Sunday, May 28, 2006By Mike Steffanos
Tom Glavine righted the ship yesterday, helping the Mets to avoid their first 3-game losing streak of the season. Now, in Orlando Hernandez' inaugural Mets start, they have a chance to win this series against the Marlins before they head home to face the western division leading Arizona Diamondbacks. Arizona is riding a 5-game winning streak going into this afternoon's game with the Reds, although their only really good starting pitcher is the 8-0 Brandon Webb, who the Mets will face in this series. After a rare Thursday off-day, the Giants, who have been on a roll lately will arrive for a weekend series.
After the weekend, the Mets will depart on a grueling western road swing featuring 3 games in LA, 4 in Arizona, and then 3 in Philadelphia on the way home. The Mets will host the Orioles for 3 games and the Reds for 4 before departing on a long inter-league trip with stops in Toronto, Boston and then ending in Yankee Stadium as June gives way to July. This is as difficult of a month as the Mets will face all season, and will go a long way towards showing if they have what it takes as a legitimate playoff caliber team. They are going to have to play really sound fundamental ball, hit more consistently, and have some starting pitching step up to help out Pedro and Glavine. This is the type of difficult stretch that has buried some previous Mets teams, as the first half of September did in 2005.
By the way, if you missed it, Jeremi Gonzalez will join the Milwaukee Brewers today and will pitch out of the bullpen. I hope that this move works out for him. Good luck.
ESPN: Pedro looking to retire after 2008
Enrique Rojas interviewed Pedro Martinez for ESPN deportes, and quotes the Mets pitcher why he thinks it likely he'll hang it up after his current contract expires after the 2008 season:
I've sacrificed my life, my good years, to baseball. I want to go home while I still have the energy to spend time with my family. Work is good and it dignifies men, but I want to enjoy the fruits of my efforts. I plan to enjoy a nice retirement and a healthy life after baseball.I don't want to leave the game on crutches or in a wheelchair without having dedicated myself to my children and my family.
... I'll most likely retire after this contract, but it'll depend on how I'm feeling at the time, and if I'm feeling then like I am now, my Dominican fans and my family wouldn't forgive me if I don't retire.
Surfing the Mets: Minor League Report
Adam Rubin has his Mets Minor League Report for the week posted on his blog. This one updates us on Phillip Humber, who is progressing in his rehab from Tommy John surgery.
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