The LoHud Mets Blog

Ramirez, Thole Coming Back

Howard Megdal — Thu, 31 May 2012 19:40:06 +0000

The Mets announced this afternoon that Josh Thole will be activated from the 7-Day DL, while Elvin Ramirez will be promoted from Buffalo. These moves have the potential to help immensely. The lack of production from catcher makes Thole’s return tremendously important, while Ramirez has been lights-out relieving at Triple-A. For a worst-in-the-majors bullpen, Ramirez [...]

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Unlikely Heroes

Howard Megdal — Thu, 31 May 2012 13:54:19 +0000

By Peter J. Barrett Stopgap shortstop Omar Quintanilla went 3-4 with two doubles in the Mets 6-3 win Tuesday night. Quintanilla is the starting short stop because starter Ruben Tejada, and major league back-ups Justin Turner and Ronny Cedeno have been placed on the disabled list. Quintanilla is just the latest example of a player [...]

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Game 51: Phillies 10, Mets 6

Howard Megdal — Thu, 31 May 2012 02:51:52 +0000

Poem by Howard Megdal Perfectly good Gee Squandered by dreadful bullpen Team’s Achilles Arms Pete’s Points By Peter J. Barrett 1) Mets’ Starting Pitching Has Been Great Dillon Gee (4-3) received a no-decision in Wednesday’s loss. Gee continued the Mets great pitching, limiting the Phillies to two earned runs in 6 2/3’s innings while striking [...]

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Spoiled Milk

Howard Megdal — Wed, 30 May 2012 16:49:52 +0000

Let’s put it this way: I am far more confident about the decline of the Phillies than I am about the Mets’ ability to capitalize on it this year. Consider yesterday. We learned that Roy Halladay will be out for 6-8 weeks. But that’s from an injury that kept Mike Morse out for three months. [...]

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Game 50: Mets 6, Phillies 3

Howard Megdal — Wed, 30 May 2012 12:40:19 +0000

Recap by Peter J. Barrett (LoHud Mets Blog is honored to welcome Pete to our team on an internship. Pete is a talented writer and student at Gettysburg College. To get a sense of his work, check out this piece he wrote for the New York Times’ Quad blog this past winter.) Jeremy Hefner’s first [...]

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If Banner Day Is High Point, That’s Okay By Me

Howard Megdal — Tue, 29 May 2012 16:06:16 +0000

Everything felt as if it had returned to its proper alignment on Sunday afternoon. I attended Banner Day not as a traditional reporter- though those lines are far from clear anyway in 2012- but with my wife, my parents and my two-year-old daughter. It only seemed right; I’d written a book, after all, calling for [...]

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Game 49: Phillies 8, Mets 4

Howard Megdal — Mon, 28 May 2012 20:23:54 +0000

Niese: Matinee flop Wigginton sure holds a grudge Acosta struggles

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Game 48: Mets 2, Padres 0

Howard Megdal — Sun, 27 May 2012 21:05:09 +0000

Baxter-powered Mets Have Banner Day for Dickey Frank: Invincible!

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Game 47: Mets 9, Padres 0

Howard Megdal — Sat, 26 May 2012 22:33:03 +0000

Three long balls support Santana as he should be Davis: worth starting

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Game 46: Mets 6, Padres 1

Howard Megdal — Sat, 26 May 2012 01:58:47 +0000

Gee misses nine bats Baxter catch snuffs Padre first Ike: another hit!

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Egbert Up; Carson Down

Howard Megdal — Fri, 25 May 2012 20:47:22 +0000

Poor Tim Byrdak. The Mets sent their only other lefty out of the pen, Robert Carson, down to Triple-A on Friday, and called up Jack Egbert. Egbert is a former starter who has had some success out of the bullpen for Buffalo. And the Mets are trying lots of different arms, seeing who can catch [...]

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Who’s Next? Jeff Francis?

Howard Megdal — Fri, 25 May 2012 14:34:07 +0000

Were you satisfied with Jeremy Hefner’s premiere in the role of Mike Pelfrey replacement last night? No? Same here. Hefner was quite hittable, as you’d expect. He only had been striking out 4.9 batters per nine innings in Triple-A. He isn’t likely to fool many MLB hitters, either. So the quest to find someone merely [...]

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Game 45: Padres 11, Mets 5

Howard Megdal — Fri, 25 May 2012 03:41:40 +0000

Rain and Met arms fall Hefner’s debut start obscures Near-cycle for Wright

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Not The Same Bobby Parnell

Howard Megdal — Thu, 24 May 2012 16:47:53 +0000

This is a bit overdue: I want to weigh in on the reticence from the New York Mets to install Bobby Parnell as closer. The reasons that have been given for keeping him out of the role have been twofold: 1. Parnell struggled in the role last year. 2. Parnell has a history of pitching [...]

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Game 44: Mets 3, Pirates 1

Howard Megdal — Wed, 23 May 2012 20:01:11 +0000

Niese recovery Supported by Wright and Kirk Frank: Automatic!

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Some Follow Up on Predictive Value

Howard Megdal — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:00:41 +0000

My post from this morning led to some interesting discussion here and elsewhere. One key point that was brought up had to do with the predictive value of 42 games of Pythagorean record. So I thought I’d put that recent history to the test. Year WP (first 42 games) Pythag (first 42 games) WP (Last [...]

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Game 43: Mets 3, Pirates 2

Howard Megdal — Wed, 23 May 2012 01:43:09 +0000

Duda’s two-out hit Backs Dickey’s 11 Ks Frank Frank: routine save!

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The New Expected Final Standings

Howard Megdal — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:08:05 +0000

Michael Salfino of the Wall Street Journal (full disclosure: Salfino is a terrific writer) has a very useful piece today, discussing run differential and how it hasn’t seemed to apply to the New York Mets. Writes Salfino: “The New York Mets are off to the most cognitively dissonant start in baseball… The Mets are on [...]

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Game 42: Pirates 5, Mets 4

Howard Megdal — Tue, 22 May 2012 03:16:26 +0000

Steel city nightmare Johan, spotted four, gives back Then Kirk drops the ball

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Rottino Up; Schwinden Down; Hefner to Rotation

Howard Megdal — Mon, 21 May 2012 20:19:08 +0000

A few pieces of business to get to before the Mets take on the Pirates starting tonight. Vinny Rottino, the flexible corner infielder/outfielder with catching privileges, is up and starting tonight at first base. Chances he can become a star, after a long, middling minor league career? Minimal. Chances he can outhit Mike Nickeas at [...]

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