Mike Piazza was one heck of a player. I hope one day he will be one heck of a hitting coach for the Mets. Well the situation right now with the Mets is terrible. So I was watching clips from past years. A few minutes ago I was watching clips from 2005. In doing so, I found clips from Piazza’s last game as a New York Met. Here are 2 big clips from that:

Piazza’s video tribute: http://bit.ly/ddUs7P

Fans giving Piazza a standing ovation when he got pulled: http://bit.ly/8XQqxC

I actually was at that game. We had gotten tickets for a sky box that day and enjoyed it a lot. The thing I remember most was crying my eyes out at it being Mikey’s last game. I gave him multiple stand ovations, with the help of those in my sky box, even when the rest of the stands wouldn’t. I remember who replaced him in the game. Mike DeFelice. I remember the Mets got crushed, 11-3. I remember how much I loved Mike Piazza as a player back then, and I don’t know if that love for a player will ever go away. I was on the verge from getting ..read more

Mike Pelfrey looked to be back in early season form tonight throwing a scoreless 8 inning 6 hit gem. Pelfrey is now 13-11 for the year.

Hisanori Takahashi and Bobby Parnell, both worked themselves in and out of trouble the ninth and allowed the Mets to narrowly escape with the win.

Former Met great Nelson Figueroa allowed two runs, a sacrafice fly by David Wright, and a bases loaded walk to the struggling Ruben Tejada.

Well, the Mets are coming off a split of a 4-game series against the Houston Astros, and now look to take 2 of 3 against the Pirates. Here is tonight’s lineup, with comments from me:

1. Jose Reyes – SS  Nice to see Reyes is becoming more aggressive of late.

2. Angel Pagan – LF  Before the game, Jerry announced that he does not expect Jason Bay to return this year.

3. Carlos Beltran – CF

4. Chris Carter – RF  Why hit Carter cleanup, and why play him in right instead of Pagan who has been stronger in right field than left field this year.

5. David Wright – 3B

6. Ike Davis – 1B

7. Josh Thole – C

8. Ruben Tejada – 2B  Guess we’re out of a race now so the Mets can play Tejada and Thole, huh Jerry?

9. Mike Pelfrey – SP

Tonight’s starting pitching matchup is: For the Mets, Mike Pelfrey (11-7, 3.95 ERA) will face Jeff Karstens (2-9, 4.57 ERA). Tonight’s game starts at 7:05pm. Tonight’s game will be broadcast on SNY.

Flushing Baseball Daily reporter, Tyler Moore. Follow Tyler on Twitter, where he'll discuss Mets, and also his posts. If you wish to email him, send an email to ..read more

Via ESPN:

“The Mets were close to another draft disaster until they signed Harvey,” Keith Law wrote yesterday on ESPN.com.  “After him, they didn’t give any player more than $400,000 and largely stuck to safe, easier-sign college players… It’s really time for Mets ownership to recognize the competitive disadvantage they’ve created with such skimpy draft budgets.”

This has been one of my biggest issues with the Mets in recent years. More than Jerry Manuel’s blunders and almost as much as their poor decisions during free agency. The Mets seem to think that it’s wise to save money on the draft to the point where it almost seemed that they didn’t care that by signing Oliver Perez before last season they were giving up a 1st rounder and a supplemental pick.

Unlike some teams they don’t seem to be making any extra effort to make up the difference in the international market and have even gone so far as to close a camp in the Dominican Republic.

There is a statistical and youth movement going on in baseball these days and it seems to be completely passing the ..read more

The Mets will try to get above .500 as they take on the Houston Astros in the forth and final game of the series.

Before the game they activated catcher Rod Barajas and sent down outfielder Fernando Martinez. By doing so the Mets are essentially carrying three catchers at the expense of both their future and their current bench. Adam Rubin can better explain why this is a horrible idea.

Also, Carlos Beltran is getting the night off and David Wright is back in there after leaving last night’s game early due to repeated vomiting.

Here is tonight’s lineup:

Jose Reyes, SS Luis Castillo, 2B Angel Pagan, CF David Wright, 3B Ike Davis, 1B Jeff Francoeur, RF Chris Carter, LF Rod Barajas, C Pat Misch, LHP

Like this post? Want the latest Mets news and rumors? Subscribe to Flushing Baseball Daily via RSS Reader, by Email, Twitter, or Facebook. You can also follow this post's author, Rob Abruzzese, on Twitter.

Via the NY Post:

Obviously the philosophy can change, but the Mets plan to pick up Jose Reyes ’ club option this winter and explore signing him to another long-term deal, a person familiar with the team’s thinking told The Post yesterday.

[snip] The Mets’ deadline on Reyes’ option is Nov. 15. Assuming they exercise it, they would have further options. The Mets could sign him to a long-term deal that replaces the option. They could explore trades. Or they could fail at reaching or simply pass on a long-term deal and re-evaluate the relationship during or after next season.

If the Mets follow through on this it will be a smart move. Reyes hasn’t been as consistent this year and only has a 98 OPS+, but is still one of the elite shortstops in baseball. He’s ranked 6th in the MLB with a .325 wOBA among shortstops this season. Reyes’ option is worth $11 million with a $0.5 million buyout. If picked up, he’ll hit the free agent market after that along with other shortstops including Jason Bartlett and Rafael Furcal. So if the Mets ..read more

Johan Santana was sharp in his start tonight, yet Hunter Pence seemed to be the only Astro who had his number, and that made the difference.

Pence homered twice pushing the Astros to victory, with a three run shot in the first and a solo shot in the eighth which proved to be the difference maker, right after the David Wright hit a solo home run in the top part of the inning to tie the game.

Fernando Martinez and Jose Reyes also knocked in runs for the still pedestrian Mets offense.

This is a response/follow-up to Rob Abruzzese‘s post at: http://flushingbaseballdaily.com/1379

Well, a Major League Baseball Players union gave the following comment to Joel Sherman, of the New York Post, in regards to Francisco Rodriguez:

The Mets actions are without basis and I expect the union will challenge them right away.

I don’t think the Mets will win this argument, I really don’t. I mean, it could be argued that the Mets already gave K-Rod a punishment, which was the 2-game suspension without pay.

More information, courtesy of ESPN:

Because a player’s compensation is at stake an expedited hearing generally occurs, so the issue could be before an arbitrator within two to three months.

Rodriguez’s lawyer, Jay Reisinger, declined comment on the Mets’ decision.

A high-ranking baseball official told ESPN’s Pedro Gomez on Tuesday that the Mets’ decision to put him on the disqualified list will be “next to impossible” to enforce because he already has been disciplined once with a two-day suspension.

By going on the disqualified list, Rodriguez will lose $3,016,393 of his $11.5 million salary this year. Added to the $125,683 he lost when the Mets put him on the restricted list for two days last week, the altercation could cost him $3,142,076.

READ MORE AT: http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/news/story?id=5471769

Flushing ..read more

Francisco Rodriguez, who beat up his girlfriend’s father last week, had surgery to repair a ligament he tore during the scuffle and because of that the Mets have placed him on the disqualified list and will not have to pay him the remainder of his 2010 salary.

Via the AP:

By going on the disqualified list, Rodriguez will lose $3,016,393 of his $11.5 million salary this year. Added to the $125,683 he lost when the Mets put him on the restricted list for two days last week, the altercation already has cost him $3,142,076.

In addition, by converting his contract to non-guaranteed, the Mets gave themselves the ability to release Rodriguez in the early part of spring training next year for 30 days’ termination pay. That would mean paying $1,885,246 rather than his $11.5 million salary next year. They still likely would owe the $3.5 million buyout attached to the $17.5 million club option for 2012 that’s included in his deal.

The 28-year-old reliever was arrested and charged with third-degree assault and second-degree harassment following the fight. He was released on his own recognizance and is due ..read more

The Mets dropped the weekend series to the Phillies and slowly belief in the Mets is fading. The Mets need to turn it around this week, with a 4-game series against the Astros, then a 3-game series against the Pirates. To start it off, here is tonight’s lineup, with comments from me:

1. Jose Reyes – SS  Reyes had 2 of the Mets 6 hits last night, and scored their only run, a solo home run.

2. Angel Pagan – LF  No Chris Carter or Fernando Martinez tonight.

3. David Wright - 3B  David had a hit last night, but he just doesn’t look comfortable at the plate all of a sudden. I don’t know whats up with him of late.

4. Carlos Beltran – CF  Beltran went 1-4 last night including 2 strikeouts.

5. Jeff Francoeur – RF  Frenchy is likely in his last year with the Mets, so he is probably going to be pressing at the plate. He is still looking for his 100th home run, so he will likely be swinging for the fences.

6. Mike Hessman – 1B  What, having Ike Davis play every other day Jerry? Come on, he can hit against lefties, just play him! He can’t get worn ..read more