Jose ReyesApril 30, 2004 - Don't expect to see Jose Reyes back with the Mets any time soon. MRI results taken of his right hamstring on Friday showed that the injury has not healed.
Reyes, on the DL with a right hamstring injury since March 14, left after the fourth inning Thursday night in the second game of his rehabilitation assignment in Florida with Single-A St. Lucie.
Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said Reyes felt a twinge in the hamstring and didn’t want to take any chances.
Mike Piazza finally caught somebody stealing on his 10th try of the season. He threw out Cesar Izturis at second to end the fifth inning in the Mets 6-1 victory over the Dodgers.
Piazza's historic night leads Mets
April 28, 2004 - Mike Piazza ended his home run drought and stepped into the record book Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. Piazza blasted his 351st home run as a catcher in the sixth inning, tying him with Carlton Fisk for the top spot among backstops on the all-time list.
The milestone was certainly significant on a personal level, but it meant just as much to the Mets as a whole. The blast gave New York a lead in a game it would go on to win 9-5 before 28,524 fans.
It was the 362nd home run overall for the Mets’ slugger, moving him past DiMaggio for 58th place on the career list—seven behind Mets broadcaster Ralph Kiner. The 10-time All-Star, who hit his first 177 homers with the Dodgers, went 16 games without one after connecting twice at Atlanta on April 7.
Mets avoid no-no, but swept at Wrigley
April 25, 2004 - Both the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs headed West on Sunday. But truly, they are going in different directions. The Cubs (12-6) left for Phoenix riding high on a six-game winning streak. The Mets (7-12) continued on to Los Angeles after losing three straight to the Cubs to start a nine-game road trip.
The Mets' hitting woes reached their nadir as they collected just two hits, a season-low, in a 4-1 loss to the Cubs on Sunday in front of 38,635 fans at Wrigley Field.
The loss culminated a difficult weekend in Chicago for the Mets, whose only two runs in the series came on solo homers by Mike Cameron on Friday and Karim Garcia on Sunday.
Cubs starter Matt Clement had a no-hitter going through 6 1/3 innings. Up to that point, he had struck out 12, walked two and gave up a fielder's choice on a botched double play.
Howe calls meeting
Art Howe admits that as the manager, there's only so much he can do.With the Mets engulfed by general feelings of frustration and angst -- the result of recent problems with the bullpen (1-4 with a 6.14 ERA) and their offense (.245 team average) -- Howe addressed the players for about 10 minutes Wednesday.
Bullpen squanders Glavine gem
April 16, 2004 - Two of the biggest contributing factors to Tom Glavine's record in his maiden season with the Mets were the bullpen's inability to hold a lead and inadequate outfield defense.
New York addressed both issues this winter, adding Mike Cameron to patrol centerfield while shoring up the bullpen. Cameron held up his end of the bargain Friday night, playing center in a manner befitting the game Glavine pitched.
The bullpen, however, fell apart in the eighth inning, costing Glavine a victory in what was one of his finest performances as a Met. Orber Moreno, Mike Stanton and David Weathers combined to allow seven runs on six hits in the eighth after Glavine pitched one-hit, shutout ball through the first seven. The result was a wild 7-6 loss to Pittsburgh before 18,544 fans at Shea Stadium.
Yates falters in rain, Mets lose 6-1
April 14, 2004 - The Braves clearly weren't interested in what Tyler Yates did last Friday in San Juan. The rookie right-hander, who looked so poised and precise while pitching shutout ball in his Major League debut against the Expos, came undone in the rain Wednesday night against Atlanta. Yates didn't make it out of the third inning against the Braves, surrendering six runs before Art Howe was forced to go to the bullpen.
While the New York pen, led by Jae Seo, was able to shut down Atlanta over the final six-plus innings, the damage inflicted against the big Hawaiian was enough to give the Braves a 6-1 victory at Shea Stadium. The loss snapped the Mets' two-game winning streak while Atlanta saw its two-game losing streak come to an end in a game that was delayed at the start for an hour because of rain.
Former Met John Thomson (1-0) scattered seven hits and allowed one run over his eight innings of work, earning the win on a night that Chipper Jones, Rafael Furcal and J.D. Drew were not in the starting lineup to offer him support. Chris Reitsma pitched the ninth.t Atlanta. Yates didn't make it out of the third inning against the Braves, surrendering six runs before Art Howe went to the bullpen in a 6-1 loss.
Matsui embraced in Mets' home opener
Kaz Metsui is introduced to Shea faithful.Clyde Frazier, Willis Reed, Emerson Boozer and Tom Seaver -- pitching to former batterymate Jerry Grote -- all tossed ceremonial first pitches.
What all have in common is 1969. In New York, that was the Year of Living Gloriously, as the Mets, Jets and Knicks all won championships. Everywhere else, of course, it was a Summer of Love.
In six months, we will know whether today's Mets used the occasion as inspiration for their own return to glory.
But we already know that 53,666 Opening Day fans got the idea real quick, turning a 10-6 victory over the Braves into a day of love. This is your Kaz Metsui. These are your New York Matsuis. Whichever twisted spelling you prefer, it fits. The two are becoming synonymous, and make each other go.
Floyd hurt in Met win
April 11, 2004 - That Cliff Floyd was howling in pain as he was being helped into the clubhouse Sunday afternoon was enough to send shivers through the New York dugout. The oft-injured Floyd hit a two-out cue shot just to the left of the mound moments earlier in the first inning of New York's 4-1 victory over the Expos at Hiram Bithorn Stadium. But he grabbed at his right hip halfway down the baseline, nearly stumbling. He hopped the remainder of the way but quickly doubled over in pain once he got past the base.
Manager Art Howe and trainer Scott Lawrenson raced out to tend to him, but Floyd remained doubled over in pain for nearly five minutes. At one point, Floyd took off his helmet and punched it. Finally, he draped his arms over the shoulders of Howe and Lawrenson and had to be helped off the field, screaming out in agony as he was helped into the clubhouse.
The initial diagnosis is a strained right quadriceps muscle. Team physician Dr. Andrew Rokito will examine Floyd on Monday, at which time he is expected to go on the disabled list. Floyd will undergo an MRI. Based on how he looked coming off the field, though, and the way he was talking afterward, it doesn't look as if Floyd will be ready to return to action any time soon.
Mets can't escape Braves
April 8, 2004 - The Mets had been euphoric following Tuesday's Opening Day victory over Atlanta and looked to be writing a second chapter to their feel-good story in Game 2.
But the Braves exploded for 11 runs in a fateful fourth inning Wednesday night, completing a comeback from a six-run deficit en route to defeating the Mets, 18-10, before a crowd of 22,775 at Turner Field. The 18 runs scored by the Braves were the most allowed by New York since the Pirates scored 19 runs on Sept. 26, 1992 in Pittsburgh.
The Mets, riding the momentum created by Kazuo Matsui and Tom Glavine in the opener, touched Atlanta starter Mike Hampton for six runs through three innings. But the Braves pecked away at Steve Trachsel, scoring three third-inning runs (two of which came on a Chipper Jones homer), before going on their binge in the fourth.
The 11 runs scored by the Braves in the fourth equaled a club mark for most runs scored in an inning by a Mets opponent. It was the fourth time New York has allowed 11 runs in an inning and the first since April 1, 1997 at San Diego. It was also the most runs the Mets have allowed in the fourth inning of any game in their history.
"When Chipper hit that homer, it seemed to give them life," Mets manager Art Howe said. "They were shattering bats and a lot of balls they hit had eyes on them. It was a real tough inning. It just seemed like we couldn't get the big out when we needed it."
Trachsel and Grant Roberts bore the brunt of the Atlanta attack, combining to allow 10 of the 11 runs scored. Trachsel, whom the Mets announced they had signed to a contract extension only a day earlier, lasted three-plus innings, allowing eight runs on eight hits. Roberts, who pitched so well for most of the spring while making a run at the starting rotation, was equally ineffective, allowing five runs on three hits and two walks.
The Mets had jumped out to a 6-0 lead and appeared to be headed for another surprisingly easy victory. Mike Piazza blasted a two-run homer in the first inning, his first of two on the night, and Mike Cameron followed with a solo bomb of his own off Hampton. Cliff Floyd and Piazza added run-scoring singles in the second before Rafael Furcal's throwing error allowed New York's sixth run to score in the third.
Piazza, who also played two innings at first base, was the lone bright spot for the Mets, continuing his hot start. He belted his second homer of the game in the seventh inning, a monstrous shot to center field off C.J. Nitkowski. He now has 361 career homers, tying him with Joe DiMaggio for 58th on the all-time list. It was also his 350th as a catcher, leaving him one shy of tying Carlton Fisk for the all-time mark among backstops.
Bamberger succumbs to cancer
George BambergerBamberger pitched for the 1951-1952 New York Giants and the 1959 Baltimore Orioles. He was born and raised in Staten Island, New York, and broke in with the Giants on April 19, 1951.
The right-hander spent most of his career in the minors, including 15 years in the Pacific Coast League; he won 213 games from 1946-1963. He never had a decision in the majors, however, and compiled a 9.42 ERA in 10 games over 14 1/3 innings.
He had a record of 458-478 as manager of the Milwaukee Brewers (1978-1980, 1985-1986) and the New York Mets (1982-1983). As Earl Weaver's pitching coach with the Orioles (1968-77), he produced 18 20-game winners, including 4 for the 1971 American League champions: Jim Palmer, Mike Cuellar, Dave McNally, and Pat Dobson.
Frank Cashen, having become the Mets' general manager, hired Bamberger as the manager of a floundering team in 1982. Dave Kingman and George Foster supplied some power, but the pitching was thin, despite the return of Tom Seaver in 1983. Bamberger managed the Mets to a last-place finish in 1982, then resigned on June 3, 1983, with the team en route to last place once more, saying, ''I probably suffered enough.''
Kaz, Glavine help Mets past Braves
April 6, 2004 - The Mets trounced the Braves, 7-2, at Turner Field on Tuesday night. Kaz Matsui blasted a homer, collecting three RBIs, and Tom Glavine broke the hex against his ex-teammates, throwing six strong innings for his 252nd career win.
Glavine, who was 0-4 with a 10.35 ERA against Atlanta last season after signing a $35 million, three-year contract with the Mets the previous winter, had another rough start.
Matsui was the third Mets player to hit a home run in his first at-bat. The others were Mike Fitzgerald vs. Philadelphia on Sept. 13, 1983, and Benny Ayala on Aug. 27, 1974, vs. Houston.
Matsui, a seven-time All-Star in Japan, drew about 50 members of the Japanese media to Turner Field. And he immediately showed why the Mets signed him in December to a three-year contract. The switch-hitter, batting left-handed, hit the first pitch of the game from Ortiz 429 feet over the center-field fence for a 1-0 lead.
Mets trade Cedeno to St. Louis
April 3, 2004 - Mets general manager Jim Duquette had spent the better part of the last six months trying to accommodate Roger Cedeno's trade request, but the $10 million he is owed over the next two years combined with his defensive liabilities made such a move seemingly impossible.
Roger CedenoThe move brings to a close a trying chapter in Cedeno's career. Cedeno, who played with the Mets in 1999, returned to New York as a free agent after the 2001 season. He was penciled in as the leadoff hitter and was expected to provide the Mets with a spark at the top of the lineup.
Instead, he struggled at the plate and on the field, becoming one of the poster-boys for a series of questionable moves made by former general manager Steve Phillips. Cedeno's mental lapses on the field and on the base paths drew the ire of the New York fans. He was booed constantly at Shea Stadium and was even vilified this spring when the Mets played at Tradition Field.
Cedeno was originally signed to play left field but quickly showed he was not up to the task. The Mets then experimented with him in center field last spring but Cedeno also struggled there, eventually finding a part-time home in right field.
Reyes headed to DL
April 3, 2004 - Jose Reyes tried to show the Mets he was capable of being ready for Opening Day on Saturday morning but his aching right hamstring wouldn't completely cooperate.
So, the young second baseman is headed for the disabled list to begin the season. That means relievers Orber Moreno and Dan Wheeler are assured of a spot on the Major League roster. One of them will likely go to Triple-A Norfolk when Reyes comes off the disabled list.
The news about Reyes does not come as a surprise. Though he played the field and hit the ball hard in his four at-bats during a minor league game, he clearly was unable to run at 100 percent. He jogged lightly down to first base on the one base hit he had, partially because management told him to take it easy but mostly because he was unable to run full speed.
Reyes would be able to be activated next weekend in Puerto Rico when the Mets face the Expos, but it is unlikely that the club would let him play on the turf at Hiram Bithorn Stadium.
