into politics? I hope he did then we’d have to get a new GM.
Ron if Roger had just shared his juice with more pitchers besides Pettite maybe I would not be taling about a curse.
This game makes up for last night. Charlie M. really messed up by leaving in Seanez to pitch to Delgado. I understand that Romero was unavailable tongiht, but if they were willing to bring in Lidge to face Church in the 8th inning…..why not just have him face Delgado???
well i think yanks have some rebuilding to do.Sabitha is not the only thing they need.They dont feel like much of a team there.But that being said i think we are alot closer to being a good team then these clowns.Mets have huge holes
Clm,
The honest fact with the mets and phillies is that both are flawed teams and that more than anything is a big reason why it will go down to the wire. If the phils were far superior they would of pulled away when the mets were wasting away in Randolphville….
phillies have a powerful lineup.I dont really follow them they must have no starting pitching to not be running away with this division
Ron I became a Met fan because my big brother was a Met fan.
Also the Mets had Seaver, Koosman and Matlack. The Yankees had Horace Clark.
David – Absolutely. That being said – The Mets gave it away last year. The Phils didn’t take it from them. And I think they are slightly less flawed then the Phils.
Harry Chiti – Here’s a favor – When discussing epic collapses with a Yankee fan never forget the 2004 AL Championship Series. Yankees up 3 games to naught only to lose to the Bambino Curseless Red Sox. Gets ‘em every time.
Ron Hall – One out. Almost over. Whaddaya think?
2 Down.
Josh – Thanks for continuing the blog!!!
i think id hold my breath if i was you was one out away last night too.scott those were the years you paid your dues to be a yankee fan like your mets now.this will be the first time in my sons life yankees havent made the playoffs lol he thought it was automatic every year lol
Sorry clm…. To me the big chokes are when you blow something you spent 5 and a half months building up. I loved the ‘04 playoffs but to me its a different kind of thing.
Puut It In The Books!!! (Wish Howie still did TV)
I think most of us will sleep a bit better tonight.
Besides the bullpen, I dont see any holes on the Mets. Great starting pitching, great Defense, Youth coming on to help, No 30 million choking primadonas. We showed tonight we could come back against our main rival in thier own park.Chiti, Im sorry, but Omar isnt even in the same league as our horrible leaders who seem determined to lead us into bankruptcy and WW3. Yeah thats both sides of the aisle.
For all the collapase talk. Or the talk of lack of heart here is a come from behind win after a horrible lost. This team is not perefct far from it. Their bullpen will give away a lot of games, however they have shown an ability to dust themselves of after those tough losses and win games they needed. This is truly a different team and while it may give me a heart attack or two i will simply enjoy the ride the rest of the way.
i would actually like the yanks to be revamped i dont mind a few lean years if we build a championship quality team.Mets could use a little tinkering too like half their team start with that under achiever beltran lol
Harry – I can see the distinction – BUT – It GETS THEM EVERY TIME. And isn’t that really the point? Plus remember for the Yanks and their fans the regular season is just spring training for the playoffs and WS. LOL
Ron – You’re right. I just exhaled. Don’t worry about your son. As they build the stadium and the team in Queens and the Yankees start their long fade he will probably switch teams.
congrats on a very good win for today i admit defeat.Goodnight all
Hey Beltran would be the Yankees best OF. His power numbers are off this year but he still is a gold glove CF and will have 100 RBI’s by the end of the year.
Ron you sound like a Met fan when you whine about Beltran.
dont even remind me of the new stadiums darn you just depressed me no end.I still cant believe their taking down yankee stadium its the eight wonder of the world.Now shea thank god that stadium sukked
by the way i lived 2 miles from shea when they built it
Ron – Agreed – They should never take down Yankee Stadium!!!
Why didn’t you stop them?
David waisting away in Randolphville that sums up the early season. So what do you call the Manuel Mets.
I think the theme song could be the 80’s classic from Jack Mack and the Heart Attack ” Cardiac Party ”
Hey Josh, I’m pretty new to this board and can see that there are some loyal people here which is great. I caught the last part of the JD era and thought he did a solid job. But I think your opening salvo and in game comments were dead on and you brought some new news to the party with the comments on Wagner, Rincon, etc. I’m sure that folks will give you a chance, but even if they do not, don’t lose sight of the fact that there are a lot of new folks coming to this board every game. It seems that you have large shoes to fill, but you seem more than up to the task. Break a leg, kid!
Lol, Josh wanted to pinch hit for Murphy.
Azy…Hey, ya know, I don’t have much to say to that.
I guess even the great Ted Williams got out 75% of the time, right?
Just kidding.