First off, I want to apologize for not getting these things out sooner. It doesnt help that life got in the way right when the Mets go off on a tear lol, talk about getting exposed. Either way, im sure it will be awesome to relive these past few games in one post, get you fix with your Man Up Award winners for the last few games.
TUESDAY
With the maturing of Pelfrey, Santana has been treated like chop liver. No run support and lately has not been able to get out of his own way but when Johan feels the love of run support, he straightened out quick. Johan didnt start out great but when he got that run support, as Manny Acta can attest to:
“As soon as he got the lead, he turned it up a notch,†Indians manager Manny Acta said. “That’s what good pitchers do.â€
Johan Santana is a good pitcher that has been a bit overshadowed by Big Mike Pelfrey this year but im sure Santana does not mind as now he doesnt have to carry the pitching staff on his shoulders alone anymore.
Placido Polanco…really…Wright is the NL leading RBI man…that means he has more RBI’s than guys like Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun, Jayson Werth, Ryan Howard, Hanley Ramirez, Yadier Molina, Chase Utley, Jason Heyward, Shane Victorino…basically anyone who is a lead vote on the allstar team right now. Placido Polanco…really…
HONORABLE MENTION
Ike Davis for his 2-4 night and that homer that put the Mets on top
Jeff Francoeur for his 2-4 night
Pedro Feliciano for doing what he does best…so underrated.
WEDNESDAY
Whats up with that mound in Cleveland, anyway Jonathon Niese was pretty damn good. His hook was not working for him as he would have liked but the mark of a good pitcher, especially a “feel” pitcher like Niese is adjustments. Niese used alot of cutters, fastballs and changeups to keep this a 3 run game over 7 innings. I dont know if this is a “Rod Barajas effect” or not but this kid has come in and done one hellova job in the rotation this year. The kid is 4-2 and keeps his team in the game. I cant wait for the day he puts everything together because he has great stuff and when he masters how to throw them for strikes in any count…ill let you finish that one.
Angel Pagan…a classic example of a guy given a chance to play everyday and a prime example of MANING UP! Going into the 2010 season, alot of people picked the Mets as division winners before the news broke that Beltran would be having surgery and most likely be out unitl the All Star Break. With Beltran gone, the perception of Angel was so high that the Mets made a deal to bring in Gary Matthews Jr! 3 months later and so much for that school of thought. Angel has proven himself as an everyday player. Maybe not superstar status but he is one of those guys who is intense, doesnt give an at bat away and has played an awesome center field. Pagan, who spent alot of time with Beltran has done a great job in his absence and he deserves alot more attention than what he gets.
HONORABLE MENTION
Elmer Dessens for his 2 innings of work to close this one out and secure a win
Ike Davis for his 2-5 game and Jeff Francoeur for his 2-4 game
David Wright for his 2 RBI’s in this game
THURSDAY
I love any action picture of R.A. Dickey, he look soo intense lol. Dickey tied a club record for a starter by winning his first five decisions. Dickey is one guy with alot of cojones man. It seemed every time he was about to blow up and have an Ollie moment, it was just an opportunity to show how much he is NOT like the guy he is replacing and found a way to get out of the jam unscathed. Whether it be via strike out or some other means of an out, this guy is legit. I read on Metsblog that the Mets aquired Dickey the same day the Yankees got Vazquez from the Braves and at that time this caused alot of jokes for the Mets….cause you know, the Yankees got the better deal on that one 
It was the Jose Reyes show on Thursday Night. Jose went 3-5 with an RBI and a run. Jose seemed to be everywhere on Thursday. If it was an important hit, Jose got it. If it was a crazy rediculous play on the field, it was Jose’s glove. Everyday it seems Reyes is getting back into his all star form and its been fun to watch(this part at least). Dont look now but his average is hovering at .270 and he has been hitting the cover off the ball. He has shown to have regained that explosiveness on the base paths that made him a threat when he was on. The Professor is back on the clock, start taking notes Major League Baseball.
HONORABLE MENTION
Ike Davis with another 2-5 game with 2 RBI’s
Chris Carter and Angel Pagan with their 2-4 games
Ruben Tejada with his 2-3 game
Elmer Dessens for his scoreless inning of work
Francisco Rodriguez for his 15th save of the year
FRIDAY
With Godzilla(Hideki Matsui) out of New York, a new beast from the east has emerged. Hisanori Takahashi brought it to the Yankees on Friday and they had no answer for him. Takahashi dueled for 6 innings against a Money Bought tough lineup in the Yankees, no matter what a “slump” they are in. The 35 year old “rookie” is 3-1 in 6 starts since being slotted into the rotation. I know many people feel Takahashi should return to the pen at some point but to me, thats going to be one tough decision to make considering what this guy has brought to the team so far. Takahashi won me over in that 20 inning game in St Louis with his 3 strike outs…and he has continued to impress everyone who knows about him.
You wanna talk about Manning up! Angel Pagans double to score Ruben Tejada and Jose Reyes is a prime example of manning up. Angel is sitting on a .292 average(leading the Mets) and is making any information about Beltrans return become slightly insignificant. I dont know how Jerry will have the cojones to take this guy out of a lineup but someone is going to be the odd man out, Angel definitely has gotten the message and has done a ridiculously good job filling in for Carlos Beltran. Pagan is AWESOME…period.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Jose Reyes had a 2-5 game with an RBI
Jeff Francoeur had a 2-4 game
Elmer Dessens, Pedro Feliciano, Raul Valdez and Francisco Rodriguez for combining to completely shut the door on the Defending World Series Champion Yankees
37 comments
njstuckintx
6/19/2010-10:54am at 10:54 am (UTC -4)
May the Man Up onslaught continue! Now, if we can get Bay a couple of Man Up’s that will bode well for us all!
rustyjr
6/19/2010-10:56am at 10:56 am (UTC -4)
yes it will – damn today is a good matchup !
GravediggerHebner
6/19/2010-11:44am at 11:44 am (UTC -4)
Was Jose Reyes especially celebratory last night? I have no recollection, so either I wasn’t looking or I didn’t think he was doing anything unusual.
When Francesa referred this morning to “Jose’s antics” I didn’t know what he was talking about and I was pleased when he quickly added “Yankee fans you can’t get upset about this because Joba does it to” and I would say throw Cervelli into that mix.
But what really caught me off guard was later he had Keith Hernandez on and Mike asked Keith “do you think this team continues and gets into 20 games over territory or do you think they slip and wind up fighting to stay around .500″ to which Keith replied “you’re really putting me on the spot” so Mike rephrased it to say “just generally what do you think the season holds” and Keith said “I’m worried about what other teams think about the antics. I know in my day if Jose had done what he did last night that the first pitch of his first at bat today he would be on his butt, pardon my language but he’s pissing other teams off.”
I was very surprised to hear this especially in answer to a general question about how Keith thought the season might unfold for the Mets.
Right as I type this Keith is gone now and Mike is saying that Reyes is “the polarizing figure” in the sport, saying “the Phillies hate the Mets, the Marlins hate the Mets, everybody hates the Mets. At some point you get a little old for that stuff and Reyes may be getting there.”
njstuckintx
6/19/2010-11:58am at 11:58 am (UTC -4)
Which is kind of funny cause the 86′ Mets weren’t saints when it came to that at all either. Keith being Keith, I guess.
oleosmirf
6/19/2010-12:10pm at 12:10 pm (UTC -4)
well keith should know that this isn’t 86 b/c this new generation of american players have been brought up in a society that promotes “good sportsmanship” and “fair play” and “participation trophies”
the days of guys getting beamed are over…
metsfan4decades
6/19/2010-12:14pm at 12:14 pm (UTC -4)
A couple of things:
I saw that ’86 season. It was a different time, a different era. However, that ’86 team, Keith included, did their fair share of that era’s ‘celebrations’ both on and off the field. They were nothing, if not arrogant. That’s why most of the league hated them. If you go back to the 40′s and 50′s you’ll see clips of games where catchers gave a the pitcher a handshake on his complete game no hitter or 1 hit shutout.
Today’s team is a product of the era as well. That being said, we all know Reyes shows emotion more often than not. When things are going well, like him winding up on 2nd, he’s all about ‘All Right, Man’, clapping his hands together and pointing at the Met dugout with that big wide smile on his face. He’s not showing the other team up, IMO, he’s just excited and an excited Jose isn’t going to be an stoic guy running the bases.
As Francesa said, Joba does the fist pumping all the time on the mound. Krod does the same, pointing to the sky after every save. Anyone that knows that story knows KRod is acknowledging his grandmother who passed away, the woman who raised him and was the one constant in his life.
I’ll agree there is that crossing of the line sometimes. I just don’t happen to think Reyes is guilty of that.
oleosmirf
6/19/2010-12:34pm at 12:34 pm (UTC -4)
even if he does cross the line…i dont see what impact it has on winning and losing games.
Kingman 26
6/19/2010-12:46pm at 12:46 pm (UTC -4)
Why give opponents an extra piece of incentive and motivation?
The Marlins are a classic example—Hanley is a headcase slacker, and Jose’s antics CLEARLY give Hanley a reason to play harder when he might not.
When the Marlins and the Nats are out of the race in Sept and we are in the race, why give teams who very well might be mailing it in and waiting eagerly for the offseason a reason to care and play harder? Why wake sleeping dogs?
How can anyone dispute the absolute obviousness of this?
metsfan4decades
6/19/2010-1:22pm at 1:22 pm (UTC -4)
I just don’t happen to think the Mets should be concerned about who or who not might not like them.
If teams should need an ‘incentive’ to play their best baseball, then shame on them for not playing up to their potential during the rest of the season and with the rest of the teams.
Let the other teams give it their best shot. If the Mets are as good as they believe they are, it just should not matter.
Kingman 26
6/19/2010-12:44pm at 12:44 pm (UTC -4)
What the 86 Mets did was nothing remotely close to Jose’s nonsense.
Yes, I love Jose and have been following him since the low minors. Yes I know we have been through this again and again. Jose is a great talent, a leadoff hitter (I was wrong to support him batting 3rd), a catalyst, and will be leading the way with Wright when we win the title next year.
But people who suggest that the 86 Mets’ behavior was in any way analogous to Jose’s antics simply either did not watch the 86 Mets or have poor memories.
No one did silly asinine dances for early inning runs.
Their curtain calls were for the fans and every one was demanded by the fans. The curtain calls were not self-indulgent nonsense which had nothing to do with the fans.
Fighting the other teams a la the 86 Mets is the opposite of Jose’s antics–the ONE TIME Jose was involved in a fight against the Marlins, he ran behind Alomar Sr and let a 65 year old man take the punch.
His antics are silly and unnecessary and childish and not remotely analogous to the 86 Mets. If Jose started bunting for hits almost every day like he should, that would not just annoy the other team, but actually might contribute to success ON THE FIELD, rather than in his one-man daily nonsense competition. Like when he dances off third base to distract the pitcher–THAT is a great way to annoy the other team, as it actually might positively affect on-field results while pissing off the opponent.
Keith says it. Keith was a leader of two title teams. Keith was the epitome of a player who knew the game and was universally respected. (Except by Whitey Herzog, in the biggest mistake of his career.) Every team in our division says it.
And Oleo, while your comments are right on the money, they are irrelevant here. Who else in baseball acts like Jose? Not Victorino. Maybe Joba, but Joba is a joke. I hate that Jose is seen that way.
LET’S GO METS!!!!!
oleosmirf
6/19/2010-1:01pm at 1:01 pm (UTC -4)
so soon have we forgotten that Keith was also suspended from baseball for his cocaine use…
Jose’s feiry personality has a direct influence on his teams play and i could care less if Keith likes it or not…
i see nothing wrong with what Jose does and if the other teams get offended so be it…
Kingman 26
6/19/2010-1:07pm at 1:07 pm (UTC -4)
What did Keith’s coke use have to do with his or his team’s on-field performance?
And is it better to let the Marlins and Nats stay sleeping and slacking in key late-season games or give them a reason to play hard?
metsfan4decades
6/19/2010-1:27pm at 1:27 pm (UTC -4)
Again, if teams need a reason like that to ‘play hard’, then shame on them. Maybe if they played hard every game, their outcome would be different.
metsfan4decades
6/19/2010-1:26pm at 1:26 pm (UTC -4)
I’m in agreement with Oleo here.
Why should the other teams, the other players give two hoots less what Jose is or is not doing? Maybe they should pay a little more attention to their own house and a lot less attention to the Mets house. If they did, they might beat the Mets and that will say all they want to say about their feelings of the NY Mets.
Jeeze, when did MLB turn into a tea party with pinkies out and ‘please’ and ‘thank you’?
Kingman 26
6/19/2010-1:35pm at 1:35 pm (UTC -4)
“Jeeze, when did MLB turn into a tea party with pinkies out and ‘please’ and ‘thank you’?”
Never!
Come on, you folks act as though there is no middle ground here!
I LOVE when Met pitchers throw inside and even hit batters when necessary. I LOVED and vividly remember all of the 86 team’s on-field brawls. (And was even at the game when Knight attacked Niedenfuer.)
I LOVE aggressive, expressive play, and always will, but the way Jose acts just is unique and uniquely silly.
Mr North Jersey
6/19/2010-3:24pm at 3:24 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t agree so I guess we will agree to disagree cause this conversation will get no one anywhere.
metsfan4decades
6/19/2010-12:16pm at 12:16 pm (UTC -4)
Anyone else notice the theme looking at these Man Up Awards all together? It’s not just one guy carrying the team. It’s a collective effort. Up and down the lineup guys are getting it done. Each night another pitcher has stepped up to the mound, with or without his best stuff, and got the job done.
A very well rounded team indeed, clicking on just about all cylinders right now. If Bay would get going, the lineup will be a force to be reckoned with.
stickguy
6/19/2010-12:32pm at 12:32 pm (UTC -4)
from what i saw last night, Jose smiled a lot and clapped his hands. maybe some high 5s in the dugout.
Smacks of media sensationalism to try and drum up conflict and a story where one does not exist.
and you know much of what MF does, especially when the Mets are doing well, is to say something to piss off the met fans to get them to call in and argue. You know he isn’t taking calls to discuss positives about the team.
and I don’t care what the marlins (who have plenty of their own problems) or the phillies think.
the Marlins have hanley, which disqualifies them from discussing any other player in MLB. and the phillies have Vicky, the biggest showboat and punk in the league.
Kingman 26
6/19/2010-12:47pm at 12:47 pm (UTC -4)
Biggest showboat after Jose.
And again, late in the season, why the hell give the Marlins and the Nats motivation to show up and hustle when they otherwise might not?
Just plain dumb.
njstuckintx
6/19/2010-12:55pm at 12:55 pm (UTC -4)
I find it hard to believe that barring “inspiration to play” that the Marlins, Nats, et. all are going to play pacifistic with the absence of “met’s showboating”. That’s just a slow day in the media trying to make a couple of webhits or newspapers sold.
prismo
6/19/2010-12:58pm at 12:58 pm (UTC -4)
So you think the Mets should play scared? Because if you’re masking your emotions and excitement for the game (a kid’s game, by the way) in order to keep other teams unmotivated, then that’s exactly what you’re doing.
metsgirl31
6/19/2010-1:00pm at 1:00 pm (UTC -4)
+1
Kingman 26
6/19/2010-1:11pm at 1:11 pm (UTC -4)
- 10.
A rare really silly comment from you Prismo.
The 86 Mets did not act like Jose. Did they play scared? Did the 69 Mets? The 96-00 Yanks?
Totally irrelevant and REAL silly.
I loved the 86 curtain calls and they infuriated the opposition. But they were for the fans.
Barry Sanders when asked why he did not act like a jackass after a touchdown said that he liked to act as though he “had been there before.”
I love great, aggressive play, and I worship everything about the 86 Mets. They didn’t act like Jose.
And MLB is not a kid’s game—it is played by rich, grown men.
Reality is cool.
metsfan4decades
6/19/2010-1:31pm at 1:31 pm (UTC -4)
This: ‘And MLB is not a kid’s game—it is played by rich, grown men.’ – I couldn’t agree more with.
So in that respect, maybe the ‘other’ teams should grew the hell up also and start worrying more about the state of their own team and less about the state of certain players on another team. In my humble opinion, those complaining just sound like big whiners.
This is just all a lot to do about nothing, IMO.
metsfan4decades
6/19/2010-1:31pm at 1:31 pm (UTC -4)
And by those complaining, I mean the players themselves, Kingman – not you…..
Kingman 26
6/19/2010-2:02pm at 2:02 pm (UTC -4)
I know MF4D.
You have never come even remotely close to offending me and I cannot imagine you ever would.
I love aggressive play, fearless play, etc and to me the 86 team was the epitome of that.
oleosmirf
6/19/2010-1:03pm at 1:03 pm (UTC -4)
so you are telling me they wouldnt have the same motivation if they could knock off the phillies???
bulletin board material is a glorified media term they use so they have more things to talk about…if you think players try harder b/c Jose dances and does handshakes then you are simply naive…
Kingman 26
6/19/2010-1:37pm at 1:37 pm (UTC -4)
“…if you think players try harder b/c Jose dances and does handshakes then you are simply naive…”
Wow, you could not be wronger here.
If you think other teams don’t use things like this as motivation, boy are YOU ridiculously naive.
The Marlins and the Nats don’t get extra motivated to beat us? The Marlins don’t show that on AND off the field?
Come on.
oleosmirf
6/19/2010-1:07pm at 1:07 pm (UTC -4)
its funny that Jose’s antics only come up when the Mets are winning…when we sucked it was not an issue.
its all about them being pissed off that they gave up a hit/run and having to watch Jose celebrate it…
metsfan4decades
6/19/2010-1:55pm at 1:55 pm (UTC -4)
Two HRs for Mr. Reyes.
If trying to reign in his enthusiasm for the game will result in less than we’re seeing from him this month, than I say the other teams better get used to it. We need a healthy Reyes, all the way around.
If the Yankees have a problem with Jose, maybe they ought to think about making some pitches that won’t result in them going over the fences.
Kingman 26
6/19/2010-2:00pm at 2:00 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, but even though he acted like, say Albert Pujols or Hank Aaron after the first HR, he still managed to hit a 2nd one….
Imagine if, when he was talking to himself in the dugout after the first HR, he was saying something like “I am great. Screw you losers and your obnoxious front-runner fans. I am going to kill you this series, and I am not even going to give you the satisfaction of getting pissed at my dances. I am a man and a great player and I can beat you dancing and beat you not dancing.”
How cool would that be?
metsfan4decades
6/19/2010-2:08pm at 2:08 pm (UTC -4)
LOL – not sure I understand what you’re saying but it just doesn’t sound like Jose.
Beginning of ’09, when the media was trying to drum up the ye old ‘we’re the team to beat’ controversy again, Jose was quoted as saying something like ‘hey, they’re the WS. Obviously, they’re the team to beat this year. Don’t know why they’re still talking about us. They won it all’.
Just doesn’t sound like a guy who has an unhealthy, ego driven attitude towards other teams. That’s probably why I don’t have a problem with Reyes, even though I do dislike some other players. For me, it’s the ego thing that annoys me, the ‘I’m great and you’d better just deal with it’ type of attitude.
Kingman 26
6/19/2010-2:12pm at 2:12 pm (UTC -4)
LOL! I think we are probably a lot closer to agreeing (as usual) than either of us might think!
I don’t think Jose is a selfish arrogant player at all, I really don’t.
I really, really like him and have since he was in the low minors.
Gotta go MF4D, and please say hi to everyone in the dugout trashing my opinion on this!
metsfan4decades
6/19/2010-2:33pm at 2:33 pm (UTC -4)
LOL – We just made a passing conversation when the game started about Jose – and only b/c he hit that leadoff HR. All had their opinion and I commented I was having a ‘debate’ with you on that on this thread. From there though we moved on b/c it was quickly becoming apparent Pelf wasn’t gonna make this easy today and we’re getting nervous out streak might be coming to an end…
Have a good one!
GravediggerHebner
6/19/2010-3:09pm at 3:09 pm (UTC -4)
Much broader topic in all respects I know, but for what it’s worth Jose didn’t make the list of The Most Disliked People In Sports.
Kingman 26
6/19/2010-6:02pm at 6:02 pm (UTC -4)
Excellent list; agreed with just about every choice.
Especially Terrell Owens and Ben Rothli-slimebag.
Mr North Jersey
6/19/2010-3:18pm at 3:18 pm (UTC -4)
I see Reyes clapping of his hands is stirring people up again.
All I will say is that some like it some don’t those that don’t get used to it because he is not going to change and more power to him for being true to himself.
This debate about him is so old right now that you have to wonder if people believe by continuing to bring it up somehow goes to further make their point?
If people want to call what he does childish then go ahead and do so. I guess everyone has their own variations of what is childish or not so arguing one person’s view of what constitutes being childish will result in most likely just agreeing to disagree.