Nervous Fernando Martinez throws practice ball over Reed’s head
I was sitting on the field level of the Mets/Marlins game at CitiField today when centerfielder Angel Pagan suffered an injury and was removed from the game. Jeremy Reed replaced Pagan, and when Reed ran out to take practice throws from right fielder Fernando Martinez, Martinez threw the ball so low that it bounced off the grass in front of Reed.
Just so everyone knows, Reed and Martinez were the only ones throwing at the time because of the injury, and the entire stadium was zoomed in on these two players. That must have made Martinez nervous instantly.
Then, Martinez threw the ball back to Reed, who watched the ball sail way over his head. Reed had to run after and retrieve the ball. Reed took one more throw and acted as if he was saying “forget it,” and threw the ball into the stands for the fans.
This young kid has a serious case of the butterflies and has quite a bit of work to do, which is expected at his age. At least he is hitting now.
Wonder what kind of hazing he will face on the plane ride? Any ideas?
Rookie will remember mistake for remainder of his life
Mets’ highly-touted rookie, Fernando Martinez, was playing his second major-league game when he hit a routine pop-up to the catcher in front of home plate. Instead of running to first, Martinez stood right there and watched the catcher — DROP THE BALL. The rookie was then thrown out and the boos were unleashed throughout CitiField like birds out of a cage.
The 20-year old Martinez was called up from AAA Buffalo to fill up roster space due to injury.
It was a typical, yet embarrassing rookie mistake that the young outfielder will probably be telling his grandkids about several years from now.
These types of rookie mistakes are common, so it isn’t exactly surprising. Daniel Murphy, who just began his major league career late last season, dropped, botched, and bobbled balls in left field throughout the course of April.
Rookies make embarrassing mistakes. It’s part of the game.
Santana, controversial home run lead Mets to complete sweep
Johan Santana was unusually wild in his start against lowly Washington on Wednesday, but he still struck out 11 batters and turned in a quality start to lead the Mets to a three-game sweep over the Nationals.
At the plate, Gary Sheffield stayed hot with a two-run double, while Daniel Murphy launched a fastball over the right field wall for a home run. The home run was not initially ruled a home run and Gary Sheffield was thrown out at home after he wasn’t sure what the call was, but the umpires reviewed yet ANOTHER home run for the mets and somehow had the conclusive evidence to prove the ball, in fact, bounced off a lit-up billboard above the outfield wall.
The Mets improved to 26-20 and regained possession of first place in the National League East after the Phillies dropped 2 of 3 to the Marlins.
Manuel fails to play the right outfielders
One of my favorite players in 2008 was Angel Pagan, who was off to a great start and won a starting outfield job to begin last season. He went through a series of injuries, but returned last night and tore up Dodger pitching with four hits.
There is no reason why he should not be the starting outfielder from here on out, as long as he stays healthy. Daniel Murphy, who is young, inexperienced, and has too long of a swing to succeed right now in the major leagues, can spend his time platooning at first base while Delgado is gone.
Manager Jerry Manuel also needs to give Ryan Church the playing time he deserves. Church is a great hitter who started off the season hot but fell into a slump (so what? every hitter goes through a slump) and Manuel decides to give Gary Sheffield more playing time.
While I understand Sheffield has a hot bat right now, I still think the ignorant and clueless-at-times Manuel will screw Church out of at-bats time and time again for the remainder of the season.
With that all put together, the outfield that quite obviously gives the Mets the best chance to win would be to put Pagan in left, Beltran in center, and Church in right.
Doctor: Be surprised if Delgado returns in ‘09
Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado, who will undergo surgery today to repair a torn labrum and a bone spur in his hip, may be out for the remainder of the season.
In a phone interview with the New York Times, Dr. Michael Bronson, chief of hip and knee surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Manhattan, explained Carlos Delgado’s situation:
“When you shave bone off the hip joint, you need to allow the bone time to heal and solidify and get stronger before it’s subject to activity.” He added, “I’d be very surprised if he came back this season.”
Either way, the doctor explained that Delgado’s hip should be pain-free and 100% for next season. Delgado, 36, is in the final year of his contract with the Mets but has said he plans on returning to play next season.
The Mets said they will wait to see how the surgery goes to give a timetable for Delgado’s return.
UPDATE 1:58 P.M. – Carlos Delgado underwent successful hip surgery and the Mets say he should be ready to return in 10 weeks. That would be around the All-Star Break.