Baseball Guru
05-12-2003, 11:05 AM
Game Info:
9:05 pm EDT Mon May 12, 2003
TV: FSNY, KTVD
May 12, 2003
After getting booed for six straight games at home, Roger Cedeno hopes to get some peace on the road when the New York Mets visit the Colorado Rockies for the opener of a three-game series.
Cedeno has been a main target for frustrated Mets fans, who see him as a reason their team is in last place in the NL East. However, the outfielder did his best to turn the boos into cheers on Sunday when he tripled and scored the winning run in the eighth inning of New York's 3-2 win over San Diego.
``I can't control the fans. They're going to boo us,'' Cedeno said. ``You kind of get used to it after a while.''
While Cedeno comes in hitting just .242, he has been hot over the last 11 games, with 12 hits in 32 at bats (.375). The Mets are hoping he starts playing like he did back in 1999 during his first tour of duty in New York, when he hit a career-high .313 and set a team record with 66 stolen bases.
``You can't lose your confidence. I just try to stay positive and not think about the negative things,'' Cedeno said. ``When things go bad, you just try to do your best.''
The Rockies, meanwhile, are coming into this series slumping, after posting a 2-7 record on their just completed road trip. Colorado lost two of three in its weekend series at Florida, including a 7-2 defeat on Sunday.
Preston Wilson was one of the few bright spots on the trip for the Rockies, going 13-for-33 (.394) with four homers and 12 RBIs. Wilson, a former Marlin, was 6-for-12 (.500) with two homers and six RBIs in the series against Florida.
``It doesn't matter where you are,'' Wilson said. ``Going home doesn't mean it's going to get any easier. You have to execute, throw strikes and get hits with runners in scoring position. If you don't do those things, it doesn't matter where you play.''
The Rockies are returning home for seven games at Coors, where they have won 11 of 15 this season.
STANDINGS: Mets - 5th place, 8 1/2 GB, NL East. Rockies - 3rd place, 9 GB, NL West.
METS PROBABLE STARTER: Steve Trachsel (0-2, 4.95 ERA). Trachsel pitched well against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, but finished on the short end of a 2-1 decision. The veteran right-hander allowed just two runs and five hits over seven innings, while striking out four and walking two. The Mets are 1-6 in games he has started this season. Trachsel is 6-6 with a 4.84 ERA lifetime against the Rockies.
ROCKIES PROBABLE STARTER: Jason Young (0-0, 0.00 ERA). After an injury to Nelson Cruz caused the Rockies to shuffle their rotation, Young has been called up to make his first career start. At Triple-A Colorado Springs, he was 3-1 with a 3.82 ERA. Young will likely be sent back down after Monday's game.
OFFENSIVE LEADERS: Mets - Mike Piazza, .292 avg.; Tony Clark, 6 HRs; Cliff Floyd, 17 RBIs; Ty Wigginton, 19 runs; Roberto Alomar, 4 SBs. Rockies - Jay Payton, .338 avg.; Wilson, 9 HRs, 36 RBIs and 5 SBs.; Todd Helton, 34 runs.
2002 SEASON SERIES: Tied, 3-3.
STREAKS AND NOTES: Mets - The Mets put RHP Scott Strickland on the 15-day disabled list on Sunday with a strained right groin. LHP Jaime Cerda was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk. ... RHP Armando Benitez got his 150th save with the Mets on Sunday. He has converted six straight opportunities since blowing four of his first nine. ... RHP David Cone gave up one run and five hits over four innings Saturday in his first rehabilitation start for Class A St. Lucie. Rockies - RHP Dan Miceli was designated for assignment to make room for RHP Young. ... Colorado pitchers have a 5.21 ERA at home compared with a 5.71 mark on the road. ... OF Larry Walker is 10-for-17 (.588) with two homers and three RBIs lifetime against RHP Trachsel.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Mets - 5-11 on the road; Rockies - 11-4 at home.
INJURIES: Mets - 1B Mo Vaughn (4-3, 4.46 ERA), 15-day DL; OF Jeromy Burnitz (hand), 15-day DL; RHP Cone (hip), 15-day DL; LHP John Franco (elbow), 15-day DL; RHP Grant Roberts (shoulder), 15-day DL; RHP Strickland (groin), 15-day DL. Rockies - LHP Denny Neagle (elbow), 15-day DL; RHP Denny Stark (side), 60-day DL; INF Pablo Ozuna (knee), 60-day DL; INF Juan Uribe (foot), 60-day DL; OF Chris Richard (hamstring), 60-day DL.
9:05 pm EDT Mon May 12, 2003
TV: FSNY, KTVD
May 12, 2003
After getting booed for six straight games at home, Roger Cedeno hopes to get some peace on the road when the New York Mets visit the Colorado Rockies for the opener of a three-game series.
Cedeno has been a main target for frustrated Mets fans, who see him as a reason their team is in last place in the NL East. However, the outfielder did his best to turn the boos into cheers on Sunday when he tripled and scored the winning run in the eighth inning of New York's 3-2 win over San Diego.
``I can't control the fans. They're going to boo us,'' Cedeno said. ``You kind of get used to it after a while.''
While Cedeno comes in hitting just .242, he has been hot over the last 11 games, with 12 hits in 32 at bats (.375). The Mets are hoping he starts playing like he did back in 1999 during his first tour of duty in New York, when he hit a career-high .313 and set a team record with 66 stolen bases.
``You can't lose your confidence. I just try to stay positive and not think about the negative things,'' Cedeno said. ``When things go bad, you just try to do your best.''
The Rockies, meanwhile, are coming into this series slumping, after posting a 2-7 record on their just completed road trip. Colorado lost two of three in its weekend series at Florida, including a 7-2 defeat on Sunday.
Preston Wilson was one of the few bright spots on the trip for the Rockies, going 13-for-33 (.394) with four homers and 12 RBIs. Wilson, a former Marlin, was 6-for-12 (.500) with two homers and six RBIs in the series against Florida.
``It doesn't matter where you are,'' Wilson said. ``Going home doesn't mean it's going to get any easier. You have to execute, throw strikes and get hits with runners in scoring position. If you don't do those things, it doesn't matter where you play.''
The Rockies are returning home for seven games at Coors, where they have won 11 of 15 this season.
STANDINGS: Mets - 5th place, 8 1/2 GB, NL East. Rockies - 3rd place, 9 GB, NL West.
METS PROBABLE STARTER: Steve Trachsel (0-2, 4.95 ERA). Trachsel pitched well against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, but finished on the short end of a 2-1 decision. The veteran right-hander allowed just two runs and five hits over seven innings, while striking out four and walking two. The Mets are 1-6 in games he has started this season. Trachsel is 6-6 with a 4.84 ERA lifetime against the Rockies.
ROCKIES PROBABLE STARTER: Jason Young (0-0, 0.00 ERA). After an injury to Nelson Cruz caused the Rockies to shuffle their rotation, Young has been called up to make his first career start. At Triple-A Colorado Springs, he was 3-1 with a 3.82 ERA. Young will likely be sent back down after Monday's game.
OFFENSIVE LEADERS: Mets - Mike Piazza, .292 avg.; Tony Clark, 6 HRs; Cliff Floyd, 17 RBIs; Ty Wigginton, 19 runs; Roberto Alomar, 4 SBs. Rockies - Jay Payton, .338 avg.; Wilson, 9 HRs, 36 RBIs and 5 SBs.; Todd Helton, 34 runs.
2002 SEASON SERIES: Tied, 3-3.
STREAKS AND NOTES: Mets - The Mets put RHP Scott Strickland on the 15-day disabled list on Sunday with a strained right groin. LHP Jaime Cerda was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk. ... RHP Armando Benitez got his 150th save with the Mets on Sunday. He has converted six straight opportunities since blowing four of his first nine. ... RHP David Cone gave up one run and five hits over four innings Saturday in his first rehabilitation start for Class A St. Lucie. Rockies - RHP Dan Miceli was designated for assignment to make room for RHP Young. ... Colorado pitchers have a 5.21 ERA at home compared with a 5.71 mark on the road. ... OF Larry Walker is 10-for-17 (.588) with two homers and three RBIs lifetime against RHP Trachsel.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Mets - 5-11 on the road; Rockies - 11-4 at home.
INJURIES: Mets - 1B Mo Vaughn (4-3, 4.46 ERA), 15-day DL; OF Jeromy Burnitz (hand), 15-day DL; RHP Cone (hip), 15-day DL; LHP John Franco (elbow), 15-day DL; RHP Grant Roberts (shoulder), 15-day DL; RHP Strickland (groin), 15-day DL. Rockies - LHP Denny Neagle (elbow), 15-day DL; RHP Denny Stark (side), 60-day DL; INF Pablo Ozuna (knee), 60-day DL; INF Juan Uribe (foot), 60-day DL; OF Chris Richard (hamstring), 60-day DL.