“Good pitching will always stop good hitting and vice-versa. ” Casey Stengel
Here’s what you missed on Wednesday 4/14/10 at TRDMB:
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This Day In Mets Infamy With Rusty †The State Of Maine†Edition 04-14-10 by rustyjr
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The Easy Fix? by trs86
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Real Dirty Mets Morning Open Thread byCaseStreet
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Real Dirty Mets Forecast 04-14-10byprismo
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Video: B-Mets Videos ROCK!!! by Mr North Jersey
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Mets Minors 4/13 by metro
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Manuel’s State Of The Mets – Week 2 by Mr North Jersey
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Video: Checkout Chris Carter’s Big Day by Mr North Jersey
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Game Thread: Mets(2-5) vs Rockies(4-3) Game 8 by dirtysanchez
Answer to Wednesday’s Trivia: Ron Swoboda
Today’s Trivia: What former Met won three MVP awards before playing for the Mets?
You got something to say? Say it on The Real Dirty Mets Blog!
112 comments
Kingman 26
4/15/2010-9:35am at 9:35 am (UTC -4)
Love the trivia Case!
I will give a hint: He was also a Yankee.
rustyjr
4/15/2010-9:35am at 9:35 am (UTC -4)
Gil hodges or yogi Berra – next !
ceetar
4/15/2010-9:38am at 9:38 am (UTC -4)
I’m predicting a laugher tonight, Mets win 9-2.
metsfan4decades
4/15/2010-9:45am at 9:45 am (UTC -4)
Put me down for that.
whataputz
4/15/2010-9:56am at 9:56 am (UTC -4)
So, no laps in the parking lot today?
metsfan4decades
4/15/2010-9:57am at 9:57 am (UTC -4)
LOL. Here’s hoping no….
Kingman 26
4/15/2010-9:54am at 9:54 am (UTC -4)
The game is at 3 and should be over by 6, so enjoy your dream of a Met win later tonight long after the game has been played and lost.
whataputz
4/15/2010-10:02am at 10:02 am (UTC -4)
what happened to positivity, sunshine, unicorns, and rainbows? It’s only 8 games. Ollie will win Cy Young. Wright MVP. Jerry manager of the year. 156-6 baby!!!!!
Kingman 26
4/15/2010-10:30am at 10:30 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, I definitely have always been big on sunshine and unicorns.
Mr North Jersey
4/15/2010-10:15am at 10:15 am (UTC -4)
Game is at 3:10pm
DNDJohan aka kistics
4/15/2010-10:24am at 10:24 am (UTC -4)
With De La Rosa on the mound….. nice….
His stats since last season July-Oct.
17GS 12-2 3.39ERA 106Ks
Opposing batters .234/.322/.387/.709
Pretty good stuff.
DNDJohan aka kistics
4/15/2010-9:45am at 9:45 am (UTC -4)
Can someone tell me why Pagan was taken out? It’s not really a defensive replacement and GMJ isn’t a better hitter. And it’s not like the double switch had any impact to the lineup.
Frank the Cat and Cora both pinch hit in the 8th spot where if Pagan would have hit. I would’ve taken Pagan over Cora at the plate in the top 10th.
njstuckintx
4/15/2010-9:47am at 9:47 am (UTC -4)
I think I’d feel a whole lot better about the team if there were kids on the bench instead of 30 year old retreads.
CaseStreet
4/15/2010-10:10am at 10:10 am (UTC -4)
Not sure why Jacobs needed to be pinch run for. Of course, I haven’t seen him on the bases since he never gets on, but Tatis ain’t no speedy gonzalez.
DNDJohan aka kistics
4/15/2010-10:13am at 10:13 am (UTC -4)
I agree. I think Maine or Cora would’ve been a better choice to pinch run and have Tatis pinch hit instead.
GravediggerHebner
4/15/2010-10:52am at 10:52 am (UTC -4)
Pagan was taken out because he had made the last out of the previous inning and the pitcher was due to lead off the next inning. Classic double switch, and actually a sound move by Jerry there IMO. The ridiculous thing, as you guys have noted here, was the delayed pinch run at 2B which wasn’t necessary at all, could’ve been done using someone else, and if it were going to be done why the hell wait until a 2-2 count?
DNDJohan aka kistics
4/15/2010-9:47am at 9:47 am (UTC -4)
Today’s Trivia: What former Met won three MVP awards before playing for the Mets?
Albert Pujols! in 2011 or 2012!
metsfan4decades
4/15/2010-10:01am at 10:01 am (UTC -4)
And BTW….Jacobs mental error allowing Cook to score in the 4th (he took the cutoff throw from Frenchy and threw to second instead) – he didn’t appear to even so much glance at Cook. Why? Because he was a pitcher?
Our situation at 1st right now – two guys who neither play it well nor hit well, is really getting hard to watch.
whataputz
4/15/2010-10:05am at 10:05 am (UTC -4)
our best first base options are currently in buffalo, and one is in PR rehabbing. The Bisons should be decent though!
DNDJohan aka kistics
4/15/2010-10:15am at 10:15 am (UTC -4)
One is in PR rehabbing? eek!
CaseStreet
4/15/2010-10:16am at 10:16 am (UTC -4)
Jacobs made the correct play to cutoff the throw since Cook wasn’t going home.
I actually think it was Jose’s fault for not throwing home.
metsfan4decades
4/15/2010-10:18am at 10:18 am (UTC -4)
But Cook did go home. He just kept on running. No one was paying attention…
DNDJohan aka kistics
4/15/2010-10:18am at 10:18 am (UTC -4)
I think Cook was already in when Reyes caught the ball. Cook immediately took off when Jacobs threw over to 2nd.
My guess is that Jacobs thought Cook has already scored with the single.
ceetar
4/15/2010-10:36am at 10:36 am (UTC -4)
He slowed up and ran when Jacobs threw. Reyes probably had no shot to get him, especially given that he wasn’t exactly in position to throw home after the tag, but doesn’t maen he shouldn’t have looked. Same with Jacobs.
DNDJohan aka kistics
4/15/2010-10:38am at 10:38 am (UTC -4)
I agree. Jose should’ve looked and is partly to blame for. But I think Jacobs gets the majority of the blame for this situation though.
metsfan4decades
4/15/2010-10:18am at 10:18 am (UTC -4)
I’m not saying Jacobs shouldn’t have cut the throw off. I’m saying he didn’t even so much as glance at Cook who just kept right on running home. He threw to second instead. And didn’t get the runner.
Mr North Jersey
4/15/2010-10:20am at 10:20 am (UTC -4)
according to Keith Jacobs was supposed to look at Cook 1st back to see if he was running home then throw to 2nd or let the ball through to home if cook was running and ball was in line to plate.
metsfan4decades
4/15/2010-10:21am at 10:21 am (UTC -4)
And yeah, Jose didn’t look up in time either.
CaseStreet
4/15/2010-10:28am at 10:28 am (UTC -4)
Watching the replay, I thought Cook stopped at third and took off after Jacobs threw to second.
So, yes, Jacobs should’ve looked Cook over but, the right play was still at 2nd. Though, maybe with a guy on third, he should’ve just let the runner get to 2nd.
GravediggerHebner
4/15/2010-10:54am at 10:54 am (UTC -4)
That’s what I saw too and I agree with your assessment of how it should’ve gone down based on seeing that.
Mr North Jersey
4/15/2010-11:04am at 11:04 am (UTC -4)
I agree the throw should of went to 2nd also. I may have misunderstood but I believe Keith felt Jacobs never looked at Cooke and just threw to 2nd and Cooke never really stopped his momentun rounding 3rd but still felt Reyes had a shot (a shot) at getting him at the plate.
Mr North Jersey
4/15/2010-10:10am at 10:10 am (UTC -4)
So when Manuel told Francesa Reyes would probably bat 3rd this weekend did he tell Reyes 1st?
Doesn’t seem so according to this quote from Reyes.
“I’m not ready yet for that,†Reyes said. “Jerry hasn’t told me anything yet. He said maybe. It’s possible. He said by this weekend I’ll be fine. Let’s see how I feel tomorrow. I don’t want to hurt the team. But if I’m ready, I’m open to doing it.â€
DNDJohan aka kistics
4/15/2010-10:16am at 10:16 am (UTC -4)
I’m telling you. There’s a big communication gap between Jerry/Omar and the players.
CaseStreet
4/15/2010-10:21am at 10:21 am (UTC -4)
What gap? The media is doing a fine job communicating between Jerry and the players.
Mr North Jersey
4/15/2010-10:22am at 10:22 am (UTC -4)
drumroll….
metsfan4decades
4/15/2010-10:24am at 10:24 am (UTC -4)
LOL.
Kingman 26
4/15/2010-10:22am at 10:22 am (UTC -4)
There’s a big communication gap between Jerry and anyone who takes baseball seriously.
ceetar
4/15/2010-10:53am at 10:53 am (UTC -4)
Rich Coutino has some rather harsh things to say about Jerry last night.
He did say he told Reyes first that it was the plan. Also, he’s considering not playing Reyes today day game after night game.
udontmesswthejohan
4/15/2010-11:49am at 11:49 am (UTC -4)
Coutino has been killing Jerry whenever I hear him on the Michael Kay show, but at the same time, he wrote on article on ESPNNY yesterday sort of defending Jerry saying it was too early to make a move.
Mr North Jersey
4/15/2010-10:13am at 10:13 am (UTC -4)
Niese gets a mulligan.
“The high-altitude-induced dryness in Denver, which used to affect Tom Glavine’s grip, posed a similar problem for left-hander Jon Niese. Niese suggested he had difficulty throwing his signature curveball Wednesday.”
Kingman 26
4/15/2010-10:19am at 10:19 am (UTC -4)
LOL! For the season, or for his career thus far?
Mr North Jersey
4/15/2010-10:21am at 10:21 am (UTC -4)
Career? the kid has pitched well don’t you think?
For last night read this
http://www.tedquarters.net/2010/04/15/joe-janish-makes-a-good-point/
In retrospect it is a valid point.
metsfan4decades
4/15/2010-10:26am at 10:26 am (UTC -4)
Makes you wonder how Colorado gets any quality pitchers to sign there. No wonder they’re big on developing their arms through their farm system.
Kingman 26
4/15/2010-10:30am at 10:30 am (UTC -4)
I have been making, agreeing with, listening to, and rationalizing excuses for this team since the last week of the 2007 season.
Mr N, I respect your opinion tremendously, and maybe it is time for me to take another break here, but I am done with the excuses.
Today, Pelf’s new splitter won’t split due to the altitude. Tomorrow, a hard hotel pillow causing a bad night’s sleep will be why Ollie gets shelled. Saturday, Johan will be uncomfortable with the horror of 6 days rest again. And Sunday, the glare of the ESPN lights will be too much for li’l Johnny Maine.
And by then, the team will be 13 for 126 with RISP, and the misplays will be piling up.
Back the frigin truck up, and trade ANYONE except for Wright and Reyes.
Mr North Jersey
4/15/2010-10:45am at 10:45 am (UTC -4)
King, King, King…
I wish there was something I could say that would help you look at this start with more than the doom and gloom that seems to be following you lately.
I know you just want a win heck we all do but I just feel sometimes the best way to calm down even though I fail at it at times is to look at things logically and in reading what Niese said and others it would help explain why someone not familiar with the altitude at Colorado would have trouble with their breaking pitches.
It is just 1 start for Niese when you look at him as a whole so far you have to admit to being surprised to seeing how he struggled yesterday.
The Mets overall on the other hand that’s a different story the pattern that is developing is worrisome indeed but again 8 games into a season is too early still to start drawing conclusions as to what this team will be.
That di*k the Bitter Bill who dares to say “we” when referencing the Mets had 5 reasons why he is worried.
1. Our starting pitching was once again awful
2. Fundamentals are still a problem.
3. We still stink with RISP.
4. Manuel made a crucial error in the 10th,
5. We all know this guy (Mejia) should be starting in the minors
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/bitterbill/2010/04/the-worst-loss-of-the-season.html
metsfan4decades
4/15/2010-10:46am at 10:46 am (UTC -4)
I hate that ‘we’ reference from these beat writers.
And I don’t care for Bitter Bill’s posts in general.
Mr North Jersey
4/15/2010-10:51am at 10:51 am (UTC -4)
I agree Bill is a D*ck but even a d*ck can be right at times.
whataputz
4/15/2010-10:45am at 10:45 am (UTC -4)
I like it King! Though I’d like to keep Beltran.
CaseStreet
4/15/2010-10:47am at 10:47 am (UTC -4)
Time out for you.
Fact is, most of the team is not the team that collapsed in 07.
Reyes, Wright, Castillo, Maine, Perez, Pelfrey and Feliciano are the only players from that team still on the Mets. (Beltran too, but you can’t blame him when he hasn’t played this season.)
ceetar
4/15/2010-10:54am at 10:54 am (UTC -4)
Sometimes excuses are valid though, but the problem is beat writers are in the business of asking for and reporting excuses…but, I look at it more like this.
actualy, you’ll have to wait. It’s all written up and going up on OMF when I steal a few moments.
stickguy
4/15/2010-11:13am at 11:13 am (UTC -4)
please post a link when it is.
ceetar
4/15/2010-11:32am at 11:32 am (UTC -4)
just click on my name, it’s the first post.
Kingman 26
4/15/2010-11:31am at 11:31 am (UTC -4)
I appreciate all of the comments, but I cannot listen to any more excuses, I cannot stand to see Mike Jacobs in the middle of the lineup and now starting to make key defensive errors too, I cannot stand Pagan hitting 8th, I cannot stand Mejia in the early stages of being possibly ruined or at least having his real arrival seriously delayed.
6 days rest is too many; we weren’t ready for Livan; I cannot throw a curve in Denver; blah blah blah.
However, Wright and Frenchy have been excellent, Igarashi last night looked like the awesome pitcher I saw on the YouTube clips last winter, and there is amazing talent in the pipeline.
I personally think that overall this group is seriously flawed, and 2 years away from contention.
Fire the entire coaching staff except MAYBE HoJo, and sorry, but as soon as he puts 6-8 weeks of healthy ball together trade Beltran for prospects, and hell, if you can get a package with 2-3 serious bluechippers, consider trading Johan too.
I am away for the weekend so am going to spare everyone my doom and gloom. Truthfully, the onset of the same sloppy play we saw ALL of last year, combined with Jerry’s “unprepared” quote and Frenchy’s “Going through the motions” quote about the 6th game of the year have me quite literally questioning the amount of time and mental energy I put into this team.
This is a great site, and you are a great bunch of incredibly educated and thoughtful fans, and I am going to spare you all the intense negativity I feel about basically this entire team right now.
CaseStreet
4/15/2010-12:07pm at 12:07 pm (UTC -4)
Right about Iggy. His stuff is nasty.
metsfan4decades
4/15/2010-10:23am at 10:23 am (UTC -4)
Joe and Evan on WFAN on a roll this morning.
Joe swears Jerry doesn’t want to manage anymore and is trying to get fired.
Said his head was gonna explode when Jerry pinch ran with Tatis leaving Cora to PH.
Mr North Jersey
4/15/2010-10:25am at 10:25 am (UTC -4)
Honestly by that time i was numb to everything going on.
DNDJohan aka kistics
4/15/2010-10:39am at 10:39 am (UTC -4)
I think it should’ve been vice versa. Cora to pinch run (or Maine) and Tatis to PH.
Mr North Jersey
4/15/2010-10:28am at 10:28 am (UTC -4)
Has anyone read this from Joel Piniero?
“”Alex was telling me (it was going to happen),” Pineiro said Wednesday. “I was like, ‘all right, I’m just waiting for that good thing to happen, and I’m ready to go.’
“But it never came.”
Pineiro indicated that the Mets stayed in contact with his agent throughout the winter, but didn’t make any real move to sign him until the Angels got involved in mid-January. Even then all indications are the Mets knew their two-year, $15 million offer wasn’t going to be enough, and at that point, it may well have been for the sake of appearance.
“Is it that the Mets wouldn’t go the extra mile?” I asked Pineiro.
“Exactly,” he said. “It was a business decision, I guess. They had their guys, already.”
They had their guys, all right. The Mets put the word out that they weren’t going to overpay for pitchers that were no better than John Maine, Mike Pelfrey and Oliver Perez. How’s that working out so far?”
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2010/04/15/2010-04-15_mets_weird_out_joel.html
DNDJohan aka kistics
4/15/2010-10:36am at 10:36 am (UTC -4)
Interesting….
prismo
4/15/2010-10:37am at 10:37 am (UTC -4)
FYI Pineiro’s given up 4ER in 13IP in 2 starts.
metsfan4decades
4/15/2010-10:38am at 10:38 am (UTC -4)
Uh, not too well.
Hindsight is always 20/20, so they say.
DNDJohan aka kistics
4/15/2010-10:40am at 10:40 am (UTC -4)
I agree, but it really tells you the talent assessment on the Mets FO which have not been all that bad. But I think Omar may have botched this one.
To quote TRS “we shall see in 2 years”.
ceetar
4/15/2010-10:59am at 10:59 am (UTC -4)
Well, the Mets made the offer they wanted to make. They didn’t want to go higher. Pineiro wanted more. It was Pineiro’s decision that he’s not a Met, not the Mets. he just confirmed they had an offer out. So much like with Lackey, they told the pitcher what he was worth. take it or leave it. Kudos.
btw, that article also makes you want to hate WArthen more, just listening to how awesoem Duncan is.
Mr North Jersey
4/15/2010-11:08am at 11:08 am (UTC -4)
No argument there, the Mets made their offer it was up to Piniero to accept it and why would he if he got a better offer somewhere else.
Like Piniero said, It was a business decision.
ceetar
4/15/2010-11:33am at 11:33 am (UTC -4)
Whether or not we believe the Mets should’ve signed more, I hate hearing people scream about “just pick up the phone and call Joel! They couldn’t even do that!”
And correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t the Mets go see Chapman pitch in Texas? Somers was ranting that they didn’t.
Mr North Jersey
4/15/2010-11:58am at 11:58 am (UTC -4)
I am not sure I am following you. Are you saying someone said call Piniero again?
I think all Piniero does is reinforce that the Mets had a set number they were not going to go over because they felt there was no need to pay more for pitchers that were not much better than MOP in their opinion.
He clearly said it was a business decision which is a fair a$sessment of the situation.
What time will tell is if the Mets were right in their a$sessment.
trs86
4/15/2010-12:03pm at 12:03 pm (UTC -4)
I think he is referring to how many said we did not even make an offer or contact any pitchers.
Mr North Jersey
4/15/2010-12:07pm at 12:07 pm (UTC -4)
Oh is that it?
According to Piniero they seemed to only get interested once Anaheim got involved but in the end who cares.
It is about did they make the right decision or not?
For Minaya’s sake I hope they did.
trs86
4/15/2010-12:10pm at 12:10 pm (UTC -4)
Hard to say at the time if you are making the right decision. Only hindsight can tell you that. Giving a mediocre pitcher like Pineiro or Perez is always a gamble and you can’t really hold it against a guy for losing the gamble.
Mr North Jersey
4/15/2010-12:14pm at 12:14 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed if you could tell at the time if a decision is right or not you’d never make a wrong decision.
Time will tell. When I look back at this season I will be looking for how the starters we wound up using did compared to the one’s we didn’t get.
DNDJohan aka kistics
4/15/2010-1:07pm at 1:07 pm (UTC -4)
What frustrates me on this is the fact that the Mets have been doing everything one by one by one. As soon as Lackey was signed, couldn’t you at least try to talk to Pineiro and see what he wants? And if they were willing to dish out 2/15 for him, why couldn’t they do it earlier?
Obviously it was up to Pineiro to decide whether he would take the money, but at least the Mets would have had the legit chance in getting someone here. Offering 2/15 when Angels got in the game makes it looks like it’s just a PR move. “We tried, but Pineiro didn’t want us”.
I really think the Mets have some financial issues and that’s the reason why they didn’t sign Pineiro and NOT because they thought he wasn’t worth more than 2/15.
If I had to guess, there will be no major mid-season acquisition. I think it’s all BS. I think the Mets FO are just saying it to get the fans off their back.
I know this sounds crazy….
Mr North Jersey
4/15/2010-12:00pm at 12:00 pm (UTC -4)
I believe they did have a Mets representative watch Chapman but I recall at the time reports saying they didn’t also and maybe Somers is basing it on that.
fongy2
4/15/2010-10:42am at 10:42 am (UTC -4)
I now know I made the right decision in paying for my MLB package
by the month! Won’t be any need to renew in a couple weeks!
I’ll have the stones to say it first, this season done!
Yeah, at 2-6 its over!
The past two nights I’ve started to get the same feeling I’ve had with my Knicks….”Why am I wasting my time watching this?”
This ain’t 1980 where I have 7 channels including PBS.
With hundreds of choices and my DVD collection,”what the heck
am I doing at this time of night watching THIS?”
I pretty much felt .500 would be a struggle and compared this
group AND the feeling I had about the team to the ’91, 77-84
team. Too many question marks, just too many….BUT so far THIS
is even worse then I thought. It becomes more and more difficult
to care when It appears those in charge of this sinking sink don’t care. 10 days in and we’re 5+ out already!?!…
What exactly is gonna turn this mess around??…..Except for
a MAJOR shake-up to those who actually run this club….Both
upstairs and downstairs.
metsfan4decades
4/15/2010-10:50am at 10:50 am (UTC -4)
Don’t know what to say to this, other than I’ve given up making predictions. I’ll just be watching some NY Met baseball and I’ll be watching all season, whether it’s good, bad or ugly.
I can’t go along though with the mindset that those in charge don’t care. I’m not saying they’re smart but I can’t buy into they don’t care.
fongy2
4/15/2010-10:57am at 10:57 am (UTC -4)
You’re likely more right than me on this.
Just frustration,more than anything.
When I say they don’t care, I mean….don’t care
enough.
I know we’ve all been over it a hundred times
BUT ownership should have Omar and Jerry and their staffs go after last season.
This fish does indeed stink from the head down!
CaseStreet
4/15/2010-10:57am at 10:57 am (UTC -4)
At least, they almost came back yesterday. It was a close game. I liked that they didn’t give up. It’s hard to come back from a 5 point deficit.
You’re right though. The season is done. In fact, it was done before it even started. I guess, everyone here was foolish for getting excited about the team. Everyone except you, of course!
fongy2
4/15/2010-11:01am at 11:01 am (UTC -4)
Nah….I started buying in by about St.Patrick’s
Day. I was still very, very cautiously optimisitc.
CaseStreet
4/15/2010-11:14am at 11:14 am (UTC -4)
lol. cautiously optimistic
saltygary
4/15/2010-10:58am at 10:58 am (UTC -4)
I’ve had the package on annual renewal since the product came out like 8 years ago? Besides 2 seasons it has brought me nothing but pain and I am the one paying for it.
It’s 2 weeks in and these games are just brutal. Absolutely nothing has changed with their on field demeanor since ’07. Nothing! I feel like a fool sometimes with the amount of time I put into them.
fongy2
4/15/2010-11:05am at 11:05 am (UTC -4)
I’m with you. I swore I wouldn’t renew since
I get to see our Mets V. The Phils, Nats & Bucs
via my comcast package BUT as we got a few days from the start of the season, I couldnt
resist. The worst though is watching the life in all these other teams and wondering as you indicate”whats wrong with this group and their
demeanour?”.
GravediggerHebner
4/15/2010-11:05am at 11:05 am (UTC -4)
Fun with numbers. OPS+ uses a baseline of 100 to describe “major league average” so if any individual player’s OPS+ is above 100, they are better than average, less than 100 they are worse. The formula is 100 x [player OBP / league average OBP + player SLG / league average SLG - 1].
It’s now around 11:40am and I’m going to edit this comment to include each player’s career OPS+ for comparison which is what I should’ve done in the 1st place.
Barajas – 77, career 76
Jacobs – 73, career 104
Castillo – 34, career 93
Reyes – 52, career 101
Wright – 206, career 137
Bay – 87, career 131
Matthews – 52, career 93
Francoeur – 264, career 94
Cora – 51, career 74
Pagan – 41, career 98
Tatis – 68, career 102
Catalanotto – minus 100, career 108
Blanco – minus 100, career 67
Mr North Jersey
4/15/2010-11:12am at 11:12 am (UTC -4)
Only Wright and Frenchy are above 100?
GravediggerHebner
4/15/2010-11:22am at 11:22 am (UTC -4)
Correct. So in layman’s terms, after 8 games the only 2 hitters on the Mets to have performed above (or just at) league average production are Wright and Francoeur, who to their credit are both waaaaaay above it.
But everyone else is not even close. Bay’s 87 isn’t even close. To put Bay’s 87 in some perspective, Mike Jacobs full season 2009 OPS+ with Kansas City was 83. So in 8 games this season Bay has been slightly better than a horrific player from last year that was cut by a bad team, that no one wanted and thus he could only sign a minor league contract, and through the combination of managerial incompetence and coincidental injury to another player is our starting 1B.
By the way Mike Jacobs OPS+ for his whole career is 103, so for his whole career he is actually considered an ever-so-slightly above average player, which tells me a lot about what an “average player” is, and every hitter on the Mets right now except Wright and Francoeur, albeit in a very very small sample, is decidedly worse than Mike Jacobs.
fongy2
4/15/2010-11:26am at 11:26 am (UTC -4)
JBay might be thinking right now that an
offer from The Beirut Bombers as per Peter
Gammons may have worked out a little better
for him.
DNDJohan aka kistics
4/15/2010-12:03pm at 12:03 pm (UTC -4)
Would be interesting to see where Carter is relative Jacob’s number.
How about Murphy and Beltran’s numbers?
Also you gotta give little bit more credit to the Barajas. He made solid contacts on almost every ball he has hit. Most of them were made outs, but I guess that’s the human element…
fongy2
4/15/2010-11:22am at 11:22 am (UTC -4)
Shocking!!!!
stickguy
4/15/2010-11:21am at 11:21 am (UTC -4)
Hbes’ numbers prove exactly how early (amslal sample) it really is. NO way DW and Frenchy stay that high, and everyone else is way below career averages and plast year.
So, maybe it really is a slow start, and when a team is slumping, everything bad does get magnified.
And, they didn’t roll over/give up/have no heart yesterday. They got down relatively big (for them!), and fought back to tie it up.
COuldn’t ulitmately overcome some bonehead moves by Jerry, and the nonsense about having Mejia in the pen (blame Jerry and Omar for that one), but the team did fight hard yesterday.
Yes, they need to can Jerry and Warthen (at minimum), and a bigger brooming is needed. And no reason to reiterate my wish list of roster moves.
But, get back to sea level, and have a couple guys start swinging a hot back, and they can certainly claw their way back to .500.
I really don’t see this team finishing at 40-162 (which is basically what their current winning % will give them).
And outside of Maine, the SP is looking like it will be dragging them down there.
GravediggerHebner
4/15/2010-11:29am at 11:29 am (UTC -4)
Well said.
I don’t know what “league average” OBP and SLG are so I can’t just apply the formula and figure this out, but it seems plausible given how small the sample is that if any of those guys above who are below 100 were to simply go 3 for 4 with an extra base hit and a walk mixed in that they would then be above 100.
It’s like Nick Masset, Reds relief pitcher who gave up 5 runs in 1 inning in his first appearance of the season so his ERA after that was 45.00, but since then he’s pitched 4 scoreless innings to get his ERA down to a “respectable” 9.00.
All the numbers are skewed this early. The Mets may very well be a bad team, but they are not THIS BAD.
metsfan4decades
4/15/2010-11:40am at 11:40 am (UTC -4)
There can just be no way they are this bad.
Stark numbers though so far.
CaseStreet
4/15/2010-11:28am at 11:28 am (UTC -4)
ESPN 2010 Lineup – Stats by Batting Order
1. Jose Reyes .300 OBP as #1 batter (20 PA) Alex Cora (10 PA)
2. Luis Castillo .273 OBP as #2 batter (22 PA) Alex Cora (14 PA)
3. David Wright .692 SLG as #3 batter (36 PA) None
4. Jason Bay .208 SLG as #4 batter (27 PA) Mike Jacobs (9 PA)
5. Jeff Francoeur .583 SLG as #5 batter (13 PA) Mike Jacobs (12 PA)
6. Jeff Francoeur .500 BA as #6 batter (13 PA) Gary Matthews Jr. (12 PA)
7. Rod Barajas .313 BA as #7 batter (17 PA) Jeff Francoeur (9 PA)
8. Rod Barajas .167 BA as #8 batter (13 PA) Angel Pagan (7 PA)
9. Frank Catalanotto .000 BA as #9 batter (5 PA) Angel Pagan (5 PA)
CaseStreet
4/15/2010-12:04pm at 12:04 pm (UTC -4)
Ideal lineup would be:
Castillo S
Reyes S
Wright R
Beltran S
Bay R
Murphy L
Frenchy R
Barajas R
trs86
4/15/2010-12:08pm at 12:08 pm (UTC -4)
my idea lineup while Beltran is out
Castillo, Pagan, Reyes, Wright, Bay, Frenchy, Barajas, 1B.
CaseStreet
4/15/2010-12:17pm at 12:17 pm (UTC -4)
Just using stats from past 3 seasons and ESPN’s lineup of OBP, then SLG, then BA.
W/ Beltran out:
Castillo .370 OBP
Reyes .353 OBP
Wright .516 SLG
Bay .492 SLG
Jacobs .454 SLG
Pagan .289 BA
Frenchy .273 BA
Barajas .238 BA
trs86
4/15/2010-12:25pm at 12:25 pm (UTC -4)
Assuming that you use the idea of the highest SLG guys going 3rd, 4th and 5th, then highest remaining OBP guys 1 and 2 then the rest based on BA? Seems hard to construct based on 3 different stats.
stickguy
4/15/2010-12:34pm at 12:34 pm (UTC -4)
Just go with the old standby. Your best OBP 1st, a combo speed/power guy 2nd, best hitter overall 3rd, pure power guy 4th, next best pop guy 5th, then 6-8 in whatever order makes sense to balance the line up (with 6th stressing obp a bit more and 7th HR power).
So, that makes it Castillo, Reyes, Wright, Bay, Francouer, pagan, jacob/tatis, barajas.
Although I could live with pagan in the 2 hole, and the rest sliding down too. IOW, something like what will happen when beltran comes back.
CaseStreet
4/15/2010-12:36pm at 12:36 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, here are the stats:
OBP
Wright 401
Beltran 375
Castillo 370
Reyes 353
SLG
Wright 516
Beltran 510
Bay 492
Jacobs 454
BA
Wright 310
Beltran 289
Pagan 289
Castillo 289
Reyes 286
Murphy 275
Frenchy 273
Barajas 238
darknova306
4/15/2010-11:59am at 11:59 am (UTC -4)
When I lost my job a few weeks ago, I was excited at the prospect of seeing every Mets game in its entirety this summer. Instead, they’ve already killed my enthusiasm with this awful, lackluster play. At least my fantasy teams are providing some entertainment.
Finally get to see real inspired baseball when the Bisons come to town next week.
trs86
4/15/2010-12:07pm at 12:07 pm (UTC -4)
I hear these type terms thrown around all the time. Lackluster, apathetic, etc. Do we honestly think they are not trying their asses off? If anything I believe they try TOO hard.
darknova306
4/15/2010-12:44pm at 12:44 pm (UTC -4)
I’ve seen a couple games this year where they either looked defeated or completely uninterested. Whether they were still trying or not is up in the air, but that’s the way it looked. When I go to minor league games, all I see is passion and focus. I love it.
trs86
4/15/2010-1:23pm at 1:23 pm (UTC -4)
I think that look comes when you are winning and having fun. I am sure they are not having any fun right now.
metsfan4decades
4/15/2010-12:10pm at 12:10 pm (UTC -4)
Sorry to hear about your job, Dark.
This economy is getting scary.
Been researching what I can do to cut the cord with my cable company for TV but unfortunately all the cost savings technology out there does not include my SNY station I get with cable.
What can I say – I’m addicted no matter how bad the results are….
darknova306
4/15/2010-12:42pm at 12:42 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks. I hated the job anyway, I’m actually way happier right now. Perfect opportunity to find something I don’t hate. We’ll see.
Right there with ya on trying to cut cable. Paying that much just to watch a couple shows and the Mets is ridiculous, but I’d have to pay a fair amount to keep watching the Mets regardless. Just can’t quit them… sigh…
ceetar
4/15/2010-1:53pm at 1:53 pm (UTC -4)
I was yelling at the cable guy on the phone last night. Might do it again tonight since it basically didn’t work last night, but this time I’ll come prepared with a Verizon Fios appointment date to rub in their faces.
trs86
4/15/2010-12:17pm at 12:17 pm (UTC -4)
Royals are looking to dump Juan Cruz and willing to eat salary. I would really like to see the Mets trade for am and send Mejia down. That would be the best of both worlds. Guy has the stuff to be a setup man. If Calero gets it together our pen could be incredible.
stickguy
4/15/2010-12:24pm at 12:24 pm (UTC -4)
sp dpes iggy and claero, both of whom have been set up men/closers in the past.
Right now, just swapping mejia and Calero would be 2 major steps forward.
And how long can Warthen last, now that his pitchers are openly calling him out and defying him, saying publically that tyring to follow his ideas screwed them up?
Other than Johan, who apparently never paid any attention to him in the first place.
metsfan4decades
4/15/2010-12:32pm at 12:32 pm (UTC -4)
I know we signed Calero a little late (somewhere around 10 March?) and they said he didn’t make the cut b/c he got a late start on ST but…..he should be ready now, right?
stickguy
4/15/2010-12:36pm at 12:36 pm (UTC -4)
he has been pitching regualrly so far, and overall has had some nice games.
So yes, he should be ready.
But, you gotta make a move. And since the stubborn fools running the team are digging in heels about keeping mejia, who are you sending down instead? One of the 6 guys actually filling a role, and getting the job done?
Right. The smart move is Mejia back to AA to start, so that if they have to pull the plug on Maine in a month or so, they have the replacement (Already on the 40 man roster!) ready to go.
metsfan4decades
4/15/2010-12:43pm at 12:43 pm (UTC -4)
Oh, I agree. Mejia should be sent down. Swap him with Calero.
ceetar
4/15/2010-1:53pm at 1:53 pm (UTC -4)
Might not want Mejia’s lasting impression of the majors to be giving up a walk-off though.
stickguy
4/15/2010-12:41pm at 12:41 pm (UTC -4)
Proving again that ST stats can be fools gold (and that it is way different playing games that count than glorified plactice games).
For the Phils, in ST their best starter (or at worst, 2nd best to Hallady), by far, was kyle Kendrick. Guy was amazing. New pitches, control, mature attitude. Major angst among the fans when they put him in the pen so Moyer could start.
Well, Blanton gets hurt and he ends up in the rotation, and so far has been a train wreck of major proportions. He has made Maine look good in his 2 starts (combined, he hasn’t gotten out of the 6th inning yet!).
No real point to this now I guess. I just find any misery at the expense of Philly fans a good thing (And yes Fongy, I know how stupendously wonderful the phillies, their FO, the stadium, their fans, Bulls BBQ, and the liberty bell are).
metsfan4decades
4/15/2010-12:45pm at 12:45 pm (UTC -4)
LOL
Please, no Philly love on this blog today.
darknova306
4/15/2010-12:48pm at 12:48 pm (UTC -4)
He looked dreadful last night against the Natinals. They still crushed the Nats, though.