Friday, July 31, 2009
Mets Split DH
Johan Santana established his fastball inside early in Thursday’s doubleheader opener, then let his tremendous changeup do some damage in a terrific outing, throwing seven scoreless innings.
The Rockies had a chance when Ian Stewart hammered one of those changes just foul with the bases loaded in the fourth inning, but Santana came back to strike out Stewart and end the Rockies’ only threat. The Mets had five straight hits to start a five-run second inning. The Mets won 7-0.
In the nightcap of the first doubleheader at Citi Field, Angel Pagan’s base-running blunder in the first killed a promising inning when Pagan was caught between third and home with no outs.
The Mets offense never really recovered, mustering only six hits. Jon Niese was pitching well until faltering in the seventh. The loss ended the Mets’ five-game winning streak, their best streak since May. The Rockies won 4-2.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Omar Should Be Gone
Omar Minaya is happier times. You don't have Willie Randolph to blame now.Chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon gathered reporters near the Mets dugout and apologized to Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News for Minaya’s earlier suggestion that Rubin had an agenda to get a job with the team when he wrote stories that led to Tony Bernazard’s firing.
The major news out of the 12-minute session was that Minaya will remain as the Mets’ GM, but Wilpon said ownership is not happy. It’s unclear what this means for Minaya’s future—he got a contract extension last year—but it suggests that the Mets, crushed by injuries in a crazy season, must play better and soon.
“We need to do better,” Wilpon said. “Ownership is not happy with the direction right now, and obviously we have to play better on the field, we need to get the (injured) guys back, and once that happens we’ll see how well this team can do. It is disappointing, and I understand the fans’ disappointment as well.”
Asked if Minaya would be the GM next year, Wilpon replied, “Right now the idea is Omar is our general manager, period.”
Wilpon, perhaps aware of suggestions that he was in on Minaya’s attack on Rubin, also said he and the GM had never discussed the idea of assailing Rubin during Monday’s event.
Wilpon added that Minaya wanted to call Rubin to apologize, too. The GM was upset Tuesday and did not meet with reporters, though he was at Citi Field.
Minaya offered a conditional apology, saying he only regretted saying that Rubin had “lobbied” for a job in the organization during the press conference. He stood by what he said, just not where and when he said it.
10 Hall of Famers who have worn a Mets uniform during their playing careers, now that Rickey Henderson has been enshrined in Cooperstown.
Mike Pelfrey pitches poorly when he doesn’t have command of his sinker and has to reduce velocity to harness the pitch. He had no such problems Tuesday against Colorado, using the pitch to get two double-play grounders and throwing in the mid-90s.
The result was 6 1/3 scoreless innings and the Mets’ fourth consecutive victory, which had Pelfrey talking afterward about a potential Mets run to playoff contention. “We keep this up and we get those (injured) guys back, you watch out,” Pelfrey said. “We’re going to make a run at this.” The Mets won 4-0.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Adios Bernazard! Minaya Next?
Mets GM Omar Minaya called a mid-afternoon news conference Monday to announce the firing of Tony Bernazard, the club’s vice president of player development who was dismissed after a series of high-profile incidents.
The news conference took a strange turn when he questioned the motives of beat writer Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News, who had reported on the recent turmoil and who Minaya said had lobbied him for a job.
Rubin called the allegation “deplorable” and said he had merely asked Minaya and Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon for career advice.
New York Daily News Omar Bashing
- Undressing the misguided charges of Mets general manager Omar Minaya >>
- Mets broadcasters dissect the Omar Minaya-Adam Rubin press conference >>
- Mets GM Omar Minaya takes off gloves, takes cheap shot at News writer Adam Rubin >>
- Omar Minaya, Mets botch firing of Tony Bernazard, hot-headed VP for player development >>
Monday, July 27, 2009
A Message From Mets GM Omar Minaya
I wanted for you to hear directly from me today regarding an update on the investigation of Tony Bernazard, our Vice President of Player Development.
Prior to a series of articles published in the media, our Baseball Operations and Human Resources departments had begun looking into several matters involving Tony. Once those reports became public, we accelerated our investigation. We wanted it to be thorough and complete it as quickly as possible while still being fair to Tony. That process concluded over the weekend.
Yesterday, I met with Tony in person to have a frank conversation about what we had learned following interviews with numerous people. I also wanted for Tony to have the opportunity to give his side of the story.
After meeting with Tony, and giving a lot of thought to the facts, I came to a decision on Tony's status which I shared with Ownership last night. My recommendation was that we needed to part ways with Tony, as his behavior in his interaction with others was inconsistent with our organization's values. Ownership agreed with my assessment and accepted my recommendation.
I spoke with Tony this morning and informed him of my decision to terminate his employment with the Mets.
Personnel decisions are never easy. And one can't make them without giving it a lot of thought. It's even harder when you know someone as I do Tony. Tony and I go back a long time. He is a dedicated baseball man who loves the game, someone I like and respect, and someone who has contributed to the Mets. In the end, however, I just told him I couldn't leave him in his position after all that had transpired.
As General Manager of the Mets, I am fully accountable for our Baseball Operations department -- on and off the field -- and stand by this decision.
Thank you for your ongoing support of the Mets.
Mets Return To Citi Field
Citi Field should be an interesting place this week as the Mets return home from a three-city road trip that began the season half. The Mets trail the NL East-leading Phillies by 10-1/2 games and the wild-card-leading Rockies by 7-1/2 games.
Yet their shoddy play and mounting injuries aren’t the only issues. The team has launched an investigation into the conduct of VP of player development Tony Bernazard, the results of which are sure to create a buzz on the talk-radio airwaves no matter what the findings.
The New York Daily News quoted sources last week that leveled several allegations against Bernazard, including that Bernazard:
- Took off his shirt and challenged the Class AA Binghamton Mets to a fight during a July 1 postgame meeting.
- Got into an intense verbal altercation with closer Francisco Rodriguez on July 17 on a team bus after a loss in Atlanta.
- Spewed expletives at the organization’s manager of baseball operations during a recent home stand at Citi Field, after Bernazard’s colleague suggested the VP wait until the end of a half-inning before having a Diamondbacks scout move from the seat Bernazard wanted.
“It’s still ongoing,” assistant GM John Ricco said about the organization’s investigation. “We’re talking to all the people who were involved. Once that’s done, we’ll have something to say. That’s where it stands right now.”
Bernazard has been unavailable for comment.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Astros beat Santana, Mets
Mike Hampton helped himself with the bat in his duel with Mets ace Johan Santana.
Hampton hit a two-run homer off Santana and the Houston Astros beat the Mets 5-4 on Friday night, handing the New York ace a rare loss after the All-Star break.
Santana (11-8) went 8-0 in 15 second-half starts last season and beat Atlanta on Saturday, his first start after the break. He allowed 12 hits on Friday, matching a career high, in 6 2-3 innings and lost for the third time in five starts.
Hampton snapped a 1-all tie in the fourth, driving the first pitch into the left-field porch after Jeff Keppinger doubled.
Hampton has 16 career home runs, second to Carlos Zambrano (19) among active pitchers. He homered for the first time since May 8, 2005, when he played for Atlanta and hit one off Houston’s Chad Harville.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Lannan earns first career shutout in 4-0 win
John Lannan threw his first career complete game the last time he faced the Mets, and remembered that start so well he didn’t need any video reminders as he prepared to face them again.
This time he did even better, throwing his first career shutout, scattering seven hits in a 4-0 win against the anemic New York Mets on Tuesday night.
“I’ve just faced them so much,” Lannan said. “I usually do a scouting report where I look at video and stuff, and this scouting report I basically did it from memory.”
He now has two career complete games in 57 starts, and both have come against the Mets.
Lannan (7-7) did not walk a batter and struck out one. He did not give up an extra-base hit and only once did a Met reach second base.
The left-hander’s performance snapped Washington’s six-game losing streak. The win also gave interim manager Jim Riggleman his first win in six games since replacing the fired Manny Acta at the All-Star break.
New York has been shut out five times in its last 13 games and seven times in 26 games since Carlos Beltran went on the DL on June 22. The Mets have been blanked nine times this year, tying Pittsburgh, Atlanta and the Chicago White Sox for the major league lead.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Escobar drives in four, Braves top Mets 7-1
Yunel Escobar had two of his four RBIs in a five-run fifth inning and the Braves beat New York 7-1 on Sunday night as the Mets lost yet another player to an injury.
“He’s been coming through,” Braves manager Bobby Cox said of Escobar, who is 8 for 11 with eight RBIs in three games hitting sixth.
Mets starting pitcher Fernando Nieve left the game in the second inning with a strained right quadriceps.
The Braves, who won three of four in the series, moved past Florida into second place in the East, 6 1/2 games behind the surging Phillies.
Escobar hit his ninth homer in the second inning and had a run-scoring single in the fourth to give Atlanta a 2-1 lead. The shortstop delivered a bases-loaded two-run double in the fifth as the Braves stretched the lead to 7-1.
The fourth-place Mets fell nine games back of NL East-leading Philadelphia, their largest deficit since they were nine games out after play on Sept. 29, 2005, according to STATS LLC.
Since June 22, the injury-ravaged Mets have lost 15 times in 24 games and have scored just 74 runs, the fewest in the majors. They have scored one run or less in 10 of those games.
Thursday, July 15, 2009
Chipper Does In Mets Again
Chipper Jones drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning and Rafael Soriano capped three scoreless innings by Atlanta’s bullpen as the Braves beat the Mets 5-3 on Thursday night.
Pedro Feliciano (2-3) walked pinch-hitter Brooks Conrad, who advanced to third on Martin Prado’s hit-and-run single to left off Bobby Parnell. Jones, a .330 career hitter against the Mets, drove in Conrad with a single to right off Parnell to give the Braves a 4-3 lead.
Carlos Beltran Rookie outfielder Fernando Martinez underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. He will be sidelined into September.
The bone bruise in center fielder Carlos Beltran’s right knee has not yet healed sufficiently in order for him to be cleared to begin running. Minaya said surgery hasn’t been discussed, but he did not rule out Beltran eventually needing to undergo a procedure.
Right-hander John Maine (shoulder) threw batting practice to shortstop Jose Reyes (hamstring) in Port St. Lucie, Fla., on Thursday. Neither appears particularly close to returning. Maine could make a minor league rehab appearance in a week to 10 days, Minaya said. Reyes has not yet started running the bases to see if his right leg hurts while cutting.
First baseman Carlos Delgado is making progress in his return from hip surgery to repair a torn labrum and remove a bone spur. But Delgado, who has started facing pitching, is not projected to return until mid-August.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Met All-Stars Play Roles
David Wright The NL's rallied in the bottom of the second. AL starter Roy Halladay went 5-up, 5-down before giving up four straight hits with two outs in the second. Wright, Shane Victorino and Molina singled. Wright scored on Molina's hit, and Victorino scored when Hamilton's throw got away at third.
Pinch-hitter Prince Fielder, the champ of Monday's Home Run Derby, kept it in the yard and slashed a double to left that scored Molina.
Wright went 1-for-2 and scored the NL's first run before being replaced by Washington's Ryan Zimmerman.
Francisco Rodriguez retired Brandon Inge on a first-pitch groundout to shortstop, struck out Carl Crawford and benefited from Philadelphia's Jayson Werth running down Justin Morneau's shot to deep center for the final out.
K-Rod needed only six pitches a perfect ninth inning.
Johan Santana did not pitch, as Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee adhered to the Mets' wishes not to use the southpaw, who next pitches Saturday in Atlanta.
Pedro Signs With Phillies
Terms were not released but Martinez reportedly agreed to a $1 million, one-year contract.Amaro announced the deal Wednesday morning. The Phillies immediately put Martinez on the 15-day disabled list with a shoulder strain. Team officials say it has not been determined when he will start a rehabilitation assignment.
Terms were not released but Martinez reportedly agreed to a $1 million, one-year contract.
The World Series champs have been hampered by injuries to their pitching rotation. No. 2 starter Brett Myers had hip surgery in June and his replacement, Antonio Bastardo, is also on the disabled list.
Martinez is 214-99 with a 2.91 ERA in 17 seasons.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Taste Of The Apple Finally
After Schneider’s home run, the 40,014 fans who’ve had little to cheer for the past two months chanted “Apple! Apple!” until the end of the inning. New York went 80 innings overall without a home run until Schneider and Tatis connected in the eighth inning of the Mets’ 9-7 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.
So, as the cherished home run apple took the 2 1/2 minutes it needs to reset after Schneider’s home run, the 40,014 fans who’ve had little to cheer for the past two months chanted “Apple! Apple!” until the end of the inning. Then the gleaming new apple—Shea Stadium’s is now on display near an entrance—finally popped out of its center-field hole.
Mike Pelfrey (7-4) rebounded from his start July 7 against the Dodgers in which he gave up five runs in three innings by shutting down the poor-hitting Reds. He gave up two singles in the first, then retired 10 in a row before walking the first two batters of the fifth.
After walking Ramon Hernandez leading off, Pelfrey committed his sixth balk, becoming the first pitcher with six balks in season since Chris Michalak for Toronto and Texas in 2001, according to STATS LLC.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Arroyo Beats Mets Again
The Mets are sinking fast, and Bronson Arroyo kept getting them to beat the ball into the ground.
Arroyo threw a four-hitter for his second career shutout, Joey Votto and Laynce Nix homered off Fernando Nieve, and the Cincinnati Reds defeated helpless New York 3-0 Friday night.
“I had kind of a hard changeup that was diving down,” said Arroyo, who got 15 ground-ball outs. “Obviously, having a watered-down lineup helped, too.”
Before the game, New York traded Ryan Church to the Atlanta Braves for Jeff Francoeur and cash in a swap of outfielders who had fallen out of favor with their teams. The Mets then went out and lost for the sixth time in seven games and 11th in 14, drawing frequent and loud boos from the crowd of 39,203 at Citi Field.
With Carlos Delgado, Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran on the disabled list, more deals could be ahead if the Mets fade further in the NL East before the July 31 deadline for trades without waivers. Following a 28-21 start, the Mets have gone 12-24 since May and dropped five games under .500 for the first time since an 0-5 start in 2005 under new manager Willie Randolph. They’ve fallen 6 1/2 games behind first-place Philadelphia.
Since Beltran last played June 21, New York has scored three runs or fewer in 13 of 18 games and been shut out five times. The Mets have three shutout losses in a five-game span for the first time since getting blanked three times in a row July 25-27, 1992, according to STATS LLC.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Dodgers Take 2 of 3 at Dodgers Field in Queens.
Dodgers' Manny Ramirez (99) heads back to the dugout with teammates James Loney, (7), and Andre Ethier (16) after all three scored on a hit from Orlando Hudson during the first inning.Livian Hernandez allowed eight runs in four innings Thursday night against the Dodgers. He has now surrendered a combined 15 runs, 21 hits and eight walks in seven innings in consecutive starts, against Philadelphia and Los Angeles. Hernandez has lost his last four starts, dropping his record to 5-5.
Gary Sheffield misplays Rafael Furcals's fly ball, Hernandez walks Manny Ramirez, a bad call by 2B umpire John Hirschbeck. The Dodgers have 2 more runs. That's the Mets!
Los Angeles took two of three in its first trip to Citi Field and won the season series 5-1 against the injury-ravaged Mets, who have lost five of six and 10 of 13. Actually they had home field advantage in L.A. and in Queens.
The Mets dropped a season-high 5 1/2 games behind first-place Philadelphia with their 10th loss in 13 games.
Fernando Martinez was placed on the disabled list with right knee inflammation Thursday. He hadn’t played since July 3, and he hadn’t started since July 1.
Left-hander Randy Wolf improved to 12-5 with a 3.29 ERA in 30 starts against New York, his most wins against any team. He is 6-0 in his last nine outings vs. the Mets since losing on May 4, 2005, with the Phillies.
Fernando Tatis was 2-28 career against Wolf at the start of the game. He went one for 1-3 against Wolf last night. Question for Jerry Manuel, why was he in the lineup in the first place after Daniel Murphy was 2-4 with two doubles the night before and a nice play off the carom of the bag. Murphy is hitting .281 against lefties.
In the three game series, the Dodgers outscored the Mets 23-7, Manny Ramirez had 6 RBI in the series. The Dodgers, who had 17 hits, drew 25 walks in the series.
Thursday, July 8, 2009
Wild Win For Amazin' Mess
Luis Castillo's infield single in the second inning scored Jeremy Reed and broke a 23-inning scoreless drought by the Mets, who snapped a four-game losing streak. Francisco Rodriguez picked up his 22nd save despite surrendering a solo homer by Manny Ramirez in the ninth. K-Rod retired Andre Ethier on a game-ending double play. The Mets won 5-3.
Left-hander Oliver Perez walked seven batters, one shy of matching his career high, in a five-inning start Wednesday against the Dodgers. But he surrendered only two runs and was credited with the victory.
Perez was making his first major league appearance since getting pulled in the third inning in Philadelphia on May 2 and subsequently landing on the disabled list with right knee inflammation and a 9.97 ERA.
David Wright snapped an 0-for-17 skid with a third-inning RBI single Wednesday against the Dodgers' Hiroki Kuroda. Wright notched his 100th hit of the season and put the Mets ahead 2-1?the team?s first lead since July 2 against Pittsburgh.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Mets Shutout Again
Mike Pelfrey surrendered three runs, including a bases-loaded, two-RBI bloop single to Manny Ramirez, during a 42-pitch second inning in the Mets 8-0 lost. The Mets have been held scoreless for 22 consecutive innings. They were last shut out in consecutive games May 24-25, 2005, at Atlanta.
David Wright is hitless in 16 consecutive at-bats. Wright has six hits in his last 46 at-bats (.130).
Jose Reyes received a cortisone shot Tuesday in New York because of continued discomfort with a right hamstring tendon strain. Omar Minaya tried to portray the decision to give Reyes an injection as something other than a setback, but the fact that Reyes still has tightness in the leg isn’t encouraging.
Carlos Beltran, who is on the disabled list with a bone bruise of the right knee, has been riding an exercise bicycle. But Beltran won’t even be re-evaluated, with the potential to be cleared to begin running, until next week. That means he is several steps from beginning a rehabilitation assignment.
On the positive side, left-hander Billy Wagner has started throwing batting practice in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Wagner is expected to return as soon as next month from Tommy John surgery performed last September.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Mets Minaya has painted himself into a corner
Omar Minaya is in deep shit.According to the Times, Minaya could trade some of the team's few prospects for a midlevel player like Aubrey Huff, the Baltimore Orioles' first baseman. But that may not be enough to keep the Mets in contention, and it could hobble them in years to come when they try to replace their aging players.
Yet trading away stars, or even productive veterans, for prospects with no guarantee that they will perform as hoped could cause a more destructive chain of events. Sales of season tickets, luxury suites, concessions, parking and merchandise may decline. Advertising in the ballpark and on SNY, the team's regional cable network, may slip, too, the Times reported.
That is why people who follow the business of baseball say that the Mets are unlikely to make wholesale changes to their roster during the season, as some fans hope.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Mets Swept In Philadelphia
Johan Santana surrendered solo homers to Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley and was dealt his first loss in nine career starts against the Phillies. The Phillies won 2-0. The Mets were swept in the weekend series to drop four games behind first-place Philadelphia.
For the fifth time in Santana’s 16 starts this season, the Mets lost by two or fewer runs. Santana has 50 runs of offensive support.
David Wright is not pressing hard. He's just not impressive. Wright has replaced ARod as the biggest choke non-performer in clutch situations player. He went 0-for-11 in the series, and is 1-for-21 with eight strikeouts in five games since convincing Jerry Manuel not to rest him during Wednesday's matinee in Milwaukee.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Hitless Blunders Lose Again
Jamie Moyer tosses salad and the Met bats have no dressing.
Moyer (7-6) allowed one run and five hits in 6 1-3 innings to win his third straight start. The 46-year-old Moyer tied Carl Hubbell for 42nd on the all-time list with his 253rd career win.
Mets starter Fernando Nieve (3-2) gave up four runs and six hits, walking six in 5 2-3 innings. He doesn’t have to worry about losing his spot in the starting rotation because the Mets announced that Tim Redding is heading to the bullpen to make room for Oliver Perez.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Mets Crushed In Opener
Rodrigo Lopez allowed two runs and six hits in 6 1-3 innings to earn his first win since beating the Phillies on July 7, 2007, when he played for Colorado.
Mets starter Livan Hernandez lasted three-plus innings, allowing seven runs and 10 hits. It was his shortest outing since he gave up seven runs in three innings against Cleveland while pitching for Minnesota last June 12.
Thursday, July 1, 2009
Mets Win 1-0 Behind Big Pelf.
Mike Pelfrey tossed 7 2/3 scoreless innings as the Mets snapped a season-high five-game losing streak and avoided a sweep at Milwaukee. Ryan Church’s RBI single in the sixth inning off Yovani Gallardo scored Luis Castillo. The Mets won 1-0.
Fernando Martinez is still on the interstate at .179 and scares people in outfield.
Mike Pelfrey reminds me of Steve Trachsel. He just won't throw the ball to the plate. He is always playing with the ball and wiping sweat.
Gary Cohen on the SNY broadcast said "Daniel Murphy has been called out on strikes in two at-bats." Genius Keith Hernandez says "looking!"
Ryan Church has 19 RBI on July 1st and is batting clean up. Mets finally a hit with a runner in scoring position. They were 0-7 with five strikeouts.
The Met batters look like hitting coach Howard Johnson at the plate. Swinging at curve balls in the dirt.
On second thought, perhaps David Wright should of been given the day off after going 0-4 with three strikeouts and a throwing error.
Met pitchers have been feasted upon by Ryan Braun.
The Mets are going to build a team to fit Citi Field like the Cardinals in Busch astroturf in the 1980's. So the Mets signed Vince Coleman and Willie McGee.
Mike Pelfrey balks again. Why is he throwing to first with Prince Fielder on?
Prince Fielder looked safe at third base.
Mike Pelfrey pitched a great game. Now Sean "walk the leadoff hitter" Green is coming in.
Do I smell another blown save by Francisco Rodriguez.
Howdy Doody from WFAN can stop whining and now can wipe the tears from his scorecard.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Got Runs? Got Defense? Got Hits?
Mets' Fernando Martinez can't come up with the catch on a double hit by Brewers' Corey Hart during the fourth inning.The Brewers Ryan Braun hit a three-run double and finished with four RBIs as Milwaukee won 6-3 to extend the New York Mets’ skid to a season-high five games.
Fernando Tatis looks finished. Maybe it's time to say goodbye. Tatis doesn't move the runner over as he chases two balls in the dirt. Tatis has hit into 10 double plays this season.
David Wright hit his first home run since June 9th.
Ryan Church has 18 RBI on June 30th and is batting fifth. Is this an expansion team?
Mets should trade Johan Santana while he is healthy and stock is high. The season is over! Santana has lost his fastball. He's another Pedro Martinez signing for the Mets. One plus good years and on the hook for a big contract. Johan Santana was getting squeezed by home plate umpire Jim Wolf. Tom Glavine just called in and blamed Questec. Santana has now lost four of his last six decisions.
Johan Santana should never have walked opposing pitcher Mike Burns. He should be out of the inning. Dan Warthen finally showed some emotion. On Warthen's way back to the dugout, he argued balls and strikes with home-plate umpire Jim Wolf, who ejected Warthen.
Another Met went on the DL today. Manager Jerry Manuel pulled a calf muscle running out to the pitchers mound in last nights game.
WFAN's Mike Francesca had a great line this afternoon saying Nick Evans and Daniel Murphy are the same person.
David Wright makes a great play and follows it up with a bad throw to first allowing the runner to advance.
Johan Santana over 100 pitches and starting the 7th. I like to see him get a win, but this is a no win situation and team. Prince Fielder then smacked a long bomb to end his night.
The Mets have announced they signed former Met outfielder Don Hahn to a contract. The 61 year old Hahn is a perfect fit, can't hit, field, run bases and hit with power. Del Unser was a second option.
The Mets hit like hitting coach Howard Johnson did in his career. Streaky, inconstient, poor decisions.
Fernando Martinez is no Carlos Beltran in centerfield. Martinez just loves those eye level pitches. Martinez hit his first career home run with two outs in the top of the ninth.
Looks like the Mets ticket office will not be sending out any post season invoices this season.