The Mets just announced that John Maine underwent successful arthroscopic surgery to remove a lesion from the back of his right shoulder socket. The operation was performed by team physicians David Altchek and Struan Coleman at the Hospital for Special Surgery. Maine will begin rehabilitation immediately and is expected to have a full recovery before spring training.
Just listening to Mike Francesa trying to incite Mets fans by repeating over and over again how the Mets should trade Wright or Reyes. Yes, it's true, the Mets have had back-to-back collapses with both of those 20-something All-Stars on their team.
So let's make a comparison to the shortstop and third baseman in the Bronx. Obviously Jeter has four World Series rings and A-Rod is a three-time MVP. But the Yankees have not won a World Series since 2000 and have not advanced past the first round of the playoffs since 2004. The Mets, for argument's sake, made it to Game 7 of the NLCS as recently as 2006.
Is there something fundamentally wrong with the "core group" of Yankees? Let's take a look at the numbers for Jeter and A-Rod this season.
Jeter ... .300/.363/.408 .... 88 R .... 11 HRs ... 69 RBI ... .317 RISP
A-Rod ...302/.393/.573 ... 104 R ... 35 HRs ... 103 RBI .. .271 RISP
Now let's take a look at the expendable Reyes and Wright:
Reyes ... .297/.358.475 ... 113 R ... 16 HRs ... 68 RBI ... .277 RISP
Wright ... .302/.390/.534 ...115 R ... 33 HRs ...124 RBI .. .243 RISP
Oops. Almost forgot. Let's also throw in their 2008 salaries:
Jeter .... $20 million
A-Rod .. $27 million
Reyes ... $4 million
Wright ... $5 million
So what core is really the problem here? Does it make any sense, financially or otherwise, for the Mets to trade one of their two, popular young players out of spite? Because they missed the playoffs twice in a row? Because Wright had a tough year in clutch situations? C'mon. Be serious.
One other thing. Check out what Wright batted with RISP the previous three years: .310, .365 and .298.
I'm voting for Cy Young this year and I've got to get my ballot in this afternoon. By now, I've narrowed down my top three, and Johan Santana is definitely among them, as he should be. Frankly, a month ago, I probably wouldn't have considered him.
But Santana was a beast in September, and wound up Pitcher of the Month for his 4-0 record and 1.83 ERA. Perhaps even more interesting is that Santana should get a large number of MVP votes as well. Not the top spot, mind you, but Santana will place somewhere in the bottom half, spots 5 through 10.
Sure, Tim Lincecum put up some great numbers, and Brandonn Webb is a 22-game winner. But Santana is the NL's ERA leader (2.53) and could easily have 20 wins with an adequate bullpen. Plus, Santana had a huge September with the pressure of the pennant race -- something that Lincecum did not have to deal with -- so I think that should count for something.
As for those other thoughts, there's no need to ditch your Wright No. 5 jersey for Matt Holliday's No. 5 just yet (how about that -- same number). Wright is only 25 -- he'll be 26 in December -- and don't you think it's a little early to write him off? There's other forces at work here, too.
Wright remains the face of the organization, is immensely popular here as well as around the league -- regardless of the radio attacks -- and is still improving as a player. Say what you want about his clutch tendencies this season, but Wright batted .302 with 33 home runs and 124 RBI, tying Mike Piazza's franchise record.
As for Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes, Beltran has a complete no-trade clause and the Mets aren't going to dump their franchise shortstop/leadoff hitter. They didn't do it last year despite the public outcry against him and it makes no sense this year, either.
One other thing. Before we have the Mets trade Carlos Delgado, after picking up his $12-million option, and move Daniel Murphy to first base, know this: Murphy is not an adequate defensive player -- at any position. Not LF, not 3B, not 2B and not 1B. Murphy is regarded as a promising bat, which he showed over these last two months, but he's not ready to be relied on in the every day lineup and certainly not at first, where he could be a major liability.
GM Omar Minaya suggested that he is "open to everything" as he heads into the offseason, but I doubt he'll mess with that aforementioned core group. As for Jerry Manuel, expect that interim label to be lifted any day now with an announcement expected by the end of this week.
That was Mike Piazza, wearing his No. 31 in royal-blue pinstripes, talking about driving to Shea yesterday morning in the driving rain.
I was chatting with Piazza in the back of the press box, and he was recalling those rainy afternoons when GM Steve Phillips would burst into the clubhouse saying, "We have a window," and the Mets would trudge out to a puddle-strewn infield to play.
Piazza was laughing at the memory, and he was clearly touched to be back at Shea for yesterday's closing ceremonies. Unfortunately, what happened in the hours leading up to the shuttering of Shea was not so great.
There's not much to say, really, after the 4-2 loss to the Marlins knocked them out of the playoffs -- again -- in Game No. 162.
"We fought," Carlos Beltran said, "but we failed once again ... I have no more words. Thank you guys."
With that, Beltran walked away.
On a more positive note, Jerry Manuel will return as manager, with a new deal that is expected to be announced in the next day or two. Next on the agenda, after the playoffs, will be fixing the bullpen, with a possible pursuit of K-Rod. Forget about the money. This goes beyond getting a closer. Just like the trade for Johan Santana, the Mets need another goodwill gesture for their fans, and signing K-Rod would be the splashy deal of the offseason.
The Marlins really rubbed it in the fans' faces by celebrating a little too long after yesterday's win. There was no need for the long handshake line in the center of the field and the subsequent high-fiving while the stadium staff was clearly anxious to get started with Shea's closing ceremonies. Finally, the fans switched from booing to chanting, "Off-The-Field!" and the Marlins got the hint.
Breaking news from Newsday's Arthur Staple:
Mets owner Fred Wilpon said manager Jerry Manuel has "done an excellent job" and sounded very positive about Manuel staying on as manager beyond this season.
Of course, Wilpon was speaking before the start of today's game, so things could change in the next few hours. But Wilpon, who was greeting the Mets of the past at a pre-game brunch, gave Manuel a hearty endorsement.
"He's done an excellent job in all ways, on and off the field," Wilpon said. "Jerry is a great gentleman, and after the season Jeff (Wilpon) and Omar (Minaya) will attend to (whether Manuel should stay). But I'm very happy with Jerry."
Asked if he has a vote in the decision-making process, Wilpon said: "You guys can guess whether I have a say in that process."
As for Minaya, whose four-year extension leaked to the media earlier this week, Wilpon was equally supportive.
"He has this organization moving in the right direction," Wilpon said. "One of the things no one predicted, and I include myself in that group, is that we'd have as many people in our minor-league system who are going to be very good players. A year ago, people said the Mets don't have anything in their system. They were wrong.
"We have a group of kids coming up, to go along with (Daniel) Murphy, (Nick) Evans, (Bobby) Parnell, (Jon) Niese."
The Mets just announced that today's game will start at 2 p.m.
Which now coincides with first pitch of Cubs-Brewers in Milwaukee.
Mets (89-72) vs. Marlins (83-77)
Oliver Perez (10-7, 4.25 ERA) vs. Scott Olsen (8-11, 4.23 ERA)
Here we go.
The Mets need a win to close Shea the right way and secure themselves at least a one-game playoff for the Wild Card against the Brewers on Monday. With some luck and some help from the Cubs, today could the ultimate celebration day at Shea. The Mets could celebrate its history and memories and a playoff birth.
"Big Game" Ollie needs to be just that today and the Mets hope to erase the memories of last season. Perez, throwing on three-days rest, has been shaky of late, but has had a knack for coming up huge in big spots. Against the Marlins, Perez is 3-0 with a 2.03 ERA in 31 innings this season. Olsen over his last five starts is 2-3 with a 4.46 ERA He has given up 15 earned runs in 30 1/3 innings.
Joseph Staszewski will be here to take you through all the action, the ceremonies and to share some Shea Stadium memories.
Top of the First: Perez looks sharp and sets the Marlins down in order.
Bottom of the First: Mets get just s two-out single from Delgado.
Top of the Second: Perez gets into a little trouble after a base hit off Perez's hand and a walk. He gets out of the two-out jam by getting Amezaga to pop out to center.
Bottom of the Second: Mets go down 1-2-3.
Top of the Third: Marlins get just a walk by Maybin.
Bottom of the Third: Castro leads of the inning with a single to left, but the Perez fails to move him over with a bunt. Reyes then strikes out and Beltran pops out.
Top of the Fourth: Marlins go down in order.
Bottom of the Fourth: Olsen needs just six pitches to set the Mets down.
Top of the Fifth: Ollie strikes out two in another 1-2-3 inning.
Bottom of the Fifth: Mets go down in order again. Olsen has retired nine in a row .
Top of the Sixth: Maybin leads off the inning with ground rule double to left. Scott Baker single to center to score Maybin. Perez is pulled for Joe Smith with the bases loaded and one out. Smith walks Willingham to force home a run. MARLINS 2, METS 0
Bottom of the Sixth: Cancel leads off with a walk. Beltran hits a two-run homer into the bleachers in left. METS 2, MARLINS 2
Top of the Seventh: Brian Stokes comes on to pitch. Maybin singles of the left field wall with one out and later steals second. Endy makes a spectacular one-handed catch in left to save a run.
Bottom of the Seventh: Joe Nelson comes on for Florida and sets the Mets down 1-2-3.
Top of the Eight: Scott Schoenweis comes in to pitch. Weis Helms homer to left. Luis Ayala replaces him and A. Reyes comes in to play second. Uggla homers to left. MARLINS 4, METS 2
Bottom of the Eighth: Kevin Gregg in to pitch. Murphy strikes out. Anderson ground out after the ball is deflected off of Gregg's glove. Reyes doubles to the gap in right center. Mets get runners on first and second with two outs, but Delgado flies out deep to left.
Top of the Ninth: Marlins strand a runner at first.
Bottom of the Ninth: Church flies out to deep center with Easley on first and two out.
MARLINS 4, METS 2
Most interesting development of this morning: No Hanley Ramirez. Here's both lineups.
MARLINS
Cameron Maybin ........... CF
John Baker ................... C
Jorge Cantu .................. 3B
Mike Jacobs ................. 1B
Josh Willingham ............ LF
Dan Uggla ..................... 2B
Cody Ross .................... RF
Alfredo Almezaga ........... SS
Scott Olsen ................... LHP
METS
Jose Reyes ................... SS
Carlos Beltran ................ CF
Carlos Delgado ...............1B
David Wright ................... 3B
Nick Evans ..................... LF
Ramon Martinez ..............2B
Ryan Church ...................RF
Ramon Castro ................. C
Oliver Perez ..................... LHP
It's raining here now, the tarp is on the field, and first pitch may be pushed back until 2:10.
If that hasn't been the overused line of the summer. Not sure how that Adam Sandler vehicle fared at the box office, but there's no way "Zohan" provided a better two hours of entertainment than Johan did in yesterday's critical 2-0 victory over the Marlins.
As a Cy Young voter this season, I can only think of what might have been for Santana. If the Mets' bullpen was merely adequate this season, Santana (16-7, 2.53 ERA) would have 20 wins, and he'd be pushing hard for his third Cy. I'm thinking he'll finish in the top three, anyway.
Santana hasn't lost since June 28, and he's 9-0 with a 2.09 ERA in his 17 starts since July 4.As expected, he's also been dominant at Shea, where Santana is 6-0 with a 1.47 ERA in his last nine starts.
"Serious gangsta" is how manager Jerry Manuel described yesterday's performance. As we know with Manuel, there is no higher praise.
Heading into today's Shea finale, it's a little strange how similar this weekend is to the final series of 2007. And my colleague Wally Matthews was definitely getting that vibe yesterday, as you can read here.
Anthony Rieber previews the closing act at Shea as well as what could be the defining moment of Ollie's Mets career. Arthur Staple takes a look at Jerry's revamped lineup and the star turn for Ramon Martinez. Where would the Mets be without him?
Hey everyone! Penultimate game here at Shea Stadium and with the Mets one game back in the Wild Card and two behind in the division, it's a must-win. Santana, on only three days' rest, on the mound today for the Mets, weather permitting. Last time he pitched on three days rest, he did well but lasted only five innings. The Mets will need more from him today, but keep in mind that Santana threw 125 pitches in his last outing.
Back after top of the first.
Top 1st
Two down, and Cantu sneaks one past a diving David Wright. Willingham grounds out to give the Mets a crack, and Santana's actually looking pretty sharp.
0-0
Bottom 1st
Reyes leads off with a base hit. With Beltran at the plate, yes Beltran, Reyes steals second. Reyes moves to third as Beltran slices one to right. Inspired start for the Mets. Looks like they actually came to play. First pitch to Delgado and he lifts one for a sac fly to put the Mets on the board. Wright singles for the third base hit of the inning, but the Mets will have to settle for just one as the strand two.
1-0 NY
Top 2
Santana goes 1-2-3, fanning two. He now has 200 k's for the year
1-0 NY
Bottom 2nd
Church goes down swinging, as does Santana, as Nolasco works his own 1-2-3.
1-0 NY
Top 3rd
Two more strikeouts as Santana retires the Marlins in order.
1-0 NY
Bottom 3rd
Reyes goes down swinging. Rain is coming down, but it doesn't look like anything too serious. Mets go down in order.
1-0 NY
Top 4th
Santana retires the side, thanks to a great stop by Wright to rob Uggla of a double.
1-0 NY
Bottom 4th
Murphy on base after being hit by a pitch. Ramon Martinez doubles to right center, scoring Murphy to give the Mets a 2-run lead. Two down, and Castro walked intentionally. Two on and two outs, and Santana grounds out
2-0 NY
Top 5th
Ross leads off with a line to left for a base hit. Hermida walks. Sac bunt moves runners to second and third. Intentional walk on Ramirez loads the bases. Baker flies out and the Marlins fail to cash in on a prime opportunity to tie the game.
2-0 NY
Bottom 5th
Two away and Ramirez throws out Delgado at first from his seat.
2-0 NY
Top 6th
Santana retires the side. He's at 88 pitches through 6. Jerry said he didn't wanna push him past 105, but that may be tough if the game is close.
2-0 NY
Bottom 6th
Wright grounds softly for a base hit. Nolasco retires the next three batters, including Church, who strikes out for the third time this game.
2-0 NY
Top 7th
Three quick outs on eight pitches. Superb pitching from Santana today.
2-0 NY
Bottom 7th
Nolasco is throwing a fine game of his own. Three up, three down.
2-0 NY
Top 8th
Crowd now chanting "Jo-han, Jo-han," as he retires the side by striking out Baker.
2-0 NY
Bottom 8th
Beltran singles on a line to left. Two down, and Murphy flies out. Santana now going for the shutout.
2-0 NY
Top 9th
Willingham doubles to put the tying run at the plate, but Santana K's Uggla swinging. Fly out as Santana pitches a 3-hit shutout. Big game keeps the Mets alive.
2-0 Final
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