Blog Title: Hot Foot : New York Mets News, Notes, and Rumors.

The Gig Is Up For Redding

A few days ago, I wrote of my unhappiness with Fernando Tatis. Today, Tatis went 3-4 with a single double, two run homer and 2 HBPs. Hopefully this was the turn of the corner for Tatis and he will be able to help this team going forward. Today, I am going to voice my displeasure read more..

The Importance Of The Meeting?

After Tuesday’s debacle, in which Fernando Martinez fell flat on his face, Johan Santana was ineffective, and the Mets lost to a pitcher named Mike Burns to fall two games under .500, Jerry Manuel called a meeting. Manuel described the meeting as a “family talk” to get some “things in order”. Since then, the Mets read more..

Mets Get What They Paid For In Perez…Almost

While Minaya’s decision not to overspend on Derek Lowe is looking good, his signing of Oliver Perez is looking catastrophic. Perez is having a nightmare season, with an ERA an eyelash under 10, and more walks than strikeouts in only 21.2 innings pitched. After being sent to the minors to work on his control, Perez read more..

Passing On Lowe Looks Smart

Many people, including myself, have criticized some of the decisions made by the Mets front office.  Some of the criticism is warranted, some is not.  But roughly half way through the season, it seems that Omar Minaya’s decision to pass on free agent pitcher Derek Lowe was a smart one. At the time he was signed, read more..

All-Star Rosters Expand To 33

According to TSN.com, MLB has expanded the All-Star Rosters from 32 to 33,  allowing teams to carry an extra pitcher.  In last season’s All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium, we were one inning away from seeing David Wright pitch, as both teams were on their last pitcher. Seems like a good idea, although I’d prefer for the read more..

Milledge Shipped to Pirates

According to ESPN, former Met OF Lastings Milledge, along with RP Joel Hanrahan, have been shipped to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for speed demon Nyjer Morgan and LHP Sean Burnett. Milledge has been hurt for most of this season, after posting an impressive line of 14 homers and 24 steals in 2008. Morgan, a rookie, read more..

Dear Jerry Manuel: Argenis Reyes Is Not Jose Reyes

I have been critical of Jerry Manuel in the past, and rightfully so. His nonsensical decisions based on his own gut feeling disregard logic or reason. But as the injury-depleted Mets become harder to watch, the game-within-a-game of “What Will Manuel Do Next” has become increasingly entertaining. For some unexplainable reason, Manuel batted Argenis read more..

A Letter to D-Wright

Dear David Wright, Greetings! Hey, broski! You have by no means had a poor year.  Going into last night you were batting .342. That’s pretty gosh darn good.  Your .919 OPS isn’t too shabby either.  My real question is: where has your power gone?  Are you aware that you currently have the lowest slugging percentage you’ve had in your entire read more..

Series Preview: Mets at Brewers

The Mets (37-37) travel to Milwaukee to visit the first place Milwaukee Brewers (40-35) for a three game set starting tonight at 7:05. Both teams are coming off losses on Sunday and are looking to bounce back. Here are the pitching matchup: Game 1: Fernando Nieve (3-0 1.31) vs Braden Looper (5-4 5.16) Game 2: Johan Santana (9-5 read more..

Is Tatis Done?

There comes a time when being well liked and a good presence in the clubhouse isn’t enough for a guy to stay on an MLB roster. In my opinion, that time has come for Fernando Tatis. He cannot field, cannot throw and can no longer hit a fastball. It is a sad thing to say, read more..

Time To Try Sheffield At First Base

I recently detailed why I don’t think Daniel Murphy should be playing first base for the Mets major league squad right now.   “But Rich, you can’t just point out a problem without suggesting a solution.”   Well first of all, disembodied voice, yes I can.  But first and a half of all, I’ve got your solution right here: Gary read more..

Who’s On First? It Shouldn’t Be Murphy

Daniel Murphy has a slugging percentage of .362. For a defensive wiz at short stop or second base, a .362 slugging percentage is acceptable.  But first basemen traditionally hit for a lot of power; the average NL first baseman has a .482 slugging percentage and an .850 OPS (on base plus slugging).  For the Mets starting read more..

Dog House Dweller of the Week, or “Bumpy Ride, Part II”

As a Met fan, I feel as if someone threw scalding hot coffee on my face, before kicking me in the knee and pushing me down a flight of stairs, into a pile of mouse traps. Last week, I believe I said something along the lines of… …I started to think “why just tread water?”  All we’ve read more..

Man-Crush of the Week: Fernando Nieve

He’s only pitched one game last week, but I’m going to jump on the bandwagon anyway.  SP Fernando Nieve is my Man-Crush of the Week. Over 3 starts against the Yankees, Cardinals, and Rays, and 4 appearances overall, Fernando Nieve has pitched to a 1.31 ERA with a BAA of .153.  In his last start, on read more..

Put Redding in the Pen

For some reason, Omar Minaya was sold on the idea that the Mets could grab the former 5th starter from the Nationals - a player the Nats didn’t want back – and turn him into the 5th starter for a contending ball club.  This experiment has failed.  Tim Redding is by no definition of the word passable, read more..

Random Musings

Just a few random thoughts. . . Encouraging start for Oliver Perez last night for the Brooklyn Cyclones.  In five innings, he struck out six, allowed only two hits and walked one batter.  The most encouraging factor in this outing is the one walk – in single A, anybody should be able to strike the batters out read more..

DeRosa Dealt to Cards

ESPN is reporting that IF Mark DeRosa has been dealt to the Cardinals in exchange for RP Chris Perez and a player to be named later. Perez,  regarded as the closer of the future for the Cardinals, had a 4.18 ERA and a 1.35 ERA for the Cards in 2009. DeRosa, a super utility man who has read more..

Deep Breath, Mets Fans

The Mets collected one run and four hits the last two nights against Yankee pitching.  Led by AJ Burnett and CC Sabathia, the Yankee arms befuddled the lacking Mets lineup and  made them look silly. However, don’t be alarmed Mets fans, Burnett and Sabathia are not your ordinary pitchers. They are bonafide aces and both read more..

Must Knows for all Mets Fans

From Giantsfootballbog.com to HotFoot, here I am, and if you are a die hard Mets fan I feel you must know these 10 things before watching any more  games this year: 1) When any member of the Mets medical staff or front office says a player  “can’t get any worse by playing,” what he actually means is “Not read more..

Maine Out Until All Star Break?

Adam Rubin at his blog for the Daily News is reporting that John Maine felt pain in his throwing shoulder during his bullpen session yesterday. He received a cortisone shot and hopes to be ready shortly after the All Star Break. At this point, you can’t count on anything from Maine from this point forward. I read more..