VIDEO: Fernando Martinez Walkoff Grand Slam

What a blast!

Happy St Patrick's Day Mets Fans

Lots of great reading this morning.

Ya know, many of us were aghast at the Jeff Francoeur signing, but he is a really hard guy not to like.

The wonderful and talented Marty Noble has a great piece on Frenchy's arm over at Mets.com. It's an in-depth write-up, and I really enjoyed it.

We keep hearing different opinions on what will actually happen to Fernando Martinez this year, but I for one would like to see him start with the big club and split time with Angel Pagan until Beltran gets back. Just tell F-Mart that's the deal--you're here for about a month, enjoy yourself, play some ball, and then go to Buffalo until we need you. My pals at Amazin Avenue have him pegged for the minors on their Make the Mets-O-Meter, and they're probably right.

Kevin Kernan has a story over at the NY Post about how David Wright has to prove he's over the 2009 beaning. It's a pretty tired topic, but it's well-written and he makes some solid points. E for effort Kevin.

Dave Doyle at the Mets Report is saying what a lot of Mets fans feel--Jenrry Mejia should make the team. Although I am salivating at the kid's stuff, I actually disagree with Dave on this one.

My buds at Hot Foot question the Alex Cora signing...again, something of a tired topic, but you can't argue with what they write. Was it truly a mistake? Survey says....I'm not sure.

Ed Ryan at Mets Fever asks about Pat Misch, specifically why the club is so quiet on him despite some success, his age, and his cheapness....it's a good question.

Oh, and about that artist rendering in the picture...if anyone sees that guy let me know immediately....I could use the gold.

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• Note: Fernando Martinez and Center Field (metsblog.com)

Fernando Martinez Making Noise

F-Mart just cranked his second homerun of the day.

Martinez is now 4 for 4 and hit two absolute bombs today.

And now Mike Jacobs just followed with another bomb!

I love Spring Training!

June Facts (Not for the Squeamish)

The Mets went 9-18 in the month of June, and ended the month with 5 straight losses.

The team saw a few stars go down with injury, and a lot of players slump badly.

• Omir Santos hit .246 in June with an abysmal .259 OBP and .330 Slg %
• Daniel Murphy hit .240 in June with a .298 OBP and .320 Slg %
• Fernando Tatis hit a whopping .233 with a .313 OBP and .317 Slg %
• Fernando Martinez hit .186 with a .260 OBP and .286 Slg %
• Alex Cora hit a pitiful .209 with a .314 OBP and .253 Slg %
• Luis Castillo hit .244 with a .330 OBP and .280 Slg %
• Johan Santana went 2-4 with a 6.19 ERA, 14 BBs and 18 Ks
• Mike Pelfrey went 1-2 with a 6.39 ERA, 10 BBs and 14 Ks
• Bobby Parnell went 0-3 with a staggering 13.50 ERA

As a team the Mets hit .258 on the month with an embarrassing .325 OBP and .372 Slg %.

The pitching staff had a 5.09 ERA in June.

It's a good month to put behind us.

Good news? I'll try.

There's a good chance we get Ollie, Maine, Reyes, Pagan and Beltran back in the next two weeks.

Mets		Updated	Status	Due Back	Injury	Notes
	Beltran, Carlos (CF)	06/30	15-day DL	Possibly early July	Bone bruise in right knee	Second opinion confirmed bone bruise on June 30.
	Delgado, Carlos (1B)	06/10	60-day DL	Possibly mid-July	Torn labrum in hip	Moved to 60-day DL June 5.
	Maine, John (P)	06/26	15-day DL	Possibly late June	Right shoulder fatigue	Shut down for one week beginning June 26.
	Martinez, Ramon (2B)	06/22	60-day DL	Possibly early August	Dislocated pinky	Placed on DL June 3.
	Pagan, Angel (CF)	06/25	15-day DL	Early July	Right groin discomfort	May begin rehab assignment June 25-27.
	Perez, Oliver (P)	06/29	15-day DL	Possibly late June	Right knee patellar tendinitis	Scheduled for Triple-A rehab start July 3.
	Putz, J.J. (P)	06/11	15-day DL	Possibly mid-August	Broken bone spur in elbow	Underwent arthroscopic surgery June 9.
	Reyes, Jose (SS)	06/11	15-day DL	Possibly mid-July	Small hamstring tear	Received cortisone shot June 9.
	Wagner, Billy (P)	06/20	60-day DL	Possibly September	Torn elbow ligament	Throwing 3 side sessions per week

Good Morning Mets Fans!

Livan wears his war wounds like a crown....

The old master was on display last night. His pitches darted, floated, seemed to be over the plate to hit, and then were gone in a flash or hit weakly for outs and double plays.

He threw a lot of them--127 to be exact--and went the distance in one of those games that will be forgotten before too long, but could be a difference maker come late September.

His effort gave the bullpen a rest, and it kept the Mets hot despite a slew of injuries that could have crippled a lesser team.

The Mets have won 4 out of their last 5 games and remain a scant half game back of the Phillies for first place in the NL East.

Livan was proud of his effort, as well he should be.

"This is the Livan everybody knew before," Hernandez said. "The last two years have been a difficult time, but now I've come back and been the same as before."

"I threw good sinkers, and people hit into double plays," said Hernandez. "Today was a day everything happened perfect: a lot of double plays and the sinker working real good."

He is now 4-1 on the year with a respectable 4.28 ERA. In the month of May he is 3-0 with a 2.70 ERA and 4 high quality starts in 5 outings.

It was also a night of young and old.

20-year old Fernando Martinez had an RBI in his major league debut.

"That was unbelievable for me," Martinez said. "I waited all my life for that moment. That's great. It's like, 'That's my life,' right now."

His whole life, huh? I'm wearing a 23-year old Mets t-shirt as I write this, but still, you have to admire the kids enthusiasm.

40-year old Gary Sheffield hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning, the 504th of his illustrious career, to break it open.

The homerun tied him with Eddie Murray for 24th place on the all-time homerun list.

Sheffield is hitting .340 in May with a 1.036 OPS. Right now, he is the sole true long ball threat in the lineup, and he is absolutely hammering the ball.

"I have to just keep doing my job," Sheffield said.

The rest of the team helped too.

David Wright had two hits, Luis Castillo scored twice, and the defense was terrific.

Another tip of the cap to Angel Pagan. He had two hits and a walk in the leadoff spot and also gunned out a runner out the plate. Pagan is not a great player, but he is a solid 4th outfielder who can make things happen when he plays.

All in all a fun night of baseball at Citi Field.

Johan Santana is on the hill today (weather permitting) as the Mets look for the sweep.

Enjoy your coffee!

Scoreboard
Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Washington (13-32)	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	9	0
N.Y. Mets (25-20) «	0	1	2	0	0	0	3	0	x	6	10	0

Players of the Game

New York L. Hernandez IP 9.0 H 9 ER 1 BB 1 K 6

New York G. Sheffield AB 3 R 1 H 2 HR 1 RBI 3

Fernando Mania!

Here he comes to save the day!

OK, maybe he officially won't save the day, but how exciting is it for us to have the future here now?

The 20-year old is having an excellent season at AAA:

2009 Stats		G	Bavg	OBP	SLG	HR	RBI	SB	R	2B
BUF (nym)	AAA	41	.294	.341	.544	7	26	2	21	15

Now, with Church on the DL and Beltran hurting, the time for Fernando is really here.

Let the kid play, let's get excited and win a few games, and let's look at the future now.

Who knows, he could kick ass and just stay here a while.