Mets Chat Room: Perez goes in must-win game for Mets.

With Milwaukee winning last night in the ninth to keep the pressure on, the Mets are faced with another must-win game tonight. Oliver Perez, who has pitched well in big games before for the Mets, will start against a team he hasn’t faced in over three years.

The NL East is still within their grasp, and far preferable to the wild-card. Remember, if it comes down to just Mets and Phillies for the division, the Mets win based on head-to-head. However, for that scenario to apply, the Brewers must fall completely out of wild-card contention.

Do you remember how horrible David Wright looked last week in Washington? He’s turned it around. His two-run hit last night might be one of the most important of the season.

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Posted under New York Mets

This post was written by NYMR Archive on September 24, 2008

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

430 Comments so far

  1. John Delcos September 24, 2008 6:31 pm

    Jerry Manuel said Johan Santana wouldn’t start Saturday on short rest, but instead will slip a three-sided coin an choose among Nelson Figueroa, Brandon Knight or Jonathan Niese. Who is your choice?-JD

  2. edfever September 24, 2008 6:37 pm

    Pitch it like a spring training game, two innings a piece…

  3. David September 24, 2008 6:46 pm

    You know that spring training idea might just be crazy enough to work. Keep the guys off balance by giving them 3 different looks. Let Knight throw gas like he did early on in his last start between Niese and Figueroa’s junk stuff. Hmmm definitely not a bad idea.

  4. Tiffany September 24, 2008 6:48 pm

    Niese…but on a short leash.

  5. John Delcos September 24, 2008 6:51 pm

    They are liable to use seven or eight pitchers anyway, so they might as well to it by design.-JD

  6. John Delcos September 24, 2008 7:04 pm

    I have no take on Perez tonight. I can see two runs in eight innings. I can also see eight runs in two innings.-JD

  7. Gil in Savannah, Ga. September 24, 2008 7:09 pm

    Hey, Everybody, JD!
    JD, was something wrong with the blog last weekend? I couldn’t access it last Sunday.

  8. John Delcos September 24, 2008 7:15 pm

    Hi Gil: Yes. The server was down for a good part of the weekend. Too bad. I imagine we would have had some interesting comments about the Atlanta series.-JD

  9. John Delcos September 24, 2008 7:16 pm

    Mets got lucky there. If the runner wasn’t going, Reyes wouldn’t have been moving to the bag and the Cubs would have had runners on the corners with no outs.-JD

  10. Gil in Savannah, Ga. September 24, 2008 7:19 pm

    John, I’ve been thinking. I think we should suspend all debates until the federal bailout goes through. ;)

  11. Ray Sadecki September 24, 2008 7:21 pm

    Ollies looking tough tonight. He threw alot of pitches in the first. Hope he can go 7 or 8 tonight.

  12. David September 24, 2008 7:21 pm

    Well we saw Johan last night take down the Cubs and Cousy looks like tonight Oliver will have to take down the cubs + Wolf. Awful inning behind the plate for the blue apparently some of randy’s old friends in philly reached out to Mr. Wolf.

  13. Gil in Savannah, Ga. September 24, 2008 7:26 pm

    Zambrano’s got nasty stuff so far.

  14. John Delcos September 24, 2008 7:26 pm

    Gil: You promised. … But, that was a good one.-JD

  15. John Delcos September 24, 2008 7:28 pm

    Braves take the early lead.-JD

  16. edfever September 24, 2008 7:37 pm

    Not feeling it hoping Brewers lose

  17. John Delcos September 24, 2008 7:37 pm

    Two innings, 41 pitches for Perez. Nice pace.-JD

  18. David September 24, 2008 7:38 pm

    Well 41 pitches through two innings and Zambrano looking tough. Wow can you say uphill.

  19. dave September 24, 2008 7:38 pm

    As Jerry said as long as they get in.

  20. edfever September 24, 2008 7:39 pm

    Zambrano looks really good

  21. David September 24, 2008 7:43 pm

    Nothing about this so far looks good. The only batter whos worked Zambrano at all was Murphy. No big surprise. Essentially through two innings the mets have not only failed to put up runs they havent even put a dent in the pitch count.

  22. Gil in Savannah, Ga. September 24, 2008 7:45 pm

    Zambrano looks like he’s got perfect game stuff tonight.

  23. edfever September 24, 2008 7:46 pm

    I think ollie lost to Zambrano 1-0 once

  24. John Delcos September 24, 2008 7:50 pm

    Every game has a moment of decision for a pitcher. This is it for Perez. He can lose the game right here.-JD

  25. Gil in Savannah, Ga. September 24, 2008 7:50 pm

    This Cubs lineup reminds me of the ‘02 Angels — no soft touches and the hitters all were great at getting on base via hits or walks.

  26. Dan Gurney September 24, 2008 7:53 pm

    Walking the highwire with Ollie P.

  27. John Delcos September 24, 2008 7:55 pm

    Three walks already for Perez. It’s going to be a long night.-JD

  28. David September 24, 2008 7:57 pm

    You know i must take this opportunity to thank ESPN for the pure class they are showing tonight. In what will be the last nationally televised game in the history of Shea stadium. They put a cub legened in the booth whos referred to the Cubs as “Us” and “We” on at least threee occasions. On top of that they have cub fan #1 bill murray join the booth to essentially act like cheerleaders in the booth. Kudos ESPN that’s class if I’ve ever seen it.

  29. Gil in Savannah, Ga. September 24, 2008 8:01 pm

    Good approach by Argenis. Hit the ball where it’s pitched. Of course, a bad bunt takes that all away.

  30. Gil in Savannah, Ga. September 24, 2008 8:05 pm

    Come on David!

  31. John Delcos September 24, 2008 8:05 pm

    David: I’m not a fan of any team’s celebrity in the booth. Who cares?-JD

  32. Stuart September 24, 2008 8:05 pm

    Braves lead over Phils trimmed to 3-2. How about 9 hits off Hammels in 3 innings for Atlanta? Phillies may be most vulnerable in their starting pitching.

  33. John Delcos September 24, 2008 8:10 pm

    Great at-bat by Wright. He really worked that. He has 123 RBI, one shy of the club record set by Mike Piazza.-JD

  34. Dan Gurney September 24, 2008 8:11 pm

    Who was the Cubs legend: Ernie Banks? Ron Santo? Jimmy Qualls?

    Celebrities should be like Woody Allen: just sit in their seats and root. Dick Young said that Susan Heyward went to Ebbets Field wearing a bandana to disguise herself. She wanted to see a game, not be seen

    A Walk with RISP! Move over, 27 Yankees!

  35. alex September 24, 2008 8:14 pm

    well, that was simply awesome

  36. Mackey Sasser September 24, 2008 8:15 pm

    Hell yea, I really believe Reyes got into Zambrano’s head

  37. Gil in Savannah, Ga. September 24, 2008 8:16 pm

    DELGADO RULES!!!!!

  38. John Delcos September 24, 2008 8:16 pm

    Zambrano beat himself that inning. He let the umpire get to him. Lost his composure. It was a “Bad Ollie,” kind of inning.-JD

  39. David September 24, 2008 8:17 pm

    Well its what i said prior to the game work the count and get in big Z’s head. Murphy had the big AB in my mind and setting up the blast. It’s imperative Ollie puts up some zeroes now.

  40. Mackey Sasser September 24, 2008 8:17 pm

    Zambrano may be a great pitcher, but he’s really a huge huge baby. He is such a hot head and gets into these temper tantrums all the time.

  41. edfever September 24, 2008 8:19 pm

    I love to be wrong

  42. Ray Sadecki September 24, 2008 8:19 pm

    I cant believe how far down the line Reyes was. Between the Ump and Reyes, Zambrano was freaked out.

  43. edfever September 24, 2008 8:21 pm

    they win tonight and it will be about Gado’s slam (rightfully so) but D-Rex and D-Wright had critical at bats

  44. edfever September 24, 2008 8:22 pm

    Ray,

    I was at the Milledge high 5 game he did the same thing could have stole home totally freaked Benny out…

  45. David September 24, 2008 8:24 pm

    Well in MIL CC gets out of a bases loaded 1 out jam. Silver lining if you want one is 28 pitches through 1. Let’s remember he’s on 3 days rest.

  46. John Delcos September 24, 2008 8:24 pm

    David: He’ll go on three days rest again this weekend.-JD

  47. Ray Sadecki September 24, 2008 8:25 pm

    Ed, The only thing ive seen like it is old Jackie Robinson video. Nice job of Ollie to put a zero up there after the big inning.

  48. John Delcos September 24, 2008 8:26 pm

    I like what the Mets have done recently with the numbers countdown. Ed Charles tonight. But, I would have liked to have seen more guys throughout the season. That’s just me, though.-JD

  49. edfever September 24, 2008 8:27 pm

    they’ll burn him out - using him like a rental

  50. edfever September 24, 2008 8:28 pm

    who’s pulling one Seaver

  51. Mackey Sasser September 24, 2008 8:29 pm

    Yeah JD, would have loved to see Mota come back and pull down the 59

  52. John Delcos September 24, 2008 8:30 pm

    ED: Well, that’s what he is, isn’t he? Nobody expects Milwaukee to sign him. Doing this is only a win-win situation for CC as he showcases himself for the FA market.-JD

  53. edfever September 24, 2008 8:31 pm

    not if he hurts himself

  54. John Delcos September 24, 2008 8:31 pm

    Mackey: Not as much as I would have liked Steve Trachsel to pull down his number.-JD

  55. John Delcos September 24, 2008 8:34 pm

    Mentioning Mota and Trachsel reminds me of the other night when we were talking at the end of the game about the most unpopular Mets. Of course, we’ll add Heilman from this year. Who else is on the most despised list?-JD

  56. Ray Sadecki September 24, 2008 8:38 pm

    John, Sisk was the first. Boonilla was well hated his second time around

  57. John Delcos September 24, 2008 8:38 pm

    Ray: Don’t forget Mo Vaughn.-JD

  58. John Delcos September 24, 2008 8:40 pm

    Five walks.-JD

  59. Gil in Savannah, Ga. September 24, 2008 8:42 pm

    Despised Mets:

    Mel Rojas
    Armando Benitez
    George Foster
    Kevin McReynolds
    Kenny Rogers

  60. Ray Sadecki September 24, 2008 8:42 pm

    Get him out of there.

  61. John Delcos September 24, 2008 8:42 pm

    Gil: Good list. Add Roberto Alomar.-JD

  62. edfever September 24, 2008 8:43 pm

    i cant believe he just crushed all that good feeling

  63. David September 24, 2008 8:43 pm

    Wow talk about taking out the garbage…

  64. Ray Sadecki September 24, 2008 8:43 pm

    Hows the line go? million dollar arm and a five cent head?

  65. edfever September 24, 2008 8:43 pm

    All that momentum thanks to walks… I’d rather see hits

  66. Jim (Bmore) September 24, 2008 8:44 pm

    please pitch well sanchez

  67. David September 24, 2008 8:44 pm

    I’d rather have seen Lee and Ramirez go back to back jack.

  68. David September 24, 2008 8:45 pm

    At best we’re looking at a 5-5 game going into the bot 5th.

  69. Ray Sadecki September 24, 2008 8:46 pm

    Roger Cedeno was another one who shouldnt have come back. Vince Coleman wasnt beloved, especially after the firecracker incident.

  70. alex September 24, 2008 8:47 pm

    sigh

  71. David September 24, 2008 8:50 pm

    This just gets better and better by the batter.

  72. edfever September 24, 2008 8:50 pm

    I might have changed my mind on Ollie… You get a four run lead in a game your team desperately needs you cant let this happen on walks

  73. Gil in Savannah, Ga. September 24, 2008 8:50 pm

    Is there anyone at all in the Mets bullpen who doesn’t completely suck?

  74. David September 24, 2008 8:51 pm

    God on a night when the braves have jumped out 9-3 we have to watch this crap…

  75. John Delcos September 24, 2008 8:52 pm

    If the Mets lose this game and don’t get into the playoffs, this could be Perez’s last start for them. It was a performance most of us will remember of him.-JD

  76. Gil in Savannah, Ga. September 24, 2008 8:52 pm

    And Jim Wolf, the home plate ump, is an @$$hole. He keeps changing his strike zone.

  77. David September 24, 2008 8:52 pm

    I try to be as positive as i can but I have no confidence our metsies can not only comeback but hold off the cubs tonight. I’ll gladly eat crow later on.

  78. John Delcos September 24, 2008 8:52 pm

    Gil: No.-JD

  79. edfever September 24, 2008 8:55 pm

    That was awful… where is the urgency by the pitching staff they nibbled the entire time afraid to throw strikes

  80. David September 24, 2008 8:56 pm

    Now you’re asking the mets to get back at Zambrano. You rarely get to an ace multiple times. The mets probably had their one and only shot when they capitalized and got 4.

  81. edfever September 24, 2008 8:57 pm

    I know they’ve shown recsilency but after you get a grand slam off Zambrano to get all those good feeling and have the pitching staff give it all away could be crushing….

    is willie back why is Marlon Anderson in the batters box

  82. John Delcos September 24, 2008 8:57 pm

    David: Mets have only two hits tonight. What the Mets have tonight is a gift from the Zambrano meltdown.-JD

  83. David September 24, 2008 8:58 pm

    Well give Marlon credit that was a smart AB not chasing.

  84. John Delcos September 24, 2008 8:59 pm

    David: The hitters should be doing that all the time.-JD

  85. Jay L September 24, 2008 8:59 pm

    It’s clear to me now that when Warthen said three months ago “Perez is fixed”, he was simply allowing Perez to hear in the media that his coaches had confidence in him. He’s not coming back next year. I think the mets would be better off using his departure as a chance to upgrade his rotation spot. Whither AJ Burnett?

  86. David September 24, 2008 8:59 pm

    JD: True it was a gift but much like the cubs you still have to take advantage and Delgaldo did just that.

  87. Dan Gurney September 24, 2008 9:00 pm

    Most despised? Richie Hebner was for the one season he was here and mailed it in. He didn’t
    want to be traded to the Mets but some idiot named Torre insisted thinking he could change the gravedigger’s mind.

  88. edfever September 24, 2008 9:00 pm

    Gift that ollie gave back

  89. John Delcos September 24, 2008 9:01 pm

    Jay L: I’d trade Burnett for Perez. But, you still have to come up with another starter to replace Pedro Martinez.-JD

  90. Gil in Savannah, Ga. September 24, 2008 9:03 pm

    Folks, if we don’t get to the Cubs in the next inning or so, we’re toast.

  91. Jay L September 24, 2008 9:03 pm

    I’m willing to let Niese and Parnell battle it out for the fifth spot, maybe alongside a cheapo veteran (something similar to Pedro, but cheaper). Please no Kyle Lohse - I consider him a one-year wonder.

  92. David September 24, 2008 9:03 pm

    Well if nothing else. They’ve gotten Zambrano out of there after 5.

  93. edfever September 24, 2008 9:05 pm

    Parnell is releiver material

  94. John Delcos September 24, 2008 9:05 pm

    David: Who has the bullpen edge: Mets or Cubs?-JD

  95. Jay L September 24, 2008 9:05 pm

    Just because Keith Law says he’s a reliever doesn’t mean its definetly true

  96. David September 24, 2008 9:05 pm

    Before the mets do anything in Free Agency pitching wise. They need be darn sure what to expect from Maine. That should play large part in what claiber guy they go after.

  97. David September 24, 2008 9:06 pm

    JD: Is that a serious question !!!

  98. David September 24, 2008 9:06 pm

    Im looking for a silver lining.

  99. John Delcos September 24, 2008 9:07 pm

    David: Sometimes it’s hard to tell sarcasm writing in this format.-JD

  100. David September 24, 2008 9:09 pm

    Big inning for the mets will prob be the bot of the 6th. You’d got to figure if the Cubs are playing it striaght up they would set up Sma—whatever the hell his name is for 7th. Marmol for 8th. Wood for 9th. Funny anyone of the 3 would be the no doubt closer for the mets.

  101. edfever September 24, 2008 9:11 pm

    LOL you dont come back from deflaters like that, i’ll be very surprised if this even stays close

  102. Jay L September 24, 2008 9:11 pm

    I think Smith needs to grow out of his “i can only get righties out” and figure out a way to give us two effective innings. Manuel cant mix and match for 12 outs and not get burned.

  103. Jay L September 24, 2008 9:12 pm

    who else thought that was gone or over his head?

  104. David September 24, 2008 9:12 pm

    Jay: Over his head for sure.

  105. Gil in Savannah, Ga. September 24, 2008 9:12 pm

    David: You speak the truth about those Cubs relievers.

  106. John Delcos September 24, 2008 9:13 pm

    David: Are you talking about Jeff Samardzija, the former Notre Dame receiver?-JD

  107. Dan Gurney September 24, 2008 9:13 pm

    A 5-5 game with our bullpen and the Buccos leading the Brew Crew 1-0 in the third. That’s as good as a feeling as lending a credit card to my ex-wife.
    Wonder what the “rehire Minaya” press conference will be like if the team blows a playoff spot?

  108. Jay L September 24, 2008 9:14 pm

    i know maine threw today….whens the earliest we could reasonably expect to see him (and yes, i know they will avoid it if they can, but le