I was working when the game started and I listen with great interest as the Mets showed some life and attitude. What happened after last night's game is any one's guess, but maybe there is some pride in this team after all.
Regular readers of this blog will know that I absolutely love John Maine as a pitcher. He's been a favorite of mine since his call up in '06. He has a powerful arm and a brain to match. He is constantly learning how to pitch and never seems content to be average. I see a lot of Josh Beckett in him. He wants to shut the other team down and beat them to a pulp. It hasn't always worked out for John, but he never quits and never surrenders. And those traits are evident this year. While in earlier starts he hasn't had his best stuff, he worked his way thru the problems and gave his team a chance to win. Today, he was smoking and the Dodgers never had a chance.
John didn't strikeout a lot of hitters, but they were pounding the ball into the dirt and couldn't get anything going until the 9th inning. His fastball was constantly hitting 93-95 MPH and topped out at 97!!! His change-up has nasty and dropping across the plate at 78-82 MPH. He worked quickly and threw strikes. His pitch count was only in the low 80's in the 8th inning, and came out for the 9th. Then things got sticky. He allowed a bloop double to Andrew Jones, walked 1 and had another hitter give him a long at bat that turned into a RBI single. Once the 1st run scored, Willie pulled him after 117 pitches. John even managed to drive in 2 runs with a single to center. So not a bad day at all for John.
The offense finally played like we all hoped they would. They got 2 out hits and hit with runners in scoring position. Once they got Brad Penny reeling, they didn't let up. They kept their foot on his throat and scored 10 runs on him. That's what they needed last night, but failed to do. They need to be like sharks in the water. Once there's blood flowing, attack over and over. Don't allow other teams to hang around. Bury them and their hopes of victory as fast as possible. Ryan Church just continues to get better and better. He had 3 hits today and 1 was another long home run. I said earlier this month that I envision him as a left handed version of David Wright. Well so far he's proving me right. Castillo, Pagan, Casanova, Anderson and David had RBI hits also. Reyes went 0-3 with 2 walks, and Beltran mangled 3 balls and got 1 hit. Most importantly, Castillo, Wright, and Maine all got 2 out RBI hits. Those have been very rare for the Mets this year.
Overall is was a complete game. Great starting pitching that went deep into the game. Timely hitting with runners in scoring position and 2 outs. And good solid fielding. These things are the foundation of success on the field, and something that needs to happen more often.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Hell is on the Way
It's hard for me to see much of these games out in L.A., but that may be a blessing. The same issues Guinness and I constantly harp on are continuing to happen. No life, no emotion and no results.
Once again the burden falls on the Young Gunslinger John Maine. He comes into this game with the impossible job of stopping the bleeding and salvage one of these games. Without some more effort at the plate, it may be an impossible job. None of the hitters can get a hit when needed, and very few can even get on base. This team is headed for disaster when they return to NYC. If they thought Shea was chilly and rough before, wait until they losing games to the Reds.
The Mets since last May have exactly a .500 record, and I don't see thing improving with the present management in place. I was reading an article in a NYC paper and the author was talking about the managements' problems. From his reporting, he says that the Wilpon's have given opmar 1 month to right the ship. If after that month, the Mets are still playing .500 baseball and falling in the standings, choices will be made. Omar will have to decide if the Mets can will with Witless Willie as manager. If he sticks with Willie, and the Mets fail this year, Omar and Willie will both be fired. The reporter has sources inside the Mets front office. So maybe there is some truth to this rumor. I've been saying that I'd be willing to have the Mets be in the cellar by June 1 if it means Willie getting fired. The way the Mets are playing that could soon be the situation. They are now in 4th place, just a couple games ahead of the Nats.
Today's game is an early start so I should be able to see most of it. Here's hoping "Gary Cooper" can once again face down the bad guys and save the team from destuction. John is needed more than ever today, and I hope he's up to the task.
Once again the burden falls on the Young Gunslinger John Maine. He comes into this game with the impossible job of stopping the bleeding and salvage one of these games. Without some more effort at the plate, it may be an impossible job. None of the hitters can get a hit when needed, and very few can even get on base. This team is headed for disaster when they return to NYC. If they thought Shea was chilly and rough before, wait until they losing games to the Reds.
The Mets since last May have exactly a .500 record, and I don't see thing improving with the present management in place. I was reading an article in a NYC paper and the author was talking about the managements' problems. From his reporting, he says that the Wilpon's have given opmar 1 month to right the ship. If after that month, the Mets are still playing .500 baseball and falling in the standings, choices will be made. Omar will have to decide if the Mets can will with Witless Willie as manager. If he sticks with Willie, and the Mets fail this year, Omar and Willie will both be fired. The reporter has sources inside the Mets front office. So maybe there is some truth to this rumor. I've been saying that I'd be willing to have the Mets be in the cellar by June 1 if it means Willie getting fired. The way the Mets are playing that could soon be the situation. They are now in 4th place, just a couple games ahead of the Nats.
Today's game is an early start so I should be able to see most of it. Here's hoping "Gary Cooper" can once again face down the bad guys and save the team from destuction. John is needed more than ever today, and I hope he's up to the task.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
The Duel of Aces turns on an Error
This game was billed as a Duel of ACES and it certainly lived up to it. Both Haren and Santana gave up very little and the Bull-pens decided the game. This time the Mets came out on top.
Last year I used a Movie title as a theme for my post game comments. I think I'll use it here too.
The Good
Marlon Anderson, David Wright, and Jose' Reyes provided the hits that made the difference. Jose' had a critical SacFly in the 9th inning, and David crushed a ball into the seat in right center field. He just missed a home run in the 1st inning when he drove a ball to the wall in center. Carlos had another hit and scored a run on Jose's SacFly. Beltran managed a hit and scored on Anderson's single to take the lead. The Mets went into the 9th inning tied and managed to score three runs to seal the win. They took advantage of an error by Jackson to kick open the door and score the deciding runs. All too often the Mets have been on the wrong side of that situation this year.
The defense was also good when it was needed. Church made a great throw from the left field foul area to nail a runner at third. It was his 4th assist this year, and shows how strong that arm is. It turned out to be the game saving play. Without his strong accurate throw, the D-Backs have the go ahead run on 3rd base with no outs. Because of it, they have one out and never showed any life after that. Plays like that are becoming common with Ryan, and prove the value of the Milledge trade. Reyes made some great plays too, and was robbed of a PO on a blown call at 1st base. Castillo was clean in the field and had a busy day throwing to first base.
The Bad
The umpires were terrible. They missed a call at 1st base, and clearly blew a call at second base early in the game. Ojeda was out stretching a hit into a double, but the ump blew it. The strike zone didn't seem very consistent either. The pitchers were rolling the dice when they threw pitches on the corners. Sometimes they were strikes, sometimes not.
The defense has bad too. Feliciano throw away a ball that could have been a disaster. If not for Ryan's great arm and hustle, the D-Backs would have had a runner on third in the 8th inning. At that time the game was in the balance, and who knows how the Mets would have responded if the D-Backs took the lead there.
Castillo and Ryan were hitless and Beltran continues to struggle. Delgado is becoming a better hitter lately than Beltran. THAT'S SCARY!!! Schneider was also hitless although he did have a critical sac bunt in the 9th.
The UGLY
Schneider's defense sucks. I've never seen such a lousy catcher behind the plate. He had the reputation of being this great defensive catcher when he was acquired in the Milledge trade. Doesn't he know how to block any balls in the dirt? Does he know how to CATCH THE BALL!!! I've lost count on how many times this year balls have popped out of his glove. Santana was charged with 3 wild pitches today. That has never happened before in his career. If Schneider could actually do his job, none of them would have happened. Casanova and Molina put Brian to shame behind the plate. They catch and block everything. They can even hit the ball. If I had a say in it, Brian would be the backup catcher to Raul. Brian has done nothing to impress me this year. The game announcers try to pass it off as his lack of playing time this year. And who's fault is that? If he STAYED HEALTHY, he'd be playing more. Why don't Molina, Casanova, or Castro have these catching problems? Is it maybe because they CAN MOVE AROUND BEHIND THE PLATE and catch the ball? As bad as Lo Duca was claimed to be behind the plate, he looks like Johnny Bench compared to Brian. Everything Brian has been dropping and missing, Pauly caught or blocked. Doing that alone saves runs.
Now onto L.A. and a date with the Dodgers. The Mets website says Figueroa is pitching but I heard something about Ollie pitching Monday. I hope it's Nelson that faces the Dodgers 1st. It's alot easier to win the series when you win the 1st game. I doubt I'm alone in these feelings, but I don't trust Ollie to keep his head on straight. I bet people on the Mets feel the same about Ollie. If he has another Meltdown like he did against the Pirates, it could get real ugly in NY when he returns.
Last year I used a Movie title as a theme for my post game comments. I think I'll use it here too.
The Good
Marlon Anderson, David Wright, and Jose' Reyes provided the hits that made the difference. Jose' had a critical SacFly in the 9th inning, and David crushed a ball into the seat in right center field. He just missed a home run in the 1st inning when he drove a ball to the wall in center. Carlos had another hit and scored a run on Jose's SacFly. Beltran managed a hit and scored on Anderson's single to take the lead. The Mets went into the 9th inning tied and managed to score three runs to seal the win. They took advantage of an error by Jackson to kick open the door and score the deciding runs. All too often the Mets have been on the wrong side of that situation this year.
The defense was also good when it was needed. Church made a great throw from the left field foul area to nail a runner at third. It was his 4th assist this year, and shows how strong that arm is. It turned out to be the game saving play. Without his strong accurate throw, the D-Backs have the go ahead run on 3rd base with no outs. Because of it, they have one out and never showed any life after that. Plays like that are becoming common with Ryan, and prove the value of the Milledge trade. Reyes made some great plays too, and was robbed of a PO on a blown call at 1st base. Castillo was clean in the field and had a busy day throwing to first base.
The Bad
The umpires were terrible. They missed a call at 1st base, and clearly blew a call at second base early in the game. Ojeda was out stretching a hit into a double, but the ump blew it. The strike zone didn't seem very consistent either. The pitchers were rolling the dice when they threw pitches on the corners. Sometimes they were strikes, sometimes not.
The defense has bad too. Feliciano throw away a ball that could have been a disaster. If not for Ryan's great arm and hustle, the D-Backs would have had a runner on third in the 8th inning. At that time the game was in the balance, and who knows how the Mets would have responded if the D-Backs took the lead there.
Castillo and Ryan were hitless and Beltran continues to struggle. Delgado is becoming a better hitter lately than Beltran. THAT'S SCARY!!! Schneider was also hitless although he did have a critical sac bunt in the 9th.
The UGLY
Schneider's defense sucks. I've never seen such a lousy catcher behind the plate. He had the reputation of being this great defensive catcher when he was acquired in the Milledge trade. Doesn't he know how to block any balls in the dirt? Does he know how to CATCH THE BALL!!! I've lost count on how many times this year balls have popped out of his glove. Santana was charged with 3 wild pitches today. That has never happened before in his career. If Schneider could actually do his job, none of them would have happened. Casanova and Molina put Brian to shame behind the plate. They catch and block everything. They can even hit the ball. If I had a say in it, Brian would be the backup catcher to Raul. Brian has done nothing to impress me this year. The game announcers try to pass it off as his lack of playing time this year. And who's fault is that? If he STAYED HEALTHY, he'd be playing more. Why don't Molina, Casanova, or Castro have these catching problems? Is it maybe because they CAN MOVE AROUND BEHIND THE PLATE and catch the ball? As bad as Lo Duca was claimed to be behind the plate, he looks like Johnny Bench compared to Brian. Everything Brian has been dropping and missing, Pauly caught or blocked. Doing that alone saves runs.
Now onto L.A. and a date with the Dodgers. The Mets website says Figueroa is pitching but I heard something about Ollie pitching Monday. I hope it's Nelson that faces the Dodgers 1st. It's alot easier to win the series when you win the 1st game. I doubt I'm alone in these feelings, but I don't trust Ollie to keep his head on straight. I bet people on the Mets feel the same about Ollie. If he has another Meltdown like he did against the Pirates, it could get real ugly in NY when he returns.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
The Desert Snakes bite the Mets in the Butt
What an aggravating game to watch. Pelfrey couldn't throw a strike, Heilman hits 2 batters, and Sanchez does his imitation of Perez. On a day when the Mets score 4 runs off Webb, none of the pitchers came to play.
The Mets scored their runs from the least likely sources. Raul Casanova had a RBI single and Carlos Delgado hit a three run home run in the 6th inning. The Mets only had 6 hits and that doesn't usually bode well for winning games. Webb had the Mets beating his sinker into the ground all day long and they never took advantage of the few base runners allowed. Church was in the 2 hole again and had 2 hits off Webb. But Reyes was swinging at pitches in the dirt and never got on base. David went hitless, and Alou' sat out the game. Why, after waiting over a month for him to return, is he already sitting out a day game? If there was a bright spot with the offense it was the fact that Carlos Beltran got a hit, and Delgado managed to hit a home run. I guess the sun even shines on their butts once in awhile. That could be all the hits they see for the week. Maybe it's a sign of them waking up. Lets all hope so. It sure would be easier to win some games if they could consistantly hit the ball.
Once again the Pitching was terrible. Pelfrey couldn't get ahead in the counts and didn't have the means to get out of trouble. Unlike Maine, he lacks the ability to strike hitters out. When balls are put in play, they tend to find holes. Sosa came into the game to start the 6th inning and managed to get out of the inning without doing anymore damage to his ego. Heilman got the 7th, and then things got scary. He gets 2 quick outs, walks the next batter, and then HITS the NEXT 2 BATTERS to load the bases. AHHHHHHH !!!! Somehow he managed to gather himself and strikeout the next hitter. Disaster was adverted, until the 8th inning. Sanchez who has been great all year, blew up the game. He walked 1 and gave up 4 hits and allowed 5 runs in only 1/3rd of an inning. Any chance of getting a victory went up in smoke. Willie called Schoeneweis in to close the inning out. Augie Ojeda then ripped a double into the right field corner and scored the final 2 runs of the inning. But the damage was done and there was no coming back today. Who would have thought that Hudson's replacement would drive in 6 runs and single handily kill the Mets? I guess he had his 15 minutes of fame today.
Well one more game to go and we'll be treated to quite the pitching match-up. Dan Haren goes for the D-Backs against Johan Santana. During the winter the Mets tried to trade for Haren but managed to get Santana instead. I'd rather have Johan than Haren, but now we get to see which trade was better. The sad part is that both could have been on the staff if Omar had made a certain trade. Early in '07 I believe Billy Bean called Omar about trading Haren for Heilman and another player. Omar sad no thanks, and we are left to wonder what might have been. Imagine this rotation. Santana, Haren, Maine as the top 3 starters for years to come.
The Mets scored their runs from the least likely sources. Raul Casanova had a RBI single and Carlos Delgado hit a three run home run in the 6th inning. The Mets only had 6 hits and that doesn't usually bode well for winning games. Webb had the Mets beating his sinker into the ground all day long and they never took advantage of the few base runners allowed. Church was in the 2 hole again and had 2 hits off Webb. But Reyes was swinging at pitches in the dirt and never got on base. David went hitless, and Alou' sat out the game. Why, after waiting over a month for him to return, is he already sitting out a day game? If there was a bright spot with the offense it was the fact that Carlos Beltran got a hit, and Delgado managed to hit a home run. I guess the sun even shines on their butts once in awhile. That could be all the hits they see for the week. Maybe it's a sign of them waking up. Lets all hope so. It sure would be easier to win some games if they could consistantly hit the ball.
Once again the Pitching was terrible. Pelfrey couldn't get ahead in the counts and didn't have the means to get out of trouble. Unlike Maine, he lacks the ability to strike hitters out. When balls are put in play, they tend to find holes. Sosa came into the game to start the 6th inning and managed to get out of the inning without doing anymore damage to his ego. Heilman got the 7th, and then things got scary. He gets 2 quick outs, walks the next batter, and then HITS the NEXT 2 BATTERS to load the bases. AHHHHHHH !!!! Somehow he managed to gather himself and strikeout the next hitter. Disaster was adverted, until the 8th inning. Sanchez who has been great all year, blew up the game. He walked 1 and gave up 4 hits and allowed 5 runs in only 1/3rd of an inning. Any chance of getting a victory went up in smoke. Willie called Schoeneweis in to close the inning out. Augie Ojeda then ripped a double into the right field corner and scored the final 2 runs of the inning. But the damage was done and there was no coming back today. Who would have thought that Hudson's replacement would drive in 6 runs and single handily kill the Mets? I guess he had his 15 minutes of fame today.
Well one more game to go and we'll be treated to quite the pitching match-up. Dan Haren goes for the D-Backs against Johan Santana. During the winter the Mets tried to trade for Haren but managed to get Santana instead. I'd rather have Johan than Haren, but now we get to see which trade was better. The sad part is that both could have been on the staff if Omar had made a certain trade. Early in '07 I believe Billy Bean called Omar about trading Haren for Heilman and another player. Omar sad no thanks, and we are left to wonder what might have been. Imagine this rotation. Santana, Haren, Maine as the top 3 starters for years to come.
Ryan brings Wright and Reyes to Church in the Desert
It's amazing what a little desert air will do for the bats. Willie moves Church to the 2 hole, Reyes hits the 1st pitch of the game for a triple, and David starts hitting the ball again. Can the Mets stay in Phoenix for a few weeks?
While watching Mets Pregame Live, I heard Ryan would be batting second in the line-up. Everyone on the show that was asked said the move made sense, and Ryan proved me and all those people right. Now if Willie could only see the light, and leave Church there, this offense may show some more consistent life. But in his post game remarks, Willie said Ryan didn't make a difference hitting in the 2 hole. He said the offense got going because Jose' got on base. He also said that Castillo was his 2 hitter, and that he knows his "guys better than anyone else in the world". Will you get a clue Willie. It's no wonder this team has under performed for over a year. I guess the 3 RBI that Church had didn't count? I guess the fact that the Mets scored early and often didn't have anything to do with Ryan's bat either? I guess the fact that Jose' hits .500 and Ryan hits .400 when they bat 1-2 in the order doesn't matter. I guess the 6 wins the Mets have when Ryan bats 2nd don't matter either. Let's just give them back. It's attitudes and ignorance like Willie's that is holding this team down. I know Ryan isn't the prototypical 2 hole hitter, but IT WORKS !!! With Ryan there, the top 3 hitters had 9 of the 12 hits by the Mets and drove in 5 of the 7 runs. So leave him there until things don't work. Why does Willie insist on not placing the best team on the field everyday? Putting the best team on the field also means placing them in the line-up where the team benefits most. The Mets benefit the most when Ryan is hitting 2nd, not 5th or lower. With Alou' in the line-up, are you going to bat Ryan 6th or 7th instead of 2nd? That's crazy thinking, and only Witless Willie or Guinness would consider it.
Enough of my ranting about batting orders, how about the fielding ? Reyes was great and made some super plays and throws tonight. His flat out diving grab was what we all hope to see from him in the field. That play doesn't get made if he's daydreaming in the field. And how about the catch by David? Running full speed into the outfield down the foul line, he dives and makes an over the shoulder catch in the dirt to end an inning !!!! That's why he won the Gold Glove last year. He has a knack for making catches that don't seem possible. But David was the victim of a hot smash off his glove they ruled an error earlier. He got an error there, but Hudson muffs a routine ground ball and doesn't get one? Granted Alou's ball was hit hard at Hudson, but David's play was much tougher to make and he gets charged anyway.
How about the pitching!!! John did what Ollie couldn't do. He found away to get thru 6 innings without having his best stuff. He struck out 6, walked 2 and for the 5th game in a row allowed only 2 runs. Not too bad for someone who had to use his breaking pitches more than normal. He actually got 3 strikeouts on his CHANGE-UP. And he was throwing his SLIDER for strike too. He used those pitches to set up his fastball in the 5th and 6th innings. His ERA is down to 3.48 and John is maturing with every start. It takes a PITCHER to know how to adjust during the game. Anyone can throw a baseball, but not everyone is a pitcher. Ollie should take a lesson or 2 from Maine before his next start and maybe he'll last more than 1.2 innings. The relievers were also on point this game. Joe Smith pitched 1.2 innings and looked good. Feliciano came in to close the 8th out, and Sanchez was dominate in the 9th striking out 2 hitters. That's what the Mets need from the pen. Good consistent pitching and no messing around.
It was a nice game to watch overall. The Mets played focused baseball and continued their dominance in the desert. Lets hope this is a sign of things to come, and the Mets can start burying teams early and often in games.
While watching Mets Pregame Live, I heard Ryan would be batting second in the line-up. Everyone on the show that was asked said the move made sense, and Ryan proved me and all those people right. Now if Willie could only see the light, and leave Church there, this offense may show some more consistent life. But in his post game remarks, Willie said Ryan didn't make a difference hitting in the 2 hole. He said the offense got going because Jose' got on base. He also said that Castillo was his 2 hitter, and that he knows his "guys better than anyone else in the world". Will you get a clue Willie. It's no wonder this team has under performed for over a year. I guess the 3 RBI that Church had didn't count? I guess the fact that the Mets scored early and often didn't have anything to do with Ryan's bat either? I guess the fact that Jose' hits .500 and Ryan hits .400 when they bat 1-2 in the order doesn't matter. I guess the 6 wins the Mets have when Ryan bats 2nd don't matter either. Let's just give them back. It's attitudes and ignorance like Willie's that is holding this team down. I know Ryan isn't the prototypical 2 hole hitter, but IT WORKS !!! With Ryan there, the top 3 hitters had 9 of the 12 hits by the Mets and drove in 5 of the 7 runs. So leave him there until things don't work. Why does Willie insist on not placing the best team on the field everyday? Putting the best team on the field also means placing them in the line-up where the team benefits most. The Mets benefit the most when Ryan is hitting 2nd, not 5th or lower. With Alou' in the line-up, are you going to bat Ryan 6th or 7th instead of 2nd? That's crazy thinking, and only Witless Willie or Guinness would consider it.
Enough of my ranting about batting orders, how about the fielding ? Reyes was great and made some super plays and throws tonight. His flat out diving grab was what we all hope to see from him in the field. That play doesn't get made if he's daydreaming in the field. And how about the catch by David? Running full speed into the outfield down the foul line, he dives and makes an over the shoulder catch in the dirt to end an inning !!!! That's why he won the Gold Glove last year. He has a knack for making catches that don't seem possible. But David was the victim of a hot smash off his glove they ruled an error earlier. He got an error there, but Hudson muffs a routine ground ball and doesn't get one? Granted Alou's ball was hit hard at Hudson, but David's play was much tougher to make and he gets charged anyway.
How about the pitching!!! John did what Ollie couldn't do. He found away to get thru 6 innings without having his best stuff. He struck out 6, walked 2 and for the 5th game in a row allowed only 2 runs. Not too bad for someone who had to use his breaking pitches more than normal. He actually got 3 strikeouts on his CHANGE-UP. And he was throwing his SLIDER for strike too. He used those pitches to set up his fastball in the 5th and 6th innings. His ERA is down to 3.48 and John is maturing with every start. It takes a PITCHER to know how to adjust during the game. Anyone can throw a baseball, but not everyone is a pitcher. Ollie should take a lesson or 2 from Maine before his next start and maybe he'll last more than 1.2 innings. The relievers were also on point this game. Joe Smith pitched 1.2 innings and looked good. Feliciano came in to close the 8th out, and Sanchez was dominate in the 9th striking out 2 hitters. That's what the Mets need from the pen. Good consistent pitching and no messing around.
It was a nice game to watch overall. The Mets played focused baseball and continued their dominance in the desert. Lets hope this is a sign of things to come, and the Mets can start burying teams early and often in games.
Friday, May 2, 2008
A Possible Road Trip to Hell?
Tonight starts a road trip that could possibly save the Mets, or bury them. They go into Arizona and play the Hottest team in MLB. The Diamondbacks have their 3 best pitchers going against the Mets. They send Haren, Webb, and Owings against Maine, Pelfrey, and Santana. The three Dback starters have a combined 14-1 record. Owings is also a hitting fool. He's so good with a bat, they use him as a pinch hitter!!!!!
At least there are a few things in the Mets favor. The Mets have a history of beating up on the Dbacks. Alou' is returning to the line-up tonight. Lets hope he provides a kick in the butt to the offense this trip. Here's to hoping he also stays healthy. Lastly, Webb doesn't have very good luck against the Mets. He's 1-4 when facing them.
Monday doesn't get any better. Torre' has the Dodgers on a 6 game winning streak. So either they'll be ready to lose when the Mets visit them, or they'll be starting a new streak against the Mets. Lets hope the Mets start them on a losing streak, not a winning streak.
If the Mets don't have success on this trip [3-3, or 4-2] I hope they can endure some more heat from the fans. We as fans are losing patience with the teams lazy attitude and Witless Willie's denials of existing problems. It's time to man up and prove to fans around the world that they belong in the elite teams of MLB. Baseball played at a .500 rate won't cut it, and that's what they've been playing since last June.
At least there are a few things in the Mets favor. The Mets have a history of beating up on the Dbacks. Alou' is returning to the line-up tonight. Lets hope he provides a kick in the butt to the offense this trip. Here's to hoping he also stays healthy. Lastly, Webb doesn't have very good luck against the Mets. He's 1-4 when facing them.
Monday doesn't get any better. Torre' has the Dodgers on a 6 game winning streak. So either they'll be ready to lose when the Mets visit them, or they'll be starting a new streak against the Mets. Lets hope the Mets start them on a losing streak, not a winning streak.
If the Mets don't have success on this trip [3-3, or 4-2] I hope they can endure some more heat from the fans. We as fans are losing patience with the teams lazy attitude and Witless Willie's denials of existing problems. It's time to man up and prove to fans around the world that they belong in the elite teams of MLB. Baseball played at a .500 rate won't cut it, and that's what they've been playing since last June.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Grades for the Month of April
I thought since it was an off night that I'd try to rate some aspects of the Mets play this past month. I'll also try to give a rating to some of the players too. I try not to get to involved with my reasons, but just give a quick overview. I would really like some feed back about the players I mention, or about a player you think deserves mentioning.
I'll start with the brightest aspect of the Mets team so far. The starting pitching has been better than expected and was had far fewer surprises than last year.
Johan has been very good, but not the shutdown pitcher we had hoped for, YET. He's given the team quality starts and has pitched deeper into games than anyone else. Once the weather warms up, I believe so will Santana. He's given up a few home runs, but is walking fewer hitters and striking out his share. His record is 3-2, but could be 5-1. He left one game with the lead, and got no run support in a game against the Braves. He gave up 1 run and got the loss. Johan's ERA is at 3.12, so I except it to fall some more in the near future. I give Johan a "B+".
John Maine has gotten better as the season as progressed. His 1st game was bad, but he's pitched well enough to merit our trust. His 2-2 record is a bit deceiving. He's pitched well enough to be 4-1. He left games with the lead, only to have the bull-pen blow it for him, or not get any run support. His walks are really the only major issue. He seems to be the victim of a shrinking strike zone, but he's adjusting ok. If he can get into the 7th inning he should get more chances for the win. His ERA is down to 3.58, so he's headed in the right direction. I give John a "B".
Oliver Perez is up to his old tricks. He's great for a couple of innings, and then it all falls apart for him. He seem to be easily distracted and unable to pick up the team when something goes wrong. Even in his 1st 2 victories, he couldn't get out of the 6th inning. His walks come by the basketful and he can't seem to stop them. Once the walks start, they only stop when Ollie is removed from the game. His ERA started out in the 2s, but has now ballooned to 4.03. Ollie also has 21 walks in 29 innings. Not very good. Oliver gets a "C-" from me.
Mike Pelfrey is a small surprise this spring. The last few weeks of spring training he struggled and only won a spot in the rotation when Grandpa Hernandez could pitch. He started out good but has had difficulties his last few games. He's 2-1 with a 4.43 ERA. He has 10 strikeouts and 10 walks to go with 29 hits in 22 innings. Not very good. But it is an improvement from last year when he started 0-7. I give Mike a "C" .
Nelson Figueroa is the biggest surprise this spring. He's been very good [2-1, and 4.08 era]and never really seems to get rattled. Which begs this question. Why didn't anyone sign him to a contract before the Mets? With pitching so hard to find, I don't know why Nelson would be struggling to find a job in MLB. He throws numerous pitches for strikes, has a fastball between 86-90 MPH, and gives you innings. In his Mets debut, he retired the first 14 batters to face him. He came into Ollie's meltdown game on 2 days rest, and pitched well for 3 innings. Too bad Ollie didn't pitch like Nelson. Because of his surprise showing this spring, I give Nelson a "B" for his efforts.
Now for the Hitting. This is a troubling aspect for the Mets. Too few people are hitting, and when they do hit, it's at the wrong time. The offense is continuing to play without any energy or passion. And few players are earning their pay.
Ryan Church is more than anyone could have hoped for. He's crushing left handed pitching, driving in runs, scoring runs, and playing a great outfield. All that was heard from too many fans was how bad of a trade this was. Nobody liked trading Milledge [I thought it was a good trade] and everyone was saying how Ryan couldn't hit left handed pitchers. Well so much for them. He goes about his business like a professional, plays hard everyday, and has more good days than bad. Who could ask for more? I give him an "A" for his efforts.
David Wright has been great, and not so great. He's in a little funk now, but has shown some life in the last few games. He's the leader in most offensive stats on the team. At one time this season he was hitting .345 and was leading the league in RBI. His swoon at the plate has brought his average down to .281, but that should start climbing above .300 very soon. His 5 errors are not very good, but no one ever said David was perfect in the field. 3rd base is called the "HOT CORNER" for a reason. Balls hit there are moving at warp speed. I give David a "B-" so far this year. I expect better from him, so his grade will suffer for now.
Jose' Reyes is lost. His average is at .250 and not getting any better. His OBP is .307. The only everyday player lower is Delgado at .297. Even Santana has a higher OBP [.313]. He only has 6 steals and 9 walks. the worst part of it is the fact that he's not getting any better. He has a good game or two, and then does nothing for the next 3-4 games. Jose's fielding hasn't been the greatest either. He has 5 errors, and has been out of position many times this spring. He seems to be daydreaming in the field and at the plate. Until he gets his head on straight, the season will be rough for him and the Mets. He gets a "C-" from me so far.
Carlos Delgado can be summed up in a few words. He's done in NY. His fielding is costing the Mets runs, and his lack of a bat is causing too many outs. His average is at .198 and his OBP at .297. He has 20 strikeouts, 19 hits, and only 12 RBI. He refuses to admit he has problems, and does nothing to correct them. To make matters worse, Willie loves him. I doubt Carlos even matches his paltry stats from last year. He gets an "F" for the season so far.
Carlos Beltran is MIA this spring. Where is the hitter that had 5 doubles in his 1st 6 ABs? Carlos is hitting .212 with 21 strikeouts and only 19 hits. Beltran and Delgado truly are the Carlos brothers. Their stats are so alike, it's scary. They are the major reason why the Mets offense is so anemic. Until he wakes up at the plate, David will continue to see a stead diet of sliders and curveballs on the outside corner of the plate. Pitchers no longer fear the Carlos brothers. Until that happens, the offense will sputter. Carlos also gets a "F" for his lack of results.
As bad as the offense has been, Heilman and Sosa have been worse. They have single handily cost the Mets at least 5 wins this season. They have given up 3 GRANDSLAMS in APRIL alone. They can't get anyone out, and don't seem to remember how to pitch. All Aaron wants to throw is his change-up. And all Sosa wants to throw is his slider. When you only throw 1 pitch, it doesn't take long for hitters to pound the baseball. If it was possible to give them something lower than a "F", I would.
I'll start with the brightest aspect of the Mets team so far. The starting pitching has been better than expected and was had far fewer surprises than last year.
Johan has been very good, but not the shutdown pitcher we had hoped for, YET. He's given the team quality starts and has pitched deeper into games than anyone else. Once the weather warms up, I believe so will Santana. He's given up a few home runs, but is walking fewer hitters and striking out his share. His record is 3-2, but could be 5-1. He left one game with the lead, and got no run support in a game against the Braves. He gave up 1 run and got the loss. Johan's ERA is at 3.12, so I except it to fall some more in the near future. I give Johan a "B+".
John Maine has gotten better as the season as progressed. His 1st game was bad, but he's pitched well enough to merit our trust. His 2-2 record is a bit deceiving. He's pitched well enough to be 4-1. He left games with the lead, only to have the bull-pen blow it for him, or not get any run support. His walks are really the only major issue. He seems to be the victim of a shrinking strike zone, but he's adjusting ok. If he can get into the 7th inning he should get more chances for the win. His ERA is down to 3.58, so he's headed in the right direction. I give John a "B".
Oliver Perez is up to his old tricks. He's great for a couple of innings, and then it all falls apart for him. He seem to be easily distracted and unable to pick up the team when something goes wrong. Even in his 1st 2 victories, he couldn't get out of the 6th inning. His walks come by the basketful and he can't seem to stop them. Once the walks start, they only stop when Ollie is removed from the game. His ERA started out in the 2s, but has now ballooned to 4.03. Ollie also has 21 walks in 29 innings. Not very good. Oliver gets a "C-" from me.
Mike Pelfrey is a small surprise this spring. The last few weeks of spring training he struggled and only won a spot in the rotation when Grandpa Hernandez could pitch. He started out good but has had difficulties his last few games. He's 2-1 with a 4.43 ERA. He has 10 strikeouts and 10 walks to go with 29 hits in 22 innings. Not very good. But it is an improvement from last year when he started 0-7. I give Mike a "C" .
Nelson Figueroa is the biggest surprise this spring. He's been very good [2-1, and 4.08 era]and never really seems to get rattled. Which begs this question. Why didn't anyone sign him to a contract before the Mets? With pitching so hard to find, I don't know why Nelson would be struggling to find a job in MLB. He throws numerous pitches for strikes, has a fastball between 86-90 MPH, and gives you innings. In his Mets debut, he retired the first 14 batters to face him. He came into Ollie's meltdown game on 2 days rest, and pitched well for 3 innings. Too bad Ollie didn't pitch like Nelson. Because of his surprise showing this spring, I give Nelson a "B" for his efforts.
Now for the Hitting. This is a troubling aspect for the Mets. Too few people are hitting, and when they do hit, it's at the wrong time. The offense is continuing to play without any energy or passion. And few players are earning their pay.
Ryan Church is more than anyone could have hoped for. He's crushing left handed pitching, driving in runs, scoring runs, and playing a great outfield. All that was heard from too many fans was how bad of a trade this was. Nobody liked trading Milledge [I thought it was a good trade] and everyone was saying how Ryan couldn't hit left handed pitchers. Well so much for them. He goes about his business like a professional, plays hard everyday, and has more good days than bad. Who could ask for more? I give him an "A" for his efforts.
David Wright has been great, and not so great. He's in a little funk now, but has shown some life in the last few games. He's the leader in most offensive stats on the team. At one time this season he was hitting .345 and was leading the league in RBI. His swoon at the plate has brought his average down to .281, but that should start climbing above .300 very soon. His 5 errors are not very good, but no one ever said David was perfect in the field. 3rd base is called the "HOT CORNER" for a reason. Balls hit there are moving at warp speed. I give David a "B-" so far this year. I expect better from him, so his grade will suffer for now.
Jose' Reyes is lost. His average is at .250 and not getting any better. His OBP is .307. The only everyday player lower is Delgado at .297. Even Santana has a higher OBP [.313]. He only has 6 steals and 9 walks. the worst part of it is the fact that he's not getting any better. He has a good game or two, and then does nothing for the next 3-4 games. Jose's fielding hasn't been the greatest either. He has 5 errors, and has been out of position many times this spring. He seems to be daydreaming in the field and at the plate. Until he gets his head on straight, the season will be rough for him and the Mets. He gets a "C-" from me so far.
Carlos Delgado can be summed up in a few words. He's done in NY. His fielding is costing the Mets runs, and his lack of a bat is causing too many outs. His average is at .198 and his OBP at .297. He has 20 strikeouts, 19 hits, and only 12 RBI. He refuses to admit he has problems, and does nothing to correct them. To make matters worse, Willie loves him. I doubt Carlos even matches his paltry stats from last year. He gets an "F" for the season so far.
Carlos Beltran is MIA this spring. Where is the hitter that had 5 doubles in his 1st 6 ABs? Carlos is hitting .212 with 21 strikeouts and only 19 hits. Beltran and Delgado truly are the Carlos brothers. Their stats are so alike, it's scary. They are the major reason why the Mets offense is so anemic. Until he wakes up at the plate, David will continue to see a stead diet of sliders and curveballs on the outside corner of the plate. Pitchers no longer fear the Carlos brothers. Until that happens, the offense will sputter. Carlos also gets a "F" for his lack of results.
As bad as the offense has been, Heilman and Sosa have been worse. They have single handily cost the Mets at least 5 wins this season. They have given up 3 GRANDSLAMS in APRIL alone. They can't get anyone out, and don't seem to remember how to pitch. All Aaron wants to throw is his change-up. And all Sosa wants to throw is his slider. When you only throw 1 pitch, it doesn't take long for hitters to pound the baseball. If it was possible to give them something lower than a "F", I would.
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