Brilliant Baserunning, Brave Blunders
For once, the team blundering around Citi Field looking like the '62 Mets wasn't the Mets, it was Bobby Cox's Braves, led by none other than Shea Jones' daddy Chipper whose birthday weekend was not a good one.
And on the flip side, the Mets looking brilliant, led by none other than Angel Pagan.
The Met highlights:
- Angel Pagan scored from second with the infield fly rule called, as the Braves bumbled.
- Reyes scoring the game's only run Sunday by stealing second, then scoring on Chipper's throwing error.
- Henry Blanco stole his first base in 9 years, and caught his fourth runner, remaining perfect for the year both stealing and catching runners.
Meanwhile the Braves:
- Let 2 pop-ups to center fall in.
- Blew the infield fly
- Bizarre baserunning blunder by Yunel Escobar whose failure to tag turned a sacrifice fly into a double play.
Meanwhile the Mets on defense:
- Great plays by Reyes and Wright
- The play of the week: Jeff Francoeur prevented Chipper from scoring from first on a double, despite running with the pitch with 2 out. Go Jeff!
Reyes Returns
The real Jose Reyes finally came back this week. Reyes had a 1.090 OPS this week, with 2 triples, 3 stolen bases, and 6 runs scored.
He scored the game's only run Sunday by singling, stealing second, and scoring from second on Chipper Jones' throwing error.
The highlight of Reyes' week wasn't the 4 hit Tuesday or the winning runs Monday and Sunday, but his smile after a critical diving catch with 2 on and 2 out on Saturday.
Welcome back, Jose.
Davis Debut
Ike Davis debuted on April 19, 2010 at Citi Field against the Cubs. He wasted no time accumulating his firsts, getting all of the following in his first week:
- First hit (in first at bat)
- First homer (a monster)
- First great catch (tumbling into dugout)
- First broken up no hitter (in 5th inning)
All told in his first week Ike had 7 hits and 3 walks in 25 plate appearances, scoring 5 times and driving in 2, for a .318 average and a .900 OPS. He did however strike out 7 times, which is not a good sign. Still, great first week. Strangely for the left handed hitter, more than half his hits (4) were in 6 at bats against southpaws.
MetsToday pointed out a great trivia question: What number did Ike Davis first wear in the majors?
The answer, like the answer to the meaning of life, the universe, and everything, is 42. It was Jackie Robinson day at Citi. Davis then moved to number 29.
How much longer should the Mets give Jerry Manuel?
With the very slow start to the year, the blaming finger is already pointing towards Jerry Manuel.
Met fans seam to think that Manuel is on thin ice, if the club doesn't turn things around he may be shown the door.
Last year Jerry Manuel was blamed for making a few very questionable calls. And this year, it seams like part of the club doesn't have his back.
So how long should the Mets give Jerry?
I think the Mets should give him at least until the end of May, maybe he can get a shot to turn things around with Carlos Beltran in the lineup.
Lets face it, the Mets are not a great team. And if you want to beat the Phillies. Marlins and Braves for the NL East you need to have a good team.
You can't blame Jerry Manuel for the lack of talent the Mets had to open the year. Even with Jose Reyes the Mets have a lot of holes in there team.
In the lineup the Mets have a very weak center fielder with Beltran out and first base has been really ugly to watch in the lineup as Mike Jacobs was hitting .208 before the Mets sent him away.
Now, if you give Jerry Manuel until the end of May, you may see him with a lot more talent as Ike Davis is coming up to the bigs smoking hot from AAA and spring training and Carlos Beltran may be back in a few weeks.
I am not trying to take all the blame off Jerry Manuel, if he does not have many friends on the roster then he is to blame. But we need to remember, this is baseball- not football or basketball. The manager does not make that much of a difference.
So lets give Jerry Manuel a little air, and not blame him for the Mets not playing 100%.
Welcome to New York Ike Davis
In times that Met fans have nothing to smile about, all we need is hope. A reason to believe things will get better.
That is why we welcome Ike Davis to the big leagues.
If the start of the season is the first two days (one of which was an off-day), then the Mets started on the right foot. Since then there have been ups and downs- Mostly downs
The Mets have not won a series yet this season (going 1-2 in each of their 4 series0, they even lost a series to the Nats (who may be off to a good start, but we all know they will not keep it up).
That is why we need Ike Davis. We need to believe that things can change- the hope is back for Mets fans.
I have heard some Mets fans (a minority) that are not happy about this move. They feel Davis needs more time in the minors. I don't get why? Ike is killing pitchers in AAA ball and had a great spring. It makes more sense to me to bring him up now. Especially since he is hot right now
We know Davis is probably not going to be Jason Heyward, but with the offense the Mets had got in first base from Mike Jacobs, Ike Davis could not be any worse
Jacobs was hitting .208 before the Mets sent him down. The bar is not too high for Davis, he is not replacing David Wright.
Ike should be up in New York this week, so welcome to New York.
[Update: Ike is starting tonight against the Cubs. Welcome!]
Mets-Tigers: Carlos Beltran For Granderson And Zumaya Good Idea?
We all know the Mets need to make changes after a disporting 2009 season, and that is why we need to be open to all ideas of change.
That is why I look at the Tigers and see a possible answer for the Mets, how about this offer: Carlos Beltran for Curtis Granderson And Joel Zumaya.
Yes, I know it sounds crazy at first. But hear me out and read my article. It may change your mind.
I know what you are thinking, Carlos Beltran is one of the best players on our team. Why would you trade him for a player that is not as good as him?
Well, I have three reasons why I think this is a good idea.
1. Getting younger is always good. Carlos Beltran is 33 years old, that means he is past his prime and on his way to being another Carlos Delgado very soon. Curtis Granderson is 28 years old, on the right side of 30 and Joel Zumaya is 25 years old- still young.
2. I do not think getting one new free agent is going to make the team the best in the NL East, to get more free agents you need money $$$. Beltran is making $18,622,809 a year for the next two years.
Yes, the Mets will need to pay part of his salary, But not all of it. Let's say the Mets need to pay $10,000,000 (and I am over doing it), $8,000,000is a lot of money that would help the Mets get players like John Lackey and Matt Holiday.
3. The Mets need bullpen help, Joel Zumaya may be a cheep, but good answer.
4. Carlos Beltran has had injury problems with the Mets, why take the risk with him this year?
Curtis Granderson is a great player whom the Tigers are looking to trade. This is the Mets' shot at becoming a better team.
If the Mets do not want to be the same 92-loss team they will need to chnge a lot this offseason.
Don't get me wrong, I love Carlos Beltran. He is the best center fielder of our time. But a new time is starting and the Mets need to adjust.
Another thing that is not helping Beltran's case is that most people think about one play when they think off Carlos Beltran. And that was striking out looking in the 9th inning of game seven of the NLCS in 2006.
Please let me know what you think by commenting about this article.
Ten worst moments of the season
Mets nation has spoken, we have the top ten worst moments of this Mets season.
It was not easy to put these together, but we did it. Thanks to all the great Mets fans that gave their vote to MetsObsessed.
So Mets fans, lets look at the top ten worst moments of this season.
#10.
Santana loses 2-1 without an earned run (4/12) 4%
#9.
Murphy's misadventures in left 4%
#8.
Albert Pujols Grand Slam in 10th (8/4) 5%
#7.
Mariano Rivera gets save #500, RBI #1, completing series sweep (6/28 vs Yankees) 5%
#6.
Lose 15-0. To Yankees. (6/14 vs Yankees) 6%
#5.
Pedro shuts out Mets to sweep doubleheader (9/13 vs Phillies) 6%
#4.
Bruntlett's unassisted triple play (8/23 vs Phillies) 7%
#3.
Pelfrey's three balks (5/17 vs Giants) 8%
#2.
11th inning: Church misses third, Reed throws it away (5/18 vs Dodgers) 11%
#1.
Luis drops game-winning ball at Yankee Stadium (6/12 vs Yankees) 32%
Vote For The Worst Mets Moment Of The Season
Yeah, that's how I feel too
It has been a long season with both good times and bad times.
But for some reason we Mets fans seam to remember the bad more then we remember the good.
I think there are two reasons for that.
1. We are Mets fans
2. There is way more bad then good to remember
There have been lots of bad moments this year.
How many times have you said this is as low as the Mets can get, and then they prove you wrong.
I feel that way every day, and I don't think I am alone.
And now comes the hard part, picking the worst moment of one of the worst seasons in Mets history (at least since 1993).
The Mets have had many bad moments this season. Is it Luis Castillo dropping the game winning ball against the Yankees or is it the ugliest inning ever in Dodger Stadium?
Mets fans may not get baseball in October or good baseball in 2009, but at least we get to pick the worst moment of the season.
Vote now and use your right as a Met fan to help us rank the top 10 worst Mets moments of the season.
Vote for as many moments you want, but please do not vote for the same thing twice.
The Mets are Done but Season Still Fun
It's never easy to see your team lose, but when your team is done anyway it makes it a bit easier to watch.
As a Mets fan, this season has just not gone the way I hoped it would. But what has happened has happened and the season is over.
Is it easy to see your team go down and lose player by player and game by game? No.
But can I enjoy the game even if I know the Mets are going to lose? Yes.
Since the Mets are done I do not feel like there are any must-win games.
Even if we go now on a five game winning streak, at best we may be back in the Wild Card race only about 7 games out.
And behind at least five teams, that may also go on winning streaks later in the year.
And if we go on a five game losing streak its OK, these games do not really matter much.
I am OK with the Mets losing, and I l love seeing great players playing great ball even if it is against the Mets.
Like when Albert Pujols hit the Grand Slam in the top of the 10th to win a game against the Mets.
Yes, it was not fun that we lost the game on that, you can't root for Albert Pujols to hit Home Runs against you.
But it was fun to see him get four RBI getting him closer to maybe winning the triple crown.
I just see this season is over, and there is nothing I can do about it.
And there are not many people I can blame.
Omar put out a great team on Opening Day for the Mets and Jerry has lost all his top players to injuries.
I guess we can blame the medical staff, but I do not know any of them so its hard to hate them.
All we can do is hope Omar cleans house down there.
So as the season comes down to its last month and a half we Mets fans should relax, take it easy.
Nothing to worry about, and not much we can do about it (as if there's something we can do about it when they're in the race).
So sit back, relax Mets fans.
There is not much more baseball to enjoy this year so get all you can out of what is left.
Who knows, its never to late for the Mets to get their first No-Hitter in franchise history. And with the great Johan Santana on our side, you never know when he may get one.
Let's watch the young Bobby Parnell grow and become a good baseball player, and Daniel Murphy is always fun to watch.
Maybe another Angel Pagan inside the park home run is on the way (update: the way he led off the next day was just as cool), and maybe another cycle is in the stars for the Mets.
Either way, enjoy what we have left, enjoy every pitch left in the season.
And then as they say, there is always next year!
Obsessed Even When Out of Race
I like reading the NY Post's Jay Greenberg but I disagreed with his Giant Mistake Not to Say Goodbye.
Gary Sheffield
The facts (apparently):
- The Giants claimed Sheffield off of waivers
- The Mets and Giants played chicken, the Mets demanding a legitimate prospect and the Giants offering next to nothing.
- The deadline passed with no deal, and the Mets pulled Sheff back and can no longer trade Sheff this season.
Greenberg argues (as do many others) that with the season hopelessly lost the Mets should just be moving on:
"He [Minaya] should have taken what he could get and moved on for the very reason that moving on should entirely be what is driving the organization, not the fear of empty seats near the end of Year One of a new ballpark."
I disagree on two points.
Greenberg writes that Minaya "should have taken what he could get" -- but that's not how you negotiate. The only way to get back some value is to make clear that you'll walk away if the deal doesn't meet your needs.
The more important point though is Greenberg's implication that Omar and Jerry Manuel's attempts to win games this year is part of some sinister plot to save their jobs.
I'm not a baseball professional like Greenberg or Minaya. Baseball isn't my livelihood, it's just my obsession. I love the game. Even when the Mets are out of the race, I can't stop myself from watching, from caring. Sheffield is the best hitter in the Mets lineup right now. If he goes, I have to watch Cory Sullivan (no offense, Cory) join Pagan in the outfield, and hit sixth because remarkably the Mets have at least two worse hitters in the lineup. The heart of the order becomes Daniel Murphy, Jeff Francoeur, and Fernando Tatis.
The Mets are paying Sheff minimum wage so waiving him isn't going to give them cash that they can use next year.
If the Mets can get value for him, great. If they can't, I'd just as soon have somebody in the lineup who can play the game. If Greenberg's point was that the Mets owe it to Sheff to let him go, that's a different argument, but I'd still say they owe it to their fans to demand value in return. And failing that, to play the best baseball they can.
In short, I think the guys who make a living from the game (including sportswriters) sometimes lose sight of the fans' need to see individuals and teams playing to win, whether tied in the bottom of the ninth of game seven or down for the count in a "meaningless game." All games are meaningless. And yet we watch because we love seeing talented players do their best. And all things being equal, I'd rather watch Sheff than Sullivan.
Newest Posts
- With Carlos Beltran back, should the Mets trade an outfielder?
- Should the Mets get a starter and a reliever?
- Always Look on the Bright Side: Weekly Review
- Barajas & Blanco Walk-Offs
- Walk-Off Week
