Ok, so most people have pretty much written off this season. Hell, the way we started(5-13) was enough to make even the most optimistic Met fan doubt their predictions and many changed their outlook to a more sober one(this author is guily as charged for that one). Just when it seemed the Mets were turning it around, both the Mets biggest run producers get injured…seemingly putting an end to any hope of finishing close to .500. However, right when the usual “Met quicksand” was scheduled to appear…it didnt. The most unusual thing started to happen instead..something that Met fans were not accustomed nor expecting based off what we got used to from the last several years unexpected turbulence’s, guys started stepping up their game. It first started with Justin Turner who basically carried the team on his back for a full week. Then it bleed into the rotation in Dillion Gee and Jon Niese who both seemed to get better each time out. Then out of nowhere, Ronnie Paulino goes 5-5 in his debut and seemed to be the only remedy for an ailing Mike Pelfrey. R.A. followed the wave and while getting snake bit by his hamstring, continued to tough it out and do his job. All the while, two faces that have seen it all in Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes turn in performances that have not been seen since 2007 and 2008. As much adversity that has been put in the Mets path, one would think that these guys would be near the bottom of the division. One quick look at the standings will show that they are actually in 3rd place…4.5 out of the wild card race which with two thirds of the season left to play is well within striking distance. These guys just wont go away no matter how easy it may be to do so given their situation. Does anyone think that without Josh Johnson, Hanley Ramirez and Gaby Sanchez that the Marlins would still be as good as they are? If you need an answer to that question, just look at their last few games with just 2/3 of those guys I mentioned being on the shelf. How about Philly without Ryah Howard, Chase Utley and Roy Halladay…would they still be as good. You can apply this principle with many teams in MLB and the answer will be mostly that we will never know. Nobody in the Majors that I can think of is without their #1 pitcher and two biggest RBI guys except for the Mets. Yet with all the crap from the Media, their owner and just about everywhere else that they get it from…they are still there. They have not been put away.
Now granted, this is still just 1/3 of the season through and the Mets are still under .500. Most people will point out that the Mets are just not that good and will falter before it is all said and done. They may be right but unless they have some crystal ball that can tell them the future, they could also be wrong. Theres a lot of baseball still left to play and as my fellow author King points out, their schedule is not forgiving. King is 100% right that the schedule get tougher for the Mets as the season goes along but that series against the Brewers showed me alot about this team. It doesnt matter who you are, the Mets are going to play hard. They say a team eventually takes on the personality of the manager. Id like to take this space and give credit to Terry Collins for doing such a good job with the resources that hes got. I may not agree with every decision made in game but there is no question he has got them giving 100 percent every time out. No question about the Met players being prepared and what is expected of them. Alot of weight is given to the manager when the team is performing poorly yet nearly nothing is give to him when the team is playing well. Terry Collins has his guys embracing the underdog role that they are in this year and making the most of it. For that and the eventual return of Wright, Ike and Johan…the Mets may have the potential to turn in something that we have not seen for 3 years…an interesting summer/fall.
15 comments
stickguy
6/15/2011-1:26pm at 1:26 pm (UTC -4)
If the team hangs in there, the fans will start to catch onto the buzz.
hopefuly this year is a slow start with injuries early, but getting healthy and going on a roll at the end. Hey, at least it is different than the usual scenario.
But man, of all the years that they could not afford a terrible start, this was the one. Probably pushed a lot of fence sitters right off the back.
darknova306
6/15/2011-1:27pm at 1:27 pm (UTC -4)
Regardless of where they end up in the standings, ya gotta admit they’re playing hard and passionately. No longer do we feel like the game is over after falling behind by a few runs, as they no longer roll over and start mindlessly hacking without a plan. Between the young guys that are hungry and trying to prove themselves and Collins being the anti-Jerry, these guys fight until the end.
Also, it seems like some credit should be given Dan Warthen. If we’re gonna rail on pitching coaches for rotation failures, they should be allowed to get credit for rotation successes. This 18 game stretch has been incredible for the rotation (minus Pelfrey).
Gotta enjoy this while it lasts, as the pitching will likely come back to Earth soon, and the difficulty of the schedule really picks up near the end of this month.
metsfan4decades
6/15/2011-3:31pm at 3:31 pm (UTC -4)
You’re trying to burst my bubble…..LOL.
Last year this team was about 10 games over .500 at this point. This year, they’re not even at .500. Yet, there so much more fun to watch right now.
stickguy
6/15/2011-3:36pm at 3:36 pm (UTC -4)
only counts where you are after game 162 (as we know all too well).
And that points out how badly they tanked starting in July last year.
that series heading into the break (that the P.R. one? or maybe that and the one after) were like a torpedo going through the hull, and they sank fast after that.
darknova306
6/15/2011-4:11pm at 4:11 pm (UTC -4)
Just trying to stay realistic, that’s all.
Still, it’s great to see the way they’re playing so far.
Mr North Jersey
6/15/2011-1:34pm at 1:34 pm (UTC -4)
Nice post. I recently commented that while there is still a lot of baseball yet to be played. It can be argued that the best move made this off season by Alderson may just be the hiring of Terry Collins. He seems like the right man for this team at this time. At least so far it looks that way. (2nd on that list may be in holding on to Warthen)
Even what can be described as poor managerial in game decisions by him when asked during post-games why he did them. The answers he provides are ones that make sense with what he is trying to do.
njstuckintx
6/15/2011-1:39pm at 1:39 pm (UTC -4)
Regarding TC, the managers position is one that gets a ton of praise when the team does well and a ton of criticism when the team doesn’t do well. Not sure how much he’s really had a hand in them doing well or not, but the team is playing well, so I guess kudos to you TC. Now lock up your alter ego JC and I’ll be a happy camper.
metsfan4decades
6/15/2011-3:29pm at 3:29 pm (UTC -4)
Very nice, Dirty. That puppy is absolutely adorable – yours?
Terry almost blew me away on his post game last night. Not only did he make mention of using stats on when to pull Niese (as opposed to ‘my gut’) he couldn’t have enough good things to say about Carlos Beltran, his playing and his leadership this year. He went on to say Carlos is doing it all, in the clubhouse, on the field with both rookies and veterans alike. Instead of underplaying Carlos b/c of his quiet demeanor, FINALLY somebody who gets it.
Take that, Steve Phillips!
njstuckintx
6/15/2011-4:40pm at 4:40 pm (UTC -4)
But you still wouldn’t sign him to a 2 yr deal, even if the money was there, would you?
kingman 26
6/15/2011-4:41pm at 4:41 pm (UTC -4)
HELL NO!
But he was amazing from 2006-2008, he’s not soft, and it’s not his fault Wainwright threw one of the all-time great curves ever…..
metsfan4decades
6/15/2011-7:06pm at 7:06 pm (UTC -4)
I’m thinking no. Much as I love Beltran it’s probably better to part ways one year too early rather than one year too late. If he didn’t have the chronic knee condition, even with his age I’d do that deal though.
gategem
6/15/2011-4:47pm at 4:47 pm (UTC -4)
Correct me if I’m wrong (which I often am) but didn’t the Mets have an official dog named Homer back in the early years?
kingman 26
6/15/2011-4:32pm at 4:32 pm (UTC -4)
Does that puppy have an Underdog costume on?
That’s awesome!! I loved that cartoon long before you were born Dirty!
stickguy
6/15/2011-4:58pm at 4:58 pm (UTC -4)
I honestly don’t remember anything specific about the massacre, other than it being a big deal, and I am only a few years older than Knog.
I do, however, really liking Pat Zachary. No, he was not seaver, but a young impressionable mind just moves onto something new when the old center of attention is removed!
Also, it was not purely a chump change deal. Zach was the kind of young SP people talk about getting if they traded Wright or Reyes. I believe he was the ROY the year before the trade. He was also having a very good year (78 I believe) until the dopeass kicked a step and broke a toe/foot.
And didn’t henderson (Hendu!) finish pretty high up in ROY in ’78?
Just rambling here of course. Not trying to defend the deal.
stickguy
6/15/2011-5:03pm at 5:03 pm (UTC -4)
had to go look it up. Zachary as ROY in 1976:
1976* Zachry, PatPat Zachry Cincinnati Reds P 2.74 earned run average
204 innings pitched
14–7 record in 38 appearances (28 games started)
Hendu in 1977 with Mets (finished 2nd in ROY)
Yr Age Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR GRSL RBI BB IBB SO SH SF HBP GIDP AVG OBP SLG
1977 25 Mets 99 350 67 104 16 6 12 1 65 43 2 79 0 4 1 13 .297 .372 .480
They actually did get some apparent good young talent back in this deal. Often overlooked fact because they did not last that long!