First off I would like to thank all of my colleagues and readers for all the birthday wishes that I received the other day – YOU GUYS RULE!! I am sorry that I didn’t post my daily column yesterday but my good buddies Johnnie Walker, Jack Daniels, a Wild Turkey along with my Old Granddad kinda prevented me from fulfilling my daily obligations !
So how about them Mets !!! I admit that going into last nights game against the Philadelphia Phillies I was preparing myself for a major let down. I know it was only Kyle Kendrick pitching , but this guy has had much success against our team in the recent past. Last night I believe might be the turning point in young Jonathan Neise’s career. He – with the exception of a shaky second inning was downright dominant. His fastball was clocked in excess of 94 m.p.h and his curveball for lack of other words was nasty ! This coupled with eight of the Mets nine hits being of the extra base variety ( four homers!) the Mets made the home team look more like the Pittsburgh Pirates than the the reigning N.L. Champions ! And it is always good to see the Mets demolish Brad Lidge ( it gives me a warm feeling in my heart!) . But i’ll tell you this is a revitalized rivalry between both teams. The it is almost like Rocky 3 except the Phillies are Clubber Lang to our Balboa. The hunger is there, the fact that Jenrry Mejia retaliated by throwing at Chase Utley after Danys Baez purposely plunked Jeff Francouer on the elbow, shows that this is not the same Mets team that was fielded from ’07-’09. Even during the post game press conference Jerry Manuel looked confident and articulate. I believe that the target is finally off of his back and he can now relax and focus on this team.
It is only May first and it is too soon to anoint the Mets as the team to beat in the N.L. East, but I believe last night was a statement game. And the statement that was being made was ” We’re the Mets you want a piece of us - COME GET US !!”
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                                                         ” Who has the classier fans? – You decide !!”
And with that said…. HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!
Happy Birthday wishes go out to Mets pitcher from ’77-81, Roy Lee Jackson (1954)
Reliever from the ’81 season, Ray Searage is 55. (1955)
Primary Mets reserve backstop from ’90-’93, Charlie O’Brien is 50 .(1960)
Staring pitcher – and workhorse from ’97-98, Armando “ The Mule” Reynoso is 44 (1966) .
Back up catcher Joe Hietpas is 31. (1979) He played in only one Mets game in ’04 before fading into obscurity.
Current Mets mop up man, Manny Acosta is 29. (1981)
New York Mets released pitcher Clem Labine and catcher Joe Ginsberg on May 1, 1962.
An there was a Mo Vaughn sighting at Citizens Bank Ball Park last night. It appears that Mo got into an altercation with a Philthies fan over a rack of ribs at Greg Luzinski’s Bulls BBQ stand. Needless to say the Phillies Phan didn’t know what hit him – and is currently being fitted for a prosthetic arm.
18 comments
metsfan4decades
5/1/2010-8:13am at 8:13 am (UTC -4)
Love the graphics comparison between Met and Phillies fans.
Good sports day watching today. Pelfrey vs. Halladay and the Kentucky Derby to follow.
Here’s hoping the Met bats pick up where they left off, keep right on hitting and Big Pelf continues his dominance.
darknova306
5/1/2010-9:47am at 9:47 am (UTC -4)
Well, I believe I will follow MF4D’s recent statements and give up trying to predict things.
I fully expected both Kenrick and Niese to get shelled. I was wrong in a big way, my appologies Mr Niese.
As I’m visiting friends out of town and didn’t get to see more than part of the second and third innings, can someone describe exactly how Niese was picking that lineup apart?
Glad your birthday went well, Rusty. A bad morning means you had a good night.
stickguy
5/1/2010-10:05am at 10:05 am (UTC -4)
we are a good pair. I didn’t start watching until about the 4th!
Let’s see, he had a good FB that was moving and located well. His cutter seemed to be effective too. ANd he threw a few filthy curve balls. Once that pitch was established, it made his other stuff even more effective.
So, he moved the ball around, get the hitters off balanced, hit his spots, and usually got ahead of the batters. A winning recipe.
While I was watching, I don’t even recall a hard hit ball. Mostly Ks, and weak GBs or pop ups.
If he can pitch like that on a regular basis, you no longer have to look for a #3 starter.
darknova306
5/1/2010-10:31am at 10:31 am (UTC -4)
Ah, that’s exactly what we’ve been waiting for, Niese to start establishing that curveball more. That’s a serious lineup he made look weak, so that start was even more impressive.
Thanks, Stick.
GravediggerHebner
5/1/2010-10:49am at 10:49 am (UTC -4)
There is another factor that MAY have contributed to their lineup looking so weak. Rod Barajas was using multiple signs to call every pitch, whether runners were on base or not and Gary & Ron suggested that the only reason he would do that was if he suspected the other team of stealing signs.
Coincidentally or not the Mets made it harder for signs to be stolen and the Philly offense was rather limp. I don’t want to take away from Niese who did as Stick described do a great job of mixing up pitches and location, just putting it out there.
darknova306
5/1/2010-10:53am at 10:53 am (UTC -4)
Good to know. Poor babies, having to actually play on a level playing field.
stickguy
5/1/2010-11:20am at 11:20 am (UTC -4)
only thing is, how does that explain them hitting just about as well on the road usually?
I do hope evidence comes out that they were stealing signs. Evne though I have no idea if it is actually against the rules, it would certainly be very embarrassing at lest.
metsfan4decades
5/1/2010-1:44pm at 1:44 pm (UTC -4)
Post game interview with Niese had him commenting he just followed Barajas’s lead. They discussed before hand their approach and apparently he had confidence in Barajas b/c for the most part, what he called for, Niese threw.
metsfan4decades
5/1/2010-1:42pm at 1:42 pm (UTC -4)
Not making any predictions is working out well for me, so far.
Glad your predictions were wrong – in a good way!
darknova306
5/1/2010-2:02pm at 2:02 pm (UTC -4)
stickguy
5/1/2010-10:07am at 10:07 am (UTC -4)
I am not sure I want Jerry getting comfortable. Unless, of course, it leads him to decide tha Mejia should get sent down!
Trying to think of an analogy, but Jerry is like having an addict for a girlfriend. They get high and do strange, scary things. But before you can break up with them, they go to rehab and seem transformed. But, just when you think they are ‘cured”, they fall off the wagon and blow up in your face.
stickguy
5/1/2010-10:16am at 10:16 am (UTC -4)
anyway, it will be really interesting to see today’s game. If they can beat (even if they don’t beat up on him) it will be a major confidence boost (if they even really need that now).
But, having beat up on them yesterday, they should be able to shake off a good start by Halladay, still being in first place, since he is Halladay. Then just hope that Johan comes out on fire. He is going to be pumped I have to imagine. And hopefully the Mets are able to smack around Moyer for a change.
also, might want to give Frenchy a day off today to rest his bruises and bumps. A good excuse to keep him from having to face Halladay.
And, I predict there is a brawl by the end of the series. Expect the Phils to hit a Met today if the Mets are winning. And look for either K rod or Santana to go hunting in retaliation.
GravediggerHebner
5/1/2010-10:57am at 10:57 am (UTC -4)
A lot of us debated the merits of Jason Bay’s defense this off season, I was one who looked at all the data available and as a result was skeptical (but with an open mind) about what he could bring to the table with the glove. I wanted to see him everyday before being convinced one way or the other, but I couldn’t help but doubt him since people much smarter than I am suggested he wasn’t very good. Well, this from Adam Rubin:
{Statistically, Bay had been rated a below-average fielder range-wise — although he recently learned he’s been upgraded in that respect.
The Mets’ left fielder noted he received word from the folks that compute the defensive statistic UZR (Ultimate Zone Rating) that his defensive grade had moved from a minus-13.8 to a plus-1.9.
The difference? A revision in how outfield play is scored at Fenway Park, since Bay’s range was negatively impacted statistically by the fact he couldn’t cover a lot of ground in the smaller-than-normal left field in Boston.
“My UZR went up 15 points in a day the other day,†Bay said. “So all of a sudden I’m covering a lot more ground out there. And I still don’t really know what that means.â€}
So I applaud the sabermetric people for continuing to refine their craft, but I am also going to essentially stop listening to them until they settle on something and then it proves consistent over a period of years because I am tired of trusting them and winding up a fool. There was a time when cigarettes were said to be good for you. Over time that changed. I’m going to wait a while before I start smoking sabermetrics.
darknova306
5/1/2010-11:10am at 11:10 am (UTC -4)
I love Bay’s quote there. It pretty much sums it all up: “And I still don’t really know what that means.”
In the end, you have to take the numbers and supplement them with what you see with your own eyes.
stickguy
5/1/2010-11:26am at 11:26 am (UTC -4)
even what rubin said was telling (and kind of agrees with that I said at teh time they signed him). Rubin said “below average range-wise”.
Well, range is only part of playing OF. Even if bay has slightly less range than some other guys, he is still a very good OF. Positioning, catching everything he gets to, getting jumps, and knowing what to do with the ball when he gets it.
Is it better to excel at all that but not cover quite as much ground, or to be fast but clueless? Damned if I know!
The other day, Mr. FWICG had an interview with Bobby V. up. Somewhere in there, Bobby was quoted as saying something along the lines of “getting the ball back into the infield is the most improtant defensive play in baseball”. The logic being, you keep guys from taking bases, leading to less scoring.
Well, I don’t think there are too many LFs better at that than Bay from what I have seen of him so far.
Damndest thing? We were worried about getting Dave kingman (all stick, no glove), and instead got a defensive specialist that doesn’t hit HRs!
Mr North Jersey
5/1/2010-1:08pm at 1:08 pm (UTC -4)
I have never been a fan of UZR so what they say now is of no matter to me. I remember somewhat the talk about Bay and his defense not seeing him play everyday I just felt that while he may not be a gold glove Left Fielder that he would catch what he got to. So far he has gotten to a lot of balls.
stickguy
5/1/2010-11:28am at 11:28 am (UTC -4)
I do have one peeve about this weekend. I hate when they make Met/Philly games a national game. I don’t get many games on regualr TV, just the philly local telecasts and the national games. So when they put these games national, I lose one of my viewings!
May still get some Braves games but I have to check that out.
GravediggerHebner
5/1/2010-2:31pm at 2:31 pm (UTC -4)
Do you get WGN? I’m watching the Cubs-DBacks game on that right now. 2-2 in the 5th. Make that 4-2 DBacks, 2-run Jimmy Jack by Justin Upton who uh oh is sitting on the bench of my fantasy opponent this week.