The Mets currently sit at 22-24. A close examination of that record shows the following:
Against the DBacks, Astros, Nats, and Dodgers, the team is 13-7.
Against the Marlins, Phils, Giants, Braves, Rockies, and Yanks, they are 9-17.
The only series against winning teams they have won all year are the opening series against the Marlins and then the recent series in Colorado; of course, the Rockies earlier swept four at Citi.
To this writer, much of this can be viewed as reason for serious optimism.
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Just as some liked to blame Jerry Manuel (and Willie Randolph before him) for everything from Met performance to stock prices to the common cold, some want to hang Terry Collins for Pelf’s meltdown in Yankee Stadium.
Sure, maybe Pelf should have come out earlier, but when you are working with pitchers like Misch and Byrdak, the game very likely might have been lost anyway. Painful as it may be to admit, the Yankees have much more talent than the current Mets do.
The team is playing without Ike Davis and David Wright, as well as Angel Pagan, and is saddled with the final horrific millstone of the Minaya era of error, the useless Jason Bay; albatrosses of this size are generally only found in works of fiction.
Despite this, the team quite clearly is playing hard, and playing much better fundamental baseball. Making fewer errors, getting better pen performance from the top bullpen arms, and showing the beginnings of improved depth in the form of Turner, Pridie, and Paulino.
Most importantly, as the above numbers show, the team has begun to win every series against teams they should be beating.
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Since the 2-11 stretch, the Mets have played 5 series with sub-.500 teams and won all 5. To this writer, this shows that there are no letdowns for bad teams as in the past, and the team truly is coming to play; indeed, they consistently beat teams they are better than.
The problem right now is that they just are not as good as the Phils, Marlins, Yanks, Giants, Braves, etc. It will take time to remedy this.
But after what we saw last year, and what almost all realistic fans admitted was a lackluster team which wanted to do anything but work hard and hustle for the most part, we are seeing a vastly different group.
And after several years where we would see the same players given a seemingly infinite chance to keep failing, we are now seeing terrible players jettisoned with a new alacrity which bodes very well for the future.
Emaus, Hu, Boyer and others were replaced in a much more reasonable time frame than might have been expected in recent years. Yes, the team is playing with a large AAA contingent, but these players want to be here, they want to be major leaguers, and the feeling here is that they probably are not worried about card-playing prior to games or extra running should they be asked to play unfamiliar positions.
Gee, Beato, Turner, Tejada, and Pridie clearly want to be major leaguers, and even if they do not all become MLB regulars, they are very easy to root for after the last two seasons of Met baseball.
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As many thought would be the case, Terry Collins comes to the park filled with enthusiasm. This surely rubs off on many of his players. While Collins does not have enough firepower yet to challenge the better teams, he has clearly shown an ability to maximize the results of the roster he has. Having the players hustling and getting the most out of them are the most important changes that were needed to lay the foundation for a successful future; thus far Collins gets top marks in these areas.
Yes, the team sits at 22-24 approaching the 1/3 mark of the season. But the team has had a very difficult schedule, and played without key players almost every game. When considering the 5-13 start, the team’s current record must be reasonably viewed as at least acceptable.
The feeling here is that the corner has been turned attitude-wise. There might still be a holdover like Jason Bay, who is not going to change anything regardless of his consistent failures, or a player like Thole, who just might not be ready for prime time, or a pitcher like Misch, who is here due to the currently thin nature of MLB-ready Met minor league pitchers.
But the team is hustling and playing better fundamental ball. It is not giving up. It is coming to play every day, and going into every series expecting to win.
Beato and Izzy and KRod form a fine 7-8-9 combo. Turner and Murph could be a really good 2B platoon when Ike returns. Pridie’s play could mean the welcome exit of Harris or Hairston when Pagan is back in CF. Tejada’s glove AND bat are superior to Hu’s. And all of this of course means improved depth when Wright, Ike, and Pagan are back in the lineup every day.
The feeling here also is very strong that as long as this continues, it is not fair to blame Collins and the current roster for the abject mess Minaya left the team in, or for the financial situation of ownership.
It says here that the real fan should cheer for this team as long as the players continue to play hard and consistently beat the teams they should beat. If they maintain this path, Alderson makes more changes, the injured heal, the minor leaguers develop, and we bring in some more good players over the course of the next year, it is only a matter of time before the Mets once again become a winning franchise.
24 comments
metsfan4decades
5/22/2011-10:14pm at 10:14 pm (UTC -4)
Not a doubt in my mind the overall problem is the path Omar went down since 2006. Not enough prospects, not enough talent being developed and overpaying for aging stars. Agree there.
I like TCs handling of the team and the media. I’m not thrilled with his in game management at all. Didn’t understand today at all. Does he not know Pelf? Did he not know ARod’s line there after giving the IBB to Tex?
Bah.
Anyway I digress.
My main worry is there is not enough talent ready to come up next year to make a difference, mainly b/c we’ll be at least SPs short, if not more. Where are we going to that from?
metsfan4decades
5/22/2011-10:15pm at 10:15 pm (UTC -4)
Shoot, should have read ‘at least 2 SPs short’.
Prismo
5/22/2011-10:55pm at 10:55 pm (UTC -4)
+1 to all of the above!! Great comment.
1. Agreed, TC has done a nice job at motivating his team and handling the media, but his in-game management leaves MUCH to be desired. However, I will readily admit that there isn’t a manager in the league who could lead the current roster to the playoffs.
And just like one shouldn’t 100% blame Terry for the 7th inning disaster, one also shouldn’t 100% blame Pelfrey and the relievers. It was a combined-flub. Terry should’ve taken Pelf out earlier – most fans I saw on twitter were calling for it. We ALL saw that Pelfrey was shaken after the first batter in the 7th. Regardless of whether or not you like his mental makeup, as a manager (and even as a fan) you should KNOW what it looks like when he’s rattled, and what that will lead to. It wasn’t going to be a case of the manager taking the starter out early in the 5th inning and taxing the bullpen for no reason – Pelf had already pitched 6 solid innings; there was no need to push him. You play to your players strengths and weaknesses. Leaving Pelf in to get shelled isn’t going to improve his mental makeup. You can’t just “teach lessons” like that most of the time.
2. Doubly agreed that next year’s inflow of talent (or lack thereof) won’t be enough to improve the team. In fact, with Reyes (likely) and Beltran gone, maybe more, I expect this team to perform worse next season. Only saving grace would be a healthy and effective Santana, who could once again help lead the team to near .500 baseball. I wouldn’t count on that though.
darknova306
5/22/2011-11:01pm at 11:01 pm (UTC -4)
Next year is likely all about finishing the development of the “future core” players, or whatever you want to call them, and start bringing some up. Maybe Haves/Kirk/whoever. There’s not enough major league ready talent in the minors or enough free agent talent to bring in to make this team a contender next year without Beltran and Reyes. Still, I’d gladly take watching a young team go through some developmental pains over watching a bunch of check-cashing bums coast through another season like the past bunch of years.
Prismo
5/22/2011-11:03pm at 11:03 pm (UTC -4)
Absolutely agree!
Even though this year’s team is as mediocre as in the past few years, they’re more fun to watch with guys like Ike and Niese playing well. (would be much more fun if Thole could do ANYTHING)
I think next year’s team will hopefully be a fun one to watch grow up. It’ll just takes one new young star to make things really exciting for the fans (at least that’s my feeling).
darknova306
5/22/2011-11:05pm at 11:05 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed, Kong. Gotta love the attitude of the guys on this team right now. They actually look like they care and have passion for the game, as opposed to the rest of the Minaya era check-cashers. It’s great to finally see a manager bring some accountability to this team and light a fire under them. His in game decisions are odd sometimes, but none of them are going to be the difference between winning and losing a championship. Collins’ 2-year contract is all about developing this team into a true team of guys that are out there to leave it all on the field.
This current Mets team is most definitely a team that is under-talented, but with a true passion for the game. That’s a good start, to me.
darknova306
5/22/2011-11:08pm at 11:08 pm (UTC -4)
Also, I fully trust that Alderson won’t go the typical Omar route and think “we’re just one player away” and go make some silly trade/signing for some over the hill player. If he trades anyone, it’ll be for some young talent that he believes can develop into solid pieces for this team’s future.
Prismo
5/22/2011-11:08pm at 11:08 pm (UTC -4)
“Collins’ 2-year contract is all about developing this team into a true team of guys that are out there to leave it all on the field.”
That’s a great point Darknova, and it’s one that I admittedly have a hard time remembering when I criticize his management!
If indeed Collins is to be canned (aka “retire” or whatever) after the next 1 or 2 seasons, his player development skills could be extremely useful.
Thank you for reminding me of this.
darknova306
5/22/2011-11:19pm at 11:19 pm (UTC -4)
This is because as soon as I saw Omar get replaced by Sandy and the triumvirate that wound up in charge, I began viewing this and next season as transitional and developmental. It’s all about long term development right now, to me. Sandy was brought in to develop a plan for this team’s long term success and to execute it. He brought in his two assistants to overhaul the organization’s player development, scouting, and research. Seeing Collins’ history with the team and minor league development, it seamed reasonable to expect that his role was much more developmental than anything.
Everyone knows this team has had a very bad mentality around it for a long time, and the best way to change that and to teach the youngsters the right way to play without falling into that, is to bring in a guy like Collins.
At this point I’m far less interested in Collins’ on-field decisions as I am in his ability to instill passion and accountability into the players.
Prismo
5/22/2011-11:13pm at 11:13 pm (UTC -4)
“Yes, the team sits at 22-24 approaching the 1/3 mark of the season. But the team has had a very difficult schedule, and played without key players almost every game. When considering the 5-13 start, the team’s current record must be reasonably viewed as at least acceptable.”
I agree with this. This is about what was expected overall, so it’s hard to be upset at how the team’s performed from a bird’s eye view.
gategem
5/23/2011-12:55am at 12:55 am (UTC -4)
While I agree with most of what Kong has presented I beg to differ with a few of his observations.
You can’t manage a game with the attitude that with the talent I have what’s the difference whether I leave Pelfrey in the game or not. We’re going to lose anyway. The strength of this ballclub is their bullpen and bringing in Beato after the first two players reached base could have dramatically effected the outcome of that inning. I also don’t believe in bringing in a marginal left handed pitcher to replace a talented right handed pitcher because a left handed batter is up.
While winning this game will not make the Mets a contender from the point of view of the fan base this was an important and very winnable game.
The true measure of the attitude improvement will come during the dog days of summer when the team is hopelessly buried in the standings and is in the middle of an extended losing streak. While the present attitude and hustle is a far cry from the previous management it’s much too early to place TC on a pedestal.
People view teams that have built contenders through their minor leagues and believe it is automatic that you will establish a championship team just by assembling talented young players. They forget the many years that teams have languished while continuously recycling talented young players. In fact over the many years I have witnessed baseball the later is the rule rather than the former scenario. Building a winning team not only requires assembling talent but luck as well. It was only a few years ago that Mets fans were drooling over the future outfield of Lastings Milledge, Carlos Gomez and Fernando Martinez. All very talented youngsters with a can’t miss label. How did that work out?
metsfan4decades
5/23/2011-7:38am at 7:38 am (UTC -4)
Agree 100% with your first 2 paragraphs concerning the game, gategem. That’s the point I was making only you stated it better. This especially had me scratching my head as soon as he lifted Beato for Misch:
‘I also don’t believe in bringing in a marginal left handed pitcher to replace a talented right handed pitcher because a left handed batter is up.’
While your last paragraph is certainly true, I believe the problem we currently have is we didn’t draft and/or sign ENOUGH players and the consistent mindset on the over slotting issue didn’t help. Not sure why, over the past 4 years or so, we’ve done very little in the international market.
I look at the Rays this year and can’t help but be a tad jealous at all the picks they’ve got in the draft. It’s true that many are in later rounds but the more your draft, the more chance you have of landing some very good talent and/or have enough projected talent to make a trade, if need be.
TRS86
5/23/2011-7:53am at 7:53 am (UTC -4)
Great article. Here is the only paragraph I have issue with:
“The feeling here is that the corner has been turned attitude-wise. There might still be a holdover like Jason Bay, who is not going to change anything regardless of his consistent failures, or a player like Thole, who just might not be ready for prime time, or a pitcher like Misch, who is here due to the currently thin nature of MLB-ready Met minor league pitchers.”
I don’t think that any of those guys are attitude issues at all. Obviously Misch wants to be here having had the opportunity to leave already. He has been able to do whatever the Mets have asked him to do whether it’s spot start, long relief, go down to the minors and hide… Bay is obviously the new lightening rod as well he should be with the contract he obtained and performance he has shown. However, I think that it is possible that Jason Bay brings more to the team, hard not to I guess, than just his ability or lack there of to hit the ball. I think he brings leadership, poise, professionalism, and a been there done that attitude to the team. While no those things alone are not worth his contract for sure and eventually he will have to hit or be reduced I don’t think we can understate the value.
We all liked to scoff at Michael Baron’s Jason Bay post about how since Bay has returned the Mets have…. and while I don’t buy that Bay is the sole person responsible, it is possible that his effect in the clubhouse and on the field defensively have played a role in the turn around. To what degree? We most likely will never know.
kingman 26
5/23/2011-8:04am at 8:04 am (UTC -4)
Thanks TRS; that paragraph was VERY misleading–not what I meant at all.
I most definitely in no way meant to suggest that Thole or Misch were attitude problems, or even Bay really.
I was really just saying that while we have turned the corner attitude-wise, we still have TALENT issues—that is what I meant. We still have the over-the-hill Omarite Bay, we still have a minor leaguer maybe not ready in Thole, and we still have a simple mediocrity like Misch.
Sorry; this was unclear. Appreciate the compliments.
TRS86
5/23/2011-8:09am at 8:09 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, I think we have to take Bay’s contract and throw it out the door now when we discuss him. I know it’s hard to do but the money is spent, it’s over, we can’t trade him. So now we have to look at what he does bring that is positive. At least we have seen some light offensively recently but I think what he provides defensively and in the clubhouse (from what we have heard and read, how else to you determine the actual effect?) is more than what a replacement player provides. So while he is for sure not earning his contract, he’s not tying up a spot for someone more deserved either. YET.
TRS86
5/23/2011-8:11am at 8:11 am (UTC -4)
That and I am still completely confused by this:
.308 .378 .487 .865 at home.
.157 .267 .216 .482 on the road.
Seriously? What the hell?
stickguy
5/23/2011-8:45am at 8:45 am (UTC -4)
plus it is starting to be a not insubstantial sample size.
kistics
5/23/2011-8:44am at 8:44 am (UTC -4)
What was Fred Wilpon thinking…. why do these things always happen to the Mets??? This will rattle the foundation of this team.. Just when you thought the team was playing decent, you get this crap…
I always liked Fred and did not want to see the Wilpons sell the team.. but it’s gone too far now.. Everything trickles from the top and the reason why this team is in the shit now is because of these kinds of shit that trickles down from the top. This team needs a new culture and it has to start from the top.
stickguy
5/23/2011-8:53am at 8:53 am (UTC -4)
Just checked out the highlights at MMO. Hard to really argue with any of his points, but man, he never, ever should have siad them to a reporter. Hell, right now, Fred and jeff should be so far in the background Waldo would not be able to find them.
maybe Fred is just senile at this point? not like he is young anymore, and he never did seem like the brightest guy in the world.
But, I doubt it changes anything about the odds of Reyes coming back. Then again, I think that ship has already sailed. And he will hit 30 HRs next year, just not sure if it will be in the Bronx or Philly!
kistics
5/23/2011-9:07am at 9:07 am (UTC -4)
Not only will Reyes NOT give hometown discount, but if I were him, I would demand a trade now.
But the bigger issue here is that no major FA will sign with this team as long as the Wilpons own the team.
Also, they have been playing well recently (despite past couple days), but this will pretty much throw a wet blanket over the team’s performance. I HATE the fact that all focus will be diverted to this non-sense rather than how well they’ve performed thus far. I really hope this crap won’t affect the team’s performance on the field.
njstuckintx
5/23/2011-9:13am at 9:13 am (UTC -4)
I never really thought he would. But I would have figured the Mets would have engaged him in conversations on what he was thinking it would take to retain his services… get the ball rolling, be civil, etc. Talk about laying all your cards on the table. Beltran, gone. Reyes, gone.
njstuckintx
5/23/2011-9:04am at 9:04 am (UTC -4)
Here’s the Link:
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/05/fred-wilpon-on-reyes-wright-beltran.html
And agreed. Why? Why bother saying anything? Why would you dump on the 2 biggest stars on the team? Why would you take a shot at Reyes like that (and now with his tearing the cover off the ball…) when you potentially take some power away from Sandy negotiating/trading wise? Is there any doubt Reyes will be traded now?
Sometimes this team makes me shake my head in awe and amazement.
TRS86
5/23/2011-9:05am at 9:05 am (UTC -4)
Agreed, see the new article. Think I overreacted? LOL.
Dirtysanchez
5/23/2011-12:56pm at 12:56 pm (UTC -4)
Very good article and damn good assessment of the team right now. Well done.