I just don’t get it. Why in the hell was Garry Matthews Jr. starting in right field yesterday when there is a day off today? I don’t know about you but at this point I would rather see John Maine up there swinging than GMJR ! I understand that Jeff Francouer is still a little banged up from the series against the Phils, but I feel that in a important game like yesterday, you just have to put your best lineup possible out there to win . This is not little league, and everyone does not have the right to play. So far the most glaring weakness the Mets have had this season has been the inability to comeback and win when they are down after the seventh inning. I believe that this is due in part to their weak bench. I believe that the aforementioned Matthews along with Frank Cattalonotto and Fernando Tatis are the Bermuda Triangle of the bench ( where possible game winning r.b.i’s go to die!). I mean last season it took the Mets less than a week to cut Marlon Anderson, so why is Matthews still here?!? The Mets only owe him 2 million dollars of that 24 million that the Angels still owe him so what is it? Has Garry Matthews Sr, threatened to break Jerry’s legs if his son isn’t played ? All I know is yesterdays loss should have been a win , but the managers ineptitude and poor strategizing was the main culprit which resulted in a loss. By the way Jerry – nice job switching out both David Wright and Jason Bay, especially when they might have gotten important at bats in the top of the tenth !
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                                                        ” No batter ! No batter- SWINGGGG !!!!”
And with that said…. HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!!
Happy Birthday wishes go out to all time living legend,Willie Mays (1931). Willie came to the Mets in 1972 when he was way past his prime. But he had enough in his tank to help propel the Mets to their second World Series in ’73. He would retire after that season, and became a coach for the Mets until ’79. He has made frequent appearances to Mets tributes – including the ” Shea Goodbye to Shea Stadium”.
One time five tool third baseman that became a journeyman bench player,Mike Kinkade is 37.(1973)
New York Mets traded one of the first third basemen in Mets history-Don ” Popeye” Zimmer to the Cincinnati Reds for pitcher Bob “ Lefty” Miller and outfielder Cliff Cook on May 6, 1962.
New York Mets traded outfielder, Jim Marshall to the Pittsburgh Pirates for pitcher,Vinegar Bend Mizell on May 6, 1962.
And with today’s off day Mo Vaughn has decided to stay home in his underwear and sample everything on the Papa Johns menu – He said he doesn’t believe Domino’s is better!
44 comments
Kingman 26
5/6/2010-9:13am at 9:13 am (UTC -4)
I go back to my own comments the day we got Matthews. The Angels are paying 20 of 22 mil to be rid of him.
47 PA—ZERO RBI, 1 SB, 2 XBH. This guy is a clinic in non-production.
And Rusty, when it came to Mike Kinkade’s five tools, are you including maybe a hammer, wrench, and screwdriver in there?
trs86
5/6/2010-9:16am at 9:16 am (UTC -4)
You can’t always go by a team paying to get rid of a guy as to his worth. Look at Sheff last year.
That being said it was a good gamble and time to cut your losses.
Kingman 26
5/6/2010-9:18am at 9:18 am (UTC -4)
Sort of good point on Shef—but Shef has a borderline OF career—GMJ had one pretty good (not even nearly great) season, and that’s it.
Shef had a MUCH larger potential for success, regardless of behavior. GMJ just plain stinks at baseball, and largely always has.
ceetar
5/6/2010-9:21am at 9:21 am (UTC -4)
I also argue that Sheffield was not a good pickup, and we’d have been a better team with Murphy learning the position, with Evans, with someone else. But I’m not going to argue 2009 points that are moot now.
trs86
5/6/2010-9:22am at 9:22 am (UTC -4)
At the time it was a great pickup. Once all hell broke loose and we had no chance of winning in 2009 he should have been moved.
trs86
5/6/2010-9:23am at 9:23 am (UTC -4)
Also how can we say that for 2009 we would have been better with Nick Evans in LF than Sheff? For 2010 maybe but when signed we were thinking about 2009 as we should have been.
ceetar
5/6/2010-9:40am at 9:40 am (UTC -4)
not oging to get into it. Talking in May. I think what Sheffield did was basically nothing.
trs86
5/6/2010-9:21am at 9:21 am (UTC -4)
I would agree with that as well but lets remember what he was brought in for. Emergency protection for Angel Pagan until Beltran could get back. That was supposed to be by late May. The fact that he is getting multiple starts in positions other than RF shows how bad Cat and the rest of the bench is as well.
stickguy
5/6/2010-9:23am at 9:23 am (UTC -4)
Did not see past abot the 7th, so no idea how jerry managed to back himself into that corner.
and I think they only owe 1.5mill over the 2 years for Mathews, less what he has already been paid, less the prorated 400K if soemone picks him up. SO maybe, at this pint, 1mill, + whatever raise someone like Pridie gets to replace him.
I stil think that we are stuck with GM until beltran comes back (especially after he got 1 hit yesterday). And Ttis is the RH “power” guy, who at least has gotten a couple of PHs and a HR. Plus being Omars boy, plus the emergency catcher, and in theory, 2nd backup MI. so he probably stays.
Now catalanatto, no idea there. He is a minimum wage ST invite guy with no history with the team (other than growing up on LI). ANd he can’t play the field, so that is the true head scratcher.
All I can figure is they want to keep him until murphy gets back? But if not, Carter as a threat off the bench, and 1-2 games a week to spot bay and frenchy, just seems like a way better option at this point.
But, and I know this won’t happen, but I wold be happy to see (since it would be fresh blood, and most likely more productive) a wholesale purge. Cut the triangle, and replace them with Evans, Carter and Pridie. ANd yes, it won’t happen.
But, only Evans is really young, none of them is truly a top prospect (for a trade soon, or a starting gig with the mets). And all of them have actual major league service time under their belts, so they won’t be wide eyed rookies awed by the “show”. and at least the bench will be way younger, and more athletic, with much more power.
Don’t know what happens to Murphy when he is ready. Also don’t really care. he can play 2B in Buffalo until september.
right now, start small. Cut cat, for murphy (if he gets ready soon) or carter. Hope Beltran is back sooner than we think to make GM disappear. and maybe Tatis will just retire?
trs86
5/6/2010-9:24am at 9:24 am (UTC -4)
Cat is easily the one that confuses me the most. I can’t even make one case for him to be here. I know others have tried and we have been down that road but Cat’s gotta go. I also agree that GMJR is gone once Beltran returns.
njstuckintx
5/6/2010-9:30am at 9:30 am (UTC -4)
If some one picks up matthews, do they pay only 400K per year for both years or just this year and then they pick up the entire met’s tab for next year?
trs86
5/6/2010-9:58am at 9:58 am (UTC -4)
Good question. Based on what I have found the team that owns GMJR would be paying his 400K both seasons. Thus say the Braves sign him this year they would pay us a prorated 400K. Then the following year the Tigers sign him they would be on the hook for 400K.
njstuckintx
5/6/2010-9:24am at 9:24 am (UTC -4)
You know, I was against the signings at the time, and I’m not for being reactionary and if 1 person has a golden sombrero (post-cinco de mayo reference. ole!) I don’t think that justifies an immediate drawn and quartering, but at what point do we draw the line with these guys (Cat and GMJ. I haven’t lumped Tatis in there yet)? Jacobs was gone after not too many games. Ike’s ripping the minors made that possible. Now, there is Carter and the other boys in the minors ripping it up and Cat and GMJ sucking… Nope, don’t see any correlation there. Cough!*sarcasm*Cough!
trs86
5/6/2010-9:30am at 9:30 am (UTC -4)
I guess in theory Ike was brought up to start and the others would be brought up for bench purposes. I might be concerned with that for guys like Tejada or Newie but for guys like Carter and Pridie are we that concerned with their overall development?
njstuckintx
5/6/2010-9:33am at 9:33 am (UTC -4)
Concerned with their development? Aren’t they closer to 30 than 20? Once you start getting to that age, you are past the development stage and you are at the “just get me to the show!” phase.
trs86
5/6/2010-9:48am at 9:48 am (UTC -4)
Agreed.
udontmesswthejohan
5/6/2010-9:34am at 9:34 am (UTC -4)
Guys, yeah GMJ and Cat suck, but don’t you think we are scapegoating them a bit here? We knew they sucked going into the season, but as long as they are on the roster (and I agree they shouldn’t be), they need to get some playing time, but they aren’ going to make or break this season, and they weren’t the reason for the loss yesterday or the tough roadtrip.
The more we see this team, the more it becomes evident to me that it is going to be a rolere coaster year. A lot of ups and downs. So far, there just hasn’t been any offensive consistency from the heart of the lineup and that is the issue right now.
njstuckintx
5/6/2010-9:37am at 9:37 am (UTC -4)
I think that we are, but we don’t have any other options, really. We can yell at Reyes and Bay, but for the money and talent, they aren’t going anywhere. So, we have to deal with it. Cat and GMJ are not integral, older and not doing well. That’s a trifecta in my book.
udontmesswthejohan
5/6/2010-9:51am at 9:51 am (UTC -4)
Yeah man, that’s the definition of a scapegoat. But yeah I agree its frustrating.
stickguy
5/6/2010-9:42am at 9:42 am (UTC -4)
as we all know, 1-2 games can make the difference. So even if that is how many games the mets would win with a decent bench that they won’t with this crew, then yeah, they just might “break” the season.
I agree about the roller coaster. I also realize that the Mets don’t have such an overpowering line up (like reent phillies teams) to have zero need for a productive bench.
and beyond the obvious dearth of viable late game PH ability, wouldn’t it be nice to be able to rest a slumping (Bay) or banged up(frnechy) guy, and not have to start a black hole of suckitude in their place?
Right now, if you sat bay and gave Carter a spot start, you probaly aren’t even downgrading the offense!
udontmesswthejohan
5/6/2010-9:54am at 9:54 am (UTC -4)
Again, not trying to take the position that these guys deserve to be on the roster, and yes I agree that most everyone would prefer to see Carter or any other hungry AA or AAA guy come up and get a chance in their place, but I ask you, if the heart of this lineup is producing and we are winning series’, are we really discussing CAt and GMJ?
trs86
5/6/2010-9:56am at 9:56 am (UTC -4)
Nope, but they are not so you take out the weak links you can.
udontmesswthejohan
5/6/2010-10:02am at 10:02 am (UTC -4)
Well, I guess I just see that as window dressing at this point. It’s not adressing the real problem which is the heart of the order going 2-18 yesterday. DW and Reyes have produced for us int he past and will do so again, so they have what I like to call “Fan Capital” already built up.
On the other hand, Bay, with his 2 or 3 K’s a night is testing my patience, and has no prior Fan Capital, and the goodwill he engendered by signing with the Mets is starting to run out.
trs86
5/6/2010-10:07am at 10:07 am (UTC -4)
But really what can we do about that? Bay has a long history of success and will return to that.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/6/2010-9:42am at 9:42 am (UTC -4)
+1
udontmesswthejohan
5/6/2010-9:55am at 9:55 am (UTC -4)
+1 to you as well Sir for being such a keen observer of intelligent and rational thought. Haha.
trs86
5/6/2010-9:49am at 9:49 am (UTC -4)
Obviously but what’s the point in discussing that?
As far as the rough road trip I wonder IF (and I know what I set my self up for here) we win one of these walks offs and finish 3-3 if we would be that concerned?
udontmesswthejohan
5/6/2010-9:58am at 9:58 am (UTC -4)
No, I think if they go 3-3, you take that everytime and twice on Sunday. That’s not to say that we should put our heads in the sand regarding holes on the roster, but 3-3 would have been more than acceptable. I thik what hurts about this trip wasn’t even the Phillies series, its that if we are going to contend, we shouldn’t have lost both of those games to the Red Stockings.
trs86
5/6/2010-9:59am at 9:59 am (UTC -4)
I agree, but like I said I can’t get too upset this early because we did see bright spots and lost in walk offs. Interested to see how they rebound.
ceetar
5/6/2010-9:41am at 9:41 am (UTC -4)
I made this point on my own blog (entitled yesterday’s loss cost the Mets millions) but I’m betting on a roster shakeup for tomorrow.
If I had to bet, I’d probably say Carter for Cat, but I’ve got a nagging suspicion on F-Mart for GMJ.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/6/2010-9:45am at 9:45 am (UTC -4)
I think you are hopeful… I’m more pessimistic.
stickguy
5/6/2010-9:47am at 9:47 am (UTC -4)
damn post went vapor on me. so, try again!
hope yes on changes. If so, Rubin looks like idiot. Not thinking F mart to sit, and he won’t replace any starters. recently hurt. Carter better option.
Kingman 26
5/6/2010-9:49am at 9:49 am (UTC -4)
FMart tries CF, Pagan is 4th OF, GMJ is hopefully gone goodbye.
trs86
5/6/2010-9:51am at 9:51 am (UTC -4)
I think we could see that soon but they will give Pagan more time. It really depends on the next 2 weeks with how Beltran looks. I know you think he won’t be back anytime soon but right now we have no idea.
Kingman 26
5/6/2010-10:04am at 10:04 am (UTC -4)
Beltran before July 1–and even probably before the ASB–is fantasyland.
Why not see more of the future? We have to like what we see from Mejia, Davis, and Niese.
Let’s See More of the Junior Core! (c)
trs86
5/6/2010-10:09am at 10:09 am (UTC -4)
Again that’s just opinion at this point King. We will just have to wait and see. Either way, Pagan is not the issue. He’s been on fire of late and has done well in the lead off spot.
stickguy
5/6/2010-9:51am at 9:51 am (UTC -4)
Well, GM sucks. But I doubt they are unhappy with how Pagan has been playing overall lately.
I personally am fine with the move though.
If nothing else, we get to have even more fun haggling over line up construction!
trs86
5/6/2010-9:53am at 9:53 am (UTC -4)
By the way, Pagan last 5 games:
.364 .391 .545 .937 1 K in 23 PA.
Hitting lead off:
.281 .349 .439 .788
Pagan is not the problem.
ceetar
5/6/2010-10:09am at 10:09 am (UTC -4)
Definitely not. I think Pagan is a very g ood baseball player. I wasn’t suggesting any of this as a personal choice, just a thought.
I mean, ultimately Fernando Martinez supposedly will be an awesome player. Chances are that is not now. There is just a feeling I get, the way the Mets brought up Ike Davis when likely Carter could’ve worked since he was hot and then Murphy’s back.
Basically, which guy would most Mets fans get most excited about? Carter, Evans, Pridie, Hessman, Feliciano, Murphy or…F-Mart?
trs86
5/6/2010-10:15am at 10:15 am (UTC -4)
No doubt, but the difference is Jacobs did not leave them much of a choice.
Also, to me if we see Fmart then Beltran is done. I don’t see them bringing him up right now for a cameo to return after Beltran returns.
stickguy
5/6/2010-9:50am at 9:50 am (UTC -4)
ceetar does point out one good issue. Fresh off a disappointing road trip, fallen out of 1st, and back home yesterday, with a full day off today to regroup.
Perfect time for all the movers and shakers to get together for a state of the union summit. And hopefully out of that, so real changes. Much harder to do stuff like that in the middle of a road trip.
Sounds logical to me. But, being this is the Mets we are talking about, the entire FO probably has to day off to go play golf!
trs86
5/6/2010-9:55am at 9:55 am (UTC -4)
I am not as disappointing with the road-trip as most. Those games in Cincy could have went either way and we saw some decent pitching from unlikely sources. They were one walk off win from going 3-3 and I would have gladly taken that going in. The old idea, play .500 on the road and .600 at home that’s a recipe for about 90 wins.
ceetar
5/6/2010-10:10am at 10:10 am (UTC -4)
I’m only disappointed in the ways they lost, the Manager’s contribution to it, and how it tarnishes the winning streak. If they have a winning home stand, then fine.
trs86
5/6/2010-10:14am at 10:14 am (UTC -4)
True, he made some wrong calls. I guess with some of the pitching choices he made some right calls. I never have considered Baker a good manager but so far this season he has made all the right moves late.