About a month ago I posed a series of questions regarding the Mets that ran the gambit from mundane to controversial. I feel that here we are , with over thirty games under this teams belt that there are many questions that are not being asked but that should be . I don’t know if this is because of the front office keeping all of their fingers and toes crossed with hopes that this team will once again ride a hot streak- or whether it is just stubbornness on their part to prove that they are right. So here are my questions for this team, please answer thoughtfully and truthfully ( except please don’t call me an ass !) ,for this will make up sixty percent of your final grade ( kidding ! kidding !)
1. Why is Gary Matthews Jr still here ? ( Getting rid of Frank Catalanotto is a start but I feel that Matthews has nothing left in the tank.)
2.Shouldn’t Mejia be in the minors right now to stretch himself out to be a starting pitcher ?
3. What has happened to David Wrights plate discipline?
4.Will Carlos Beltran ever come back to the Mets healthy?
5. What  is with the lack of velocity that we have seen from 3/5 of the starting rotation ?
6. Does Jerry Manuel actually think ahead when he makes a double switch? ( see Sunday’s game against the Giants)
7. How long will it take for Jerry to totally implode the bullpen ?
8.Will Mets management have the balls to remove Oliver Perez from the rotation ?
9.Did Jeff Wilpon either know or intend Citi Field to have this horrible wind tunnel effect ? I mean was it meant to be one of the peccadilloes that they thought would warm us fans to Citi Field – or did they hope we would buy a twenty five dollar fleece blanket from the team store?
10. And lastly – are the Nationals this good – or are we this mediocre ?
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                                     ” There are a lot of question marks surrounding this Mets team!”
And with that said…… HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!
Happy Birthday wishes go out to the reserve first baseman from the ’84 team, Jerry Martin (1949) . The funny thing is Jerry played in 51 games for the Mets that season , and I have barely any recollection of him !
Pitcher from ’83- ’85 – Walt Terrell is 52.(1958) I still remember that grand slam he hit in ’84.
New York Mets purchased utility player, Chuck Hiller from the San Francisco Giants on May 11, 1965. Chuck would later be a coach for the Mets in 1990.
New York Mets traded pitcher, Charlie Williams to the San Francisco Giants for the legendary Willie Mays on May 11, 1972.
New York Mets traded minor league prospect, Ricky Nelson to the Cleveland Indians for reliever Don Schulze on May 11, 1987.
Pittsburgh Pirates claimed relief pitcher, Mark Dewey of the New York Mets on waivers on May 11, 1993.
New York Mets traded middle reliever ,Mike Remlinger to the Cincinnati Reds for minor league outfielder, Cobi Cradle on May 11, 1995.
Mo Vaughn was at last nights game , and he nearly spit out his five hot dogs and fries when he saw Ivan Rodriguez steal second base !
38 comments
trs86
5/11/2010-7:32am at 7:32 am (UTC -4)
My answer to all 10 is basically relax. It’s a long season and we are still in good shape. Especially in response to #10.
rustyjr
5/11/2010-7:50am at 7:50 am (UTC -4)
Sorry the last 2 losses have put me in a foul mood
metsfan4decades
5/11/2010-7:33am at 7:33 am (UTC -4)
1. Why is Gary Matthews Jr still here ?
– I think he’s close to gone. They have it a month. Jacobs, Cat and GMJ to follow.
2.Shouldn’t Mejia be in the minors right now to stretch himself out to be a starting pitcher ?
– Yes, Mejia should have never been up to her to begin with. As soon as Iggy’s back, he should go down.
3. What has happened to David Wrights plate discipline?
– This is the million dollar question. And anyone who has the right answer should get the million but I sure do not know.
4.Will Carlos Beltran ever come back to the Mets healthy?
– Define ‘healthy’? I’ll give it a 60% chance we see him back by Aug.
5. What is with the lack of velocity that we have seen from 3/5 of the starting rotation ?
– From what I’m seeing it’s not just the Met pitchers whose velocity is down so far this year. Maine I can understand, Johan to an extent with the surgery as well. Perez it’s gotta be all a mechanics problem.
6. Does Jerry Manuel actually think ahead when he makes a double switch? ( see Sunday’s game against the Giants)
– If he does, he’s still coming up with the wrong decisions.
7. How long will it take for Jerry to totally implode the bullpen ?
– Some of this is on the starters who can’t consistently get into the 7th. But Jerry’s use of the BP was my number one complaint with him last year. He’s not doing anything to change my mind this year.
8.Will Mets management have the balls to remove Oliver Perez from the rotation ?
– Tough one. Depends on his next couple of starts. If they look like the last one, to me they’ve got no choice. If he’s even mediocre, he stays.
9.Did Jeff Wilpon either know or intend Citi Field to have this horrible wind tunnel effect ?
– I don’t think the Wilpons had a clue how this field was really going to play.
10. And lastly – are the Nationals this good – or are we this mediocre ?
– Right now? We are this mediocre. And the Nats are this good. Check back in August.
trs86
5/11/2010-7:44am at 7:44 am (UTC -4)
I can’t agree with the last one. Based on stats and record if anything the Nats are similar to us but are playing WAY over their head. They have given up more runs than they have scored.
ceetar
5/11/2010-7:50am at 7:50 am (UTC -4)
yeah, and we just don’t feel like hitting. Limit any team to 3 runs and we’ll win most games.
rustyjr
5/11/2010-7:54am at 7:54 am (UTC -4)
I’m sure they are playing over their heads ( nats) and I am sure they will fall back to the pack but for the mets to not be able to hit a itcher who has beenshowd to be hittable is ridiculous – but this has been a common occourance the last couple of seasons
metsfan4decades
5/11/2010-8:11am at 8:11 am (UTC -4)
Well, that’s why I said ‘right now’. Nats are good, right now. Whether or not they’re playing over their heads, they’re playing good.
On paper, I think we are better. But right now, we’re not playing like we’re better.
trs86
5/11/2010-9:20am at 9:20 am (UTC -4)
Thing is based on stats they are not even playing well. They are winning games at a higher rate for the Nats for sure but how long can you continue to give up more runs than you score and win games?
stickguy
5/11/2010-9:12am at 9:12 am (UTC -4)
all good answers. saved me a lot ot typing!
a couple changes:
#4 – No. If he comes back, it will be “almost” better, and hoping to play through whatever comes. I give it 2 weeks tops before he breaks down, and goes under the knife again, and never plays for the mets again (and most likely ends up retired).
# 9- wind tunnel: They didn’t give the fans blue walls or backed up toilets, so they decided to keep the wind chill factor instead. And if you ever sat in the last row of the Mezz (aka the mushroom growing area), for a late season night game, you don’t know what cold on your neck is like.
#10 – Mets are bi-polar this year. Either look like world beaters, or the dregs. Nothing in between. THe Nats are probably better than a lot of people thought (and get even better if strasburg comes up), but at not as good as they seem at the moment. Eventually, the teams will find their appopriate level.
metsfan4decades
5/11/2010-9:17am at 9:17 am (UTC -4)
#9: LOL – the past few days, fans at Citi look like they’re attending a football game in Buffalo in Jan, they’re so bundled up.
#10: what’s that saying? Water will find it’s own level.
trs86
5/11/2010-9:21am at 9:21 am (UTC -4)
Actually the Nats are about what I expect them to be. About a 75 win team. Don’t care what their record is right now.
trs86
5/11/2010-9:25am at 9:25 am (UTC -4)
Example the Marlins have scored 2 more runs than allowed and they are 15-17. The Nats are -16. Seriously they can’t keep that up.
Phillies are about +50, Mets +16, Cards +40, Pads +40, Giants +40. The only team besides the Nats that are above .500 with more runs given up than runs scored are the Reds at one game over .500.
stickguy
5/11/2010-9:36am at 9:36 am (UTC -4)
not enough games played for the pythagorym theory to hold water. 1 blow out can really skew the numbers (either way).
trs86
5/11/2010-9:55am at 9:55 am (UTC -4)
I think the telling stat is still the only other team above .500 with a negative is the Reds.
stickguy
5/11/2010-10:13am at 10:13 am (UTC -4)
maybe. i do expect him, at some oint, to have a decent 2 month or so stretch. he usually does. Maybe he can just start it soon?
dreaming, maybe he pitches well enough to get traded in the off season, since I am certainly tired of hearing about him.
stickguy
5/11/2010-10:14am at 10:14 am (UTC -4)
this of course belonged as a reply to your lower comment about ollie having 2 good, 2 bad, 1 meh start in the next f!
trs86
5/11/2010-10:15am at 10:15 am (UTC -4)
I know this is in the wrong spot but I agree. I don’t see him traded though.
As bad as he has been this year he is still sitting there with a 4.50 ERA.
Kingman 26
5/11/2010-9:27am at 9:27 am (UTC -4)
1. Why is Gary Matthews Jr still here ?
—Very tough one…they have made some changes, and this change had better be next. Although following GMJ’s amazing start–now 23 G and 49 PA with ZERO RBI!–is getting exciting.
2.Shouldn’t Mejia be in the minors right now to stretch himself out to be a starting pitcher ?
—Also tough. Maybe he really should be. If, like me, one believes that this is an 83 win non-playoff team, then Mejia in the pen is doing nothing but retarding his progress as a starter.
3. What has happened to David Wright’s plate discipline?
—Citi Field, nearly a year now of insane and unfair pressure, and the beaning. All three combined with the unrelenting press and blogosphere is turning DRod into someone else.
4.Will Carlos Beltran ever come back to the Mets healthy?
—Absolutely. Next spring. When he will be hustling for another massive contract. Look for him to be cleared for activities involving pools, sand, and drinks with umbrellas any week now…
5. What is with the lack of velocity that we have seen from 3/5 of the starting rotation ?
—The most troubling issue of 2010. Hard to say, but for all three guys, injuries seem to be the clear and only answer.
6. Does Jerry Manuel actually think ahead when he makes a double switch?
—It is only a matter of time. He does not finish the year.
7. How long will it take for Jerry to totally implode the bullpen ?
—Not long. I would say someone is out within another 2-4 weeks.
8.Will Mets management have the balls to remove Oliver Perez from the rotation?
—Yes. Year two is far different than year one, and lack of patience from them should be expected. Ollie is a terrible, terrible joke of an adult millionaire athlete.
9.Did Jeff Wilpon either know or intend Citi Field to have this horrible wind tunnel effect? I mean was it meant to be one of the peccadilloes that they thought would warm us fans to Citi Field – or did they hope we would buy a twenty five dollar fleece blanket from the team store?
—LOL! The Wilpons CLEARLY had ideas, concerns, and cares about the location of the 86 Subway signs, the 246 Citi ATMs, etc. And they had little other concern, except how to squeeze every last cent out of people watching bad baseball.
10. And lastly – are the Nationals this good – or are we this mediocre?
—The Nats are not this good no, but we are precisely this mediocre. Nats better than expected, but we are precisely as expected.
trs86
5/11/2010-9:33am at 9:33 am (UTC -4)
Precisely as expected? So you expected the Mets to win 87-90 games? Huh me too.
Kingman 26
5/11/2010-9:43am at 9:43 am (UTC -4)
Well, the Mets’ winning pct right now is .531, which over 162 games is 86 wins. Not 87, 88, 89, or 90.
And no, I expect (and predicted) 83–85 wins and 3rd place.
Which while disappointing and irritating to say the least, would actually be pretty darn close to what ONE of us did predict.
trs86
5/11/2010-9:55am at 9:55 am (UTC -4)
So I predicted 87-90 wins and you predicted 83-85. Isn’t that too close to call? Especially considering going into last night we were on pace for 89 wins?
Also, who the hell is finishing above us in the NL East besides Philly? It for sure won’t be the Nats, can’t see the Marlins or Braves either.
Kingman 26
5/11/2010-9:57am at 9:57 am (UTC -4)
Well, cannot argue much of that.
I love this team’s future with a few more tweaks, and could see a 2nd place finish.
I just think someone else among the other three in our division will wind up 2nd.
Sure hope I am wrong though.
Love getting rid of Jacobs and Cat.
Next are Ollie and GMJ.
Then Jerry.
trs86
5/11/2010-10:01am at 10:01 am (UTC -4)
Ollie is going nowhere unless he stinks about 5 starts in a row and even then they would send him to the BP unless he agrees to go down.
Kingman 26
5/11/2010-10:09am at 10:09 am (UTC -4)
As far as Ollie going, when I say “go” I just mean out of the rotation.
trs86
5/11/2010-10:10am at 10:10 am (UTC -4)
Yeah I know but that’s not going to happen anytime soon. He’s still got at least decent #5 starter numbers and is paid too much. His only value is to just improve. He will get at least another 5 starts.
trs86
5/11/2010-10:11am at 10:11 am (UTC -4)
And you know during those 5 starts at least 2 will be very good, 1 eh, and 2 really bad.
stickguy
5/11/2010-10:11am at 10:11 am (UTC -4)
BP is fine.
remember, we have Jerry at the helm. So, with a 7 man pen, you have the closer, leaving 6 guys to mix/match.
3 of those guys pitch every day (even off days). 2 get sporadic work, mostly as long guys (less need w/o ollie in the rotation). And the last guy, pitches once every other week.
So, let ollie fit the last man role, and he won’t be able to damage the team at all!
trs86
5/11/2010-10:13am at 10:13 am (UTC -4)
But he won’t help it either and would not get enough work to improve whatever the issue is. The Mets are a better team with Ollie in the rotation and giving them the 2 good 2 bad effort than in the pen.
stickguy
5/11/2010-9:39am at 9:39 am (UTC -4)
in other news, heard that Iggy is throwing off a mound, with no pain. So, he might actually be back fairly soon.
perfect time of course to send Mejia down to get ready as a Sp, so that if they want to replace Ollie mid-season they have an in house option (hopefully). Or, if someone hits the DL.
More likely, they send down acosta, since Jerry obviously forgot his name.
metsfan4decades
5/11/2010-10:06am at 10:06 am (UTC -4)
+1
Mr North Jersey
5/11/2010-10:50am at 10:50 am (UTC -4)
I want to say nice combination of questions and It’s good to see how many have taken the time so far to answer them. It seems the one question that is getting buzz (from TRS at least) is question 10 so I will try to be careful how I answer it.
1. Why is Gary Matthews Jr still here?
Because defensively he can play center and costs the Mets only 1M and the Mets next best choice is Prdie down in AAA and he has all of 11 games of MLB experience.
2.Shouldn’t Mejia be in the minors right now to stretch himself out to be a starting pitcher?
Yes
3. What has happened to David Wrights plate discipline?
Did you not hear? HoJo took it.
4.Will Carlos Beltran ever come back to the Mets healthy?
If you mean 100% healthy then I would have to guess no.
5. What is with the lack of velocity that we have seen from 3/5 of the starting rotation?
Age, Injuries, New Radar Guns, take your pick.
6. Does Jerry Manuel actually think ahead when he makes a double switch? ( see Sunday’s game against the Giants)
Let me put it like this. If Jerry was a Chess player he’d be terrible because he could only see 1 move ahead.
7. How long will it take for Jerry to totally implode the bullpen?
At this rate we may be in trouble by August.
8.Will Mets management have the balls to remove Oliver Perez from the rotation?
Yes
9.Did Jeff Wilpon either know or intend Citi Field to have this horrible wind tunnel effect ? I mean was it meant to be one of the peccadilloes that they thought would warm us fans to Citi Field – or did they hope we would buy a twenty five dollar fleece blanket from the team store?
I think the wind thing is just a fluke right now. This is the 1st time anyone has ever seen it this bad.
10. And lastly – are the Nationals this good – or are we this mediocre?
Oh boy here we go. Lets see the question supposes that it has to be either or. Something that I don’t necessarily agree has to be either or.
I have said as far back as this off season that the Nats looked like a good team and that the Mets would be stupid to overlook them thinking they only need be concerned with the Braves, Marlins and Phillies. Even with the loss of Marquis they have played winning baseball and we have yet to see the likes of 3 people that are due to play in 2010 for the Nats. Strasburg, Wang and closer Drew Storen who MLB ranked 40th in their top 50 prospects and he was their 10th best RHP prospect. Mejia didnt break the top 50 in case your wondering.
We finish the season against them and it could have playoff implications for both of us if these kids Strasburg and Storen are the real deal.
So with that I say yes the Nats are this good.
Now are the Mets this mediocre? No I have to believe we are better than this the Mets have won despite their offensive struggles and I have to believe they will play better than this.
trs86
5/11/2010-10:53am at 10:53 am (UTC -4)
So you honestly believe the Nats can keep winning with a negative run differential?
Mr North Jersey
5/11/2010-10:56am at 10:56 am (UTC -4)
You are assuming that they cant correct that.
trs86
5/11/2010-11:00am at 11:00 am (UTC -4)
Not at all but right now that’s all we got and based on past history why would we believe they will?
Mr North Jersey
5/11/2010-11:03am at 11:03 am (UTC -4)
If you have to ask then you are not paying attention.
trs86
5/11/2010-11:40am at 11:40 am (UTC -4)
I guess not because I see nothing pointing to why that trend will stop. At this point they are playing over their heads and still have a negative run differential.
Mr North Jersey
5/11/2010-11:42am at 11:42 am (UTC -4)
GravediggerHebner
5/11/2010-11:07am at 11:07 am (UTC -4)
I would need to start my own blog (foreshadowing?) to answer all 10 questions truthfully and thoughtfully so I’ll just concentrate on # 5.
Santana’s career FB velocity = 91.7, 2010 = 89.3
Pelfrey’s career FB velocity = 92.6, 2010 = 91.6
Maine’s career FB velocity = 91.3, 2010 = 89.2
Perez’ career FB velocity = 91.0, 2010 = 88.1
Niese is actually up this season, 90.4 compared to 89.9 “career” but his “career” is so short I don’t think it’s a fair comparison. So 4/4 of the established Mets rotation is down.
Now those 4 guys have been with the Mets for a while so to be fair to them I’m only going to compare them to other NL pitchers who are not new to their current team this season. That’s my own arbitrary rule and you don’t have to like it, you’re welcome to do your own comparison with your own rules.
Oswalt career 93.1, 2010 92.9
Rodriguez, W. 89.4, 89.7
Lowe 88.4, 88.1
Hudson 90.9, 91.2
Bush 88.8, 85.9
Gallardo 91.8, 91.9
Wainwright 90.3, 90.4
Carpenter 91.6, 91.3
Lohse 89.8, 91.3
Dempster 90.9, 91.3
Lilly 88.3, 85.5
Haren 90.1, 91.3
Billingsley 91.5, 91.7
Kershaw 93.8, 92.8
Kuroda 91.7, 92.2
Lincecum 93.4, 91.4
Cain 92.8, 91.3
Sanchez 91.1, 90.4
Zito 86.2, 85.8
Johnson, J. 93.6, 94.2
Nolasco 91.2, 90.4
Stammen 89.3, 90.4
Lannan 87.9, 88.8
Correia 90.5, 90.0
Hamels 90.5, 90.7
Blanton 89.3, 89.0
Kendrick 89.8, 90.3
Maholm 89.4, 88.0
Duke 88.2, 86.9
Cueto 93.1, 93.1
Arroyo 88.6, 87.7
Harang 90.2, 91.0
Jimenez 95.6, 96.8
De La Rosa 92.7, 94.2
Cook 90.7, 89.1
Hammel 92.1, 92.3
All 4 established Mets are down at least 1 full mph, Pelfrey being the least (exactly 1 full mph) and Perez the most (2.9).
Some of the rest of the league is up (Lohse 1.5, Haren 1.2, Stammen 1.1, Jimenez 1.2, De La Rosa 1.5 for examples), some is down (Bush 2.9, Lilly 2.8, Kershaw 1.0, Lincecum 2.0, Cain 1.5, Maholm 1.4, Duke 1.3, Cook 1.6 for examples) and the rest are either exactly the same or up or down less than 1 full mph.
All 4 Giants are down but Sanchez and Zito less than 1 full mph.
I realize this is somewhat arbitrary because it’s just guys who have been on their current team at least for 1 full season prior to this one but within that context I don’t see a trend, except with the Mets who are not only universally down but down significantly. All I can guess is it’s related to the spring training emphasis on throwing the ball over the plate, which naturally would occur at the expense of velocity.
Last season’s spring drill to hit all those opposite field breaking pitches can be said to have had a negative effect on many of the hitters (this is just a recollection but I recall only Beltran responding well to it), and it seems to me that this season’s control drill has had a negative effect on the starting pitchers. That’s my amateur 2 cents.