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May 19, 2006

Open Thread: Mets vs Yankees, 5/19/2006

Scribbled by: Eric Simon @ 3:55 pm | Filed under: Game Chatters

Randy Johnson (5-4, 5.13 ERA) vs Jeremi Gonzalez (0-0, 5.40 ERA). Whither Alay Soler?

Other Game Chatters…
- Amazin’ Avenue
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Eric Simon has far too much time on his hands. He sleeps upside-down, keeps people as pets, and can be found on the internets at Amazin' Avenue or bothered directly at eric@metsgeek.com.

255 Responses to “Open Thread: Mets vs Yankees, 5/19/2006”

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Comment posted by Teufel on May 19, 2006 at 11:18 pm (#39289)
Agree. I think you will see Castro play 2 games a week at least in the 2nd half of the season.

Also, I think Castro will help as a pinch hitter after call ups when the Mets can get a 3rd catcher on the roster.
Comment posted by Bryan Salz on May 19, 2006 at 11:28 pm (#39290)
Guys I think it’s Alay Soler time. He’s been dominating A and now AA. I think Omar is more comfortable promoting him right now then he is Pelfrey.
Comment posted by chris in ga on May 19, 2006 at 11:38 pm (#39291)
Agree. I think you will see Castro play 2 games a week at least in the 2nd half of the season.

its been happening already. Even when we dont have a midweek day game, willie has been plugging castro in. The way willie has managed the catchers the past 2 seasons has been above par
Comment posted by Evan on May 19, 2006 at 11:43 pm (#39292)
I want David Wright to be the father of my children…I guess I can be assistant father.

I said the same thing last month and all my friends thought i was crazy.
Comment posted by cp on May 19, 2006 at 11:46 pm (#39293)
I think that is a good call Bryan but if he has had his 10 days pass I would bring up Bell for the weekend and not call up Alay for a few days. We don’t have Heilman or Oliver available tomorrow, maybe not for 2 games.

Anyone remember how long ago it was that Heath went back down? He has to stay in the minors for 10 days before he can return. If not he maybe Schmoll who has doing a nice job of late. but he threw tonight so he probably would not be much help tomorrow.

Whoever it is I expect to pass them on I-95 tomorrow as I head to Richmond for my step-sons graduation.
Comment posted by alb on May 19, 2006 at 11:48 pm (#39294)
Anyone remember how long ago it was that Heath went back down? He has to stay in the minors for 10 days before he can return.

Looked on Mets site and Heath was sent down May 12th
Comment posted by cp on May 19, 2006 at 11:51 pm (#39295)
Thanks alb. That would rule him out for a return tomorrow. Schmoll pitched tonight for the TIdes. Anderson Garcia has been on fire out of the pen for Bingy & now the Tides. Maybe he’ll get a 3 day visit to the big city until we need a starter in 4 days.
Comment posted by Rich on May 19, 2006 at 11:53 pm (#39296)
Great win tonite. Wright was very clutch and Beltran set the tone with that 3 run bomb tonite.
As for the new starter, I want Alay Soler. He is older and they should not worry about him since he has pitched very well this seasson so far. On the relief pitcher they might call up Royce Ring, he has been pitching very well for the Tides lately and we could use the lefty for Giambi, Damon, Cano and to turn Bernie around.
Comment posted by chris in ga on May 19, 2006 at 11:58 pm (#39297)
Anderson Garcia has been trusted in more crucial situations than ring has since Garcia got called up to norfolk. Ring worked 2 innings on thursday after pitching some on wed. I dont think Anderson has worked since either tuesday or wed. Schmoll, the hottest guy in the tides pen, worked 2 1/3 tonight of great work and got the win. I think we might see Garcia up here tomorrow
Comment posted by cp on May 20, 2006 at 12:01 am (#39298)
I think Anderson Garcia is like 25 as well for whatever it’s worth.
Comment posted by chris in ga on May 20, 2006 at 12:05 am (#39299)
by the way, John Thompson no longer owns the majors era lead. he blew a 5 run lead. d-backs 7 braves6 in the 7th
Comment posted by chris in ga on May 20, 2006 at 12:09 am (#39300)
8-6 dbacks over the braves into the 8th. Atlanta just threw 2 d-back baserunners out at home on back to back plays
Comment posted by Rich on May 20, 2006 at 12:11 am (#39301)
Chris, good info on Garcia. Did not know he was pitching in more crucial spots. Then I would guess he would be called up then. Especially since he wasn’t used the last couple days so he will be well rested which we will need for tomorrow.
Comment posted by Rich on May 20, 2006 at 12:13 am (#39302)
Chris you were right. Garcia was called up just saw it on rotoworld.com So hopefully he conitues to pitch well up here for us.
Comment posted by chris in ga on May 20, 2006 at 12:17 am (#39303)
I was surprised listening to the tides game tonight that Garcia didnt come in. When norfolk scored, bell was up in the pen. I was fearing Garcia was injured but I bet he was being held out now that we know he’s coming up. I’m always psyched when a guy comes up for the first time. Didnt we get him in the Benitez trade
Comment posted by cp on May 20, 2006 at 12:22 am (#39304)
Just head the Anderson Garcia callup on XM radio. Looks like you guys beat me to it.

Good luck Anderson, hopefully we won’t need you for a few days.

The idea of an Oliver start on Wednesday is growing on me.
Comment posted by chris in ga on May 20, 2006 at 12:30 am (#39305)
I know we get on Willie alot but I was just reminded that there is a guy managing the d-backs that has no clue about game situation. Bob Melvin has his closer ready in the pen with Lyon in a bases loaded jam with chipper coming up. Does he go to his closer? oh no. the score is 8-8 in the bottom of the 8th.

And for all of us who say willie is a bad in-game manager and it will cost us big someday. Bob Brenley won a world series with no understanding of how to use a pen. In Arizona, people would say that Melvin was the brains of the operation.
Comment posted by Rich on May 20, 2006 at 12:31 am (#39306)
Didnt we get him in the Benitez trade

I think so. Think they had an article on him in the Daily News one Sunday in the past month. He throws decently hard too.
Comment posted by Rich on May 20, 2006 at 12:33 am (#39307)
The New York Mets acquired the hard-throwing Anderson Garcia from the New York Yankees in the Armando Benitez trade by in July of 2003. Garcia, who can top off at 97 MPH with his fastball, has one of the more electric arms in the Mets’ farm system. Ranking #46 among the Top 50 Mets’ prospects, here’s a scouting report on Anderson Garcia.

Posted on Scout.com, can not look at the full profile, you have to be a memeber for it.
Comment posted by chris in ga on May 20, 2006 at 12:38 am (#39308)
He throws decently hard too.

no offense Rich but that kinda scares me. All kidding aside, I know what you mean.
Comment posted by chris in ga on May 20, 2006 at 12:43 am (#39309)
Tidbits from an espn insider article by Peter gammons

Mets GM Omar Minaya isn’t blind. He’s suffered through Lima Time, and Brian Bannister is still on hold. He believes John Maine is going to be very good, but he’s a ways away, and rushing Mike Pelfrey (4.15 ERA, 30 H, 21 2/3 IP in Double A) has more long-term downside than upside

For instance, the Marlins may listen on Willis come the All-Star break, but they have told other teams that if they do, they want a Bartolo Colon deal — three premium prospects (of which Grady Sizemore and Cliff Lee are close to All-Star status).

“Right now,” Minaya says, “we’re going to have to get by from within and find our own solutions.

“It’s a much different market today. Three years ago, a lot of teams were looking to move money and cut payroll. But today, I don’t know of any teams that have to unload payroll. Because of revenue-sharing and a lot of other factors in the industry, everyone is making money, or at least not losing any. It’s a completely different business. So unless teams are overwhelmed, then they feel no need to deal premium pitchers.”
Comment posted by Rich on May 20, 2006 at 12:45 am (#39310)
what scares you man I am confused. I did not know how hard he threw until after I posted the thing from scout.com Did I use wrong grammar or something?
Comment posted by Teufel on May 20, 2006 at 12:48 am (#39311)
Ranking #46 among the Top 50 Mets’ prospects

Coming from an organization that is in the bottom 5 in terms of depth in MLB….that scares me too
Comment posted by chris in ga on May 20, 2006 at 12:51 am (#39312)
Hey Teufel, I personally only go with prospect listing during the preseason. These sites dont update their info during the season. If they did, im sure this guy would of moved up
Comment posted by chris in ga on May 20, 2006 at 12:53 am (#39313)
This was also from the same article by Gammons

“This is a very tricky business right now,” Minaya says. “We have two No. 1-level starters with Pedro Martinez and Tom Glavine, so we have to build in behind them. We’ll be all right. No one is panicking. We know what we have for the next few years, and we won’t mortgage it.”
Comment posted by Robert Griffin on May 20, 2006 at 1:04 am (#39314)
Yes, Lima is gone, ding dong Lima is Gone. :) I hope to never see him again, but I do wish him good luck somewhere else. He’s not a bad guy, but is just a bad pitcher. So with Lima gone is this Garcia going to start sometime, or what’s going to happen? I have a feeling with one more bad start that Jeremi could be thrown back to Triple A as well :) and I have a feeling that Soler will be called up once that happens :) Does Garcia come in to replace Heilman and he goes in the rotation? If anyone knows something let me know.
Comment posted by chris in ga on May 20, 2006 at 1:04 am (#39315)
chris reitsma blown save. d-backs won a wilder game than the mets-yankees 10-9 on a walk off single by craig counsell. Braves lose!
Comment posted by Rich on May 20, 2006 at 1:04 am (#39316)
Dbacks come back and win in bottom of the 9th so we add a game on both the phils and braves tonite. Very GOOD WIN
Comment posted by chris in ga on May 20, 2006 at 1:07 am (#39317)
Does Garcia come in to replace Heilman and he goes in the rotation? If anyone knows something let me know.

he’s probably there as an extra arm until a starter gets called up. Much like fortunato’s stay earlier this yr. he was choosen because of his low pitch count the last week. Relievers are monitored on a weekly pitch count, something Peterson brought in.

Also, Reading the article from Gammons, I sensed that Omar still plans on heilman in the pen
Comment posted by chris in ga on May 20, 2006 at 1:11 am (#39318)
According to rotoworld

Bernie Williams won’t start Saturday because of a tight buttocks muscle

and

If Posada needs to miss a couple of days, the Yankees could call up Wil Nieves or Koyie Hill.

and

Kyle Farnsworth was limited to one inning on Friday night because of lower back soreness.
Comment posted by chris in ga on May 20, 2006 at 1:18 am (#39319)
Was I the only person was hoping Alyssa Milano would cut a mean promo on her ex-boyfriend Carl Pavano, the day he was told he would have surgery
Comment posted by Jose Reyes, RBI Machine on May 20, 2006 at 1:18 am (#39320)
I was out at the bar tonight watching the game and let me tell you, it was incredible. Somehow, I must have ended up in a Met fan only bar… when Wright won the game the place exploded. Usually there are enough Yankee fans around to ruin it but tonight there was no dissent in the place. Euphoria.

Just a couple quick hits:
The other night, I said I didn’t want David Wright up in a clutch situation. I said he was too willing to take the walk. I got served.

Anyone think that it was the IBB making him angry?

Also, how about Aaron Heilman? I mean, what else could the guy do to get some respect around here. He’s essentially proven to be too good. Its horrendous. Tonight when I saw Willie send him out for that third inning, I figured it was because the Met brass was going to try and stretch him out for a start next week. They often do that. I guess I was wrong.

Regardless of what they do, how can you ignore Alay Soler anymore? And lets remember… I’m pretttttttyyyy pessimistic when it comes to prospects. I’m more of the “show me” school of thought. But seriously, check out Alay Soler’s minor league stats. That’s ridiculous. He was a man among boys in A, but his AA stats look pretty shiny to me too. More than a K per inning, no homers. That’s our answer right there if we don’t want to give Heilman the chance. Not Pelfrey.

Food for thought - at the end of this year we could have a rotation of Pedro, Glavine, Heilman, Soler and Bannister… with a pen of Wagner, Sanchez, Pelfrey, Bell, Feliciano, Bradford, et al. And we’d still have that young centerfielder in AAA.
Comment posted by Jose Reyes, RBI Machine on May 20, 2006 at 1:22 am (#39321)
Another entry in the “my ideas really suck” department:

Jeff Weaver. 4.1ip 11h … era of 7.30 on the season. My mistake. What the hell is wrong with that dude’s brain?
Comment posted by MetsFanSince71 on May 20, 2006 at 1:23 am (#39322)
Alyssa Milano

Is she a Met fan or a Yankee fan??
And please don’t disappoint me!!
Comment posted by FMF on May 20, 2006 at 1:23 am (#39323)
Wow, tomorrow’s game has me so excited that I want to skip my own college graduation to see it. Oh well, I guess I can smuggle in a small radio and listen to the game during commencement speeches.
Comment posted by robert griffin on May 20, 2006 at 1:24 am (#39324)
Well if Heilman stays in the pen, and Garcia is going to the Pen that leaves us with just 4 pitchers. I do not see why we can’t go to a 4 man rotation. Its not like Pedro, Glavine, and ST throw a lot of pitches and giving that Pedro and Glavine are very good at what they do that gives us a better winning chance then playing with Jeremi and whomever is called up to take LimaBean Time.

I hope its Soler who gets called up he really deserves it. He’s striking out more batters then innings pitched, and I really like him because he throws strikes.

Heilman looked down right Nasty tonight. Was that 3 inning stint to get his arm ready for next week?? :) I hope so.

Something has to be done with Cliff Floyd, when do we finally say Cliff your hurting the team with your bat, you need to sit until you can prove to the team that you can help us???

mat####ty needs to go, and please get up Anderson Hernandez. I get sick of watching mat####ty’s weak stick popping up.
Comment posted by MetsFanSince71 on May 20, 2006 at 1:27 am (#39325)
Anyone think that it was the IBB making him angry?

You bet your a$$ Wright was fired up! He said twice on the post game interview that he wanted to “make them pay” after the intentional bb to CD.
Comment posted by MetsFanSince71 on May 20, 2006 at 1:31 am (#39326)
Something has to be done with Cliff Floyd, when do we finally say Cliff your hurting the team with your bat, you need to sit until you can prove to the team that you can help us???

I’m going on the record: the Mets should stick with Floyd. His swing is a mess right now, but there’s nothing wrong with him physically. He’ll work it out and I fully expect Cliff to put it together in the next month or so.
Comment posted by MetsFanSince71 on May 20, 2006 at 1:32 am (#39327)
mat####ty needs to go, and please get up Anderson Hernandez. I get sick of watching mat####ty’s weak stick popping up

Dude, he had a huge, KEY rbi single tonight! Give the guy a break!
Comment posted by Jose Reyes, RBI Machine on May 20, 2006 at 1:33 am (#39328)
I’m going on the record: the Mets should stick with Floyd.

I agree wholeheartedly. Even if Cliff only hit .250 this season, it wouldn’t be a bad .250… he hits for power and can walk some. And besides, to hit .250 he’s probably have to hit .270 the rest of the way, haha.
Comment posted by chris in ga on May 20, 2006 at 1:36 am (#39329)
I think this coming week we could see a rotation of
against Philly (tues-thurs)
Trax
Maclane (4 days rest)
Martinez

Against Florida (fri-sun)
Glavine
Soler (get him some work in AA monday)
Trax

I think Heilman will be option number three if one of these guys cant give a few quality starts. Soft tossing lefties are giving the league problems right now (see the young ones and old ones around the mlb). Thats why I think Maclane is choice one. By pitching wed, you get pedro sandwiched between two soft tossing lefties and not creating two similar pitchers going in back to back games.
Comment posted by chris in ga on May 20, 2006 at 1:39 am (#39330)
although he made an out, cliff finally meant to hit a ball the other way. thats usually the first sign cliff is coming out of a funk. hopefully, he doesnt get the case of sore buttocks that Bernie williams got strickened with tonight
Comment posted by robert griffin on May 20, 2006 at 1:40 am (#39331)
Im done giving mat####ty a break, so what if he had an RBI tonight. How many Men has he left on base? You think because he has 1 rbi per week makes him the Man. Truth is he needs to go, Hernandez adds a lot more range on defense, excellent speed on bases, and the ability to bunt the ball better then anyone on the team. What is mat####ty batting right now. .245 it was at .238 before tonights game. How many more chances does this guy get? He’s an over-rated player and we need to cut our losses with him. Pretty soon, its going to be like it was last yeaer with him, getting booed at home like no on’es business because he either struck out swing at a ball he shouldn’t have, or popping a ball up.
Comment posted by Rich on May 20, 2006 at 1:45 am (#39332)
Rober Griffin, what was Hernandez batting??? Yeah sadly Matsui is actually better than someone in hitting.
Comment posted by chris in ga on May 20, 2006 at 1:46 am (#39333)
we’re stuck with kazmat robert. He hit the ball his first three at bats with only one hit to show for it. I think Kaz should only start 4 times a week. Valentin did not embarrass himself in the field on thursday playing second (actually surprised me with his range)and woodward is solid. I suggested a Matsui/hernandez platoon. Hernandez vs. lefties and kazmat vs. righties. Ahern is a horrible hitter batting left handed and MAtsui, b4 tonight, showed me nothing this yr from the right side of the plate
Comment posted by chris in ga on May 20, 2006 at 1:47 am (#39334)
He hit the ball his first three at bats with only one hit to show for it.

after ball, please insert well
Comment posted by chris in ga on May 20, 2006 at 1:50 am (#39335)
Valentin didnt do much with the bat tonight but I was impressed with his second inning at bat. he fouled off some tough pitches to get that walk. Valentin has grown on me. He has had some great at bats the past 3 weeks, going deep into counts. the results have come over the last few games but, even when he isnt hitting now, he’s making the pitcher earn his out.
Comment posted by durkin on May 20, 2006 at 1:57 am (#39336)
Was I the only person was hoping Alyssa Milano would cut a mean promo on her ex-boyfriend Carl Pavano, the day he was told he would have surgery

I thought about that too. She could have been Alyssa Milano-Pavano. Better for her that did not happen…
Comment posted by JK47 on May 20, 2006 at 3:22 am (#39339)
Carlos Beltran has been earning every penny of his big contract. Despite his deceptively low batting average, Beltran has been deadly at the plate.

He’s third in the National League in isolated power, behind Pujols and Morgan Ensberg. He has 28 hits– 11 singles, six doubles, 11 home runs. He’s also fourth in the NL in walks per plate appearance.

Secondary average is a stat that basically reflects everything a player contributes beyond just his batting average. Beltran is third in the the National League in secondary average, behind Pujols and Bonds. He has been hands down the best center fielder in the National League.

All the talk of Beltran batting in the two hole seems moot right about now. Beltran is hitting the ball like a middle-of-the-lineup power hitter. He’s hitting the ball as hard as anyone in baseball. The talk that he can’t hit in the three hole should now be put to rest for all eternity.
Comment posted by cruz on May 20, 2006 at 4:01 am (#39340)
The Mets’ relief corps retired the final 16 batters of the game, the longest streak by any major-league bullpen to end a game since Florida’s relievers set down the final 18 Milwaukee batters on July 6 of last season. It also tied the longest streak by the Mets bullpen to end any victory in the history of the franchise.

elias•
Comment posted by chris in ga on May 20, 2006 at 11:55 am (#39346)
Both Bernie (sore buttocks) & Posada (Back Spasms) are not in the starting lineup for the yanks. Cairo is playing left while stinnett is catching. For the Mets, floyd is back in the lineup and castro is catching the day game after the night game otherwise the lineup is the same.
Comment posted by Peter H on May 20, 2006 at 12:13 pm (#39347)
mat####ty needs to go, and please get up Anderson Hernandez. I get sick of watching mat####ty’s weak stick popping up.

You’ll get a lot worse than sick watching Anderson Hernandez and his 292 OPS every night. He can’t hit major league pitching.
Comment posted by chris in ga on May 20, 2006 at 12:16 pm (#39348)
from rotoworld

The injury-riddled Yankees plan to soon work out free agent OF Richard Hidalgo at their minor league complex in Tampa.
Comment posted by robert griffin on May 20, 2006 at 2:23 pm (#39381)
Actually I enjoyed watching Hernandez play ball, before his back gave out he was just starting to hit pretty good. mat####ty is already 0-2, a strikeout and another Measly popup, and left a man on base when he struck out. He needs to go.
Comment posted by Peter H on May 20, 2006 at 2:38 pm (#39385)
Anderson Hernandez went 6 for 46 with zero walks and zero doubles, triples, or homeruns. What do you mean by “pretty good”?