Mike Attack: August 25, 2008

By Mike McGann
Posted Monday, August 25, 2008

Filling in for Mack, for now, unless I can manage, as the Giants’ are trying with Michael Strahan, to bring our beloved star out of retirement.

Losses:

Cubs 50
Brewers 55
Mets 59
Phillies 59
Cardinals 59

It’s going to be a pivotal week for John Maine. His bullpen session this week will likely determine whether the Mets shut him down for the rest of the season with a bone spur behind his right shoulder. While the docs say he can’t injure himself worse, the pain is serious and it continues to hamper his fastball, which has dropped from 94 to 90. If Maine goes on the shelf, the replacement options are pretty limited for the stretch run: Brian Stokes, Nelson Figueroa or Jon Niese.

The bullpen imploded Sunday again, although it’s generally pitched well since closer Billy Wagner went down.

As I reported back in 2006, the Mets are a stone-cold lock to replace AAA New Orleans with Syracuse in the International League. Sources have been adamant that Syracuse’s ownership is dying to have the Mets — both because the talent should be better than has been provided by Toronto in recent years and because it will be a major boost to home attendance, as Mets’ fans make the drive up the Northway to the Chiefs. The Mets, unthrilled to have a team in the PCL, see Syracuse as the best-case scenario, being just 75 miles from AA Binghamton and a place where the team can deepen and expand its Major League fanbase.

Interestingly, there’s no buzz currently about the fate of the Mets relationship with Class A Savannah — the other affiliation contract up after the 2008 season.

New Orleans
Trot Nixon drilled a two run home run and the Zephyrs offense scored six runs on eight hits to edge the Albuquerque Isotopes 7-6 in front of 13,576 fans in Albuquerque. The Z’s scored a pair of runs in the second inning to take the early lead. New Orleans added a two more in the fourth with RBI sacrifice fly from Andy Green and scored another run of a wild pitch. Nixon drilled the two run home run in the fifth inning to give the Z’s a 6-0 lead. Jon Niese pitched five innings and earned his fifth win of the season. The Isotopes struck back with two runs in the fifth off of Niese. The Z’s bullpen allowed two runs in the sixth and two more in the eighth inning. Ramon Martinez drilled a two out RBI single in the seventh inning for the Z’s to score their seventh run in the game. Carlos Muniz pitched a perfect ninth to hold off the Isotopes. Muniz earned his ninth save and the Z’s snapped the four game losing streak.

Game Notes: Jesus Feliciano drilled his team leading 152nd hit to move into a 5th place tie with Chris Burke for most hits in a single season. The Z’s move into a second place tie with the Isotopes with eight games remaining. New Orleans grounded into 8 double plays in the series while turning one.

Coming Up: The Zephyrs continue the final road trip of the season on Monday evening at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha. The Z’s will start RH Ruddy Lugo (7-11) against Omaha RH Roman Colon at 7:05. RADIO: AM 690 WIST. Source: Zephyrs.

Binghamton
The Bowie Baysox scored twice in the eighth for a 4-2 win over the Binghamton Mets in the final regular-season game at NYSEG Stadium Sunday. Bowie took two of three in the series, handing Binghamton their third loss in four games.

Bowie (80-55) went ahead in the first on Matt Wieters’ two-run homer off Jose Sanchez. However, that was all Sanchez would allow over seven innings. The righthander scattered six hits and a walk, striking out eight.

In the bottom of the first, Binghamton (70-65) cut Bowie’s lead in half. David Hernandez walked leadoff hitter Fernando Martinez, who advanced to third on a Peeter Ramos single. Martinez scored on Caleb Stewart’s groundout.

The B-Mets manufactured another run off Hernandez (9-4) in the second. Ambiorix Concepcion singled, stole second and advanced to third on a fielder’s choice and scored on Jose Coronado’s groundout to tie the game 2-2.

Bowie loaded the bases with no outs against reliever Joe Hietpas (2-5) in the eighth before Ryan Finan and Steve Torrealba each singled home a run.

Baysox closer Julio Manon got the final five outs for his 31st save in 39 chances.

After an off-day Monday, Tuesday, the Binghamton Mets begin a season-ending, seven-game road trip with the first of three against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Dylan Owen (1-0, 1.50) will start for Binghamton against Brandon Magee (6-13, 4.99) of New Hampshire. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Merchantsauto.com Stadium with the radio broadcast beginning at 6:50 on Newsradio 1290 WNBF.

Notes: With one start remaining, Sanchez still has a chance to tie the B-Mets record of 14 wins in a season (Cory Lidle 1996, Bill Pulsipher 1994)…the B-Mets finish with a home record of 33-38. Source: B-Mets.com

St. Lucie
The Mets dropped the first game a scheduled doubleheader, 6-5, to Daytona, only to see the second game rained out, thanks to the lingering after-effects of Tropical Storm Fay. Ryan Coultas (1-4) took another hard-luck loss.

Gnats
Last-place Savannah split a doubleheader with Rome Sunday, a day after sweeping the Braves in another doubleheader. Eric Beaulac pitched well in the nightcap, but didn’t figure in the decision, allowing one run on two hits in 4 ⅓ innings.