IGT 09/27, Birds on the Bat vs. Metropolitans

[Guest Kid Carsey]

STL: J. Pineiro (5-4, 4.53)
NYM: P. Martinez (3-0, 2.57)

By ANDY LEFKOWITZ, STATS Editor

Pedro Martinez has pitched well after surgery nearly a year ago wiped out all but the final month of his 2007 season. The New York Mets need his rebuilt shoulder to help stop a free fall that is threatening their postseason hopes.

The Mets turn to the three-time Cy Young Award winner to preserve their slim division lead and continue a drive toward their unprecedented second straight NL East title when they meet the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday night in a makeup game.

New York (87-71) has been in first place since overtaking Atlanta on May 16, but a 9-6 loss to Washington on Wednesday finished a three-game sweep and reduced the Mets' division lead over surging Philadelphia to one game.

"It's late in the season, guys are tired, we're running on fumes," Mets third baseman David Wright said. "It's not an excuse. We need to go out there and finish strong and dig down deep and really do some soul-searching because we're going to have to finish with a flurry."

New York has dropped six straight at home and nine of its last 13 overall - a stretch that started when it was swept in a three-game set by the Phillies at Shea Stadium - and can place the blame squarely on its pitchers.

Mets starters have recorded a 6.29 ERA in the last 13 games, and a beleaguered bullpen has blown three of five save opportunities in that span while posting a 6.75 ERA.

"We're not scared of losing. What the problem is, is just how bad we're playing," closer Billy Wagner said. "As good as our bullpen was early, we're that bad right now."

Martinez (3-0, 2.57 ERA) will try to stay unbeaten since returning from rotator cuff surgery. Facing Florida on Friday, the right-hander gave up four runs and eight hits, walked two and struck out seven in a 9-6 victory.

"He looked sharp again," Mets manager Willie Randolph said. "I love his progress and the way he's looking."

Martinez was helped by the Marlins, who committed a franchise-record six errors. Since coming back, though, Martinez has seen the number of hits he's allowed increase with each start. He's given up 26 in 21 innings.

Martinez has won his last two decisions over the Cardinals, and is 3-1 with a 2.87 ERA in nine career starts against them. He will face St. Louis for the first time since Sept. 11, 2005.

Joel Pineiro (5-4, 4.53) will try to close out his season on a positive note for the Cardinals (74-84).

The right-hander, acquired at the July trade deadline from Boston, was 3-1 with a 3.86 ERA in his first five starts with his new team. But he's battled inconsistency since falling on Aug. 30 at Houston, alternating wins and losses in five starts with a 5.20 ERA.

Pineiro lost to the Astros for the second time in just over three weeks when the Cardinals dropped a 6-3 decision at home on Friday that eliminated last season's World Series champions from postseason contention. He threw 111 pitches in 5 2-3 innings, allowing three runs and eight hits.

In 55 2-3 innings since joining St. Louis, Pineiro has given up 66 hits, including 11 homers. This will be his first appearance against the Mets.

New York got two homers from Carlos Beltran and one from Moises Alou en route to an early 5-0 lead on Wednesday. Alou extended his franchise-record hitting streak to 30 games, the longest by any New York player since Joe DiMaggio's major league record 56-game run for the Yankees in 1941.

Alou is hitting .403 (48-for-119) during the streak, raising his overall average 34 points to .347.

St. Louis snapped an 11-game road losing streak with a 7-3 win over playoff-hopeful Milwaukee on Wednesday. Albert Pujols, recovering from a strained left calf, hit his 32nd homer to become the first player to start his career with 30 home runs and 100 RBIs in seven straight seasons.

Pujols was hit in the elbow later in the contest by the Brewers' Seth McClung. The 2005 NL MVP is batting .347 (26-for-75) with seven homers and 16 RBIs in 21 career games in New York, but is 0-for-6 with a walk lifetime against Martinez.

This contest is a makeup of a June 28 rainout. Following this game, the Mets play host to Florida while St. Louis heads to Pittsburgh to close out the regular season.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Wow, this fifth start of Pedro's could be his last of 2007.

Seven innings Pedro! Or eight! If you do well, your reward could be another three or four starts this year.

[Farmer Ted]

I have to go to a wine tasting event until 8 pm. I hope I'm good and drunk for this game like I shoulda been last night.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Attending to the second job last night, I came home in time to cheer the Mets from a 6-2 lead into the eventual 7-6 defecit.

Tonight, I go to a fundraiser and expect to bring my curse upon them in an even later inning.

O wo.

[Guest sharpie]

Last night watching a Yankee-bathrobe-wearing singer didn't work to break the curse, I guess I'll just go back to watching the game tonight.

[Valadius]

We all feel like crap right now, but we've gotta get our shit together, as well as the Mets. Do it for the kids! Like, for example, this kid:



And this one:

[Guest Kid Carsey]

Wine tastings, fundraisers ... I need to get a life if it kills me.

After the baseball season.

[Gwreck]

St. Louis Cardinals
David Eckstein SS
Rick Ankiel CF
Albert Pujols 1B
Ryan Ludwick RF
Skip Schumacher LF
Miguel Cairo 3B
Kelly Stinnett C
Joel Pineiro P
Aaron Miles 2B

New York Mets
Jose Reyes SS
Luis Castillo 2B
David Wright 3B
Carlos Beltran CF
Moises Alou LF
Carlos Delgado 1B
Paul LoDuca C
Shawn Green RF
Pedro Martinez P

[DocTee]

How shitty must Aaron Miles feel to bat after the pitcher?

[Benjamin Grimm]

Hopefully he'll pitch as shitty as he must feel.

It will take a 15-run first inning to give me any level of comfort, I think.

[nymr83]

Piniero is on my slumping roto-team, he's pretty much gauranteed not to get me a much needed W tonight. Of course, my ERA is a lost cause so if he wants to strike out 10 and allow and equal number of runs that will help too.

[Guest holychicken]

Kid Carsey wrote: Wine tastings, fundraisers ... I need to get a life if it kills me. After the baseball season.

I have a feeling this baseball season might get you first.

[Valadius]

You know what we need? You know what Pedro needs?

Some inspiration from the late Nelson de la Rosa!

[nymr83]

i didnt even know that guy died

[DocTee]

It's scary that not only did Val know he died, but knew his name.

[A Boy Named Seo]

Kick some ass, Mets.

[Zvon]

TransMonk:
You hit the nail on the head.
This is the playoffs.
Losers go home.

Unbelievably as I type this, Rollins singles to lead off the Phils/Braves game, Victorino goes to sac him over, a great bunt that is thrown away and Rollins scores from 1st.

!!!@@$%^**^%#

[Zvon]

And here Castillo, the experienced vet, makes an error in the 1st and the Cards have 2 on, 1 out.

[Zvon]

Another Brave error leads to the Phils second run, and then.....

Howard goes yard and its 4-0 Phils.

[nymr83]

bottom 1, 4-0 Phillies. You didn't expect help from the braves did you?

[Zvon]

Get outta this Pedro.
Please.

2 out, 1st and 2nd.

[Zvon]

Some guy named Schumaker singles in a run for the Cards.

[Zvon]

Coulda been worse. 1-0 Cards
Well, we knew going in that we are gonna need more than 2 runs to win tonight.

So lets go get em guys.

[Zvon]

Wright doubles with two out in the 1st, but is stranded.

[Valadius]

Let's Go Mets!

[Zvon]

Good inning for Pedro!
Yes!

[DocTee]

Here's a switch: rather than blowing leads, we'll be coming from behind.

[Zvon]

Ha.
Not unless we get some hits and score some runs, not necessarily in that order.

Who is the Card pitcher, J. Pineiro?
Ill answer that: NOBODY!

[A Boy Named Seo]

Me, now.

[Methead]

Way ahead of you, Seo.

Yet, I can't take my eyes off the screen. It's almost intervention time.