From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
NEW YORK METS: There's More Than Just Rain Falling In Flushing Tonight.
In almost all places on Planet Earth, when it rains, little droplets of water fall happily from moisture saturated clouds upon the land. But over Roosevelt Avenue in Flushing, the cumulonimbus formations overhead yield pianos that come crashing down to the ground.
Early season savior; Dillon Gee; couldn't find the strike zone last night just as the clock started ticking on the rest of the Met season in addition to the fates of several players. Jose Reyes told the Mets to hit the mute button on any contract talks till after the season. And today we found out Ike Davis will be out at least another three weeks and could possibly be out the rest of the year.
Dillon Gee? No one expected that streak to last forever. But the loss did come with some bad timing. The Mets were coming into the game following an off-day in which Sandy Alderson was made to respond to questions and a microphone in his face. And basically, the future of the New York Mets will be decided over the next five to six weeks. Dillon Gee's outing just came when they were still trying to get closer to .500 and instead moved farther away by game's end.
To start the day however, Met Fans were treated to news that Jose Reyes communicated to the Mets Front Office his wishes that he and the Mets do not negotiate a new pact during the season. It's an age-old move and should surprise no one. But more often than not, that tact is usually the first nail in the proverbial coffin.
But there is always hope. Last off-season, Derek Jeter and the Yankees struck a deal to retain the shortstop. After acquiring him in the trade with Florida, Mike Piazza was also allowed to head into the off-season without an in-season commitment from the Mets. The Mets however, will have to ante up. In not so many words, Jose Reyes made it known there will be no home-town discount.
The bizarre injury to Ike Davis just took a turn towards freakishly ridiculous. In three weeks, Met Doctors will better know if Ike's ankle is getting better, or worse.
Right!
Somehow, and someway, the Met Doctors are highly respected throughout MLB. Now..., I myself am not a doctor; nor did I stay in a Holiday Inn last night; and I certainly don't play one on TV; but the list of players mishandled or misdiagnosed by the team is growing like a list being written to Santa Clause. This is a phenomenon that now spans two different General Managers.
What in the name of Doctor Moreau is going on in Flushing?
Ryan Church; John Maine; Carlos Delgado; Jose Reyes; Carlos Beltran; Jason Bay; David Wright; Johan Santana; just to name a few; and now Ike Davis, have at one point or another, been on the wrong side of a diagnosis.
Are these just strange "twilight zone" type coincidences we keep reliving? Or has this Med Staff indeed established a pattern of........you know; I don't wanna say it. But you know what I'm thinking.
Ponderous!
Mike.BTB
Showing posts with label John Maine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Maine. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Saturday, July 24, 2010
John Maine ~ Butter him; He's Toast
The New York Metropolitan Baseball club shed 200 lbs. of dead weight. John Maine is going for season ending surgery. Injury and unemployment are nothing to laugh at. But there is insurance and medical attention for all that. Thus, as a Met fan ~ Sorry John, you don't have to leave but you just can't stay here.
*image ~ TSN.com
One roster spot reclaimed in the name of SANITY!
Let us move onward!
There are more roster spots to wrestle back from the deadbeat clutches of
apathy and futility.
Dear Mets,
Uh...don't offer him arbitration next year, OK?
Dear Mets,
Uh...don't offer him arbitration next year, OK?
Mike.BTB
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Done and Done(er)
ONE came over as a throw-in, in a trade that sent Xavier Nady to PITT for reliever Roberto Hernandez because Duaner Sanchez went out looking for Spanish food in the middle of the night in Miami and the taxi he was in was involved in a traffic accident. Sanchez, who effectively "broke" the Mets' season in addition to his shoulder that year because we were forced to ride Aaron Heilman in the playoffs of 2006, hasn't been heard from again.
The OTHER came over in a trade as a throw-in when the Mets traded Chris Benson to the Orioles to get his wife Anna Benson as far away from Flushing as quickly as they possibly could. But the trade was really intended to bring back former Oriole closer Jorge Julio; who there's little to speak of.
The first ONE I referred to is Oliver Perez. The OTHER to which I refer is John Maine. You have often heard me refer to them and HAIL and RAIN, respectively. After their 2010 sub-par efforts thus far, they have done everything with-in their power, not to work out their problems, not acquiescing to the club's wishes as with Ollie, not being forthright and honest with regards to pain or discomfort as with Maine; No!
They have done everything with-in their power to introduce themselves to the MLB populace as not only the Flushing version of DUMB and DUMBER...But more accurate to the Mets' situation:
The OTHER came over in a trade as a throw-in when the Mets traded Chris Benson to the Orioles to get his wife Anna Benson as far away from Flushing as quickly as they possibly could. But the trade was really intended to bring back former Oriole closer Jorge Julio; who there's little to speak of.
The first ONE I referred to is Oliver Perez. The OTHER to which I refer is John Maine. You have often heard me refer to them and HAIL and RAIN, respectively. After their 2010 sub-par efforts thus far, they have done everything with-in their power, not to work out their problems, not acquiescing to the club's wishes as with Ollie, not being forthright and honest with regards to pain or discomfort as with Maine; No!
They have done everything with-in their power to introduce themselves to the MLB populace as not only the Flushing version of DUMB and DUMBER...But more accurate to the Mets' situation:
DONE and DONE(ER)
...as in finished.
John Maine couldn't get the SMURFs out right now showing no gumption or velocity while failing miserably in AAA-Buffalo. Ollie? I don't even know where he is. These silly jokes are nothing compared to the barbs manager Jerry Manuel has been ripping to the press about those guys. I'm not going to get all quote happy here, but when asked if one of the pair might see some innings as a starter again or even relief, Jerry replied with something to the effect of, "yea, on our next off day" - Don't quote me but that's the gist. I'm lazy and don't feel like getting the paper.
R.A. Dickey and Hisanori Takahashi have made Met fans all but forget Maine and Perez. There are too many to mention who would be contented to just see the "weather" system bringing RAIN and HAIL upon Citi Field just blow off to sea. In the big picture I think the Mets see Nieve and Mejia as starters but I'm getting into the future. The present is very bleak for Ollie and Maine. It's clearly evident Jerry Manuel has no practical use for either one of them. Nor does he see a need to treat them like men anymore when both have pouted and acted childishly throughout their individual ordeals.
To both their credits, we rode them like mules down the stretch and through the playoffs in 2006. They came through with flying colors; they rose to the occasion admirably!! I, as a Met fan had far more confidence in these two, hoping that we had caught magic in a bottle with young untested, unproven pitchers, than I ever had hoping Tom Glavine could win a big game for us. That's being honest. That is why perhaps I, and many other Met fans have stood by their side, supported them, protected and defended them from criticisms since that playoff run we made. They came through in huge ways for us. Ollie pitched masterfully in game 7 of the 2006 NLCS. But like I mentioned earlier, we were left placing our bullpen trust in Aaron Heilman because Duarner Sanchez was no more.
It's time to face facts here folks. These boyz' time in Flushing have arrived to their Law of Diminished Returns. There is no more from or for them; Not for this team. Maine is an easier situation to deal with because of the contract the Mets gave Ollie Perez. The Mets still owe Ollie $24 million for two more years after 2010. The Ollie Chronicles are something you won't want to miss because A) - you just can't have someone sitting around counting millions for sucking and not pitching and B) - Jerry Manuel wants nothing to do with him anymore. This is a great drama in the making.
John Maine? Ollie? We liked them. We used to. We're finished and they're DONE and DON(ER).
A fair question to ask is Omar Minaya's riding the backs of two trade throw-ins over the last few years. That argument only carries so much weight because at one time or another we all found ourselves on the sides on Ollie and Maine. Unlike today we used to think very differently about them. What further mutes the "riding-the-back" debate was Omar's trade for Johan Santana and the emergence of Pelfry.
Johan and Pelfry were much better stable mates for Ollie and Maine than Glavine and Trachsel ever were. But Maine and Ollie could never maintain or improve upon the early success they had here.
Separation anxiety is never easy for players, clubs or fans. Life in Baseball can be a real "stitch" sometimes.
In other transactions out of METropolis:
Bobby Parnell is UP; - and Jenrry Mejia is DOWN. Bobby Parnell who last year set a rookie record for appearances as a Met and perhaps was so burnt out after 2009's over-use by Jerry Manuel he couldn't make the club this year, is back on the big club swapping roster spots with Jenrry Mejia. The idea is to start stretching out Mejia for Starting Pitching duties maybe by the end of July. It's no big point of contention but I would have liked for Mejia to remain at AA/AAA as the club broke Spring Training. He would be ready today for insertion into the rotation. I know...hindsight is 20/20. Like I said...No biggie. I would have kept him down but he pitched well enough to earn a bullpen job with the club back in April.
One last bit of METrospection before I go. Yes the Mets finished their road trip with 7 up and 2 down and good job by them in doing so.. Yes they've played to the tune of something like 19-9 (whatever it is) in their last 28 games or so. So many "experts" are pointing to the last round of Inter-League when the Mets and Yanks squared off in CITI as the point where the Mets turned things around and played like the hottest team in Baseball since.
My question is why look there? Why not look and just a few days prior to that series when Jeff Wilpon went down to Atlanta to talk with the care-takers of his Father's baseball club. In a very "Brian Cashman-esque" move as when Brian went down to Atlanta to give his faltering Yankees a visit last year, Jeff Wilpon had more than good enough reason to want to talk with his executive employees that day in HOTLanta about the state and direction of his Pop's baseball company.
As someone who is one of the biggest critics of the Wilponian Way...Let's give him/Jeff some credit instead of the Yankee series at Citi for getting this team on a better path. Maybe his mere presence was a message in itself, that professional Baseball players read loud and clear.
Jeff, I give you the benefit of the doubt on this one.
In other transactions out of METropolis:
Bobby Parnell is UP; - and Jenrry Mejia is DOWN. Bobby Parnell who last year set a rookie record for appearances as a Met and perhaps was so burnt out after 2009's over-use by Jerry Manuel he couldn't make the club this year, is back on the big club swapping roster spots with Jenrry Mejia. The idea is to start stretching out Mejia for Starting Pitching duties maybe by the end of July. It's no big point of contention but I would have liked for Mejia to remain at AA/AAA as the club broke Spring Training. He would be ready today for insertion into the rotation. I know...hindsight is 20/20. Like I said...No biggie. I would have kept him down but he pitched well enough to earn a bullpen job with the club back in April.
One last bit of METrospection before I go. Yes the Mets finished their road trip with 7 up and 2 down and good job by them in doing so.. Yes they've played to the tune of something like 19-9 (whatever it is) in their last 28 games or so. So many "experts" are pointing to the last round of Inter-League when the Mets and Yanks squared off in CITI as the point where the Mets turned things around and played like the hottest team in Baseball since.
My question is why look there? Why not look and just a few days prior to that series when Jeff Wilpon went down to Atlanta to talk with the care-takers of his Father's baseball club. In a very "Brian Cashman-esque" move as when Brian went down to Atlanta to give his faltering Yankees a visit last year, Jeff Wilpon had more than good enough reason to want to talk with his executive employees that day in HOTLanta about the state and direction of his Pop's baseball company.
As someone who is one of the biggest critics of the Wilponian Way...Let's give him/Jeff some credit instead of the Yankee series at Citi for getting this team on a better path. Maybe his mere presence was a message in itself, that professional Baseball players read loud and clear.
Jeff, I give you the benefit of the doubt on this one.
Mike
Friday, April 16, 2010
A Leap off the SideWalk into an OnComing Bus
The knock on Jerry Manuel in Chicago when he managed the White Sox was that as soon as things got a little bit hairy for him, he started throwing players under the bus. He pointed fingers so fast in Chicago's SouthSide that he looked like Neo in the Matrix.
: D ...don't mind me.
Fast forward to 2009. I or anybody else never understood what Ryan Church did to Jerry Manuel to get himself in Jerry's doghouse, but Church was a permanent resident. He did have a game where he failed to touch third as he rounded the bag...etc etc. The real rub stemmed from Church's post concussion syndrome. Manuel interpreted the symptoms otherwise if at all and basically viewed Ryan Church as a malingerer. If you're asking me, Church was being scape-goated for the team's troubles. Ramon Castro, back-up catcher, was also being scape-goated by Manuel, if you're asking me. He was suffering nagging injuries and it rubbed Manuel the wrong way. But in a year lost to injury all around, Church and Castro were identified by Manuel as malcontents because they showed a backbone against Jerry, who instigated Omar to trade them. Regardless of opinions about the trades, that's the way it went down.
Just in this last week alone, there are three current Mets that if they're not finding themselves under a bus, are speaking in open defiance of their manager.
A leap off the side walk into an on coming bus ~ CASE ONE:
John "RAIN" Maine; - After John Maine's performance Tuesday night, among other things broached by reporters, and offered up by Manuel, was John Maine's status in the starting rotation needed to be re-evaluated. It warranted concern and perhaps a change may be needed is the way I summarize it. He said they needed to have a discussion. Things started going terribly wrong that same night with the "He said, She said". A Mets' beat reporter, kept Manuel's comments in mind and yesterday asked John Maine if he was feeling better about Jerry Manuel's decision to keep him in the rotation. (revised decision = Jerry decided Maine should pitch when his turn comes around again. He hinted maybe a change was warranted Tuesday night, then decided Maine would stay in turn yesterday, all before or ever saying anything to John Maine since Manuel made his comments the previous night.) John Maine was taken back by the reporter's question saying he didn't even know taking him out of the rotation was even an option!
Uh - OH! A short time later on the Wednesday afternoon, John Maine was seen making a B-line into the manager's office. The team said it was a scheduled meeting. So now guess what the latest plan is? After pitching coach Dan Warthen and Maine looked over tapes and "stuff" (yea STUFF - because these guys are ponderous!) John Maine insisted he was going back to his old way of pitching and reverting to his style and abandoning the team's edict of concentrating on throwing strikes to minimize the big inning. It's their thinking folks...Not Mine! He said his style is fastballs high in the zone. John Maine must know something we don't because he needs to make up about 4 to 5 mph on his fastball to be taken seriously. Does he think those 5 mph are just going to come because he's abandoning the old plan? The team's concept is low in the zone and strikes. For a change I don't think it's the club's fault this kid is coming in at 88mph, but the lack of communication is. But John Maine has stated he is done with the Met's plan and he practically said it in those words. Me? I like the attitude, but no one is going to like the results. His 88 mph fastball looks like a grapefruit right now.
And lastly....Dan Warthen? C'mon with this guy. I wouldn't trust him to mail a letter for me. Rick Peterson was arrogant and instigated the Scott Kazmir trade, but we replaced him with Dan Warthen? And he's still here? Someone...Please?
CASE TWO: Jose Reyes ~ has stated over and over his reluctance to hit third in the line-up. Jerry Manuel has flirted with that idea for two years now has said Jose Reyes will be batting third when they open the series with the Cardinals in St. Louis. These two still have not seemed to reach a middle ground and Reyes continues to verbalize his displeasure with the idea. It appears to be item number two where a player is in open defiance of the manager.
CASE NUMBER THREE: Johan Santana ~ Monday the 12th was an off-day/travel day. Jerry Manuel flipped the rotation for the upcoming St. Louis series choosing to start HAIL (aka Oliver Perez) Friday, thereby giving Johan an added day off and not having him pitch after his normal 4 days off. Manuel said the extra day off would serve Johan well. Johan Santana responded to this move by saying, "There are times when you feel a little beat up and need the time to rest. This is not one of those times." This isn't something I would classify as an incident. It's just a drifting scent in the air of something that is turning sour.
I'm not hinting at anything. Am I? I'm just bringing you up to date on what's been going on and the reputation that followed Jerry out of Chicago. That's all. This is not a Fire Manuel Rant....is it? I think not.
Buses? Dangerous. Trolleys? Safe.
****Elsewhere in METropolis****
Remember that Great January the Mets had? Yea! Neither do I. In January the Mets signed two pitchers; Kelvim Escobar and R.A. Dickey.
R.A. Dickey. *sigh*
****The very latest in METropolis****
Sleet (aka - Jon Niese) pitched unimpressively Wednesday night to a no decision after the Mets got him off the hook by tying the game in the 9th inning. They wound up loosing the game on a walk-off HR in the 10th but what the hey... Unfortunately he did separate himself from his name a little more with this outing and the Mets ensured they'd loose their third straight series to start the season. Sorry kid. It's the WeatherBoyz (starting rotation) that concern me, not blowing Wednesday's game in extra innings.
Here's the SLEET line:
5 innings pitched
9 hits
5 runs, 5 earned
1 walk
2 strikeouts
1 home run
99 pitches
6.55 era
He's a youngster and I'm taking it easy on him. Keep at it Rook.
Today! The Colorado mound was the EAST and MIKE PELFREY was the Sun!! He was marvelous. He threw 7 shut-out innings today salvaging one game for the Mets in the last game of this series. He struck out 6 and walked none, gave up 5 hits and earned his second victory in as many tries. Atta' boy Mike!
They head to St. Louis now sporting a 3-6 record for the season. If they want to finish this road trip at .500 they need to take two of three from the Cardinals. Let me see....Next in line are HAIL, Johan and another dose of RAIN. But Rain promised he's going to be new and improved this time. I'll get back to you on that. We may have to re-name him yet again to REBEL.
****Tonight's Final Words of METrospection****
Assistant General Manager John Ricco had more to say this week and has gotten more press and face time than I care to see. He dealt in minor issues but it shows the Wilpons are forcing this guy into the mix. I am terrified by the prospect the Wilpons might be grooming this guy to be our next GM. Please JOBU No! Please tell me it isn't so.
That is all. Go back to your homes. There's nothing more to see here.
BTB
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.mlblogs.com/
: D ...don't mind me.
Fast forward to 2009. I or anybody else never understood what Ryan Church did to Jerry Manuel to get himself in Jerry's doghouse, but Church was a permanent resident. He did have a game where he failed to touch third as he rounded the bag...etc etc. The real rub stemmed from Church's post concussion syndrome. Manuel interpreted the symptoms otherwise if at all and basically viewed Ryan Church as a malingerer. If you're asking me, Church was being scape-goated for the team's troubles. Ramon Castro, back-up catcher, was also being scape-goated by Manuel, if you're asking me. He was suffering nagging injuries and it rubbed Manuel the wrong way. But in a year lost to injury all around, Church and Castro were identified by Manuel as malcontents because they showed a backbone against Jerry, who instigated Omar to trade them. Regardless of opinions about the trades, that's the way it went down.
Just in this last week alone, there are three current Mets that if they're not finding themselves under a bus, are speaking in open defiance of their manager.
A leap off the side walk into an on coming bus ~ CASE ONE:
John "RAIN" Maine; - After John Maine's performance Tuesday night, among other things broached by reporters, and offered up by Manuel, was John Maine's status in the starting rotation needed to be re-evaluated. It warranted concern and perhaps a change may be needed is the way I summarize it. He said they needed to have a discussion. Things started going terribly wrong that same night with the "He said, She said". A Mets' beat reporter, kept Manuel's comments in mind and yesterday asked John Maine if he was feeling better about Jerry Manuel's decision to keep him in the rotation. (revised decision = Jerry decided Maine should pitch when his turn comes around again. He hinted maybe a change was warranted Tuesday night, then decided Maine would stay in turn yesterday, all before or ever saying anything to John Maine since Manuel made his comments the previous night.) John Maine was taken back by the reporter's question saying he didn't even know taking him out of the rotation was even an option!
Uh - OH! A short time later on the Wednesday afternoon, John Maine was seen making a B-line into the manager's office. The team said it was a scheduled meeting. So now guess what the latest plan is? After pitching coach Dan Warthen and Maine looked over tapes and "stuff" (yea STUFF - because these guys are ponderous!) John Maine insisted he was going back to his old way of pitching and reverting to his style and abandoning the team's edict of concentrating on throwing strikes to minimize the big inning. It's their thinking folks...Not Mine! He said his style is fastballs high in the zone. John Maine must know something we don't because he needs to make up about 4 to 5 mph on his fastball to be taken seriously. Does he think those 5 mph are just going to come because he's abandoning the old plan? The team's concept is low in the zone and strikes. For a change I don't think it's the club's fault this kid is coming in at 88mph, but the lack of communication is. But John Maine has stated he is done with the Met's plan and he practically said it in those words. Me? I like the attitude, but no one is going to like the results. His 88 mph fastball looks like a grapefruit right now.
And lastly....Dan Warthen? C'mon with this guy. I wouldn't trust him to mail a letter for me. Rick Peterson was arrogant and instigated the Scott Kazmir trade, but we replaced him with Dan Warthen? And he's still here? Someone...Please?
CASE TWO: Jose Reyes ~ has stated over and over his reluctance to hit third in the line-up. Jerry Manuel has flirted with that idea for two years now has said Jose Reyes will be batting third when they open the series with the Cardinals in St. Louis. These two still have not seemed to reach a middle ground and Reyes continues to verbalize his displeasure with the idea. It appears to be item number two where a player is in open defiance of the manager.
CASE NUMBER THREE: Johan Santana ~ Monday the 12th was an off-day/travel day. Jerry Manuel flipped the rotation for the upcoming St. Louis series choosing to start HAIL (aka Oliver Perez) Friday, thereby giving Johan an added day off and not having him pitch after his normal 4 days off. Manuel said the extra day off would serve Johan well. Johan Santana responded to this move by saying, "There are times when you feel a little beat up and need the time to rest. This is not one of those times." This isn't something I would classify as an incident. It's just a drifting scent in the air of something that is turning sour.
I'm not hinting at anything. Am I? I'm just bringing you up to date on what's been going on and the reputation that followed Jerry out of Chicago. That's all. This is not a Fire Manuel Rant....is it? I think not.
Buses? Dangerous. Trolleys? Safe.
****Elsewhere in METropolis****
Remember that Great January the Mets had? Yea! Neither do I. In January the Mets signed two pitchers; Kelvim Escobar and R.A. Dickey.
R.A. Dickey. *sigh*
****The very latest in METropolis****
Sleet (aka - Jon Niese) pitched unimpressively Wednesday night to a no decision after the Mets got him off the hook by tying the game in the 9th inning. They wound up loosing the game on a walk-off HR in the 10th but what the hey... Unfortunately he did separate himself from his name a little more with this outing and the Mets ensured they'd loose their third straight series to start the season. Sorry kid. It's the WeatherBoyz (starting rotation) that concern me, not blowing Wednesday's game in extra innings.
Here's the SLEET line:
5 innings pitched
9 hits
5 runs, 5 earned
1 walk
2 strikeouts
1 home run
99 pitches
6.55 era
He's a youngster and I'm taking it easy on him. Keep at it Rook.
Today! The Colorado mound was the EAST and MIKE PELFREY was the Sun!! He was marvelous. He threw 7 shut-out innings today salvaging one game for the Mets in the last game of this series. He struck out 6 and walked none, gave up 5 hits and earned his second victory in as many tries. Atta' boy Mike!
They head to St. Louis now sporting a 3-6 record for the season. If they want to finish this road trip at .500 they need to take two of three from the Cardinals. Let me see....Next in line are HAIL, Johan and another dose of RAIN. But Rain promised he's going to be new and improved this time. I'll get back to you on that. We may have to re-name him yet again to REBEL.
****Tonight's Final Words of METrospection****
Assistant General Manager John Ricco had more to say this week and has gotten more press and face time than I care to see. He dealt in minor issues but it shows the Wilpons are forcing this guy into the mix. I am terrified by the prospect the Wilpons might be grooming this guy to be our next GM. Please JOBU No! Please tell me it isn't so.
That is all. Go back to your homes. There's nothing more to see here.
BTB
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.mlblogs.com/
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Mets Soaked by RAIN in Colorado
(subliminal song of the day follows):
..Rocky Mountain Hiiiiiigh....Colorado and Rain!
..Rocky Mountain Hiiiiiiigh....Colorado and Rain!
Dear Colorado Head Grounds Keeper, on behalf of the NYM, I apologize for the large puddle of mud that used to be your mound. I hope you can restore it in time for tomorrow's game.
I oft wondered if fish really care if it's Raining outside or not. Wouldn't that be the equivalent of making a sunny day sunnier for us? What do they think about Rain? Do they say, "Hey it's raining out, don't swim so fast today...Be careful." OR "Hey it's really raining out there, better put on some SPF-40!"
I've noticed in different parts of the country it Rains differently. In South Florida, there are the obligatory random thunderstorms of the day. They say it never Rains in California but if you watch CNN you know that aint true. Here in the North East we usually get those blanketing steady downpours.
Native American Indians used to perform ritual dance to make it Rain. PacMan Jones had his own methods of making it Rain too. Yea-eeaya! The Addams Family had a cloud constantly hovering and Raining down on their house. And that reminds me this Gov't is engaged in Cloud-Seeding to induce Rain. Or so I think. DUNn Dunn dunn!!! Hoo Hoo hah hah hah hah hah!
Rain. If you tune into the Weather Channel tonight and see something that looks like this on the screen:
3 innings pitched.
8 runs, 8 earned
7 hits
3 walks
4 strikeouts
1 HR
Rockies bat around in the third inning.
12.38 era in two starts
0-2 record.
It just means there's a lot of RAIN headed your way. Ya might want to pack an umbrella.
There is a 25 mph wind blowing out tonight but only when the Rockies are at bat, otherwise Rain Rain Rain. While it continues to pour in the Met dugout and on the Colorado mound, the Rockies are cruising with an 8-1 lead in the 7th.
See people? I know this team and how it works. I know my baseball. I may be snarky in how I describe things, but I will not be denied. Panic? No! I'm a pragmatist. I call it as I see it. Tonight Luis Castillo was thrown out at 2nd base trying to stretch a single into a double in the top of the 6th with one out. When you're down 8-0 at the time, you just don't do that. But he did and was promptly gunned down. On the very next pitch and first to David Wright in his at-bat, he pulled a first pitch fastball to left for a HR. In the top of the 7th, with one out, and Fernando Tatis at second, Tatis did not tag up and advance to third on a fly to left center that was mid-warning track! Tatis wasn't even on the bag. He did some Cha-Cha step off second as if he was willing the left fielder to drop the fly ball. Ponderous! Matthews stranded him anyway by striking out. Matthews? What are Matthews and Tatis doing on this team? Matthews does not figure into any future plans. Tatis the Perp was stealing playing time and money tonight at 1st base. WHY are they on this team when we don't need them, and their replacements had fantastic springs and have not slowed down one bit since the AAA season kicked off? Fernando Martinez and Ike Davis must be called up to the club and this nonsense of Matthews and Tatis must stop. In the bottom of the 7th Angel Pagan and Jason Bay didn't communicate on an easy fly ball and it dropped in between them allowing another run to score making it an 11-2 game.
Panic Indeed!!!
You can continue to question me, or just stop being contrarians and take my word for it.
Some people just need to find out for themselves. I don't begrudge that. But if you needed the proof for any blanket statements I may have made....there ya go! I submit to you today's example of just one day in the season with our supposed #2 guy and the feeble play that seems to possess players when they don a Mets uniform these days.
Karma. Someone in this organization upset the Great JOBU and we're paying the price for that mis-step.
Everyone keeps pointing to the talent on this team and how it can change on the drop of a dime for us. Don't you know I get that? I get it. Why do you think I'm so discombobulated by the performance of this team over the last 3 years? They are the ultimate under-achievers. That's the rub!! We have as many stars around here as a Dean Martin Roast, and to watch them fail with such lugubriousness gives me pins and needles all over my body.
Let's assume SLEET earns a name tomorrow and the Mets win. The rubber game of this series will fall on Mike Pelfrey. That's not a bad spot to be in from my perspective. I welcome that. And I say that to also show I can be fair. If we can take 2 of three the way our pitching lines up for the next two games, I'll feel a lot better about HAIL opening the series against the Cardinals in St. Louis. Should HAIL fail, again, I have Johan next to salvage a game for us before RAIN blows in again. I can therefore end this road trip .500 going 3-3 and be very satisfied. That's the optimistic slice of pie for ya.
You know what happens when you get old? You understand Rain doesn't make the grass grow. Blood makes the grass grow. You'd have to take out your history books and deal in reality to get the meaning of that statement. Reading between the lines help. I know that's a little dark for a baseball blog. Every so often I burp out something politically uncivilized. I'm Ok now.
Rain can have devastating effects. Water erosion is no joke. Rain eroded my patience a little more tonight. Sleet goes tomorrow. That poor Colorado Grounds Keeper. Sorry dude!
The game is going into the bottom of the 8th. Rockies 11 - Mets 3. The Mets telecast team is resorting to taking calls from fans now. This is all so very yawn inspiring if I may say so myself. What else can they say without blurbing out the truth about what their eyes see and getting reprimanded for it.
RAIN on ME...Rain On Me...LOOOOVVVEEEE!!! RAIN ON ME!!! RAIN on Me!!
The game is now final. Rockies 11 ~ Mets 3 Jerry Manuel's Snoozers are now 2-5. I hope there is someone in the locker room smashing flat screens, throwing trash cans, knocking over the buffet table and screaming his head off in a rage about tonight's game, insisting this can not happen, this can not happen again, this can not happen again this early. I don't mean the Ground's Keeper either.
I'll say it a million times if I have to. I believe in good starts. I believe every game matters when you loose a division by one game as this team has, surrendering division leads late in September as this team has. You can point to any reason you want for that as long as you agree that poor play in April is as good as any reason you may have for loosing a division by a game. You can't win pennants in April, but you can loose them. 2007 was like that. They came on like gangbusters after Randolph got fired and were in the mix till the end. However their April and May were lethargic. In 2008 we lost the division by a game. Again I can point to a .500 April if you chose to blame Tom Glavine (don't get me started on him) for offering up a stinker. And what a stinker it was! Having seen it all with basically this same cast, I don't want to go through that again. Simple.
And lastly I offer you this little tid-bid. My right fielder Jeff Francoeur, said, "It's probably good if we got out of town for a while"...referring to the current road trip. I didn't say that folks. My right fielder did. Whose panicking now?
Rockie Mountain Hiiiiigh....Colorado and Rain!
Rockie Mountain Hiiiiigh....Colorado and Rain!
BTB
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.mlblogs.com/
..Rocky Mountain Hiiiiiigh....Colorado and Rain!
..Rocky Mountain Hiiiiiiigh....Colorado and Rain!
Dear Colorado Head Grounds Keeper, on behalf of the NYM, I apologize for the large puddle of mud that used to be your mound. I hope you can restore it in time for tomorrow's game.
I oft wondered if fish really care if it's Raining outside or not. Wouldn't that be the equivalent of making a sunny day sunnier for us? What do they think about Rain? Do they say, "Hey it's raining out, don't swim so fast today...Be careful." OR "Hey it's really raining out there, better put on some SPF-40!"
I've noticed in different parts of the country it Rains differently. In South Florida, there are the obligatory random thunderstorms of the day. They say it never Rains in California but if you watch CNN you know that aint true. Here in the North East we usually get those blanketing steady downpours.
Native American Indians used to perform ritual dance to make it Rain. PacMan Jones had his own methods of making it Rain too. Yea-eeaya! The Addams Family had a cloud constantly hovering and Raining down on their house. And that reminds me this Gov't is engaged in Cloud-Seeding to induce Rain. Or so I think. DUNn Dunn dunn!!! Hoo Hoo hah hah hah hah hah!
Rain. If you tune into the Weather Channel tonight and see something that looks like this on the screen:
3 innings pitched.
8 runs, 8 earned
7 hits
3 walks
4 strikeouts
1 HR
Rockies bat around in the third inning.
12.38 era in two starts
0-2 record.
It just means there's a lot of RAIN headed your way. Ya might want to pack an umbrella.
There is a 25 mph wind blowing out tonight but only when the Rockies are at bat, otherwise Rain Rain Rain. While it continues to pour in the Met dugout and on the Colorado mound, the Rockies are cruising with an 8-1 lead in the 7th.
See people? I know this team and how it works. I know my baseball. I may be snarky in how I describe things, but I will not be denied. Panic? No! I'm a pragmatist. I call it as I see it. Tonight Luis Castillo was thrown out at 2nd base trying to stretch a single into a double in the top of the 6th with one out. When you're down 8-0 at the time, you just don't do that. But he did and was promptly gunned down. On the very next pitch and first to David Wright in his at-bat, he pulled a first pitch fastball to left for a HR. In the top of the 7th, with one out, and Fernando Tatis at second, Tatis did not tag up and advance to third on a fly to left center that was mid-warning track! Tatis wasn't even on the bag. He did some Cha-Cha step off second as if he was willing the left fielder to drop the fly ball. Ponderous! Matthews stranded him anyway by striking out. Matthews? What are Matthews and Tatis doing on this team? Matthews does not figure into any future plans. Tatis the Perp was stealing playing time and money tonight at 1st base. WHY are they on this team when we don't need them, and their replacements had fantastic springs and have not slowed down one bit since the AAA season kicked off? Fernando Martinez and Ike Davis must be called up to the club and this nonsense of Matthews and Tatis must stop. In the bottom of the 7th Angel Pagan and Jason Bay didn't communicate on an easy fly ball and it dropped in between them allowing another run to score making it an 11-2 game.
Panic Indeed!!!
You can continue to question me, or just stop being contrarians and take my word for it.
Some people just need to find out for themselves. I don't begrudge that. But if you needed the proof for any blanket statements I may have made....there ya go! I submit to you today's example of just one day in the season with our supposed #2 guy and the feeble play that seems to possess players when they don a Mets uniform these days.
Karma. Someone in this organization upset the Great JOBU and we're paying the price for that mis-step.
Everyone keeps pointing to the talent on this team and how it can change on the drop of a dime for us. Don't you know I get that? I get it. Why do you think I'm so discombobulated by the performance of this team over the last 3 years? They are the ultimate under-achievers. That's the rub!! We have as many stars around here as a Dean Martin Roast, and to watch them fail with such lugubriousness gives me pins and needles all over my body.
Let's assume SLEET earns a name tomorrow and the Mets win. The rubber game of this series will fall on Mike Pelfrey. That's not a bad spot to be in from my perspective. I welcome that. And I say that to also show I can be fair. If we can take 2 of three the way our pitching lines up for the next two games, I'll feel a lot better about HAIL opening the series against the Cardinals in St. Louis. Should HAIL fail, again, I have Johan next to salvage a game for us before RAIN blows in again. I can therefore end this road trip .500 going 3-3 and be very satisfied. That's the optimistic slice of pie for ya.
You know what happens when you get old? You understand Rain doesn't make the grass grow. Blood makes the grass grow. You'd have to take out your history books and deal in reality to get the meaning of that statement. Reading between the lines help. I know that's a little dark for a baseball blog. Every so often I burp out something politically uncivilized. I'm Ok now.
Rain can have devastating effects. Water erosion is no joke. Rain eroded my patience a little more tonight. Sleet goes tomorrow. That poor Colorado Grounds Keeper. Sorry dude!
The game is going into the bottom of the 8th. Rockies 11 - Mets 3. The Mets telecast team is resorting to taking calls from fans now. This is all so very yawn inspiring if I may say so myself. What else can they say without blurbing out the truth about what their eyes see and getting reprimanded for it.
RAIN on ME...Rain On Me...LOOOOVVVEEEE!!! RAIN ON ME!!! RAIN on Me!!
The game is now final. Rockies 11 ~ Mets 3 Jerry Manuel's Snoozers are now 2-5. I hope there is someone in the locker room smashing flat screens, throwing trash cans, knocking over the buffet table and screaming his head off in a rage about tonight's game, insisting this can not happen, this can not happen again, this can not happen again this early. I don't mean the Ground's Keeper either.
I'll say it a million times if I have to. I believe in good starts. I believe every game matters when you loose a division by one game as this team has, surrendering division leads late in September as this team has. You can point to any reason you want for that as long as you agree that poor play in April is as good as any reason you may have for loosing a division by a game. You can't win pennants in April, but you can loose them. 2007 was like that. They came on like gangbusters after Randolph got fired and were in the mix till the end. However their April and May were lethargic. In 2008 we lost the division by a game. Again I can point to a .500 April if you chose to blame Tom Glavine (don't get me started on him) for offering up a stinker. And what a stinker it was! Having seen it all with basically this same cast, I don't want to go through that again. Simple.
And lastly I offer you this little tid-bid. My right fielder Jeff Francoeur, said, "It's probably good if we got out of town for a while"...referring to the current road trip. I didn't say that folks. My right fielder did. Whose panicking now?
Rockie Mountain Hiiiiigh....Colorado and Rain!
Rockie Mountain Hiiiiigh....Colorado and Rain!
BTB
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.mlblogs.com/
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Johan and the WeatherBoyz
Jose Reyes started at shortstop for the Mets today! I'll get to him another time.
The Mets' Pitching Staff made it's first go 'round of the season. All four mound loiterers paid to be a part of, and start a game for the Mets this season and Johan Santana have one game under their belt. I guess you can call this the initial evaluation through the first five games for Johan and the WeatherBoyz, aka my Starting Rotation (some names with-held).
As we broke camp and headed north, the Mets Starting Rotation was named as follows:
1) - Johan Santana
2) - Rain
3) - Snow
4) - Sleet
5) - Hail
Johan Santana won his Opening Day start.
In Game Two, Rain had his chance and did nothing to change his name. He will continue to be referred to as Rain until his clouds start to break-up or BTB notifies you otherwise.
Then came Game Three started by Snow. Snow is nice. I appreciate snow while it's falling and while it's still, quiet and white. Then life takes over and makes slush. I am not disappointed with Snow's performance in Game 3. He's a rook, and he showed some good stuff. It just got slushy at the end. So I give Snow an E for Effort. Snow looks like he'll earn his stripes fairly quickly if his first start is an indication. Hang in there Rook. You'll earn your name back soon.
In Game Four, Sleet, aka, Mike Pelfrey got his first win of the season. He's got a real hard sinker that's always caught my attention. He's working hard on a third pitch. He pitched himself a good game and the BTB decided he is to be called by his rightful name. Welcome in from the weather Mike.
Ahh. Game Five and el Lancador (that's pitcher) Senor Hail. I've seen worse outings from him than the one he offered up today. We lost to the Nationals today by the way. Remember I told you we'd do squat against them?....Just like the lead Bugs Bunny had on Cecil Turtle and still lost. Ponderous! I digress.
Hail? How did we get into this situation? Omar resigned him for $36 Million! Ponderous! I wouldn't recommend driving every 5th day in NYC due to threats of HAIL coming off Flushing Bay when he's pitching.
So as for the Mets' Starting Rotation we have two hard names on the list, one push but coming on, and we still have some weather phenomena to deal with every 2nd to 5th day of the cycle.
Sometimes it Snows in April folks. If you live in the northern parts of this country, you know what I'm talkin about. The weather is always wacky in April. That's fair enough. I guess my mistake was the day I forgot to read the paper to learn the Mets signed El Nino to pitch for us. Omar, why don't you sign Global Warming and Al Gore to round out the top four? Why Omar Minaya chose to use my starting rotation to play X-Files? - I'll never know.
Johan is on the mound for us again tomorrow and then we're off to Colorado where I'm sure the weather is tropical compared to all the wintry slush we've been pitching up at Citi Field.
Mike, BTB
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/
The Mets' Pitching Staff made it's first go 'round of the season. All four mound loiterers paid to be a part of, and start a game for the Mets this season and Johan Santana have one game under their belt. I guess you can call this the initial evaluation through the first five games for Johan and the WeatherBoyz, aka my Starting Rotation (some names with-held).
As we broke camp and headed north, the Mets Starting Rotation was named as follows:
1) - Johan Santana
2) - Rain
3) - Snow
4) - Sleet
5) - Hail
Johan Santana won his Opening Day start.
In Game Two, Rain had his chance and did nothing to change his name. He will continue to be referred to as Rain until his clouds start to break-up or BTB notifies you otherwise.
Then came Game Three started by Snow. Snow is nice. I appreciate snow while it's falling and while it's still, quiet and white. Then life takes over and makes slush. I am not disappointed with Snow's performance in Game 3. He's a rook, and he showed some good stuff. It just got slushy at the end. So I give Snow an E for Effort. Snow looks like he'll earn his stripes fairly quickly if his first start is an indication. Hang in there Rook. You'll earn your name back soon.
In Game Four, Sleet, aka, Mike Pelfrey got his first win of the season. He's got a real hard sinker that's always caught my attention. He's working hard on a third pitch. He pitched himself a good game and the BTB decided he is to be called by his rightful name. Welcome in from the weather Mike.
Ahh. Game Five and el Lancador (that's pitcher) Senor Hail. I've seen worse outings from him than the one he offered up today. We lost to the Nationals today by the way. Remember I told you we'd do squat against them?....Just like the lead Bugs Bunny had on Cecil Turtle and still lost. Ponderous! I digress.
Hail? How did we get into this situation? Omar resigned him for $36 Million! Ponderous! I wouldn't recommend driving every 5th day in NYC due to threats of HAIL coming off Flushing Bay when he's pitching.
So as for the Mets' Starting Rotation we have two hard names on the list, one push but coming on, and we still have some weather phenomena to deal with every 2nd to 5th day of the cycle.
Sometimes it Snows in April folks. If you live in the northern parts of this country, you know what I'm talkin about. The weather is always wacky in April. That's fair enough. I guess my mistake was the day I forgot to read the paper to learn the Mets signed El Nino to pitch for us. Omar, why don't you sign Global Warming and Al Gore to round out the top four? Why Omar Minaya chose to use my starting rotation to play X-Files? - I'll never know.
Johan is on the mound for us again tomorrow and then we're off to Colorado where I'm sure the weather is tropical compared to all the wintry slush we've been pitching up at Citi Field.
Mike, BTB
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/
Monday, April 05, 2010
Opening Day at "NEW" Citi, Pray for Rain now?
METS Opening Day Part I
Johan pitched, Wright homered, Francisco Rodriguez closed it out.
That's a winning formula. It worked for us today.
Mets 7 Marlins 1 Final
After day one in METropolis, all seems well.
Woo-Hoo!
METS Opening Day Part II
This year there is a very different feel to Citi. I gotta tell ya, I was disappointed last year with our monument to the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Wilpons heard our displeasure and changed things up a bit. Our HOF is back and there's more Met-centric eye candy to gaze upon. It's a huge step in the right direction, but please Mr. Wilpon, don't stop now.
Everything I saw on TV today looks good to me. I can't wait for my first game out there. The response the Met HOF was getting was overwhelmingly positive. And from what I caught on the tube, it looks great.
Last year's christening of Citi Field left something to be desired. They lost and the place really didn't feel like home. It was a nice place but I could have been anywhere. When I get there this year, I GOTTA BELIEVE things will feel a lot different.
There's nothing we can do about the Ebbets Field resemblance. The important thing is that this place pumps with the heart of a Mets' fan. Cool Met decorations help.
I believe. I'll always believe. We all GOTTA BELIEVE!! Happy Opening Day everyone. Happy Opening Day...NEW Citi Field; Home of the Mets.
METS Opening Day Part III
This is NYC and this much is certain whether you like it or not and whether you agree with it or not; if John Maine does not put forth a decent to quality start, the ever circling Boo-Birds will rain down on Flushing Field. You know it, I know it, we all know it. John Maine's Met Game 2 start can go a long way towards shaping the fan's perception of him right out of the box. A good start will buy him a month of good will. And it's hard to pitch when you have 40,000 angry people anticipating your failure. Isn't it?
Of course I know I'm talking about the second game of the season. You can't win pennants in April but you sure as hell can loose them in April. But that's not what this is all about. This is about John Maine and karma and perceptions.
There are a handful of games every season that demand you seize the moment. If for nothing else, it's like grabbing destiny by the throat. John Maine can seize the moment by coming out of the box strong. He should be ready by now right? He's been battling for two injured years leading up this this start. So what it's only game two of the season. It's a game that needs John to seize the moment. for the sake of anxious Mets fans who no doubt are ready to BOOO, but more for John Maine's sake, because we like him. We want him to do well.
Concerning yourself with the standings after game two of any season is an exercise in boredom. This is about perception and fan attitude after John's upcoming start on Wednesday. He can have a good April by getting us off his back now.
What's it gonna be? John Maine or Pray for Rain?
btb
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.mlblogs.com/
*pic - Drew/AP
Friday, March 19, 2010
NYM should sign JOBU to a Long Term Deal
The on-going crime scene investigation better known as Met's Spring Training continues to baffle...(obligatory cheap shot of the day).
METrospection has been in therapy working on his avoidance, displacement and denial issues regarding his Flushing Frustrations. Going on and on about how miserably bad the Mets organization and operations are being run is an exercise in insanity. That is why it appears, for a Mets blog, I seem to post infrequently about the Metropolitans. There is no new dynamic to work with. I just can not waist my time on a daily basis, nor will I waist your time with incessant Met rants. Sometimes it's fun. Sometimes it's not. Whenever I do entertain my Met thoughts, be sure about this folks, I'm usually right. I don't take myself too seriously in this blog, but as it regards the Mets I laugh and joke, but I don't play.
Back in December 2009, this young Blog posted a warning to the Mets and Met fans regarding Fernando Martinez. He became a forgotten prospect and I warned Met fans not to forget about him.
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.mlblogs.com/2009/12/f-mart-you-forgot-him-didnt-you-were-gonna-need-him.html
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.mlblogs.com/2009/12/f-mart-you-forgot-him-didnt-you-were-gonna-need-him.html
Since that posting, Fernando Martinez went on to have a very good Winter League season and crowned it with a Caribbean Series MVP award. This spring he is batting over .500 and is still only 21 years old. Of course I know not to read too much into that stat. But if the kid is winning the day, give the kid a shot. Of course I know because of his Winter League he's ahead of pitchers this spring. I get all that. While it may be true he appeared overwhelmed at times last year, I warned Met fans none-the-less not to forget him. If you read the linked post, you see I pretty much expected to loose Beltran to injury and my concerns about what type of outfielder is needed to roam the spacious CitiField outfield. Yea, I'm tooting my own horn but trust me, it's not an enviable postion to be in. He's no Jim Edmonds in the outfield but the upside is there.
As it relates to today, - Gary Matthews Jr.? Stop it or save it. I'm not listening to that. Pagan or Martinez; let them battle for the job in Beltran's absence. I believe in prospects and am usually patient with them. Playing time = improvement. Make sure Fernando Martinez in the mix come Opening Day and he'll be OK and make the Mets look smart. Lord knows they need it right now.
Beltran? (See referenced therapy) He and the Mets are staring at an ugly divorce when he gets healthy and it will be instigated by Carlos himself; the same player who asked the Yankees to sign him for less money than the Mets offered him.
I like Beltran, so don't get the wrong impression. I just think it is what it is. I'd entertain a trade involving Beltran for the right package this season. I'm not lobbying for it though. He is one of the few free agent signings, as they go, who had his better seasons and career year after signing his pact. That's just to let you know where I stand.
And now Oliver Perez.
Pictures tell a thousand words (or however that saying goes). The NY Daily News had some pics that show exactly what Ollie is doing wrong. I know it's a little audacious of me to question why Rick Peterson, Dan Warthen or even Sandy Koufax, who spent time in Met Camp did/do not correct this very simple and obvious flaw with Perez' delivery. I'm not trying to over simplify this considering
Sandy Koufax offered some advice.
If you know anything about pitching you know your landing foot has to be perpendicular to your catcher. Oliver Perez' landing foot is like lightning in that it doesn't strike the same ground twice. But you can be sure his foot will land in a closed angle and not opened up to the catcher and home plate. When you land that way be prepared to have a miserable outing Ollie. Why can't anyone see this? It's not overstating the problem. It's bad mechanics, no one will correct it and I have no clue why? That's not in depth analysis on my part. That's Pitching 101.
Forget the headline, look at his landing foot.
This is the genesis of a bad pitch.
In other Met Matters:
Ike Davis, 1B, son of Ron Davis, Yankee pitcher from back in the day, continues to have an impressive spring. Righty Henrry Mejia is sparkling and catching everyone's eye. And that concludes the good news.
John Maine said "he just wasn't into it" when he described his last outing.
Really? That's a pretty non-chalant attitude for someone who has a lot to prove.
Kelvim Escobar can't lift his arm to pick his nose.
Reyes' thyroid? See Therapy Sessions.
I'm placing the over/under on K-Rod's Dead Arm at August 15th. I just think The Classic, followed by the 2009 season, then Winter League and no discernable break between them will come back to haunt him and the Mets.
I've been on record saying you could have saved me Barajas at catcher.
I would have given the job to Thole outright.
What ever happened to Nick Evans?
My starting pitching still looks like:
Santana
Pray for Rain instead of Maine
Uh-Oh!
Oh-No!
and Who? (not the first baseman)
If the Mets are stumblin and bumblin their way into June, Omar Minaya & Jerry Manuel are toast.
Basically, not a lot has changed in Metropolis that screams for my attention.
There is a lot of Bad Karma over at CitiField; Business as usual.
Can you see my dilemma?
To talk about the Mets is a strainingly garulous conversation even for the sublime.
If only Buster Olney could invent an absurd rumor for my team.
Every Met could use a JOBU in their locker this year.
Anyone have Pedro Cerrano's cellie?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EpLQ5u5Ugo
to see the clip on you tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EpLQ5u5Ugo
to see the clip on you tube
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Pitchers and Catchers: Met's Pitching, My Angst
1 - Johan Santana
2 - pray for rain
3 - pray for snow
4 - pray for sleet
5 - pray for hale.
There is no shot gun to JOHAN SANTANA. There is no number two guy here. Additionally Johan is coming off injury.
JOHN MAINE is coming off two consecutive injury years. I like the guy, I really do. His durability is a huge question. If he does not step up and fill the shot-gun role behind Johan this year, I'm not sure we can compete with the Phillies.
OLIVER PEREZ is slimmed down and supposedly with a repaired knee. Even during the Baseball Classic his weight gain was noticeable. I don't think he is the head case everyone makes him out to be. I know that's surprising coming from me. But I think his problems are strictly mechanical and correctable. His landing foot is like lightning; it never strikes the same ground twice. His landing foot is closed and not open perpendicular to his catcher. That throws everything else off as you are throwing against your body and with nothing but arm support behind the pitch. I can't believe for the life of me why Dan Warthen can not see this. Ollie could be the Mets' Phantom Menace or saving grace this year but it still comes back to Maine if Ollie can even help and be a factor and give the Mets depth.
MIKE PELFREY is Omar Minaya's only hope right now of ever proving what used to be written in bold letters on his resume...: Talent Evaluator. Pelfrey's freshman and sophomore years have produced a .500 win pct. and an era around 4.30 +/-. The kid has ability. I'm certainly patient with him as I am most kids. I believe too much was demanded of him last year because of the way things went. His hard sinker is a very miss-able pitch and if he can improve on his change-up this kid could be dangerous. I think he's got mental toughness and he eats up innings. If the season turns sour on the Mets this year I don't think it will have anything to do with Pelfrey.
The number 5 starter - I don't know and neither do the Mets. JOHN NIESE is a kid I like and I would give him the job out of the box. I believe in telling a kid "here's the ball. We're gonna give it to you every five days. Make the most of it and we'll talk after a couple of starts." I think that way you give the kid confidence and relieve him the stress and pressure of thinking his next pitch gets him yanked and sent back down to the minors. NELSON FIGUEROA is a useful spot starter and good for long relief. I'm not ready to give him the 5 spot yet in spite of a rather impressive effort in Venezuela this winter. The only other credible option in the 5 spot is FERNANDO NIEVE. Again, I'm not averse to give a 5 spot to a kid. My choice is Niese. It's the best we can do considering what we have to work with. Does Kelvim Escobar fit into this rotation? I dunno. Maybe. But it seems like he's destined to be out 8th inning guy.
To summarize the NYM starting rotation, this is my feel:
Johan
big IF
bigger IF
Maybe
and Who?...(not to be confused with Who the 1st baseman)
Can you feel my angst?
This is what we need to know about the Mets' bullpen.
K-Rod has been pitching competitively and continuously since last February when he began preparing for the Baseball Classic. He pitched through the season and pitched in Winter League in Venezuela right up until February 1st. I fully expect him to have a dead arm by August. It's just too much of a load with no recuperation time to speak of.
Kelvim Escobar, another pitcher coming off a two year recovery from injury has credible work on his resume. That is before he got hurt. Omar Minaya is trying to catch that lightning in a bottle that CAN be found from time to time when these players come back from injury. Omar has said he'll begin the season as our 8th inning guy. This has been a position with bad luck attached to it between Duaner Sanchez and JJ Putz lately. Will Kelvim be the latest guy to suffer the 8th inning voodoo? I guess his arm will answer that for us.
Eddie Kuntz and Bobby Parnell are two more youngsters I think can be tremendous contributors. I like these kids a lot and sort of blows back in my face my complaints about our farm system coming to a screeching halt. But let's see. Time will tell who's right.
There it is, the Mets pertinent pitching information as told by me. After Johan Santana we have two question marks, followed by Hope and a Mystery in the five spot. Omar Minaya is putting all his eggs in the Maine and Perez basket. He belongs in Vegas if he's such a gambler. I will say this in his defense about the Mets' apparent lack of activity this winter, Jason Bay aside. The free agent pool wasn't all that. While I can't explain their head-in-the-sand approach with John Lackey knowing full well their number one need is a #2 starter, I've thought, like the Mets and Omar it's best not to have signed the other pitchers still available. They would have commanded too much for a minimal return and cost us more in the way of a mismatched and mediocre roster with onerous contracts. So you see, I can be fair minded and not be so narrowly focused on complaining.
The New York Metropolitan's positional players and offense with be addressed in my next posting. Blog ya later.
Omar is in a real pickle. I like him. I wanted him in 2004. I'm still on his side. I'll complain and disagree with him. I'm not in favor of firing him as a purely reactive measure. I want to ensure we can get someone with some real clout first. That requires back room wheeling and dealing. I'm afraid that's not the Wilpon's gig. And if the Mets idea of change is another in house move, I'd rather keep Omar. I digressed.
The Mets starting rotation has a 65% chance of stinking like hot garbage this summer. However if they cash in on the other 35%, they can be very good. Maine and Ollie are former 15 game winners. When Ollie is on he can be electric and his strikeout totals become impressive. If...only if. If my aunt had hair on her back she'd be my uncle.
That's the Met's and Omar's idea of the 2010 Pitching Staff with my opinion about it.
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.mlblogs.com/
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Jason Bay? OK......... Perez & Maine...Oh The Pain!
The Mets signed Jason Bay today to a 4 year contract worth $66 Million. Well...At least they didn't do anything foolish like sign him for five. I'm on record as wanting to offer him a 3 year take it or leave it deal. It works out $6 million more than the Red Sox were willing to give him.
Here's what I think. BIG WHOOOP!!! I'm not gonna say anything silly. Jason Bay is a good player. Our bench is instantly made better by having Angel Pagan sitting on it (that was not sarcasm). But he is not changing anything at Citi Field until the Mets get a pitcher that can shotgun with Johan Santana. Period.
Don't plan on any trips down I-95 looking for success unless you're looking to buy a PHILLY-CheezSteak. Until the Mets get that pitcher, Jason Bay is inconsequential and a year too long.
Let me make this clear also. I like John Maine and I still believe Ollie Perez is correctible as ridiculous as that sounds, I really do. His problems are simple if you ask me. Allow me to digress a moment on OLLIE.
When Ollie Perez learns how to plant his landing foot perpendicular to home plate; - When he gets his toes pointed towards his catcher, most of his problems will go away. Psychotherapy is not the answer. I can't believe no one sees this. Any weekend pitching coaches out there? Do you concur? His landing foot falls everywhere it's not supposed to. He consistently lands closed to the catcher and you're always having to throw across your body. The rock rolls down the hill from there. I'm Done.
But honestly, has anyone even heard about Oliver and Maine? Hello? Realistically, what can we expect from them in 2010? C'mon, I'm a fan too. I'm just being pragmatic. We are closer to PRAY FOR RAIN vs OLLIE and MAINE than we are trusting them every fifth day.
So now I guess the Mets turn to their fan base and say 'SEE! The winter was fruitful. We told you. - We got R.A. DICKEY to sign a minor league deal. We stole Kelvim Escobar from under every one's noses and now we just hit a scorching line drive with Jason Bay. Bengie Molina looks close to joining as well - SEE?!
I can hear them now.
Let me ask you something.....All you Met optimists out there, are you feeling good right now? And all you Met pessimists out there, are you feeling a little grumpy right now?
Hear this. It doesn't change anything in the N.L. East yet. We had bigger needs to fill than LF. Our outfield is now BAY-lf - BELTRAN-cf >(is he going to stay healthy?) - and FRANCOEUR-rf.
*sigh* I've seen worse. I've seen better. Funny how Jason Bay didn't mean much to us when he was in our minor league system but now he's worthy of over payment for services yet rendered (raising one eyebrow).
Jose Reyes' hamstring? How's that coming along? Will he be able to run like he used to? This is the second season he's lost to hamstring issues. If he can't run......(fill in the blank).
Blog ya later. I've spent the last two days preparing a Fred Wilpon/Mets' General Manager rant. Sheeesh... this blogging ain't EZ. I give you good folks credit for tsome of the things you have going on in your sites. Looking forward to checkin them out in 2010.
HAPPY NEW YEAR BLOGGERHOOD!!!
Philly Fans, I hope you've been enjoying your view from the top of the division. We just didn't want to be there. I'm throwing you guys a bone. I'm in a good mood today. Here Philly....Chew on this!!!!
http://theBrooklynTrolleyBlogger.mlblogs.com/
http://baseballtrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/
Here's what I think. BIG WHOOOP!!! I'm not gonna say anything silly. Jason Bay is a good player. Our bench is instantly made better by having Angel Pagan sitting on it (that was not sarcasm). But he is not changing anything at Citi Field until the Mets get a pitcher that can shotgun with Johan Santana. Period.
Don't plan on any trips down I-95 looking for success unless you're looking to buy a PHILLY-CheezSteak. Until the Mets get that pitcher, Jason Bay is inconsequential and a year too long.
Let me make this clear also. I like John Maine and I still believe Ollie Perez is correctible as ridiculous as that sounds, I really do. His problems are simple if you ask me. Allow me to digress a moment on OLLIE.
When Ollie Perez learns how to plant his landing foot perpendicular to home plate; - When he gets his toes pointed towards his catcher, most of his problems will go away. Psychotherapy is not the answer. I can't believe no one sees this. Any weekend pitching coaches out there? Do you concur? His landing foot falls everywhere it's not supposed to. He consistently lands closed to the catcher and you're always having to throw across your body. The rock rolls down the hill from there. I'm Done.
But honestly, has anyone even heard about Oliver and Maine? Hello? Realistically, what can we expect from them in 2010? C'mon, I'm a fan too. I'm just being pragmatic. We are closer to PRAY FOR RAIN vs OLLIE and MAINE than we are trusting them every fifth day.
So now I guess the Mets turn to their fan base and say 'SEE! The winter was fruitful. We told you. - We got R.A. DICKEY to sign a minor league deal. We stole Kelvim Escobar from under every one's noses and now we just hit a scorching line drive with Jason Bay. Bengie Molina looks close to joining as well - SEE?!
I can hear them now.
Let me ask you something.....All you Met optimists out there, are you feeling good right now? And all you Met pessimists out there, are you feeling a little grumpy right now?
Hear this. It doesn't change anything in the N.L. East yet. We had bigger needs to fill than LF. Our outfield is now BAY-lf - BELTRAN-cf >(is he going to stay healthy?) - and FRANCOEUR-rf.
*sigh* I've seen worse. I've seen better. Funny how Jason Bay didn't mean much to us when he was in our minor league system but now he's worthy of over payment for services yet rendered (raising one eyebrow).
Jose Reyes' hamstring? How's that coming along? Will he be able to run like he used to? This is the second season he's lost to hamstring issues. If he can't run......(fill in the blank).
Blog ya later. I've spent the last two days preparing a Fred Wilpon/Mets' General Manager rant. Sheeesh... this blogging ain't EZ. I give you good folks credit for tsome of the things you have going on in your sites. Looking forward to checkin them out in 2010.
HAPPY NEW YEAR BLOGGERHOOD!!!
Philly Fans, I hope you've been enjoying your view from the top of the division. We just didn't want to be there. I'm throwing you guys a bone. I'm in a good mood today. Here Philly....Chew on this!!!!
http://theBrooklynTrolleyBlogger.mlblogs.com/
http://baseballtrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/
Friday, December 25, 2009
Santa Just Left the CITI....What did he leave under the Met Tree?
Santa came to Citi Field tonight and left those Wascally Wilpons a little something. At least it wasn't coal. Omar Minaya is reportedly signing Kelvim Escobar to a one year minor league deal. Not bad. I've been killing the Mets all week for their hybernation this winter. That twitch the other day that resulted in R.A. Dickey maybe was an indication the Mets are waking from their slumber. Really? Nah! But this signing isn't bad at all, and if it is a minor league contract, even better. The twitch has graduated to a full spasm now. Maybe we can get some real motion going soon? Aye?
Escobar pitched one game last year - DL'd since 2008.
2007 - 18 wins 7 losses 3.40 era 160 strikeouts/66 walks in 195 innings.....in the American League.
If he can stay healthy this guy is better than decent. He can come out of the bullpen, but he already qualifies as the Mets' #2 starter (remember...Pray for rain, instead of Perez and Maine). No one associated with the Mets, no fan, no doctor, no clairvoyant or psychic knows what Perez or Maine will be capable of in 2010.
Escobar is 101 - 90 lifetime splitting his career between Toronto and Anaheim of Los Angeles of Orange County of Southern Cali of the West Coast of the counrty. Since 2004 he has been sporting an ERA under 4.00, again, in the American League.
Verdict? Omar did good this time. The Mets have nothing to loose, pending a minor league contract.
Escobar is conditioned to being on a winner. The Angels are a good environment to come from. Coach Scioscia runs a tight ship. It's a step in the right direction. If we was kicking a '3.change' ERA in the A.L., I'm hoping Escobar can get better from there. This signing could work out very well for us.
BUT..........I'm not letting this MESS off the hook just yet. This is just another example of the Wilpon's operating model. There is no plan in place. This was what you call opportunistic feeding. The Wilpons are not predatory creatures. This is akin to being a bottom feeder waiting for the next whale carcass to gently make it's way down to the Ocean Bottom Diner. The sun shines on a dog's behind at least once a day too. Could my judgement be clouded by fustrations with this club? Could we just call this an astute GM move by Minaya? I'll answer that. Omar? OK, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. Those 'Wascally' Wilpons? My mind is clear about them.
Mets operating model? Flawed. Signing Kelvim Escobar? Not bad at all, regardless of how opportunistic it was.
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