Finding ways to lose

As a Mets fan, we’ve witnessed some pretty strange ways to watch the Mets lose.

Today was a new take on an old friend.  Back when the Mets were visiting Los Angeles, we saw the Dodgers trump the Mets on a game-ending error.

Tonight, in the 8th inning this time around, back-to-back errors helped the Nationals beat the Mets in D.C.

In what looked like a tailor-made double play, Anderson Hernandez fielded a ground ball off the bat of Christian Guzman, but his flip to Luis Castillo was well wide of the bag.  That put runners at first and second with one out.

Making up for the earlier gaffe, Hernandez smothered the next ball to come his way and made a backhand flip to Castillo to force out Guzman at second.  Castillo turned to attempt the double-play, but his throw sailed out of the reach of a leaping Daniel Murphy, allowing Justin Maxwell to score.

And that run was the decider as the Mets threatened in the 9th inning, but were foiled by a catch by Elijah Dukes as he slammed into the right field wall to end the game.

Just scribble it down as another loss and try to forget about it.  If you can.

Hey, only four more games to go.

No Misch-stake here

Pat Misch just threw a complete-game shut out for the New York Mets.

I repeat.

Pat Misch just threw a complete-game shut out for the New York Mets.

The Mets won 4-0, taking the series against the Florida Marlins.

Misch surrendered eight hits in the game, seven of them being singles.  He also owes Jeff Francoeur a steak dinner, as the right fielder went up and over the wall to bring back a would-be home run off the bat of Chris Coghlan.

Francoeur also hit a two-run home run in the game.  The Mets also got runs off a Josh Thole sac-fly and an Anderson Hernandez solo home run.

Misch tossed 101 pitches through eight innings and needed only nine more to get through the final innings.  Sixty-seven of those pitches went for strikes.

Oh, and this is six days after Jerry Manuel told reporters that Misch would be pulled from the rotation.  Figures.

Nice to see Thole behind the plate for this, too.

An eight-run frame and an injured Ollie

I watched the Mets put up eight runs in an inning last night.  I wasn’t dreaming.  It wasn’t a video game.  And it wasn’t a Mets Classic.

The New York Mets, with this lineup, put up eight runs in an inning.

The bottom of the 4th inning saw 10 hits, the most in franchise history in one inning.  Gary Sheffield and Luis Castillo each picked up two hits, driving in two runs a piece.  Jeff Francoeur, Fernando Tatis, Anderson Hernandez and Angel Pagan each drove in one.

Who woulda thunk it?

And Oliver Perez, forever the enigma, threw 81 pitches over five innings.  He let up two home runs, accounting for the four runs.  Perez walked one and struck out four.

Jerry Manuel later said that he removed Perez from the game due to pain behind his knee, the same knee that landed him on the DL earlier in the season.

An eight-run inning and possibly losing another player to injury.  Something so rare and something so common.  Oh, 2009.

What I missed while I was hugging the porcelain throne

Last night was terrible.  Hopefully it’s only a 24-hour bug.

Anyway, here’s what I missed…

- Bobby Parnell will make a start on Saturday, filling in for Mike Pelfrey.  Pelfrey will be back with the Mets in Arizona, starting on Monday.

I like the idea of seeing what the Mets might have in Parnell, but don’t you think they should stretch him out a little more?  Though he was on the mound for three innings on Wednesday, he only threw 30 pitches.  I guess the Mets are hoping to get just five innings out of him, as he will be held to a 60-75 pitch limit, reports Adam Rubin.

- Angel Berroa DFA’d to make room for Anderson Hernandez.

Oh, goody.

- Gary Sheffield and Luis Castillo may not be as injured as we all thought.

Sheffield was in one of the lineups for the Mets last night, but ended up sitting out.  Castillo may return as early as Saturday, said Jerry Manuel.

- Mets lose to Padres by a score of 8-3.

Not much to see here.  Livan Hernandez had a rough first inning, as usual, but couldn’t stitch together much after that.

Anderson Hernandez is back in the fold

Adam Rubin is reporting that the Mets have reacquired Anderson Hernandez from the Washington Nationals for minor league infielder Greg Veloz.

Hernandez spent four years with the New York Mets after the team traded Vance Wilson to the Tigers for him.  He spent parts of three season with the Mets, never playing more than 25 games.  With the Mets, he hit .138 / .157 / .207, driving in three runs in 89 plate appearances.

Over two seasons with the Nationals, Hernandez has played 105 games, hitting .272 / .335 / .337 with 40 RBI.  This season with the Nationals he hit .251 / .310 / .320 with one home run and 23 RBI in 255 plate appearances.

Veloz, 21, is a Single-A player who hit .232 / .297 / .303 with two home runs and 19 RBI.  He also swiped 18 bases this season.

A-Hern must be better than Angel Berroa.  Right?  …Right?

Olsen, Willingham traded to Nats

In an odd in-division trade, the Florida Marlins have traded pitcher Scott Olsen and outfielder Josh Willingham to the Washington Nationals. The Marlins will get infielder Emilio Bonifacio and a package of minor leaguers, reports Ken Rosenthal.

The Nats are make a huge push to improve this off-season, as they're of the top teams to land free agent Mark Teixeira as well.

Willingham has been somewhat of a thorn in the Mets side. He's hit .285 against the Mets, but has hit 10 home runs and driven in 34 RBI in 50 games. Olsen has struggled against when playing New York. In 13 games, he holds a 1-5 record and a 4.74 ERA.

Bonifacio has only played in six games against the Mets, and holds a .190 batting average. Ex-Met Anderson Hernandez may take over the void left by Bonifacio at second base.

Strange trade. Still have to tango with all the players in 2009.

Mets trade for Luis Ayala

Why?

Anderson Hernandez is heading to Washington for Luis Ayala as the Mets try to sure up their bullpen issues.

I'm not a fan of Ayala, and I feel this actually hurts the Mets pen. Obviously, they're not giving up much, as A-Hern was never going to amount to much of anything.

I guess this is goodbye to Eddie Kunz...for now.

Ayala, you have a lot to prove to me before I begin to trust you. I don't like this trade.

Let me clear things up: The outfield is not OK; Endy Chavez has been great; The Mets need someone

I'm seeing a bunch of comments arguing my point I made early this morning, and I feel the need to defend my points.

1. Moises Alou is old, gets hurt way too much, and I am going to hold out no hope of him returning and helping the team for more than 16.2 seconds.

2. Endy Chavez has played very well in Alou's and Ryan Church's absence. He can easily continue to start in the OF with no problem. He has a great glove and is perfect hitting behind Jose Reyes.

3. The Mets still need another OF. I don't think the platoon of Fernando Tatis, Marlon Anderson, Chris Aguila, Trot Nixon, Angel Pagan, etc. etc., will be enough to carry this team into postseason play.

4. I don't want Omar Minaya to sell the farm to pick up trade bait. Matt Holliday would be awesome, but I'm almost 100 percent sure Aaron Heilman, Fernando Martinez, and probably two other top flight minor leaguers would have to head west to land him. I don't feel comfortable watching all that young talent leave the already depleted farm system.

Yes, the Mets need another outfielder. Yes, Minaya will probably have to give up a blue chip prospect to land that guy. Yes, I'm confident that the guy he lands will help this team through the season.

So that's that. Thoughts??

Castillo to the DL

Luis Castillo is heading to the disabled list, and no one is surprised.

I would expect to see either Argenis Reyes or Abraham Nunez to replace him. I'd love to see Reyes get his shot. Hopefully can't-hit Anderson Hernandez stays down in New Orleans.

Early Morning Madness: Injuries edition

Luis Castillo might be heading to the disabled list.

Castillo injured his left quad a few days ago and Damion Easley has been starting in his place. If Castillo was to go on the DL, do the Mets really call up AAA second baseman Anderson Hernandez?

Sure, he's got a glove, but the kid just can't hit a lick. He's batting a miserable .185. And looking even lower to Binghamton, Emmanuel Garcia is hitting a cool .225 and Jonathan Malo is stroking a tepid .233 in limited time.

So second base is practically depleted for the Mets and the current starter is signed to a four year contract and is slow, injured, and slaps at everything. I'll keep my eyes peeled for a trade.

** * **

Ryan Church could be back by next weekend, and I couldn't be happier.

I'm assuming once Church is ready to go again, we've seen the end of Trot Nixon, but as much as I thought I'd love Nixon, his .167 average just isn't cutting it for me.

If Church can come back, even at 80 percent, he'll be a huge addition to this club. Church hasn't played since June 5th, and since that time the Mets have gone 7-9. They're really missing his bat in the lineup, as the offense usually goes flat past the 4th inning.

I miss this guy and so do the Mets.

** * **

Things are lining up in Yankee-ville that the Mets will probably face newly acquired Sidney Ponson during their series at Shea Stadium (and Yankee Stadium) this weekend.

Stay sober, Sidney.

Gotay claimed by Braves

I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news Doug...

The Atlanta Braves have claimed Ruben Gotay off of waivers.

Mets fans, prepare yourself for all the time Gotay gets a hit off of us in the coming year(s).

In other news, Steven Register was returned to the Colorado Rockies and Anderson Hernandez was optioned to AAA.

So long Cash, we barely knew ye. AHern, stay healthy, you're our backup infielder waiting in the wings, again.

Photo of the Day: A-Hern

The question remains, can you hit?
If not, the next question is why are you still on the team?

(AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

Hernandez is back! No, not Orlando...Anderson!!

Thats right, the 25 man roster is set, and Anderson Hernandez is on it! Cliff Floyd is also on the roster...

PITCHERS (11): Chad Bradford, Pedro Feliciano, Tom Glavine, Aaron Heilman, Roberto Hernandez, John Maine, Guillermo Mota, Darren Oliver, Oliver Perez, Steve Trachsel, Billy Wagner

CATCHERS (2): Paul Lo Duca, Ramon Castro

INFIELDERS (7): Carlos Delgado, Julio Franco, Anderson Hernandez, Jose Reyes, Jose Valentin, Chris Woodward, David Wright

OUTFIELDERS (5): Carlos Beltran, Endy Chavez, Cliff Floyd, Shawn Green, Michael Tucker