Mets baseball blog

Mets win streak ends with split

Seven strong innings from Johan Santana and more strong hitting lifted the Mets to a 7-0 victory over the Rockies in the opener of a day-night doubleheader on Thursday. But the Mets' five-game winning streak came to a halt in the nightcap when their suddenly-productive offense sputtered.

The Mets got only six hits and hurt themselves with an early baserunning blunder in a 4-2 loss to the Rockies in front of 38,962 in the second game of the first doubleheader at Citi Field. Angel Pagan got caught in a rundown between third and home with nobody out in the first inning on what appeared to be the back end of a double steal. But both Pagan and Mets manager Jerry Manuel described it as a "miscommunication" rather than a designed play. Continue

Will Omar push for a major trade?

Rain might have washed out last night's game between the Mets and Rockies, but Beltran and Sheffield were preparing for future games they hope will mean something. If two of the Mets' walking wounded haven't given up on the season, neither should Omar Minaya.

The Mets embattled general manager did not make himself available to the media yesterday. Hopefully, he was working on some kind of trade to bring Victor Martinez to the Mets -- a deal that needs to be made to offer some real optimism to a season that's hanging by a thread. Continue

Phillies land Cliff lee

Once Philadelphia Phillies pitching prospect Carlos Carrasco was scratched from this afternoon's start for the Class AAA Lehigh Iron Pigs, a deal for Cleveland Indians ace Cliff Lee figured to be in the works.

The Phillies have agreed to trade Carrasco, fellow right-hander Jason Knapp, shortstop Jason Donald and catcher Lou Marson to Cleveland for Lee and outfielder Ben Francisco. The deal, first reported by Fox Sports, says the only remaining hurdle is the requisite medical clearances. The Associated Press has also confirmed the trade agreement.

Pelfrey leads Mets to 4th straight

The front office is not the only place things have gotten hairy around the Mets this week.

Several Mets players have made a vow not to shave until the team gets to .500. If they keep playing like they did last night, the razors won't be away for long.

The Mets won their fourth straight game, a 4-0 victory over the Rockies at Citi Field to move three games below .500, or should we call it the "razor line?"

Starting pitcher Mike Pelfrey led the way with one of his best outings of the season. The big right-hander shut down the Rockies, lasting 6 1/3 innings, giving up seven hits while striking out five, walking three and hitting a batter. Continue

Jeff undermines and backs Omar at the same time

Jeff Wilpon threw his support behind embattled GM Omar Minaya Tuesday, but the Mets' chief operating officer also issued a public apology to Daily News beat writer Adam Rubin that went beyond the one Minaya had made the previous day. At a press conference Monday, Minaya openly questioned the reporter's motives behind a series of exclusive stories that ultimately led to VP of player development Tony Bernazard's firing.

"After some reflection, I thought it was important to come out and talk to everybody. We're very sorry about what happened (Monday)," Wilpon said before yesterday's game against Colorado. "It was the wrong forum. The wrong time. The wrong situation for Omar to express himself in that way." Continue

Tatis pinch hit slam seals deal for Mets

Jerry Manuel says the Mets already "have enough issues on the field, with where we are" for the Tony Bernazard tempest to pose a distraction. And, a few hours after the Mets fired one of their most powerful executives, Manuel's players at least offered a modicum of proof that however absurd the front office doings become, they won't intrude on the field.

Fernando Tatis slugged a pinch-hit grand slam on an 0-2 pitch in the eighth inning off reliever Franklin Morales, lifting the Mets to a come-from-behind 7-3 victory over the Rockies Monday night in front of 38,936 at Citi Field. Tatis, who is famous for slugging two grand slams in an inning as a Cardinal against the Dodgers in 1999, has eight career slams. Continue

Omar "I'm in charge" Minaya fires Bernazard

Mets VP for player development Tony Bernazard has been fired. Mets GM Omar Minaya made the move official at a press conference at Citi Field Monday afternoon.

The Daily News broke the story this past week of the 52-year-old Bernazard's over-the-top antics, which included a July 1 incident where Bernazard removed his shirt and challenged the Binghamton Mets to a fight while using a slang term for a part of a woman's anatomy to single out players.

On a recent homestand, Bernazard also ripped into the team's baseball operations manager, Adam Fisher, with a profanity-laced tirade after Fisher suggested to Bernazard that he wait until the end of a half-inning to take a seat occupied by an Arizona Diamondbacks scout. Continue

Mets score 8 to make it 2 in a row

Livan Hernandez ended the sixth inning Sunday sitting on the pitcher's mound, his legs contorted in a full split. It was an unusual position for him to be in.

Not the sitting part - Hernandez ended up that way after he kicked at a ground ball, lost his balance and gracefully floated to the dirt as he turned his body and watched Luis Castillo complete a routine out.

No, that Hernandez was anywhere near the mound in the sixth inning was the amazing part. The way the Astros cuffed him around in the first, scoring three runs on four consecutive hard hits, it looked like Hernandez was going to be sitting for most of the afternoon. In the clubhouse.

Manager Jerry Manuel later said he was one or two batters away from taking Hernandez out and bringing Tim Redding in. Continue

Sheffield lands on DL

 Despite Gary Sheffield pronouncing himself ready to return to the lineup, the Mets put the outfielder on the DL Saturday with what is now labeled a right hamstring strain. Sheffield said he was perfectly willing to start Saturday night's game, but was overruled after speaking with GM Omar Minaya by phone in the visiting manager's office at Minute Maid Park. Continue

Mets back Niese with 10 runs, that's right 10

A squadron of pigs flew over Minute Maid Park last night.

Not really, but that seemed about as likely as the Mets scoring 10 runs in one game with the Triple-A lineup they sent out against the red-hot Astros.

But erupt the Mets did, defying all logic as they powered Jonathon Niese to a 10-3 rout in Niese's first start since being recalled from Triple-A Buffalo earlier in the day.

Talk about irony: On the same day they put season home-run leader Gary Sheffield on the disabled list, the Mets blasted three homers for the first time since July 12 against Cincinnati as Omir Santos, Jeff Francoeur and David Wright went deep. Continue