April 06, 2008

Home games: Mets last Shea home opener vs. Phillies

NewYorkology contributor Scott Ross keeps you abreast of upcoming Mets and Yankees home games in New York City. Ross toils in anonymity for a giant online news aggregator. Here's your look at major league baseball in New York City this week:

Like their cross-town counterparts, the Mets will be bidding adieu to their old home following the 2008 season and are hoping to wash the taste of 2007 out of their mouths. In an effort to do so, General Manager Omar Minaya emptied his piggy bank to trade for and sign Johan Santana – arguably the best pitcher in baseball – to lead his staff. The addition of Santana should make the Mets the best team in the National League, even with the popped hamstring Pedro Martinez suffered on April 1. The Mets led the NL East almost all of last season with only a minimal contribution from Martinez and this year should be no different.

They also traded away the once untouchable prospect Lasting Milledge to the Washington Nationals in return for Brian Schneider and Ryan Church. This, coupled with their decision not to re-sign Paul LoDuca suggests that maybe they were trying to get rid of some headaches while causing as little damage as possible to the team. Between Milledges’ rap career and LoDuca’s extramarital shenanigans, the team spent a lot of time talking about things not baseball related. Of course bringing in Church immediately set tongues wagging about his alleged anti-Semitism … so what’re ya gonna do?

The biggest question mark hanging over the team right now is the health of Moises Alou, who had hernia surgery last month and isn’t expected back for at least a few more weeks. Of course, Alou missed 75 games last season and 64 the year before that, so this comes as no great surprise.

In David Wright, Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes and Johan Santana the Mets have four of the 20 best players in the (decidedly weak) National League. That should be enough to hold off the overachieving Phillies and the up-and-coming Braves and secure the NL East. (Now if only they had a couple more young arms to go along with the talent they already have, they could be a serious powerhouse.)

Game of the week: Fittingly, the Phillies, who came from seven games back in September to overtake the Mets on the last day of the regular season, come to town for the final home opener at Shea Stadium on Tuesday. Unfortunately, the rotations don’t line up to offer anything promising. Instead, on Friday you can catch the Santana – who thus far has been as advertised – square off against newcomer Manny Parra. That’s unless you’d like to see a competitive game, in which case you should check out Oliver Perez going up against Ben Sheets. Which Perez shows up is anybody’s guess. Will it be the guy who went 7-6 with a 3.14 ERA before the All Star break or the one who went 8-4 with a 4.04 afterwards?

Tickets to Mets games can be purchased here, while directions for getting to and around the stadium are also available. (The New York Water Taxi will not be running the Mets Express to Shea during the 2008 season.)

Philadelphia Phillies
Tuesday 1:10 Perez (1 – 0, 0.00) vs. Moyer (0 – 0, 7.36), Magnetic Schedule Day
Wednesday 7:10 Pelfrey (NA) vs. Kendrick (1 – 0, 7.20)
Thursday 7:10 Nelson Figueroa (0 -0, 0.00) vs Adam Eaton (NA), Rally Towel Night

Milwaukee Brewers
Friday 7:10 Santana (1 – 0, 2.57) vs. Manny Parra (NA)
Saturday 1:10 Maine (NA) vs Carlos Villanueva (1 – 0, 3.38), Citi Field Cap Day
Sunday 1:10 Perez (1 – 0, 0.00) vs Ben Sheets (0 – 0, 0.00)

If none of these appeal to you, the Yankees-Rays grudgefest continues Monday as Mike Mussina (0-1, 4.76) goes up against James Shields (1-0, 2.57). The Bombers then hit the road to face the white hot Kansas City Royals and the defending champion Boston Red Sox.

Correction: This entry has been changed to state the Mets home opener will take place Tuesday (not Monday.)

Earlier: Home games: Yankees open final season at Ruth's
Ticket-buying tips for final season at Shea Stadium

April 6, 2008 11:33 AM in Kids, Out of Manhattan, Sports

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