Mets (28-28) vs. Giants (25-33) 10:15 PM

[RandolphScott]

Game Preview

 

The handle on Carlos Beltran's brown wheeled suitcase had already been popped. Meanwhile, members of the Mets' equipment staff were hauling bags of bats, gloves and balls out into the hallways. Only minutes after the end of the Mets' series with the Dodgers, a milling clubhouse braced for a time crunch.

 

It was written on the whiteboard in blue marker that the Mets had to catch a 12:05 a.m. ET bus to the airport. And even with a three-hour time difference to cushion the blow, they'll receive the first pitch in San Francisco on Monday less than 23 hours after saying goodbye to Shea Stadium and the Dodgers.

 

Manager Willie Randolph has never been a fan of 20 to 30 straight days of baseball. And playing an 8 p.m. ET ESPN game, only to hitch a ride out West the next day, doesn't sit well with the Mets' manager.

 

"I've always been an advocate of more off-days and shortening the season, if possible. It's a grind, man," Randolph said. "And that's why you see a lot of injuries and why you see subpar performances at times.

 

"They need to look at that, really look at the way TV is taking over, when you play at certain times, changing time zones rapidly. You'd get better baseball and a healthier product and probably a better game."

 

Trust Randolph, who has played 2,202 games in his career, plus thousands more full stretches and batting practice sessions. If trainers don't soak players with fluids during these plane rides, such a travel schedule can dry them out, strain their muscles and put the most finely-tuned athletes on the disabled list.

 

The Mets are currently in the midst of 21 straight days of baseball, as they will finish a West Coast swing in San Diego on Sunday. To remedy any more pounding on everyday starters, Randolph said he will probably sit right fielder Ryan Church and catcher Brian Schneider on Monday.

 

Randolph thinks MLB should look into finding more breaks in coming years. If the league will do so is another issue entirely, as Randolph isn't involved in any talks with higher-ups about the schedule.

 

But third baseman David Wright, who is the only Major League player to have played in every inning of every game this season, wasn't about to ask for rest from anyone in league headquarters on Sunday.

 

"We have to do it," Wright said. "We aren't the only team in baseball that has to stay up late play some baseball."

 

Pitching matchup

NYM: LHP Oliver Perez (4-3, 4.83 ERA)

Perez flew out ahead of the Mets to get acclimated in San Francisco, and if he continues a recent trend, he should be resting up for quite a workload. On Wednesday, Perez had his fourth consecutive start of 100 pitches or more. Three of those tosses were big mistakes -- two homers by Marlins outfielder Cody Ross and another by catcher Mike Rabelo. Perez didn't relinquish much, though, until his sixth and final inning, as he surrendered three runs to force his second consecutive no-decision. And Perez has yet to beat the Giants, as he is 0-4 with a 5.83 ERA against San Francisco.

 

SF: LHP Jonathan Sanchez (3-3, 4.26 ERA)

Sanchez ended a streak of five consecutive winless starts on Wednesday in an 11-3 triumph win vs. Arizona. He shut out the Diamondbacks during the first five innings, then left the game after surrendering two runs in the sixth. Sanchez has been relying on a sinking fastball to neutralize hitters. It's a pitch he said he was told to abandon as a Minor Leaguer in 2004, but he resumed using it earlier this season. Sanchez is 1-0 with 1 2/3 shutout innings vs. the Mets.

 

Tidbits

Questions about the schedule continued to pour in Sunday, as Randolph said he would also like to take the postponed game from the Yankees series and play it as part of a doubleheader. The main reason was he didn't want to lose any more off-days. "It goes back to rest. I don't believe in taking away from off-days," Randolph said. "I don't like doubleheaders, either. But in this situation, just play it. It was an event the last time. It was kind of fun." ... As Pedrio Martinez's start on Tuesday nears, so does decision day on finalizing the starting rotation. And, as always, moving Mike Pelfrey -- anywhere -- was a popular topic of conversation. Randolph said on Sunday that Pelfrey's future is in the starting rotation, and that while the Mets will consider putting him in the bullpen because of his hard-breaking sinker, such a move is a "long shot." ... With Sunday night's win, Johan Santana has now won 100 games in his career. Also, with two runs scored in the win, shortstop Jose Reyes passed Mets legend Keith Hernandez for ninth in club history in that category.

 

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[Allstarjim]

Hopefully the long trip with short rest won't be a factor, they need to continue this roll against a much more inferior opponent. Things can get very interesting if we can handle our business against two teams we should do just that against... SF and the following series against SD. Sorry blunatic! Let's go METS!

[fringe]

Hopefully the long trip with short rest won't be a factor, they need to continue this roll against a much more inferior opponent. Things can get very interesting if we can handle our business against two teams we should do just that against... SF and the following series against SD. Sorry blunatic! Let's go METS!

no apology necessary- we suck and you should sweep us. anything less would mean you suck.

[jranieli]

You guys have Cain going game three. I would be happy with 2/3 from the Giants. I am a little worried about Zito because he pitches well against the Mets.

[RandolphScott]

This is the Ollie we all know and love!

[xxi-xxv]

Ollie Perez sucks donkey balls

 

[gateb]

the funny thing is some team will dish 5 yrs. 70 million for him.

 

the not funny thing is that'll be us.

[xxi-xxv]

Great way to start a road trip

 

But hey we can hear them cry how they played 24 hours ago in NY and they are tired Boo fucking hoo

[RandolphScott]

the funny thing is some team will dish 5 yrs. 70 million for him.

 

the not funny thing is that'll be us.

 

 

 

Not a chance.

[xxi-xxv]

game over folks, at least this west coast start will not deprive me of my beauty sleep

 

[jranieli]

LOL, Perez sucks. And people want Pelfrey sent to the minors.

[xxi-xxv]

An AL east team should take him, he can only pitch vs the Yankees

 

[RandolphScott]

Game Preview

 

One of the things Pedro Martinez has done well in recent seasons is come back. The problem, of course, has been that he had to go away to be in position to come back. Injuries have interrupted his seasons or kept him from the mound for periods of at least 26 days four times, beginning in 2001. And his '06, '07 and '08 seasons with the Mets have been more about comebacks than pitching.

 

Another comeback is to happen Tuesday night in the City by the Bay. With the Mets having played 56 games, Martinez will make his second start of the season. He will be pitching with 61 days' rest which, believe it or not, is not a career first. He went 61 days between appearances in the summer of 2001 when tendinitis attacked his right shoulder.

 

He didn't win his comeback start then, though his Red Sox did. And his team has won each of the three subsequent comeback starts, with him winning the most recent one Sept. 3 last year in Cincinnati. For the purposes of this brief study, a comeback start is defined as one that follows at least 26 days of inactivity.

 

A team victory and Martinez's healthy emergence from it would satisfy the Mets. They once had relied on Martinez to pitch 180 innings this season. Now he has missed 10 starts and he can't have the stamina he would have developed had he taken regular turns in the rotation for the last two months. If he were to pitch 100 innings this season -- he has thrown 3 1/3 thus far -- the Mets would be delighted.

 

But they have learned not to look that far ahead. The one-game-at-a-time mantra has been adjusted for him -- one start at a time. Anything Pedro is couched in uncertainty. Willie Randolph said Monday that Martinez could thrown 90 to 100 pitches Tuesday but added, "Don't hold me to that."

 

And, as a reminder, he said: "We came into the season, expecting a lot [from Martinez]. Then one pitch, he pulls a hamstring."

 

A comeback by Martinez can have some positive, pick-us-up impact on the Mets. The one last year did, short-lived as it proved to be. But more than ever, the Mets are aware the events that make his comebacks possible -- read necessary -- first undermine the team.

 

They'd be more comfortable if Martinez's comebacks made no return.

 

"I have a feeling Pedro will stay healthy and be a big part of our success," Randolph said. "l predict he'll be with us the rest of the year."

 

Pitching matchup

NYM: RHP Pedro Martinez (0-0, 10.80 ERA)

He strained his left hamstring after 3 1/3 innings in his season debut. Because the injury affected only his leg, Martinez was able to keep his right arm in relatively good shape while rehabbing in Port St. Lucie, Fla. So when he takes the mound against the Giants, he shouldn't have much trouble with velocity. Precision and stamina could become issues.

 

SF: LHP Barry Zito (1-8, 5.53 ERA)

Since Martinez made his lone 2008 appearance April 2, he has one less victory than Zito -- 10 fewer starts and seven fewer losses as well. The Mets have been curious about Zito's travails since Spring Training when they first heard of his lack of velocity. Now they get to see for themselves. They opposed Zito twice last season, his first season in the National League, losing to him on each occasion. His ERA in 13 innings against them was 2.08. But the Mets and Zito have changed.

 

Tidbits

When Jose Reyes doubled in the second inning Monday night, he extended his hitting streak to 18 games, the longest active streak in the National League, the longest by a Mets player this season and the second-longest streak of his career. His longest streak, 20 games, occurred in 2005. The double also extended, to 33, Reyes' streak of consecutive games reaching base. It equals the longest in franchise history. Darryl Strawberry produced a streak of 33 games in 1987. ...

 

The Mets have signed outfielder Raul Gonzalez to a Minor League contract. He will report to extended spring training in Port St. Lucie before joining their Triple-A New Orleans affiliate in the Pacific Coast League. Gonzalez, 34 and a right-handed hitter, played with the Mets in 2002-2003, appearing in 137 games with them. He played in 31 other games from 2000 to 2004 with the Cubs, Reds and Indians.

 

Gonzalez was hitting .278 in 41 games for Vaqueros Laguna in the Mexican League before he was released May 5.

 

The club still has interest in veteran first baseman Scott Hatteberg, who is likely to clear waivers Tuesday. The Mets, however, seemingly are inclined to offer him a Triple-A contract. The Reds designated Hatteberg for assignment last Tuesday to accommodate their primary prospect Jay Bruce on their big league roster. Hatteberg was in his third season with the Reds, having played previously with the Red Sox and A's, beginning in 1995. ...

 

Disabled Moises Alou made the trip, hoping to return to active duty Friday, thre first day he is eligible. ... Had the Mets not traded Scott Kazmir, they might have had on their roster the four pitchers who, beginning with the 2003 season, have the highest ratios of strikeouts per nine innings (600 innings minimum) -- Kazmir (9.70), Johan Santana (9.55), Oliver Perez (9.33) and Martinez (9.30). ...

 

This date in Mets history -- June 3: The Mets scored an unearned run in the first inning but were held scoreless thereafter and lost, 6-1, to the Giants and Juan Marichal at the Polo Grounds on this date in 1962. They were shut out by the Phillies the following day and scored once in an ensuing doubleheader loss to the Phillies, extending the longest losing streak in club history to 17 games. After the sweep, their winning percentage was .250, as it would be at season's end, and they were 24 games from first place. The Cubs were in ninth place, 21 games behind. The Cubs finished the season with a 59-103 record, the worst record by an established team in an expansion season. The '93 Mets matched it, and the '98 Marlins lost 104 games a year after winning the World Series.

 

The '69 Mets moved into a tie for second place on this date when they defeated the Dodgers, 5-2, at Shea Stadium. Tom Seaver was the winning pitcher, and Ed Kranepool hit two home runs. ... On this date in 1997, the Mets and Bobby Jones beat Martinez and the Expos for the second time in seven days at Shea Stadium. A pinch-hit home run by Matt Franco and a run-scoring double by Carlos Baerga in the eighth inning were the difference in the 2-1 victory. Jones, who had pitched a four-hit shutout in Montreal on May 28, emerged from the victory with a 10-2 record. And Martinez's career record against the Mets was 10-2 at the time.

 

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[gateb]

Not a chance.

I hope so.

 

I was into the idea of trading him a month ago but now I don't think anyone will give us anything for him.

 

So we gave away a solid hitting corner OF for a crappy pitcher and a 39 year old reliever in 06.

 

Omar was beating his chest the whole year in 07 about the Perez acquisition where is he now?

[Allstarjim]

Perez will be money for us in the playoffs, watch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cue Jim Mora.

[jranieli]

Bel-Tran sucks.

[Taylorized56]

Eh, I can't complain. Good game, Pedro.

[Allstarjim]

What I was most impressed with Pedro's performance was that he was getting his fastball up to 91. He had good movement on his pitches, too. Not a bad first start. Had to admit I was getting worried in the 9th though. Schoenweis has been good this year, but he better not revert back to last year's version of himself.

[fringe]

What I was most impressed with Pedro's performance was that he was getting his fastball up to 91. He had good movement on his pitches, too. Not a bad first start.

 

and he went 2 for 3.

[gateb]

fucking reyes.

 

add 20 something pitches to maines count and at least one run.

[gateb]

A few weeks ago I pointed out that Reyes changed his stance from the left side dramatically towards his 06 stance and since then he has been swinging great from there. Line drives with an occasional bomb, and he's been much more compact.

[xxi-xxv]

A few weeks ago I pointed out that Reyes changed his stance from the left side dramatically towards his 06 stance and since then he has been swinging great from there. Line drives with an occasional bomb, and he's been much more compact.

 

[gateb]

i didnt mean to make that as arrogant as it sounded

[xxi-xxv]

i didnt mean to make that as arrogant as it sounded

 

Not at all, I was clapping that Reyes is back to his old way. You were not arrogant in that statement.

 

Side note, the San Francisco Giants are the most putrid team I have seen this year and IMO not sweeping them is like losing all 3, they really are unimpressive, cept for Cain and Lincecum.

[fringe]

Not at all, I was clapping that Reyes is back to his old way. You were not arrogant in that statement.

 

Side note, the San Francisco Giants are the most putrid team I have seen this year and IMO not sweeping them is like losing all 3, they really are unimpressive, cept for Cain and Lincecum.

 

now that's arrogant.

 

gee- real news flash there, scoop.