Thursday, May 25, 2006
Mets pick up another pitcher!
The Mets failed to sweep the Phils at Shea today, losing 5-3. Combined with their 2 out of 3 against the Yankees last weekend, they went .667 on the home stand. They head to Florida for a brief 3-game road trip this weekend, before returning to host the Diamondbacks on Tuesday.
Like Alay Soler last night, Jeremi Gonzalez allowed 3 runs in the 1st inning. The sub-starter was rocked for HRs by lefties Bobby Abreau and Ryan Howard. Jose Reyes responded with a 3-run jolt (his 5th) in the 2nd, but the Phillies reached reliever Pedro Feliciano for 2 runs in the 7th, regaining the lead. The Mets never scored again.
Reyes went 3 for 5, but Chase Utley did him one better, going 4 for 5.
The Mets (28-18) now lead the Phils (24-22) by 4 games and the idle Braves (24-23 by 4.5.
More trade news!
Hot on the heels of acquiring Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez for Jorge Julio yesterday, the Mets bolstered their battered starting rotation with another deal today. As previously suggested by ESPN.com and reported by Blooming Ideas, GM Omar Minaya traded a minor leaguer (Robert Manual) for disgarded Reds starter Dave Williams. On May 21, ESPN.com's Buster Olney wrote: "It wouldn't cost them much more than the prorated portion of the $1.4 million he is making in salary. The Reds probably would be thrilled to simply rid themselves of the contract. At a time when the Mets don't want to trade top prospects, and may prefer not to try to count on pitchers who have never worked above Class AA, Williams would seem to be a sound mid-level gamble. If he flames out and continues to struggle - so far this year, he has a 7.20 ERA - then it would only cost the Mets a bit of cash. Williams is only 27 and he generally has been at least adequate for much of his career, accumulating a 4.56 ERA in his 74 games (66 starts). Williams is much better suited pitching for the Mets, in spacious Shea Stadium, than he was pitching in Cincinnati, because he has an acute tendency toward generating fly balls. The quality the Mets need more than any for the back end of their rotation is to have someone who is not overwhelmed. Williams might be that guy."
With these moves, it's hard to predict who'll pitch in Miami after Pedro Martinez (Friday) and Tom Glavine (vs. Dontrelle Willis on Saturday). Steve Trachsel's slated for Sunday, but he's been suffering back spasms. Sunday's starter could be anyone from Hernandez to Williams to Soler to Gonzalez. Suddenly, the rotation is loaded with fresh arms.
Like Alay Soler last night, Jeremi Gonzalez allowed 3 runs in the 1st inning. The sub-starter was rocked for HRs by lefties Bobby Abreau and Ryan Howard. Jose Reyes responded with a 3-run jolt (his 5th) in the 2nd, but the Phillies reached reliever Pedro Feliciano for 2 runs in the 7th, regaining the lead. The Mets never scored again.
Reyes went 3 for 5, but Chase Utley did him one better, going 4 for 5.
The Mets (28-18) now lead the Phils (24-22) by 4 games and the idle Braves (24-23 by 4.5.
More trade news!
Hot on the heels of acquiring Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez for Jorge Julio yesterday, the Mets bolstered their battered starting rotation with another deal today. As previously suggested by ESPN.com and reported by Blooming Ideas, GM Omar Minaya traded a minor leaguer (Robert Manual) for disgarded Reds starter Dave Williams. On May 21, ESPN.com's Buster Olney wrote: "It wouldn't cost them much more than the prorated portion of the $1.4 million he is making in salary. The Reds probably would be thrilled to simply rid themselves of the contract. At a time when the Mets don't want to trade top prospects, and may prefer not to try to count on pitchers who have never worked above Class AA, Williams would seem to be a sound mid-level gamble. If he flames out and continues to struggle - so far this year, he has a 7.20 ERA - then it would only cost the Mets a bit of cash. Williams is only 27 and he generally has been at least adequate for much of his career, accumulating a 4.56 ERA in his 74 games (66 starts). Williams is much better suited pitching for the Mets, in spacious Shea Stadium, than he was pitching in Cincinnati, because he has an acute tendency toward generating fly balls. The quality the Mets need more than any for the back end of their rotation is to have someone who is not overwhelmed. Williams might be that guy."
With these moves, it's hard to predict who'll pitch in Miami after Pedro Martinez (Friday) and Tom Glavine (vs. Dontrelle Willis on Saturday). Steve Trachsel's slated for Sunday, but he's been suffering back spasms. Sunday's starter could be anyone from Hernandez to Williams to Soler to Gonzalez. Suddenly, the rotation is loaded with fresh arms.
