Ex-Mets: Church, Pirates nearing deal

Free-agent Ryan Church and the Pittsburgh Pirates are in talks for a deal, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Church appears to fit the Pirates' profile for their primary position-player need, in that they seek a reserve outfielder capable of stepping into everyday duty if needed: Church, a left-handed batter, is versatile, sound defensively, and his career splits -- he bats .280 vs. right-handed pitchers, .248 vs. left-handers, with 43 of his 51 home runs, -- probably would work best in a platoon or bench role.

I know Church was (is?) something of a fan-favorite around these parts, so thought I’d pass it along.

Twitter Poll: Do you regret buying a certain player’s jersey?

When the Mets traded for J.J. Putz last off-season, a lot of people hurried out to the store to purchase a new shirt for No. 22.

Not even a full year later, it’s likely that Putz is done as a member of the Mets.

So I asked my Twitter followers if they regret buying a certain player’s jersey.  Here are some responses…

PaulsRandomStuf said: I own a Mo Vaughn Mets t-shirt. Do I really have to explain the reason for the regret? ;-)

fallacyofromeJH said: Kaz matsui....for obvious reasons

IvanCTorres said: kaz matsui! bought it right before his first year with the Mets

PessimisticMet said: my roberto alomar jersey is looking real nice right about now.

BigVin57 said: i bought Roberto Alomar and Mo Vaughn shirts. waste of money

benbarbato said: I bought a Ryan Church T-Shirt last year. Loved Church, felt he never got the chance to be what he could've been.

ambilevous said: two words. Alay Soler.

BlueAndOrange said: YUP totally bought a Hidalgo shirt.. thought he was gonna be around longer than a day.

MaryL1973 said: Yes, Paul Lo Duca because he was not the person I thought.

That’s quite a “team” we could field from these jerseys. 

Putz on the mound, Lo Duca behind the plate, Vaughn at first, Alomar at second, Matsui at shortstop, Hidalgo and Church in the OF.

Why Jerry Manuel cracks me up

Jerry Manuel says what he thinks.  Every time.  Without fail.  (Hence the Manuel’s Musing.)

Yesterday we heard Manuel compare Ryan Church to David Wright.  Wright, Manuel said, “is made up a little different” than Church.

Current player, ex-player or anyone at all shouldn’t have to hear this from a manager’s mouth.  Maybe a player after a plunking or bushleague play, but a manager should keep his trap shut unless it’s entirely necessary.  And this was far from it.

Manuel keeps people on the edge of their seat with what he’s going to say next, but this was a little too far.  He needs to think about his words might mean to someone else before he blurts it out.

Still, he’s always entertaining.

Church for Frenchy: My reaction

It’s too late at night for me to start looking up statistics and quoting OBP and whatnot. But from where I stand, the Mets just swapped Ryan Church, a player whom I liked, for Jeff Francoeur, a player I had grown to hate simply because he was a Brave.

(Also, is it just me or have the Mets and Braves barely played this season?)

Simply, the Mets got a five-year-younger Church. They are, in essence the same player. Streaky, with some pop, and can drive in runs. And both have cannons for arms.

Was it even worth the phone calls?

Francoeur (I hate that name already), also known as Frenchy, may benefit from a change of scenery. At least, I hope so.

Frenchy is a decent player, but nothing special. Both teams were down on the players they sent away, so I guess it's all about meaningless. Still, this just doesn't sit right with me.

I will miss Church. I really will. He was a solid player that ran into (literally) some hard times and seemed to suffer from an over-crowded outfield on the Mets. I don’t wish him well, though, because he’s the enemy again.

And I was this close to buying a Church shirt this week.

Guess I should get a Frenchy shirt.

Church traded to Braves for Francoeur

According to Kevin Burkhardt on Twitter, the Mets have traded Ryan Church.

Church is heading to the Atlanta Braves for Jeff Francoeur.

I'm at a concert, so I'll keep it brief, but I don't understand this at all. Is the trade really worth it? More later.

David Wright vs. team strikeouts [Chart]

David Wright leads the team with 80 strikeouts.  In second place, Carlos Beltran has 34 and Ryan Church has K’d 33 times in third place.

Obviously, most of the team has been on the disabled list, outside of Wright.  There is a correlation that he has had by far the most plate appearances (341), giving him more chances to strike out.

Still, this chart is amazing to look at.

Game Recap: Mets 1 – Brewers 0

A gem from Mike Pelfrey.

The New York Mets (38-39) beat the Milwaukee Brewers (42-36) by a score of 1-0.

Pelfrey was as good as could be.  Seven and 2-3 on the mound, surrendering six hits, two walks while striking out six.  It seemed like anytime he was in a jam, he induced a double play.

Just what the doctor ordered.  With this anemic offense, the Mets needed a strong start just to stay close.  They got exactly that.

Pelfrey cam out with runners on first and second and two outs in the 8th in favor of Sean Green.  Green got a ground ball to third base to end the inning and the threat.

A huge out.  Well done.

Francisco Rodriguez entered for the 9th inning and let up a leadoff single to Ryan Braun.  Unphased, K-Rod set the next three batters down on a line drive and two groundballs to preserve the victory and the win.

And his control was much, much better this time around.

For the game’s only run, credit is due to Luis Castillo and Ryan Church. 

Leading off the sixth inning, Castillo dropped a hit just inside the line in left field for what ended up being a ground-rule double.  After David Wright struck out for the third time that game, Church came to the plate and snuck a single under the glove of Craig Counsell and into centerfield, plating Castillo.

And that was all the Mets needed.  Thank you, Pelfrey.

Game Ball: Mike Pelfrey

Brewers 10 – Mets 6

GOOD

• Ryan Church: 4-5
• Church’s outfield assist (even if it was Braden Looper running).
• Gary Sheffield: 3-5, HR, 3 RBI
• Elmer Dessens: 1.2 IP, 0 H
• Three run 9th inning rally
• Five extra-base hits

BAD & UGLY

• Too little, too late
• Braden Looper: 6.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 2 K
• Argenis Reyes leading off
• Brian Stokes: 1 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, HR (GS)
• Fernando Nieve: 11 H in 3.1 IP.  He had allowed 10 hits over last three starts.

Game Ball: Ryan Church

Game Recap: Mets 11 – Cardinals 0

The Mets were on the right side of this laugher.

The New York Mets (36-34) beat the St. Louis Cardinals (40-33) by a score of 11-0.

Fernando Nieve was stellar once more.  Six shutout innings, allowing only three hits and four walks, he continues to impress.  Nieve struck out three as well.  He is now 3-0 in three starts.

How good has this guy been?  Keep it up, Snow!

Brian Stokes, Pat Misch and Bobby Parnell stitched together three innings of scoreless relief to preserve the shutout.

David Wright: 4-4, 2B, 3 R.  Ryan Church: 3-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R.  Fernando Tatis: 2-4, 3 RBI, 1 R.  Nick Evans: 2-3, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R.  Brian Schneider: 1-4, 2 RBI.

Wow.

Game Recap: Orioles 5 – Mets 4

He was due to falter.

The Baltimore Orioles (29-37) beat the New York Mets (33-31) by a score of 5-4.

Livan Hernandez did it again.  Another strong start, keeping the Mets in the game.  Seven innings, Hernandez scattered eight hits and allowed only two earned runs.  Hernandez walked one and struck out four.

How good has Hernandez been this year?  I had no hopes of him doing anything for the Mets this year.  Boy, was I wrong.

Pedro Feliciano and Sean Green split the 8th inning, allowing one run to score on two hits.  Francisco Rodriguez entered for the 9th inning with a one run lead.  A ledoff double, walk and fielders choice that didn’t get anyone out left the bases loaded and no outs with Adam Jones at the plate.  K-Rod walked him in to tie the game, then struck out Nick Markakis to bring Aubrey Huff to the plate.

Huff promptly singled to right field, ending the game with a win for the O’s.

The overuse of Feliciano and K-Rod is starting to show.  I can’t rail on K-Rod.  Everyone has a off day.

The Mets bats were held off the board until the 6th inning by rookie Jason Berken.  They finally broke through with a sacrifice fly off the bat of David Wright.  Later in the inning, Ryan Church singled off the wall in right field, plating another run.

The next inning, Daniel Murphy and Carlos Beltran picked up RBI hits.

The Mets could have plated a few more, but nothing came to fruition.  Thankfully the Toronto Blue Jays swept the Philadelphia Phillies.

Game Recap: Mets 6 – Phillies 5

I thought you couldn’t hit home runs in Citi Field?

The New York Mets (31-25) beat the Philadelphia Phillies (33-23) by a score of 6-5.

Johan Santana did not have his best stuff, surrendering four (4!) home runs to the Phillies.  Santana pitched seven plus innings, allowing eight hits and five earned runs.  All the runs scored on home runs.

After being staked to a 3-0 lead, Santana gave up back-to-back two-out solo home runs to Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez.  In the sixth, Jimmy Rollins hit a two-run homer to left field.

With only 88 pitches, Santana came out to start the 8th inning and let up a solo shot to Chase Utley.  Jerry Manuel went out to get him, and he was not too excited to come off the mound.

Santana induced 14 fly balls tonight.

Bobby Parnell pitched to one batter, letting up a hit.  Pedro Feliciano came in to relieve him and on four pitches, got three outs -- a double play off the bat of Howard and a ground ball from Ibanez.

Francisco Rodriguez entered for the ninth, nursing a one-run lead.  A leadoff single by Jimmy Rollins got Mets fans heart rates up, but a strikeout and fielder’s choice (thanks to a perfect takeout slide by Rollins) put Greg Dobbs at the plate with two outs and a runner on first.  K-Rod got him swinging to end the game.

The Phillies hit four home runs, but the Mets countered with three of their own.

In the bottom of the second inning, David Wright broke a 100 at bat homerless streak with a solo home run to left field, putting the first run on the board in the game.

The next inning, Carlos Beltran hit a two-run home run to left field, giving the Mets an early 3-0 lead.  The Mets loaded the bases after Beltran’s shot, prompting the Phillies to get the bullpen working.  But J.A. Happ responded and avoided further damage.

Fernando Tatis started the sixth inning off with a double to left and moved to third after a snap throw by Carlos Ruiz went into centerfield.  A Ryan Church ground ball to first followed and Howard threw home to get Tatis at the plate.  (At least that’s how home plate umpire Lance Barksdale saw it.  Replays showed he was safe.)

Omir Santos singled after Church, putting runners on first and second with one out.  Santana came to the plate and after fouling off a bunt, he pulled his bunt back and ripped a double down the right field line, plating Church to tie the game at 4-4.

Alex Cora later ripped a two-out single up the middle, giving the Mets a one run lead.

In the 7th inning, Church crushed a two-out home run to straightaway centerfield.  The ball landed in the home of the Home Run Apple.  This sixth run for the Mets ended up being the game winner.

What. A. Game.

And it came on just the right day as it was my cousin Jonathan’s 9th birthday yesterday.  He’s a Mets fan, much to the chagrin of his Yankee-fan mother.  But he has seen the light and is a true Mets fan!  Let’s go Mets and Happy Birthday Jonathan!

Lineup for finale; Church returns, starts

Ryan Church has been activated and will start today in right field.  Luis Castillo gets a day off with Alex Cora shifting over and Wilson Valdez filling in at SS.

1. Alex Cora – 2B
2. Fernando Martinez – LF
3. Carlos Beltran – CF
4. David Wright – 3B
5. Daniel Murphy – 1B
6. Ryan Church – RF
7. Brian Schneider – C
8. Wilson Valdez – SS
9. Livan Hernandez – RHP

F-Mart sticks around

With Ryan Church ready to come off the disabled list tomorrow, the Mets needed to make room.  Emil Brown has been designated for assignment.

Fernando Martinez, the young 20-year-old, will stay on the team.  That means he will continue to get consistent playing time.

And there’s your bright spot of Mets news today after the 7-1 drubbing.

Because the Mets need another outfielder: Complete trade for Emil Brown

The Mets now have 2,302,884 outfielders in their organization with the addition of Emil Brown from the San Diego Padres.

No word on who went West for Brown, but I wouldn’t worry that your favorite player is no longer with the Mets.

Updated – 4:10 p.m.: It’s a “player to be named later.”

In 736 career games spanning nine seasons, Brown has a .258 batting average and .323 on-base percentage.

Last season, with Oakland, he hit .244 / .297 / .386 with 13 HR and 59 RBI.

Brown will report to Triple-A Buffalo.

Could this mean the Mets are planning to keep Fernando Martinez around long-term?  Seems it.  That would also likely spell the end of Ryan Church in New York.

Lineup for finale, K-Rod back, Church still hurting

Here’s the Mets lineup for the finale as the Mets look to sweep in Boston with Tim Redding on the mound.

1. Daniel Murphy – 1B
2. Angel Pagan – RF
3. Carlos Beltran – DH
4. Gary Sheffield – LF
5. David Wright –3B
6. Jeremy Reed – CF
7. Ramon Castro – C
8. Ramon Martinez – SS
9. Luis Castillo – 2B

On the K-Rod front: Francisco Rodriguez returned to the team today and said he could close today, if needed.

I’m a little reserved about that.  Let him rest.

Ryan Church’s hamstring is still barking, and according to David Lennon, the DL might be a possibility.

Really?  Who is next?

Church left game with sore hamstring

Ryan Church was removed from the game in the middle of the fourth inning with a sore hamstring.

Angel Pagan took over in right field.

Church left the game and received treatment for the injury.  He will not start tomorrow, but may be available off the bench.

Yikes.  Who is next?

Game Recap: Mets 8 – Giants 6

Just call them The Comeback Kids.

The New York Mets (20-15) beat the San Francisco Giants (18-17) by a score of 8-6.

Livan Hernandez, making the start for the Mets, got roughed up early.  Hernandez allowed four runs in the first inning and another in the fifth inning before settling down.  He pitched five innings, allowing five runs on eight hits. 

Sean Green allowed a run on two hits in the sixth inning.  Pedro Feliciano and Brian Stokes each turned in scoreless innings.  Francisco Rodriguez turned in a 1-2-3 9th inning to notch his 11th save of the season.

Facing Tim Lincecum, the Mets had a stiff task ahead of them.  David Wright drove in one in the first inning with an RBI single.  Down 5-1, the Mets got two more in the sixth inning on an Omir Santos sac-fly and another Wright RBI single. 

The Mets got two on to start the seventh inning, chasing Lincecum.  With the bases loaded and none out, Wright hit a bases-clearing double to left field to tie the game. 

In the 9th, Ryan Church attempted to bunt over two runners.  Brian Wilson fielded and threw to third, trying to get the lead runner, but his toss went wide and Gary Sheffield scored, giving the Mets the lead.  Santos added another run on an RBI sac-fly.

Wright went 3-5 with 4 RBI and a stolen base tonight.  He has absolutely dominated over the last two games.

What a win.  Hanging in against the 2008 Cy Young winner and then exploiting the Giants bullpen and their mistakes.  I tweeted that this win might be season defining.  What do you think?

Why wait on Delgado?

The Mets have scheduled a press conference at 4 p.m. to discuss Carlos Delgado.  Taking an educated guess, the Mets will likely be putting Delgado on the disabled list due to his hip injury and calling someone up to take his spot.

Update – 3:58 p.m.: David Lennon says “it appears the team will not make a decision about the disabled list until this weekend, and maybe even as late as Sunday.”

Delgado hasn’t played in a game since May 10 in the series finale against Pittsburgh.  He had previously four straight games from April 27 to May 1 with the same injury.

Why has it taken the Mets this long?

I understand if he’s hurting a little and the team wants to see if he’ll bounce back after a few days off.  But after it’s happened twice in two weeks, why take the chance?  Don’t the Mets have some of the best doctors in the world looking at their multi-million dollar investments?

Though it’s “just a hip injury” this could parlay into something that Ryan Church experienced last year with his concussions.  Did Delgado make the cross-country trip to be with his team on their west coast swing, just like Church was put on a plane after his run in with Yunel Escobar’s knee.

If, in fact, Delgado did sit on a plane for six hours – which can’t be good for the hip – it’s just another bobble by the Mets medical and coaching staffs.

Mets fans can only hope Delgado stayed behind in New York to get treatment and work toward recovering from the injury, sacrificing being in the dugout for a few games.

We’ll all just have to wait until that 4 p.m. conference call.

Game Recap: Mets 8 – Nationals 2

A comedy of errors by the Nationals and a nice start out of Mike Pelfrey.  What a Saturday.

The Mets (8-9) beat the Nationals (3-13) by a score of 8-2.

The Mini Recap

Pelfrey, coming off a skipped start, pitched effectively and surprisingly well.  Almost six innings out of Pelfrey must be encouraging for the Mets.  The bullpen turned in 3 1-3 solid innings.

Thanks to three errors and a handful of other bad choices by the Nationals, the Mets scored eight runs, only four of which were earned.  Ryan Church drove in three runs while Carlos Beltran picked up three hits.

For the full recap, head over to Baseball Digest.

Game Recap: Cardinals 12 – Mets 8

On a day the bats decided to show up to the park, the pitching just wasn’t there.

The Cardinals (11-5) beat the Mets (6-9) by a score of 12-8.

The Mini Recap

The teams pounded out 31 hits between them.  Livan Hernandez only lasted 4 1-3 innings, allowing seven earned runs while on the mound.  Sean Green didn’t fare much better, allowing five earned runs in two innings of work.

Carlos Beltran went 3-5 on the day with a double and a home run, driving in three runs.  Ryan Church also connected for a two-run home run.  Alex Cora and Fernando Tatis each picked up their first hits of the season.

For the full recap, head over to Baseball Digest.