NY Giants
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The New York Mets look to continue their recent dominance of the Washington Nationals when the teams close out a two-game set on Tuesday at Shea Stadium.
The Mets (17-8) won for the ninth time in the last 10 meetings with the Nationals on Monday, when Endy Chavez scored the winning run in the ninth on a throwing error by Washington reliever Gary Majewski.
Paul Lo Duca hit a grounder to Majewski, but the pitcher threw the ball into center field trying to start a double play to end the inning and Chavez scored from second to win the game 2-1 for New York.
''It was a bad throw. It wasn't even close,'' National manager Frank Robinson said. ''You wonder why we practice, practice, practice. We preach, we preach, we preach -- I do -- take your time, make sure you get one. Give the infielders a good throw. If they can turn two, they will turn two. If they can't, they can't. But they don't have a chance if you don't give them a good throw.''
The win was preserved by New York's bullpen, which has allowed nine runs - six earned - with 60 strikeouts in 46 1-3 innings over 14 games for a 1.17 ERA.
''You hear opposing teams or you hear yourself always saying, 'Get into the bullpen,' but I don't think guys want to get into our bullpen too often,'' Mets outfielder Cliff Floyd said. ''We've got a good one, and we're going to ride 'em 'til the wheels fall off.''
The bullpen may need to be ready early on Tuesday, as John Maine, who turns 25 next Monday, will take the mound for his Mets debut. The right-hander is filling in for Brian Bannister, who is on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring.
''He's having a nice little spring down at Triple-A,'' said Mets manager Willie Randolph of Maine's 1-3 record and 2.63 ERA for Norfolk, including a nine strikeout performance in his last start. ''Right now, we feel like he's the best option for us. We'll bring him up and get him started.''
Maine joined New York with reliever Jorge Julio in an offseason trade with the Baltimore Orioles for starter Kris Benson. He is 2-4 with a 6.60 ERA in 11 career appearances - nine starts - over two seasons with the Orioles.
The Mets have not opened 18-6 or better since 1988, when they started 19-7 en route to an NL East title. They were 13-13 at this point in 2005.
The Nationals give rookie Michael O'Connor (0-1, 0.00 ERA) his second career start in place of the injured John Patterson.
The left-hander was charged with the loss in his major-league debut, when he allowed three runs - none earned - and three hits, including a home run, in five innings of a 6-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday.
Washington has only won one of its last nine games, an 8-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday - also the only game in that span where the Nationals scored more than five runs.
The Nationals have scored a total of just four runs during their current three-game losing skid.
Left fielder Alfonso Soriano, who went 1-for-4 on Monday, is in a 2-for-12 (.167) slump over the last three games.
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The 6-foot-4 3/4, 304-pound offensive tackle was selected late in the fourth round by the New York Giants, less than two hours into the final day of the two-day event.
"Yeah, it is (a relief)," Whimper said. "It's all been a blessing for me."
Whimper watched the draft with his fiancé Alina and 2-year-old daughter Ma'khia before being joined by his family later in the day for a cookout. He was selected with the 129th overall pick by the Giants.
Whimper, who starred at Havelock High School and then at East Carolina University, was the 12th offensive tackle chosen and the third selected in the fourth round. He joins a Giants team that went 11-5 and reached the NFL playoffs before losing 23-0 to the Carolina Panthers in the first round.
"I'm really excited for Guy and his family and his future in the NFL," East Carolina head coach Skip Holtz said in a press release. "He's worked awful hard for this opportunity and I'm confident he'll make the most out of it. We certainly wish him nothing but the best."
Playing offensive tackle is still a new position for Whimper. He spent his first two seasons at East Carolina playing defensive end before moving over to tight end during his junior season. It wasn't until the arrival of Holtz that Whimper found a permanent home at tackle.
"I feel that I have a lot of work to do," Whimper said. "I talked to (head) coach (Tom Coughlin) and he told me - it would take a year or so to mold me. I have to touch up on some of my technique."
In his final season with the Pirates, Whimper finished with 30 knockdown blocks while seeing action on 712 plays.
Whimper said he was disappointed that he didn't go on the first day of the draft, but knew early Sunday morning that he wouldn't have to wait long. He said the Atlanta Falcons called him and said they wanted to pick him in the fifth round, but in the end, the Giants swooped in to pick him in the fourth.
Soon after the announcement, Whimper said he received a text message from former ECU teammate Damane Duckett, who is a defensive tackle for the Giants. Having a friendly face will come in handy for Whimper as he makes the adjustment to professional football.
"It's going to help out a lot," he said. "We were friends in college. When he found out, he sent me a text message, saying, 'I'm going to whup your butt everyday.'"
Whimper also expects to be schooled early by Giants Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Strahan.
"It's a real challenge. Strahan will probably put me on my butt and embarrass me, but it makes me a better player," Whimper said.
Prior to the start of the draft, Whimper's last visit was to the Giants, and he said he came away very impressed with the meeting and liked the coaching staff. Whimper said he was told by the Giants coaches he could evolve into a Pro Bowl tackle in the NFL.
New York focused on defense in the draft, selecting five defenders, including first-round selection Mathias Kiwanuka, a defensive end out of Boston College. Also selected by the Giants were Miami wide receiver Sinorice Moss, Georgia Tech linebacker Gerris Wilkinson, Northwestern defensive tackle Barry Cofield, Alabama safety Charlie Peprah and Maryland cornerback Gerrick McPhearson.
Whimper knew his life was going to change with the draft, and now he's looking forward to the future.
"I was happy (to be drafted by the Giants)," Whimper said. "I've been to New York and I had a good time. I feel like it best suits me."
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In several key categories, the hitters in the Nos. 3-5 slot for the Mets have outperformed those of the cross-town rival Yankees. Let's examine closer.
In the No. 3 spot for the Mets is Carlos Beltran, who is batting .296 with 3 HR and 9 RBI. His OPS is 1.062. Compare that to Gary Sheffield in the third spot for the Yankees with a .256 batting average with 3HR and 9 RBI. His OPS is only .857. Edge: Beltran
Carlos Delgado bats cleanup for the Mets. He currently has a batting average of .394, with 3 HR, 7 RBI and an OPS of 1.187. Alex Rodriguez, who is in the cleanup spot across town, is lagging with a .294 batting average that includes 2 HR, 6 RBI and a .915 OPS. Edge: Delgado
In the five spot for the Mets is David Wright. He appears to be the real deal and is absolutely pounding the ball right now. Wright has a .469 batting average with 3 HR, 12 RBI and an OPS that is just ridiculous at 1.410. Jason Giambi is having a good start as well for the Yankees, but compared to Wright, his numbers leave something to be desired. Giambi comes in with a .308 batting average with 2 HR, 8 RBI, and an OPS of 1.154. Edge: Wright
The pitching stats are rather comparable considering the differences in the National League and the American League. The Mets come in with a team ERA of 2.84, giving up 53 hits in 73 innings pitched. The staff has yielded 27 runs through the first eight games, 23 of which were earned. The Yankees bring a team ERA of 3.72, giving up 75 hits in 77 innings pitched. They yielded 38 runs, 32 of which were earned. The biggest difference in these two pitching staffs is the fact that the Mets have received quality starts from all of their starters thus far (Tom Glavine, Brian Bannister, Pedro Martinez, and Steve Trachsel) while the Yankees have had horrendous starts from Chien-Ming Wang and Shawn Chacon. In four combined starts Wang and Chacon have managed to pitch only 20 innings, giving up 30 hits and 18 runs, 16 of which were earned. Everybody Wang-Chacon tonight!
Of course the most important statistic of them all, and the one the makes Yankees owner George Steinbrenner flip his gasket even in April, is the won/loss record. The Mets are currently 7-1 and the Yankees are 5-4. I imagine Steinbrenner is in no mood to eat calzones with George Costanza right about now.
While these numbers for the Mets have producing victories on the field, if this lineup keeps it up, finding value with this squad will become more difficult. Beltran seems to have bounced back from a frustrating 2005, while Delgado is right at home batting cleanup. Wright's play, however, has been phenomenal. He will quickly become the face of the franchise if his stellar play continues. As the Mets' profile grows, their value at the window shrinks. These are not the "lovable losers" of 1969. As it currently stands, this Mets team is a full-fledged contender and that will translate into tougher betting opportunities as this season unfolds.
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Feagles, 40, had considered retiring after the 2005 season. He decided recently to return to the team after reaching an agreement under which he will be able to see his wife and four children in Arizona during the season, the team said.
Feagles holds the NFL record for career punts and set the league mark for consecutive games played last season when he played his 283rd, breaking the record set by Minnesota's Jim Marshall in the 1960s and '70s.
Last season he averaged 42 yards on 73 punts and put 26 punts inside opponents' 20-yard line, which put him in the top one-third in the league.
In addition to the Giants, Feagles has played for New England, Philadelphia, Arizona and Seattle.
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Ruegamer, a 6-4, 305-pounder, has played in 76 regular season games with 16 starts (14 at center, two at right guard). He has also played in six postseason games with one start.
Ruegamer, a product of Arizona State, just completed a three-year stint in Green Bay. In 2005, he played in 13 games with two starts - the Dec. 5 and Dec. 25 games vs. Chicago, his first career starts at right guard. Ruegamer had his best season in 2004, when he started at center in 11 of the 15 games in which he played after Mike Flanagan suffered a knee injury. His first Packers start was on Oct. 3 against the Giants. He also started the NFC Wild Card Game against Minnesota.
In 2003, his first season in Green Bay, Ruegamer played in 15 games as a reserve and on special teams.
Ruegamer entered the NFL as a third-round draft choice by the Miami Dolphins in 1999 (the 72nd overall choice). As a rookie he was inactive for 15 games and both postseason contests and was active but did not play in one other game.
Ruegamer was waived by Miami on Aug. 26, 2000. He joined the Pittsburgh Steelers' practice squad until Nov. 16 of that year, when he was signed to New England's active roster. Ruegamer made his NFL debut against Cincinnati on Nov. 19 and played in six games that year, primarily on special teams.
In 2001, Ruegamer earned a Super Bowl ring while playing in 14 regular season games with one start and three postseason games. He made his first NFL start at center vs. Indianapolis on Sept. 30. He also played guard and as an extra tight end in short-yardage situations.
The following season, Ruegamer played in 13 games with two starts at center. Ruegamer was signed by the Packers as an unrestricted free agent on April 10, 2003.
Ruegamer was a four-year starter from 1995-98 at Arizona State. As a senior, he was the first-team All-Pac 10 center and was one of the 12 finalists for the Lombardi Award, which is given annually to the nation's best collegiate lineman.
Ruegamer was a three-year letter winner at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas. He was born on June 11, 1976.
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