I'm not sure about awesome, but definitely evil.
The New York Mets have a solid ballclub. From a rotation with one of the best starters in the league, to a bullpen with one of the top closers, and a lineup with a number of perennial All-Stars, the Mets are a playoff team on paper. But the playoffs have been elusive for three years straight, and this new season has started off slowly, to put it lightly.
Losing two of three to both the Marlins and Nationals at home to begin a season is putrid, but recoverable. I’m not going to pretend like this team can’t go out, in a few games, and be right back in it, but the play so far disturbs me. I don’t see the fire and the passion from players who are normally much fierier.
Why can’t this team pull it together? As I said, they’re good on paper, maybe even really good. The best way I can describe what I’m seeing is that there’s an aura surrounding this team, and they just can’t shake it. What’s causing this aura? There are a few possibilities.
1. The players. The most obvious explanation – the players just don’t have it in them to play as a cohesive and passionate team.
2. The management. This is really referring to Jerry Manuel, Omar Minaya, or both. Omar and Jerry’s lame duck statuses if the team doesn’t turn it around quickly are clear. Manuel’s team, player, and game management have been questioned by fans time and time again, and yesterday he admitted that the team wasn’t prepared (his job). Maybe the players just can’t get behind these two for some reason.
3. The fans. This is one that you probably don’t want to hear, but the constant booing might be getting on the mind of the team. I’ve never seen a team booed as much as the 2010 New York Mets, and often over petty plays. I’ve never been much of a boo-bird (though I did boo Heilman after giving up a grand-slam to that Nationals a couple seasons ago), as I don’t see how it helps. Does it make fans feel better about themselves to boo? Do they think that the players don’t realize when they make a mistake?
Personally, if the bad play continues, my preferential order of fixing would be: fans, management, players. I’d like to see the team as it stands get another shot while the fans actually cheer unconditionally. If that doesn’t pan out, fire Omar and Jerry (and HoJo/Warthen) and play out the rest of the season with new management in place. Then, finally, if the team doesn’t turn it around at any point this season it’s time for major roster changes.
Unfortunately, I don’t see the fans changing unless the team changes. So Omar and Jerry might have to jump ship first. But can the Wilpons bite the bullet and eat their salaries, while admitting that keeping them around for another season was a mistake? Only time will tell, but I know one thing for sure. I hope the Mets turn it around and start winning, and we can pull all this nonsense behind us.
56 comments
rustyjr
4/12/2010-7:25am at 7:25 am (UTC -4)
Agreed on all counts it’s too late to give up on this season but I think it is quite evident that Jerry needs to go
metsfan4decades
4/12/2010-7:39am at 7:39 am (UTC -4)
I agree this team has talent. Normally, I’m a believer that winning has more to do with talent than it does the manager. That’s why Joe Torre had a losing record while here, but went on to have a winning record with the Yankees.
However, there are exceptions to everything and I think this is one of them. Jerry is just the wrong fit for this team. If he can’t get the most out of this young, talented team it’s time for him to go. Actually, I believed the time to replace him was over last winter, but what do I know?
But the Mets will wait until mid season, hoping for a miracle. A miracle I don’t believe it going to happen as currently constructed. Then, they’ll do the standard mid season replacement, with an ‘interim’ type manager. But it will be too late for this season.
I wish they’d do something novel and replace him now. Even then, change isn’t going to happen overnight. So isn’t it best to get started as soon as possible?
metsfan4decades
4/12/2010-7:41am at 7:41 am (UTC -4)
Light-hearted Jerry Manuel isn’t laughing as New York Mets starting to sputter
John Harper’s Daily News Post.
Sort of what I was saying. A little too little, a little too late.
metsfan4decades
4/12/2010-7:58am at 7:58 am (UTC -4)
On an off note, looks like metsblog is routinely pointing readers to Grave’s post game wrap up. They must like the unique style of those posts. I know I sure do. Sometimes, it is the only highlight to a Met game.
trs86
4/12/2010-8:20am at 8:20 am (UTC -4)
Nice post. I really would like to see the fans rally around this team and try and pull them through it. Show them that no matter what or how bad we are still Mets fans and will still be there. Hey maybe that’s what we do when we boo. Tough love baby. I have not written off the season nor am I panicking. The pitching has been good enough to win considering who we have played, yet they have not been able to hit.
ceetar
4/12/2010-8:39am at 8:39 am (UTC -4)
There is booing the failure to get a clutch hit, and then there is booing one of the best, and most competitive/hard-working, guys in baseball after one bad inning. Or booing individual pitches like ball 2.
CaseStreet
4/12/2010-8:55am at 8:55 am (UTC -4)
Why is anyone trying to analyze how this season will play out based on 6 games? This is a marathon not a sprint.
When the Marlins went 11-1 to open up last year, did anyone think that the Marlins were this really great team about to shatter all records? No.
I ask all baseball fans and “analysts” to please wait a bit before you start believing:
1. The Mets aren’t contenders
2. The pitching sucks
3. The hitting sucks
4. Santana sucks
5. Bay sucks
6. Jose sucks
7. Jerry sucks (well, that is true)
8. Omar sucks
9. Fans suck
10. TRDMB sucks
I’m just saying. Try to enjoy the game a bit, you might miss a great season. This is baseball not life or death.
metsfan4decades
4/12/2010-9:00am at 9:00 am (UTC -4)
+1
Faith and Fear in Flushing had a great post over the weekend on what’s wrong with the fan base at Citi Field. He makes some good points.
One of which I think is universal amongst us fans: what in hell is anyone doing the wave for?????
ceetar
4/12/2010-9:18am at 9:18 am (UTC -4)
well…obviously not. But this is universal. red sox fans were doing teh wave in the opening series, Canadians were doing it during Olympic hockey..etc.
CaseStreet
4/12/2010-9:04am at 9:04 am (UTC -4)
If it’s any consolation, the Mets were in 4th place on 5/2 with a 10-13 record, they were up 1 on 5/10. Anything’s possible!
ceetar
4/12/2010-9:17am at 9:17 am (UTC -4)
I think, as I’ve scheduled in a post later, that the first ‘check in’ point is May 3rd.
There is a lot of evidence that Manuel, and the fans, suck so far though.
njstuckintx
4/12/2010-9:28am at 9:28 am (UTC -4)
“She’s gone from suck to blow!”
Agreed on your points listed. I’m not enjoying the outcomes of the games so far, but I will say for 2009, if the Mets didn’t put up 4 in the first 2 innings, they werent’ winning or scoring any late runs. This year, they keep me watching to the end, as the offense gives me the “they could score at any moment (minus when Jacob’s comes up to bat)” kind of feel.
I also get the feel that other then the fans need to get some action more often and have pent up anger issues, when you see what needs to happen as plain as daylight and said needed things don’t happen, it’ll drive you nuts. It’s like yelling at the movie screen, saying “no, no, it’s probably not smart to get busy in the cabin when someone’s been going around killing the other campers…” You just see the outcome before it happens. Having Jerry at the helm gives me that feeling. Makes me want to boo him. You see the moves that you say to your self, he can’t be that dumb to do that. No, he really can’t consider bunting someone over in that situation. And then he does.
udontmesswthejohan
4/12/2010-9:39am at 9:39 am (UTC -4)
Good point. I was listening to Evan Roberts on Saturday before the game and the guy was like, “you have to feel a lot better after last night’s (Friday’s) win.”
Have a little consistency. You can’t possibly be changing your opinion of the team based on one game. It’s ridiculous.
That said, one week into the season, and I can’t say that my opinion of the team has changed all that much. I just don’t see any spark out there, and yes I blame that on the manager.
Kingman 26
4/12/2010-9:46am at 9:46 am (UTC -4)
I enjoy the games, and as well as anyone, I always have baseball in its proper perspective.
I am not, and never have been, a boo-er. If the team’s performance across the board is being seriously affected by a vocal minority of loudmouth idiot fans, then they really are the heartless, gutless, nutless bunch the Alexes of the world have suggested.
Jerry sucks.
Jacobs sucks.
Matthews sucks.
This is not debatable, has always been true, and will not change.
If Maine and Ollie (and Johan??) cannot top 90 on the radar gun, there is zero chance of the playoffs.
We have a great base of all-stars, and as I believed before the last weeks of spring training, a potentially outstanding pen.
Our starting pitching and our manager will keep this team from reaching its potential for now.
Hopefully this will be fixed before July 1.
ceetar
4/12/2010-9:56am at 9:56 am (UTC -4)
Even if the Mets are 10 games back on July first, I wouldn’t rule them out.
The radar gun concerns me (gameday said Johan hit 91 yesterday a couple of times. I think he was finding when he overthrew he was missing, which was part of the problem. Sometimes it seems when you have control issues you tend to not throw as hard as you try to get the aim better.) Maine and Perez deserve another start or two before we panic, but I am a little worried that Warthen’s tinkering with Perez is the problem with his pitches. Maybe he just needs to get a little more comfortable with the motion.
ceetar
4/12/2010-9:57am at 9:57 am (UTC -4)
For some reason I haven’t quite reached the “Matthews is completely worthless” stage yet. I thought his outfield play was pretty good, and he did have some success in Spring Training. Still would go with Pagan 5/7 times, but Manuel ..well, I heard someone say he was the ‘mastermind’ behind getting Matthews.
Kingman 26
4/12/2010-10:03am at 10:03 am (UTC -4)
Funny, spring training stats DO matter for Matthews on the positive side!
Too much!
ceetar
4/12/2010-10:11am at 10:11 am (UTC -4)
It’s just a perception thing I guess, having seen him have some ‘success’ there. The actual defense helps too, although Jacobs/Tatis haven’t been completely terrible yet.
I’d still play Pagan at least 5/7 times. I don’t think Matthews is good. I just haven’t reached ‘completely worthless’ yet.
Kingman 26
4/12/2010-10:10am at 10:10 am (UTC -4)
The Marlins finished 87-75 last year.
Their first 12 games greatly predicted the surprisingly successful season they would have.
If we are discussing a 4-8 record in one week, surely this will also predict the finish this team will have.
gategem
4/12/2010-9:41am at 9:41 am (UTC -4)
1. If the club keeps on losing the fans will not be a problem. People that don’t show up don’t boo. Most people don’t have jobs with tenure or union protection and in this financial climate worry about retaining their jobs and thus are somewhat frugal when it comes to entertainment expenditures. If they don‘t feel that the Mets are entertaining they will spend their money elsewhere. .
2. While the Mets do have talent the objective question is just how much real talent is there. Obviously there are some outstanding players on this squad but generally this team was projected to be a below .500 team by many sources. Now if we take the attitude and continually whine about the whole media world hating the Mets then we should remove the predictions based on opinion and just stick to the people that base their projections on metrics. Now you can be paranoid about it and claim that even the saber people insert an anti-Mets coefficient into their equation. But that can be solved by increasing the amount of Paxil one takes in a day. Generally these people have not projected the Mets to be a contending ball club. So if you accept their projections then the Mets will have stretches where they under perform as well as stretches where they give the illusion of being a pennant contender. So it doesn’t pay to over-react to the just completed home stand since we will probably see stretches like this throughout the season. And there will be periods when the Mets will play excellent, winning baseball.
3. The Wilpons would look foolish to fire Jerry one week into the season. They probably won’t act until the media bashing and the empty ballpark makes them uncomfortable. Think 1st west coast road trip to SD on May 31st.
ceetar
4/12/2010-9:53am at 9:53 am (UTC -4)
Nah, it’d have to be after the Phillies series, if they’re thinking about it. It’s the perfect time, justifiably-wise, anyway.
I don’t think they’d look that foolish for firing Manuel now, or soon anyway. Just spin it correctly with “Not the right fit for this team, results aside.” “We felt (insert new manager here) is more a manager for the future and to delay his promotion would be foolish.”
The sabermetrics and other such stat predictions are just as bad as the experts/analysts sometimes. I’ve got a whole post planned on the folly of advanced metrics that I’ve been wanting to discuss for quite some time with one of the sabermetric ‘experts’.
gategem
4/12/2010-10:08am at 10:08 am (UTC -4)
You might want to go over to Amazin Avenue. They have believers and “experts†over there.
ceetar
4/12/2010-10:15am at 10:15 am (UTC -4)
I do sometimes. Disagree plenty as well.
GravediggerHebner
4/12/2010-11:26am at 11:26 am (UTC -4)
What did the metrics predict in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 for the Mets? I’m not asking to prove a point, I’m asking because I don’t know and I’m curious.
gategem
4/12/2010-12:55pm at 12:55 pm (UTC -4)
2009 you could throw out because of the preposterous number of and severity of injuries but I believe the Mets were projected to contend. The other years I don’t recall.
Even though I have the educational background to understand sabermetrics I just read the results and leave it to the so called “experts†to define the meaning of the numbers. I don’t have the inclination or interest to study it in depth. So I basically know about as much as the man on the street.
The only reason I bring it up and check the stats from time to time is because if done properly they should be devoid of emotions that color the normal analysis.
GravediggerHebner
4/12/2010-1:07pm at 1:07 pm (UTC -4)
Understood about the emotional coloring, but I wonder what about the spring 2009 Mets defined sabermetrically made them contenders, yet the spring 2010 Mets 4th place. I get that other teams change/evolve too, but that seems like quite a leap (or fall).
Kingman 26
4/12/2010-10:01am at 10:01 am (UTC -4)
I vehemently disagree on point 3.
What does Jerry have to do to show he is not the best man for the job, bat the pitcher 3rd and wear a t-shirt saying “I can’t motivate this group”???
Batting Jacobs ahead of the red-hot Francoeur is almost enough by itself to question his judgment.
Playing Matthews Jr—who is nicely showing why so many of us did not want him, regardless of WHO we traded for him—over Pagan is ludicrous.
And the “unprepared” comment?
Were the players unprepared to face Livan the Great?
Was Johan too busy or too arrogant to prepare for the Nat hitters?
Were the players and/or coaches just unprepared in general?
We just went through 6 weeks of hearing how eager everyone was to get out there and show that 2009 was a fluke/aberration/etc.
And they are “unprepared” in game 6 of 162?
Jerry should have been gone last October. The team did not have the ability to sign free agent pitchers when very few good ones were available. Changing the obviously mediocre culture engendered by Jerry was the best single way to make a big change.
Do it NOW before the season creeps away.
ceetar
4/12/2010-10:05am at 10:05 am (UTC -4)
Regardless of ‘preparedness’..Johan goes out and struggles with his control. ends the inning. It’s the bottom of the first. There’s a chance to jump right back into it. I know Reyes is still ‘rusty’ and isn’t quite a pitch-taker, but the approach given by the bench (that’s you Jerry), should’ve been work the count. take pitches. At the very least to give Santana some time to rest and recover. Manuel has no idea how to formulate a gameplan in terms of the lineup and approach.
DNDJohan aka kistics
4/12/2010-10:24am at 10:24 am (UTC -4)
That’s not really Jerry’s job. His job is to MAKE SURE there are enough lefties and righties mixed up in the lineup whether it kills the offensive rhythm or not.
Who do you think Jerry is? Tony LaRussa?
udontmesswthejohan
4/12/2010-10:10am at 10:10 am (UTC -4)
“What does Jerry have to do to show he is not the best man for the job, bat the pitcher 3rd and wear a t-shirt saying “I can’t motivate this groupâ€???”
Haha.
“And they are “unprepared†in game 6 of 162?”
Terrific point. Look, nothing against Jerry, he seems like a nice enough guy, but not only are they not prepared, but worse, they seem unmotivated. That has to land on the doorstep of the manager.
metsfan4decades
4/12/2010-10:21am at 10:21 am (UTC -4)
I agree with your point in the last paragraph. Nothing against Jerry, as a man. Just not the right fit for this team.
stickguy
4/12/2010-10:21am at 10:21 am (UTC -4)
well, don’t exempt Hojo if the team is unprepared with an approach against a particular pitcher. Isn’t that the hitting coaches responsibility, to have them ready for that day’s pitcher?
udontmesswthejohan
4/12/2010-10:31am at 10:31 am (UTC -4)
That’s fair. We all love Hojo, but he’s not without blame either. The difference IMO is that I’ve always been of the mindset that your hitting coach is only as good as his hitters. If they were to can someone like Hojo it would be window dressing of the highest order. There is something systemically wrong with this team and I’d be hard pressed to blame that on the hitting coach. Also, at the end of the day, Hojo isn’t the manager. the buck has to stop somewhere and that is with Jerry.
ceetar
4/12/2010-10:33am at 10:33 am (UTC -4)
I’ve gone back and forth on HoJo. I blamed him for the poor situational hitting at times. But then you have Francoeur.
My solution has always been to make him the bench coach, which actually works well if it’s Backman you choose as the replacement (or other rookie) and ‘established’ manager would have to get his own guys.
udontmesswthejohan
4/12/2010-10:46am at 10:46 am (UTC -4)
I hate to say it, but I would love to see them bring back Bobby V. I think Backman would be too much of a culture shock for this team.
stickguy
4/12/2010-10:49am at 10:49 am (UTC -4)
I think they could use a culture shock.
I bet DW, bay, johan and frenchy buy in big time, and I think reyes just might too.
the rest (other than Beltran when he finally gets back, but well after Wally would be established) just don’t count enough to worry about.
udontmesswthejohan
4/12/2010-11:01am at 11:01 am (UTC -4)
My big fear there, to be honest, is Reyes. I don’t know how he would react. I think he could get a long fine with Bobby V though.
ceetar
4/12/2010-11:03am at 11:03 am (UTC -4)
I agree on the culture shock being a good thing, and waht they needed in 2008 and failed to do.
(I have no problem with Bobby V. he’s a smart guy, and while he may make mistakes, at least he’s thinking it out. I heard his analysis of the V. Martinez throw to second on Opening Night that allowed Gardner to steal home and they amount of stuff that he threw out there that had to be considered was mindboggling. He knows what’s going on. )
But I think, particularly if it’s a rookie manager, they need to interface with Wright as to ‘leading’ this team.
Mr North Jersey
4/12/2010-10:16am at 10:16 am (UTC -4)
When is that?
I mean when is that moment when the season has creeped away?
Is it when we fall 10 games below 500?
Is it when we fall 15 games behind a playoff spot?
I ask because if we are talking about firing people 6 games in we must be close.
Jerry’s choice of words “unprepared” just shows his stupidity. I will not be surprised to hear in the next day or two Jerry saying that it was a poor choice of words.
gategem
4/12/2010-10:18am at 10:18 am (UTC -4)
Jerry’s managing skills have not suddenly taken a turn for the worse. What you see now was evident last year. So if the Wilpons did not fire him at the conclusion of the 2009 season and allowed him to conduct spring training then they obviously wish to give him a chance to prove he can get the job done. One week into the season does not meet this criteria. No matter how we feel about Jerry I believe the Wilpons will wait before making a move.
stickguy
4/12/2010-10:25am at 10:25 am (UTC -4)
well, it was obvious last year. ANd if the team had been healthier but still missed the playoffs, he would have been gone (IMO). So, the injuries saved him, in that they decided to give him 1 more shot to prove that he wasn’t really the problem.
So, 6 games is plenty to show that he was, in fact, part of the problem. This isn’t like overreacting with a known solid manager that had a bad start.
Really, this is a case of “damn, why did we get suckered into bringing this doofus back”, not “this guy is the best, just a slow start, he is the man to straighten out the problem”
ceetar
4/12/2010-10:25am at 10:25 am (UTC -4)
I agree they’ll wait too, but I see beat writers and mainstream media catching on, which is usually “When there is smoke, there’s fire” for managers. I’m sticking to my May 3rd date though.
stickguy
4/12/2010-10:36am at 10:36 am (UTC -4)
NO, they learned from the Willie firing.
If that is how much time it takes (rigth after the first Phillie series, in philly), they will wait until the end of th eorad trip (5/3-5/5 are 3 games in Cincy).
5/6 would be the perfect day. Off day before the next (albeit short) homestand.
gategem
4/12/2010-10:50am at 10:50 am (UTC -4)
“Were the players unprepared to face Livan the Great?
Was Johan too busy or too arrogant to prepare for the Nat hitters?â€
Over at Amazin Avenue they described Livan as being just below a batting practice pitcher. I’m not sure just how prepared you have to be to hit this guy. They sure as hell should know what he throws. The Bisons probably would have put up at least a 6 spot against him.
Newsday had an article that Johan was annoyed by the extra days rest and implied it was the cause of his lack of command.
The “unprepared†statement was incredibly stupid and immediately qualifies Jerry to enter the political arena.
ceetar
4/12/2010-11:00am at 11:00 am (UTC -4)
I read taht he didn’t think it was the extra rest that caused it. And he _should_ have the extra day of rest occasionally. keep him fresh for the end of the season. especially in April.
gategem
4/12/2010-12:33pm at 12:33 pm (UTC -4)
I read it over in Newsday and David Lennon and Anthony Rieber indicated that it did bother him.
Kingman 26
4/12/2010-11:05am at 11:05 am (UTC -4)
Ha! Right on Jerry!
And ANOTHER point is that skipping a turn for Johan COULD mean that he misses a start at the very end of the year, or has to go on 3 days’ rest.
stickguy
4/12/2010-10:19am at 10:19 am (UTC -4)
fark. just wrote a huge resonse, and it got eaten. I hate mouse buttons.
short version: they need changes. Fans are at least here to boo, so in some way they care enough to express their opinion.
fire Jerry now would be fine. Would get credit for giving him a chance to prove the past wasn’t on him. Fans and layers will be relieved. Just say they wanted to give him a chance, but the fit isn’t right, time to move on.
Hated Jacobs on the team since ST. Livid that he is starting, and hitting up high. GM I was willing to live with as a bench guy, but Jidiot makes him the starter.
I do think they will be stubborn, and it may take to 5/3, but why bother? Jidiot (my new catch phrase) has proven he is overmatched, so why think that is going to change any time soon?
Make the move now, win the fans back, show you really do care, and there is a ton of time for the talent to take over.
Ditching jacobs at the same time would be nice too!
Daned, that was the short version!
ceetar
4/12/2010-10:27am at 10:27 am (UTC -4)
In terms of firing Manuel now, use the “Better to be rid of a guy too early than too late.” line.
stickguy
4/12/2010-10:34am at 10:34 am (UTC -4)
combined with the “the new guy can’t possibly be any worse” theory, and you got a winner!
I like to use the Bill Simmons test. Does the guy bring anything to the table?
IMO, Jerry does not, so you lose nothing by getting rid of him.
ceetar
4/12/2010-10:43am at 10:43 am (UTC -4)
Right. This was the point I tried to make in the offseason. There should never be a “you need a quick start or..” manager. Particularly one that’s never gotten the Mets anywhere and has no record of success to fall back on. He’s done nothing, you think it might be time to fire him but you want more proof? Just find the next guy, you lose nothing by replacing him.
Kingman 26
4/12/2010-10:57am at 10:57 am (UTC -4)
Jidiot!!
PERFECT!
Mr North Jersey
4/12/2010-10:40am at 10:40 am (UTC -4)
Reyes – is back facing MLB pitching for the 1st time in almost a year since in Spring Training he was reduced to minor league pitching. It will take him time to get his game back but at least his game will get better with every game he plays.
Wright – is a streaky hitter this we all know so just wait because when he starts hitting he will be a Monster.
Bay – is getting situated with NY he hasn’t been terrible and I am sure he will soon start hitting hr’s also.
Frenchy – has given the Mets all they could ask for the Mets need to stop moving him around in the lineup and let him just continue to do what he is doing because you know he can’t keep this pace up.
Barajas – is doing what he is paid for give us defense behind the plate and provide the occasional hr. So far so good I’d say.
Castillo – is what he is leave him alone and he will probably give you another Castillo like season.
1B/CF – 2 Positions played by backups. CF at least has Beltran to come back and fill in nicely but 1B has Murphy coming back to fill. Who is the best 1B Murphy/Jacobs/Tatis/Cat/Carter/Davis? Take your pick. That is a position that may be an issue all year long.
Starter – Other than Santana evry1 has had all of 1 start. We have no way of knowing what this rotation will be like in 2010 based on that. Can we give these guys at least 5 starts before we decide what we should do with them? I mean Niese pitched well so did Pelfrey but it’s 1 start talk to me after 5 and let’s see if we can continue to say the same.
Bullpen – You have to admit the pen has pitched well so far but again it’s only been 6 games. Talk to me after 25 games and let’s see if we can continue to say the same.
ceetar
4/12/2010-10:46am at 10:46 am (UTC -4)
Unless the Mets are running away with things, I’m sure 1B will be a point of contention all season long. I personally think we’re best for the whole season with Murphy, but that Davis may be the better player on the day that the season ends.
Kingman 26
4/12/2010-10:59am at 10:59 am (UTC -4)
Pen’s been great; your points are almost all good.
3 starters with hugely decreased velocity ALONE could be enough to sink this team.
Batting Jacobs as though he is Dave Kingman or Steve Balboni and ignoring the fact that he has topped 20 HR ONE TIME is criminal, and the best current example of how Jerry misuses his roster.
metsfan4decades
4/12/2010-11:00am at 11:00 am (UTC -4)
Good points.
Except I’m not sure we need to see 5 starts from the likes of Maine and/or Perez to know what we’ve got. Just like we don’t need to see 5 starts from Johan to know what we’ve got with him.