Tonight’s Pregame Notes
Here’s the starting lineup for the Mets that will (hopefully) support Tom Glavine in his quest for his 300th win:
SS Jose Reyes
2B Luis Castillo
3B David Wright
1B Carlos Delgado
LF Moises Alou
RF Shawn Green
CF Lastings Milledge
C Ramon Castro
Note the absence of Carlos Beltran. Beltran was put on the DL today due to the injury he suffered during batting practice last Wednesday. The move made room to add Castillo to the roster after having acquired him for two minor leaguers yesterday. It was a retroactive DL placement which mean Beltran will be eligible to return to the lineup late next week at which point the team will have to make another move.
Pedro Martinez will make his first rehab start tomorrow throwing 45 pitches for class St. Lucie. With the 30-day limit on rehab assignments for pitchers this would set up a possible September 1 return for Martinez.
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Mets Get Castillo!
The Mets have been searching to improve their lineup by adding a more natural second place hitter as well as addressing their needs at second base. Yesterday they accomplished both. After negotiations for other second basemen (Mark Loretta, Mark Grudzielanek, Tadahito Iguchi, etc.) the Mets had a chance to acquire the Twins Luis Castillo. They jumped on the opportunity by sending lower prospects Drew Butera and Dustin Martin.
Though I like Ruben Gotay, who had been the de facto starting second baseman recently, Castillo, with three gold gloves, is a significant defensive upgrade who should help cover for the lack of range at first base (Carlos Delgado) and right field (Shawn Green). And though he’s only batted .220 in the post season Castillo was on the world champion Marlin team of 2003. Don’t underestimate the inspiration a World Series ring can have in the clubhouse.
Does this trade mean the Mets won’t be dealing for bullpen help as today’s trade deadline draws near? I doubt it. The players dealt for Castillo were unlikely to be included in a trade for a relief pitcher. Omar Minaya has reportedly been significantly interested in Washington reliever Chad Cordero. The Mets have also been rumored to be interested in Eric Gagne and Octavio Dotel. Even if they don’t land any of these three players I think they will at least make a lower profile deal to bring in an arm that may or may not be helpful. It does nothing to stand pat and Minaya knows it. He must bring in someone even if it’s not an impact player if for no other reason then to send a message to his bullpen that mediocrity will not be tolerated and if they can’t get the job done then he will look for other people who can.
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Trade Deadline Looming
Carlos Beltran is hurting and may be put on the disabled list due to a strained oblique he hurt during batting practice last week. Paul Lo Duca is bothered by a strained hamstring. The team recalled Mike DiFelice from AAA New Orleans as a third catcher in case they need one . (Sandy Alomar Jr. was waived last week.) With the non-waiver trade deadline looming it is possible the Mets could make a deal for an outfielder. Moises Alou is just back from an injury. Shawn Green spent some time hurt earlier in the year. Endy Chavez is still out with an injury. And now Beltran. With Alou and Green it is clear that age, diminishing skills and injury fears will be playing a role in how the Mets address their right and left field strategies in the off season. But I don’t think it would be out of the realm of possibility for the team to add another experienced outfielder for the stretch run.
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R.I.P. Bill Robinson
I was saddened to hear the news that Bill Robinson died over the weekend. Robinson was Davey Johnson’s hitting coach in 1986. He was also the hitting coach on the world champion Florida Marlins squad in 2003 and played outfield for the 1979 world champion Pittsburgh Pirates. He spent the last couple of years as a minor league hitting coordinator for the Dodgers. Robinson was 64 years old.
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As The Bonds Turns
Barry Bonds is at it again. The latest episode of “Bonds Behaving Badly” revolves around interviews Bob Costas aired with Curt Schilling and the creator of “The Clear”, chemist Patrick Arnold, for “Costas Now”. In the interviews Arnold says that BALCO founder Victor Conte told him that Bonds was using “The Clear”. Schilling says in his interview that the absence of a denial from Bonds is the same as admitting he’s on the juice. “If someone wrote that stuff about me and I didn’t sue their [butt] off, am I not admitting there’s some legitimacy to it?” In response to the interviews Bonds referred to Costas as “a little midget man who absolutely knows jack [bleep] about baseball”.
Bonds also repeated something that’s been said many times in downplaying the steroids issue in baseball. He denied Arnold’s claim that steroids helps you hit a baseball. I’d have to disagree with that. Though the steroids themselves do not directly affect how you hit a baseball they do give you strength and make you more comfortable at the plate. The comfort would help you concentrate better and the strength would help you drive the ball further. Wouldn’t it? I’d welcome feedback on this from any medical people or athletes with knowledge and/or experience on the issue.
Bonds went on to say some other things that I found odd. In talking about the pitching he’s been getting from the Atlanta pitching staff this week a reporter called the Braves approach a challenge for Bonds. Bonds responded “Challenging me is fastballs, sucker. Don’t throw me a changeup and a split-finger and a slider at my kneecap and tell me you’re challenging me. Tell me what’s coming and I’ll challenge you. I’ll put it in the bleeping water. How’s that?”
That sucks, Barry. I always thought that one of the marks of great hitters is that they can take most any pitch at most any location and do something with it. What’s the difference if it’s a fastball or a change? If it’s in the strike zone shouldn’t you be able to take it deep?
Bonds’ outburst continues to prove one thing. After all these years he still doesn’t get it. The main reason why people liked Mark McGwire when he was chasing Roger Maris was because he was a nice guy. (After his congressional appearance that’s changed.) Barry, people don’t hate you because your black or because you’re chasing Hank Aaron. They hate you because you come off as a jerk.
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What’s on Second?
There’s been a lot of rumors lately about who the Mets may trade for as the non waiver trade deadline approaches. The most speculation is around second base where Jose Valentin is on the DL with a fractured right tibia. I’d argue that the Mets are better off without Valentin. Ruben Gotay has been playing excellent ball and Damion Easley, Marlon Anderson and Anderson Hernandez provide depth. I don’t think they have be jumping through hoops to get another guy in here right now. (That may change.)
Along those lines Ken Rosenthal at Foxsports.com reports that the team will not trade for Giants second baseman Ray Durham. However, Rosenthal continues, Houston’s Mark Loretta and the White Sox’s Tadahito Iguchi are still possibilities. Stay tuned.
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Maine Can Hit Too
You knew things were going the Mets way last night when John Maine came to bat in the fourth inning with the Mets already leading 4-2. Maine just tried to make contact with the ball but ended up hitting a two run homer to left field. The blast had Mets broadcasters Gary Cohen and Keith Hernandez reminiscing about Dwight Gooden’s love of hitting home runs and even Babe Ruth’s conversion from pitcher to outfielder so that he would have more opportunities to hit souvenirs to fans sitting in the outfield bleachers. Maine did well with his other chores too allowing only 5 hits and 2 ER while walking 1 and striking out 7 over 7 innings. If this hitting thing doesn’t work out for Maine maybe he can make a career out of pitching.
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This Is Your Home Run King… Almost
I saw this in today’s New York Post. I was trying to come up with my own caption for this one but it says it all without any further comment.
Cartoon By Michael Ramirez
© Copyright 2007 Investor's Business Daily. All Rights Reserved.
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Heed My Warning
After winning 3 out of the first four coming back from the All Star break the Mets have now dropped 2 out of the last 3 heading into a weekend series against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. Teams like the Padres and Dodgers are teams that the Mets need to play better against. While you can’t expect sweeps of teams like these (you expect the sweeps against losing teams) you would like them to win more than they lose against them. These are possible playoff opponents and you’d like to see the Mets display some superiority over them. If you can’t learn them now you will not master them come October.
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El Duque Deals and Steals
The Mets bounced back from a 5-1 loss in San Diego on Monday night to beat the Padres 7-0 last night. Orlando Hernandez pitched 7 innings of 2 hit ball. Pedro Feliciano and Guillermo Mota finished up the combined 3 hitter. El Duque also stole a base becoming the first pitcher since 1967 to steal bases in consecutive starts. Incidentally the pitcher who did it in ’67 was Tom Seaver.
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