<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1"?>
<rss version="2.0">
	<channel>		<title>RUWT? News</title>
		<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com</link>
		<description>RUWT? News for Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Mets 7/7/2009</description>
		<language>en-us</language>
		<copyright>Copyright 2006-2007 areyouwatchingthis.com</copyright>
		<lastBuildDate>Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:03:39 GMT</lastBuildDate>
		<pubDate>Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:03:39 GMT</pubDate>
		<generator>RUWT?</generator>

		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Ramirez ejects himself, dejects Mets]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By RONALD BLUM
AP Baseball Writer

NEW YORK(AP) -- Fans at Citi Field booed the free-falling New York
Mets even more loudly than they jeered Manny Ramirez - before he
got ejected.

Ramirez drove in three runs with two singles, then was ejected
for throwing equipment following his second called strikeout.
That was the highlight as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat what's
left of the Mets 8-0 Tuesday night.

"It's OK, I was coming out in the fifth inning," Ramirez said
playfully.

With the Dodgers winning a laugher, manager Joe Torre could
smile at that one.

"He told me that, too. I wasn't aware of that before that,"
Torre said. "It was about time to ask him, but I didn't need
to."

Clayton Kershaw (6-5) combined with three relievers on a
four-hitter, pinch-hitter Blake DeWitt hit a seventh-inning
homer off Tim Redding that hit off the front of the second deck
in left field and Los Angeles twice scored with bases-loaded
walks.

New York has lost nine of 11 and gone scoreless in 22
consecutive innings, getting just 10 hits - all singles. Mets
pitchers walked seven against the Dodgers, and New York batters
twice grounded into double plays.

"When you don't hit or hit singles, you're a team that looks
lethargic, and that's what we are right now," New York manager
Jerry Manuel said.

While losing four straight, which includes a weekend sweep in
Philadelphia, the Mets have hit .183, been outscored 21-3 and
struck out 28 times. David Wright went 0 for 3 with a walk and
is hitless in his last 16 at-bats as the Mets have dropped into
fourth place, 4 1/2 games behind the NL East-leading Phillies.

But the focus Tuesday night was on Ramirez.

In his fourth game back following a 50-game drug suspension, he
argued with plate umpire John Hirschbeck after he was called out
in the first, then hit a broken-bat, two-run single with two
outs in the second. He added an opposite-field RBI single to
right in the fourth, and was called out with the bases loaded
and two outs in the fifth. He dropped his bat and threw his
helmet and protective gear.

"I didn't have a problem with the bat and the helmet,"
Hirschbeck said. "The elbow pad, tossing it in the air, that's a
bit far."

Ramirez said the first called strikeout was legit but thought
the ball was outside on the second. He didn't argue the
ejection.

"I didn't want to throw even more fire. I just walked away," he
said.

He is batting .273 (3 for 11) with one homer and four RBIs since
his return. A few fans behind the plate held up signs with
syringes.

"The booing and stuff from the fans, that's something he's used
to, but, you know, all the attention he's gotten since he's come
back," Torre said, "I don't think he's comfortable with that,
and I think it sort of carries over."

While Ramirez received mild boos, fans saved louder ones for the
Mets.

There's no end in sight to the tailspin, which has dropped the
Mets to 39-43. Before the game, general manager Omar Minaya said
center fielder Carlos Beltran and shortstop Jose Reyes won't be
able to return from leg injuries next week after the All-Star
break, and first baseman Carlos Delgado likely won't be back
from hip surgery until mid-August.

By the time the Mets have all of their top sluggers on the
field, it might be too late for New York to salvage its first
season at Citi Field.

New York's offense has largely disappeared since Beltran last
played on June 21. The Mets have gone 5-10 with a .229 average
and scored one run or fewer seven times, including four
shutouts.

Mike Pelfrey (6-4) fell to 2-4 in his last 11 starts, allowing
five runs - four earned - eight hits and three walks in
three-plus innings. He walked Orlando Hudson with the bases
loaded in the second after getting ahead in the count 1-2, then
allowed a broken-bat single to Ramirez.

"It's 100 percent my fault tonight," Pelfrey said.

Kershaw allowed three hits in six innings and struck out seven
before James McDonald, Claudio Vargas and Guillermo Mota
finished for Los Angeles, a major league-best 53-30.

The Mets and Dodgers couldn't look more different.

"You can't come thinking you're going to lose today," New York's
Gary Sheffield said. "One good outing, one swing of the bat can
turn things around."

It's hard to envision that happening soon.

NOTES: Mets OF Fernando Martinez took anti-inflammatories for
his sore right knee. ... New York optioned INF Argenis Reyes to
Triple-A Buffalo to clear a roster spot for LHP Oliver Perez,
who will be activated Wednesday to start against Los Angeles.
... Dodgers rookie reliever Ronald Belisario, who leads the team
with 43 appearances, is going back to Los Angeles for tests on
his painful right elbow.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[mlb]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/mlb/news/105943-Ramirez-ejects-himself-dejects-Mets</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/mlb/news/105943-Ramirez-ejects-himself-dejects-Mets</guid>
				<pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2009 03:29:26 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Dodgers-Mets Preview]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO
STATS Writer

Los Angeles (52-30) at New York (39-42), 7:10 p.m. EDT

Manny Ramirez's return from suspension already has put a major
spotlight on the Los Angeles Dodgers. Playing their next series
in the Big Apple will likely brighten it.

Ramirez and the major league-best Dodgers will try to withstand
that added attention Tuesday night when they open a three-game
set with the struggling New York Mets.

The 12-time All-Star, hitting .333 with seven homers and 21 RBIs
in 30 games, returned to the Dodgers (52-30) over the weekend
and went 1 for 7 with a solo homer to help them win two of three
at San Diego.

While Ramirez received a mixed reaction Friday upon his return
from a 50-game drug suspension, with many Dodger fans having
been in attendance, he'll likely find a much different welcoming
in his first game at Citi Field.

"There's really nothing to prepare you for New York," Dodgers
manager Joe Torre told the team's official Web site. "When he
had his press conference the other day, I said, 'Well, you're
going to have to do this one more time in New York,' and he
said, 'We do?' I said, 'Yeah, you know we do.'

"He's uncomfortable. He's basically a shy person. He's just
uncomfortable, but he's ready for it."

Ramirez will likely start in left field after leg soreness moved
him into a pinch-hitting role Sunday, when James Loney hit a
homer in the 13th to help the Dodgers to a 7-6 victory. Los
Angeles had squandered a six-run, fifth-inning lead, but
improved to a major league-best 18-8 in one-run games.

Los Angeles is 22-8 this year when Ramirez plays.

His bat wasn't missed when these teams met at Dodger Stadium in
mid-May, when Los Angeles pulled off a three-game sweep as its
pitching staff held the Mets (39-42) to six runs.

Clayton Kershaw (5-5, 3.49 ERA) didn't pitch in that series but
he's allowed just two runs in his last four starts - all Dodger
wins - while striking out 26 in 23 2-3 innings.

The left-hander returns to the mound after laboring through five
innings Wednesday, not getting a decision as he gave up one hit
with five strikeouts and five walks in a 1-0 win over Colorado.

"It was a lot of effort involved to get through five innings
(Wednesday)," Kershaw said. "There wasn't an easy out for me.
Just had to battle all the way through, and sometimes when
you're not able to throw strikes consistently, it's going to be
like that."

Kershaw lasted just 3 2-3 innings in his only start against New
York, giving up four runs and five hits in a 9-5 win on May 30,
2008.

The Mets have won only twice in their last 10 games, and are
coming off a three-game sweep to NL East-leading Philadelphia as
they were outscored 13-3 - including 2-0 on Sunday.

David Wright was 0 for 7 in the series and he's 5 for 40 with a
homer and three RBIs over the last 10 games.

"Forget ... try to forget," Wright told the team's official Web
site. "Right now, we're bad. And I'm not helping much."

Despite his slump, Wright has a .326 average and was one of four
Mets named to the NL roster for the All-Star game.

He's hitting .427 with 34 RBIs in 36 games against the Dodgers
after collecting four hits with an RBI in the last series.

The Mets will turn to Mike Pelfrey (6-3, 4.26) hoping he can
build on a stellar performance in Wednesday's 1-0 win at
Milwaukee. The right-hander scattered six hits in 7 2-3 innings
to post only his second victory in 10 starts.

Pelfrey was solid in his only start against Los Angeles on May
31, 2008, allowing two runs and seven hits while not factoring
in the decision of a 3-2 win.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[mlb]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/mlb/news/105780-Dodgers-Mets-Preview</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/mlb/news/105780-Dodgers-Mets-Preview</guid>
				<pubDate>Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:07:15 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
	
			
	</channel>
</rss>









