Surprise! Let the second "half" injuries begin

The Mets kick off their second "half" of their season tonight at Great American Ballpark out in Cincinatti.

Pedro Martinez, who was scheduled to pitch Sunday in the series finale against All Star Edison Volquez won't be able to make his start. Pedro received a cortisone shot to try help with some pain he had been feeling in his groin and hip. He will be moved back to a start on Tuesday against the Phillies.

And let the games begin!

I don't think yesterday's game is getting enough hype

Yesterday afternoon, Pedro Martinez, Carlos Muniz, Aaron Heilman, Scott Schoeneweis and Billy Wagner combined to throw a one hitter against the Colorado Rockies.

This was the 33rd Mets one-hitter in team history, and the 33rd time the Mets have come this close to a no-hitter. A truly amazing performance from the staff, especially considering Pedro Martinez was pulled from the game in the fourth inning due to shoulder tightness.

The move was made as a precaution, as Pedro fought to stay in the game, but lost that battle and found himself on the bench for the start of the fifth inning. The Mets bullpen coasted through the next five innings, with Muniz walking only one in two innings of work. Heilman, Schoeneweis and Wagner put together three perfect innings of relief, stifling the Rockies once again.

For the fifth straight game, Mets pitching has held their opponents to three hits or less. In the last five games, Mets pitching is 5-0 with a 0.80 ERA. The opponents are hitting a mere .091 at the plate. The bullpen has only surrendered two hits in 18 1-3 of an inning.

Truly amazing.

Tonight, the Mets best pitcher over the past two months, will take the mound on national television as the Mets look for their second straight win and their ninth in a row. Mike Pelfrey will face Mark Redman tonight on ESPN in the final MLB game before the All Star break.

Get some, Pelfrey.

Early Morning Madness: Who is this man you call 'El Duque' edition

Hey...remember this guy? Well he's on the comeback trail.

That's right, Orlando Hernandez threw four innings of baseball in rookie league ball, allowing two runs (one earned). El Duque allowed four hits, walking one, and striking out six.

Honestly, I'm not even going to begin to remotely think about if he could ever be somewhat effective ever again. This is just a pinhole sized blip on the radar screen.

** * **

Is Pedro cooked? I don't think so.

Yes, he has struggled through his recent starts, but if you take away a shaky first inning last time around, he pitched pretty well. His start win interrupted by a rain delay, but Pedro Martinez manned up and came back out, pitching fairly well before allowing a solo home run.

Tonight should be interesting, especially because he's pitching in hitter friendly Citizen's Bank Park.

** * **

The Continuing Story of Ryan Church...continues.

Church was held out of the lineup for all 12 innings during yesterday's marathon game. Church was recovering from a migraine which forced him out of 8th inning of Saturday's game.

Hopefully (fingers crossed), it was really only a migraine and was only slightly related to the concussions, if at all. The team's dynamic is nowhere close to the same without his bat in the lineup.

I'll be monitoring this situation closely.

Mid-Morning Madness: Shoulda, woulda, coulda edition

Boy, did it feel good to sleep in...

Last night's game was one the Mets should have won.

Pedro Martinez gave up four in the first inning, but the Mets battled back to tie it. Then Pedro gave up a solo home run, and the Mets again battled back to tie it. Then the Mets took the lead for the first time in the game, and Pedro Feliciano let the Cardinals tie it. Carlos Muniz then let the game slip away entirely, serving up a walk-off home run to end the game.

Shoulda, woulda, coulda.

Sure, the Mets scored seven runs, but they picked up 15 hits. They left 10 runners on base, quickly becoming a terrible habit of the 2008 Mets. The team needs to find some way to start driving those runners in, or the season really will be lost.

** * **

All the time I talk about Carlos Delgado's days being numbered, but now it seems like the clock is running out on Luis Castillo a bit quicker.

Castillo sat out again last night and now the DL is a possibility, again. I just don't think he has enough left in the tank to continue to perform day in and day out as an everyday player.

Easily Omar Minaya's worst contract dished out as the Mets GM. For now, just start Damion Easley and spell him with giving Castillo starts, not the other way around.

** * **

The bench is back?

Tuesday night, Ramon Castro drove in three runs and last night Easley drove in another three. If the Mets are to salvage this season, it might have to come from the play off the bench.

Giving up on the Mets?? Not me, not yet

Last night's 7-1 drubbing by the Cardinals could be explained by any one of: terrible, awful, disaster, gross, boring, ugly...so on and so forth.

I've heard many claims for trades to go down, to start selling the farm and some major leaguers in return for prospects with talent and futures.

Not me, not yet. And here's why:

It's the first of July. The Mets are 3.5 games back, and only three in the loss column. The Mets have the talent, but most of them are under-performing.

Here are some reasons the Mets won't make the playoffs:

• Pedro Martinez might be done. He just doesn't seem to have it, tipping pitches or not. His power is gone and he seems to be throwing batting practice on the mound.
• Moises Alou is old and injured. 15 games is all Alou has been able to play this season. He's on his way to returning to the Mets, possibly by next weekend, but how long will it last?
• The bench has been awful. Just...awful.
• Another concussion for Ryan Church and he's really in serious trouble. He has to protect that noggin.

Reasons the Mets will make the playoffs:

• Johan Santana is a second-half pitcher.
• Aaron Heilman is a second-half pitcher.
• David Wright is a second-half player.
• Carlos Delgado's days are numbered. He may not be cut, but his playing time will diminish.
• Omar Minaya will pull off another spectacular trade. I'm just waiting for it. I don't know who it will be for, but it will work in the Mets favor.
• Fernando Martinez will be called up in late August and have a Jacoby Ellsbury type of season.

I still think the Mets will make the playoffs. I know my father wanted me to rip into them, but I'm still confident in this baseball team, and probably will be until they're mathematically eliminated from contention.

A tale of two stadiums

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

Only hours after the Mets pounded out 14 hits and 15 runs, did any Mets fan in their right mind actually think it was going to continue in the nightcap?

If you've been a fan of this team, for just this year even, you would know the inconsistency of this team. 15 runs? Were you not screaming at the television (or at the players in person) "SAVE SOME RUNS!!!" I know I was. I knew it wouldn't last. And it didn't.

Of course, the Mets come to Shea Stadium, a mere two hours after the last game rout ended, facing a pitcher who can't catch on with any team due to a myriad of off the field problems, and, not surprisingly, get absolutely shut down.

Sure they load the bases a handful of times, even one time with none out, but do they get any runs to show for it? Of course not.

Did Carlos Delgado come to Shea riding high off his 9 RBI performance, and then do something even more spectacular in the nightcap? No way. In fact, he didn't even get a hit. (He did walk twice, though)

Did Pedro Martinez flashback to his Red Sox days and pitch a masterpiece? Not even close.

Did the Mets bullpen stop the bleeding when Pedro was done and take over the game? Nope!

Sir Sidney Ponson was the victor last night, holding the Mets to just five hits over his six shutout innings. The Mets then got to face Kyle Farnsworth (4.11 ERA), Jose Veras (3.09 ERA), and Kei Igawa (13.50 ERA) for three innings and managed only three hits.

Simply a tale of two completely different games, played by two completely different teams, in two completely different stadiums only linked by location and their soon to be destruction.

TSTDIA: Mets 4 -- Rangers 2

Willie Randolph made a wise decision pinch hitting for Pedro Martinez in the 6th, which paid off, as Robinson Cancel picked up his first hit in 9 years, the eventual game winner for the Mets.

Still, Randolph might not be taking the cross-continental flight to Anaheim, I think.

Projecting Pedro: Results

I didn't realize it, but I mistakenly presented two different projections for Pedro Martinez's second start of the season last night.

I originally (and almost perfectly) guessed 5 2-3 innings, letting in three runs on six hits. I was a little lofty on the strikeouts, pegging him at 6, while walking two.

Pedro's actual line: 6 IP, 3 runs on 7 hits, 3 BB, 3 K.

If only I could get that close with the lottery numbers.

TSTDIA: Mets 9 -- Giants 6

Pedro Martinez is back.

Pumped

I am very excited for tonight's game, though I will probably not see a second of it.

Pedro Martinez, the Mets best clubhouse leader, will be returning to the field to do what he does best. Hopefully, he can stay injury free, but I will refrain from raising my hopes just yet.

Tonight also sees young phenom Joba Chamberlain making his first career major league start. for the New York Yankees.

The back pages might have a bit of conflict on who gets top billing tomorrow morning, but it all depends on how good (or bad) each pitchers starts go.

Should be a fun night all around for New York sports fans.

Projecting Pedro

Pedro Martinez is set to make his return to the rotation Tuesday night, the first time since he injured himself during the first week of the season.

I already projected Pedro to throw 5 2-3 innings, allowing two runs. What do you think Pedro will do in his first start back?

Move made official

A move we all saw coming in the first inning was made official after last nights game debacle.

With Oliver Perez throwing batting practice to the Giants, he was pulled after only recording one out. Claudio Vargas, now "firmly" situated in the bullpen, came in and pitch 4 2-3 scoreless innings for the Mets. Mike Pelfrey will stay in the rotation, as Carlos Muniz, who allowed four runs on Monday night, was sent down to AAA.

Muniz was sent down to make room for Pedro Martinez, who is making his return tonight against the Giants.

I hope Martinez can do something worthwhile for two reasons:
1. I want him to do well, obviously.
2. The bullpen was slightly overworked last night.

I can see Pedro pitching into the sixth inning, struggling, and coming out with a line somewhere near 5 2-3 innings, 6 hits, 3 runs, 6 K's and 2 walks. I would happily take that from Martinez on his first start back.

Morbid thinking

With the bullpen getting the call in the first inning for the opener in San Francisco, who is going to be available if/when Pedro Martinez can't pitch through the fifth inning on Tuesday?

A nightmare inning

Well, another disaster start from Oliver Perez.

It's currently 4-0 in the bottom of the first, only one out.

It's now 6-0. Still one out.

That actually happened as I was writing.

Claudio Vargas is up in the bullpen, making it pretty known what the Mets are going to do when Pedro Martinez is activated tomorrow. Vargas will, or should it be has, moved to the bullpen, while Mike Pelfrey will stay in the rotation.

I like this. Pelfrey is part of the future for the organization, so let him stick around and do his thing. He's been effective between some miserable stretches. He just needs to iron things out.

Perez still has not recorded another out, and his day is done. 1-3 of an inning, 5 hits, 2 walks, 6 runs, and the smallest hop over the first base path I've ever seen him take.

Something needs to be done about Mr. Perez. He just doesn't seem to have "it."

A pretty good night, no?

The Mets win in extra innings, taking the series from the NL East leading Marlins.

and

Pedro Martinez throws six innings (82 pitches) allowing two runs on four hits. He struck out six and walked none in his rehab start in A-ball. Pedro might return June 3 in San Francisco.

I'd say that's a pretty good night for the Mets, all around.

Still feels like a loss; 12 games to determine the season

I woke up this morning feeling bitter about a Mets loss last night.

It didn't hit me until I started my morning ritual of browsing through all the articles published while I was asleep.

You know the team is in a funk, when even after a nice win with your ace on the mound and a bunch of bench players driving in the runs, you wake up the next morning and it still feels like they're losing. Because they are.

Obviously, you can't make a call where this team is going after one game, especially one where they really didn't play too well, and thanks to some clutch performances, they barely squeaked out a win.

The next Mets off day is Monday, June 9. Twelve games from here until that off day, one of which is supposed to feature Pedro Martinez back on the bump. I'm going to keep track of the next 12 games, see how they do, and make the call after that.

Build off the win, guys.

Pedro return date set

According to Marty Noble at Mets.com, Pedro Martinez will make his return to the majors on June 3 in San Francisco.

I've said it time and time again, the Mets need a character and personality like Pedro in the clubhouse. He's a veteran, who knows how to talk with both the fellow old guys and the young guys.

Hopefully, he isn't a shell of his former self, but I'm not setting myself up for a big letdown. All he needs to do is pitch quality innings, nothing more.

Maybe Pedro will be the jolt this team needs, but I seem to be pinning that on everyone these days.

Pedro playing at least two more years

Even though he said he was considering retirement after this season earlier this week, Pedro Martinez now claims he wants to play at least two more years.

From ESPN:

"I feel great physically and for the record I haven't considered retirement. Retirement would only take place if my arm is badly hurt and if I have to face surgery or something near that nature," Martinez told ESPNdeportes.com

Unfortunately, I highly doubt he'll be going it with the Mets. I could see the team picking him up for another year, or even two, but he has to truly prove he's still got it and can stay healthy. But again, I doubt it will happen.

Here is something to be happy about, again from ESPN:

"I'm completing the workouts and doing a great job. My arm feels excellent and the speed is showing, throwing well over the 90 miles-per-hour mark," Martinez said.

Great news. Just stay on track and stay healthy. This team needs his charisma and character back in the clubhouse and his talent on the field.

Pedro and Church; One goes into a hospital, the other comes out of one

Pedro Martinez was scheduled to throw a bullpen session today at Turner Field in Atlanta as he inches his way closer to returning to the Mets rotation. Plans for the session were scrapped when Martinez learned via phone call that his ailing father suffered a setback in the Dominican Republic.

Pedro's father, Pablo, is suffering from brain cancer. My thoughts go out to Pedro and his family.

The Mets are looking for Martinez to make his return possibly as early as next week when the LA Dodgers come to Shea.

I'd love to see Pedro back so soon, but I don't want the team to rush anything and possibly lose him for an even longer amount of time.

~~~~~

Ryan Church, most likely still a bit dazed and confused after taking a knee to the skull last night, has been released from the hospital and will report to the stadium on time today, thought almost definitely will not play.

He's currently listed as "day-to-day" or in other words, "sitting on the bench all the time, but not going on the DL, therefore taking up a spot on the roster and not allowing another player to come up even if he can't play."

If you couldn't tell, I hate that term.

Hopefully Church will make a quick recovery. This lineup desperately needs his bat.

Answers: Best pitching seasons

I received a few guesses for the four pitchers named in the Sports Illustrated list of 15 best pitching seasons.

Everyone nailed down the four pitchers names, but only one person correctly identified the year picked out by SI. Half-congrats to Andrew Fletcher of Scott Proctor's Arm.

The pitchers, and the years they had their best season are:
Tom Seaver, 1971.
Dwight Gooden, 1985.
Pedro Martinez, 2000.
Johan Santana, 2005.

Here are the blurbs:
Seaver won three Cy Youngs, but his best season may have been in a year in which he didn't win the award. In 1971, "Tom Terrific" validated his nickname by leading the league in ERA (1.76) and strikeouts (289) while going 20-10 for the Mets.

Few pitchers have burst onto the scene with as much promise and dominance as Dwight Gooden. "Doc" was a mere 20 years old and in just his second big-league season when he cut through the National League in 1985, going 24-4 with a 1.53 ERA, eight shutouts and 268 strikeouts.

Pedro Martinez's power pitching style was on full display during the 2000 season in which he won 18 games, posted a 1.74 ERA, hurled seven complete games, and whiffed 284 hitters. He also set a number of marks. His WHIP was 0.74, breaking a 77-year-old record set by Walter Johnson, and he also became the only starting pitcher to have more than twice as many strikeouts in a season (284) as hits allowed (128). The only question: How did he lose six times?

During his first full season as a starter in 2004, Johan Santana enjoyed one of the best second halves of a season for a pitcher. He went 13-0 and achieved a 1.21 ERA to finish the season with a 20-6 record, 2.61 ERA and 265 strikeouts on the way to his first of two AL Cy Young awards.

I'm predicting John Maine being added to this list after this season.

Also, I left off a player who completed the task with another team, and later pitched on the Mets for one season. Orel Hershiser's 1988 season was recognized, which he pitched over 10 years before coming to the Mets.