Mets Looking To Stop Streaking Phills

The NY Mets will send Tom Glavine to the mound in game two against the Phills. Glavine is in a little funk. He has not won in seven starts. Over that period he is 0-2 with 5 no decisions. He looks to snap out of it as he will oppose Jon Lieber. Lieber is coming off a horrible start in which he blames on trade rumors. Lieber insists that he was worried about being traded and he could not focus on the game. The Mets ended one Philly streak last night, can they stop the whole team today? We will find out in less than an hour. The game will be broad casted on FOX and will start @ 1:26 PM ET. Good luck Glavine and LETS GO METS!!!

Mets Lose 2 In A Row

The NY Mets have now lost two consecutive games. They lost the rubber game of a three game set to the Marlins on Thursday and they lost game one of a three game to the Phillies. On back to back nights the Mets saw their usually effective bullpen be well...ineffective. Against the Marlins, Dontrelle and Pedro were both dominant. The Mets took a lead into the bottom of the 8th and they turned to Aaron Heilman for the third straight night. Heilman blew up as he allowed three runs and put the Marlins ahead. In the end the Marlins won 4-1. Against the Phillies the Mets and Phills slugged it out and in the end they lost 5-3. A run was scored in every inning except the first, sixth, and eighth. After Met starter El Duque left the game the usually dominant Daren Oliver allowed a solo shot to Dave Delluccie to put the Phils ahead 3-4. Pedro Feliciano also allowed a solo HR to Ryan Howard. Coincidently enough Delluccie and Howard are lefty hitters and Oliver and Feliciano are supposed to be lefty specialists. This Mets club has taken a big hit with the loss of Dauner Sanchez but if they want to be effective they need to be effective in the bullpen. That is their strong point, it has been all year. The Mets need to figure out this bullpen problem ASAP.

Castro on DL

The Mets have placed Ramon Castro on the 15- day DL. He was sidelined for a few days with a strained obbliq and has not been able to make a recovery. Veteran Catcher Mike DeFilice has been called up to replace him. It is my guess that either DeFilice or utility man Eli Marrero will make the start behind the plate in tomorrow's day game. It will be the first time since the 28th of July that Paul LoDuca has not started behind the plate.

Martinez Promoted

The New York Met organization has promoted one of its highest sealing prospects from low A Hagerstown to St. Lucie in Fernando Martinez. Martinez was batting .333 with 5 homers, 14 doubles, and 2 triples, and 28 RBI in 45 games with the Suns. In his last game in low A ball Martinez won the game with a walk off grand slam.

Things Look Bleak

Things are looking pretty bleak for the Mets in the top of the 9th inning. Willie Randolph turned to Aaron Heilman for the third straight night and it blew up in his face. Heilman allowed 3 runs in his one inning. Miguel Cabrera hit a bases loaded, 2 out triple. Update: The Mets lost as Joe Borowski closed the door. They scored just one run and to top it all off that run was unearned.

Jose's New Deal

Jose Reyes would have been avalible for salery arbitration in the off season and as the Mets usually do they avoided arbitration. They gave Reyes a deal worth 23.25 million dollars over 4 years, with an option for a 5th year. In my belief Reyes gave the Mets a deal. I think he is worth way more.

2 Late Scratches

The Mets intended to rest Floyd and Delgado tonight with Dontrelle pitching but made two lat scratches. Julio Franco was scratched from the line up because of the flu. Eli Marrero was also scratched because of a stiff neck. Eli was replaced by Chris Woodward. Julio Franco also contributed in the game, despite not starting. Franco had a pinch hit single in the 7th inning and advanced to third on a error. Franco would eventually scoring the Mets first run.

Wednesday Morning News

August 2, 2006 In the NY Post Mark Hale writes about Billy Wagners blown save last night. "Billy Wagner leaves the mound last night after the Marlins' Josh Willingham hit a two-run, game-winning homer that handed the Mets a 6-5 loss, and left Willingham and the Marlins celebrating at home plate." Hale also touches on Beltran's hot streak. In the NY Times Ben Shpigel writes about Dauner Sanchez's "sooner than expected" surgery. According to Shpigel Sanchez is expected to make a full recovery and be back by spring training. Shpigel also touches on the return of Lastings Milledge, the promotion of Met prospect Phill Humber to AA Bighamton, and the activites of Victor Zambrano. In the Daily News Adam Rubin talks about Lastings Milledge's return to the majors. " Lastings Milledge's return to the big leagues included a $50 fine, three walks, a lost fly ball and spiked left hand." Rubin touches on Brian Bannister's and Ramon Castro's injuries, and Xavier Nady's shock of being traded to the Pirates. In Newsday Bob Herzog covers the trade of Xavier Nady to the Pirates for Roberto Hernandez and Oliver Perez in seperate articles.

Game Time

It's game time folks. The Mets are about to open a 3 game set with the Florida Marlins. They will face LHP Scott Olsen. So far this season Olsen is 9-4 with a 3.79 ERA. The Mets will send Mike Pelfrey to the mound. Pelfrey is 2-1 with a 5.29 ERA in three starts. This is an important start for Pelfrey because it will likely decide if he stays with the big league club. The starting lineup: SS Jose Reyes C Paul LoDuca CF Carlos Beltran 1B Carlos Delgado 3B David Wright 2B Jose Valentin LF Cliff Floyd RF Lastings Milledge P Mike Pelfrey Player(s) to look for: Paul LoDuca- The last time LoDuca faced Olsen he went 2 for 3 with a walk. Carlos Beltran- Beltran is the hottest hitter on the planet look for him to do something big tonight. Lastings Milledge- Look for the rookie phenom to bring a spark to the Mets with his fiery attitude and electric speed.

Hernandez, Perez, Milledge, and Sanchez

As we all know the Mets acquired LHP Oliver Perez and reacquired RHP Roberto Hernandez for the Pirates in exchange for OF Xavier Nady. The club has decided to send Perez to AAA Norfolk. In all likeliness he will join the club in September and will get his opportunity to work with Rick Peterson and join the starting rotation in Spring Training. Roberto Hernandez will join the major league team. He will be taking the place of the injured Duaner Sanchez. Hopefully Roberto can contribute to this squad the way he did last year. Lastings Milledge, the Mets number one position prospect will be recalled to the majors. Milledge will be taking the spot of Xavier Nady. He will likely split time with OF Endy Chavez. In his last game in the minors Milledge was ejected for arguing a called third strike. There is also a rumor that Milledge bumped the home plate umpire. There is a chance that Milledge may be suspended. However that will not affect his time at the majors because a suspension in the minors only applies in the minors. As for Sanchez the GM of the Mets Omar Minaya has stated that the severity of Sanchez' injury is unknown. There is a chance he will be back this season. Sanchez will have some time off to let his shoulder heal. After that, if it is determined that Sanchez needs to have surgery he will miss the rest of the season. If not he will likely be back by the middle of September.