After yesterday’s wait and see approach to see if changes were going to be made after a dreadful West Coast trip. The Mets decided at the end of the day to keep the status qua. Read this quote from an article by Steve Popper where Minaya says he believes in this team.
“I do believe we are going to bounce back,†Minaya said. “I think we’re going to be in contention here throughout the year. That’s why you want to get yourself over .500. Right now we’re one [game] over.“
“I believe in this team, believe it has the ability. We play good against good teams. We played the Yankees and we beat them. Different teams we played, we beat them. We have the ability to do that. I think we have time.â€
Minaya says the Mets have to get themselves over .500 and with rumors that they are in a “wait and see mode” not wanting to trade prospects when they are not really in it but not really out of it, either. The next 6 games look to be what may decide how deep the Mets invest in trades this season or not. Below are the Mets standings in the NL East & Wild card as of today.
| NL East | W | L | GB | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Braves | ATL | 57 | 41 | .582 | – |
| Philadelphia Phillies | PHI | 53 | 46 | .535 | 4.5 |
| New York Mets | NYM | 50 | 49 | .505 | 7.5 |
| Florida Marlins | FLA | 50 | 49 | .505 | 7.5 |
| Washington Nationals | WSN | 42 | 57 | .424 | 15.5 |
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
| NL WildCard | W | L | GB | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco Giants | SFG | 56 | 44 | .560 | – |
| Cincinnati Reds | CIN | 55 | 46 | .545 | 1.5 |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | LAD | 53 | 46 | .535 | 2.5 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | PHI | 53 | 46 | .535 | 2.5 |
| Colorado Rockies | COL | 51 | 48 | .515 | 4.5 |
| New York Mets | NYM | 50 | 49 | .505 | 5.5 |
With the Mets 7.5 games back and tied for 4th in the NL East and 5.5 games back in the wildcard with 5 teams ahead of them the Mets can not afford to lose any more games in the standings. 4 – 2 over the next 6 games may not be enough to convince the FO to invest in making a deal. It may take them going 5-1 to get back in this thing. Below is the schedule for the next 6 games of all the teams ahead of the Mets in the playoff race.
- ATL next 6 days -3 @ WAS – 3 @ CIN
- PHI next 6 days – 3 vs ARI – 3 @ WAS
- NYM next 6 days -3 vs STL – 3 vs ARI
- FLA next 6 days -3 @ SFG – 3 @ SDP
- SFG next 6 days -3 vs FLA – 3 vs LAD
- CIN next 6 days -2 @ MIL – 3 vs ATL
- LAD next 6 days -3 @ SDP – 3 @ SFG
- Col next 6 days -3 vs PIT – 3 vs CHC
} – 
29 comments
rustyjr
7/27/2010-10:26am at 10:26 am (UTC -4)
Ummm Omar we split the six games with the yanks – with that said – I wish this team would be open &. Honest with the fanbase
Kingman 26
7/27/2010-10:33am at 10:33 am (UTC -4)
Ah, and I wish gin, vodka, bourbon, and pizza had no calories.
Kingman 26
7/27/2010-10:28am at 10:28 am (UTC -4)
“We played the Yankees and we beat them.”
WOW! Desperation has set in.
We also got swept by the DBacks.
Embarrassing, ridiculous thing to say. No to mention meaningless and irrelevant.
This could really wind up worse than the last three seasons combined.
stickguy
7/27/2010-10:40am at 10:40 am (UTC -4)
C’mon Knog, you know Omar is a bit challenged with forming coherent sentences.
beating the yankees was not meant to be an accomplishment in itself, just an indication that the team does have talent buried in there someplace!
ceetar
7/27/2010-10:48am at 10:48 am (UTC -4)
It’s as meaningless and irrelevant as saying we got swept by the Diamondbacks. Which is exactly his point. That the Mets have the talent to play with anyone and they will bounce back from the slump.
metsfan4decades
7/27/2010-10:33am at 10:33 am (UTC -4)
Posted this on end of last post.
Heyman on WFAN right now. He said the Mets shouldn’t give up, they’re not out of it but it’s getting late. Said they have the talent to make a run and getting a SP pitcher and/or 8th inning guy can only help. However, he said it’s all on the offense right now….
stickguy
7/27/2010-10:46am at 10:46 am (UTC -4)
piecing to gether all the stray comments/posts/ideas floating around, my guess is that while no one involved with the team is happy or satisfied, they want to make 100% sure they don’t overreact to a bad west coast trip/ill timed slump (both of which they have had before!)
So, they are giving the team this week to prove that they aren’t as bad as they looked since leaving P.R. (pretty much where all the problems started).
Win this week and look good doing it, and they wil consider themselves in the race.
get beat up on and look bad, while dropping below .500, and they regroup for next year.
Honestly, what is the difference between making moves yesterday and the end of the week?Is it likely to make tha much of a difference?
I also believe now that Omar cashed in his last confidence chip. If this year ends up with the mets as an also ran, then there will be a housecleaning, including Omar (at minimum reassigned to the cornfield).
and finally, like I said before, this team has the talent to make a miracle run, but it will have to be the guys currently on board doing it. A SP upgrade would be nice, but Lilly is not the difference between playoffs and 4th place.
metsfan4decades
7/27/2010-10:48am at 10:48 am (UTC -4)
Omar has more lives than a cat….
ceetar
7/27/2010-10:50am at 10:50 am (UTC -4)
No, but Lily could help. Little bits add up.
These first six games won’t make or break the season, but the 6 after could.
njstuckintx
7/27/2010-10:54am at 10:54 am (UTC -4)
I want to ask if the Mets should still go for Oswalt, cause I know he’s a talent and him being under contract for next year helps to address the SP holes for next year, but I just don’t see it happening. I think I’m becoming jaded. Can’t we win a few and instill some hope again? Please?
ceetar
7/27/2010-11:08am at 11:08 am (UTC -4)
I’m not convinced oswalt is going to be traded, much like every other year it’s rumored.
njstuckintx
7/27/2010-11:13am at 11:13 am (UTC -4)
That’s kind of the sentiment down here as well. They figure he won’t be and everyone is pissed off about it. Alot of calling for change in ownership and GM. Sounds kinda like another situation I hold near and dear to my heart…
metsfan4decades
7/27/2010-10:51am at 10:51 am (UTC -4)
I know when they returned home Barajas was checked out and put on the DL.
I read where Dickey would be checked out also. I haven’t heard a word about his status. I can only hope no news is good news.
Mr North Jersey
7/27/2010-10:54am at 10:54 am (UTC -4)
“R.A. Dickey (leg) reported no soreness after Sunday’s game, and is on track to make his next start Friday.”
-Daily News
metsfan4decades
7/27/2010-11:00am at 11:00 am (UTC -4)
Thanks, jerz.
I’m looking forward to seeing RA throw the Mets first no hitter in franchise history this season –
Mr North Jersey
7/27/2010-11:05am at 11:05 am (UTC -4)
The search for the Mets 1st no-hitter is like the search for BigFoot. You get what looks too be blurred sightings of it but no one has yet to ever capture it.
oleosmirf
7/27/2010-10:52am at 10:52 am (UTC -4)
i’m sorry but i don’t see how this team can make the playoffs with Manuel in charge but since he is here can we at least move Beltran down to at least 6th in the order.
why they expected him to just come in and bat cleanup is crazy. give me Reyes, Castillo, Pagan, Wright, Davis, Bay, Beltran, Thole or Reyes, Pagan, Wright, Davis, Bay, Beltran, Thole, Castillo.
njstuckintx
7/27/2010-10:57am at 10:57 am (UTC -4)
I vote #2. but I’m with you. Beltran out of the cleanup spot.
Mr North Jersey
7/27/2010-11:02am at 11:02 am (UTC -4)
Well if you see Pagan 3rd tonight then Beltran will be out of cleanup spot cause Wright will be batting 4th behind Pagan.
oleosmirf
7/27/2010-11:06am at 11:06 am (UTC -4)
i dont want him batting 5th either. Beltran should be batting no higher than 6th.
ceetar
7/27/2010-11:10am at 11:10 am (UTC -4)
Especially after 4 days off, however, since no one’s hitting. leave him there. It’s the spot he should be in, and I’m reluctant to believe that Bay has a faster track to “Waking up” and being a cleanup hitter than Beltran. Ike should be 6th anyway, he was slumping hard before Beltran returned, and is not exactly hitting at a power-hitting 30+ HR pace..
oleosmirf
7/27/2010-11:26am at 11:26 am (UTC -4)
Beltran hasnt hit a HR in St Lucie or here in NY. The power takes time to develop. When/if his power comes along we can move Beltran up but for now he is rusty and not really hitting. he should not be batting much 6th or 7th.
Unless of course you wanna bat Beltran 2nd. That i could be ok with…
ceetar
7/27/2010-11:27am at 11:27 am (UTC -4)
nobody’s hitting.
Beltran hit two long, and just barely, foul balls. So I wouldn’t call him farther off than anyone else for sure.
Mr North Jersey
7/27/2010-11:30am at 11:30 am (UTC -4)
Your 2 best hitters overall have been Pagan and Wright you have to go with them for now in the 3 and 4 hole with your best leadoff hitter Reyes in the 1 slot everything else do as you wish but you cannot stick tran in 4 slot with him not knowing when and if he will start hitting.
ceetar
7/27/2010-11:49am at 11:49 am (UTC -4)
Also, it’s Carlos Beltran, not Daniel Murphy. He’s going to hit, and it’s not like Ike is launching 3-Run home runs every game.
Mr North Jersey
7/27/2010-12:01pm at 12:01 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t suggest he won’t eventually hit but you can’t let him get his timing back while hitting in the 4 hole.
You have a limited amount of games you have to go with the guys that have done the job for the most part this season and right now Beltran simply is not that guy.
Bay will eventually hit also but you don’t see me suggesting he should bat 4th either.
It is about going with the guys you feel give you the best chance to score runs in those key spots in the lineup. If Manuel feels Beltran is best in the 4 hole we will soon know.
If he is it then so be it but I will continue to stand by you go with those that have done the job the most consistently in 2010.
If I am going to go down then it will be with Pagan and Wright in the key rbi spots in the lineup.
Mr North Jersey
7/27/2010-11:36am at 11:36 am (UTC -4)
this is it the time is now. If Jerry is smart he will play those that have done the job for the most part this season. Beltran may or may not hit but with that brace no one can really say and time is of the essence.
I would bat Tran 2nd myself but it seems Manuel has never liked that idea.
stickguy
7/27/2010-11:42am at 11:42 am (UTC -4)
ultimately THole could be the best fit in the 2 hole.
Hopefully Jerry is on a 1 week reprieve, with the powers that be closely watching him and his moves.
still a chance that the lack of action yesterday does not mean that they won’t do anything mid year, just that they wanted the extra week to decide. Could still do some changes after this homestand.
dirtysanchez
7/27/2010-1:46pm at 1:46 pm (UTC -4)
the better question is…WHO they are facing in these series. I think we are going to be against some tough pitchers in garcia/wainwright. I dont know the other pitcher matchups but if they keep facing aces, we might not be in this too long.