Hello everyone. I hope you enjoyed opening day as much as I did. Johan Santana, with a little help from David Wright, has sent the Mets down the path to a new season full of hopes and dreams.
Santana was all that we as fans had been hoping for. He was a stud Ace on the mound and gave the Marlins little reason to believe they were ever in the game. 7 innings, 3 hits, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts, and only 2 runs. His only mistake was a hanging change-up to Willingham that was promptly parked in the left field seats. But, I doubt anyone would complain about the 1st of many victories that Johan will bring to the Mets. His fastball was hitting between 90-94 mph, and I saw a change-up as low as 78. That's nasty. He also mixed in a good slider and pitched to both sides of the plate. All in all, I'll take starts like that any time he walks to the mound.
Johan wasn't the only star of the day. David Wright has picked up where he left off in 2007. He had 2 doubles and drove in 3 runs in the 4th inning to break open the game. He now has a 18 game hitting streak dating to last season, and seems to be comfortable at the plate already. I see a possible MVP season for him this year. Ryan Church was also good today. He saved an out with a nifty move to aviod a tag at 1st, and had a RBI single against a left handed pitcher. He also drove a ball deep to right field, and had a hit robbed from him on a great stop by Rameriz. I think he gets a bad rap about hitting lefties. Let's hope today is a sign of things to come with him. Reyes was good also. He had a couple of hits and kept his swing level. No pop-ups to the outfield for him. Beltran had 2 doubles and Castillo got on base 3 times today.
And lastly today, the bull-pen picked up where Johan left off. They struck out 3 batters and only gave up 2 hits. It was nice to see Willie keep Wagner out of the game. There are enough good arms in the pen to cover 2 innings in a non-save situation. Hopefully Billy will be used only in save situations this year. On non-save nights, the rest of the pen can hold down the fort for 2 innings a night. I think Heilman and Sosa will prove really effective at closing out games in those situations. They both have great change-ups and Sosa's slider and Arron's fastball are deadly to hitters. If Willie follows that pattern, Wagner shouldn't be tired or hurt when needed in the fall.
It was an all around good game by the Mets. Good pitching, timely hitting, good baserunning, and effective defense. If those things continue, we'll all be enjoying a banner season as Mets Fans.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
Omar and Willie strike again
Once again in their infinite wisdom, Omar and Willie have discarded a perfectly good young player in favor of an old worn out has been names Tatis. I hope he can at least hit his weight.
If you haven't heard by now Willie and Omar had something against Ruben Gotay. This has been talked about by others in the media, and their treatment of him is baffling. In one breath they praise him, and the next they kick him to the curb. And to make matters even worse, the Braves picked Gotay off the Waiver wire. So now there are 3 former Mets players [Lo Duca, Milledge, Gotay] on 2 different division rivals with points to prove. Why do I have a feeling that Gotay will be playing for the Braves next week when the Mets come to town? I bet he's got a huge axe to grind on Willie's forehead. The way Willie and Omar treated him caused Gotay to actually cry after finding out he hasn't wanted. How can a young guy who led the team in pinch hits not have a place on the team?
Regardless of what Guinness says, Gotay wasn't a defensive liability. He always worked hard and was a good bat off the bench. He would never have been as good as Castillo or Reyes, but he wouldn't be any worse than Easley backing up the infield positions. Remember, both his knees are good, and he doesn't bounce throws to 1st base like Reyes. Even the guys on all the SNY shows were wondering what this was all about. It's just another example of Omar and Willie putting their personal feelings before the teams needs.
The 1st and most glaring example of this is their handling of the 5th spot in the rotation. How is Pelfrey ever going to succeed and gain confidence when his bosses have no confidence in him? As soon as Hernandez came to camp hurt, and was unable to pitch, he should not have been even considered for the rotation. Why does an old, broken down, over the hill, has been get a free ticket to the rotation? But then again, Omar and Willie were thinking of getting Livan in NY instead of Santana. As soon as Hernandez had to change his delivery, they should have named Pelfrey the starter. If you remember, when there was nothing said about the 5th spot, and El Duque wasn't throwing, Mike was mowing the batters down like crazy. As soon as Omar started running his mouth saying Duque was a starter, Mike started pitching worse. How many times can someone have their heart stomped on by management before they start quiting on the team? How long before they start wondering if they would get out of the minors quicker with another team? How long before they start hoping for a trade to a team that actually wants them to pitch? Want examples? Bell, Bannister, Ring, Linsicum, Owens, ect.
Now we can add Gotay to the list of P.O.'d ex-players who will come back to bite the Mets. Just wait and see what happens this year. Somehow I doubt it will be pretty.
If you haven't heard by now Willie and Omar had something against Ruben Gotay. This has been talked about by others in the media, and their treatment of him is baffling. In one breath they praise him, and the next they kick him to the curb. And to make matters even worse, the Braves picked Gotay off the Waiver wire. So now there are 3 former Mets players [Lo Duca, Milledge, Gotay] on 2 different division rivals with points to prove. Why do I have a feeling that Gotay will be playing for the Braves next week when the Mets come to town? I bet he's got a huge axe to grind on Willie's forehead. The way Willie and Omar treated him caused Gotay to actually cry after finding out he hasn't wanted. How can a young guy who led the team in pinch hits not have a place on the team?
Regardless of what Guinness says, Gotay wasn't a defensive liability. He always worked hard and was a good bat off the bench. He would never have been as good as Castillo or Reyes, but he wouldn't be any worse than Easley backing up the infield positions. Remember, both his knees are good, and he doesn't bounce throws to 1st base like Reyes. Even the guys on all the SNY shows were wondering what this was all about. It's just another example of Omar and Willie putting their personal feelings before the teams needs.
The 1st and most glaring example of this is their handling of the 5th spot in the rotation. How is Pelfrey ever going to succeed and gain confidence when his bosses have no confidence in him? As soon as Hernandez came to camp hurt, and was unable to pitch, he should not have been even considered for the rotation. Why does an old, broken down, over the hill, has been get a free ticket to the rotation? But then again, Omar and Willie were thinking of getting Livan in NY instead of Santana. As soon as Hernandez had to change his delivery, they should have named Pelfrey the starter. If you remember, when there was nothing said about the 5th spot, and El Duque wasn't throwing, Mike was mowing the batters down like crazy. As soon as Omar started running his mouth saying Duque was a starter, Mike started pitching worse. How many times can someone have their heart stomped on by management before they start quiting on the team? How long before they start wondering if they would get out of the minors quicker with another team? How long before they start hoping for a trade to a team that actually wants them to pitch? Want examples? Bell, Bannister, Ring, Linsicum, Owens, ect.
Now we can add Gotay to the list of P.O.'d ex-players who will come back to bite the Mets. Just wait and see what happens this year. Somehow I doubt it will be pretty.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Gary Cooper is packing the Heat and Slinging hot lead.
Last summer I starting comparing John Maine to Gary Cooper in the movie High Noon. Like Gary Cooper, John is quiet and unassuming while going about his job. But he also shows no fear, and isn't afraid to challenge people when the need arises. At times last year when no one else wanted to pick the team up, John would go out and face the bad guys alone and put them in their graves. Well, he's back this spring and he looks even nastier. And he's packing a fastball that doesn't quit.
I've always like John since his call up in July of '06. I frequently catch flax from e-mailers to the local sports talk radio program because of my praise of his efforts and results. But there's no denying his talent and heart. He has been the best pitcher this spring, and is almost unhittable. He's been even better than Santana and Pedro. His fastball has been in the mid 90's and his slider and change-up have improved greatly from last year. In 6 games this spring, John has pitched 25.1 innings, given up 5 runs, 17 hits, 5 walks, and has 28 strikeouts. And most of those hits and runs came in his 1st start. After today's game, his ERA is a tiny 1.78. He should have 1 more start before the season opener, but he's already pitching like it's mid-season. I don't care what anyone says, John is poised to become the Mets version of Josh Beckett. At this point in his career, John is actually a better pitcher than Josh was. The only thing lacking is a World Series MVP and Ring. As long as John Stays healthy, he'll be a force in the league for years to come.
The Mets would be wise to sign him this off season to a long term [5 year] contract. I believe he'll be pushing Johan all season for the most wins and the most strikeouts. Although I believe Johan will win out in the end, it should be fun to see them go back and forth all season. Pedro may be the #2 starter, but in all reality John is the second best pitcher on the staff. Although Willie has set the rotation as Johan #1, Pedro #2, Perez #3, Maine #4, and someone besides El' Duque as the #5, It more to do with balancing the rotation then setting it by merit. I'm itching for the season to start, and can't wait to see John get the national recognition he deserves.
Now I know Guinness may not agree with me on some of my statements regarding John, but what about the rest of you? Am I out in left field, or is Gary Cooper ready to prove me right?
I've always like John since his call up in July of '06. I frequently catch flax from e-mailers to the local sports talk radio program because of my praise of his efforts and results. But there's no denying his talent and heart. He has been the best pitcher this spring, and is almost unhittable. He's been even better than Santana and Pedro. His fastball has been in the mid 90's and his slider and change-up have improved greatly from last year. In 6 games this spring, John has pitched 25.1 innings, given up 5 runs, 17 hits, 5 walks, and has 28 strikeouts. And most of those hits and runs came in his 1st start. After today's game, his ERA is a tiny 1.78. He should have 1 more start before the season opener, but he's already pitching like it's mid-season. I don't care what anyone says, John is poised to become the Mets version of Josh Beckett. At this point in his career, John is actually a better pitcher than Josh was. The only thing lacking is a World Series MVP and Ring. As long as John Stays healthy, he'll be a force in the league for years to come.
The Mets would be wise to sign him this off season to a long term [5 year] contract. I believe he'll be pushing Johan all season for the most wins and the most strikeouts. Although I believe Johan will win out in the end, it should be fun to see them go back and forth all season. Pedro may be the #2 starter, but in all reality John is the second best pitcher on the staff. Although Willie has set the rotation as Johan #1, Pedro #2, Perez #3, Maine #4, and someone besides El' Duque as the #5, It more to do with balancing the rotation then setting it by merit. I'm itching for the season to start, and can't wait to see John get the national recognition he deserves.
Now I know Guinness may not agree with me on some of my statements regarding John, but what about the rest of you? Am I out in left field, or is Gary Cooper ready to prove me right?
Monday, March 17, 2008
A positive outlook on the spring so far.
Hello everyone. I hope you are all weathering this Mets spring training soap-opera. Everyday it's another twist in the tale of the hard luck Mets. But isn't that why we're Mets fans? Life is never easy being a Mets fan, and sometimes it's hard to have a rosy outlook on the season. Just when you think things are getting better, something bizarre happens again. Just ask Delgado and Castro, and Valentin.
I've managed to see quite a few of the spring training games and there is hope for the future of the team despite the syncs and critics. Many of the young minor league players are pulling their weight and showing they have skills too. Molina has proven to be a good catcher in a fill in role, and Cancel is also impressing. What was thought to be a gutted minor league system has a few gems hiding in the weeds. Pagan and Clark are impressive at the plate and the field. While not youngsters, they have a knack of making plays and getting on base. Somehow Alou's vacation doesn't seem so troublesome now. I believe both would be capable of holding down the outfield positions if needed. The think the lack of a right handed bat off the bench, and a backup for Delgado are the 2 biggest concerns about the offense this spring.
I'm also impressed by some of the pitchers that were brought into camp this year. What was often thought of as a weakness for the team, has the makings of a strength. There seems to be TOO MANY good arms for too few spots in the pen. Wise is looking good and should give Willie an option if Heilman needs a day off. Figeroa is looking as if he's going to win the long relief spot in the pen. Register, Stokes, Padillia, Smith, Kuntz, Sanchez, Sosa, Schoeneweis, Wise, Feliciano, Figeroa, and Heilman have all pitched well this spring. I see a trade in the making because of the extra arms in the pen. Wise, Heilman, Feliciano, Wagner, Register, Sosa, Schoeneweis and Sanchez all deserve spots. But, Register is a rule 5 drafty. Meaning, the Mets need to keep him on the roster, or send him back to Colorado. Wise is guaranteed $750,000 if he doesn't make the team. And that creates a problem. Too many arms for too few places. If the Mets could work out a trade for someone like Nady for Sosa and Schoeneweis, that would fix the outfield for the next few years, and make room for some younger arms in the pen. Wishful thinking I bet.
Starting pitching doesn't have as many issues to figure out. Wondering if El' Duque will ever pitch this spring seems to be the biggest question.
Personally, I want Pelfrey in the 5th spot. Mike has shown growth from last year, and he's young. He's more likely to give you 30-35 starts than Hernandez. With El' Duque, you're looking at 25 at best. And you never know until game time if he's going to pitch. Remember 2006? The day before the Dodger's series, he pulls a muscle. If he can't give you at least 160 innings, he shouldn't be in the rotation.
As far as the rest of the starters, can we say multiple 20 game winners? I'm going on record here and now that Santana and Maine will both win 20 games. Johan has shown he's comfortable in NY and has changed the mindset of the team. He gave up 4 runs in his last outing, but the defense didn't do him any favors either. John Maine is becoming a stud before our eyes. I've liked him from the time he came up in '06. Don't let that quiet demeanor fool you. He's downright nasty this spring. He's fine tuning his change-up and blowing fastballs by the hitters with regularity. Add in his slider, and John will become a star player on this team. Look for him to get that All-Star selection he was due last year. Pedro pitched well Sunday and shows no signs of his arm being an issue. I see 30+ starts for him this year and 15+ wins also. How cool would it be to have him also get 20 wins again? And Ollie has finally woke up this spring. After 2 awful starts, he's starting to show his dominance again. He pitched well today, and well in his previous start. The thing I've noticed is the lack of walks in the last 2 outings. That's the key for Perez. Keep the ball down, and don't get wild and fill the bases with free passes. As long as the pen doesn't get abused this year, I think 80+ wins from the starters is not a crazy goal.
Now all we need is a healthy team behind the pitchers and we can have a season to remember.
I've managed to see quite a few of the spring training games and there is hope for the future of the team despite the syncs and critics. Many of the young minor league players are pulling their weight and showing they have skills too. Molina has proven to be a good catcher in a fill in role, and Cancel is also impressing. What was thought to be a gutted minor league system has a few gems hiding in the weeds. Pagan and Clark are impressive at the plate and the field. While not youngsters, they have a knack of making plays and getting on base. Somehow Alou's vacation doesn't seem so troublesome now. I believe both would be capable of holding down the outfield positions if needed. The think the lack of a right handed bat off the bench, and a backup for Delgado are the 2 biggest concerns about the offense this spring.
I'm also impressed by some of the pitchers that were brought into camp this year. What was often thought of as a weakness for the team, has the makings of a strength. There seems to be TOO MANY good arms for too few spots in the pen. Wise is looking good and should give Willie an option if Heilman needs a day off. Figeroa is looking as if he's going to win the long relief spot in the pen. Register, Stokes, Padillia, Smith, Kuntz, Sanchez, Sosa, Schoeneweis, Wise, Feliciano, Figeroa, and Heilman have all pitched well this spring. I see a trade in the making because of the extra arms in the pen. Wise, Heilman, Feliciano, Wagner, Register, Sosa, Schoeneweis and Sanchez all deserve spots. But, Register is a rule 5 drafty. Meaning, the Mets need to keep him on the roster, or send him back to Colorado. Wise is guaranteed $750,000 if he doesn't make the team. And that creates a problem. Too many arms for too few places. If the Mets could work out a trade for someone like Nady for Sosa and Schoeneweis, that would fix the outfield for the next few years, and make room for some younger arms in the pen. Wishful thinking I bet.
Starting pitching doesn't have as many issues to figure out. Wondering if El' Duque will ever pitch this spring seems to be the biggest question.
Personally, I want Pelfrey in the 5th spot. Mike has shown growth from last year, and he's young. He's more likely to give you 30-35 starts than Hernandez. With El' Duque, you're looking at 25 at best. And you never know until game time if he's going to pitch. Remember 2006? The day before the Dodger's series, he pulls a muscle. If he can't give you at least 160 innings, he shouldn't be in the rotation.
As far as the rest of the starters, can we say multiple 20 game winners? I'm going on record here and now that Santana and Maine will both win 20 games. Johan has shown he's comfortable in NY and has changed the mindset of the team. He gave up 4 runs in his last outing, but the defense didn't do him any favors either. John Maine is becoming a stud before our eyes. I've liked him from the time he came up in '06. Don't let that quiet demeanor fool you. He's downright nasty this spring. He's fine tuning his change-up and blowing fastballs by the hitters with regularity. Add in his slider, and John will become a star player on this team. Look for him to get that All-Star selection he was due last year. Pedro pitched well Sunday and shows no signs of his arm being an issue. I see 30+ starts for him this year and 15+ wins also. How cool would it be to have him also get 20 wins again? And Ollie has finally woke up this spring. After 2 awful starts, he's starting to show his dominance again. He pitched well today, and well in his previous start. The thing I've noticed is the lack of walks in the last 2 outings. That's the key for Perez. Keep the ball down, and don't get wild and fill the bases with free passes. As long as the pen doesn't get abused this year, I think 80+ wins from the starters is not a crazy goal.
Now all we need is a healthy team behind the pitchers and we can have a season to remember.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
The Bandaid Brigade
Well, it's been a troubling and exciting spring to be sure. And I hope it becomes easier on the nerves sooner than later.
If you want to know the troubling aspects of this spring, just look for the First Aid workers. The Mets are working overtime to keep the Medical profession in the black. In case you've been asleep for the last six months here's some of the casualties this off- season and spring training.
Gotay- Sprained ankle
Delgado- hip impingement
Church- concussion
Marlon Anderson- Bruised chest and sore jaw
Jose Reyes- bruised Leg/knee
Valentine- ACL replacement surgery
Beltran- 2 Knees cleaned out
Castillo- 2 knees cleaned out
Abreu- strained hip-flexor
Schneider- sore hamstring
Chavez- pulled hamstring
El' Duque- foot
And I probably missed a few other injuries. This is a perfect reason why you need depth and youth on the team. Young players tend to heal faster, and when older players get hurt, someone needs to be there to pick up the pieces. Alou' is almost as fragile as El' Duque, and El'Duque hasn't even thrown batting practice yet. This also proves my point that Alou' shouldn't be asked back next year unless it's on the cheap and as a bench/platoon player. And El' Duque has shown his true colors this spring. He's too sore to pitch, but refuses to go to the pen. Talk about being a team player. If he's not careful, he'll be in New Orleans in April & May while Pelfrey pitches in NYC. Even Willie is getting tied of all the excuses for not pitching.
That brings me to the pitching this spring. What a difference a year makes. This year, there is a surplus of talented arms fighting for a spot or two on the staff.
Pelfrey gets my vote as the 5th starter. He's pitched 5 innings and hasn't given up a run so far. And he's been going against the starters on the opposing teams, not the scrubs. I'd rather have him out there every 5th day, then wonder if El' Duque is going to make his scheduled start.
Maine was very good today in his 2nd start. 3 innings, 3 strikeouts, and 1 run allowed. He seems like he's getting into game shape and should be impressive this year.
Santana was roughed up in his 1st start, but he seemed to be fine in the 2nd inning. He was working on his fastball location in the 1st inning, and gave up a 3 run HR to Juan Gonzales. Juan seems to own Johan. But, when Johan mixed in his change-up and slider in the 2nd inning, things calmed down.
Perez seemed OK, but he's like the other pitchers this spring. The 1st time out, they worry about location, not runs allowed. His 2nd outing will give us a better idea of the possibilities for Ollie this year.
Pedro has yet to pitch in a game this spring. Unlike El' Duque, Pedro's thrown live BP and in the pen. He claims to be 100% healthy and ready to go. Here's hoping for 180-200 innings from Pedro this year.
What's really been impressive this spring is the minor league, newly signed, and non-roster pitchers. They are smoking the hitters and showing that maybe the cupboard on the farm isn't so bare. Niese, Kunz, Padilla, Figueroa, Rincon, Register, Stokes, Collazo, and Muniz are all showing they may be useful this year. As a matter of fact, Sosa and Schoeneweis are being shopped to other teams.
Wise has pitched well too, and should take some of the load off Heilman this summer. Wagner is rounding into shape and is even messing around with throwing a curve-ball. I heard him say this week that Santana is a big help in keeping Billy's arm action consistent. Johan and Billy both throw from the left, and have a similar arm angle. Maybe this will help keep Billy from slipping into a bad habit later in the year.
What do all of you think about this spring? Should Pelfrey be the 5th starter? Who will be traded? Who will make the bull-pen? Let us know.
If you want to know the troubling aspects of this spring, just look for the First Aid workers. The Mets are working overtime to keep the Medical profession in the black. In case you've been asleep for the last six months here's some of the casualties this off- season and spring training.
Gotay- Sprained ankle
Delgado- hip impingement
Church- concussion
Marlon Anderson- Bruised chest and sore jaw
Jose Reyes- bruised Leg/knee
Valentine- ACL replacement surgery
Beltran- 2 Knees cleaned out
Castillo- 2 knees cleaned out
Abreu- strained hip-flexor
Schneider- sore hamstring
Chavez- pulled hamstring
El' Duque- foot
And I probably missed a few other injuries. This is a perfect reason why you need depth and youth on the team. Young players tend to heal faster, and when older players get hurt, someone needs to be there to pick up the pieces. Alou' is almost as fragile as El' Duque, and El'Duque hasn't even thrown batting practice yet. This also proves my point that Alou' shouldn't be asked back next year unless it's on the cheap and as a bench/platoon player. And El' Duque has shown his true colors this spring. He's too sore to pitch, but refuses to go to the pen. Talk about being a team player. If he's not careful, he'll be in New Orleans in April & May while Pelfrey pitches in NYC. Even Willie is getting tied of all the excuses for not pitching.
That brings me to the pitching this spring. What a difference a year makes. This year, there is a surplus of talented arms fighting for a spot or two on the staff.
Pelfrey gets my vote as the 5th starter. He's pitched 5 innings and hasn't given up a run so far. And he's been going against the starters on the opposing teams, not the scrubs. I'd rather have him out there every 5th day, then wonder if El' Duque is going to make his scheduled start.
Maine was very good today in his 2nd start. 3 innings, 3 strikeouts, and 1 run allowed. He seems like he's getting into game shape and should be impressive this year.
Santana was roughed up in his 1st start, but he seemed to be fine in the 2nd inning. He was working on his fastball location in the 1st inning, and gave up a 3 run HR to Juan Gonzales. Juan seems to own Johan. But, when Johan mixed in his change-up and slider in the 2nd inning, things calmed down.
Perez seemed OK, but he's like the other pitchers this spring. The 1st time out, they worry about location, not runs allowed. His 2nd outing will give us a better idea of the possibilities for Ollie this year.
Pedro has yet to pitch in a game this spring. Unlike El' Duque, Pedro's thrown live BP and in the pen. He claims to be 100% healthy and ready to go. Here's hoping for 180-200 innings from Pedro this year.
What's really been impressive this spring is the minor league, newly signed, and non-roster pitchers. They are smoking the hitters and showing that maybe the cupboard on the farm isn't so bare. Niese, Kunz, Padilla, Figueroa, Rincon, Register, Stokes, Collazo, and Muniz are all showing they may be useful this year. As a matter of fact, Sosa and Schoeneweis are being shopped to other teams.
Wise has pitched well too, and should take some of the load off Heilman this summer. Wagner is rounding into shape and is even messing around with throwing a curve-ball. I heard him say this week that Santana is a big help in keeping Billy's arm action consistent. Johan and Billy both throw from the left, and have a similar arm angle. Maybe this will help keep Billy from slipping into a bad habit later in the year.
What do all of you think about this spring? Should Pelfrey be the 5th starter? Who will be traded? Who will make the bull-pen? Let us know.
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