NewsMets hopeful heading into big homestand
New York (46-51) vs. Colorado (54-44), 7:10 p.m. ET
By Anthony DiComo / MLB.com
07/26/09 7:18 PM ET
HOUSTON -- Perspective can be hard to come by for those Mets who have remained in uniform all season -- who have seen the Mets falter not in one quick blow but in a series of smaller ones. But perspective is much easier for outfielder Jeff Francoeur, who has watched the Mets from afar throughout their misadventures of the past three months. Francoeur's view of the Mets is at once worrisome and optimistic. "The next 10 games," he said, "are going to be huge." Funneling the entire season into one homestand is worrisome, because the Mets will have to face the Rockies, Diamondbacks and Cardinals without 10 of their injured players -- a list that still includes Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado and J.J. Putz. But it is optimistic in the inherent sense that the Mets still have a chance. And so they flew home Sunday evening 10 1/2 games out of first place in the NL East and 7 1/2 games off the pace for the Wild Card -- though they still trail three teams in the former race and seven in the latter. Even the most pessimistic mathematician could not prove them out of it. But even the most optimistic Mets fan knows they must make their push soon. "Every homestand moving forward is critical for us," manager Jerry Manuel said. "One, we have to play well, and two, we're trying to get back into this. You still feel that if you pitch and do those things, you still have a chance to get hot." What the Mets also have in their favor is the fact that after a road-heavy schedule early in the season, 21 of their next 28 games will come at Citi Field. And at 25-20, the Mets rather remarkably boast the best home record of any team in their division. They will test that mark Monday in Flushing, in the first of four games against the Rockies -- like the Astros, a team ahead of them in the Wild Card standings. Erratic left-hander Oliver Perez will start opposite erratic right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez, though Jimenez has pitched quite well of late. Taking two forgettable April starts out of the equation, Jimenez has produced a 3.14 ERA with 110 strikeouts and 44 walks. Perez has achieved something less than that since returning from the disabled list earlier this month, walking 17 batters in three starts -- only one of which resulted in a win. Pitching matchupNYM: LHP Oliver Perez (2-3, 7.68 ERA)
The old wildness returned last Tuesday for Perez, who walked six batters over six innings in a losing effort against the Nationals. Though Perez has unquestionably been more effective since returning from the disabled list earlier this month, he has issued a total of 17 free passes in his three starts -- a win, a loss and a no-decision. He also suffered through similar bouts of wildness in two starts against the Rockies last season, walking 14 batters in 11 innings. Perez has not beaten the Rockies since 2005. COL: RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (7-9, 3.85 ERA)
Jimenez showed moxie on Wednesday in a no-decision against the D-backs. He went six innings and was hurt by one pitch -- a three-run homer by Miguel Montero -- even though he had no fastball command. Taking advantage of the D-backs' familiarity with him, and trying desperately to stay afloat, Jimenez pocketed his blazing fastball and used his breaking ball for the final three innings of the six he was on the mound. Tidbits
The Mets agreed to release right-handed pitcher Brandon Knight, so that he can pursue a career in the Korean Baseball Organization. ... The five active Mets with a history against Jimenez are 2-for-28 with one extra-base hit -- a Brian Schneider double. And Schneider, splitting time with the red-hot Omir Santos, is unlikely to play Monday after catching Sunday's finale in Houston. Tickets
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• WFAN 660, WADO 1280 (Español) Up next
• Tuesday: Mets (Mike Pelfrey, 7-6, 4.99) vs. Rockies (TBD), 7:10 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: Mets (Johan Santana, 11-8, 3.12) vs. Rockies (Jason Hammel, 5-5, 4.28), 7:10 p.m. ET
• Thursday: Mets (Jon Niese, 1-0, 4.08) vs. Rockies (Jorge De La Rosa, 8-7, 4.78), 12:10 p.m. ET
Anthony DiComo is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
