Colorado Rockies-New York Mets Tid Bits
Colorado Rockies vs. New York Mets
August 10-12, 2010 at Citi Field
Retooling
Mets have begun to revamp the roster. In Sunday they had seven home-grown players in the lineup for the first since since July 22, 1990. The only exceptions were CF Carlos Beltran and starting pitcher R.A. Dickey.
Past Encounters
–Rockies trail in all-time series, 65-76, including taking 2 of 3 at Coors Field this season.
–Rockies have won season series once in the last eight years.
–Rockies trail 21-49 in New York; 1-3 at Citi Field and 20-46 at Shea Stadium.
–Rockies have swept a series from Mets five times, once in New York (3-0 in 1994).
–Mets have swept a series from the Rockies seven times, all in New York.
–Rockies are 4-20 in New York since 2002 season.
Road Woes
Rockies have had more trouble in New York than any other NL city.
Rockies worst road records by NL city:
City W-L Pct.
New York 21-49 .300
Atlanta 23-49 .319
Houston 26-49 .347
San Francisco 49-91 .350
Phoenix 38-67 .362
Lately
Mets are coming off a 2-4 road trip to Atlanta and Philadelphia in which Jeff Francoeur hit game-winning home run in two victories.
Two key bats in Mets lineup are in funks. Carlos Beltran, hitting .195, went 3-for-32 with seven strikeouts on the trip. David Wright was 2-for-23 with seven strikeouts. Beltran, coming off knee surgery, was activated July 15 and is hitting .205 since his return.
OF Jason Bay, who has four home runs, is on the disabled list with concussion-like symptom.
Roster Adjustments
Mets decided to get younger, and during the weekend they called up OF Fernando Martinez, a left-handed hitter, and 2B Ruben Tejada. Alex Cora, hitting.207 and 18 games away from having his $2 million option for 2011 vest, was released, and OF Jesus Feliciano was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo. Martinez will platoon with .241-hitting Francoeur.
Pelfry Problems
RHP Mike Pelfry, who starts Tuesday for the Mets, was 9-0 with a 2.39 ERA his first 13 starts. He is 1-5 with a 7.44 ERA the last nine, and the Mets are 2-7. Pitching coach Dan Warthen feels Pelfry is tipping pitchers by fluctuations in his arm speed.
From June 30 to July 19, he became the first pitcher since 190- to allow more than 50 base runners while retiring fewer than 50 batters in a four-game stretch.
Aging
Mets 2B Ruben Tejada is third youngest player on a big-league roster.
Player, team Birthdate
SS Starlin Castro, Cubs March 24, 1990
OF Mike Stanton, Marlins Nov. 8, 1989
2B Ruben Tejada, Mets Sept. 1, 1989
Relief In Sight
Francisco Rodriguez is 24-for-29 in saves, and has retired 17 of last 18 batters he has faced. He has four saves of more than an inning, including three five-out saves.
Mets relievers have struggled on the road, but have had success at Citi Field.
Mets relievers are 10-6 with a 2.40 ERA at home, but are 7-17 with a 4.81 ERA on the road. The 17 road losses equal Washington for most in the majors.
Just the Stats
How the Rockies and Mets compare statistically:
Rockies (NL Rank) Stat Mets (NL rank)
537 (2nd) Runs 468 (13th)
.268 (2nd) Avg. .251 (13th)
.341 (2nd) OBP .315 (14th)
122 (4th) HR 88 (13)(
.265 (6th) RISP .262 (8th)
4.18 (11th) ERA 3.81 (5th)
.257 (7th) BAA .265 (11th)
22 (14th Saves 26 (8)
61.0 (13th) Save% 65.9 (10)
4.32 (12th) Rotation ERA 3.91 (6th)
3.90 (8th) Bullpen ERA 3.74 (5th)
Record Book
–Rockies tied National League record using five pitchers in eighth inning of May 18, 1997 game against Mets.
–Mets equaled franchise record with 23 hits against Rockies at Coors Field April 29, 2000. That’s one hit shy of Rockies record for hits allowed.
Age Game
–Mets have tied for seventh oldest team in baseball with Houston, averaging 30.1 years of age. Rockies are tied for 15th with St. Louis at 29 years of age.
In the Beginning
–Rockies first game ever was 3-0 loss to New York Mets at Shea Stadium on April 5, 1993. David Nied suffered the loss. Dwight Gooden earned the win. First run came in Game 2 at Shea Stadium on April 7, 1993 when Dante Bichette homered in the seventh inning.
–Rockies opened Coors Field April 26, 1995 against Mets with an 11-9, 14-inning win thanks to Dante Bichette’s three-run home run. That was the start of the season after the strike that wiped out the 1994 World Series finally ended. Rockies had tied score in bottom of ninth and also the 13th, and then rallied after falling behind 9-8 in top of the 14th. Mark Thompson earned the win. Mike Remlinger suffered the loss. Billy Swift started for Rockies in his debut for team. It was 11th coldest game in Rockies home history. Temp at first pitch was 39.
Ex-Patriots
–Melvin Mora spent two years in Mets organization, signed as a minor-league free agent on July 25, 1998 and then traded in package to Baltimore for SS Mike Bordick on July 20, 2000.
–Mets C Henry Blanco played for Rockies in 1999 hitting .232, 6 HR, 28 RBI in 88 games.
–Mets RH reliever Elmer Dessens was 1-1 with a 7.58 in five 2007 appearances with Rockies.
–Mets hitting coach Howard Johnson hit .211 in 93 games with Rockies in 1994.
Injury Update
(from MLB.com)
| Mets | Date | Status | Due Back | Injury | Notes | |
| Barajas, Rod (C) | 07/28 | 15-day DL | TBD | Strained oblique | Placed on 15-day DL July 26. | |
| Bay, Jason (LF) | 08/06 | 15-day DL | TBD | Concussion | Not close to beginning baseball activities. | |
| Escobar, Kelvim (P) | 06/13 | 60-day DL | 2011 | Shoulder surgery | Transferred to 60-day DL May 21. | |
| Green, Sean (P) | 07/01 | 15-day DL | TBD | Stress fracture in right side | Could begin rehab stint around All-Star break. | |
| Maine, John (P) | 07/24 | 15-day DL | 2011 | Right rotator cuff tendinitis | Had season ending surgery July 23. | |
| Murphy, Daniel (1B) | 06/27 | Out Indefinitely | TBD | MCL tear in right knee | Carted off field in June 2 Minor League game. | |
| Tatis, Fernando (1B) | 07/15 | 60-day DL | TBD | Right shoulder AC joint sprain | Underwent possibly career-ending surgery July 15. | |
