Mets Becoming the Big Blue Wrecking Crew

In the last week the Mets have been destroying the opposing pitchers and punishing baseballs all over the country. Even in games they've lost, they are hitting the ball and scoring runs. All too often under Witless Willie that wasn't the case. Willie failed to inspire or motivate the players and the results were all too evident on the field. It's taken Jerry a few weeks to get the team thinking and playing as he wants them, but the results can't be denied.

Since the Cardinal series [9 games] the Mets have scored 58 runs. That's an average of 6.5 runs per game. If you go back to the Yankee series in June, they've averaged 6 runs per game. They are scoring early and often, have been hitting double digits for hits [14.5 hits the last 4 games], and getting 2 out hits with regularity. These are all things that make winning games easy and frequent. All of this is happening without Alou' [at all] and Church [sparingly] in the order. Tatis, Easley, Chavez, and Castro are contributing with the bat and the glove. They've all had multiple hit games and driving in runs.

Since Castillo went on the DL, Easley has been playing 2nd and delivering hits and driving in runs. He now has 22 RBI in only 166 ABs. Chavez has raised his average to .269 [from a sub .200 ave.] and been playing the outfield on a daily basis. I know Guinness is in love with Castillo, but the Mets are a better team without him in the line-up. The combination of Easley-Chavez is better offensively than Castillo - Chavez. Without Castillo making outs in the 2 hole, Chavez is batting there and seeing better pitches than when in the 8 hole. That has allowed him to raise his average and productivity. As a result, the line-up is delivering runs by the bunches and winning games. Easley is more of an infielder than outfielder, so if Castillo is playing, Easley is sitting. That doesn't help the team at the plate or in the field. I don't know if it's just coincidence or not, but Reyes has also been better in the field since Castillo has gone on the DL. He's ranging farther in the field and making no errors. Very interesting to say the least. Maybe Castillo is contributing to Reyes' fielding issues? Jerry has said more than once that he wants Castillo to be a leader to Jose', but Luis hasn't seen fit to take on that role. Maybe Easley is that leader that Jose' needs in order to keep focused on the field.

As hard as it is for me to admit it, it appears that Delgado has had a large serving of humble pie served to him by HoJo. He's finally listening to HoJo and changing his approach at the plate. He no longer pulls off the pitches like he did earlier in the season, and he's laying off the pitches he can't hit. He still doesn't hit for an average anything close to respectable, but he's hitting the ball and driving balls over the fence. David Wright continues to inch his average towards .300, and is the RBI guy on the team. He is 2nd in the league in RBI and has 17 HR too. 90 games into the season, he's on a pace to drive in 126 runs this year out of the 3 hole. Beltran, when not throwing teammates under the bus, is starting to hit once again. It would only make the Mets all the more dangerous if he could keep hitting, and not fall into those 2-30 slumps he's so noted for. Just imagine his offensive numbers if he could actually hit close to .300 instead of .270. The rest of the team has been doing so much hitting, that Reyes is getting lost in the shuffle. His average is now around .300 and he's getting on base. I'm wondering if the increased offensive threat in the 2 hole is causing the pitchers to throw Jose' more pitches that he can handle? He certainly seems to be getting more pitches over the fat part of the plate to hit.

With the good starting pitching and effective relief pitching, the Mets could be in 1st place by the ALL-STAR break. Before Jerry Manuel took over as manager, I had little hope for a successful season. Now Jerry's kids are playing like the team we wished for, and there seems to be no end in sight. Here's hoping for a continued dominance at the plate and in the field for the rest of the week. Wouldn't it be nice to see a 9 game winning streak at the break, and the Mets 2-3 games up on the Phillies?


Don't forget to go on-line and vote for David Wright for the All-Star game. He's the only position player the Mets have a chance to get into the game. Let's all show our Support for David and vote as many times as possible.