May 19
AAUGH!!!!
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101 comments
rustyjr
5/19/2010-9:01am at 9:01 am (UTC -4)
Yeah that just about sums it up
Hazmet
5/19/2010-9:08am at 9:08 am (UTC -4)
Great graphic TRS, say’s it all.
Now to David. Can someone please explain why Jerry has Chip teaching David how to field with a bigger glove this year? Hearing this last night on the broadcast leave’s me befuddled. Why would you take a guy who’s won a couple of gold gloves, granted there’s alway’s debate as to if he deserved them, and have him start re-learning to field with a bigger glove? The explanation of “this is something Robin Ventura did and other great third baseman have done” doesn’t cut it for me. Why mess with what works for a guy at the age of 27 when his focus should be at the plate and getting the cob webs out of his head after getting plunked in the coconut last year? When I heard this I was like, “OK that may help explain how he completely whiffed on a throw to third on Sunday and why he’s going for this silly pick it to the side crap”. GET IN FRONT OF THE BALL!, jeez…reteaching Wright how to play third at the age of 27, unreal.
More Jerry tinkering, how to destroy a perfectly serviceable thirdbaseman. Last year’s pet project was the one handed hitting drill, this year it’s David try this on for size. WTF! Are we going to start to reteach Jose to run again next. I’m completely sickened.
njstuckintx
5/19/2010-9:13am at 9:13 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, I’ve notived that too. How does the line go? Stop with all the Ole! BS and get in front of the ball, Dorn!
trs86
5/19/2010-9:20am at 9:20 am (UTC -4)
It’s not like fielding the ball has ever been a issue anyway. I could not imagine a bigger glove would help you on a throw.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/19/2010-9:26am at 9:26 am (UTC -4)
Agreed. And last night’s throw wasn’t all that bad. Personally, I think Davis should have caught that ball.
trs86
5/19/2010-9:32am at 9:32 am (UTC -4)
I agree.
Hazmet
5/19/2010-9:27am at 9:27 am (UTC -4)
Yep, why mess with the fielding. Bigger glove, maybe getting a grip on the ball getting it out of the glove to throw like on the transfer, shouldn’t be rocket science though. Just why give the guy all this new “stuff” to work through for something that’s not been an issue. Perplexing. All David has ever needed on the throws is to remember to come over the top. He’d go through this sidearming too much every year until he’d correct in season. Just more re-inventing the wheel. Nothing’s easy in Metland.
Hazmet
5/19/2010-9:29am at 9:29 am (UTC -4)
Could you imagine Jerry on the Phil’s trying to reteach Ryan Howard how to hit? That’s probably what he’d do, that’s how insane the mindset is to me.
njstuckintx
5/19/2010-9:08am at 9:08 am (UTC -4)
Yup. My thoughts exactly. Early in the year, it seemed like you knew the Mets would or could come back. Now, it’s just waiting for the shoe to drop. I don’t like that feeling.
udontmesswthejohan
5/19/2010-9:26am at 9:26 am (UTC -4)
Well, c’mon guys, what can you do, it was Kris Medlin toeing the rubber for the Braves. Wait, what, who is Kris Medlin?
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/19/2010-9:31am at 9:31 am (UTC -4)
Wright had couple good ABs early in the game last night and the night before. But I’ve noticed that he was hitting the other way when during those good ABs.
And when the pitcher tries to come inside, David just tried to kill the ball. You can clearly see the frustration in his face after the 9th inning K.
Maybe the Mets need to hire an adviser to help him out? But they cannot simply sit on their hands and let David figure the whole thing out by himself. It’s gotten way beyond that point.
trs86
5/19/2010-9:34am at 9:34 am (UTC -4)
I just really think he is pressing and looking for a ball to drive in a lot of AB’s. He alluded to that last night when he said he was trying to do too much.
ceetar
5/19/2010-9:56am at 9:56 am (UTC -4)
I think a lot of David’s problems are pressing problems.
I think a walk-off hit off Mariano, bottom of the ninth on Friday, where he takes a bad swing but it leaves Citi Field anyway, would go a long way. Even more so if it’s the front row of the fair promenade down the LF line where I’m sitting. (i’m actually sitting there sunday, but as long as I’m dreaming..)
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/19/2010-10:26am at 10:26 am (UTC -4)
Funny thing is EVERYONE knows he’s pressing, yet nothing is done about. Can the Mets afford a shrink to help him out? It just seems like the Mets organization is hands-off with his struggle. Unless there’s something that we don’t know about.
I mean this guy is supposed to be the face of the franchise, no?
njstuckintx
5/19/2010-9:35am at 9:35 am (UTC -4)
If that advisor is Wally Backman, advising as the new Manager, then I agree. Adding more chefs to an already overcrowded kitchen aint going to help. Clean out the short order cooks and bring in Bobby Flay
ceetar
5/19/2010-9:57am at 9:57 am (UTC -4)
Manuel isn’t a short order cook, he’s the guy that manages to screw up the toasted bagel you ordered at the greasy slimy deli down the block.
njstuckintx
5/19/2010-10:02am at 10:02 am (UTC -4)
That explains alot. Now we know who’s been whispering in Omar’s ear when he’s getting his bagel and coffee!
metsfan4decades
5/19/2010-9:58am at 9:58 am (UTC -4)
A picture is worth a thousand words.
Agree with others hear about Wright’s new fielding aspect with that back hand pickup. I don’t think his fielding was ever the issue, just his throws to first. So why tinker with what wasn’t broke?
How long are they just all going to sit around and wait ‘for it to click’?
ceetar
5/19/2010-10:01am at 10:01 am (UTC -4)
FIRE MANUEL
stickguy
5/19/2010-10:05am at 10:05 am (UTC -4)
damn, why didn’t I ever think of tht?
And they call you the optimist? Wow, how bad things have gotten!
ceetar
5/19/2010-10:15am at 10:15 am (UTC -4)
FIRE WARTHEN
I’ve been saying since about May of 2008 that they need a fresh look…still waiting.
metsfan4decades
5/19/2010-10:15am at 10:15 am (UTC -4)
FIRE HOJO
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/19/2010-10:22am at 10:22 am (UTC -4)
I really think HoJo needs to go. I know a hitting coach doesn’t have THAT much impact, but set of new eyes might help these hitters to “see the ball well”.
stickguy
5/19/2010-10:25am at 10:25 am (UTC -4)
well, by every measure of quality hitting (approach, etc.) the team is dismal, and seem to have no definable plan or situational awarenes. Exactly how Hojo was as a player.
So in this case, absolutley a new HC is justified.
I think the team knows it, but also know that Jerry might not make it to June (I really think they have given him 1 more chance to fix everything quick, although I doubt he can learn to manage after all this time), and would rather just clear them all out together.
ceetar
5/19/2010-10:32am at 10:32 am (UTC -4)
Definitely. Whether or not you buy into the ‘value’ of a hitting coach, by every measurable quality he’s doing poorly.
stickguy
5/19/2010-10:04am at 10:04 am (UTC -4)
probably until the season is just about at the point of no return. Say, when they hit 10 games out/8 under .500, somnething like that.
koose
5/19/2010-10:09am at 10:09 am (UTC -4)
Which could be this time next week
njstuckintx
5/19/2010-10:12am at 10:12 am (UTC -4)
If more and more of this stuff happens, I think you could be correct.
njstuckintx
5/19/2010-10:14am at 10:14 am (UTC -4)
What ever happened with Mejia and the amazing stretching of his arm? Is that move happening?
metsfan4decades
5/19/2010-10:16am at 10:16 am (UTC -4)
I haven’t heard yet. They have to activate Dickey today to pitch tonight. If they’re not putting Niese on the DL, then someone has to go down.
ceetar
5/19/2010-10:21am at 10:21 am (UTC -4)
for Iggy.
stickguy
5/19/2010-10:34am at 10:34 am (UTC -4)
I think you are right. I am guessing Neise to the DL today? IF not, Acosta or Mejia has to go down.
given the fact that Mejia is not even being particularly effective throwing 1 pitch right now, you can probably get the same results from Parnell, dessens or Acosta (or a couple other guys in the minors having good years out of the pen), while giving Mejia a chance to finish developing.
fongy2
5/19/2010-10:19am at 10:19 am (UTC -4)
I wasn’t gonna post but seeing as how everyone’s all over Jerry, I figure I’d give all a chance to turn the venom toward me and give Jerry a break. The problem with most of you is
expectations which over reach reality.
In all sports on all levels,bad teams find a way to lose. Good teams find a way to win.
THIS team obviously finds almost every way to lose.
What good will firing Jerry do?…..
Unless, you bring in a heavyweight name from outside who’ll make things
uncomfortable for everyone in the room. Actually shaking things up a little.
Not to be an “I told you so”….But…
Well…I did. My exact statement made multiple times during ST was “The road
trip after the late May homestand against The Phils & Yanks will be
Jerry’s Waterloo”. ‘We should be no better than 20-22,6 Games out going
into those Six Games AND if we lose
5of6,OR get swept Jerry will get
fired while we’re in S.D or Mil”.
ALSO, “Forget Bel-Tron until after Memorial Day, we won’t see him until
after that”. SO, then what??
Does this finally put Omar on the clock???….Cause this fish does indeed stink from the head down!!
Let the hammering of Fongy begin!!
ceetar
5/19/2010-10:22am at 10:22 am (UTC -4)
It’s Jerry that’s creating this losing m entality. take last night for instance, he basically tells his guys to make outs (Wright, who’s King like crazy facing a K pitcher) rather than take three shots at a hit.
metsfan4decades
5/19/2010-10:45am at 10:45 am (UTC -4)
or how about you PH for your #3 hitter with GMJ and tell junior to bunt?
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/19/2010-10:53am at 10:53 am (UTC -4)
completely agreed. Carter probably had a better chance of getting a hit in that spot considering you have the strike machine hitting behind with 1 out.
fongy2
5/19/2010-10:58am at 10:58 am (UTC -4)
Don’t get me wrong,I’m not defending Jerry
BUT the problems with this team go ALOT deeper than
the Mgr.
You can’t expect
Jerry to be fired,replaced w/Melvin,Jauss
or HoJo and really believe
we’ll somehow be transformed into a contender though.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/19/2010-11:03am at 11:03 am (UTC -4)
But I don’t think Jerry’s doing particularly doing a great job either. A lot of people think that there’s enough fire power in this offense myself included. So, when the offense is not producing, then the manager and/or coaching staff need to take the blame.
Pitching is another story where you simply don’t have enough talent.
saltygary
5/19/2010-10:30am at 10:30 am (UTC -4)
Actually I was getting hammered for having the same sentiments during the offseason. So I’ll hold the shield for you buddy.
stickguy
5/19/2010-10:30am at 10:30 am (UTC -4)
well, there is an off day next monday. So depending on how bad they look against the Nats, and what the Yankers do to them, he might not even make it to the Philly series!
I do see your point, but IMO (and I think I speak for many others here), the team is NOT as bad as they are playing. That is, the talent level is such that they should be playing better quality ball. And that the manager and coaches get held accountable for.
Obviously a team like the Pirates that just has no discernable talent doesn’t get held to the same standards of wins. But they should be held to the same standard of playing smart and hard.
Natural talent is inate. But mental aspects can be coached.
ceetar
5/19/2010-10:34am at 10:34 am (UTC -4)
And yet those lowly pirates beat Halladay. So you can’t really get caught up in small sample sizes either, or say the Mets “can’t” beat the Phillies and Yankees next week. Hell, they get hot and it goes a long way towards repairing the damage.
fongy2
5/19/2010-10:39am at 10:39 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, BUT you know that ain’t gonna hapeen.
We’ll get smacked around by the two teams who we
are supposed to
most closely compete with
AND they’ll enjoy doing it.
fongy2
5/19/2010-10:38am at 10:38 am (UTC -4)
At the same time a team
like the Twins or The Jays can lose the likes
of a Johan or Halladay,
not get much back in return and STILL contend…Or atleast
compete. At some point
given how much power to
be in charge of every aspect of this org,
Omar MUST be held to
account.
stickguy
5/19/2010-10:43am at 10:43 am (UTC -4)
simple question. If over the last few years it had been jerry in charge of the twins and and gardenhire running the mets, do you think there would have been any difference in w/l for each team?
ALso, the Twins recently have played in an easier division.
fongy2
5/19/2010-11:00am at 11:00 am (UTC -4)
Don’t know?
BUT is there really THAT MUCh of a diff b/t Gaedenhire,Tom Kelly&
someone like Jerry?
darknova306
5/19/2010-11:23am at 11:23 am (UTC -4)
I agreed with you then, and I agree with you now, Fongy.
koose
5/19/2010-10:39am at 10:39 am (UTC -4)
Fire omar and then work your way down,he built this team with its 130 million dollar plus price tag how mantchances does this retard get.
njstuckintx
5/19/2010-10:48am at 10:48 am (UTC -4)
I tend to think Omar has put a decent product on the field. Injuries and field/game/bullpen/teaching/etc. management has done a great deal of the killing of the buzz. I would like to see one more manager for Omar. I like the minors (do not insert any jokes here). There are lots of promising youths on the way up. I truely belive 2011 looks very very promising. Better management combined with better PR/Media handling would go a long way to rectifying the gameplay and perceptions of the team.
stickguy
5/19/2010-10:41am at 10:41 am (UTC -4)
just to see what the pulse of the radical fanbase is (IOW, I checked out the FWICG poll), the mood isn’t good. In the latest direction poll (which direction is the team overall headed), 78% waid wrong, 15% were unsure, and a whopping 7% said the right one. That is not positive!
Of course, if this weeks meetings had lead to jerry and the coaches all bounced, and some random stiffs like Melvin being put in place, the nuimbers might be reversed, proving once again my theory that the average Met fan is bi-polar.
trs86
5/19/2010-11:42am at 11:42 am (UTC -4)
Of course 2 weeks ago it was 60% saying we were on the right track. It’s a mood poll. Very little thought goes into it.
saltygary
5/19/2010-12:12pm at 12:12 pm (UTC -4)
Yea that poll is ridiculous. It has more zig-zags than the stock market.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/19/2010-10:41am at 10:41 am (UTC -4)
Oh BTW, it looks like it’s going to be Johan vs CC this Sunday. Another winless game for Johan. I just hope he doesn’t demand a trade later….
koose
5/19/2010-10:45am at 10:45 am (UTC -4)
If this disfuntion continues he will damand a trade
GravediggerHebner
5/19/2010-10:59am at 10:59 am (UTC -4)
Without detailing our favorite team’s entire history for you (you can check it out yourself if you don’t know it/remember it) it seems worth noting that only 1 time in the team’s entire history has a mid-season managerial replacement led to any noteworthy success (by that I mean a post-season appearance).
That was 1996 when Dallas Green was replaced by Bobby Valentine, and that is perhaps why some of the younger among us crave Valentine’s return – they remember him actually succeeding under similar circumstances, although it didn’t happen until 1999 (3 full seasons later) and typically mid-season manager replacements don’t last that long. Suffice it to say I consider Valentine’s tenure an exception to the rule.
The rule is every other mid-season manager change but Green/Valentine in the history of the Mets has failed to result in a post-season berth under the new manager. The team has changed managers mid-season 10 times in it’s history, 1 time that resulted, 3 years later, in a post-season berth. 1 in 10.
Those odds hardly seems worth clamoring for.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/19/2010-11:16am at 11:16 am (UTC -4)
Well after Willie was replaced by Jerry, the team did very well except for that last week.
ceetar
5/19/2010-11:17am at 11:17 am (UTC -4)
err..by taht same token, it means we’re not making the playoffs with Manuel, so might as well replace the dope.
Mr North Jersey
5/19/2010-11:20am at 11:20 am (UTC -4)
I agree in this sense. To me firing Jerry is not to salvage the season but rather a waving of the white flag saying I (MINAYA) gambled with Jerry and he failed therefore I failed also.
I don’t see how Minaya get to choose the next manager and if rumors are true that Melvin is here to take over if Manuel is fired I am under the impression he was not picked by Melvin but rather ownership. Which if true what does that say about Minaya?
In any case once Jerry goes I believe Minaya should step aside also and relinquish his GM title. No way do I feel that Minaya deserves to oversee the era of the next NY Mets manager.
I know I am usually alone on these type of calls but I cant see how Minaya is allowed to continue hiring Failing managers. Where do we draw the line 4, 5 ,6 managers?
ceetar
5/19/2010-11:31am at 11:31 am (UTC -4)
That depends on how much say he’s had in the past. He didn’t really ‘hire’ Jerry and he didn’t really ‘fire’ Willie. So he hasn’t really created a shakeup yet.
I don’t have a huge problem with Omar. I’m almost confident that he doesn’t have full autonomy and isn’t exactly making these changes without input or hands tied, and I’ve agreed with enough of his decisions to distrust if a replacement would be better. Jeff said the other day “If I was here to fire someone, _I_ should’ve done it in the offseason.”
I’m sticking to my fresh voice idea. Can these guys for someone not currently talking to them. (why Willie->Manuel failed.)
Mr North Jersey
5/19/2010-11:59am at 11:59 am (UTC -4)
If Jerry is fired and Minaya stays on as GM in 2011 that will definitely show me that Minaya is only but a puppet and he is only GM in title.
Which means we are in even bigger trouble.
stickguy
5/19/2010-12:03pm at 12:03 pm (UTC -4)
well, only if th epuppet master is worse than Omar!
I frankly don’t care if they are using a quija board to communicate with George Steinbrenner to ask for guidance, as long as they get enough talent on the field to win, and some leaders to enforce playing smart ball.
GravediggerHebner
5/19/2010-11:33am at 11:33 am (UTC -4)
Having read a lot of supposition and vague references over the last 6 months in the mainstream press and new media about Omar having less power than he did previously (I recall articles with snippets like “Omar used to just say yes or no, now he tells us he has to call us back”) I believe Omar has been stripped of some autonomy, his “I have full autonomy” press conference notwithstanding.
So I agree with your suggestion that Bob Melvin, as well as guys like Terry Collins and others, were brought in by people above Minaya in the food chain. Whether those people even ran those hirings by Minaya (“Omar, what do you think?”) or not is probably not relevant.
So given that I believe Minaya was stripped of some authority and was not responsible for these recent hirings, I can easily envision a scenario in which Minaya keeps his job and has a new field manager and/or coach(es) thrust upon him by the same person(s) who hired Melvin and Collins. For public consumption this next manager would be “Minaya’s” but in reality it probably won’t be.
stickguy
5/19/2010-11:38am at 11:38 am (UTC -4)
I agree. If the big shakeup comes son, expect all new coaches (well, maybe hale or jauss stay on), and quite likely Omar getting a new title (Sr. advisor, something like that) and assigned to scouting in the caribbean or some s=uch thing. THey already got Ricco, that dude (former GM) from the Reds, and of course, Jeffy on board to cover as GM.
Actually, isn’t Omar titled as more than just GM? I can see the duties getting split up that way (someone to focus just on the trade/signing/get players end, and someone else to run the operations part including medical staff).
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/19/2010-11:35am at 11:35 am (UTC -4)
4.79 managers.
ceetar
5/19/2010-11:41am at 11:41 am (UTC -4)
the .79 being Manuel?
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/19/2010-11:58am at 11:58 am (UTC -4)
I hope….
darknova306
5/19/2010-11:28am at 11:28 am (UTC -4)
That’s all well and good, Grave, but I’d personally prefer to lose with a manager that doesn’t give away needless outs, sit hot bats, put scrubs *cough*Jacobs*cough* in cleanup, horrendously mismanage the bullpen, etc. Jerry is a dope.
GravediggerHebner
5/19/2010-12:10pm at 12:10 pm (UTC -4)
He may very well be a dope. I just hope everyone who thinks he is a dope also realizes that his being removed from his job is unlikely to result in any noteworthy improvement to the team in and of itself and I am relieved to read that you have this in mind.
darknova306
5/19/2010-12:19pm at 12:19 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, I have no expectation that replacing Jerry would result in the team becomming consistent winners. I just want to see the in-game jidiocy stopped.
Also, my opinion is that the team isn’t as bad as the last 17 games, but also isn’t as good as that 10 game homestand. There are definitely parts of the team that are underperforming, like the offense, so maybe some different voices could help, even just a little bit, with getting them to start approaching their career norms.
metsfan4decades
5/19/2010-10:59am at 10:59 am (UTC -4)
You know, if you look at prior years stats only for several – like Reyes, Wright, Bay, then you could make a case that several are under performing. Not that there is no talent and this is a less .500 team.
Put the under performing regulars, starting the season with the likes of Jacobs and Cat for example (Omar’s decisions) and Jerry’s lineups and in game decisions and you have a less than .500 team.
The only thing going in that was a big question mark was the SP and to a lesser extent the BP (several unknowns). The SP has answered that ? with a negative and the BP is better than was advertised. Unfortunately, between Omar’s decisions, Jerry’s decisions, under performers and negative SP, the only bright spot was the BP which is now overworked.
Put it all together, you have what we’re watching right now.
I don’t think there is any easy answer because so many had/have a hand in what’s going on right now.
fongy2
5/19/2010-11:08am at 11:08 am (UTC -4)
Indeed!
Good post, but I’ll ask as I have for a couple yrs now,
WHO exactly has been in charge?
Who has acquired, drafted, developed players? Been in charge of hiring everyone else
who helps in the acquitions,
drafting and development of
the players, who has hired the ML staffs,everyone from Mgr down to clubhouse assistants??
Who has traded,fired and replaced Assistants,Mgrs,Coaches,players
and Office personel for six+
yrs now,spending over a Billion dollars of team revenue
while doing so??…Only to produce the current product we
currently have?…Yes…It’s
Omar Minaya!
When exactly does the Wilpons say “ENOUGH”. “Sorry Omar” “We
love ya BUT this is not what
we’re paying for”….When???/
metsfan4decades
5/19/2010-11:18am at 11:18 am (UTC -4)
Good questions…..
I’ll never understand why Omar was given a contract extension in the middle of Sep before the end of that season. Obviously, the Wilpons felt that strongly about him. And what does that tell you???
fongy2
5/19/2010-11:24am at 11:24 am (UTC -4)
I know,I know.
But really enough is enough.
I mean doesn’t it seem to you
that the problems here a far deeper than
Jerry as Mgr?
Its just to easy to scapegoat the
Mgr.See:The royals,Hillman
gets the axe after 2yrs?
I must say though that I think the Wilpons,including Fred are likely more concerned about the fact that it looks like no one’s in the park spending money than whether we win a championship or just”play meaningful games in September”.
stickguy
5/19/2010-11:31am at 11:31 am (UTC -4)
fongy, I am far from an omar apologist. I don’t think he is as bad as some make him out to be, but I also don’t think he has been particularly good. ANd I also don’t know if he is to be blamed for some of the side show aspects of the team, as opposed to the woners that ser the mess up (and from soem of Steve Philips comments, it certainly sounds like the crazy structure the wilpons put n place, combined with silver spoon boy playing boss, have a lot to do with it).
But, since Jeffy seems to be keeping him on, best I can hpe for with that is they change roles (hide him) maybe.,
but right now, mid season, the GM is less important than the guys on the field, and that is something that can be changed, so most people focus on the low hanging fruit.
so it might be fair to say that Omar did not give Jerry as much talent as he could have (but given what was otu there, he just might have), but it is also fair to say that Jerry has more than most managers to wirk with, and seems to have gotten less out of it. So Omar’s ROI is pretty low.
metsfan4decades
5/19/2010-11:49am at 11:49 am (UTC -4)
Unless, of course, the GM is responsible for putting the guys on the field…..
stickguy
5/19/2010-11:34am at 11:34 am (UTC -4)
on another topic, saw in the philly papaer today that the Mets are giving away the big $$ seats behind the plate this weekend. I guess since the yankee games are on national TV, they don’t want the country seeing all the empties back there?
supposedly they are giving them to former season ticket holders, I guess as some sort of enticement to become current holders again!
I think they would be better off upgrading people that have kept their seats this year as a reward, but hey, I’m not in charge.
ceetar
5/19/2010-11:39am at 11:39 am (UTC -4)
The Yankees have been, and are still I believe, doing this too. So it’s not really something to harp on.
GravediggerHebner
5/19/2010-11:59am at 11:59 am (UTC -4)
Yes even Yankee kissup Mike Francesa admits the Yankees have failed to sell their “best” seats (the front few rows right behind home plate that are constantly on camera during broadcasts) and has been giving them away on his show recently.
ceetar
5/19/2010-12:10pm at 12:10 pm (UTC -4)
he’s been giving them aweay all season, and apparently couldn’t get Mets tickets of a similar ilk to give away.
Since opening the stadium the Yankees have lowered the prices to 15% of their original value.
metsfan4decades
5/19/2010-11:51am at 11:51 am (UTC -4)
Give them away? Nice. Wonder if I can get in on that Giveaway…
And Ceetar’s right – I did read the Yankees are doing something similar. Not sure who they all are giving them to put sounds like they’ve got the same mindset.
metsfan4decades
5/19/2010-11:55am at 11:55 am (UTC -4)
What did I predict in the Dugout last night?
It didn’t take long for the Trade David Wright posts to start circulating….
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/394108-the-wright-time-for-a-trade
trs86
5/19/2010-12:05pm at 12:05 pm (UTC -4)
Good golly that’s a stupid article. Like trading David Wright for Clay Buchholz and Daniel Bard would do ANYTHING to help this group win. So a team that can’t hit, we will take it’s best hitter off.
If anything Wright needs help. Matt Cerrone nailed it: However, for the second straight season, he’s on an island all by himself. Jason Bay, ‘the Power Bat in Left Field,’ is on pace to hit five home runs this season – FIVE – with just 60 or so RBI. Jose Reyes gets on base just once per game, if that. Jeff Francoeur might hit 20 HR, while hitting .220. And I have no idea if or when Carlos Beltran will ever be back. So, there is Wright, two games below .500 and again in last place, this time surrounded by an overachieving catcher, a singles-only hitting second baseman, two All Stars not pulling their weight, two fourth outfielders and a rookie. I hate to make excuses for a guy on pace to again join the 30–30 club, but I don’t blame him for being depressed.
GravediggerHebner
5/19/2010-12:16pm at 12:16 pm (UTC -4)
I agree. I think/hope/believe Davis is a part of that help that Wright needs. But I don’t see Bay being replaced, he’s gonna have to figure it out or have it figured out for him. And perhaps some loose form of a Francoeur/Carter platoon may help a little bit.
But sadly, there is no immediate help coming anywhere. It’s going to have to come through the improved performance of the people already here unless the team does something completely shocking to and unforeseen by me with RF or 2B. I see no other even remote possibilities to upgrade any other positions.
GravediggerHebner
5/19/2010-12:17pm at 12:17 pm (UTC -4)
I almost forgot. I didn’t even click on the link when I noticed it went to “Bleacher Report.” I have yet to read anything insightful there, what I have read has been so universally uninformed that I just stopped clicking on their stuff.
trs86
5/19/2010-12:34pm at 12:34 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed. They purposely publish garbage for shock value.
metsfan4decades
5/19/2010-2:23pm at 2:23 pm (UTC -4)
I normally don’t read their blog either. I couldn’t resist when I saw the tag for trading Wright……
stickguy
5/19/2010-12:21pm at 12:21 pm (UTC -4)
I agree that bay should at some point get in a groove and start jacking some HRs. And Davis profiles as more of a true power guy also. Those 2 getting on a little tear will help.
The RF platoon may be happening already. But I am with you that it would be shocking to see an outside move made for a new rf this seaosn.
2B is interesting. I actually think if the deal was there, the Mets would do it, but what 2B with any power is liely to be available (unless murphy somehow blossoms in AAA, or Havens absolutley explodes and gets an early call, neither of which I see happening).
Oh, and of course, Beltran could finally come back.
The Mental aspect (stop trying to be A Rod) is one reason I would not mind seeing Wright in the 2 hole. Think Jeter, with more power and speed. His natural strengths as a complete hitter (like when he came up) would play very well in the 2 hole.
GravediggerHebner
5/19/2010-12:37pm at 12:37 pm (UTC -4)
Wright batting 2nd huh. Thanks for putting the image of Wright laying down sacrifice bunts in my head. And of course as the sequence of him doing that played out in my head he laid down 2 foul bunts, then struck out.
njstuckintx
5/19/2010-12:46pm at 12:46 pm (UTC -4)
Hopefully it was at least swinging.
GravediggerHebner
5/19/2010-12:53pm at 12:53 pm (UTC -4)
It was, at a slider that was low and outside. He missed it by a foot and his eyes appeared to close as he swung at it.
njstuckintx
5/19/2010-1:00pm at 1:00 pm (UTC -4)
If his foot was as far in the bucket as Ike’s was against Wagner last night, I think we are having the same vision.
metsfan4decades
5/19/2010-2:24pm at 2:24 pm (UTC -4)
Lately they’ve been showing Wright’s swing in slow motion sometimes when he strikes out. And lately, I’ve been noticing he’s closing his eyes sometimes when he swings. Don’t know if that’s standard but I tend to think not.
stickguy
5/19/2010-12:51pm at 12:51 pm (UTC -4)
I honestly think all the sacrifice bunting is because it is Castillo in the 2 hole. Even Jerry wouldn’t do it if he had a real hitter like Wright in that spot.
I think.
trs86
5/19/2010-12:37pm at 12:37 pm (UTC -4)
I can’t believe that Jason Bay will finish with less than 15 HR and I expect 20+. Davis for this year who knows? Scary part is that history tells us that Barajas won’t continue this either. So we have to hope that history catches up with Bay before it does with Rod.
stickguy
5/19/2010-12:13pm at 12:13 pm (UTC -4)
yes, this is a bad idea. and like TRS, I agree with Cerrone on this one. So what that Wright might not be Pujols, or capable of carrying a team on his back with no support. Really, no normal player can do that.
Does DW have some issues right now? sure. Do I think they are curable? Oh yeah. SOme combination of a mental break, fresh approach (his and coaches), and of course, getting someone to take some of the load off of him should do it.
MC mentioned the Jordan/pippen combo, and that might be accurate. MJ was a 1 man wrecking crew force of nature, and pippen was called a “2nd banana”. But, that 2nd banana was also one of the top 50 players ever in the NMA, and the Bulls don’t win the titles without him.
Hopefully much of David’s issues are tied into trying to carry the HR load, and the Mets eventually get some more HR hitters (or he just says screw it and stops caring about the long ball). WOrking back toward a spray hitting approach, cutting down the swing with 2 strikes, going to RF, etc. is really all mental.
GravediggerHebner
5/19/2010-12:20pm at 12:20 pm (UTC -4)
Ideally the 2nd banana should be Reyes, but right now Reyes is closer to slipping on the banana peel like in an old B&W movie than he is to 2nd banana.
stickguy
5/19/2010-12:23pm at 12:23 pm (UTC -4)
reyes is the 3rd banana. I am not much for basket ball, so I can’t remember who else was on the bulls, but Reyes would be the point guard that supplies energy, wrecks come havoc, and occasionally goes off for a big game. But mostly lets the big guns do the hard work.
trs86
5/19/2010-12:36pm at 12:36 pm (UTC -4)
Does that make Barajas Bill Wennington?
GravediggerHebner
5/19/2010-12:38pm at 12:38 pm (UTC -4)
Steve Kerr?
And for TRS, I like your Wennington suggestion but I was thinking Luc Longley. Either way.
trs86
5/19/2010-12:43pm at 12:43 pm (UTC -4)
Hey at least we did not go Will Perdue. Maybe BJ Armstrong for Reyes?
GravediggerHebner
5/19/2010-12:54pm at 12:54 pm (UTC -4)
Nice, much better than Kerr as Reyes on pretty much every level.
metsfan4decades
5/19/2010-12:21pm at 12:21 pm (UTC -4)
Agree with all you guys above.