Jump to content
SportsWrath

New York Mets (62-41) at Atlanta Braves (48-55) 7/28-7/30 Series Thread


Plax 4 Prez

Recommended Posts

Pedro returns as Mets visit Atlanta

New York (60-41) at Atlanta (48-52), Friday, 7:35 p.m. ET

 

Pedro Martinez will make his return to the Mets on Friday after a month-long absence, pitching the opening game of a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field.

Martinez last started for New York on June 28 at Boston's Fenway Park in what was a not-so-happy homecoming for the former Red Sox ace -- Martinez allowed eight runs (six earned) in three innings against his old teammates.

 

After that start, he was placed on the disabled list retroactively with inflammation in his right hip, and his return to the Mets was curtailed briefly by a bout with food poisoning. He threw an 80-pitch bullpen session at Shea Stadium last weekend, and reports from that session seemed positive enough.

 

"If it wasn't good, I wouldn't go [Friday]," Martinez said this week.

 

Speaking to reporters this week, Mets manager Willie Randolph lent some credence to the idea that Martinez's midseason stint on the disabled list could pay dividends later in the season.

 

His absence from the rotation hasn't impacted the club's double-digit lead in the National League East, and in the month that Martinez has been on the shelf, the Mets have been able to take looks at young pitchers like John Maine and Mike Pelfrey, both of whom have shown flashes of dominance and promise for the team's future.

 

It is that cushion, of course, that provides the Mets with the ability to look past a series with the Braves, if they so desire. This upcoming road trip isn't about just Atlanta -- several Mets also mentioned looking forward to their three-game series at Florida -- and that alone is an indication of how things have changed.

 

"I don't think we're going to treat Atlanta or Florida any differently than we treated Houston or Chicago," third baseman David Wright said. "We're trying to go in there and focus on what we need to do.

 

"We're not looking in the rearview mirror or worried about what Atlanta does, what Florida does. We're worried about what the New York Mets do. And as long as we take care of business, we control our own destiny."

 

Indeed, Friday's game won't feature a playoff atmosphere, as some Turner Field tiffs have. This one is purely and simply Pedro's return, a tune-up start to evaluate where the Mets' ace is, and how to proceed with a muddled six-man pitching rotation.

 

"I really don't think that, in this start, if he doesn't pitch well, it's a big red flag or anything," Randolph said. "He hasn't been on the mound for a month, right? You can't expect him to be razor-sharp. If he comes out of that start and says his hip doesn't bother him, that's all I really care about."

 

That said, the Mets are elated to have Martinez back, and particularly for a series against the Braves, who have staged an impressive return to the playoff picture. The extra boost of adrenaline Martinez can provide is always welcome within the confines of the Mets' clubhouse.

 

"He just helps us mentally," said outfielder Cliff Floyd. "He's fun, he gets us going, and he keeps us in the game. He's a fast-paced type of dude. The fans love it. It's exciting. The fans hate him on the road and love him at home."

 

If Atlanta is going to defy the numbers and fight back toward October, a good place to start would be against the Mets, who already seem to have forgotten how much the franchise once struggled within the confines of Turner Field.

 

As Wright noted Wednesday, "What's in the past is in the past -- this is 2006," and the Braves no longer hold much of an intimidation advantage over the Mets when their plane tickets are stamped to the state of Georgia.

 

"I don't think there's any significance going to Atlanta," Randolph said. "Obviously, we're going there and we want to play well and beat them up a little bit."

 

Pitching matchup

NYM: RHP Pedro Martinez (7-4, 3.45)

Martinez makes his return from the disabled list after missing nearly a month with inflammation in his right hip and, later, food poisoning. Martinez made his last start on June 28 at Fenway Park and was roughed up for eight runs (six earned) against his former teammates. He has started twice against the Braves this season, going 2-0 with a 3.29 ERA in those games.

 

ATL: LHP Horacio Ramirez (5-3, 4.04)

Ramirez is coming off a no-decision on Sunday against the Philadelphia Phillies, but he pitched well, limiting the NL East rival club to one earned run over seven innings. He has allowed three or fewer earned runs in eight of his past 10 starts. This will be his first start against the Mets in 2006.

 

Player to watch

Go figure -- Marcus Giles seems to hit Martinez pretty well. The scrappy Atlanta infielder has gone 6-for-16 (.375) with two doubles against the Mets' ace. Giles has been fighting a thumb injury recently and is batting just .249 this year, though.

 

On the Internet

MLB.TV

Gameday Audio

• Gameday

• Official game notes

 

On television

• WB11

 

On radio

• WFAN 660 AM, WADO 1280 AM (Español)

 

Up next

Saturday: Mets (RHP Orlando Hernandez, 6-8, 5.40) at Braves (RHP Tim Hudson, 8-8, 4.87), 1:20 p.m. ET

Sunday: Mets (LHP Tom Glavine, 11-4, 3.69) at Braves (LHP Chuck James, 4-1, 3.53), 1:05 p.m. ET

Monday: Off-day

Tuesday: Mets (RHP Steve Trachsel, 9-5, 5.14) at Marlins (TBA), 7:05 p.m. ET

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Plax, while you were gona we decided to make a whole thread for the series with a team to reduce some of the clutter on the board. If you want to go along with it you could change the thread title but that's up to you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Plax, while you were gona we decided to make a whole thread for the series with a team to reduce some of the clutter on the board. If you want to go along with it you could change the thread title but that's up to you.

done!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hernandez to duke it out with Hudson

New York (61-41) at Atlanta (48-54), 1:20 p.m. ET

 

If ever there was a go-figure pitching matchup, this is it: Orlando Hernandez vs. Tim Hudson. What can you make of the way the two of them have performed this season? Hudson has an 8-8 record in 22 starts. El Duque's record in 10 starts with the Mets is 4-4. So maybe they're evenly matched.

Each has been quite erratic. Hudson, for example, produced a 4-1 record in May and a 1-4 record in June.

 

And El Duque has been either quite effective or completely ineffective of late. His last eight starts have included a complete-game victory and four starts of seven innings. His ERA in those five games is 1.95. In the other three starts, he had pitched merely 6 1/3 innings total and produced an 18.47 ERA.

 

The Braves hardly know Hernandez. They beat him up in 1998 and 1999 and lost to him in 2000. Those results mean little now. The Mets have had their problems with Hudson. They beat him May 6, scoring six runs in 6 1/3 innings. But in his first five starts against them -- four last season and the first one this year, he had a 4-0 record and a 1.70 ERA.

 

Pitching matchup

NYM: RHP Orlando Hernandez (6-8, 5.40 ERA)

El Duque has made one regular-season appearance at Turner Field. He was the winning pitcher in a 5-2 Yankees victory on June 2, 2000. His pitching line was seven innings, four hits, one run, one walk, seven strikeouts. Only five current Braves have faced him and only for a total of 24 at-bats.

 

ATL: Tim Hudson (8-8, 4.87 ERA)

His ERA at home is 4.27, slightly more than a run lower than his road ERA. But Hudson has a 2-4 record at Turner Field and a 6-4 record elsewhere.

 

Player to watch

Carlos Delgado has 13 hits -- five of them home runs -- a .333 batting average and eight walks in 47 career plate appearances against Hudson.

 

 

On the Internet

MLB.TV

Gameday Audio

• Gameday

• Official game notes

 

On television

• FOX

 

On radio

• WFAN 660 AM, WADO 1280 AM (Español)

 

Up next

Sunday: Mets (LHP Tom Glavine, 11-4, 3.64) at Braves (LHP Chuck James, 4-1, 3.53), 1:05 p.m. ET

Tuesday: Mets (RHP Mike Pelfrey, 2-1, 5.28) at Marlins (LHP Scott Olson, 9-4 3.79), 7:05 p.m.

Wednesday: Mets (RHP Steve Trachsel, 9-5, 5.14) at Marlins (RHP Ricky Nolasco, 9-6, 3.94), 7:05 p.m. ET

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've got a funny accomplishing feeling every time I think about the Mets.

 

I really can't believe this....

 

Long time coming. 18 years since we've won a division. Don't let anyone rain on your parade either. No one was saying how bad the division was when Atlanta was winning it all those years. Do you think Eagle fans gave a damn that the NFC East was terrible when they were winning? GO METS!!!! :cheers:

 

Beltran for MVP!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Long time coming. 18 years since we've won a division. Don't let anyone rain on your parade either. No one was saying how bad the division was when Atlanta was winning it all those years. Do you think Eagle fans gave a damn that the NFC East was terrible when they were winning? GO METS!!!! :cheers:

 

Beltran for MVP!!!

Beltran, Wright, Lo Duca, Reyes, Valentin for MVP... lol :clap:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...