I don't know about any of you out there, but I don't know if I'm going to make it to the end of September. The Mets continue to give me and others a daily stress test as they manage to win games in nail biting fashion.
Against the Phillies earlier this week they seemed to have a win in the bag for Pedro. Winning 7-0 in the 3rd inning and cruising thru the game, who would have thought that the game would do a 180 and become a loss. Pedro gave up 1 run at first, then the roof fell in on him in the 5th. He gives up 2 homeruns and before you know it it's a 7-5 game. The Mets hitters went to sleep, the Phillies tied the game because of another bull-pen fiasco and they lose in 13 innings. Where have we seen that play out before?
The next night the Mets had Santana pitching and things weren't much better. Johan didn't have his shutdown stuff but kept the Mets in the game. He left trailing 3-1 but was bailed out by Delgado. Carlos hit 2 solo HRs to tie the game. In the 8th inning Mighty Murphy hit a ball into the right field corner of "Lights Out" Lidge to score the go ahead run. The Mets then scored two insurance runs and Ayala closed out the game. If not for Stokes bailing out Johan, and Smith and Feliciano holding the lead, it could have been a disaster. The Mets would have been 1.5 games behind Phillie, not .5 games ahead.
The Phillies have been losing to the Cubs as the Mets watch their lead grow in the division. Friday's game was another cardiac event. After trailing most of the game, the Mets actually got some production from Beltran. At one time in the 9th inning, the Mets were down to their last strike before the rally started. Castillo got a hit, David walked, and Delgado was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Tailing 2-1 in the 9th inning, Beltran hits the 1st pitch thrown from Gregg, and hits a grandslam to put the Mets ahead 5-2. Then the fun started again. Ayala comes into close the game, and needless to say it was nerve racking to say the least. Why is it always so hard to get the last out in an inning or game? Ayala got the job done [he later complained of a sore groin] but it was interesting and he owes the save to Murphy in left field. On a drive by Canto down the line, Murphy used his 3rd base skills to keep the tying run from scoring. He hustled to cut off the ball and threw it on the run [as he was headed towards the foul line] to Jose' and held the runner at 3rd base. He leaped and threw the ball all in one motion just as if he was throwing a ball from 3rd to 1st base. It probably saved the game.
All these cardiac events wouldn't be needed if the team could score a few more runs in the middle innings. They score with regularity in the 1st inning or 2 but then the bats go silent all too frequently. If the Starters can continue to go deeper into games, it will make life easier on all of us. But, the hitters need to score more runs. Nobody is doing the job very well in the middle innings, and it's not a new situation. All year long the Mets have been stranding runners in scoring position. Of the 30 HRs hit by Delgado, only 1 has come after the 7th inning. David, Beltran, Easley, Tatis, have all left runners on the bases and it's got to change.
The Mets and Big Pelf need to take care of the Fish tonight. The Phillies are beating the Cubs and the Fish have hopes of staying in the race. A win tonight will get the monkey off Mike's back and keep the Phillies 2 game behind the Mets. With the Brewers coming up Monday, the Mets need all the cushion they can get.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Mets in Troubling Times
Hello again everyone. I have one question to ask all of you before we get into the baseball chatter. Where the heck is Guinness hiding? He hasn't posted here in over a week and I'm starting to worry. It's not like him to miss chances to send digs, jabs and backhanded comments my way. LOL.
Ok, now on to the business of the Mets. Unless you have all been hiding it's been kind of a mixed bag around Shea lately. I'll deal with the bad first and then hope to end on a positive note if possible. LOL.
The bad can be summed up in three phrases. God awful bull-pen, lousy situational hitting, injuries that could change the season.
I called into the SNY show "Loudmouths" today and actually got on the air. Now seeing that the outrageous tends to get on the air, and the sane don't, I stated what I've felt for awhile and I'm sure others have too. I told them that if I never saw Heilman, Sanchez, or Feliciano in a Mets uniform again it wouldn't hurt my feelings. I ment it then and I mean it now. They suck, and can't be relied on. If it's not one of them screwing up, it's the other. The only way to solve it it to get rid of them. Send them to AAA, trade them, do something besides take away wins in NY. I told Schein and Carlon I wanted Neise, Parnell, Figgy, and Kunz in NY. Neise would fill Maine's spot in the rotation, Parnell and Figgy could pitch out of the pen, and Kunz could team with Wagner and Ayala to close games out. Of coarse they went crazy, but them did agree Neise and Kunz should be called up.
The hitting at times is also God Awful. The Mets had longs streaks of hitless innings against the Astros, including ones of 20 batters, 15 batters, and 13 batters without a hit of any kind. It's hard enough to beat bad teams hitting like that but it's damned near impossible to beat any decent team when not hitting for those prolonged stretches. This isn't something new either. The Mets despite scoring the most runs in MLB in the 1st inning, and being one of the highest scoring teams in MLB, have been doing this all season. Beltran will never be the player he should be. He seems entirely too meek and too entirely happy to be a .270 hitter for his career. Delgado is streaky to say the least. Just when you think he should have a day off, he goes 5-5 or drives in 6 runs like tonight. Jose' and David are also streaky, but in different ways. David may not look like he's doing much at times, but he's hitting over .290, and has 99RBI with an OBP of over .380. His problem is that sometimes all too frequently he doesn't get that hit in the middle innings to drive in some insurance runs. Reyes before tonight was hitting .188 this home stand. He takes too many pitches down the middle and swings at pitches near his eyes. Sometimes I wonder if he's concentrating as well as he should at the plate.
The injury news just keeps coming and doesn't seem to stop. The latest news is that John Maine is back on the DL and probably won't see the mound again this season. As I've been saying for some time in John's defense, he's been pitching hurt for most of the season. I know from personal experience with bone spurs, that they don't form overnight. I'll guarantee that John left spring training with them and that they caused his rotator cuff strain. John's a tough pitcher and is never one to complain, and I bet he changed something in his delivery because of the bone spur and that caused his rotator cuff issue. I now how much Guinness and others love to bash John, but this latest news goes to my point about him playing hurt, and not being destined for the pen due to lack of talent. If you believe as I and others do, the return of Castillo from the DL is not welcome news. He may be healthier now, but he did nothing in this game to prove he deserves to play over Easley or A. Reyes. Some old Castillo. Trying to bunt in the 1st inning, striking out, and not making a difference at the plate or in the field.
The positive can be summed up in 3 words. Defense, Starting pitching.
Pelfrey and the rest of the starting staff have been great. Big Pelf tonight became the 1st pitcher since Brett Saberhagen [13 yrs ago] to pitch back to back complete game wins. Santana and Pedro are pitching great and Johan is continuing his habit of being lights out in the second half. Pedro is pitching deeper into games and has dropped his ERA almost 2 runs this month. Ollie is also doing his best to keep the Mets in games and rarely shows the helter-skelter pitcher he was early this season. Maine had even managed to pitch 10 innings without giving up a run before Saturday's game. Even with a compromised Maine the Mets have the best staff in the NL if not all MLB. They'll need to be on the top of their game in the coming weeks. With the Phillies, Marlins, Brewers, and Cubs all in the Mets future it's not going to get easier. With the pen collapsing every other game, If I was a starter, I wouldn't come out of the game unless my arm was falling off. Ollie said so much today. I read a quote from him saying that the starters are going to have to throw 150 pitches if they want to win games.
The other thing that's been stellar is the defense. I believe the Mets have now gone 30 games and only committed 4 errors in that stretch. David Wright is headed for his 2nd Gold Glove award. He only has 13 errors and is looking more and more like a Robin Ventura clone at 3rd base. He makes the barehanded plays with boring regularity and gobbles up everything else. His throws are better and rarely does Delgado need to move off the bag anymore. Reyes also is headed for his 1st Gold Glove. Ever since Castillo went away, Jose' has shined in the field. Whether it was Castillo causing the problems, or the fact that Jose' got to play with his friend Argenis, who knows. But the fact is that Jose' has stepped it up and deserves the Gold Glove for his work in the field this year. Delgado is playing a more effective in the field, and the kids Evans and Murphy are holding their own in left field too.
So, there is reason for hope this upcoming week or so. If the Mets can get some better hitting in the middle innings, and keep the pen playing cards we may all be better off. The Mets didn't get any help from the club managed by "The Greatest Manager Ever", so now they face the Phillies with only a half game lead. Time for the Mets to man up and put the Phillies down these to games, and to break their necks. Don't let them have a hope and beat them until they are nothing but a stain on the stadium grass. No more messing around, time to show the Phillies who's division this is.
Ok, now on to the business of the Mets. Unless you have all been hiding it's been kind of a mixed bag around Shea lately. I'll deal with the bad first and then hope to end on a positive note if possible. LOL.
The bad can be summed up in three phrases. God awful bull-pen, lousy situational hitting, injuries that could change the season.
I called into the SNY show "Loudmouths" today and actually got on the air. Now seeing that the outrageous tends to get on the air, and the sane don't, I stated what I've felt for awhile and I'm sure others have too. I told them that if I never saw Heilman, Sanchez, or Feliciano in a Mets uniform again it wouldn't hurt my feelings. I ment it then and I mean it now. They suck, and can't be relied on. If it's not one of them screwing up, it's the other. The only way to solve it it to get rid of them. Send them to AAA, trade them, do something besides take away wins in NY. I told Schein and Carlon I wanted Neise, Parnell, Figgy, and Kunz in NY. Neise would fill Maine's spot in the rotation, Parnell and Figgy could pitch out of the pen, and Kunz could team with Wagner and Ayala to close games out. Of coarse they went crazy, but them did agree Neise and Kunz should be called up.
The hitting at times is also God Awful. The Mets had longs streaks of hitless innings against the Astros, including ones of 20 batters, 15 batters, and 13 batters without a hit of any kind. It's hard enough to beat bad teams hitting like that but it's damned near impossible to beat any decent team when not hitting for those prolonged stretches. This isn't something new either. The Mets despite scoring the most runs in MLB in the 1st inning, and being one of the highest scoring teams in MLB, have been doing this all season. Beltran will never be the player he should be. He seems entirely too meek and too entirely happy to be a .270 hitter for his career. Delgado is streaky to say the least. Just when you think he should have a day off, he goes 5-5 or drives in 6 runs like tonight. Jose' and David are also streaky, but in different ways. David may not look like he's doing much at times, but he's hitting over .290, and has 99RBI with an OBP of over .380. His problem is that sometimes all too frequently he doesn't get that hit in the middle innings to drive in some insurance runs. Reyes before tonight was hitting .188 this home stand. He takes too many pitches down the middle and swings at pitches near his eyes. Sometimes I wonder if he's concentrating as well as he should at the plate.
The injury news just keeps coming and doesn't seem to stop. The latest news is that John Maine is back on the DL and probably won't see the mound again this season. As I've been saying for some time in John's defense, he's been pitching hurt for most of the season. I know from personal experience with bone spurs, that they don't form overnight. I'll guarantee that John left spring training with them and that they caused his rotator cuff strain. John's a tough pitcher and is never one to complain, and I bet he changed something in his delivery because of the bone spur and that caused his rotator cuff issue. I now how much Guinness and others love to bash John, but this latest news goes to my point about him playing hurt, and not being destined for the pen due to lack of talent. If you believe as I and others do, the return of Castillo from the DL is not welcome news. He may be healthier now, but he did nothing in this game to prove he deserves to play over Easley or A. Reyes. Some old Castillo. Trying to bunt in the 1st inning, striking out, and not making a difference at the plate or in the field.
The positive can be summed up in 3 words. Defense, Starting pitching.
Pelfrey and the rest of the starting staff have been great. Big Pelf tonight became the 1st pitcher since Brett Saberhagen [13 yrs ago] to pitch back to back complete game wins. Santana and Pedro are pitching great and Johan is continuing his habit of being lights out in the second half. Pedro is pitching deeper into games and has dropped his ERA almost 2 runs this month. Ollie is also doing his best to keep the Mets in games and rarely shows the helter-skelter pitcher he was early this season. Maine had even managed to pitch 10 innings without giving up a run before Saturday's game. Even with a compromised Maine the Mets have the best staff in the NL if not all MLB. They'll need to be on the top of their game in the coming weeks. With the Phillies, Marlins, Brewers, and Cubs all in the Mets future it's not going to get easier. With the pen collapsing every other game, If I was a starter, I wouldn't come out of the game unless my arm was falling off. Ollie said so much today. I read a quote from him saying that the starters are going to have to throw 150 pitches if they want to win games.
The other thing that's been stellar is the defense. I believe the Mets have now gone 30 games and only committed 4 errors in that stretch. David Wright is headed for his 2nd Gold Glove award. He only has 13 errors and is looking more and more like a Robin Ventura clone at 3rd base. He makes the barehanded plays with boring regularity and gobbles up everything else. His throws are better and rarely does Delgado need to move off the bag anymore. Reyes also is headed for his 1st Gold Glove. Ever since Castillo went away, Jose' has shined in the field. Whether it was Castillo causing the problems, or the fact that Jose' got to play with his friend Argenis, who knows. But the fact is that Jose' has stepped it up and deserves the Gold Glove for his work in the field this year. Delgado is playing a more effective in the field, and the kids Evans and Murphy are holding their own in left field too.
So, there is reason for hope this upcoming week or so. If the Mets can get some better hitting in the middle innings, and keep the pen playing cards we may all be better off. The Mets didn't get any help from the club managed by "The Greatest Manager Ever", so now they face the Phillies with only a half game lead. Time for the Mets to man up and put the Phillies down these to games, and to break their necks. Don't let them have a hope and beat them until they are nothing but a stain on the stadium grass. No more messing around, time to show the Phillies who's division this is.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Big Pelf Becomes a Stud
I've been watching the braves series with great interest due to the teams past historys. All too often the Mets dreams of titles and post-season glory have been dashed by the Braves. Not this year though. The Braves are a shadow of their former selves, and Jerry's kids are playing the best baseball of the season.
The biggest reason for the Mets lastest success is the starting pitching. They are the best rotation in MLB and Big Pelf is a major reason why. When the team is devoid of a closer the Starters have to take the ball and shut down the opposition. Big Pelf won his team leading 12th game Wednesday and threw his 1st complete game of his career. Not bad for someone that all the experts said was a 2nd tier pitcher at best. And to think that if Mike hadn't been so bad last year, the twins would have him now. The Mets offered him to the twins for Johan, but the Twinkies said no thanks. Remember also that Omar and Witless Willie insisted that Hernandez was their starting pitcher. The only reason Mike was starting the season in AAA was because on El Duque's bunyon. Thank God for old tired pitchers. LOL. I shudder to think what this season would be like with El Duque in the rotation, and not Big Pelf.
I've always like young talent over old worn out talent, and the Mets are winning this year because of their young talent. Big Pelf, Maine, Perez, Johan, Murphy, the Reyes brothers, David, Evans, and Smith are all under 30 and winning games for the Mets. The 6'7" Pelfrey stands above them all and shows why he will be a star in the league for years to come.
The biggest reason for the Mets lastest success is the starting pitching. They are the best rotation in MLB and Big Pelf is a major reason why. When the team is devoid of a closer the Starters have to take the ball and shut down the opposition. Big Pelf won his team leading 12th game Wednesday and threw his 1st complete game of his career. Not bad for someone that all the experts said was a 2nd tier pitcher at best. And to think that if Mike hadn't been so bad last year, the twins would have him now. The Mets offered him to the twins for Johan, but the Twinkies said no thanks. Remember also that Omar and Witless Willie insisted that Hernandez was their starting pitcher. The only reason Mike was starting the season in AAA was because on El Duque's bunyon. Thank God for old tired pitchers. LOL. I shudder to think what this season would be like with El Duque in the rotation, and not Big Pelf.
I've always like young talent over old worn out talent, and the Mets are winning this year because of their young talent. Big Pelf, Maine, Perez, Johan, Murphy, the Reyes brothers, David, Evans, and Smith are all under 30 and winning games for the Mets. The 6'7" Pelfrey stands above them all and shows why he will be a star in the league for years to come.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Rumblings in NY
This last week has seen the Mets go 6-1 on a road trip thru Washington and Pittsburgh, but not all is well in Mudville.
Yesterday afternoon we all have heard the news of what could be the torpedo that sinks the Mets season. Billy Wagner's elbow is swollen and he's been shut down indefinitely. The MRI Tuesday didn't reveal any damage it the elbow, but it's so swollen they may not get a good reading of the situation. For all the Billy Haters out there, you've been getting a small dose of what the bull-pen is like without him there closing games, and now you're going to get a much bigger dose of it. After watching another Sanchez meltdown Monday, nobody can have any faith in Duaner.
Also Monday we all have heard from the Horses mouth himself, that John is pitching hurt and has been for awhile. Every time he goes to the mound he has pain in his shoulder. They doubt it will get better this year but it isn't getting worse. Despite the pain he pitched well enough to keep the Mets in the game, but the pen gave up 5 runs in the loss to the Pirates. He pitched 5 innings and gave up no runs and only 2 hits. You could tell he was hurting because his velocity was only hitting 88-90 on his fastball. John also said that he's going to be limited to 5 innings no matter how many pitches he throws.
With the 6-1 road trip there are other issues of worry too. The offense is struggling to score runs and it can be laid at the feet of a few people. Carlos Delgado is back to his old ways, and Tatis and Beltran are struggling too. Delgado's average has fallen 20 points in just 2 weeks, and Beltran doesn't do much at the plate. Tatis is slumping and his average is down under .300, and Easley has grounded into 4 inning killing double plays in just 2 games [Sunday and Monday]. With the shaky pen and the uncertain return of Billy, the offense needs to score early and often. If the Mets are winning games by 3 or more runs going into the late innings, it makes it easier for the pen to no implode.
One group that can't be blamed for the Mets scoring troubles are the youngsters. Murphy continues to hit over .400, Evans is a doubles machine and gets better every game, and Argenis Reyes gets on base and to every ball hit anywhere near him. Where would the Mets be without the B-Mets carrying a large load the last Month? Third place? Second place? certainly not in 1st. They continue to prove they belong and deserve every compliment they get.
The starting pitching has been stellar even with John's bum shoulder. They are the best rotation in baseball now and always give the Mets a chance to win the games. But, the pitchers need runs too. They also need a pen they can rely on and someone to close the games out. Ayala pitched well in a tough spot last night and Maybe Heilman can keep his head on straight for the next few weeks and act as a de-facto closer. Until Billy returns things will be interesting and fans will continue to consider Rolaids a food group.
Yesterday afternoon we all have heard the news of what could be the torpedo that sinks the Mets season. Billy Wagner's elbow is swollen and he's been shut down indefinitely. The MRI Tuesday didn't reveal any damage it the elbow, but it's so swollen they may not get a good reading of the situation. For all the Billy Haters out there, you've been getting a small dose of what the bull-pen is like without him there closing games, and now you're going to get a much bigger dose of it. After watching another Sanchez meltdown Monday, nobody can have any faith in Duaner.
Also Monday we all have heard from the Horses mouth himself, that John is pitching hurt and has been for awhile. Every time he goes to the mound he has pain in his shoulder. They doubt it will get better this year but it isn't getting worse. Despite the pain he pitched well enough to keep the Mets in the game, but the pen gave up 5 runs in the loss to the Pirates. He pitched 5 innings and gave up no runs and only 2 hits. You could tell he was hurting because his velocity was only hitting 88-90 on his fastball. John also said that he's going to be limited to 5 innings no matter how many pitches he throws.
With the 6-1 road trip there are other issues of worry too. The offense is struggling to score runs and it can be laid at the feet of a few people. Carlos Delgado is back to his old ways, and Tatis and Beltran are struggling too. Delgado's average has fallen 20 points in just 2 weeks, and Beltran doesn't do much at the plate. Tatis is slumping and his average is down under .300, and Easley has grounded into 4 inning killing double plays in just 2 games [Sunday and Monday]. With the shaky pen and the uncertain return of Billy, the offense needs to score early and often. If the Mets are winning games by 3 or more runs going into the late innings, it makes it easier for the pen to no implode.
One group that can't be blamed for the Mets scoring troubles are the youngsters. Murphy continues to hit over .400, Evans is a doubles machine and gets better every game, and Argenis Reyes gets on base and to every ball hit anywhere near him. Where would the Mets be without the B-Mets carrying a large load the last Month? Third place? Second place? certainly not in 1st. They continue to prove they belong and deserve every compliment they get.
The starting pitching has been stellar even with John's bum shoulder. They are the best rotation in baseball now and always give the Mets a chance to win the games. But, the pitchers need runs too. They also need a pen they can rely on and someone to close the games out. Ayala pitched well in a tough spot last night and Maybe Heilman can keep his head on straight for the next few weeks and act as a de-facto closer. Until Billy returns things will be interesting and fans will continue to consider Rolaids a food group.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Mets Continue Battering Oppostion
Since Monday's bull-pen meltdown in Shea by the Mets, they have proceeded to beat the Nats 3 straight and stand one one away from beating the Pirates 4 straight. They've done all this with great starting pitching, stellar defense, and timely hitting.
The bull-pen continues to be an adventure and will be so for awhile longer. Billy isn't ready to return and the Mets traded for Ayala. Granted he came cheaply enough [Anderson Hernandez], but he's 1-8 with an ERA over 5.70. Is this really the answer to the bull-pen question? It's bad enough that the Mets have a pen full of headcases and tired arms, why bring in another one? I guess we'll have to see if he can help, or if he hurts. Leave it to Omar to bring in another one of his former players off the scrap heap for reclamation.
The defense continues to shine during this winning streak. Although there was an error in today's game the Mets have been catching and stopping every ball hit their way lately. The Reyes boys are in a league of their own. Since Jerry's hiring Jose's defense has been exponentially better and he could win the gold glove this year. Argenis Reyes is also sparkling in the field. He has the range and glove that has been sorely lacking earlier this year. He hasn't committed and error yet, and has even saved a game or two with his glove and mobility. Beltran continues to catch anything hit in the outfield, and even the B-Mets tandem of Murphy and Evans have been doing steady work in left.
The offense is the offense we as fans expected this spring when the season started. Wright and Jose' are doing their best to split the MVP vote, and the kids produce on a regular basis. A. Reyes is always in the middle of things [.280 ave.], Murphy continues to hit[.415], drive in runs[9 RBI in 41 ABs] and draw walks [8], and Evans is becoming a steady player. Castro when healthy continues to hit, and Schneider is turning on baseballs once again. Tatis is surprising no one anymore. He continues to hover around .300 and has 38 RBI in only 216 ABs. If he played the whole year, he be on pace to drive in over 80 runs. Not bad for someone who hadn't played in '04-'05. He has so many 2 strike big hits I shudder to think where the Mets would be without him. Delgado has settled down some since July, but he is no longer the automatic out he was for almost a year. Beltran has put up decent numbers but isn't the player he should be. All too often he fails to drive in runs when needed and seems to be content to hit around .270 for his career.
With all the issues with the offense, the team still finds ways to score. They have scored first in 19 of their last 21 games on the road. They did it today again. The biggest concern is their inability to consistently add on runs in the late innings. They are being outscored by over 80 runs in the 8th inning on. Without the extra runs, the pen has a habit of coughing up the lead if care isn't taken. Jerry has tried to mix and match the relievers and somehow is keeping things together. With Ryan Church's rehab going well in New Orleans, maybe his impending return will help solve some of those issues with runs and the pen.
Overall it's been a good week to be a Mets Fan. The Phillies and Marlins are starting to sink in the standings, and the Mets have a different hero every night. With another week or two of baseball like this, the division could be close to being settled. As the Mets beat up on the weaker teams, the Fish and Phillies play the better teams in the league and fall farther behind the Mets. Don't you like the schedule now? LOL.
The bull-pen continues to be an adventure and will be so for awhile longer. Billy isn't ready to return and the Mets traded for Ayala. Granted he came cheaply enough [Anderson Hernandez], but he's 1-8 with an ERA over 5.70. Is this really the answer to the bull-pen question? It's bad enough that the Mets have a pen full of headcases and tired arms, why bring in another one? I guess we'll have to see if he can help, or if he hurts. Leave it to Omar to bring in another one of his former players off the scrap heap for reclamation.
The defense continues to shine during this winning streak. Although there was an error in today's game the Mets have been catching and stopping every ball hit their way lately. The Reyes boys are in a league of their own. Since Jerry's hiring Jose's defense has been exponentially better and he could win the gold glove this year. Argenis Reyes is also sparkling in the field. He has the range and glove that has been sorely lacking earlier this year. He hasn't committed and error yet, and has even saved a game or two with his glove and mobility. Beltran continues to catch anything hit in the outfield, and even the B-Mets tandem of Murphy and Evans have been doing steady work in left.
The offense is the offense we as fans expected this spring when the season started. Wright and Jose' are doing their best to split the MVP vote, and the kids produce on a regular basis. A. Reyes is always in the middle of things [.280 ave.], Murphy continues to hit[.415], drive in runs[9 RBI in 41 ABs] and draw walks [8], and Evans is becoming a steady player. Castro when healthy continues to hit, and Schneider is turning on baseballs once again. Tatis is surprising no one anymore. He continues to hover around .300 and has 38 RBI in only 216 ABs. If he played the whole year, he be on pace to drive in over 80 runs. Not bad for someone who hadn't played in '04-'05. He has so many 2 strike big hits I shudder to think where the Mets would be without him. Delgado has settled down some since July, but he is no longer the automatic out he was for almost a year. Beltran has put up decent numbers but isn't the player he should be. All too often he fails to drive in runs when needed and seems to be content to hit around .270 for his career.
With all the issues with the offense, the team still finds ways to score. They have scored first in 19 of their last 21 games on the road. They did it today again. The biggest concern is their inability to consistently add on runs in the late innings. They are being outscored by over 80 runs in the 8th inning on. Without the extra runs, the pen has a habit of coughing up the lead if care isn't taken. Jerry has tried to mix and match the relievers and somehow is keeping things together. With Ryan Church's rehab going well in New Orleans, maybe his impending return will help solve some of those issues with runs and the pen.
Overall it's been a good week to be a Mets Fan. The Phillies and Marlins are starting to sink in the standings, and the Mets have a different hero every night. With another week or two of baseball like this, the division could be close to being settled. As the Mets beat up on the weaker teams, the Fish and Phillies play the better teams in the league and fall farther behind the Mets. Don't you like the schedule now? LOL.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Has Jerry Seen the Light?
While at work today I listened as the Mets took care of business as they should. They jumped out to an early lead on the strength of David's bat and good pitching from Pedro. Then every Mets fan's nightmare once again was replayed. The starter left with a lead, the Pen did it's usual worst, and the Mets once again lose to a sub .500 team.
Once again Feliciano, Heilman, Schoeneweis can't throw strikes and give away the game. The only target they seem capable of hitting is the batter. Both Heilman and Feliciano hit batters and they gave up critical runs and lost the game. Scotty boy then comes in to try to clean up Heilman's mess, and gives up a bases loaded hit that scores 2 runs and seals the defeat. I'm so sick of seeing the same old bullshit pitchers doing the same old shit I've had it. If it was up to me, Heilman, Feliciano, Schoeneweis, Sanchez, would never see another game in a Mets uniform. Send them to the minors, trade them, or release them. They all suck and have proven scores of times that they can't do the job of getting outs when needed.
I think Jerry has finally had it too. In his post-game news conference he said changes will be made and things can not continue as they have been. When asked if he had confidence in the bull-pen, he said he had confidence in the team. Not exactly an ringing endorsement about the pen. I do believe we will finally see Eddie Kunz closing games after today. A reporter asked Jerry if today's game means he will now look to Eddie to close games. Jerry said he'd seriously have to consider it. He said he didn't want to but he may not have any other choice. Eddie has pitched pretty well in his limited innings here in NY. He gave up a HR in his 2nd game and had a run score on a wild pitch the other day. Personally, I don't call it a wild pitch when the ball hits the pocket of the catcher's mitt, but isn't caught. I call that a passed ball. Either way Eddie certainly can't do any worse than the current bums trying to close games and get late inning outs.
If Eddie does indeed start closing games until Billy's return, he needs an entry song. Billy uses "Enter the Sandman", so Eddie needs a nasty song to enter the stadium to and to get the fans pumped up. I've been a Heavy Metal fan as long as I've been following music and I have a great song for Eddie to use. "You've got Another Thing Coming" by Judas Priest would be a 100% kick ass song for a big hard throwing closer to enter to. Check it out.
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/j/judas+priest/youve+got+another+thing+comin_20076024.html
I've seen Priest in concert twice and this song is an absolute head banging, fist pumping, get you charged up song and I can't think of anything better for Eddie to enter to. What do you out there think? Wouldn't you love to be in Shea when this song blast thru the P.A. system and Eddie does his Wild Thing Strut out to the mound? Lets here your thoughts and suggestions.
Once again Feliciano, Heilman, Schoeneweis can't throw strikes and give away the game. The only target they seem capable of hitting is the batter. Both Heilman and Feliciano hit batters and they gave up critical runs and lost the game. Scotty boy then comes in to try to clean up Heilman's mess, and gives up a bases loaded hit that scores 2 runs and seals the defeat. I'm so sick of seeing the same old bullshit pitchers doing the same old shit I've had it. If it was up to me, Heilman, Feliciano, Schoeneweis, Sanchez, would never see another game in a Mets uniform. Send them to the minors, trade them, or release them. They all suck and have proven scores of times that they can't do the job of getting outs when needed.
I think Jerry has finally had it too. In his post-game news conference he said changes will be made and things can not continue as they have been. When asked if he had confidence in the bull-pen, he said he had confidence in the team. Not exactly an ringing endorsement about the pen. I do believe we will finally see Eddie Kunz closing games after today. A reporter asked Jerry if today's game means he will now look to Eddie to close games. Jerry said he'd seriously have to consider it. He said he didn't want to but he may not have any other choice. Eddie has pitched pretty well in his limited innings here in NY. He gave up a HR in his 2nd game and had a run score on a wild pitch the other day. Personally, I don't call it a wild pitch when the ball hits the pocket of the catcher's mitt, but isn't caught. I call that a passed ball. Either way Eddie certainly can't do any worse than the current bums trying to close games and get late inning outs.
If Eddie does indeed start closing games until Billy's return, he needs an entry song. Billy uses "Enter the Sandman", so Eddie needs a nasty song to enter the stadium to and to get the fans pumped up. I've been a Heavy Metal fan as long as I've been following music and I have a great song for Eddie to use. "You've got Another Thing Coming" by Judas Priest would be a 100% kick ass song for a big hard throwing closer to enter to. Check it out.
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/j/judas+priest/youve+got+another+thing+comin_20076024.html
I've seen Priest in concert twice and this song is an absolute head banging, fist pumping, get you charged up song and I can't think of anything better for Eddie to enter to. What do you out there think? Wouldn't you love to be in Shea when this song blast thru the P.A. system and Eddie does his Wild Thing Strut out to the mound? Lets here your thoughts and suggestions.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Mighty Murphy Muscles the Mets Past Marlins
Friday morning, in an e-mail to the Local sports talk radio program, I said all Murphy needed was a HR to finish off his week and get the Mets going against the Fish. Well, he was a day late but he delivered none the less. Get out the cape and paint a big red "S" on his chest because Daniel Murphy is turning into "Superman" at the plate.
With a shaky bull-pen and spot starts by retread pitchers, the Mets knew they would need to score runs this weekend to put some distance between them and the Fish in the standings. The Wizard of Ollie cast a spell over the Marlins on Friday night and David Wright provided all the offense needed. His 2 run HR in his 1st AB set the tone and allowed Ollie to do his thing. Murphy continued to hit the ball and Heilman did the unthinkable. A perfect 6 out save to seal the win.
If anyone out there is still wishing for the days of Willie and Rickey you need professional help. Dan Warthen has been a blessing to this team and has Big Pelf's endorsement. I read an article earlier this week that had Big Pelf basically blasting Rickey for trying to make every one of the pitchers the same. What kind of pitching coach tells a pitcher to "never throw that pitch again"? Mike says Dan uses the pitchers abilities to the utmost and doesn't dismiss comments or suggestions from the pitchers. Who are the 2 biggest surprises this season in the rotation? Big Pelf and Ollie. Both pitchers were stifled and belittled by Rickey's comments to them. Since the firing they both have become dominating on the mound and someone to count on in the big game. It's amazing what a little confidence and encouragement will do for a player.
In last night's game the team was counting on Brian Stokes to give them a chance and he did just that. He pitched well and showed surprising velocity on his fastball. I saw 98 MPH on a few pitches and consistently saw 92-95 MPH. He had a very good slider and spotted it well most of the night. His only mistakes were leaving 2 pitches in the wrong spots for 2 very dangerous hitters. Those pitches were promptly parked over the fences and ended Brian's night after 5.3 innings. Then the hero came to the rescue.
Daniel Murphy is that hero. Called off the bench to pinch-hit with the Mets clinging to a 5-4 lead and one runner on base, he did as all "Super Heroes" do. Once Murphy was announced as the hitter, the Fish brought in Pinto the left-hander to face the rookie. Well the rookie continued to add to his growing legend. After working the count, Mighty Murphy blasted an opposite field 2 run HR to give the Mets the lead for good. He hit the back wall hard enough to have the ball bounce back into the field and now has another souvenir for the trophy case. The fans at Shea have fallen in love with the Young slugger and cheered for his appearance on the dugout steps. With some encouraging from Castro, Mighty Murphy stepped out of the dugout and tipped his helmet to the crowd as they roared their approval. Daniel [I like that name] continues to show a calm demeanor and maturity at the plate as his .500 average will attest to. If he continues to hit like he has, the Mets could have a star player for years to come.
The Carlos brothers even got in the HR act. Delgado hit a mammoth shot that cleared the bull-pen and Beltran hit one to the apple in center field. That was the first HR for Beltran in 82 ABs!!! He also had a 2 run double in the first. If Beltran can ever get to being a steady hitter in the line-up, it sure would make winning games a lot easier. His bat has been sorely missing all too often this year and that has been the source of many sleepless nights for Mets fans.
Today Big Pelf goes to the mound looking for the sweep of the Fish and his 11th win. Who would have thought in spring training that Big Pelf would be the team leader in wins and the most reliable starter in July and August. With a strong outing from Mike and some more support from Mighty Murphy the sweep is within reach and first place will soon be home to the Mets once again. I love the fact that the Mets are winning on the bat and arms of young hungry players. I hope Omar is paying attention. The future is now for the Mets and it rest with the youngsters, not old brittle players with fat contracts.
With a shaky bull-pen and spot starts by retread pitchers, the Mets knew they would need to score runs this weekend to put some distance between them and the Fish in the standings. The Wizard of Ollie cast a spell over the Marlins on Friday night and David Wright provided all the offense needed. His 2 run HR in his 1st AB set the tone and allowed Ollie to do his thing. Murphy continued to hit the ball and Heilman did the unthinkable. A perfect 6 out save to seal the win.
If anyone out there is still wishing for the days of Willie and Rickey you need professional help. Dan Warthen has been a blessing to this team and has Big Pelf's endorsement. I read an article earlier this week that had Big Pelf basically blasting Rickey for trying to make every one of the pitchers the same. What kind of pitching coach tells a pitcher to "never throw that pitch again"? Mike says Dan uses the pitchers abilities to the utmost and doesn't dismiss comments or suggestions from the pitchers. Who are the 2 biggest surprises this season in the rotation? Big Pelf and Ollie. Both pitchers were stifled and belittled by Rickey's comments to them. Since the firing they both have become dominating on the mound and someone to count on in the big game. It's amazing what a little confidence and encouragement will do for a player.
In last night's game the team was counting on Brian Stokes to give them a chance and he did just that. He pitched well and showed surprising velocity on his fastball. I saw 98 MPH on a few pitches and consistently saw 92-95 MPH. He had a very good slider and spotted it well most of the night. His only mistakes were leaving 2 pitches in the wrong spots for 2 very dangerous hitters. Those pitches were promptly parked over the fences and ended Brian's night after 5.3 innings. Then the hero came to the rescue.
Daniel Murphy is that hero. Called off the bench to pinch-hit with the Mets clinging to a 5-4 lead and one runner on base, he did as all "Super Heroes" do. Once Murphy was announced as the hitter, the Fish brought in Pinto the left-hander to face the rookie. Well the rookie continued to add to his growing legend. After working the count, Mighty Murphy blasted an opposite field 2 run HR to give the Mets the lead for good. He hit the back wall hard enough to have the ball bounce back into the field and now has another souvenir for the trophy case. The fans at Shea have fallen in love with the Young slugger and cheered for his appearance on the dugout steps. With some encouraging from Castro, Mighty Murphy stepped out of the dugout and tipped his helmet to the crowd as they roared their approval. Daniel [I like that name] continues to show a calm demeanor and maturity at the plate as his .500 average will attest to. If he continues to hit like he has, the Mets could have a star player for years to come.
The Carlos brothers even got in the HR act. Delgado hit a mammoth shot that cleared the bull-pen and Beltran hit one to the apple in center field. That was the first HR for Beltran in 82 ABs!!! He also had a 2 run double in the first. If Beltran can ever get to being a steady hitter in the line-up, it sure would make winning games a lot easier. His bat has been sorely missing all too often this year and that has been the source of many sleepless nights for Mets fans.
Today Big Pelf goes to the mound looking for the sweep of the Fish and his 11th win. Who would have thought in spring training that Big Pelf would be the team leader in wins and the most reliable starter in July and August. With a strong outing from Mike and some more support from Mighty Murphy the sweep is within reach and first place will soon be home to the Mets once again. I love the fact that the Mets are winning on the bat and arms of young hungry players. I hope Omar is paying attention. The future is now for the Mets and it rest with the youngsters, not old brittle players with fat contracts.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Wright and the Rookies Salvage the Day
Today listening to the game I was smiling while the Binghamton Boys proved they belong in NY and help to reinforce my trust in them. I've been a big proponent of getting the youngsters into the games and they've responded in Spades.
Daniel Murphy and Nick Evans were the stars today. They appear to continue the tradition of mid-season call-ups that have produced David Wright, Jose' Reyes and John Maine. [Granted Maine didn't come thru the system, but his call-up in July of '06 was a major factor in reaching the NLCS Game 7.]
Murphy is a hitting machine. He finished his 1st week in NY hitting .467. With his plate discipline and cool demeanor I see great things in his future. He hits the ball to all fields, works the pitcher, and never seems overwhelmed. His gap to gap power is sorely needed in the line-up and could be a difference maker in games to come. He continues to cover the field well and is no worse than Alou' in that regard. His speed isn't his strong suit, but he's no Ramon Castro on the bases either.
Nick Evans is not the power hitter that Murphy is capable of being but he too is producing in the field and at the plate. Today he made a critical play in the field to end the 8th inning and he drove in 2 runs with a Sac Fly and a single. It's too bad that the veterans on the Mets can't take a lesson from the kids. When all that's needed is a fly ball or a single to score a run, the Vets swing too hard, pop-up bunts, strike-out, or hit into Double plays.
Argenis Reyes didn't hit the ball out of the infield today, but he turned in sparkling plays in the field that help contain the Padres and limit the damage that could have been done. He has twice the range of Castillo, and never seems overwhelmed by the spotlight. As a bonus, he's hitting over .400 as a pinch hitter.
The efforts of the rookies were nearly wasted by the pen once again. Santana deserved the win but Scott Schoeneweis did his Heilman imitation by serving up another HR. Feliciano and Smith did well in limiting the bases loaded no out jam in the 8th inning. Why Kunz wasn't brought in to face the music in the 9th I don't know. What could he have done worse than Scott? Eddie hadn't given up a HR in over 4 years until last night. What were the chances of him doing that 2 nights in a row? I'd take Eddie over anyone else in that pen right now.
After Scotty boy tried to waste away another game it was left to the hitters to save the day. Chavez got a single, Reyes popped up a bunt to Bell, A. Reyes makes out #2 and then David came to the plate. After having a difficult series on the bases and not hitting the ball very well the last week or so, David went 3-5 with a walk off 2 run HR. He took a low outside slider and parked it over the fence in left field. Believe it or not, that was the first walk off HR of David's career in baseball not just MLB.
The offense was disappointing this series but managed to win 2 of 3 from the lowly Padres. Now they face the Marlins and need to play better than the last time they went "fishing". If Murphy and Evans continue to improve, and the Carlos brothers can get off the snide, the Mets could draw closer to the division lead before the weekend is over. All Murphy needs now is a HR to go with his doubles, triple, and singles this week. I'm hoping he hits one out to set the tone and get the Mets jumping on the Fish.
Daniel Murphy and Nick Evans were the stars today. They appear to continue the tradition of mid-season call-ups that have produced David Wright, Jose' Reyes and John Maine. [Granted Maine didn't come thru the system, but his call-up in July of '06 was a major factor in reaching the NLCS Game 7.]
Murphy is a hitting machine. He finished his 1st week in NY hitting .467. With his plate discipline and cool demeanor I see great things in his future. He hits the ball to all fields, works the pitcher, and never seems overwhelmed. His gap to gap power is sorely needed in the line-up and could be a difference maker in games to come. He continues to cover the field well and is no worse than Alou' in that regard. His speed isn't his strong suit, but he's no Ramon Castro on the bases either.
Nick Evans is not the power hitter that Murphy is capable of being but he too is producing in the field and at the plate. Today he made a critical play in the field to end the 8th inning and he drove in 2 runs with a Sac Fly and a single. It's too bad that the veterans on the Mets can't take a lesson from the kids. When all that's needed is a fly ball or a single to score a run, the Vets swing too hard, pop-up bunts, strike-out, or hit into Double plays.
Argenis Reyes didn't hit the ball out of the infield today, but he turned in sparkling plays in the field that help contain the Padres and limit the damage that could have been done. He has twice the range of Castillo, and never seems overwhelmed by the spotlight. As a bonus, he's hitting over .400 as a pinch hitter.
The efforts of the rookies were nearly wasted by the pen once again. Santana deserved the win but Scott Schoeneweis did his Heilman imitation by serving up another HR. Feliciano and Smith did well in limiting the bases loaded no out jam in the 8th inning. Why Kunz wasn't brought in to face the music in the 9th I don't know. What could he have done worse than Scott? Eddie hadn't given up a HR in over 4 years until last night. What were the chances of him doing that 2 nights in a row? I'd take Eddie over anyone else in that pen right now.
After Scotty boy tried to waste away another game it was left to the hitters to save the day. Chavez got a single, Reyes popped up a bunt to Bell, A. Reyes makes out #2 and then David came to the plate. After having a difficult series on the bases and not hitting the ball very well the last week or so, David went 3-5 with a walk off 2 run HR. He took a low outside slider and parked it over the fence in left field. Believe it or not, that was the first walk off HR of David's career in baseball not just MLB.
The offense was disappointing this series but managed to win 2 of 3 from the lowly Padres. Now they face the Marlins and need to play better than the last time they went "fishing". If Murphy and Evans continue to improve, and the Carlos brothers can get off the snide, the Mets could draw closer to the division lead before the weekend is over. All Murphy needs now is a HR to go with his doubles, triple, and singles this week. I'm hoping he hits one out to set the tone and get the Mets jumping on the Fish.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Season on the Brink
If you've been living under a rock the last week or so, there are major issues at a critical time for the Mets. These issues could very well determine the outcome of the Mets season.
The most critical injury is to Billy Wagner. Regardless of what all the Billy haters out there think, he's the most important player on the Mets and his absence for the next 2 weeks could sink the Mets. I shudder to think of "Grandslam" Heilman or "The Nibbler" Sanchez as the closer until Billy's return. It takes a certain mentality to be a closer, and they don't have it. What's equally troubling is the fact that Jerry Manuel has mentioned a "closer by committee" plan of action. I feel the closer duties should go to the only guy on the staff who's a proven closer. Eddie Kunz is that man. All 6'6" 265 pounds of him says closer. On the pre-game show Lee Mazzilli said Kunz can't close because there are other guys in the pen who've been there longer. That's Bull. That's why Lee isn't being employed as a manager now. The best guy for the job should be doing the job, not the guy that's been there the longest!!!! Kunz has been a closer for years and he's built for the job. He could be the Mets version of Joba Chamberlain. There's a saying you may have heard of, "young, dumb, and full of ___." What that means is that someone is too young to be scared or to know any better. Give Kunz the ball and watch the batters fall.
The other injuries to Maine, Castro, Anderson, and Church are also troubling but to different degrees. Maine's absence puts even more strain on a shaky pen. Castro's sore ankle in itself isn't a big deal, but knowing Castro's injury history and his habit of healing slowly, it could be a factor too. Anderson was struggling all season and it made you wonder if his hamstring tendon ever healed correctly. Church is the wild card. With his concussion, and the general lack of rehabilitation protocol in baseball, you just don't know when he'll return. That's a shame too. His bat is sorely needed and he played the outfield with great skill. If he can return soon, he just may be the offensive spark the team needs for the stretch run through September.
With all the injuries this is the time we as fans need the young kids to step it up and prove that they belong. Omar wouldn't trade them for other players before the trade deadline so it's imperative that they contribute to the team. Murphy is proving to be a budding hitter and can even make a play or two in the field. He, Evans, Kunz, Pelfrey, Reyes and Wright are the future and the present and will be tested in the weeks to come. Lets all say a prayer before bed and maybe the sun will come up and shine on the Mets.
The most critical injury is to Billy Wagner. Regardless of what all the Billy haters out there think, he's the most important player on the Mets and his absence for the next 2 weeks could sink the Mets. I shudder to think of "Grandslam" Heilman or "The Nibbler" Sanchez as the closer until Billy's return. It takes a certain mentality to be a closer, and they don't have it. What's equally troubling is the fact that Jerry Manuel has mentioned a "closer by committee" plan of action. I feel the closer duties should go to the only guy on the staff who's a proven closer. Eddie Kunz is that man. All 6'6" 265 pounds of him says closer. On the pre-game show Lee Mazzilli said Kunz can't close because there are other guys in the pen who've been there longer. That's Bull. That's why Lee isn't being employed as a manager now. The best guy for the job should be doing the job, not the guy that's been there the longest!!!! Kunz has been a closer for years and he's built for the job. He could be the Mets version of Joba Chamberlain. There's a saying you may have heard of, "young, dumb, and full of ___." What that means is that someone is too young to be scared or to know any better. Give Kunz the ball and watch the batters fall.
The other injuries to Maine, Castro, Anderson, and Church are also troubling but to different degrees. Maine's absence puts even more strain on a shaky pen. Castro's sore ankle in itself isn't a big deal, but knowing Castro's injury history and his habit of healing slowly, it could be a factor too. Anderson was struggling all season and it made you wonder if his hamstring tendon ever healed correctly. Church is the wild card. With his concussion, and the general lack of rehabilitation protocol in baseball, you just don't know when he'll return. That's a shame too. His bat is sorely needed and he played the outfield with great skill. If he can return soon, he just may be the offensive spark the team needs for the stretch run through September.
With all the injuries this is the time we as fans need the young kids to step it up and prove that they belong. Omar wouldn't trade them for other players before the trade deadline so it's imperative that they contribute to the team. Murphy is proving to be a budding hitter and can even make a play or two in the field. He, Evans, Kunz, Pelfrey, Reyes and Wright are the future and the present and will be tested in the weeks to come. Lets all say a prayer before bed and maybe the sun will come up and shine on the Mets.
Monday, August 4, 2008
The Roadtrip From Hell
Lets see if this sound familiar. 6 games ago the Mets were in 1st place and they were headed for Florida and then Houston. Six games later the Mets are 3 games back, and in 3rd place. Where have he seen this before? It seems like every season the Mets have to suffer the same old story.
If being in third place because of a 4 game losing streak wasn't bad enough, the injuries to critical people are starting to pile up. John Maine goes on the DL to heal his shoulder and free up a spot in the bull-pen. And why you ask is an extra arm in the pen needed? Because nobody in the pen can be trusted to close games except for Billy, AND HE'S HURT !!!!! So with Wagner's injury, the Mets wouldn't have a closer if Eddie Kunz hadn't been called up. Placing John Maine on the DL was more about getting a closer [Kunz] to NY than resting John. The Mets season could very well be resting on the broad 21 year old shoulders of Eddie. If Wagner goes on the DL, the Mets and we fans will be looking to Kunz and his strong right arm to save the season. His 96 MPH sinking fastball will come in handy and his closer's mentality is sorely missing from anyone else in the bull-pen. Sanchez and Heilman are headcases, and Schoeneweis and Feliciano are reverting to their helter-skelter selves.
As good as Reyes hit in Houston, that series proved who was the most valuable member of the Mets. That person is David Wright. Since his latest slump, the Mets have had problems scoring runs even when Delgado is hitting. I've said it before and I'll say it again. When David hits, the Mets win games. When he doesn't hit, they struggle to score. The starting pitchers are doing their jobs, but the Mets are not scoring when needed. All the SNY "Daily News Live" crew can't understand why the Mets lost in Houston with Reyes getting 11 hits there. It's simple, Reyes getting on base means nothing if David isn't hitting. Guinness and others worship at the alter of Jose', but David is the more important player. The stats prove it out. David hits well over .300 when the Mets win, and under .200 when they lose. Without David hitting the ball, Reyes gets stuck on base looking for a hit from someone. How many times on this road trip did the Mets leave the bases loaded and not score ANY RUNS !!!!! 5 times? 6 times? More than 6? A hit in any of those instances would have turned losses into wins.
If there is anything to be hopeful for it's the play of the youngsters. Evans and Murphy will share duties in left field. Both did a good job in Houston with that weird wacky wall in left field. Murphy had an outfield assist in Saturday's game, and Evans threw out 2 runners at 2nd base in Sunday's game. With Kunz in the pen and Neise maybe getting the start Friday or Saturday, we should be getting a good look at the future of the team. With any luck, they can shine a little light on a gloomy situation in NY.
If being in third place because of a 4 game losing streak wasn't bad enough, the injuries to critical people are starting to pile up. John Maine goes on the DL to heal his shoulder and free up a spot in the bull-pen. And why you ask is an extra arm in the pen needed? Because nobody in the pen can be trusted to close games except for Billy, AND HE'S HURT !!!!! So with Wagner's injury, the Mets wouldn't have a closer if Eddie Kunz hadn't been called up. Placing John Maine on the DL was more about getting a closer [Kunz] to NY than resting John. The Mets season could very well be resting on the broad 21 year old shoulders of Eddie. If Wagner goes on the DL, the Mets and we fans will be looking to Kunz and his strong right arm to save the season. His 96 MPH sinking fastball will come in handy and his closer's mentality is sorely missing from anyone else in the bull-pen. Sanchez and Heilman are headcases, and Schoeneweis and Feliciano are reverting to their helter-skelter selves.
As good as Reyes hit in Houston, that series proved who was the most valuable member of the Mets. That person is David Wright. Since his latest slump, the Mets have had problems scoring runs even when Delgado is hitting. I've said it before and I'll say it again. When David hits, the Mets win games. When he doesn't hit, they struggle to score. The starting pitchers are doing their jobs, but the Mets are not scoring when needed. All the SNY "Daily News Live" crew can't understand why the Mets lost in Houston with Reyes getting 11 hits there. It's simple, Reyes getting on base means nothing if David isn't hitting. Guinness and others worship at the alter of Jose', but David is the more important player. The stats prove it out. David hits well over .300 when the Mets win, and under .200 when they lose. Without David hitting the ball, Reyes gets stuck on base looking for a hit from someone. How many times on this road trip did the Mets leave the bases loaded and not score ANY RUNS !!!!! 5 times? 6 times? More than 6? A hit in any of those instances would have turned losses into wins.
If there is anything to be hopeful for it's the play of the youngsters. Evans and Murphy will share duties in left field. Both did a good job in Houston with that weird wacky wall in left field. Murphy had an outfield assist in Saturday's game, and Evans threw out 2 runners at 2nd base in Sunday's game. With Kunz in the pen and Neise maybe getting the start Friday or Saturday, we should be getting a good look at the future of the team. With any luck, they can shine a little light on a gloomy situation in NY.
Friday, August 1, 2008
POST DRAFT THOUGHTS
I unlike most Mets fans am glad that Omar didn’t make any trades before the non-waiver deadline. All too often Omar overpays for marginal players. If the Mets need bull-pen help, call up Eddie Kunz. He’s the closer to be, and the time under Billy’s arm will do him good for next year when he’s the 8th inning set-up man and 2010 when he’s closing. If they need a starter, call up Neise. Neise in his 1st game in AAA pitched 7 innings and gave up only 1 run. If a Bat is needed, call up Murphy or Carp. Both are hitting over .300 and play the infield or outfield.
If the Mets are looking for an experienced Major League pitcher, Freddie Garcia is a free-agent and pitching this week for a job. He’s healthy now and won’t cost the Mets half the farm system to sign. It’s become evident that other MLB Gm’s don’t like to deal with Omar unless they have no choice. This is evident in the double standard of players needed. The Redsox gave away 2 bum players to get Jason Bay, and the Mets were being asked to trade major players. So in light of the price needed by the Mets to get anyone, I’ll take my chances on the kids in AA and AAA.
What do you all think? Should Omar have signed someone? If so who, and at what price?
If the Mets are looking for an experienced Major League pitcher, Freddie Garcia is a free-agent and pitching this week for a job. He’s healthy now and won’t cost the Mets half the farm system to sign. It’s become evident that other MLB Gm’s don’t like to deal with Omar unless they have no choice. This is evident in the double standard of players needed. The Redsox gave away 2 bum players to get Jason Bay, and the Mets were being asked to trade major players. So in light of the price needed by the Mets to get anyone, I’ll take my chances on the kids in AA and AAA.
What do you all think? Should Omar have signed someone? If so who, and at what price?
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