MLB FanHouse

Jason Marquis Wants to Pitch for Mets

Pat Lackey — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:02:00 EST

In the six weeks since the Mets' disastrous season has ended, lots of people have opined on how to fix the Mets. One person who'd like to chip in to the conversation is Jason Marquis. The Mets need to add a starter and, well, what do you know! Marquis is a free agent starter! After adding those two together, the Staten Island native has gone ahead and declared himself a "perfect fit" for the Mets.

Marquis had a nice enough year for the Rockies in 2009, notching 15 wins, a 4.04 ERA, and his first career All-Star nod. He's not a bad pitcher. He'd make a nice enough fit for a contender looking for a back-end starter to eat some innings and not embarrass himself. For a team like the Mets that trotted out Mike Pelfrey, John Maine, Oliver Perez, Tim Redding, and Livan Hernandez after Johan Santana, well, I dunno if I'd call him a "perfect fit."

As much as Marquis' wins, WHIP, and ERA make 2009 look like a career year for Marquis, his strikeout rate was lower than it's ever been since he left St. Louis (only 4.8 per nine innings) and his 1.44 K/BB ratio isn't particularly strong, either. In fact, a lot of his success in 2009 was predicated on a 2.03 GB/FB ratio (meaning two ground balls for every flyball), which is much higher than the ratio he has (around 1.5 in the past).

Cavernous Citi Field is a nice place for any pitcher to keep his stats down and if Marquis can keep getting ground balls, he might continue to find some success as he enters his 30s. Still, he'd better be the second- or third-best pitcher the Mets add this winter, or they're still going to have some concerns going in to 2010.

Jason Marquis Wants to Pitch for Mets originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Footprints in the Snow: Mets

Knox Bardeen — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Mets, NL East

Footprints in the Snow is FanHouse's look at the paths to be forged by MLB teams this winter as they look ahead to 2010.

At $149,373,987, the New York Mets had the National League's highest payroll in 2009. Their fourth place finish in the NL East, 23 games back in the standings, might suggest that the cash Omar Minaya dished out wasn't money well spent. A closer look reveals a team harassed all season by injuries and a group of hitters that could never find a long-term answer to produce runs.

In the outfield, Carlos Beltran had a potential All-Star season broken up, playing in only 81 games due to a knee injury. In fact, only Jeff Francoeur amassed more than 500 at-bats among Mets outfielders, and he was a mid-season import from the Atlanta Braves.

The infield wasn't spared either as mainstays Carlos Delgado and Jose Reyes had their seasons cut extremely short due to injuries. Even staff ace Johan Santana ended his season early with elbow issues.

The good news is that most of these players are expected to be healthy and ready to go for spring training.

More Footprints in the Snow

Who Might Leave

Brian Schneider, C; Carlos Delgado, 1B; Fernando Tatis, 1B/OF; Alex Cora, INF; Gary Sheffield, OF; Ramon Martinez, INF; Elmer Dessens, RHP; Ken Takahashi, LHP (released).

Shopping List

After Santana, the Mets have a huge need for starting pitchers to fill out the rest of the rotation. John Maine, Mike Pelfrey and Oliver Perez combined for only 60 starts and a 5.24 ERA last. The Mets are said to be looking at Joel Pineiro, John Lackey and Jason Marquis as possible rotation additions. Any of the three would be welcomed with open arms.

As position players go, someone will need to be brought in to catch, a first baseman may be needed if Delgado does not return, and a power-hitting outfielder, someone to man left field, would also be considered good news. Any of the players brought in to fill these needs will need to bring some power with them. The Mets were last in the National League with 95 home runs last season, and only a portion of that can be blamed on their new cavernous ballpark.

Matt Holliday and Jason Bay are both being considered for the left field vacancy and rumors have been surfacing about an Adrian Gonzalez trade from San Diego to the Mets, but the Padres may be asking for too much in return. Bengie Molina has also been spoken about in Mets' circles. It's believed the Giants catcher is highly sought after by Mets brass.

Money Matters

The Mets have quite a few arbitration-eligible candidates, led by Francoeur and John Maine, who are both expected to be brought back. Tim Redding is also available to return, an idea that wouldn't even be considered if the rotation wasn't a nightmare. Still, Redding will have to sign for a discounted rate, even though he did pitch well down the stretch. On the free-agent front, Delgado would like to return to the Mets, but will have to prove he's healthy by playing winter ball. Gary Sheffield has also expressed interest in returning, but the Mets will test the free-agent and trade markets prior to considering that option.

You already know the Mets spend gobs of money -- don't expect that to change in 2010. The Mets should continue to have one of the highest payrolls in the National League and they'll probably spend between $20 and $30 million this offseason.

Offseason Goals

With the injury issues this past season, you would have to expect the Mets to put a training regimen in place to try and prevent a similar fate in the 2010 season. Look for the Mets to try a number of options to ensure good health this offseason. It would also be nice for the Mets to add some power to their lineup. They were the only National League team to fail to hit 100 home runs as a team, and Daniel Murphy led the team with 12 home runs.

Footprints in the Snow: Mets originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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J.J. Putz Likely to Depart New York

Matt Snyder — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:35:00 EST

Filed under: Mets, NL East, MLB Rumors

Last offseason, in an effort to bolster their ineffective late-inning relief, the Mets made a three-team, 12-player trade of which J.J. Putz was the centerpiece. Putz had previously been a very effective closer for the Mariners, but he would get eighth-inning duty for the Mets, considering they paid a hefty sum to bring in Francisco Rodriguez to close.

Less than one year later, it appears Putz and the Mets will go their separate ways. According to Ben Shpigel of the New York Times, the Mets will decline Putz's $9.1 million player option for 2010 and instead buy his contract out for a cool million -- making him a free agent.

Technically, the Mets could still bring Putz back with a different contract, but it's unlikely, considering Putz has always expressed his belief that he is a closer. With more than a handful of teams in the market for a closer, Putz won't have any trouble finding work.

The 32-year-old right-hander missed much of last season due to injury issues in his throwing elbow. In 2006-2007, his last two full seasons as a closer, Putz saved 76 games and rocked a solid 1.86 ERA and 0.81 WHIP. If he can battle back from the injuries of the past two seasons, he can be one of the better closers in the game, but he'll likely have to prove his health with a one-year contract in light of the past two seasons.

J.J. Putz Likely to Depart New York originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New-Look Mets in 2010?

Tom Fornelli — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:52:00 EST

Filed under: Mets, NL East, MLB Rumors

The first season at Citi Field will mostly be remembered for failed expectations and roughly 500 different players donning a Mets uniform at some point during the season due to the amazing string of injuries suffered during the season. In other words, they're memories that many would probably rather forget about altogether than attempt to hold on to.

So the Mets will be looking for a fresh start in 2010, and according to rumors coming out of New York, the changes the team makes this winter might not be solely roster based. There's talk that the team may be making some changes to their uniforms as well.

Though Jay Horwitz, Mets vice president of media relations, wouldn't detail how the club would alter its home uniforms, the New York Post reported on Tuesday that the alterations could include a departure from the pinstripes that have been a part of the home whites since the team's 1962 inception.

And they may no longer be home whites. The Mets may switch to cream-colored uniforms similar to what the San Francisco Giants wear in AT&T Park.

I'm no fashion expert or anything, but when it comes to baseball jerseys I've always been a fan of the less is more approach. So if the Mets want to get rid of the pinstripes and go with a simple cream color with their NY logo on their chest or the script "Mets" across the front, I think that could look pretty nice.

Now whether or not the new look will translate into more wins remains to be seen, but they'd have to do a better job than the unofficial uniform of the Mets in 2009: the hospital gown.

New-Look Mets in 2010? originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:52:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Starting Five: Jurrjens, Braves Roll On

Ed Price — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 06:00:00 EST

Filed under: Braves, Mets, Orioles, Red Sox, Tigers, Twins, Starting Five

Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action, with a quick nod to what is ahead.

You Oughta Know ...
This Jurrjens kid is pretty good.

Jair Jurrjens threw seven scoreless innings on Monday as the Braves downed the Marlins 4-0 and climbed within two games of the Rockies for the wild-card lead.

Atlanta has two more games with Florida and then four against Washington. Colorado hosts Milwaukee for three before finishing with three games at the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"Right now we feel like we're in control," [Chipper] Jones said. "We're dictating at-bats whether it be on the mound or whether we're hitting. And a lot of good things are happening."

More Coverage: Scoreboard | Standings | Statistics

Jurrjens, 23, is 14-10 with a 2.61 ERA -- fourth-best in the National League -- and has allowed two or fewer earned runs in 25 of his 33 starts. Since Aug. 14, he is 5-2 with a 1.70 ERA.

"I can make my dad's dream come true right now if I get to the playoffs," said Jurrjens who grew up a Braves fan in his native Curacao. "My mom said he's put the travel bag out already."

Florida fell 5 1/2 games out in the wild-card race and will be eliminated with one more loss or one Colorado win.

From the Trainer's Room ...
Boston lefty Jon Lester, hit near the right knee by a liner last Friday, threw a bullpen session Monday and is scheduled to start Thursday against Cleveland.

"I felt fine," said Lester. "No problems. Just the normal long tossing and everything. Right around 55 pitches. Everything was good. I felt good this morning when I woke up and walking around and everything. But there's that question in your mind, 'OK, when I get on the mound, is it going to bug me?' And it didn't. Everything was good. I'm sure Thursday is fine."

Meanwhile, third baseman Mike Lowell, who was hampered last postseason by a sore hip that eventually required surgery, received injections Monday in the hip.

"Heading into the postseason, I'd rather have more mobility than less. The docs said this would be a way to alleviate things," he said. "This would be a good time to take two, three days off to really get my hip feeling a lot better."

Numbers Game ...
The Orioles have been out-scored 77-35 in losing 11 straight, their longest skid since a 12-game losing streak in Sept. 2004. They have blown a lead in seven of the 11 losses.

Also -- cue the Boomtown Rats -- Baltimore is 5-14 on Mondays, with losses on 12 straight Monday games since a win on June 1.

In Their Own Words ...
"This is like Groundhog's Day -- I just want to wake up from it. It just keeps happening and keeps happening. It's just frustrating ... because no one likes to lose, and I'm definitely not someone who's going to sit there and say, 'Well at least I put forth a good effort.' I'm tired of losing. I hate losing." -- Mets right-hander Nelson Figueroa, who fell to 2-8 as he lost to the Nationals

Advance Scouting ...
Thanks to rain Monday, the Tigers and Twins start their AL Central showdown with a day/night doubleheader at Comerica Park (12:05 PM and 7:05 PM ET). Detroit goes into the series with a two-game lead and a magic number of six. After Tuesday, the lead will be zero, two or four games with five to play. Nick Blackburn and Rick Porcello are scheduled to start the day game, with Brian Duensing and Justin Verlander in the nightcap.

Starting Five: Jurrjens, Braves Roll On originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 06:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lenny Dykstra's 1986 World Series Ring For Sale

Pat Lackey — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:55:00 EST

Filed under: Mets, Phillies, NL East, MLB Biz

Things aren't getting any better for Lenny Dykstra. On top of being in financial ruin and living out of his car, a collection of memorabilia he accrued throughout his career is expected to go on the auction block in the near future. That collection will include the World Series ring he won with the Mets in 1986. Making matters even worse, it's not Dykstra himself that's doing the selling; it's the pawn shop he pawned the items to, then subsequently left unclaimed.

The published reports say the auction is slated to take place on Oct. 1 and 2, but you can, in fact, see the ring up for auction right now (via Darren Rovell's Twitter) and the current bid is at $9,000 and it's been steadily raising from the $7,500 it started at earlier this morning. The auction page estimates the value of the ring at $20,000- $30,000, which is where most published reports also place the value.

Things just keep piling up for Dykstra. Since we last visited his story here at FanHouse, when he claimed he was living out of his car, he's also been accused of taking a $40,000 stove from his house and trying to sell it, which he's not allowed to do because he's filed for bankruptcy. And here, I didn't even know they made $40,000 stoves. That's like 80 months of rent for me.

Of course, both the ring story and the stove story are just two small blips on the radar since Dykstra's financial collapse began about a year ago. And while I'm tempted to say that it can't get much worse for him, it seems like a new one of these stories about him breaks every month.

Lenny Dykstra's 1986 World Series Ring For Sale originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Baseball Brunch: Meet the Rarest Breed

Ed Price — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Angels, Athletics, Cardinals, Cubs, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Marlins, Mets, Nationals, Orioles, Rays, Royals, Tigers, Twins, Yankees, MLB Awards, MLB Biz, MLB Inside Scoop, Baseball Brunch

Every Sunday, MLB FanHouse empties out its notebook in Baseball Brunch.

Cody Ross blames his mom.

"My dad was a really good athlete (Kenny Ross, who played safety at New Mexico in the late 1960s)," said Ross, the Marlins' right fielder. "My dad was all right[-handed]. My mom's a lefty, so maybe I got that gene from her."

Ross and St. Louis' Ryan Ludwick are the only two active position players who throw left and bat right. Just 14 such players in baseball history have gotten as many as 1,000 at-bats -- and that list now includes a Hall of Famer, Rickey Henderson.

"He kind of put us on the map," Ross said.

Some of the other names are recognizable -- early 20th-century Yankees star Hal Chase, Mets outfielder Cleon Jones, and more recent players Mark Carreon, Brian Hunter and David McCarty.

Some aren't -- Rube Bressler, Johnny Cooney, Al Nixon and Delos Drake.

"I think it's something that's kind of cool, something to be proud of," Ludwick said. "It's kind of an honor to be able to be in such little company."

Why so rare? There have certainly been plenty of players who throw right and bat left (582 with 1,000 or more at-bats), so it can't be that it's hard to be opposite-handed for hitting and throwing.

The simplest explanation is that a left-handed thrower can really play only four of the eight positions -- outfield and first base -- and is even less valuable if he bats right-handed, since lefties are less common and have the advantage against right-handed pitching.

"I think being a left-handed hitter is viewed as having an advantage," Ludwick said, "so you see a lot more people who throw right and are taught to hit left because it's an advantage."

Nether Ross nor Ludwick could explain how they ended up batting right and throwing left.

"It just happened," said Ludwick, who last year joined Henderson and Jones as the only bat-right/throw-left players to make an All-Star Game. "Natural."

Said Ross: "I have no reason why I do it. Nobody ever taught me to do it."

Both tried switch-hitting as kids -- "for a minute," Ludwick said, "but I was so much better right-handed."

Said Ross, "My dad tried to get me to switch-hit when I was younger. I did for a little while. But I realized really quickly that I had a lot more power from the right side and I didn't want to waste an at-bat [left-handed]."

It's not like Ross and Ludwick can't play. Ross, 28, is third on the Marlins with 22 homers and 83 RBI. Ludwick, 31, has 20 home runs and has driven in 87 runs, both second on the Cardinals.

"I feel like you see a lot of left-handed hitters that are right-handed throwers that have a lot of pop because they're right-hand-dominant, so they can really pull that bat through the zone," Ludwick said. "So I feel like being left-hand-dominant, I can [do the same]."

The bottom hand provides the power in a swing, and some recent boppers who throw right and bat left include Jim Thome, Prince Fielder, Larry Walker, Tino Martinez, Carlos Delgado, Adam Dunn, Jason Giambi and Mo Vaughn.

But those guys who throw left and bat right -- they don't get the love.

Ludwick was a second-round draft pick out of UNLV in 1999, so he never felt a bias because of his bat/throw combination. But Ross, a fourth-rounder in the same draft out of high school in New Mexico, said it worked against him. (Louie Medina, who played 51 games in the majors while throwing left and batting right, scouted both players for that '99 draft. Medina, now a special assistant to the GM in Kansas City, was then a scout for Arizona.)

"You have scouts come to watch you," Ross said, "and I was already challenged because of my height and I wasn't your prototypical baseball player, pushing 5-10. And also throwing left and hitting right, that's a lot against you going into pro ball. Or even college. So I think it affected me a little bit when it came to drafting and stuff like that.

"It's one of those things I knew I had to overcome, and I just did. A little bump in the road."

Both Ludwick and Ross didn't get a chance to become regulars in the majors until they had gone through multiple organizations. Ludwick was traded from Oakland to Texas to Cleveland and then had to sign on with Detroit and St. Louis as a minor-league free agent.

Ross was traded from the Tigers to the Dodgers to the Reds to the Marlins, including being traded twice in 33 days in 2006.

But he didn't blame that bouncing around on throwing left-handed and batting right-handed.

"I think once I got into pro ball, I think all of that kind of goes out the window," he said. "If you can play, you can play, and they'll find a spot for you."

Overheard and Understood

-- If you think Derek Jeter's pursuit of the Yankees' franchise hits record was overblown, wait until next spring training. Because the Yankees seem intent on letting Jeter go into 2010 without a contract beyond this year, and it will be a season-long storyline next year: Is this the Captain's last year in pinstripes?

Chart of the Week
Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria became the ninth player to have 40 doubles, 30 homers and 100 RBI in a season before the age of 24:
Player	Year
Hal Trosky	1934/36
Ted Williams	1939
Alex Rodriguez	1996
Scott Rolen	1998
Eric Chavez	2001
Aramis Ramirez	2001
Albert Pujols	2001-03
Miguel Cabrera	2005
Evan Longoria	2009
Source: Rays

While it might seem good public relations and, emotionally, a no-brainer to try to lock up Jeter long-term this winter, that wouldn't be good business for the Yankees. Not that they don't want him, but Jeter will be coming off his best season in at least three years, maybe 10. So in any contract negotiations this winter, Jeter would have the upper hand. The Yankees couldn't tell Jeter they have an alternative in mind, since both sides know he'll be the team's shortstop in 2010.

And it's not like the Yankees have ever gotten any kind of hometown discount from Jeter; the sides went to arbitration in 1999, avoided arbitration in 2000 with a $10 million salary and then worked out his current 10-year, $189 million deal in February 2001. Considering what he means to the franchise -- and its fans -- Jeter now could have every right to ask for more than Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia.

The only way an extension would get done before Jeter's contract is up (or close to up) is if ownership -- the Steinbrenner brothers -- steps in. They did in the fall of 2007, after the Joe Torre fiasco, to bring back Rodriguez (after his ugly opt-out), and with Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera on above-market deals. But the Steinbrenners may realize now they overpaid then and hold firm on Jeter.

Which will make for a fascinating winter of 2010-11, because the next negotiations will determine how much Jeter makes compared to A-Rod, whether he will be signed for the same length of time (through 2017!) and -- as part of the whole equation -- whether he ever moves from shortstop, and when, and where.

-- With a new ballpark opening next year, the Twins plan to spend more this winter than in any recent offseason. They "won't be picking up the scraps" of free agency, as one person put it.

-- Washington (including its Montreal years) is the only franchise never to have had two teammates with 100 RBI in the same season, but that could be corrected this year as Adam Dunn has 99 RBI and Ryan Zimmerman has 94. Tampa Bay got its first 100-RBI duo this year, with Evan Longoria and Carlos Pena.

-- The Angels could be the first team since the 2005 Cardinals to make it through the season without a four-game losing streak.

-- Figure this: Seven of the Dodgers' final 18 games are against the Pirates. Three others are against the Nationals.

-- Arizona's Chris Young last Sunday became the first player to go into a game batting less than .200 and then hit three homers.

-- The Cubs did not gain ground on the Cardinals in any day from Aug. 3 through Thursday.

-- If the A's, who have 85 errors, can finish with fewer than 100, they will set an all-time record by doing that for the sixth straight year. The Phillies had double-digit errors from 2001 to 2005.

-- Attendance at the Mets' new Citi Field on Thursday, for a game against the Marlins, was 37,620. But the Mets estimated 20,000 no-shows and about 17,000 in the stands.

-- The Rays are promoting right-hander Jeff Niemann (12-5, 3.57 ERA) for AL Rookie of the Year. They cite that he is in the top 10 all-time for winning percentage by an AL rookie starter; the first rookie to beat Roy Halladay twice; the first rookie in 55 years to lead the defending AL champs in wins and ERA; and that he could have three more wins but for two blown two-run leads and a blown three-run lead by his bullpen.

-- Since the start of last year, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, just two AL teams have swept four series from the same opponent (three or more games). It figures that the Yankees swept the Orioles five times, but not that the Royals have swept the Tigers four times.

-- Detroit's Brent Dlugach, called up Sept. 1, is the first big-leaguer ever whose name begins with "DL." Unless you count Mike Hampton.

Baseball Brunch: Meet the Rarest Breed originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Sun, 13 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Dugout: It's Tribe Time Now, Part 4

B. Thompson Stroud — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 22:30:00 EST

Filed under: Dodgers, Indians, Mets, NL West, The Dugout

Not to ignore everything else that is happening in the world of baseball, but Jim Thome and Manny Ramirez are on the same team and you should be reading about it.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

Part four of the quest to reunite the entirety of the 1997 Cleveland Indians on the 2009 Los Angeles Dodgers takes us places we never dared go, to a post-apocalyptic wasteland where humanity is depraved and the skies are filled with ash.

Tonight's Dugout is after the jump.

The Dugout

	WordUpThome: BREAK OUT YOUR NEWTON AND SEE WHOM WE HAVE LEFT UPON OUR LIST
	MannyTheTorpedoes: this says nothen but jibaresh /shakes Newton like an Etch-a-Sketch
	MannyTheTorpedoes: up necks is mike jackson
	WordUpThome: WE CAN'T DO THAT, THAT PARTICULAR SKELETON WAS SLAIN BY DR. JASON AND HIS PROPOFOLIC ARGONAUTS A SCANT TWO MONTHS AGO
	MannyTheTorpedoes: ok after him is terry clark
	WordUpThome: THE TRANSVESTITE COUNTRY SINGER, ARE YOU SURE
	WordUpThome: HURM... HOW ABOUT WE TAKE A BREAK AND RUMMAGE AROUND IN THIS DILAPIDATED SHACK FOR A WHILE
	Online Host Welcome to the Citi Field Chatroom!
	SandAndDeliver: okay Josh, you're the catcher, so you're gonna want to kneel there and hold your glove out
	CityOfJoshTholes: ow but my knees'll hurt what if i do'er like this?? /takes off mitt, puts mitt on ground, sits on mitt
	SandAndDeliver: hey wow, you're the best catcher we've had in a while
	WordUpThome: SANDY ALOMAR JUNIOR WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE
	SandAndDeliver: Jim! Manny! Long time no see! I'm a coach for the New York Mets now, I work with all the catching prospects!
	WordUpThome: THAT'S FUNNY I THOUGHT THE METS DIDN'T CATCH PROSPECTS
	MannyTheTorpedoes: hay sandy
	WordUpThome: DON'T YOU TALK BACK
	MannyTheTorpedoes: hay sandy
	SandAndDeliver: what, I'm busy trying to teach Brian Schneiderr how to hold a bat, what do you need?
	MannyTheTorpedoes: i think jerry simefeld is drownen to death in that luxury sweet over there, is full of wooder an he is screamin
	SandAndDeliver: What's he saying?
	MannyTheTorpedoes: "what is the deal with this drowning"
	SandAndDeliver: He's fine.
	WordUpThome: SANDY WE ARE REUNITING THE 1997 INDIANS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEAVE THE MEDIA CEREBI OF NEW YORK AND WIN GOLD FOR THE SMALL MARKET DODGERS
	SandAndDeliver: Yeah, sounds great.
	CityOfJoshTholes: hey coach i just sat on a piece of gum and it stuck to my pants, i think i need to go on the 60 day DL
	SandAndDeliver: Get me out of here before God turns this team into a pillar of f***ing salt.
	WordUpThome: YOUR BRO BOBBY PLAYED FOR THE GUT EATERS IN '99, DO YOU THINK HE WOULD LIKE TO PLAY ALSO
	SandAndDeliver: No, Robby's going through a tough time. He won't stop spitting on people, and he's got some dangerous stuff in his blood.
	WordUpThome: SO HE HAS BECOME LIKE THE DILOPHOSAURUS FROM JURASSIC PARK
	MannyTheTorpedoes: the dinasaur that kill newman!!!!!!!
	WordUpThome: HOW MANY CHARACTERS FROM THE SEINFELD SHOW HAVE TO DIE BEFORE WE CLOSE DOWN THE METS
	Online Host DudleyDoWright has entered the chatroom.
	DudleyDoWright: Hey guys, what's up?
	MannyTheTorpedoes: holy shti what happen to yor head
	DudleyDoWright: Aw, you guys! I was hit in the head with a baseball; now I have to wear a helmet that makes me look like Buzzy Beetle
	WordUpThome: SINCE WHEN DOES GETTING HIT WITH A BASEBALL TURN YOU INTO MTV'S THE HEAD
	MannyTheTorpedoes: lets get out of here jim tommy, the corpse of putty just washt up in the outfeel
	WordUpThome: GOODBYE FOR NOW DAVID, I CANNOT THINK OF ANY BASEBALL PLAYERS WHO DESERVE TO BE HIT IN THE FACE WITH A FASTBALL
	Online Host Later, in the Mitchell Report/Recreational Golf Outing Chatroom...
	OldLOL: so i mixed up some hgh in the blender with a bag of oxycontin and half a gallon of pibb extreme and mindy beer bonged it
	CriminalJustice: looool
	WordUpThome: OKAY, MAYBE I CAN THINK OF A COUPLE
	OldLOL: that sh** turned her into the abomination
	CriminalJustice: hey guys, what brings you to the chatroom? Aren't you a little over dressed?
	WordUpThome: NO WE STILL HAVE JOBS
	WordUpThome: WE ARE RECONSTRUCTING THE INJUNS AND WE NEED A CABOOSE
	CriminalJustice: That sounds great! All I've been doing since 2008 is blogging, and I could stand to make more than zero dollars a day
	WordUpThome: GREAT YOU HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING BAD THAT WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT, HAVE YOU
	CriminalJustice: nope, nothing I can think of
	WordUpThome: A TOTALLY CLEAN RECORD, NO BLEMISHES WE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF
	CriminalJustice: no, nothing at all
	WordUpThome: ROGER
	OldLOL: no, david has lived his life as a saint, and i encourage you to believe every word that comes out of my ass
	CriminalJustice: /nods
	WordUpThome: ....
	HoldItAndPettitte: He did steroids and beat his wife
	CriminalJustice: OH SON OF A BITCH
	HoldItAndPettitte: aw but I feel so bad for telling you guys about that. SEE YA WOULDN'T WANNA BE YA
	Online Host HoldItAndPettitte has left the chatroom.
	OldLOL: argh I hate that guy so much it makes my butt wet
	MannyTheTorpedoes: o no dave justice say it ain so you beat you wife
	CriminalJustice: ... maybe
	MannyTheTorpedoes: o noes how coul you beat up hally barry
	CriminalJustice: I don't know, did you ever see the movie BAPS?
	WordUpThome: GOOD POINT

Photos link to player info. (Photo Credit: Getty Images) WordUpThome.com

The Dugout: It's Tribe Time Now, Part 4 originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Sun, 06 Sep 2009 22:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Citi Field Is Already Falling Apart

Tom Fornelli — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 13:06:00 EST

Filed under: Mets, NL East

The inaugural season of Citi Field in New York, one filled with injuries and losses, has been one that the Mets and their fans would like to end as soon as possible, so everybody can forget about it and move on.

But along with the seemingly bad luck, the new stadium seems to possess special powers.

Not only can it suck all the power out of David Wright's bat, it also picks up the tendencies of the life that inhabits it: much like the Mets roster, Citi Field is already falling apart.

Less than a season old, Citi Field has been plagued by water damage to several luxury suites -- including Jerry Seinfeld's -- as well as mold, falling signs and concrete, flooding in outfield seats, faulty electrical wiring and shoddy tile work, sources said.

Perhaps the biggest bungle is a water leak that sprang in early August, the source said, creating mold in Seinfeld's lavish suite and three others nearby.

The damage in Seinfeld's box was so severe that while the Mets were on a road trip repairmen literally tore down the walls in search of the leak. No word on whether or not they ever found it, but I'm guessing that, wherever it was, that crazy Kramer caused it.

Of course, it's not just Seinfeld's luxury box that's suffering. Last week Fred Wilpon had to climb four flights of stairs to his office because an elevator wasn't working, Mo's Zone in the outfield completely flooded after some pipes collapsed, a 24-square foot sign fell on the promenade during a day off, and then there's the falling concrete just for good measure.

Maybe if Wilpon hadn't lost all that money to Bernie Madoff he wouldn't have had to cut so many corners building the place.

Citi Field Is Already Falling Apart originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Sun, 06 Sep 2009 13:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Starting Five: New Dodger Garland Garners Win Over Former Team

Ed Price — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 06:00:00 EST

Filed under: Cardinals, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Mets, Pirates, Rays, Rockies, Royals, Starting Five

Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action, with a quick nod to what is ahead.

You Oughta Know ...
Jon Garland couldn't beat them. So he joined them. And then he beat the old them.

Traded from the fourth-place Diamondbacks to the first-place Dodgers earlier in the week, Garland on Friday faced Arizona in his first start for Los Angeles.

"It was fun. I grew up coming to games here, and getting a chance to pitch for this team is definitely a dream come true," Garland said. "It's kind of awkward the way it happened -- but nevertheless, it did -- and I was able to throw a good one up. I didn't leave too many tickets. I cut the phone off and told people if they want to come, they can pay for it and support the team."

More Coverage: Scoreboard | Standings | Statistics

Garland allowed two runs on five hits in seven innings, retiring the final 14 batters he faced, as the Dodgers won 4-2.

"I think it was more uncomfortable because I was in that other dugout the first game and then came over," Garland said. "I mean, if it would have been like a week or two weeks down the road, it would have been a little bit different. But the fact that it was in the same series, there was a little extra the first few innings."

... "Being able to go out there and give this team a good quality start, coming out of the game with the lead and ending up winning it, I couldn't have asked for much more," Garland said. "Once I finally calmed down and got my feet underneath me, the ball started moving a little bit more and I was getting more ground balls and we got off a nice little run."

The Dodgers expanded their lead in the NL West to 5 1/2 games; their magic numbers are 22 to eliminate the Giants and 23 to eliminate the Rockies.

Garland became the 12th different starter used this year by the Dodgers, one shy of the L.A. team record set in 1964. And the Dodgers have gotten a win from 21 different pitchers, most in the majors since the 2007 Rockies and Yankees had 22.

From the Trainer's Room ...
Not only did the Rays fall six games out in the wild-card race with 29 to play by losing 6-3 to the Red Sox, but center fielder B.J, Upton left the game with a sprained left ankle. Upton collided with left fielder Carl Crawford in the fifth inning and will miss at least two more games.

Numbers Game ...
Mets lefty Pat Misch, in the rotation because of injuries to Oliver Perez and Johan Santana, got his first big-league win in his 55th career appearance (13th start). Misch, who held the Rockies to two runs in seven innings, was the first southpaw to go winless in his first 12 starts since Mike Mohler of the 1993-97 A's.

In Their Own Words ...
"In our immediate-gratification society, everybody wants to point fingers. But from what I've seen from everything that goes on in this organization, Trey Hillman's leadership is one of the strengths of our organization. People can debate that, and I know they will, but it's one of the strengths of our organization because the guy is a winner and he works and he cares." -- Royals GM Dayton Moore, four-year extension in hand, saying that manager Trey Hillman will be back in 2010 as well.

Advance Scouting ...
Adam Wainwright can add to his case for the Cy Young Award -- he's right there, along with teammate Chris Carpenter and San Francisco's Tim Lincecum -- as St. Louis visits Pittsburgh (7:05 PM ET). Wainwright (16-7, 2.47 ERA) is tied for the major league lead in wins and is third in the NL in ERA. His streak of 12 starts going at least six innings while allowing no more than two runs is the longest since Greg Maddux had 13 such games in a row in 1995.

Starting Five: New Dodger Garland Garners Win Over Former Team originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 06:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No Changes Coming for Citi Field's Walls In 2010

Josh Alper — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:35:00 EST

Filed under: Mets, NL East

Much has been made of the way the new dimensions and fence heights at Citi Field suppress home runs this season, but the Mets don't have any plans to make their park more homer-friendly. That's probably not good news to David Wright, who has expressed some frustration about the way the new park is configured, but there's no reason why it should be bad news for the Mets.

Just because Citi is averse to home runs doesn't mean that it is averse to offense. HitTrackerOnline told the New York Daily News that Wright missed out on eight homers he would have had at Shea, but all eight of those balls wound up as hits which, as you surely know, are also offensive statistics.

It's the opposite of what's happened at New York's other new park this summer. All the focus at Yankee Stadium has been on the amount of home runs because of the high rate that balls leave the park. There's been less attention paid to how many other balls that would have otherwise been hits have been lost in the transition.

Neither stadium has actually played to its bias as much as is perceived by the general public. The Mets have hit 43 homers at home and 34 on the road, while their pitchers have allowed 67 homers in Queens and 60 elsewhere. That doesn't scream problem about hitting at Citi Field, it screams problems for the Mets hitting anywhere and speaks to their need for a better offensive baseball team.

That's why it's distressing to read Jerry Manuel's comments about the way the Mets are going to approach the future.

"We're going to try to build a team with speed and defense and pitching," Manuel said. "I think that fits that style."

Defense and pitching are hallmarks of good teams everywhere, whether they play in bandboxes or cavernous pitchers parks. The idea that you should go for speedy players at the expense of those that can hit for power just because of the park is a bad one, however. The Mets need players who can hit, wherever they're doing the swinging, and building a team that's "suited" for Citi Field is only going to lead to a team that can't hit anywhere else.

No Changes Coming for Citi Field's Walls In 2010 originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Carlos Beltran Hits Comeback Trail

Josh Alper — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:35:00 EST

Filed under: Mets, NL East, MLB Injuries

No one can accuse Carlos Beltran of being a bandwagon jumper. The Mets center fielder, last seen in late June, has been cleared to start a rehab assignment. Beltran has been suffering from a bone bruise in his right knee, but the Mets' team doctor said he is ready to play after an examination on Monday morning.

He won't be wearing a knee brace, which would seem to indicate that his bone bruise has gotten smaller over the past six weeks. It didn't show much improvement when Beltran had an MRI in July, but the word was that things hadn't gotten so bad that Beltran needed microfracture surgery, which could put his 2010 season into jeopardy.

So why risk things by allowing him to come back now?

A fair question, but one that assumes that he'll be putting himself at greater risk by playing out the string. You'd imagine that the plethora of bad feelings and bad press generated by the way the Mets handled their injured players earlier this season would have the team treading extra carefully when it comes to pushing Beltran's return.

For their sake, let's hope they are doing that, because if Beltran does wind up doing something worse to his knee, all the king's horses and all the king's men may not be able to put Humpty Dumpty together again. The Mets have very little margin for error with a fan base that's spent the last three years being angered by September collapses, front office failings and questionable resource management.

In a perfect world, Beltran would be joined by David Wright in the middle of a lineup that gives people reason to keep believing in the organization and starts washing away memories of this dismal, disappointing season. It might be a lot to hope for, but when hope's all you've got, quantity doesn't really matter.

Carlos Beltran Hits Comeback Trail originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Author: Mets Owners Will Eventually Sell Team to Cover Madoff Losses

Ed Price — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Mets, MLB Biz

The Mets are in baseball's biggest market, own a cable sports network and play in a spanking new stadium. But other than a backloaded three-year, $37 million deal with Francisco Rodriguez, the Mets have hardly spent any money over the past 10 months.

I -- and even people within the organization -- have long suspected the Wilpon family that owns the Mets lost more money than they have let on to convicted Ponzi-scheming con man Bernie Madoff. That would explain the cutting corners, such as not taking a full contingent to the winter meetings, the lack of depth that helped cost them their season and the unwillingness to take on contracts midseason to try to patch together a better club.

And now the author of a book on Madoff says the Wilpons will eventually have to sell the Mets to cover their losses.

The Wilpon family, led by Mets owner Fred Wilpon, lost about $700 million because of Madoff, according to Erin Arvedlund, author of "Too Good to Be True," published earlier this month.

Arvedlund said she does not know the terms of the Wilpons' bank loans but said the losses are steep enough that a sale of the baseball team is certain.

"It's qualified by when," she said. "It's possible they would have to sell by next year."

This is a tragedy for the Wilpons. But considering how things have gone since Madoff was exposed, it might not be a bad thing for Mets fans.

Author: Mets Owners Will Eventually Sell Team to Cover Madoff Losses originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 28 Aug 2009 13:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oliver Perez Latest Met Lost for Season

Andrew Johnson — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:53:00 EST

Filed under: Mets, MLB Injuries

The 2009 season was lost long ago for Oliver Perez. Now it's officially over.

The Mets left-hander was diagnosed with patella tendon tendinosis in his right knee by the team doctor David Altchek, a condition that will require surgery and force him to miss the rest of the season.

It's worth mentioning again, as FanHouse's Tom Fornelli did on Tuesday, just how staggering the amount of talent that New York has lost to injury is.

The news that Perez will miss the remainder of this season comes a day after the Mets learned they would be without ace left-hander Johan Santana for the rest of this year.

Half of their everyday lineup -- four All-Stars in Carlos Delgado, David Wright, Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran -- are currently on the disabled list as well.

Perez's case may be a little bit different from the other walking wounded at Citi Field, though. Though New York awarded him a three-year, $36 million deal this winter, the enigmatic southpaw was never an asset for the Mets in 2009, going 3-4 with a 6.82 ERA and 1.92 WHIP in 14 starts.

There have been a number of theories floated to explain his poor performance, including:

o. Complacency after receiving his new deal.

o. His participation in the World Baseball Classic for Mexico, and injuries or fatigue suffered as a result.

o. The continued decline of a pitcher who has, throughout his career, always had trouble harnessing his stuff and throwing it for strikes.

It's possible that the injury has contributed to Perez's woeful performance in 2009, something that might provide the Mets with some hope that he can return healthy in 2010 and be effective for the final two years remaining on his deal.

That probably won't soothe much of the negativity surrounding the club, but the folks in Flushing have to be looking for any silver lining this deep into a disastrous season.

Oliver Perez Latest Met Lost for Season originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:53:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Red Sox Land Billy Wagner From Mets

Andrew Johnson — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:48:00 EST

Filed under: Mets, Red Sox, MLB Transactions

The Red Sox made a potential major upgrade to their bullpen Tuesday, acquiring Billy Wagner from the Mets for two players to be named later.

Wagner, who is sixth all-time in saves with 385, was activated from the disabled list last week after almost a year of rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery. The left-handed reliever pitched two scoreless innings for New York, striking out four and walking one.

If Wagner is healthy and throwing like he did when he was closing for the Mets, the move will further strengthen Boston's already deep bullpen, giving Terry Francona an experienced setup option in front of Jonathan Papelbon and another southpaw to turn to in the late innings along with Hideki Okajima.

The Red Sox entered play Tuesday with the best bullpen ERA in the American League at 3.64.

Red Sox Land Billy Wagner From Mets originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:48:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Johan Santana Joins List of Fallen Mets

Tom Fornelli — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:37:00 EST

Filed under: Mets, NL East, MLB Injuries

It's now official. The New York Mets announced Tuesday that Johan Santana will need surgery on his left elbow and miss the rest of the season. According to the team's release, Santana saw medical director Dr. David Altchek and it's been decided he'll need arthroscopic surgery to clean out some bone chips in his left elbow.

The good news, if there's any good news in a situation like this, is that Santana is expected to be ready for spring training next season.

In a season that has been marked by injuries for the Mets, this is just the latest blow. Santana is the 12th member of the Mets to go on the disabled list this season, joining an All-Star cast that includes David Wright, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, Jose Reyes and just about anybody that's gotten within 100 feet of Citi Field this season.

Johan Santana Joins List of Fallen Mets originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:37:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Dugout: The New York Mets Live in a Fallen World

Jon Bois — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:10:00 EST

Filed under: Mets, The Dugout

The Mets enjoy a large payroll, a new stadium, and a large city that boasts millions of loyal fans, so it's difficult to make the argument that God hates them. But He clearly holds a grudge, as evidenced by Sunday's bottom-of-the-ninth, rally-killing, unassisted triple play. It was the second time in the history of Major League Baseball that a game ended with such a play. Then a plague of frogs descended upon Citi Field, and it was good.

This evening's Dugout is after the jump.

The Dugout

	OnlineHost Welcome to Mets-Phillies Bottom of the 9th Chat!
	OnlineHost Eric Bruntlett has muffed two ground balls, allowing runners on first and second.
	InstructionManuel: This is impossible.
	DudleyDoWright: My God. When was the last time that two things in a row went right for us?
	InstructionManuel: I think it was the time I sat down in a chair without it falling out from under me, then I proceeded to eat an entire apple without accidentally biting my tongue. That was in June, I think.
	InstructionManuel: Then a clown rode into my kitchen on a unicycle and hit me in the face with a pie. Then my house fell down.
	InstructionManuel: I suppose we should savor the moment while it lasts, because Francoeur's up.
	DudleyDoWright: No way! This is providence, don't you see? There's no better situation to have Strikeout Jesus at the plate. The one thing we can't have in this situation is a double play, and you can't strike out into a double play.
	InstructionManuel: My God, you're right. FRANCOEUR! HEY!
	InstructionManuel: /gives "strikeout" sign
	FrancoeuAmerican: /misses sign
	InstructionManuel: /gives sign
	FrancoeuAmerican: /misses
	InstructionManuel: /gives sign
	FrancoeuAmerican: /misses /grimaces, takes off batting gloves, walks back to dugout
	InstructionManuel: Get back out there! You haven't batted yet!
	FrancoeuAmerican: ~~WHOOPS SORRY COACH~~
	InstructionManuel: sigh always with the font
	DudleyDoWright: So what now?
	InstructionManuel: He strikes out, and the next batter comes up.
	DudleyDoWright: But all our other batters are on the disabled list. Our 5-hole hitter was hastily assembled out of K'Nex this morning, and we weren't able to procure any hinges or other moving parts.
	InstructionManuel: I know, son, but at least we'll have a chance. It's all in God's hands.
	**Welcome to Mansion of Heaven Chat!
	God: /adjusts headset
	God: Thank you for calling Heaven. This is God. How may I help you?
	WordUpThome: WELL HELLO GO
	WordUpThome: GOD THIS IS JI
	WordUpThome: JIM THOME
	God: sighhhhhh Jim. Hello, how are you doing?
	WordUpThome: SIR I FEEL AS LUCKY AS THE TALLEST GRASSLING ON A FRESHLY MOWN LAWN
	WordUpThome: BUT I WAS WATCHING THE TELE-VISION AND I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT SOMETHING
	God: Jim, My love for you is unending, but my time isn't. I bestowed Wikipedia upon Man so that I could increase prayer-answering efficiency. Please use it.
	WordUpThome: WELL THIS IS A MORAL DILEMMA
	WordUpThome: POOR OLD JIM JUST TRUTHED UPON THE TRUTH THAT BASED BALLS ARE MADE OF COW HIDE
	God: Yes.
	WordUpThome: HOW MANY OF MINE BOVINE BROTHERS HAVE SNUFFED IT FOR THE BENEFIT OF SELFISH JIM'S HOME RUNS AND GROUND OUTS
	God: Hold one moment.
	God: okay, carry the five, multiply by, pffffpfpfpffff
	God: All right. The surface of a Major League baseball is about 27 square inches. The average surface area of a full-grown cow is 58,590 square inches. So a cow is the equivalent of about 2,170 baseballs.
	God: To date, you have 2,129 base hits. Add that to every foul ball, ground out, pop up, etc., that you have ever hit, and it's safe to say that you have hit the equivalent of three dead cows. Congratulations.
	WordUpThome: FOLLOW UP QUESTION: DID THE ALMIGHTY YOU AFFORD THESE SOWS WITH A SOUL
	God: I'm sorry, I'm going to invoke my "be a frustrating jerk" clause and refuse to answer.
	WordUpThome: THAT IS NOT COOL LORD GOD
	God: lol
	God: Here's something to think about, at least. What if I made you an animal instead of a person? How would you feel about it?
	WordUpThome: INDEED WHAT IF YOU HAD GIVEN ME PAWS
	WordUpThome: YOU HAVE GIVEN ME PAUSE
	OutlookExpress GOD, you have 1 pending appointment: "URGENT: MAKE SURE METS LOSE"
	God: Oh my Me, I forgot. Jim, please hold.
	OnlineHost Welcome to Mets-Phillies Bottom of the 9th Chat!
	FrancoeuAmerican: /swings
	InstructionManuel: oh no
	FrancoeuAmerican: /hits into the 15th unassisted triple play in the history of baseball
	InstructionManuel: AHHHHHHHSDJKGALGA
	InstructionManuel: /reaches for bat rack, breaks bat in half Someone show me how to perform hara-kiri. Like, now.
	DudleyDoWright: Sure thing, Coach! First you empty a sack of marbles into your mouth, then you imbibe a bunch of liquor and you
	InstructionManuel: no, no, that's harry caray
	OnlineHost Welcome to Mansion of Heaven Chat!
	WordUpThome: O LORDED GOD, WHY COME DO YOU HATE THE METS WITH SUCHLY WRATH
	God: I give them the gift of artistic appreciation, and they come up with a blue-and-orange color scheme that looks as though it were conceived by a colorblind masochistic one-year-old.
	God: You'd do the same thing.
	WordUpThome: THE LORD IS IRKED IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS

Photos link to player info. WordUpThome.com Photo Credit: Getty, Creative Commons

The Dugout: The New York Mets Live in a Fallen World originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eric Bruntlett's Unassisted Triple Play Adds to List of Mets' Lowlights

Tom Herrera — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 20:05:00 EST

Filed under: Mets, NL East, MLB Video

The 15th unassisted triple play in major league history was turned by Phillies second baseman Eric Bruntlett on Sunday, ending Philadelphia's 9-7 victory at Citi Field. According to STATS, it was only the second unassisted triple play that ended a game; the first feat was accomplished by Johnny Neun for the Tigers way, way back in 1927.

Watching the play, it really seemed like just awful luck for Mets outfielder Jeff Francoeur, who hit a line drive up the middle that looked like a single off the bat. With runners on first and second both trying to steal, Bruntlett happened to be in perfect position when he moved over to cover second.

Bruntlett snagged Francoeur's liner, stepped on second to double up Luis Castillo, then tagged Daniel Murphy for the third out. Murphy tried to escape the tag but had nowhere to go.

"Frenchy hit it on the screws," Murphy said. "It happened so fast there was nothing I could do."

Francoeur threw down his helmet with both hands in frustration and Phillies closer Brad Lidge escaped with his 25th save of the season.

"Even with the runners going I did not expect him to be there. The only place he could catch the ball was where he was," Francoeur said. To end the way it did was a little disheartening."

It was the first unassisted triple play since Cleveland second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera turned one in May 2008 against Toronto.

"What a bizarre ending. I don't know what happened there. The game's over, so I'm happy with that," Lidge said. "That was pretty exciting. That's definitely not the way you draw it up."

The secondary storyline was that Bruntlett's triple play preserved a win for Pedro Martinez (2-0) in his return to New York. The 37-year-old hurler gave up four runs and struck out five over six innings of work.

In total, it was definitely not a good game for Mets fans to witness. Then again, not many have been this season.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

Hat tip for video: TheFightins.com

Eric Bruntlett's Unassisted Triple Play Adds to List of Mets' Lowlights originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Sun, 23 Aug 2009 20:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Omar Minaya Will Be Back Next Season

Tom Fornelli — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 15:07:00 EST

Filed under: Mets, NL East, MLB Rumors

With the New York Mets struggling through injuries all season and well out of the NL East race, it's no surprise that Mets fans aren't happy with the way 2009 has played out. Throw in some Tony Bernazard right crosses and general manager Omar Minaya has been feeling the heat.

So while there are plenty of Mets fans who wouldn't mind seeing Minaya gone after the 2009 season, Mets owner Fred Wilpon came out on Sunday and said that both Minaya and manager Jerry Manuel are going to be back with the team next season.

Mets owner Fred Wilpon, who almost never speaks to the media, told the New York Post in Sunday's editions that Minaya will "absolutely" be back in 2010. It was the biggest public vote of confidence Minaya has received since his handling of the Tony Bernazard fiasco angered ownership and put him under increased scrutiny.

"Am I going to bring Omar back next year?" Wilpon told the paper. "Absolutely. That's a fact."

The story also quoted Minaya as saying manager Jerry Manuel is "my guy," indicating he, too, will be back next season.

This isn't exactly the most shocking news considering Minaya just received a four-year contract extension last September. Plus, as easy as it is to blame general managers and managers for a team's problems, the Mets have placed an average of roughly 2.3 players on the disabled list every day. At least, it seems that way.

Of course, with all that being said, if the Mets come out next year and continue to struggle I wouldn't be shocked to see both Minaya and Manuel gone before the season is over.

Omar Minaya Will Be Back Next Season originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Sun, 23 Aug 2009 15:07:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Starting Five: Who Needs a Green Monster? The Yankees Have Godzilla

Andrew Johnson — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 06:00:00 EST

Filed under: Athletics, Marlins, Mets, Rangers, Rays, Red Sox, Yankees, Starting Five

Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action with a quick nod to what is ahead.

You Oughta Know ...
That now it's the Red Sox who can't get out of their own way against the Yankees, as opposed to the other way around.

After going 8-0 against New York to start the season, Boston has now lost five straight to its rivals following a 20-11 drubbing at Fenway Park.

Hideki Matsui was the standout offensive star among many on Friday night, homering twice and driving in seven runs to pace the Yankee attack. Matsui and his teammates have made it very obvious that whatever hurdle there was to playing the Red Sox early in the year has now been cleared.

More Coverage: Scoreboard | Standings | Statistics

"We lost three games in a row twice here this season," Matsui said through a translator. "In that sense, it was very important for us to set the tone."

And set the tone they have.

From the Trainer's Room ...
Justin Duchscherer, on the disabled list all year, will miss the rest of the season as he battles depression. Duchscherer's agent, Damon Lapa, described it as "a very treatable form" of depression.

"It's something I think he's been battling for some time, and he recently made the really difficult decision that he needs to put his career on hold for the time being and focus 100 percent of his efforts on his recovery," Lapa said.

The right-hander, who went 10-8 with a 2.54 ERA last year, is due to be a free agent this winter.

Numbers Game ...
Jeff Francoeur had three hits, including a home run, as the Mets edged the rival Phillies. The enigmatic right fielder, who was traded to New York last month, has begun to look more like the player he was over his first few years with the Braves than the player who lost his way in recent years. Francouer is hitting .308 since he joined the Mets and has six home runs and 23 RBI, numbers which project out to a 26 homers and 100 RBI over a full season.

In Their Own Words ...
"I was just trying to throw strikes. I wasn't thinking about a no-hitter. I just tried to keep the game close. It was a big game for us battling with Atlanta, Colorado and San Francisco." -- Florida's Anibal Sanchez, who flirted with the second no-hitter of his career by carrying one into the sixth inning in his first start since June 2. Sanchez, who has spent time this year on the disabled list with a sprained right shoulder, picked up the win to keep the Marlins three back of the Rockies in the NL wild-card race.

Advance Scouting ...
The Rangers send Tommy Hunter to the mound (7:08 PM ET) as they continue a key series in the AL wild-card race against the Rays. Hunter has been on a roll since rejoining Texas in late June, going 6-2 with a 2.41 ERA over his last nine starts. Tampa Bay counters with Matt Garza.

Starting Five: Who Needs a Green Monster? The Yankees Have Godzilla originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Sat, 22 Aug 2009 06:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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