Mike Puma, who last night reported the Mets were “close” with Fernando Tatis, is now reporting that the Mets and Tatis have agreed to a contract.
Puma reports that the deal is worth less than the $1.7 million he made last season. Matt Cerrone believes the deal to be worth $800,000 with a chance to make up to $1.5 million in performance bonuses.
My “SHOW YOUR TATIS” shirts, which were shelved last year, will be available next week.
Tatis, who made $1.7 million last year with the Mets, would serve as a likely backup/platoon partner with Daniel Murphy at first base. He could also spell either corner outfield position, as well as David Wright at third.
I’m for this. I think Tatis can contribute to the team, especially they way it is designed right now.
The Mets, as very much expected, did not offer arbitration to any players.
Of the Mets up for arby, only Carlos Delgado and Fernando Tatis would have landed a draft pick if they refused arbitration and signed elsewhere.
Shocker, I know.
Carlos Delgado and Fernando Tatis have both been listed as Type B free agents by The Elias Sports Bureau.
That means if/when Delgado or Tatis sign with another team, the Mets will receive a “sandwich” draft pick in the 2010 draft for each, if they are first offered arbitration by the team.
Which is highly unlikely.
The rest of the eligible free agents from the Mets will not bring compensation back to the team.
Thanks, Superman!
Mike Pelfrey is likely the most talented pitcher in the Mets rotation right now. But a miserable start in Colorado was no indication.
Pelfrey lasted only four innings, surrendering seven runs (six earned), as the Mets fell to the Rockies by a score of 8-3. While throwing 96 pitches, only 55 landed for strikes. No surprise that Pelfrey walked five batters. He did strike out four, but also let up two home runs, including a three-run home run to Todd Helton in the fourth inning.
This is a season Pelf would likely want to forget. He’s given up five runs or more in seven of his 26 starts. He’s let up nine runs in a game twice. Yeesh.
The Mets looked to have Rockies’ starter Jorge De La Rosa on the ropes in the first inning, even with a base running gaffe by Angel Pagan.
Pagan led off with a single but misread a ball hit by Luis Castillo, thinking the ball was caught, he attempted to go back to first base, which was already occupied by Castillo.
Still, the Mets managed to score two runs, one on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Jeff Francoeur and another on a double down the right field line by Fernando Tatis.
Since Tatis had gotten some steady playing time at third base with David Wright recuperating, he’s been swinging a hot bat. Maybe that’s the trick.
The Mets were held in check by De La Rosa until he exited after the sixth inning. Cory Sullivan returned to Colorado with a one-out pinch-hit triple to center field. Pagan followed that up with a triple of his own, easily chasing in Sullivan.
And that was that. It could be considered a victory because no one got hurt. Except Pelfrey’s ERA.
Pat Misch was excellent. Mets struggled to score runs. Bullpen surrendered home runs. Mets lost.
Just another day for the Mets.
Misch, making his first start for the Mets, lasted seven innings, allowing only one run. He let up six hits, walked two and struck out two. It was his longest outing of his career, tossing 98 pitches.
Brian Stokes entered, allowed a game tying hit, then surrendered a three-run home run to Alfonso Soriano. Those were the first runs Stokes has given up since August 1, over 12 1-3 innings.
The anemic Mets offense managed only two runs on seven hits. Omir Santos and Fernando Tatis drove in the runs on a single and double respectively.
But hey, no one got hurt.
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.
Lost in the shenanigans that is the Adam Rubin / Omar Minaya / Tony Bernazard fiasco, the Mets won a game, in dramatic fashion, and pushed their winning streak to three.
The game was tied at three in the bottom of the 8th inning. Luis Castillo, who has, as Jerry Manuel noted, been on fire, walk to lead off the inning. David Wright followed with a walk of his own as Rockies pitcher Juan Rincon couldn’t even come close to the strikezone.
This is where things jumped the script of the Mets season as of late. Daniel Murphy, who for no reason should be the Mets cleanup hitter, pushed a beautiful bunt down the third base line, advancing both runners in exchange for the first out of the inning.
Then the Rockies issued an intentional walk to Jeff Francoeur, the first base on balls for Frenchy as a Met. This was to get to ex-Rockie Cory Sullivan, who was 0-1 with a walk and a RBI sac-fly. Instead, Jerry Manuel chose to pinch hit Fernando Tatis.
And every single Mets fan watching this game thought the same thing: Here comes the inning-ending double play.
New pitcher Franklin Morales was quickly ahead 0-2 on Tatis and every Mets fan had the same wish: Please strikeout!
But Tatis connected on a changeup down and over the plate and sent it into the left field stands for a pinch-hit grand slam, giving the Mets a 7-3 lead that they did not relinquish.
This game did not seem like it was a 2009 game. The Mets hung tough and scored when it counted. They manufactured two of their runs, and the other five came from home runs (Francoeur earlier connected on a solo shot).
I remarked during the game, “This Mets team actually looks like it wants to win games.” I also remarked that games like this give Mets fans hope, which I couldn’t decide if that was a good or bad thing.
The jury is still out on the latter.
(Oh, and for those wondering about my trip to the dentist (see: bottom), I’m cavity free. I just need to floss more.)
Ex-Met Tony Clark was released by the Arizona Diamondbacks after a dreadful first half to the season. The 37-year-old was hitting just .180 with a .301 OBP (which is exactly what Omir Santos’ OBP is).
Clark has four home runs and 11 RBI in 73 plate appearances in 34 games. In 20 of 
Is there a place for Clark on the Mets?
The aging first baseman would take time away from Daniel Murphy or Fernando Tatis. Murphy’s OBP is only a mere .312, which is pretty awful considering he has 265 plate appearances under his belt. Clark’s average is much lower, but I’m willing to look beyond that and at his .301 OBP. That’s more telling.
I wouldn’t mind the team taking a chance on Clark. He’s not a perfect fit but he might be someone they could add to try and catch lightning in a bottle.
If he’s willing to accept a demotion to the minor leagues, I’d really love to see him at Triple-A Buffalo playing some first base but also coaching and mentoring the players there. They obviously need a little help.
If I was Omar Minaya, I would at least look into it. I’m not saying I’d love Clark on the Mets right now, but trying to add a little something here or there might be the trick to keeping this ship above water just long enough for the regulars to come back.
If you use Twitter, make sure you get in on the #OliverPerez fun.
Last night, we tried to get #FernandoTatis to be one of the most popular trends on Twitter. We failed.
Tonight, we’ll try to get #OliverPerez on the list.
Here are some of the early entries into the fun…
letsgoduke: #Oliverperez is so wild, he once killed a man playing darts. And bocce ball. And horseshoes.
TheRopolitans: #OliverPerez thought Delgo was a great movie.
davidwakeman: #OliverPerez laughs because he knows he isn't earning one red cent of his money
digitalspit: #oliverperez will give the #mets their first no hitter
Think of it like Chuck Norris facts, but much, much more cynical.
If you come up with any, make sure you write ‘#OliverPerez’ to get your stuff seen.
Follow the fun here.
The blogfather, Matt Cerrone, relays a tweet from Peter Gammons in which the ESPN analyst links the Mets to Mark Teahen.
Teahen, 27, has played first, second, third and right field this season. He’s batting .282 AVG / .343 OBP / .448 SLG with nine home runs and 27 RBI in 259 at bats.
No clue what the Mets would have to give up to land Teahen, but the Kansas City Royals just lost Coco Crisp for the season with shoulder surgery. Could a young, B-level outfield prospect with a high ceiling be enough to bring in Teahan? Maybe in my dreams, but a package of decent prospects with some potential could be enough.
He’s arbitration eligible for two more years beyond 2009, so it wouldn’t be just a “rental” player.
I’d like to see Teahen in left field or anywhere really, as long as he takes Fernando Tatis’ roster spot. I just don’t see Tatis helping this team much for the rest of 2009.
A series win, against the Cardinals, using mostly backups. Pinch me.
The New York Mets (37-34) beat the St. Louis Cardinals (40-34) by a score of 3-2.
Johan Santana struggled early, allowing an unearned run in the first inning, and threw 57 pitches in the first three innings. He settled in nicely though, and coming out for the seventh inning with 100 pitches. He completed the seventh with help from Fernando Martinez, who made a diving stab in center field to end the inning.
Santana scattered seven hits and three walks, striking out three. He allowed two runs, one of which was earned.
It looked like a disaster start in the first few innings, but he bounced back and settled in beautifully. I don’t know why I doubt him.
Pedro Feliciano allowed a leadoff double in the 8th, but worked around it for a scoreless inning. Francisco Rodriguez got two quick outs to start the ninth, then forgot how to hit the strike zone. Nine pitches out of the strike zone meant back to back walks to Albert Pujols and Ryan Ludwick, bringing Yadier Molina (of all people) to the plate. Molina flew out to Jeremy Reed in LF to end the game.
K-Rod loves to make the fans hearts’ pound.
Chris Carpenter was equally good for the Cardinals. The Mets were held hitless into the 4th, when Luis Castillo led off with a single to LF. David Wright followed with a single of his own. Fernando Tatis came to the plate with one out, singling to right field, plating Castillo.
After coming down hard on Tatis a few days ago, he’s really made me eat my words the past two games. Keep it coming, Tatis. I’m hungry!
Nick Evans came to the plate with two on and two out and laced a double into bump-out in right field, plating both runners.
Evans’ RBIs were the eventual game winners. I like it.
And because of those RBIs, Nick Evans won the first ever Game Ball as voted on by my Twitter followers. Get your vote in after every game to vote for the Game Ball recipient!
Game Ball: Nick Evans
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.
Fernando Tatis leads the Mets with nine GIDP, three of which have come in the last two games.
And he’s the Mets cleanup hitter.
Oh yeah, and he’s batting .248 AVG / .322 OBP / .364 SLG this season and is 4-for-his-last-28 with one RBI in that span.
Again, he’s been the Mets cleanup hitter the past two nights. Enough said.
Tonight belonged to Joel Pineiro.
The St. Louis Cardinals (40-32) beat the New York Mets (35-34) by a score of 3-0.
Livan Hernandez was good, Pineiro was just better. Hernandez held the Cardinals to three runs (two earned) over seven innings of work. He walked three and struck out three.
He was very good. It could be argued that outside of his start against the Yankees, he’s been the best pitcher since the end of May.
Elmer Dessens turned in two solid innings in relief, setting the side down in order both times.
Pineiro held the Mets to only two hits, singles by Luis Castillo and Jeremy Reed, over his nine innings. He needed only 100 pitches thanks to inducing 22 ground balls for outs. The meager Mets lineup didn’t hurt either.
Just have to tip your cap to him and move on. He’s just great against the Mets, especially when Fernando Tatis is their cleanup hitter.
A game they could have won, but didn’t.
The Baltimore Orioles (28-37) beat the New York Mets (33-30) by a score of 6-4.
Tim Redding was, in a word, “meh.” He seems to pitch well, but not when it counts. He allowed four earned runs on seven hits in 5 1-3 innings, including Matt Wieters first career home run.
A typical fifth starter start. Too bad he’s “third” in the rotation.
Bobby Parnell relieved Redding, and ended up throwing a hitless inning. Pedro Feliciano came on in the seventh with one out and allowed a single to Nick Markakis before serving up a hanger to Aubrey Huff, who crushed it over the right field wall to break up the tie.
Can’t expect Feliciano to be perfect all the time. He just wasn’t hitting hit spots tonight.
Brian Stokes (yes, really!) came on to pitch 1 1-3 innings, allowing one hit but no runs.
The 5th, 6th, and 7th batters in the Mets order had big nights. Ryan Church, batting 5th, went 2-4 with a double and a run scored. Gary Sheffield went 2-4 with a solo home run. Daniel Murphy went 3-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
The game changer came in the sixth with the bases loaded. Alex Cora had just walked, driving in a run, and Fernando Tatis was at the plate. On a 2-0 pitch with one out, Tatis, who was pinch hitting for Fernando Martinez swung and grounded a ball to second base, setting up an easy double play to end the threat.
Trying to do too much. Let him pitch to you. He just walked in a run and was behind you in the count, Tatis. Baseball fundies!
This PH move will come into question tomorrow. Hindsight is 20/20, but I didn’t like the move when Jerry Manuel pulled the trigger.
The Mets then got a one-out ground rule double from Tatis in the 9th inning. With Carlos Beltran and David Wright coming up behind him, the Mets looked to have a shot at scoring. Both players swung at the first pitch and both flied out to the outfield.
Yargh. Wright’s hitting streak ended at 11 games. Bad timing? I can’t complain though. He’s just been too good lately.
Carlos Delgado last played in a game on May 10. Since then, Fernando Tatis and Daniel Murphy have taken over at the bag.
At the bag, they have been able to hold together the infield and perform well above expectations.
At the plate, let’s just say they’ve been pretty awful. Or have they?
Tatis, since May 11: 16-75, 6 BB, 6 K, 4 2B, 1 HR, 10 RBI … .213 AVG / .302 OBP / .307 SLG
Murphy, since May 11: 11-73, 11 BB, 11 K, 1 2B, 1 HR, 9 RBI … .151 AVG / .259 OBP / .205 SLG
I can’t get beyond Murphy’s slugging percentage since May 11. .205? Wow.
Combined: 27-148, 17 BB, 17 K, 5 2B, 2 HR, 19 RBI … .182 AVG / .280 OBP / .256 SLG
That’s 30 combined games at first base. Delgado, through 28 games before going down with injury, had 28 hits, 12 BB, 20 K, 7 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 23 RBI … .298 AVG / .393 OBP / .521 SLG.
Delgado got off to a quick start, slowed down, but was coming on before the injury. Surprisingly, the RBIs are quite close between Delgado and his replacements. For all the struggles we’ve seen at first, the run production has been quite close.
I’m not sure I’ve ever seen such terrible numbers drive in as much. It could be a lot better, but I guess it could be a lot worse, too.
Add Ramon Martinez to the growing list of victims of the injury bug.
Martinez, filling in for the injured Jose Reyes, had to leave Sunday afternoon’s game with back trouble.
Here is an updated list of injuries on the Mets…
Injured and have gone on the DL:
Injured and have not gone on the DL:
It gets better. Church may be heading to the disabled list with a bum hamstring. That could, and most likely would lead to a promotion of top prospect Fernando Martinez.
Probably a little rushed, but what else are the Mets to do? They need bodies.
Reyes will not start tonight and Martinez is still a question mark, so my money is on Fernando Tatis.
Mr. Ed Ryan over at Mets Fever pointed out that Mark Kiger, an infielder was promoted to Triple-A Buffalo. Could he be moved there to take over for a player heading up to the big leagues? We’ll just have to wait and see. (If anyone, it would be Jonathan Malo.)
So far in 2009, the Mets have had significant injuries at: Catcher, first base, shortstop, center field, right field, pitcher(s).
Wonderful.
Who’s next?
Carlos Delgado, currently on the disabled list, will go under the knife to repair his right hip injury.
According to reports, Delgado will likely miss at least six weeks.
Can the Mets survive with the trio of Fernando Tatis, Jeremy Reed and Daniel Murphy? Maybe, but I think the team would be better served trading for a competent first baseman to replace Delgado. There is no guarantee Delgado will return to form post-surgery.
My vote is to see if Aubrey Huff is available from the Orioles. If he is, I'd try to trade for him.
With Delgado out for an extended period of time, the Mets might have a move to make. That is, unless, they're confident enough in Tatis, Murphy or Reed.
With Carlos Delgado out, possibly for a long period of time, it may be time for the Mets to look to trade. The trio of Fernando Tatis, Jeremy Reed and Daniel Murphy probably won’t be cutting it.
Jon Heyman, in his Daily Scoop, broke down some players the Mets might be able to trade for.
Aubrey Huff, who's a productive hitter and also does pretty fair Joba Chamberlain impersonation, could be the best-hitting first baseman on the trading block. And as a bonus he's left-handed. Two more first basemen that the Mets might take a look at would be Nick Johnson, the oft-injured National who's perpetually on the block, and Russell Branyan, who's off to a hot start with the Mariners.
Of those three, I’d like to see Huff on the Mets. He’d probably come the cheapest as well.
Johnson, though a solid player, would be trading within division, and I can see the Nationals asking for Daniel Murphy and I don’t want to see him singling off the Mets for years to come.
