The Sunday Question

6 comments

1. 

   stickguy

   5/9/2010-9:38am at 9:38 am (UTC -4)

   Reply

   I answer yes to all 4 questins.

   A bigger one might be, at this point, are the fans at Citi filed actually giving the team a boost (as opposed to earlier when it seemed that they were more likely dragging them down, with booing and negativity?)

   Not having been to a game since the 5 inning rain event, or having really seen any on TV with sound, that is a serious quesiton. Are the crowds (if they are crowds) really behind the team now, and how is the booing problem?

   1. 

      ceetar

      5/9/2010-10:24am at 10:24 am (UTC -4)

      Reply

      I dont think the crowds are any more behind the Mets. Maybe had they not lost to the Phillies and Reds.

      walk-offs are always fun, and there is always excitement.

      I think, not that Citi Field provides the Mets any advantage, but that they’ve stopped letting it intimidate them. But it still may intimidate other teams.

      On top of that, it’s really only some solid play that’s allowing them to take advantage of the breaks they’re getting. good defense, some nice catches, etc.

2. 

   metsfan4decades

   5/9/2010-10:16am at 10:16 am (UTC -4)

   Reply

   First, let me echo the Happy Mother’s Day sentiments to all you Moms out there.

   I’m with Stick – yes to all 4. I think this year the Mets have the home field advantage playing at Citi. They’ve had a year to get used to it, they know how to play that outfield, they’ve made the adjustment to how the park plays. The opposing teams haven’t done that so much. Case in point was the Dodgers series. It was obvious did not have a clue about CF, how deep it really is, how to play it.

   Stick also makes a good point about the fans at the park. Bobby O. said the same thing on the post game yesterday. He said there was a good crowd both Friday and Saturday and they were enthusiastic, cheering the Mets on. He said as a former player, if you think that doesn’t make a difference to the players, think again.

3. 

   Mr North Jersey

   5/9/2010-11:15am at 11:15 am (UTC -4)

   Reply

   Are the Mets just playing good baseball, winning baseball(or just plain being lucky) at home OR is the confines Citi Field now becoming an advantage?

   1.Are the Mets just playing good baseball at home? If good baseball is fundamental baseball then yes

   2.Are the Mets just playing winning baseball at home? They are winning so yes

   3.Are the Mets just playing being lucky baseball at home? no Mets winning has nothing to do with luck

   4.Are the Mets confines at Citi Field now becoming an advantage? when the team era is almost a full 2 runs lower at home than on the road I’d say yes . http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/split.cgi?t=p&team=NYM&year=2010#hmvis_extra

4. 

   ceetar

   5/9/2010-11:41am at 11:41 am (UTC -4)

   Reply

   On the flip side, Perez hasn’t pitched well at home this year, but maybe the Mets fans will be semi-positive off the first two back-to-back walk off home runs by catchers in major league history, and Lincecum will be intimidated in his Citi Field debut.

5. 

   GravediggerHebner

   5/9/2010-12:48pm at 12:48 pm (UTC -4)

   Reply

   In addition to the above excellent points that other commenters have made I will add this:

   The first game of the home winning streak was game 4 of a series against the Cubs, a series in which the Mets took 3 of 4 games from a Cubs team that at the time was reeling playing poor baseball in all aspects of the game. Kudos to the Mets for taking the advantage there but also can’t ignore how flawed the Cubs were.

   Then Atlanta came in having lost 2 in a row and proceeded to lose 3 to the Mets playing fundamentally poor baseball. Again kudos to the Mets for taking advantage but can’t ignore the bumbling of the Braves. They made 6 errors in the 3 games.

   Then LA came in in last place, without Manny Ramirez, and with their GM publicly questioning the all around play of one of their best all around players. Due to weather and injuries they had to play a doubleheader using a spot starter/long reliever to start one of the games, then the next day had to call up a rookie to start. Again kudos to the Mets for taking advantage of the situation.

   Finally the 2 games so far against SF have been against arguably their 2 worst starting pitchers and yet have required walk-off hits against their bullpen to win.

   My goal is not to denigrate the Mets. They are my favorite team and I’m psyched they’ve won these games. It pleases me greatly that they have in fact taken advantage of these teams in their various states of disarray, winning baseball teams need to do that and the Mets have done it. I’m sure when the Mets have had various troubles and lost the teams that have beaten them don’t say “well it didn’t really count because…” and neither should we.

   But if the Mets beat Lincecum today, that will in my opinion be by far the most noteworthy win of this home winning streak. And if they lose, it won’t be the end of the world. Their home record will still be excellent and there is little shame in losing to the 2-time defending Cy Young.