NewsManuel: Chipper, Cox good for game
New York (65-86) vs. Atlanta (80-70), 7:10 p.m. ET
By Tim Britton and Marty Noble / MLB.com
09/21/09 11:38 PM ET
NEW YORK -- The crowd in Queens may still boo them whenever they get the chance, but manager Jerry Manuel said he isn't in any rush to see Chipper Jones and Bobby Cox retire. The Braves' longtime third baseman and stalwart manager have each hinted that their careers in Atlanta could be nearing an end. While Jones said he might hang the cleats up after next season if he has a second consecutive subpar season, Cox has yet to commit to skippering the Braves in 2010. "If I'm not having fun producing and playing the game the way that I have, I'd much rather be doing something else," Jones said last week.The 37-year-old veteran has seen his average slip to .271 this season -- one year after leading the league with a .364 clip.
Throughout his career, Jones has taken special delight in torturing the division-rival Mets. He owns a .324 lifetime average with 41 homers and 129 RBIs against the Mets, and he infamously named a son after the team's erstwhile ballpark. The 19 home runs Jones hit at Shea are his most at any road stadium. That success has earned him plenty of boos and chants of "Larry" in Queens. Still, Manuel respects Jones' contributions to the game. "He's been a very good player for a long time. I like to see good players stay in the game," Manuel said. "I won't say I like to see him come up in critical situations, but I do like to see him do that against other teams. I would like to see guys like that remain in the game because I think they have a lot to offer to people coming up." Similarly, Manuel has the utmost respect for his foil in the other dugout, Cox. Fourth all-time for wins as a manager, Cox has been at the helm of the Braves since 1990. In that time, he oversaw 14 consecutive division titles and a World Series win in 1995. "I would love to see him stay in," Manuel said. "Every time you face him, you feel like you're learning and getting a lesson on how to do things and so forth. I don't know if our game can afford to lose those types of people." Pitching matchupNYM: RHP Nelson Figueroa (2-6, 5.21 ERA)
Facing the Braves for a second consecutive outing may vex Figueroa for one distinct reason: Brian McCann. In last Thursday's game in Atlanta, McCann launched a three-run homer off him to go along with a sacrifice fly, sending Figueroa to a third consecutive defeat. In seven innings against the Braves this season, Figueroa now has a 10.29 ERA. He has not won a game since beating the Cubs on Aug. 30. ATL: RHP Jair Jurrjens (12-10, 2.75 ERA)
Jurrjens has proven to be one of the game's most underappreciated pitchers this season. The 23-year-old right-hander has allowed two earned runs or less in 23 of his past 31 starts. Over his past seven starts, he is 3-2 with a 1.99 ERA. His latest stellar effort was provided on Thursday, when he limited the Mets to two runs -- one earned -- and six hits in seven innings. Jurrjens is 3-0 with a 1.67 ERA in three starts against the Mets this season. Tidbits
Pat Misch had the shortest start of his career on Monday, lasting only 1 1/3 innings. Misch had never departed before completing four innings in any of his previous starts. The eight runs he allowed tied a career high. ... Anderson Hernandez's fifth-inning triple was the Mets' 46th of the season -- one shy of a franchise record. ... Despite being pulled after three innings, Luis Castillo had his 40th multihit game of the year, and the second baseman's .366 average at home is tops in the Majors. ... Daniel Murphy is 10-for-24 over his past six games and is batting .304 with eight doubles and four home runs in September. ... The Mets' bullpen finished Monday's game with six no-hit innings from Tobi Stoner, Bobby Parnell, Ken Takahashi and Brian Stokes. Parnell pitched a scoreless sixth in his return to the bullpen after a stint in the starting rotation. This date in Mets history, Sept. 22:
Mookie Wilson became the club's all-time career stolen-base leader -- he no longer is -- with his 140th swipe Sept. 22, 1983, in a 4-3 victory in Pittsburgh. On that day, Wilson passed Lee Mazzilli, who would return to the Mets in 1986 and increase his Mets steals total to 152 before he was traded in 1989. Wilson's club record stood at 281. Jose Reyes exceeded that figure last season. Mazzilli's total now is fifth behind those of Howard Johnson (202) and Darryl Strawberry (191).
The Mets clinched their second NL East championship in three years with a 3-1 victory over the Phillies at Shea on this date in 1988. Ron Darling pitched a complete game and gained his 16th victory. Wilson scored from second base on an infield single by Kevin McReynolds when first baseman Ricky Jordan argued the safe call at first.
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• Wednesday: Mets (Mike Pelfrey, 10-11, 5.10) vs. Braves (Tim Hudson, 1-1, 3.70), 7:10 p.m. ET
• Thursday: Off-day
• Friday: Mets (Tim Redding, 3-6, 5.25) at Marlins (Ricky Nolasco, 12-9, 5.34), 7:10 p.m. ET
Tim Britton is an associate reporter and Marty Noble is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
