Once again it’s time to grab a cup of coffee, kick your feet up, and get your morning dose of Mets in the Papers.
Kristie Ackert, “Albert Pujols Puts Up Grand Performance Against Mets at Citi Field”
Pujols’ grand slam off Mets reliever Sean Green in the 10th was the 11th of his career, which is a franchise record. It was his fifth grand slam of the season, tying Ernie Banks‘ 1955 National League single-season record.
Evan Drellich, “Mets Bullpen Has Complete Meltdown”
“That’s not how I had it planned out,” said Green, whose first pitch of the game nicked the Cardinals’ Mark DeRosa with two outs in the 10th inning to force in Rick Ankiel from third base and put the Cards ahead 8-7. “I’ve been erratic with my location and it’s cost me the last couple of outings.”
Mark Hale, “Season in Jeapardy for Mets”
Reyes, who had been rehabbing in Port St. Lucie, was examined yesterday at the Hospital for Special Surgery. The Mets revealed only that he felt discomfort in his leg and did not make any executives available to speak about the situation. They didn’t provide the test results either, though it’s believed that Reyes will have more tests today.
Wallace Matthews, “Mets Dragging Santana Down With Them”
Leaving Minneapolis for New York was supposed to be a career boost for Santana. Instead, it has been more like a career setback, his standing among the best pitchers in baseball falling, it seems, in sync with the death spiral of the team for which he plays.
Mike Puma, “K-Rod Blows Save; Pujols Rocks Green”
You know summer’s dog days have officially arrived when your All-Star closer answers to “Rusty” and appears ready to chase balls in the outfield.
And that’s after your starting second baseman sprains a left ankle while returning to the dugout because he’s trying to avoid a glove on the steps. What else can go wrong for the Mets? For the good of humanity, M-E-T-S: Must End the Season.
Mike Puma, “Freak Accident KO’s Castillo”
Castillo was returning to the dugout following his seventh-inning at-bat, when he sprained the ankle while attempting to avoid stepping on a glove on the steps. X-rays taken were negative and Castillo did not remain to speak with reporters afterward.
Adam Rubin, “Mets’ Jose Reyes May Be Done For The Rest of 2009″
Don’t count on Jose Reyes returning this season. The shortstop flew from Port St. Lucie to New York to be examined Tuesday by team doctors at the Hospital for Special Surgery. Reyes is experiencing continued discomfort with his troublesome right hamstring tendon.
Tim Smith, “The Way The Mets Are Playing Will Make Anyone Turn Green”
If the summer at Citi Field wasn’t long already, prepare for it to get longer. Relegated to fourth place in the NL East and with a logjam of teams ahead of them in the wild-card race, the Mets were already in an uphill battle to make the playoffs. Now their fight will be to remain relevant through August.
Mike Vaccaro, “Mets Can’t Get Any Worse”
But this one did. This one does. This one, even the most pie-eyed true believer has to acknowledge, officially ended the competitive portion of the Mets’ schedule. Everything from here is filler. It didn’t seem possible that a season could feel worse than either of the last two, but those were just getting started on Aug. 4. This one ended there, circled in black ink.
68 comments
trs86
8/5/2009-10:05am at 10:05 am (UTC -4)
Looks like the writers have writer block too. Not much to say about this year.
metsfan4decades
8/5/2009-10:26am at 10:26 am (UTC -4)
“Mets Dragging Santana Down With Them’.
I’ve got a problem with this one. There are no guarantees in baseball. Yes, Johan should have more wins on this team both last year and this year. The BP has squandered some of his performances, the defense has practically handed him loses and they usually fail to score runs when he’s on the mound.
However….it was his choice to come here. Did he think he was coming to a contender? I’m sure he did. But he waived his no trade close and chose NY because the Twins weren’t going to pay him what he thought he could get and NY was more than willing.
Bottom line was though, it was his choice. This isn’t the ‘old days’ where you had no say in what management did with your contract and could trade you anywhere at anytime. This team is what it is this year and Johan is part of this team. He battled last night, without his best stuff and he had the lead coming out. They could have held that lead and given him the lead. Then again, he could have given up one less run and we’d be out of the 9th with a Win even with KRod’s less than stellar performance.
Bottom line is every guy on this team is part of this team. It’s a team effort, not every man for himself.
If Johan really feels that way, I guess he could demand a trade. Let’s hope that’s some poetic license on the part of Matthews and it’s not something Johan has been voicing.
I’m sure he’s thinking though ‘what have I done to deserve this?’
trs86
8/5/2009-10:35am at 10:35 am (UTC -4)
Bottom line is also don’t give up 5 runs when you are the ace.
metsfan4decades
8/5/2009-10:40am at 10:40 am (UTC -4)
Yup. Once less run given up, we’d be out of the 9th with a Win.
There were many who contributed to this loss last night from 5 runs given up by our Ace, to Pagan’s mental mistakes on the base paths (again), to the ump blowing the call at first and calling Castillo out when he was safe, to Castillo injuring himself and Berroa coming in and making the error in the field, to KRod blowing the lead to Green’s horrible performance, to Jerry’s questionable decisions on using Stokes for one batter and even putting Green in, in that spot.
Any one of those things were different, we most likely would have won. Kind of sums up this season…
trs86
8/5/2009-10:47am at 10:47 am (UTC -4)
Yup, there is something with this team for 2 years now. It has the idea of just waiting for something to go wrong and I think the players feel it too. That is why we have to shake things up on the team and coaches and GM.
jaded1983
8/5/2009-10:33am at 10:33 am (UTC -4)
Remember opening day at Citi this year? Pelfrey falling down. Losing on a balk. a CAT RUNNING ON THE FIELD.
There, ladies and gentelmen, is your reason for our bad luck and injuries this year. Blame it totally on that cat!!!!
trs86
8/5/2009-10:36am at 10:36 am (UTC -4)
God they are talking on ESPN about Krod like he is junk. Saying he has no breaking pitch. LOL Guy has had 2 save opps since July 14th. He has blown really 3 saves, besides Mo who has been better?
sabermetrician
8/5/2009-11:27am at 11:27 am (UTC -4)
Huston Street
sabermetrician
8/5/2009-11:33am at 11:33 am (UTC -4)
Heath Bell
sabermetrician
8/5/2009-11:34am at 11:34 am (UTC -4)
Francisco Cordero
trs86
8/5/2009-11:36am at 11:36 am (UTC -4)
Rhetorical, but if you want to go there Hoffman and Franklin.
trs86
8/5/2009-11:37am at 11:37 am (UTC -4)
And who would you trade Krod for out of that list?
sabermetrician
8/5/2009-11:40am at 11:40 am (UTC -4)
Francisco Rodgriguez is overrated because he saved a ton of games last year. I like him, but he’s far from the end all – be all of relievers. Keith Law ranked him as the 17th best reliever in the big leagues entering this season. I think that’s a stretch, but I think you’d have a hard time saying he’s top 3. If you factor in contract I’d trade K-Rod for Bell or Street in a second.
Without factoring in salary I’d trade him for Nathan or Papelbon in a heartbeat as well.
trs86
8/5/2009-11:42am at 11:42 am (UTC -4)
I do not trade him for Bell or Street. That is shortsighted. Bell was terrible here and Street was terrible even last year.
sabermetrician
8/5/2009-11:48am at 11:48 am (UTC -4)
Alright, let’s keep a log of what each does over the next three seasons and compare.
trs86
8/5/2009-11:51am at 11:51 am (UTC -4)
Can we not count last season? That would put Street out right away.
sabermetrician
8/5/2009-11:59am at 11:59 am (UTC -4)
It’s not customary to retroactively count stats in a trade. You don’t trade for a career. Steve Phillips tried that with Mo Vaughn and Robbie Alomar. Yikes.
trs86
8/5/2009-12:02pm at 12:02 pm (UTC -4)
18/25 3.73 ERA
Uhm, it’s not customary to only go by current stats either.
sabermetrician
8/5/2009-12:07pm at 12:07 pm (UTC -4)
I never went by current stats! I said let’s compare over the next three years. Sheesh, I love how you try to twist words.
udontmesswthejohan
8/5/2009-11:49am at 11:49 am (UTC -4)
Just so I’m not mistaken, you are talking about HEATH Bell and HUSTON Street right???
sabermetrician
8/5/2009-12:03pm at 12:03 pm (UTC -4)
Are you another guy who only bases things on names? Try stats, use them right and they won’t lie.
sabermetrician
8/5/2009-11:37am at 11:37 am (UTC -4)
Looking closely, I’d have to say these guys as well:
Joe Nathan
Jonathon Papelbon
Guys who may have outperformed him this season, but that he’s in general better than:
David Aardsma
Trevor Hoffman
Ryan Franklin
udontmesswthejohan
8/5/2009-11:51am at 11:51 am (UTC -4)
What is the point of this excercise????
You admit that he is better than Aardsma, Hoffman, and Franklin but they are having better years. Would the Mets be in contention if they had one of those guys? This is stupid.
trs86
8/5/2009-11:53am at 11:53 am (UTC -4)
I messed up and ask a rhetorical question. Interesting that a poll of the players still put Krod 2nd behind Mo in terms of guys they would not want to face with 2 outs in the 9th.
sabermetrician
8/5/2009-12:04pm at 12:04 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, the players also voted Raffy to a gold glove in a season that he played roughly 30 games at the position, very compelling arguments.
sabermetrician
8/5/2009-12:06pm at 12:06 pm (UTC -4)
trs86 asked who’s had a better year than K-Rod, I pointed out a few, he chose to take the argument to that of trade value, I gave my opinion. No one said that any of these relievers makes us a good team.
wannybackstra
8/5/2009-11:52am at 11:52 am (UTC -4)
Nathan is the only one who strikes me as an automatic.
A BoSox fan friend of mine refers to Papelbon as Gashead because of his temper tantrums and tendency to blow only the ones that matter, as he did just last week.
I think all closers blow games. In general, the job is overrated. Ryan Franklin hardly has closers stuff — in fact, his stuff is barely major league. Yet, he’s on a roll of being able to get three quick outs. His bottom will fall out too.
Frankie’s problem has been falling behind too many hitters. Early in the season he was hitting strike one with his curve ball which set up the rest of the at bat for him and kept hitters guessing.
trs86
8/5/2009-11:55am at 11:55 am (UTC -4)
Yup, I really think that it’s rust and lack of emotion. This is a guy that needs emotion to pitch well. A guy like Bell may be the opposite as to show with his remarkable turn around once out of NY.
sabermetrician
8/5/2009-12:05pm at 12:05 pm (UTC -4)
He had no rust last year when he blew 7 games. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a very good closer, but he’s not the best, far from it.
sabermetrician
8/5/2009-12:16pm at 12:16 pm (UTC -4)
Wanny, I’m a little surprised that you turn to a fan’s opinion rather than stats. The stats bear out the K-Rod has had, at best the 9th best reliever’s season. I’m not arguing that he’s horrible. He’s not the best closer in the game though, nor top 3.
wannybackstra
8/5/2009-12:45pm at 12:45 pm (UTC -4)
Saber –
I’m not suggesting that K-Rod’s season has been better or worse than anyone else’s.
I was more addressing whether I’d prefer to have one player over another.
If I had to choose a closer today (not solely based on this season’s performance) I would not be so quick to take Papelbon over K-Rod.
trs86
8/5/2009-10:38am at 10:38 am (UTC -4)
Pagan Cora Wright Sheffield Murphy Francoeur Schneider Berroa Niese
I need to mow the yard or something around 12.
trs86
8/5/2009-10:39am at 10:39 am (UTC -4)
IN all seriousness, this is a huge knock on Omar to be without Reyes for most of a season and the backups be Wilson Valdez and Angel Berroa. I am not saying big trade, but at least an MLB player?
metsfan4decades
8/5/2009-10:43am at 10:43 am (UTC -4)
Agreed. Especially since Cora we all knew was signed as the ‘Castillo will not play 162 games and/or be injured’ backup.
trs86
8/5/2009-10:45am at 10:45 am (UTC -4)
Agreed, I don’t blame him for it at the beginning but there HAD to be a guy we could have gotten in June. Not saying even DeRosa but someone who belongs in a Mlb roster. When Gary says, this guy is not a major leaguer, you know its true.
metsfan4decades
8/5/2009-10:50am at 10:50 am (UTC -4)
Oh man, that’s just well, horrible…
You’ve convinced me (re: the discussion last night in the dugout). This season is lost. Bring up the kids, bring up Tajeda(?), let’s get a look, or at least give us a reason to watch….
QnsNative718
8/5/2009-10:38am at 10:38 am (UTC -4)
Wasnt this the third time Sean Green either walked in/hit batter to force in the winning run? Last night, Philly a couple months back… Am I missing something?
trs86
8/5/2009-10:40am at 10:40 am (UTC -4)
Yes, he has walked, hit and wild pitched a run home.
QnsNative718
8/5/2009-10:51am at 10:51 am (UTC -4)
Ugh…
sabermetrician
8/5/2009-11:29am at 11:29 am (UTC -4)
I don’t know why the Mets thought Green was going to be the answer for the seventh when they first brought him here. Nothing about his career suggested that he could be more than a mop up man or rare situational reliever.
trs86
8/5/2009-10:48am at 10:48 am (UTC -4)
I know you disagree with me 4D, but I think it’s time to bring up Tejada. I can root for him and watch him suck MUCH more than I can Berroa.
metsfan4decades
8/5/2009-10:51am at 10:51 am (UTC -4)
Ha!. See the comment I just posted above. You are right….
trs86
8/5/2009-10:52am at 10:52 am (UTC -4)
This one kills me more than ANY trade made at the deadline
The Yankees acquired Jerry Hairston Jr. from the Reds, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Ken Davidoff of Newsday (via Twitter) says the Reds will receive minor league catcher Chase Weems.
trs86
8/5/2009-10:53am at 10:53 am (UTC -4)
Weems who is 20 years old in Single A with these stats: .260 .317 .347 664
trs86
8/5/2009-10:58am at 10:58 am (UTC -4)
Continuing with this Hairston has played 3B, SS, 2B, LF, RF this season. Nah we don’t need that.
metsfan4decades
8/5/2009-11:02am at 11:02 am (UTC -4)
LOL. Sorry, I actually laughed right out loud when I read this.
Truly, I’m convinced more and more that Omar is going and we’ll be watching another GM make deals for our 2010 team. Might be something worth looking forward to.
At one time, I thought both Omar and Jerry would get a pass b/c of injuries. Now? I don’t see it. There are just too many other considerations outside of the injuries – even over and above the fact Omar put his foot in his mouth with Rubin. This comment from you is a prime example. Is he not trying? Does no GM want to deal with him anymore? Are they all trying to fleece him b/c they know the Mets are desperate?
trs86
8/5/2009-11:08am at 11:08 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, I don’t get it. It’s almost like the Wilpons have a clamp on him. It’s not like Omar not to tinker.
metsfan4decades
8/5/2009-10:58am at 10:58 am (UTC -4)
And for those of you who can no longer watch, find it too painful – I understand the mindset.
For me, it’s actually easier now than it was several weeks ago. When we thought we might still have a chance, watching these losses was just agonizing. The hope just kept seeping away bad play by bad play.
Now we all know it’s over. This season is lost. It’s actually easier to watch the games as I’m not worrying that every loss will set us back from the post season goal.
There's Always '10
8/5/2009-11:03am at 11:03 am (UTC -4)
Can someone explain to me why David Wright shaved his beard? David, if you’re reading – are you serious?
trs86
8/5/2009-11:09am at 11:09 am (UTC -4)
It’s itchy? When you are able to grow a beard you will understand. LOL J/K.
wannybackstra
8/5/2009-11:38am at 11:38 am (UTC -4)
Mark Hale has an amazing grasp of the obvious.
Couldn’t agree more with the nausea over seeing Angel Berroa. He has been among the worst “major leaguers” for several years now and has no business on this team. Tejada is only 19 and there’s some risk to bringing him up but since he’s not the future for this team at SS there’s not much to lose.
trs86
8/5/2009-11:40am at 11:40 am (UTC -4)
Hey a Wanny sighting.
But yeah, I have been clamoring for that in the dugout every game. Now it seems like a no brainer if Castillo goes on the DL.
wannybackstra
8/5/2009-11:42am at 11:42 am (UTC -4)
Been having trouble accessing the site from work — had been crashing IE every time.
trs86
8/5/2009-11:43am at 11:43 am (UTC -4)
hmmm, thats not good. Should have emailed us. Do you know what was doing it?
wannybackstra
8/5/2009-11:48am at 11:48 am (UTC -4)
No idea. At first I thought it was Big Brother blocking me out because it wouldn’t jam anything else up; it just wouldn’t load up. Then the crashing began a few days ago.
And I’ve been too busy to worry about it.
wannybackstra
8/5/2009-11:40am at 11:40 am (UTC -4)
My new minor league “crush” is the Rockies’s AAA 2B Eric Young, son of the former Mets killer with the same now.
He’s 23 at AAA (having moved up a season each year with remarkably consistent numbers) and is hitting .296/.388/.420 with 54 SBs in 100 games.
Would love to see him batting leadoff for the Mets and playing 2B next season with Reyes limping around in the third hole perhaps (clearly we don’t want to rely on Jose having to run ever again).
trs86
8/5/2009-11:41am at 11:41 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, they don’t want to trade him at all. Been following him. Don’t know what we would have to give.
wannybackstra
8/5/2009-11:44am at 11:44 am (UTC -4)
I wouldn’t suspect they’d want to trade him either. I was hoping that he might somehow be blocked but since Atkins is gone after the year and Stewart can play 3B, Clint Barmes isn’t blocking anything.
wannybackstra
8/5/2009-11:46am at 11:46 am (UTC -4)
And Barmes isn’t even signed.
trs86
8/5/2009-11:52am at 11:52 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, it was mentioned that he may be up next year.
stickguy
8/5/2009-11:53am at 11:53 am (UTC -4)
not a good looking line up today, that is for sure!
I would love to see them make some trades to fill holes with young talent (like the Young guy on COlo). Trade what you got to fill other holes. Like when the Rays stole Garza in a need for need from excess deal.
I really don’t know what to expect this team to look like next year, but I am hoping for major changes, and that does go right to the FO. Get some fresh blood in to hopefully build it right.
trs86
8/5/2009-11:56am at 11:56 am (UTC -4)
I liked that trade for both sides. Now it’s one sided.
If we are not trading a core member I am hoping for Crawford and Kazmir as they will be the easiest to get.
wannybackstra
8/5/2009-12:00pm at 12:00 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, no one knew that trade would work out that way at the time. Sure seemed like an even deal of prospects. In fact, many thought Minny was getting the steal given the hype around Delmon.
If F-Mart was not injured again, he’d be a good guy to include in that type of trade. As I’ve suggested before, an FMart for Kyle Blanks type trade might benefit both teams (if SD even keeps Gonzalez this winter).
trs86
8/5/2009-12:03pm at 12:03 pm (UTC -4)
I would give that Halladay package for AGonz for sure.
wannybackstra
8/5/2009-11:57am at 11:57 am (UTC -4)
This is a rare occasion in which I’d prefer to see Fernando Tatis at 2B. Berroa just can’t be in the lineup to get 3-4 at bats. And he’s hardly a defensive contributor.
trs86
8/5/2009-11:59am at 11:59 am (UTC -4)
Agreed, I see no reason not to.
trs86
8/5/2009-12:05pm at 12:05 pm (UTC -4)
Speaking of minor league crush: Mine is
Jose Morales catcher blocked with the Twins
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/moraljo02.shtml
I could live with him and Santos as our catchers next year. He should not be that hard to get as he has no future in Minny.
trs86
8/5/2009-12:06pm at 12:06 pm (UTC -4)
Guy has hit over .300 for 3 years in a row in the minors and has hit that in the majors as well.