Today’s Optimist’s Dossier has to do with Jose Reyes. Â He’s starting to steal more bases, and get more hits. Â It looks to me like he’s finally starting to get into a real groove, which is something we desperately need. Â Hopefully Jason Bay can follow suit. Â He’s now also gone three consecutive games with a walk, something he wasn’t doing quite as much earlier on in the season.
Omar has finally caught on that the bench is not cutting it, replacing Frank Catalanotto with Chris Carter. Â Hopefully moves to replace Gary Matthews Junior and even Fernando Tatis are soon to follow. Â It’s hard to think Chris Carter could do as bad as Catalanotto, and he’s been hot down in the minors, so at the very least we can ride that out for a couple of big hits.
John Maine, while still laboring through some innings, and still giving up some bombs of home runs, has pretty much pitched very very well over the last couple of starts. Â It’s nice to see some consistency out of him. Â All five of the Mets pitchers have showed some ability to have good starts, and Pelfrey and Niese so far are doing it more often than not, while Maine is getting there. Â This is the recipe for a successful season, and sooner or later the bats _will_ wake up and win more ballgames.
This is a very telling couple of weeks for the Mets.  Plenty of division games against all four teams, as well as the Subway Series games against the Yankees.  We’ll know so much more about the talent on this team  by the time June gets here, and a lot of the signs I see suggest that the Mets will be right in the middle of things.  First off it’s time to pick up the back two games against the Nationals and get through this home stand with a winning record.
59 comments
Mr North Jersey
5/11/2010-11:06am at 11:06 am (UTC -4)
Good Post Ceetar.
GravediggerHebner
5/11/2010-11:11am at 11:11 am (UTC -4)
I love the graphic, nice touch.
I think my general take on the Mets, putting it as nicely as possible, is that the organization is being more patient in their approach to crafting the team than the fans are. I do think though that they have shown a willingness to make change (while perhaps waiting for more evidence than some would like them to) and I think that willingness bodes well for the season as it unfolds.
ceetar
5/11/2010-11:32am at 11:32 am (UTC -4)
I could agree with this, still annoys me that Manuel and GMJ are still here, but obviously the Mets are going to give guys more of a shot than we are.
Still, addressing the unclickable offense is important, and right now they haven’t done that.
ceetar
5/11/2010-11:33am at 11:33 am (UTC -4)
I made the mistake of not saving a blank copy for next week, but bonus points if you know the game it comes from.
GravediggerHebner
5/11/2010-11:41am at 11:41 am (UTC -4)
No idea. I do enjoy gaming but am not an avid gamer and over the last few years have not made any new game purchases for my trusty old PS2 (luckily I overbought games in the past and still have things from 2004-2007 that I’ve never played, so they’re new to me).
My wild guesses would be: SOCOM or Splinter Cell.
darknova306
5/11/2010-12:29pm at 12:29 pm (UTC -4)
Goldeneye. Loved that game.
Mr North Jersey
5/11/2010-11:33am at 11:33 am (UTC -4)
Off Topic
Hallelujah!
Brad Holt after 3 terrible starts finally had a good outing last night. He pitched 4 innings giving up 4 hits 1 run no earned runs 1 walk and 5 strikeouts.
Hopefully he can build on this and give the Mets a solid starter they can look forward to.
trs86
5/11/2010-11:39am at 11:39 am (UTC -4)
It’s funny, I always saw Holt as the bullpen candidate and Mejia as the SP guy.
stickguy
5/11/2010-11:42am at 11:42 am (UTC -4)
I would agree with that, after the last couple of ears. Although 2 years ago, I thought Holt was ready to bust out and be a stud. Too bad he kept getting hurt at the wrong time, or he might have been this years parnell!
Mr North Jersey
5/11/2010-11:46am at 11:46 am (UTC -4)
Dude, I think you are thinking of someone else. 2 years ago Holt was drafted by the Mets.
stickguy
5/11/2010-12:05pm at 12:05 pm (UTC -4)
this is his 3rd year in the system. he was drafted in 2008, and played at brooklyn.
actually, 2009 he was great at St. Lucie until they moved him up. I know he got hurt, but I can’t remember if it was at A+ or after he got to AA. BIngo his numbers weren’t as good, but he did have the injury, and now another one this year.
but, by mid season 2009, he was looking like a stud with a big FB.
I do agree though that of the 2, I would like to see Mejia refiing his arsenal and Holt learning at least 1 more out pitch, then see what happens.
who knows, they could both end up in the rotation, or the pen. Holt though does have a more classic SP frame and mechanics. Just needs the full package of pitches.
Mr North Jersey
5/11/2010-12:08pm at 12:08 pm (UTC -4)
The point is you said 2 years ago you thought Holt was ready to bust out and be a stud. How can he bust out when he was still in his 1st year?
fongy2
5/11/2010-11:42am at 11:42 am (UTC -4)
Stole my post as I was logging on TRS.
I think sooner or later Holt WILL be looked at for the back of the Bullpen.
The one time I saw him
he looked like a one-pitch Pitcher.
trs86
5/11/2010-11:45am at 11:45 am (UTC -4)
Hey I still got it.
gategem
5/11/2010-11:56am at 11:56 am (UTC -4)
Just don’t lose it.
stickguy
5/11/2010-11:41am at 11:41 am (UTC -4)
I do agree that the next 2.5 weeks are going to be big, in determining what this team really is all about. Not that falling a few games out by the end of May is faltal, excpet maybe to the fans. But in terms of deciding if they are good, bad, or indifferent, and what exactly to do about it.
actually, now that the FO has shown they aren’t completely shut down (for a qhile, I thought they sent down Jacobs and took a 3 week crusie around the world), I wonder if they plan to be more active ST?
And by ST, I mean this week. And by this week, I mean what happens if they have 2 more piss poor games like last night, and get swept at home by the nats (making them 5-1 at Citi this year!), and leaving the Mets at .500?
does that trigger any stop-loss orders? Put jerry more on the hot seat? roster changes? Beuhler?
very scary stretch, given the phils an dyankees are back to back, and that can certinly expose a teams weaknesses.
so, say they split today/tomorrow, leaving them at 2 over .500. next 14 games are against relatively to very tough teams, with 8 on the road.
If they end the philly series at .500 (meaning they go 6-8), is that good? bad? or what? does it pretyt much say 1/3 of the way into the season that they really are just a flawed, .500 team?
what if they hit the skids, and get abused by the big guys (and have the usual horror show in FLa and Atl), and end up 5-9, 2 games under .500? Does that generate sweeping chages?
and damned if I will know what to think if they go 8-6 and end up 4 over .500, after their probably toughest stretch of the season!
trs86
5/11/2010-11:47am at 11:47 am (UTC -4)
I just see no way the Nats sweep.
fongy2
5/11/2010-11:53am at 11:53 am (UTC -4)
Rob Dibble can!
GravediggerHebner
5/11/2010-11:54am at 11:54 am (UTC -4)
now there’s a bumpersticker. That and
What Would Rob Dibble Do?
fongy2
5/11/2010-11:56am at 11:56 am (UTC -4)
He really is God-Awful!
ceetar
5/11/2010-11:52am at 11:52 am (UTC -4)
Obviously nothing is final in May. But you have to take account of this team from a front office and tweaks standpoint after this st retch. I think it’s fully possible that in the next week or so, they will make some small changes as they see fit, because the Yankees and Phillies are big games, and they’ll want to try to take advantage of that.
From a conspiracy theory standpoint though you could claim they’ll do nothing until after that, since they’ll sell the Yanks/Phils homestand without any help.
fongy2
5/11/2010-11:45am at 11:45 am (UTC -4)
b/t/w,I’d be very happy w/Millwood taking Ollie’s rotation spot.
Wanted him this off-season when rumors
first appeared.
It shouldn’t cost much….At least I
wouldn’t think so.
trs86
5/11/2010-11:48am at 11:48 am (UTC -4)
There is no way the Mets are dumping Ollie. If Millwood comes in it will be because Maine is injured or they finally have gotten Ollie to agree to go down to AAA. If Ollie is still hanging at a 4.50 ERA and having his good game bad game results he will continue to be here.
fongy2
5/11/2010-11:49am at 11:49 am (UTC -4)
I agree. I don’t think they’d”dump”him BUT he
should be pushed deeply
into the Pen as a mop-up man.
trs86
5/11/2010-12:00pm at 12:00 pm (UTC -4)
Fongy we will not get better than way and we are still stuck with him. The best thing they can do with him for this year and the future is to let him make his starts trying to position him as the 5th starter that usually faces the other team’s 4-5 guy and let him right the ship. He will take you out of some games but he will pitch a gem here and there as well. As long as Taka continues to be his caddy he will be fine.
fongy2
5/11/2010-12:09pm at 12:09 pm (UTC -4)
I disagree BUT I’m as anti-Ollie as
anyone.
His inability to throw strikes
is inexcusable!
stickguy
5/11/2010-11:45am at 11:45 am (UTC -4)
just happened to be looking at the schedule for my last post.
if you want to dream, how about Beltran running OK today (yesterday? sometime?) and getting clreared to start baseball activiites (whatever exactly that is, I have no idea).
If he can get back in hitting shape in a month (might be a stretch, I know), beginning 6/11 they have a stretch of 9 straight games in AL parks.
so, maybe he can come back for a week+ as a DH, to get blended back in without having the wear and tear of running around the OF?
trs86
5/11/2010-11:49am at 11:49 am (UTC -4)
Well combined with that is this: “How they’ll work him into the lineup remains to be seen. There’s almost no chance that he’ll be back in center field, but I’ll leave it to the sharper knives on how the Mets could adjust. I’ll remind everyone that if things go well, Beltran should be moved very quickly back to the Mets’ lineup.” from Will Carroll. I am not a big Carroll fan but I have often thought about this. The Mets to protect their investment may very well slide Beltran into RF but what does that do to Frenchy?
ceetar
5/11/2010-11:54am at 11:54 am (UTC -4)
Sorry, I think Will Carroll’s an egotistical idiot. (eidiot?)
I’m concerned that supposedly Beltran felt pain running hard? Is that true? or is that still a related report from his treadmill run 3 weeks ago?
If he’s still feeling pain like that, it’s a disaster.
If not, and he’s jogging and such, then it’s great news.
Ifthe brace is helping, great.
He played in worse condition (the bruises were more frequent or worse) last year both before and after the DL stint, so I have zero doubt he’s capable of playing CF.
trs86
5/11/2010-11:57am at 11:57 am (UTC -4)
I am glad you do but I don’t at all.
“Last night on SNY, Kevin Burkhardt said Beltran has started jogging, and is swing a bat, but is unable to run full force to first base because he is still experiencing pain in his knee.”
ceetar
5/11/2010-11:59am at 11:59 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, that’s it. If that’s true, that’s basically a disaster. I’m not sure how that statement dissects though, has he not actually “run hard” and that pain is being reported from three weeks ago saying that he hasn’t been able to run hard because of that, or did he actually test it yesterday? I don’t really see any conceivable way he can return this year if he felt pain running hard to first base and the bruise is not healing at an acceptable pace.
trs86
5/11/2010-12:02pm at 12:02 pm (UTC -4)
See I think he can BUT it would have to be in RF. I actually agree with the idiot. Hate to say that.
ceetar
5/11/2010-12:05pm at 12:05 pm (UTC -4)
Arguably you run less hard fielding than running. So I’m not real worried about him being able to field CF. I haven’t really heard a good argument for this. Is he going to lose a step somehow?
But if he can’t run to first..he can’t bat.. right? or do we just not care and he’s now a one-dimensional slugger type?
trs86
5/11/2010-12:33pm at 12:33 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, a Tony Gwynn later life. LOL. I still think the lateral movement required in CF will be incredibly tough.
stickguy
5/11/2010-12:11pm at 12:11 pm (UTC -4)
None of us have any clue what the actual situation with Beltran is. way too much speculation and misinformation flaoting around.
But, if he did play with it last year, in theory he can do it again. Much of sports becomes pain management and tollerance. at least as the DH< he might be able to wear his brace.
I do think that the long delay is a last ditch shot at seeing if they can make it fully go away. And if not, what is plan B?
Microfracture surgery which likely ends his career? Or playing through pain?
Hey, put him on the Dr. House program. Pump him full of Vicodin, and he probably won’t even notice it hurts! Or much of anything else I guess….
ceetar
5/11/2010-12:16pm at 12:16 pm (UTC -4)
They pumped him full of that fluid stuff or whatever. That was probably an effort to lubricate it temporarily in hopes the bruise could heal if it wasn’t constantly being pounded. who knows.
This has got to be infuriated for Beltran. All he wants to do is play baseball, and you know the way things are going he’s worried he may never be able to again.
Mr North Jersey
5/11/2010-12:17pm at 12:17 pm (UTC -4)
Sucks!
fongy2
5/11/2010-11:52am at 11:52 am (UTC -4)
I’ll believe he’s back when I actually see him in the line-up.The usual positive spin on his situation when it first went down was…Just that…
Spin.
gategem
5/11/2010-11:53am at 11:53 am (UTC -4)
For a self proclaimed optimist I find your dislike of Tatis most peculiar. Tatis’ OPS for his two plus years with the Mets is .803. For a bench/role player that is not too shabby. Even this year when used as a substitute (not as a starter) his numbers are:
.357 BA, .438 OBP, .643 SLG, 1.080 OPS.
ceetar
5/11/2010-11:56am at 11:56 am (UTC -4)
It’s very feast or famine. He’s had some good games, even a good week here and there. For parttime players it’s easy to have one good week make all your stats look good.
I’ll tolerate him as a sub, but Manuel over uses him (although not as much this year) He’s also a disaster on defense whenever i watch him play anywhere. (except maybe 3B). And, Murphy is better in literally every facet of the game, and can play those positions at least as well as Tatis, and better in most cases.
trs86
5/11/2010-11:58am at 11:58 am (UTC -4)
But the Mets have a need for a RH PH. Also I don’t think Manuel is overusing him at all right now.
ceetar
5/11/2010-12:04pm at 12:04 pm (UTC -4)
not overusing him right now I don’t think, no.
The ‘need’ for a RH pinch hitter is vastly overrated. but we’ve had this argument before.
Especially preceded by three switch hitters.
Get me lefties that can hit lefties, instead of Tatis. get Evans. anyone.
gategem
5/11/2010-12:22pm at 12:22 pm (UTC -4)
Perhaps my mind is playing tricks in my old age but doesn’t Nick Evans bat from the right side? Perhaps you mean Darrell Evans. He’s a little old but what the hell.
stickguy
5/11/2010-12:25pm at 12:25 pm (UTC -4)
yes he is RH. but read the line. he would rather have a good hitting lefty, or a different RH hitter.
don’t be messing with my fellow optimist here, even with your little smiley faces!
gategem
5/11/2010-12:37pm at 12:37 pm (UTC -4)
My apologies to Ceetar. But I did say I was old.
trs86
5/11/2010-12:34pm at 12:34 pm (UTC -4)
Lefties that can hit lefties? Good luck.
GravediggerHebner
5/11/2010-12:00pm at 12:00 pm (UTC -4)
Responding to your last sentence, I would use my best Moe Szyslak voice and say “Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?”
trs86
5/11/2010-12:35pm at 12:35 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah I can’t see how Murphy is better as our PH vs LH pitchers and playing multiple positions. At least not yet.
gategem
5/11/2010-12:17pm at 12:17 pm (UTC -4)
Read this post by Howard Megdal
http://nybaseballdigest.com/?p=24293
fongy2
5/11/2010-11:57am at 11:57 am (UTC -4)
Plus theres the “Good-guy factor”!!!!
trs86
5/11/2010-11:59am at 11:59 am (UTC -4)
You should know how important that is more than anyone.
By the way, I have to ask CURRENTLY what do you think about your boy Barajas?
fongy2
5/11/2010-12:03pm at 12:03 pm (UTC -4)
It’s funny ’cause I just said to my wife while watching the game”Jeez I was wrong about Barajas”I wanted
Thole to play everyday but so
far so good!
Hey, he is what he is,good not great defensively,good
power,low average hitter
BUT I like that both he and Blanco seemed to have had a positive effect on Pelf&Niese..
Least I think so.
Still though I’m glad at their ages they’ll only be here for a yr.
fongy2
5/11/2010-12:04pm at 12:04 pm (UTC -4)
b/t/w,
Philly
broadcaster STILL hammering Barajas
over his short tenure as a Phil.
fongy2
5/11/2010-12:07pm at 12:07 pm (UTC -4)
Plus,I will say
Cora has already earned his money as a
Met.
ceetar
5/11/2010-11:57am at 11:57 am (UTC -4)
And to clarify, I’m an optimist about the team overall, but I can still be down and doubtful about guys like Tatis, GMJ, Manuel.
fongy2
5/11/2010-11:59am at 11:59 am (UTC -4)
How and why is Matthews
still a Met???
stickguy
5/11/2010-12:27pm at 12:27 pm (UTC -4)
I think we were stuck with him as soon as Omar made the trade, and got so much heat for it. The stubborn gene icked in, and damned if he isn’t going to prove us wrong!
stickguy
5/11/2010-12:24pm at 12:24 pm (UTC -4)
also, someone asked “what about Frenchy” earlier when discussing if Beltran had to move to RF.
Well, stp worrying about frnechy. I know he is a great guy, good quotes, full of grustle (a blend of grit and hustle), and wonderful in the clubhouse, and he has a good arm.
But, objectively, he is not that good of a player overall. And he is especially not good against RHP.
so, make him a 4th OF, platoon/part time starter, and PH. I will certainly take him over GM!
But IMO you do not sign frenchy to a long term deal, and you sure as hell don’t make major personnell decisions based on his presence on the roster (stuff like trading F Mart or where to play beltran).
trs86
5/11/2010-12:39pm at 12:39 pm (UTC -4)
There is something to those great guy, good quotes, full of grustle (a blend of grit and hustle), and wonderful in the clubhouse, and he has a good arm, we will never know how much that is worth.