Author’s Note: The Week in Review is a new feature which will appear most weeks during the season on TRDMB, taking a look back at the week that was and a brief look at the week that will be.
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The Mets won 2 of 3 in Florida this weekend in a manner which simply must be looked at as a seriously auspicious beginning, even to the most dedicated Nabob.
The only negatives which jump out are the performances of the perhaps-always-destined-to-be-an-enigmatic-underachiever Mike Pelfrey, and battlin’ Francisco Rodriguez, who did, at least, not begin the count on his option vesting.
Pelf didn’t pitch great, but let’s face it—one pitch did him in. Now, of course, the grand slam has been a huge thorn in the side for the Mets—on both offense and defense—for the last year. But had Pelf thrown that one pitch in a better location, we might be talking about a sweep. He did walk four, but allowed just four hits, and while a number one starter does not allow a grand slam to the likes of John Buck, let’s give Pelf another few chances.
KRod did not look good; coming back after a horrible end to 2010, he clearly wanted to start off the season well, but did not. KRod will receive many more chances; let’s hope this was simply a case of his trying too hard.
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Unlike last year, we have lots of positives to look at. The team hustled. The players showed emotion on many occasions. Pessimists’ favorite target David Wright had the huge CLUTCH hit in the 10th on Saturday, when the team roared right back from the 9th inning bullpen meltdown.
Terry Collins used the whole roster; Willie Harris produced, Dickey picked up right where he left off, the pen was decent overall, and Parnell threw a fine inning. Perhaps after waiting for years, we have seen the first step in Parnell’s taking his (hopefully) rightful role as dominant Met closer of the future.
Ike had four hits and two walks in the series. Beltran had a couple of hits, showed a quick bat, and did appear ambulatory. Jon Niese recovered from a shaky first inning to pitch a very economical and successful seven. Jose was on base several times in the two wins, and Josh Thole appeared off to an early start to being what this writer foresees—a patient, successful hitter who behaves in a manner far beyond his years at the plate.
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Terry Collins managed like he really cared. He used the pen, he did not overwork his starters, and he utilized almost the entire roster. After just three days, how many players on this team can feel as though the manager does not have confidence in them?
Duda, Hu, Murphy, Hairston, Nickeas—Collins used almost the whole roster this weekend; even getting Capuano some action.
The attitude was clearly there. Wright’s enthusiasm after his huge hit Saturday night had to be infectious after last year’s struggles.
The team took advantage of opportunities, played crisp hustling ball, made just one error in the series, and managed to win two of three on the road.
It is very easy to read far too much into this series after the horrors of the Jerry Manuel era, but winning ANY series on the road after 2010’s travails is a welcome sign, and beating up on the Marlins in FLA in the deciding game of a 3-game series also is quite encouraging.
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The Metsies move on to Philly for three games beginning Tuesday against the very unsurprisingly 3-0 Phils. The boys in orange and blue will miss two of their three aces, and with the team’s 8-2 record against Hamels, perhaps we could have Halladay in the position of needing to salvage one win on Thursday.
Of course, we have yet to see starts from the two pitchers whose health the 2011 season could largely hinge on—Young and Capuano. Young will start the first game in Philly, and should we see 6-7 good innings from him, fans could be forgiven for starting to believe in this team pretty quickly.
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It is a long, long season, and the ups and downs surely will have even more weight after what we have witnessed since that damn Wainwright curve almost five years ago (can it really be that long?), but winning two of three in Florida, with the one loss basically coming due to facing one of the game’s true aces and Big Pelf throwing one terrible pitch, is about as excellent of a beginning as we could have hoped for.
Here’s hoping the boys enjoy their day off and are ready to do some serious damage Tuesday in Philly!
47 comments
Dirtysanchez
4/4/2011-12:11am at 12:11 am (UTC -4)
Awesome idea king. Love the piece…i know it will be a hit. Ill take a series win over an opening day win anyday
stickguy
4/4/2011-12:32am at 12:32 am (UTC -4)
nice piece Knog. Always good to reset the baseline occasionally!
my impression overall is that this team is better than last year. Both in terms of talent (and how many wins I expect out of them!), and likeability. Easy team to root for, starting right at the top.
I guess you can say it is a serious, professional team finally, without any guys that you hate seeing, or that laze around of aren’t hustling.
I do blame Jerry for a lot of the problems and malaise. Amazing how just a new manager can make a big difference, and combine with a few key player changes (in and out) to make such a radical change in a team.
IMO, it won’t take long before all the other teams realize that the punching bag they were making fun of no longer exists. And as the marlins just learned, it will probably right after they get knocked around for the first time!
stickguy
4/4/2011-12:40am at 12:40 am (UTC -4)
summing up, how many wins the team ends up with remains to be seen.
but unlike the last few years, I predict that they won’t underperform relative to the talent on hand. They will play hard and smart, and eke out every win. IOW, the opposite of a Jerry run team.
Prismo
4/4/2011-1:05am at 1:05 am (UTC -4)
Thanks for the week’s recap Kingman! Luckily the series was salvaged after Friday’s lackluster effort.
However, I urge fans not to jump on the rollercoaster just wait and to wait a couple more weeks before forming any initial opinions.
Right now I’m hearing a lot about how awesome Terry is and how hard everyone is playing for him. Also, how he’s giving everyone playing time, etc etc etc.
But all that stuff was said about Jerry when he started. Mets won a bunch of games, everyone LOVED Jerry. Remember last season – he played everyone, and it wore out QUICKLY when we wondered why certain players were starting over others.
It’s two wins against a .500 team, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Anything can happen.
metsfan4decades
4/4/2011-7:27am at 7:27 am (UTC -4)
Nice piece. Glad to see one for a change that wraps up the positives first and being realistic about any negatives and the road forward. The number one think I took out of this weekend is the focus this team finally appears to have. I tuned into all 3 post game shows and overall, Bobby O seemed to be suitably impressed as well. His analysis of RA’s performance yesterday was especially encouraging, making me feel he is the real deal and not just a one season wonder.
Definitely good to start the season with a series win. If we can go into Philadelphia and manage to take 2 of 3, I think that would be a great start to the season. You never know what will happen there. I remember going into Philly last year for a 3 game set. We had Niese, Johan and Pelf pitching. We all thought the Johan and Pelf games would be a win. As it turned out, they both pitched two of the worst games of their season and Niese looked great, coming away with the only win. So you never know.
LGM!
TRS86
4/4/2011-8:19am at 8:19 am (UTC -4)
From MC:
“By taking two of three in Miami, the Mets won their first road series of the season. They did not win a road series until the middle of June last year. hey were 1-8 in Miami in 2010. This year, they’re already 2-1.”
Ceetar
4/4/2011-8:48am at 8:48 am (UTC -4)
semantics, but they were actually 0-6 in Miami last year I believe.
saltygary
4/4/2011-8:56am at 8:56 am (UTC -4)
The Mets were 6-12 against the phish last year and 1-8 at games played in Miami.
But you can always get him on grammar issues. Made my first comment since the ban was lifted over there. The guy drives me nut. If he just put a spec of effort into proof-reading the site would be so much tighter.
Ceetar
4/4/2011-8:57am at 8:57 am (UTC -4)
They only played 6 in Miami.
saltygary
4/4/2011-8:59am at 8:59 am (UTC -4)
http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYM/2010-schedule-scores.shtml
Just count…
Ceetar
4/4/2011-9:03am at 9:03 am (UTC -4)
They didn’t win _in Miami_ is what I was nitpicking.
0-6 there.
1-2 in San Juan.
saltygary
4/4/2011-9:09am at 9:09 am (UTC -4)
Then clarify your nitpicking.
Ceetar
4/4/2011-9:23am at 9:23 am (UTC -4)
I thought I was being clear by pointing out they only played 6 games. .
metsfan4decades
4/4/2011-9:18am at 9:18 am (UTC -4)
So monkey’s off our back:
- we’ve won a series on the road
- we’ve won that series in FL, a place that for whatever reason seemed to give the Mets heartache.
Monkey’s still on the back:
- Pelf has yet to win a game against the Marlins in his career.
- The Mets have hit a GS since 2009, despite some opportunities this past weekend.
Ceetar
4/4/2011-9:24am at 9:24 am (UTC -4)
They didn’t hit a grand slam in 2008, hitting one in ’09 didn’t really seem to be overly monkeyable.
saltygary
4/4/2011-8:58am at 8:58 am (UTC -4)
Jeez if I just put one spec of time into proof-reading my posts… At least my comment doesn’t have an audience.
Ceetar
4/4/2011-9:04am at 9:04 am (UTC -4)
comments are different than posts, not composed, not, in most cases, editable. They’re sorta stream of conciousness responses and discussions, not missives from the top.
saltygary
4/4/2011-9:11am at 9:11 am (UTC -4)
Exactly but I can at least get on my own case if I am going to criticize someone and make the same errors.
metsfan4decades
4/4/2011-9:16am at 9:16 am (UTC -4)
LOL..
I think we’ve all been guilty of this from time to time in our comments. Heck, I’ve put mistakes out there even after proof reading it.
But Ceetar’s got a point. Responses are not the same as the posts that go up. You would think those should be devoid of mistakes, the majority of the time, not the opposite.
Ceetar
4/4/2011-9:23am at 9:23 am (UTC -4)
I’m much better when I’m on a browser that tells me I made spelling mistakes. But I’m at work, and rushing. *shrug* I suck at grammar and proofreading though.
saltygary
4/4/2011-9:28am at 9:28 am (UTC -4)
Do you use IE at work? There should be a spelling plug-in.
Luckily at work I have full control to my computer. Trying to edit a comment on my droid, now that’s painful.
Ceetar
4/4/2011-9:30am at 9:30 am (UTC -4)
droid is tough in comments. for some reason you can’t double click/replace in most forms/browser.
didn’t know IE even did plugins. heh. I have control, but I don’t want to download chrome because I think it’d look a little more glaring that I was using it for non-work purposes.
saltygary
4/4/2011-9:37am at 9:37 am (UTC -4)
Looks like ieSpell is the only one but I probably wouldn’t download it at work. I’m a firefox guy so I didn’t know IE was so far behind in that department.
You can download Firefox and add the IE skin to it…
saltygary
4/4/2011-9:23am at 9:23 am (UTC -4)
2 Years ago I got the perma-ban from MC for getting on his case and after my first comment over there today I have a feeling it will be re-instated.
http://www.metsblog.com/2011/04/04/morning-news-for-mon-april-4-and-past-weekend/#disqus_thread
TRS86
4/4/2011-9:45am at 9:45 am (UTC -4)
Nah, I think he has gotten slightly better at accepting criticism.
saltygary
4/4/2011-9:58am at 9:58 am (UTC -4)
That one was so bad I just couldn’t help myself. I’ve really been biting my tongue since he opened it back up.
I’ve also been trying to be a good soldier since he links to this place a lot which he doesn’t have to do.
TRS86
4/4/2011-10:01am at 10:01 am (UTC -4)
Yeah but the shove it up your a.. might have been just a little (slight, tad, minute) bit over the top. LOL.
saltygary
4/4/2011-10:02am at 10:02 am (UTC -4)
hahaha I cracked, sorry man.
saltygary
4/4/2011-10:07am at 10:07 am (UTC -4)
See I don’t think I really interacted with you guys much before the ban. I only found you folks when looking for answers on d-day and you guys came off real cool.
I was always starting crap over there and my ban MAY have been deserved. I just have no patience for people being snarky on the internet and will be happy to bring it. You folks at least act like human beings and there is no need for that kind of rhetoric.
TRS86
4/4/2011-10:18am at 10:18 am (UTC -4)
Thanks Salty. It is interesting the family atmosphere built over here. You guys have seriously became an everyday part of my life. That being said sometimes we are a little like spoiled brothers though. (See my debates with Wanny or NJ and Kingman, LOL).
saltygary
4/4/2011-11:31am at 11:31 am (UTC -4)
That’s OK because the difference here is we all know and respect each other. At most other sites people just hide behind a anonymous profile and say stupid things. If we all agreed and if the Mets were always good, there wouldn’t be the need for our nice little support group.
metsfan4decades
4/4/2011-10:43am at 10:43 am (UTC -4)
Hey, I was banned for just disagreeing with an opinion of his, and in a very polite manner at that.
kistics
4/4/2011-10:12am at 10:12 am (UTC -4)
I thought it was very appropriate..
metsfan4decades
4/4/2011-10:39am at 10:39 am (UTC -4)
Or he’s so busy he’s barely reading comments anymore to actually know there is criticism.
kistics
4/4/2011-10:16am at 10:16 am (UTC -4)
Would you sign up for 1 win out of 3 against the Phillies?
I would be okay with that. But I have a feeling that Thole will tear up Halladay..
TRS86
4/4/2011-10:19am at 10:19 am (UTC -4)
I think we can win 2/3 but would settle for 1/3.
kistics
4/4/2011-10:54am at 10:54 am (UTC -4)
Me too.
saltygary
4/4/2011-10:24am at 10:24 am (UTC -4)
I wouldn’t be all doom in gloom if this happened seeing I only picked them to win 73 games lol. If they want to legitimately take advantage of this division and demonstrate that they can win, then they need to win this series. Phii is at it’s most vulnerable right now and teams need to pounce.
stickguy
4/4/2011-10:37am at 10:37 am (UTC -4)
For the mets to be successful (well, more so than last year), it will basically come down to playing better on the road, and holding their own in the division.
Philly will be tough due to the SP, and Atlanta always seems to be tough for the Mets. So do the best you can there, and beat the snot out of the marlins and Nats.
even if they go .500 in the division, and can play about that on the road outside the division, they will have plenty of wins just continuing to play well at home (1 thing they did do last year).
I forget the exact numbers, but based on home win % they were something like a 94 win team, and based on road win % they would have finished below the pirates!
when you parse out the strange season the Mets had last year, it really is not hard to predict more wins. Just going 5-4 in Miami/PR and they would have been an 83 win team. And pretty sure they sucked against the Nats. A couple more wins there, and they are at 85+.
I know it does not work that way, but it helps me put the team into perspective.
and of course, I blame Jerry for it.
Ceetar
4/4/2011-10:36am at 10:36 am (UTC -4)
I don’t sign up for losing .ever. I wouldn’t sign for 1/3 against the ’21 Yankees.
But they’d end 3-3 on the road trip and that’s the cliche, .500 at home, win at home. got 13/16 at home coming up against crap teams too.
But, Philly is vulnerable and if you believe they’re going to get better/healthier, then trying to keep them down early is helpful.
stickguy
4/4/2011-10:40am at 10:40 am (UTC -4)
you meant .500 on the road. Just helping Salty out here with the proofreading! and pretty much what I said right above, just improve a bit on the road and they are a playoff contender (if they can keep up the winning at home!)
Philly really does not seem to have been tested yet. I think they had to work harder in the 2 game set vs. the pirates they had at CBP to finish out ST!
Ceetar
4/4/2011-10:45am at 10:45 am (UTC -4)
I bet Niese goes deep against Halladay.
metsfan4decades
4/4/2011-10:46am at 10:46 am (UTC -4)
You’re right in striking while the irons hot.
There still trying to figure out a lineup that works best with Utley out, Werth gone and a lead off hitter that can actually get on base.
And as I said above, Ben Fran has looked awful in the field and Polanco’s elbow is showing a problem on his throws.
Note to Mets: try hitting to RF and bunting down to third…..
kistics
4/4/2011-11:00am at 11:00 am (UTC -4)
I know they played the Astros. But they did face Myers and Wandy both of whom are no pushovers.
Ceetar
4/4/2011-11:18am at 11:18 am (UTC -4)
And they didn’t hit Myers any better than the Mets hit Johnson. He’d thrown like 55 pitches through 6.
If it wasn’t for Lyons throwing BP in the 9th, and being hung out to dry, the offense would’ve looked totally inept in that game.
kistics
4/4/2011-11:48am at 11:48 am (UTC -4)
That is true. But they did hit well against Wandy.
I don’t think their offense is as bad as people think.
stickguy
4/4/2011-11:19am at 11:19 am (UTC -4)
and myers pretty much dominated them. It was the BP that blew that game.
oh, Vicky came up with a leg (calf) problem, so they aren’t sure yet when he will play (if it is serious, or just a cramp that a day off will cure).