I really should stop torturing myself watching the Mets on the road, especially when it comes down to the rubber game. Ron Darling called the Mets a “Second Division Club” As a baseball fan, I have never seen such a bad road team. Y’know I could come up with 50 ways to improve the Mets but the one thing I can’t do is come up with a solution to how they can play better on the road.Â
How can Jerry take the hit for this? Do you think benching Reyes after making two errors would help the ball club? Hey, nice to see Castillo back to his old form as he was unable to handle a throw from Wright. Does any pitcher believe in throwing inside to Chipper Jones? Pelfrey actually looked like a pitcher, for about 3 innings.
Like I said two days ago, every Met loss will slowly turn Citi Field into a Ghost Town. You know what’s on sale? Tumbleweeds. I’m buying 300 tumbleweeds and just letting them go all over center field.Â
What’s a Ghost Town without them?
39 comments
dirtysanchez
8/5/2010-8:12am at 8:12 am (UTC -4)
Well manuel shouldnt bench reyes for errors…that is counter productive
You cannot be a playoff team without winning on the road…that simple. Im not sure who’s to blame for their road play but when in doubt, baseball has always blamed the manager. That being said, I dont think anyone will lose their job this year. If any firing happens, hopefully it will be in the offseason. The front office threw in the towel a month ago and I guess we are seeing why :/
stickguy
8/5/2010-8:21am at 8:21 am (UTC -4)
I do think still that this team is underperforming based on the available talent. At least, I guess, on the road.
so, IMO, if they are a playoff caliber team at home, but hopeless on the road, this far into the season, that proves I was right (that they have the talent to support a better record).
QED, I but a lot of the blame on Jerry and the keystone koaches. No way should they be this hopeless road vs. home.
Kingman 26
8/5/2010-9:46am at 9:46 am (UTC -4)
Stick my esteemed co-pilot, we have zero offense from half the starting lineup, we have a crapshoot of a rotation behind Johan and Dickey, we have a pretty mediocre pen, and we have an abominable bench. A team with Carter and Hessman is not to be taken seriously.
Gil Hodges managing with Davey Johnson, Earl Weaver, and Billy Martin as bench coaches couldn’t win with this crew.
njstuckintx
8/5/2010-9:47am at 9:47 am (UTC -4)
I doubt Gil would sacrifice bunt at every given opportunity.
Kingman 26
8/5/2010-9:54am at 9:54 am (UTC -4)
I agree. Slappy could ground out instead, while having less than zero range.
Hey, even during my pro-Jerry phase, I vehemently opposed the sac bunts. I hate sac bunts.
But there is just no offense on this team.
It just cannot be all Jerry’s fault. We get zero production from LF, RF with Frenchy, 2B, and C. We get production from 4-5 players in the lineup tops. A few bunts in the overall scheme of things really don’t amount to jack in this crazy pathetic season.
stickguy
8/5/2010-10:01am at 10:01 am (UTC -4)
I understand they are carrying dead wood, but shouldn’t it have been as dead at home as on the road?
the players, and the coaches, never seem prepared for anything. Do they even bother to prep for games?
Kingman 26
8/5/2010-10:09am at 10:09 am (UTC -4)
No, I don’t think they adequately prep for games.
The home/road disparity is maddening.
My best guess is that as time goes by, Citi will be perhaps the best home field advantage in the game.
As the team still largely wins with pitching, defense and speed when they DO win, Citi clearly plays right into this.
At least, that’s the best I can come up with.
dirtysanchez
8/5/2010-9:52am at 9:52 am (UTC -4)
I think we have an under performing offense than zero which is the most fustrating part. They are not this bad…their career numbers prove that. The bench, as aboninable as it may be is much improved from the likes of cattalanoto and gmj.
Kingman 26
8/5/2010-9:58am at 9:58 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, but in 91 PA, Matthews/Cat had TWO RBI and 4 XBH!
Maybe the bench has improved (certainly not much) but it has gone from a F- to a D-.
Cora’s stats are laughable, and if he does get his contract for next year, even I have to say Omar should be, in Kiner’s words, going going gone goodbye.
Nice that when Carter finally got a hit the other day he quickly erased himself by trying to steal and just barely being out by six feet.
dirtysanchez
8/5/2010-10:17am at 10:17 am (UTC -4)
lol f- to a d- is the difference in passing a class bud lol ;p
Carter is hampered by his inability to play solid D and a manager who doesnt manage very well. Carter can hit(89ab’s he has a .258 avg with 2 home runs, 23 hits and 13 rbi’s) and still believe he is an improvement from cat. Cora’s stats are pretty bad but thats why he is a bench player and not a starter…i agree that i hope his contract doesnt vest but thats on omar for such a stupid clause considering castillos injury history.
youngvalerawest
8/5/2010-11:21am at 11:21 am (UTC -4)
Carter has driven in runs in his last two pinch hit appearances and he is the problem, one of which tied a game?
The team has hit .239 .296 .366 on the road and Carter is the guy receiving the ire today?
The guy has 89 at bats and we’ve decided he sucks? Meanwhile you defend a manager who keeps putting Francouer, Barajas and Castillo out to play despite their demonstrably terrible offensive abilities?
In his short sample, Carter has hit 381 .409 .714 w/RISP (21 AB) with 13 RBI. He has hit 375 .405 .575 in 40 AB with runners on. Compare that to the team’s .262 .350 .403 and 259 .336 .407, respectively, and an argument can easily be made that it’s worth trying Carter in Francouer’s usually run producing location in the lineup.
I just don’t understand why Carter, whose role is primarily as one of the last guys on the bench, is repeatedly brought up when discussing the team’s poor makeup. Why beat up a guy who hardly plays when the manager relies heavily upon three guys the whole rest of the world recognizes to suck?
Kingman 26
8/5/2010-11:32am at 11:32 am (UTC -4)
Carter has one RBI since June 24.
After his wonderful hit, he immediately got thrown out trying to steal.
His line is .258/.290/.382.
His last XBH was a 2B on June 29.
And again, both HR and 6 of his 13 RBI came in two AB in mid-June against a horrible, unprepared team.
He has exactly 0 HR and 7 RBI the entire rest of the year.
W/2 outs and RISP, he is 1-for-7. That’s .143.
Late and close he is 6-for-24. That’s .250.
Carter playing at all is a perfect symbol of how weak this team is.
youngvalerawest
8/5/2010-11:39am at 11:39 am (UTC -4)
Meanwhile his line is better than Francouer’s, who has been given 340 at bats (.235 .290 .374).
You’re being incredibly close-minded and judgmental about a guy after 90 at bats, especially a guy who has done nothing but mash in the minor leagues.
I just don’t understand how you’ve drawn such decisive conclusions about a guy who has hardly played — and has been put in a role he has never been in before.
It sounds very much like he did something to you personally.
In any event, the numbers I’ve posted above show that he has at least performed in situations during which he had the opportunity to drive in runs. He is not a leadoff hitter, which is essentially what the buffoon manager uses him as when he usues him as a pinch hitter for the pitcher with no one on base.
Kingman 26
8/5/2010-11:36am at 11:36 am (UTC -4)
Oh, and let’s also not forget, while examining his woeful offense, that he is very slow, is a mediocre fielder, and has a terrible arm.
youngvalerawest
8/5/2010-11:42am at 11:42 am (UTC -4)
With the state of the Mets offense and the abyss that has been occupying RF most of the season, I could care less how he plays defense as long as playing regularly got his bat going.
Anyway, there’s a Web site (I forget the url) that tracks outfield defense and had determined that no almost no other outfielder has allowed more baserunners to advance by missing cut off men and overthrowing bases than has Jeff Francouer.
Give the guy a chance before you make up your mind so clearly, is all I’m saying.
It’s just bizarre how you’ve taken up this campaign against the guy when he hasn’t even had his full cup of coffee.
Kingman 26
8/5/2010-12:06pm at 12:06 pm (UTC -4)
Wanny, I like to think we respect each other a lot, so let’s agree to disagree.
And as I have said, if I am as wrong about him as I was about Dickey and about Pagan’s ability to succeed as an everyday player, I will be the first to gleefully admit it!
youngvalerawest
8/5/2010-12:20pm at 12:20 pm (UTC -4)
I was wrong about those two too… that’s why I’m giving Carter a chance!
ceetar
8/5/2010-11:28am at 11:28 am (UTC -4)
They’ve been playing miserably for a month+ and are at the .500 many people though was their ceiling. So if you’re never as bad as when you’re really bad, chances are they’ll have an above average stretch again. Dickey and Pagan are the only two guys I’d say you’re getting above average from, and Pagan not by that much. Wright and Niese are the only guys I’d say you’re getting roughly what you expected/norm from. So yeah, tons of underperforming.
metsfan4decades
8/5/2010-8:30am at 8:30 am (UTC -4)
There is no one person to blame for what we’re seeing this year. Many share the blame, or IMO, all do. From ownership to Omar to Jerry to his coaches to the players.
Wilpons decided to give Omar another chance.
Omar rolled the dice with MOP and lost. Plus he never seems to get enough complimentary pieces (or better ones) to go with the supposed talent.
Wilpons and/or Omar decided to give Jerry and Co. another chance.
And last night’s game was just ugly. There is no excuse for that level of sloppy play from these guys. It just smacks of desperation. I truly don’t know who is responsible for that. Players themselves, Jerry, coaches…
MF implied that most of the fault goes back to Wilpons. He said Omar is noted as an aggressive GM and there is no doubt he took back trades/acquisitions to the Wilpons who shot them down. IF that is true….Is it a money issue? Is it Jeff thinks he knows more about baseball than Omar does? If he doesn’t trust his GM it’s time to hire one he does trust. Jeff should not be running this team.
MF also said it’s not Jerry’s fault. He can only work with what he’s been given. On that note, I’m just going to say that MF obviously doesn’t watch many Met games and has a distorted view of what the Mets problems really are. He shouldn’t believe everything he reads in the papers….(I would have said online and blogs but hey….in his own words, ‘who reads blogs’?)
dirtysanchez
8/5/2010-8:34am at 8:34 am (UTC -4)
on the last note…while everyone knows i am not a jerry supporter, MF kinda has an arguement. Mets arent giving Jerry much to work with when they insist on keeping oliver perez on the roster and giving jerry a 2b tandem of castillo/cora. Like i said, i still want jerry gone but at the same time, mets kind of gave him a raw deal to begin with.
njstuckintx
8/5/2010-8:59am at 8:59 am (UTC -4)
Ok, I can work with you on providing an artist with the proper tools argument. But you give a knife vs. a brush to Bob Ross and that man is making happy little mistakes and turning them into mountains and trees and landscapes. My point is that if you have an artist, they can work with the tools they are provided (up to a point). Give a house painter a knife, he’s not painting your house. He’s cutting people, gangster style.
metsfan4decades
8/5/2010-9:20am at 9:20 am (UTC -4)
I agree. But you have to admit Jerry’s decisions at times certainly are mind boggling as well….
dirtysanchez
8/5/2010-10:11am at 10:11 am (UTC -4)
totally…and thats why he still should be gone but he has been forced to play short handed the whole year…not an excuse but that argument does have merrit.
Kingman 26
8/5/2010-9:51am at 9:51 am (UTC -4)
“Plus he never seems to get enough complimentary pieces (or better ones) to go with the supposed talent.”
You hit it on the head, and my piece for tomorrow will focus on this.
Again, in 2006, we had Delgado, Floyd, Valentin, LoDuca, Chavez, Sanchez, Bradford, and Oliver.
In 2010, we have Ike, Bay, Slappy, Thole/Barajas, Chris “I Suck” Carter, Valdes, Nieve, Takahashi.
That’s it right there. It’s not The Core, and it’s not the manager; not primarily at least.
It is the poor quality of a large part of the lineup, the terrible back of the pen, and the atrocious bench outside of Blanco.
dirtysanchez
8/5/2010-10:10am at 10:10 am (UTC -4)
blanco isnt that great either bud.
Agreed that the 06 bullpen is probably better than this years bullpen
as far as lineup…probably alot more proven talent in 06, we had alot of vets on that team…we are alot younger this year
Overall we were alot more solid in 06 and they played up to their potential…97 wins prove that. I think this team is missing a pressence in the backstop…i had a piece on it a while back and if you look at every year they were successful for the most part, they had a strong pressence offensive/defensive wise at backstop. Thole is not there yet.
Kingman 26
8/5/2010-10:14am at 10:14 am (UTC -4)
I agree with pretty much all of this.
But compared to Carter, Hessman, and Cora, Blanco might as well be Johnny Bench.
At least he is a major league player, a decent hitter, a good fielder, and apparently is good with pitchers.
The other guys cannot do ANYTHING well.
dirtysanchez
8/5/2010-10:21am at 10:21 am (UTC -4)
yea…blanco is giving you back up catcher stats but for me the backup catchers dont count. Its a necessary roster spot but I never expect numbers from it.
Its not a sexy bench…ill give you that but the Mets dont pick up the right vets to fill up a bench and their minor league system doesnt really have any boppers other THAN carter/hessman. They brought up both of the power their minor league system had to offer. Most teams have crappy benches anyway…
youngvalerawest
8/5/2010-11:23am at 11:23 am (UTC -4)
Blanco has hit well for himself this season. But he has always been an awful hitter in the past.
oleosmirf
8/5/2010-11:03am at 11:03 am (UTC -4)
well next season you should expect Blanco, Evans, Cora/Tejada, Murphy and one more for the bench.
regarding the offense the big question is what they do at 2B. We need a legit player there with some pop. As for the bullpen, Takahashi, Parnell, K-Rod, Feliciano should be guaranteed spots. Acosta and Dessens are welcome back just with no promises. I want to see 1 established RP be given an offer. As for the rotation, we need a #2 SP and we need to resign Dickey.
And can someone please tell Omar that you can’t fill the remaining part of the roster with guys on minor league deals. pay the extra money to get the better player…
njstuckintx
8/5/2010-9:05am at 9:05 am (UTC -4)
On a side note, 2 things on the Rangers sale. If Ryan and Co. have been able to do what they have so far with the restrictions that have been on them, I can’t imagine what they can do without said restrictions. 2nd thing is Mark Cuban is looking for a team to buy… Now that is just dreaming, but can you imagine? Almost unlimited revenue stream and an owner who is about winning first.
dirtysanchez
8/5/2010-9:38am at 9:38 am (UTC -4)
would not mind mark cuban buying this team…i think his final offer was 352 million and while the mavs suck, I think he has the right attitude to win. All I know is there is alot more to the money issue than meets the eye…something is up with the wilpons and we will never get the full story.
njstuckintx
8/5/2010-9:46am at 9:46 am (UTC -4)
I agree, we’ll never know.
stickguy
8/5/2010-10:04am at 10:04 am (UTC -4)
the mets are valued at way, way more than the rangers. especially when you factor in the real potential cash cow, SNY.
dirtysanchez
8/5/2010-10:12am at 10:12 am (UTC -4)
true…im just saying there is more to the money situation with the wilpons than meets the eye. Too many stories here and there that are jumping on it and their actions dont really help otherwise…something is definitely up my friend.
metsfan4decades
8/5/2010-10:48am at 10:48 am (UTC -4)
If the Rangers will have new owners, normally ownership brings in their own team. So I’m thinking Jon Daniels – current Rangers GM – will be out of a job.
He grew up a Met fan, he’s done incredible things with that Rangers team. Look at the deals he pulled out of his hat at the trade deadline this year with a bankrupt team.
I vote Jon Daniels for Mets GM.
(I can dream, can’t I?)
stickguy
8/5/2010-10:50am at 10:50 am (UTC -4)
maybe not in this case, since Ryan is already involved. It almost sounds more like when the wilpons bought out doubleday.
GravediggerHebner
8/5/2010-10:52am at 10:52 am (UTC -4)
Ooh, be careful with the headlines they might be misconstrued as “Blaming Beltran.”
Kingman 26
8/5/2010-11:24am at 11:24 am (UTC -4)
HAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!
njstuckintx
8/5/2010-11:57am at 11:57 am (UTC -4)
Maybe you could do a 6 degrees of beltran on this? Wrong use of BP, due to SP not going deep enough in games, due to ball that should have been caught by beltran but his gimpy knee didn’t allow him to make a spectacular catch which allowed a run to score…