MLB - Mets vs. Phillies

3:30 PM EST

  • Tune in Saturday at 3:30 PM EST as the New York Mets take on the Philadelphia Phillies. Callum Hughson from Mop Up Duty will be liveblogging for your enjoyment.
    by Scott Carefoot at 5/2/2009 3:47:56 PM
  • G'day everyone, I posted a little bit of a writeup on the Phillies/Mets rivalry as a primer for this game. Check it out, we have 30 mins before gametime!
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:12:02 PM
  • I'll be joining for the first couple of innings, I hope
    by Brendan Castner at 5/2/2009 7:13:45 PM
  • Awesome! Happy to have a genuine Mets fan joining us.
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:14:58 PM
  • This will be a fascinating game to watch for Mets fans like myself, because it may determine the fate of Oliver Perez
    by Brendan Castner at 5/2/2009 7:18:39 PM
  • Indeed, Brendan. The unpredictable Perez will essentially be pitching to keep his spot in New York's rotation on Saturday as the teams continue their three-game set in Philadelphia, but he'll do so with an excellent recent track record against the Phillies on his side.
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:19:27 PM
  • Perez was excellent in his first full season with the Mets (10-12), going 15-10 with a 3.56 ERA in 2007 and looking like a top-of-the-line starter. His ERA rose to 4.22 last season and he won five fewer games, but was signed to a three-year, $36 million contract in the offseason.

    So far, Perez (1-2, 9.31 ERA) is hardly living up to his end of the deal.
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:21:02 PM
  • The left-hander has failed to make it out of the fifth inning in three of his four starts, and has 15 walks in 19 1-3 innings. After he allowed seven runs, nine hits and three walks in 4 1-3 innings in an 8-1 loss to woeful Washington on Sunday, manager Jerry Manuel voiced his displeasure.
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:22:24 PM

  • "I'm really concerned about him at this point. I don't know what we do," he said. "The thing that concerns me is I don't see Ollie's stuff like I saw before. I don't know if he's going through a dead arm period or whatever, I don't know.

    "If you see stuff and no command, that's one thing. If it's no stuff or command, that's a recipe for disaster."
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:22:41 PM
  • Manuel eventually decided to give Perez another shot in the Mets' rotation due to the southpaw's past performances against the Phillies (11-10), who he's also due to face on Thursday at Citi Field. Perez started four games against Philadelphia in 2008, allowing one earned run in 26 innings while striking out 27.
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:23:43 PM
  • It appears as though his struggles are mostly emotional/mental, as he'll often have good stuff, but won't be able to either find the plate ot get the 3rd out of an inning
    by Brendan Castner at 5/2/2009 7:24:41 PM
  • You might be right Brendan. I remember watching him in 2004 when he was a Pirate and he was almost unhittable, exhibiting Johan Santana-type stuff. But, it was in Pittsburgh and not NY. There is probably a bit more pressure playing for the Mets with playoff expectations..
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:27:11 PM
  • Also, if you are ever in Mexico, you will notice he is revered like a God there, or at the very least is on the same level as Frida Kahlo.
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:27:43 PM
  • Lefties Ryan Howard and Chase Utley are a combined 5-for-38 (.131) with 18 strikeouts against Perez. Utley won't be starting this game.
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:28:51 PM
  • Jamie Moyer (3-1, 5.09) will get the ball for Philadelphia as he looks for a fourth straight win. Moyer, though, was hardly excellent in the first two, allowing four runs in six innings. He then surrendered just a run to Florida over six frames and struck out six, moving to 12-1 in his career against the Marlins after a 13-2 victory.
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:30:42 PM
  • Moyer started six games against the Mets last season and went 2-1 with a 3.53 ERA. He shut out New York on two hits over seven innings at Shea Stadium on Sept. 7 after allowing six runs in three innings at Citizens Bank Park on Aug. 26.
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:31:18 PM
  • Carlos Delgado, who's missed four straight games with a sore right hip will not be playing today. Toop bad, he is hitting .383 (31-for-81) with eight homers against Moyer.
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:32:36 PM
  • New York Mets:

    Reyes
    Castillo
    Beltran
    Sheffield
    Wright
    Tatis
    Murphy
    Castro
    Perez (P)
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:32:54 PM
  • Philadelphia Phillies:

    Victorino
    Ibanez
    Werth
    Howard
    Rollins
    Feliz
    Bruntlett
    Ruiz
    Moyer (P)
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:33:18 PM
  • In 2004, Perez had a 2.99 ERA (due mainly to his dominating fastball). The next year, he lost that fastball, which led to steroid allegations from fans, and his ERA ended at 5.85. The Mets signed him the following year, and while he wasn't amazing, he was a great big game pitcher. Today is a big game, and so I'm sitting at the edge of my seat
    by Brendan Castner at 5/2/2009 7:33:34 PM
  • For you Blue Jays fans, bases loaded for Kevin Millar with 2 out in the 8th in a tied 3-3 game vs. the Orioles.
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:35:09 PM
  • Eric Karros is spitting venom at Oliver Perez...
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:36:40 PM
  • First pitch to Reyes is a shattered bat grounder to Rollins. 1 out.
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:40:31 PM
  • 1-2 to Castillo. Doesn't look like the radar guns can pick up Moyer's fastball..
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:41:37 PM
  • Another groundout to Rollins. 2 out. Beltran up.
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:42:31 PM
  • Moyer starts off Beltran with a bender for a strike.
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:42:55 PM
  • Moyer is establishing the outside corner, and the umpire is being slightly generous
    by Brendan Castner at 5/2/2009 7:43:35 PM
  • Yes indeedy. Generous, if inconsistent.
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:43:48 PM
  • Moyer should get those calls all day though. Respect your elders.
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:44:07 PM
  • Beltran ahead on a mistake pitch. Pulls it foul. Count is full.
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:45:01 PM
  • Quite a senior discount
    by Brendan Castner at 5/2/2009 7:45:03 PM
  • Moyer freezes Beltran, looking.
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:45:22 PM
  • Victorino, Ibanez, Worth due up for Philly. Perez takes the mound.
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:45:47 PM
  • Fair call. Inside, but a strike nonetheless. Can't watch that with 2 strikes
    by Brendan Castner at 5/2/2009 7:45:52 PM
  • Perez falls behind early, 2-0.
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:49:19 PM
  • Perez doesn't get the call on the same pitch Moyer does..
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:49:47 PM
  • Victorino shoots it past a diving David Murphy in LF. Lead off triple.
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:50:35 PM
  • Beltran doggin it the whole way. No effort at all to help out Murphy.
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:50:56 PM
  • Ibanez takes a strike to start off the AB.
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:51:22 PM
  • Sac fly to left.
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:51:37 PM
  • Perez falls behind 2-1 to Werth.
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:52:41 PM
  • Perez loses Werth for his first BB (of many?) of the game.
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:54:10 PM
  • Howard steps in. If Perez is smart, he will feed him a steady diet of breaking pitches.
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:54:30 PM
  • Perez has 4.80 BB per 9IP, most among active pitchers (in a career).
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:55:07 PM
  • Howard swings 2-0, base hit. Runners at the corners. 1 out.
    by mopupduty at 5/2/2009 7:55:48 PM