Results tagged “richardhidalgo”

Here’s a little piece of advice for Brian Cashman: make sure to build a real bench when you put together the 2007 Yankees. You would think that $190 million would mean you don’t need to rely on Kelly Stinnett or Miguel Cairo in key situations, but that is what the Yankees are about right now.

Okay, we admit that we hate it as much as anyone when the Mets bust out the "On the right Trach" stuff at Shea, but when they're right, they're right. The Mets won their first series since August against the Rockies. Steve Trachsel pitched six strong, giving up only two earned runs as well as two unearned in the 9-4 loss (box score).

Despite the score, the game was actually close...until the 3rd inning when the Expos scored 7 runs and batted around. That's Ugly and the Mets had no alibi. If you're looking for some positive aspects of the game (there were some, but Gothamist had to look long and hard at the box score), you would be happy to know that Richard Hidalgo had two home runs and David Wight hit his first career homer. It ends about there.

A week ago, the Mets were in Philadelphia splitting a four game series with the Phillies. Last night, they started another four game series at Shea and got off to a great start. They won the game in 11 innings, 3-2 (box score). With the victory, they are a game out of first place, trailing the Phillies and the Braves.

After 87 games, the Mets are at 44-43, barely over .500, but in a position few expected. They are in fourth place (that was expected), but are only 2 games out of first place in the NL East. Sure, their division isn't playing that well, but with the Phillies, Braves, Marlins and Mets all in the hunt for the pennant, it looks like the rest of the season will be exciting.

In last night's game against the Phillies, Hidalgo batted in the clean-up slot for the Mets for the first time. Before the game, Cliff Floyd went to Art Howe to ask for a change in the line-up. The line-up card was already posted, but Floyd reasoned with Howe who agreed to switch Hidalgo and Floyd in the batting order. Floyd was only hitting .207 against lefthanders and Randy Wolf was the lefty pitcher slated to start for Philadelphia. Hidalgo went 2-5 with 2 RBI and a run scored. His home run streak ended, but his nine game hitting streak is still alive. During those nine games .471 with 7 home runs and 11 runs batted in.

The problem for Glavine in Monday's game was that he didn't get the corners of the plate in his favor. Glavine freely admits his inability to overpower batters, so he uses finesse to win games. With the corners gone, there was little he could do but throw the ball directly over the plate. Unfortunately for him and the Mets, that spelled disaster.

The win Sunday, their 6th in 7 games, returned the Mets to .500, a mark they have struggled to maintain. Staying at .500 might be a challenge for the Mets (no matter how good the lineup and the pitching are) as they will play several teams that are in contention for the next month - the Reds, Yankees (who they were 0-6 against last year), Phillies, and Marlins.

Gothamist Sports also added Chris Carlson as a contributor to our burgeoning little page this week. Don't forget to check out the week in full.

Hidalgo started off the season red-hot but has been mired in a slump of late. He is currently batting, .256 with four homeruns and 30 RBI. He possess one of the best arms in right field.

The Mets responded by tagging the Cleveland Indians for 14 hits and seven runs and making Don Baylor look like a genius. The most important development was the two out at bat with the bases loaded by Mike Cameron. Cameron came in for his defense and but his hitting has been below average even for him this year. He is hitting .202 with 66 strikeouts in 208 at bats. Last night he showed some grit and battled with a two strike count to drive in two runs, making the score 3-0 and the Mets never looked back.