Mets baseball blog

Perez rebounds

Oliver Perez can exhale. So can Jerry Manuel.

After a rocky showing in the WBC, then a subpar outing last week against the Tigers, Perez looked far more like the pitcher the Mets signed to a three-year, $36 million contract in his final full spring-training tune-up against the Orioles Monday night.

Perez, in line to pitch April 9 in Cincinnati, limited Baltimore to one run on four hits while striking out three and walking one in a 93-pitch effort over 6-2/3 innings. The run came on a homer by Adam Jones in the third inning. Continue

Manuel has faith in Delgado

The question has hung over the Mets all spring: Which Carlos Delgado are they going to get this season?

Will it be the Delgado who practically carried the Amazin's on his back the second half of last season, suddenly coming to life with 27 homers, 80 RBIs and a .308 average from June 27 on?

Or will it be the Delgado of the first half of 2008, the one who looked at the end of his once-formidable rope and was whispered to be just days away from being released? Continue

K-Rod keeps it interesting

 If last night was any indication, Francisco Rodriguez is going to be a wild ride for Mets fans.

The team's new All-Star closer made his first Grapefruit League appearance with the Amazin's in the eighth inning against the Nationals, and K-Rod didn't disappoint.

He was far from boring, either, putting runners on the corners with none out in a two-run game before striking out the next two hitters and getting out of trouble with a soft bouncer to third. Continue

Maine continues his yo-yo performances

 On a day that began with Oliver Perez challenging a reporter to a footrace, the Mets really needed to see something positive from John Maine a few hours later against the Cardinals.

Before Perez returned from his spring break with Team Mexico - and showed up like a frat brother after too many parties - the Mets' biggest concern was Maine, whose only crime is trying to find his old form after shoulder surgery last October.

After yesterday's performance, they can safely upgrade Maine's condition from critical to stable, with two more starts left before his first regular-season turn April 10 in Miami. Continue

Call him "Out of shape" Ollie

When is it no longer too soon to worry about Oliver Perez?

The answer to that $36 million question was provided Wednesday, when Jerry Manuel acknowledged he needs "to pay close attention" in the next several days to Perez, who also was deemed "out of shape" by pitching coach Dan Warthen after the lefty was wild and was again tattooed in a 10-6 loss to the Tigers at Tradition field. Continue

Pelfrey gets lit up, Garcia gets reassigned

After allowing one earned run over 10 innings in his previous two starts, Mike Pelfrey was tagged for six earned on 10 hits over 4-2/3 innings in Tuesday's 8-0 loss to the Astros. That included a solo homer by Ivan Rodriguez and a three-run double by Geoff Blum in Houston's six-run fifth inning.

"I just got away from executing pitches and the ball started coming back over the plate," said Pelfrey, who is slated to start the second game of the season on April 8.

"There comes a time in spring training when pitchers have a little lull and it's usually around this time," Jerry Manuel said. "I'm not really concerned with the outing." Continue

Livan continues to roll

Established pitchers with more than 100 career big-league wins apiece ordinarily aren't told to show up on an off day to face low-level prospects in a 9 a.m. simulated game.

While Livan Hernandez only enhanced his status as the overwhelming favorite to land the Mets' No.5 starter job under such conditions Monday, Freddy Garcia's days in camp appear to be dwindling. "Everything's perfect right now, everything's looking good," said Hernandez, who threw 85 pitches over five innings, allowing one run on four hits with seven strikeouts. "Right now, I'm 100%. I'm good to go." Continue

Santana shaping up nicely for opening day

Johan Santana looks like an Opening Day starter to Jerry Manuel. And why not be excited after the ace held the Braves hitless through four innings Sunday?

Santana eventually gave up a solo homer to Matt Diaz and a double by Clint Sammons, finishing his five-inning outing with seven strikeouts and two walks as the Mets crushed the Braves, 12-1.

"The velocity was a little up, surprisingly, for me," Manuel said. "And I don't look at the gun much. But it just seemed like everything was a little quicker today. That's good for us. That means he's feeling pretty good about his stuff right now."

Said Santana: "I think we're on the right track trying to get everything as planned." Continue

Maine continues to warrant concern

John Maine continued to allow runs in droves Saturday. He issued a bases-loaded walk to Brandon Jones, then surrendered a three-run double to Jeff Francoeur in the third, and ultimately was charged with five runs on six hits and three walks in four innings as the Braves beat the Mets, 12-1. Maine has allowed 14 runs in 11 innings spanning his past three outings, all against NL East foes.

Still, Maine insisted he's improving and suggested his fastball velocity should increase as he builds arm strength following Sept. 30 shoulder surgery. Continue

Livan looks to be the one for the five spot

Jonathon Niese's loss appeared to be Livan Hernandez's gain in the Mets' No. 5 starter derby yesterday.

The Amazin's took another step toward making Hernandez the fifth and final member of the rotation by optioning Niese to their minor-league camp with two weeks still to go in spring training.  Although more than enough time remains for the Mets' plans to change, Hernandez appears to be the choice. Continue