Vizquel 10-24
Bautista 2-9
Francisco 2-8, 2B, HR
Mathis 1-5

The Mets bats will get a look at Brandon Morrow today who is 4-2 this season with a 2.22 ERA over 8 starts and 52.1 innings of work. He is coming off his first rough start in a while as he allowed 6 ER over 5 innings of work. He has logged barely any time against the Mets in his career as he has one scoreless inning against the Amazins. Only three Mets have numbers against Morrow:

Cedeno 2-3
Hairston 0-3
Torres 1-3

Let’s Go Mets! Check 213 Miles From Shea!

Tweet

2010: 3-2, 2.95 ERA, 39.2 IP, 2 BS
2011: 4-1, 3.45 ERA, 47.0 IP, 3 BS
2012: 1-2, 10.53 ERA, 19.2 IP, 1 BS

On the flip side, Hefner had a fantastic major league debut where he pitched 3.0 IP just allowing one walk. These are some of his recent minor league numbers:

Career: 49-36, 3.77 ERA, 735.0 IP
2012: 3-2, 2.72 ERA, 46.1 IP

This season Hefner has been really turning it on in the minors, and the Mets could use another spot starter in the pen, since their current one is actually in the pen.

If this move happens, I’m for it. It seems like the right time for change in the Mets pen.

UPDATE:
The move happened but not as expected. Hefner was promoted but Valdespin was sent down. This is probably best for Valdespin but that doesn’t help the Mets issues in the pen as Acosta is still an option for Terry to use. I still stick with the idea of getting rid of Acosta, especially if he doesn’t turn it around by the end of the month.

Tweet

Niese is 2-1 over 7 starts and 39.2 innings with an ERA of 3.40. In his last two starts he has pitched 11.0 innings with 2 ER. Niese has never faced Toronto, which makes sense. Despite never actually facing the Jays, Niese has some numbers against some current members of Toronto’s ball club:

Francisco: 3-12
Johnson 4-10, 2B
Escobar 0-2
Mathis 0-2

Romero is 4-1 on the season over 8 starts and 53.1 innings of work. In his last three starts he is 1-1 with a 5.12 ERA where he pitched 19.1 innings of work where he allowed 11 ER. He walked and striked out 13 batters over those 19.1 innings. Being a Blue Jay his entire career means he has never faced the Mets. It’s not surprising that the Mets have limited exposure to Ricky:

Hairston 2-6
Johnson 1-3
Cedeno 0-3
Turner 1-1

Let’s Go Mets! Check 213 Miles From Shea!

Tweet

The first year this was done, all of the hats were red with a flag version of the team logo. The second year they were navy blue. The third year they were white on top with either a red or blue brim. This concept was devised because a major complaint has been the hats don’t go with the uniforms, and this model made that a little better.

In 2012, the hats are the normal home hats for the team, but the logos are filled with camouflage.

That is not an attractive hat. As you can imagine, this hat does not look attractive for probably any team wearing it.

Now my normal complaints about this hat hold true from previous years. Previously, I talked a lot about how this is “slactivism” at its best. Slactivism, is basically lazy activism. Its the type of activism that doesn’t help any body. Yeah some of the proceeds go to a great organization, but if you really want to help out, donate time, not just $35, and who knows how much of that $35 actually makes it to the charity. This is almost as bad as changing your status on facebook (although that remains as even more lazy form of slactivism).

My new complaint is about how this conflates the idea of patriotism and military. Ever since 9/11, and really since 2003 with the War in Iraq, miltary and patriotism have become same entity. Not supporting the war pubicly (although this has waned since 2008), or not supporting troop decisions (still holds true) is seen as publicly saying that you harbor negative thoughts or feelings to the country as a whole.

Now the hats already conflated the idea of patriotism and military as they were patriotic hats raising money for the military on a mix of military and civilian pride days. This has been exasperated now as players are supporting the military, or being forced to show solidarity with the American Military in a capitalistic manner on July 4th, a civilian holiday, and 9/11. We all have our opinions about 9/11 but ultimately, if we are to single out a group on 9/11, it should be our first responders (which includes the military, but not like this).

In other words, I’m dissapointed but not surprised in the MLB for making this decision to put camo on the hats. It’s disrespectful to players who support other countries, and it’s disrespectful to Americans who support their patriotism in ways that do not conflate with the military. This is what makes the hats different than the team giving seats to the military at the game. When a team gives military seats at the game it is a personal sign of respect. It is a direct thank you. It is also a gesture that does not force anyone else to participate. As soon as we bring in these hats, and then we make a spectacle out of it, we are forcing everyone to participate.

It is sad but true that the Military and Religion have this protection in this country. You cannot openly criticize either one without having your own character (not your reasoning, but your character) criticized as well. Baseball is by no means apolitical. However, over the last four years, there is something that feels so manufactured about the Military/Patriotic/Baseball connection. Previous movements happened on both a player level and front office level. This can be anything from Jackie Robinson to the Mets wearing the NYFD/NYPD hats. However this feels very corporate, which to me personally, leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

I know there will be a good chunk of readers that will disagree with this, and you have every right to. I have always been in the boat of if an action is going to demean or belittle the thoughts and opinions of another group, than that action shouldn’t happen (the action here being Stars and Stripes hats and what it says about baseball in the larger picture). Feel free to comment. I won’t censure anyone’s words, but sometimes it does take a while for comments to be posted.

Tweet

Dickey is 5-1 on the season over 7 starts and 44.1 innings with a 3.65 ERA. In his last four starts he has pitched 27.0 innings with a 3-0 record and a 2.33 ERA. Last season he pitched 6.2 innings allowing 8 hits and 2 ER while striking out 7. The Reds have the following numbers against Dickey:

Valdez 2-8
Ludwig 2-6, HR
Phillips 1-5, 2B
Stubbs 1-4
Bruce 1-3, 2B

The Mets bats will try to break out against Mat Latos who is 2-2 on the season over 7 starts and 39.2 innings of work and a 4.54 ERA. Mat had a rough start to 2012 but has quieted down in his last two starts totaling 11.o innings of work and allowing only 1 ER. Last season he picked up the loss in one start against the Mets as he allowed 3 ER over 4 hits and 6.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Latos:

Torres 4-13
Wright 1-7, HR
Cedeno 2-4
Duda 1-3
Murphy 0-3
Davis 0-2

Let’s Go Mets! Check 213 Miles From Shea!

Tweet

There are several players that Mets Fans, myself included, would like to see gone, because the replacement couldn’t possibly be much worse. The first move happened yesterday after Carrasco was DFA’d. Carrasco was the first Mets reliever that Sandy gave a two year contract and his numbers with the big league club have been pretty ugly:

2011: 1-3, 6.03 ERA, 49.1 IP, 12.2 H/9
2012: 0-0, 7.36 ERA, 3.2 IP, 14.1 H/9

Even though 2012 is a small sample size, both years are the highest H/9 he has had in his career. So far as a Met he has just not  had anything out there on the mound.

Carson will likely get the call up. This is fantastic news for Byrdak, the only left hander in the pen, who was on track for around 100 appearences this year. Carson has never pitched in the bigs but has a 4.32 ERA over 472.1 innings over 6 years in the minors. Carson was impressive over Spring Training, and now gets his time in the big leagues.

Carson, in my opinion, gets the promotion for two reasons. First, he’s killing it this season with a 1.84 ERA over 12 games and 14.1 innings in AA. Second, as mentioned before, this bullpen is need of another left handed pitcher.

Here’s an obvious statement but if the bullpen continues the way it’s going, there will be more moves coming soon as players like Edgin, Cabrera and Ramirez might get promotions to the big league club.

Tweet

Santana is 1-2 on the season with a 2.92 ERA over 37.0 innings and 7 starts. In his last four starts he has a 1-0 record over 25.2 innings with a 2.45 ERA. The last time he faced the Reds was back in 2010 when he pitched a complete game shutout allowing only 3 hits. The Reds have the following numbers against Santana:

Ludwig 4-25, 2B, 2 HR
Phillips 5-19, 2 2B, 3B
Cairo 5-17, 3 2B
Votto 3-12
Bruce 2-11, 2 2B
Stubbs 0-4

Mike Leake is off to a start he would like to forget as he has an 0-5 record over 6 starts and 31.2 innings with a 7.11 ERA. He is coming off of his worst start of the season where he allowed 6 ER over 7 hits and 3.0 innings of work. Last year he made one start against the Mets where he pitched 6.2 innings allowing 8 hits and 2 ER. The Mets have the following numbers against Mike:

Cedeno 4-11
Torres 2-7
Wright 1-6
Turner 2-3
Murphy 1-3, 2B

Let’s Go Mets! Check 213 Miles From Shea!

Tweet

Gee is 2-2 on the season with a 4.78 ERA over 37.2 innings of work this year. In his last three starts he has pitched 18.2 innings with an ERA of 4.32. The last time Dillon faced the Brewers was back in 2010 when he allowed 4 runs, 2 earned, over 6 innings of work and 7 hits on his way to a loss. The Brewers have the following numbers against Gee:

Weeks 1-4
Braun 0-2
Hart 1-3
Lucroy 0-3
Morgan 0-3
Ramirez 0-3

The Mets bats will get a look at Zack Greinke tonight who is 3-1 on the young season with an ERA of 3.35 over 43.0 innings of work. Zack is coming off of his best start of the season where he went 8.0 innings allowing 0 runs (his best start since opening day when he 7.0 innings allowing no runs). He has made one start against the Mets and it was way back in 2004 where he allowed 5 ER over 7 innings of work. As you would imagine, since his last start against the Mets was in 2004, and most of this team is home grown, very few Mets have had AB’s against Grienke:

Cedeno 3-10, 2B
Hairston 0-3
Johnson 0-2

Let’s Go Mets! Check 213 Miles From Shea!

Tweet

Batista is 0-1 on the season with a 5.89 ERA over 18.1 innings. In his last start he pitched 5.1 innings against the Phillies allowing 4 runs, 2 earned over 8 hits. The last time he faced the Brewers was back in 2010 when he allowed 4 ER over 7.2 innings of work over 3 games. The Brewers have the following numbers against Miguel:

Izturis 6-22, 3B, HR
Ramirez 2-14, 2B
Weeks 2-6, 2B
Braun 0-4

Gallardo will make the start for the Brewers this season. On the season he is 2-3 with a 5.35 ERA over 38.2 innings. In the last two starts he has pitched 12.0 innings with an ERA of 3.75 and a record of 1-1. Last season he was 1-1 against the Mets over two starts with a 4.91 ERA over 11.0 innings of work. The Mets have the following numbers against Yovani:

Wright 3-14, HR
Cedeno 3-10, 2 HR
Torres 0-7
Davis 0-4
Duda 3-6, 2 HR
Murphy 1-6

Let’s Go Mets!
Check 213 Miles From Shea!

Tweet

Jon Niese is 2-1 over six starts and 33.2 innings with a 4.01 ERA. The last two starts have been slightly rougher for Niese who has allowed 5 ER over 3 innings of work and 2 ER over only 5 innings of work. Earlier this season he pitched 7.0 innings against the Marlins as he allowed 2 ER and struck out 6 batters. The Marlins have the following numbers against Niese:

Infante 4-21, 3 2B
Sanchez 4-16, 2B, HR
Ramirez 3-14, 2B, HR
Morrison 3-7, 2B
Stanton 1-7
Reyes 0-3

The Mets will get their first look of the season at Carlos Zambrano who is 1-2 this season over six starts and 41.0 innings of work with an ERA of 1.98. Zambrano’s numbers look so strong because in his last two starts he has thrown 7 innings and 9 innings respectively of shut out ball, which as you can imagine dropped his ERA in this early season. He faced the Mets once in 2011 where he allowed 2 runs, 1 earned over 6 innings of work. The Mets have the following numbers against Carlos:

Wright 3-24
Cedeno 3-11
Murphy 3-10
Davis 1-6, HR
Hairston 1-5
Torres 0-3

Let’s Go Mets! Check 213 Miles From Shea!

Tweet