What can one say? Maybe Ceetar is right and we will win the WS.
This team, without Johan, Ike, and Wright, is now 35-26 since the infamous loss to Houston when Fred entertained Jeffrey Toobin. That works out to 93 wins over 162 games.
The offense is rolling like the Dan Marino Dolphins, despite the increasingly inane Nabob complaints about Collins’ lineup choices. Guess what–it DOES sometimes make sense to hit Harris 2nd. And Pagan, when hitting, is needed down lower to drive in runs.
It’s hard to say if this will continue, but Terry has righted the ship that a year ago had become Chez Jerry: draw up a chair, and we’ll deal you in – no, don’t worry about infield or BP! We’re veterans!
Collins has the most makeshift of makeshift groups playing like they are for real.
As a longtime fan who has wavered over recent years, I for one am enjoying the ride.
The “death march” schedule seems to be producing series win after series win. Let’s get at least one more in the Motor City and then come home to what will be a raucous Citi Field and demolish the Yankee$ this weekend.
The team has finally pulled above .500, and let’s hope they leave the mark of mediocrity in the rearview.
This writer joins our vacationing eminent Rusty in vacationland, albeit a couple of thousand miles to the west, in a place with much sand but where the beaches are replaced with large pools and much green felt.
As Rusty would say I am sure, may I have the good fortune to not get caught behind Mo Vaughn in a buffet line!
And as our absent friend CaseStreet would say, if you have something to say, say it here!
Enjoy the week TRDMB denizens, have a wonderful and safe holiday weekend, and LGM!
14 comments
stickguy
6/29/2011-8:38am at 8:38 am (UTC -4)
Geez, those 2 pictures look like the old/young Elvis debate (aka fat vs. skinny elvis).
Have fun in Vegas. I have never been there, but hope to make the trip some day.
kingman 26
6/29/2011-8:47am at 8:47 am (UTC -4)
If you like any of: sun, sports, great food, great drink, amazing pools, spas, killer high desert scenery, wild hotels, incredible clubs, and the world’s greatest eye candy, you’d like it there.
Ceetar
6/29/2011-8:51am at 8:51 am (UTC -4)
Hey, whereever this band wagon is going, the ride is certainly Amazin’.
And Jose’s a pretty good driver. I didn’t know a bandwagon had a 6th gear. And the guy’s got a 1.3 OPS in late and close situations..
darknova306
6/29/2011-8:56am at 8:56 am (UTC -4)
Call it cynicism from the recent years of horrific and frustrating failure, but I just keep feeling like the team is playing over their heads. Maybe it’s just the recent Junes where they played well but followed up with floundering the rest of the way. It’s been a fun ride, though, and I hope they keep it up. Either way, it would be really nice if they went on a nice run of winning or losing, just so we could get a sense of who they really are, rather than just floating around .500 like they’ve been doing for a while now.
Still, the team’s a lot more fun to watch than I was expecting.
Ceetar
6/29/2011-9:02am at 9:02 am (UTC -4)
.574 winning percentage over two months, 61 games. They then won 6 straight. After that they’re 29-26 which is good for a .527 winning percentage and they haven’t won or lost more than 3 in a row at any point during that stretch. (Hoping they break that tonight however) so i wouldn’t hold me breath expecting them to suddenly falter, or rattle off 12 wins in a row.
metsfan4decades
6/29/2011-9:06am at 9:06 am (UTC -4)
Obviously I have no idea what’s going to happen here the second half of the season. I do know that even though this team has a worse record right now than last years team did at this same time, this one is so much more enjoyable to watch this season. Probably has much to do with lowered expectations. I said months ago that I’d rather be the underdogs trying to defy the odds than be the ‘expected’ team to win and tank.
What’s different about this team this year than the past several years is all seem to be contributing at one point or another. Outside of Reyes who has just been flat out a joy to watch all season, we’ve had stretches or a game or two where either someone else has been hot and getting it done or a couple step up for a game or series. Tune into all games b/c you never know what you’re going to see.
As RA Dickey said on the post game last night regarding the two grand slams:
‘It’s been a long while since before me being here, that we’ve seen that. Two in one game though tonight? So I guess the no hitter is next, right?’
And I’ll be tuning in because you just never know.
Ceetar
6/29/2011-9:13am at 9:13 am (UTC -4)
Dickey also said if he makes it into the game posts he’s boycotting the media and that it’s ridiculous they’re even talking to him.
metsfan4decades
6/29/2011-9:30am at 9:30 am (UTC -4)
I saw that in a tweet before the post game last night.
Who doesn’t like RA Dickey? He just about personifies this whole team this year. Might not be the best on any given night, still gives 100% effort and he’s just fun to listen to. Never know what you’re going to hear.
stickguy
6/29/2011-9:36am at 9:36 am (UTC -4)
could easily see him in the booth after his playing days are done.
stickguy
6/29/2011-9:35am at 9:35 am (UTC -4)
I don’t think you can just look at records year to year at a point in time. You have to look at how they got there, and where they went.
Staring out 8 games under 3 weeks in is a big hole to dig. But, as ceetar pointed out, they are playing about ~.570 since then (over 2 months, and clost to 40% of the season). So, what is more reasonable, they are an 81 win team, or a 92 win team? for 3/4 of this year, they are the latter!
and compared to last year, and 2009, they were relatively healthier in the 1st half, then lost key talents in the 2nd half and died off. Well, this year, they lost the big guns early, but have realistic expectations of getting some back post-ASG.
and more importantly, they repalcements/spares/filler pieces seem to be vastly superior overall. so instead of starter goes down, POS stiff goes in, we have starter down, someone else steps in and gets the job done (turner, Gee).
And don’t underestimate the lift not having the Jerry anchor dragging them down can give.
so, long winded way of saying I think the team is relatively for real, and will compete the rest of the year (barring another slew of killer injuries, or trades of 2-3 of their best players).
Might not make it, but they will compete and be in the area!
Ceetar
6/29/2011-9:44am at 9:44 am (UTC -4)
I still think a lot hinges on Jason Bay and/or one more bat. Jason’s not quite there yet, but at least over the last two weeks or so he’s tarnsitioned to not being an automatic out, which is a step. If he can start driving in runs, or the Mets get David Wright back soon to do it, the offense should flourish a little more consistently.
stickguy
6/29/2011-9:52am at 9:52 am (UTC -4)
losing Ike for the season was an absolute killer. he was developing into a monster, and I think by now would have been cemented into the clean up hole.
Beltran/davis/wright would have been the best way to go. And who knows, maybe we will see it before the end of the year!
saltygary
6/29/2011-9:52am at 9:52 am (UTC -4)
Interesting stat pulled out of Olney’s blog today:
“Last year, the most any team spent in midseason acquisitions was a total of about $5 million”
stickguy
6/29/2011-9:54am at 9:54 am (UTC -4)
well, prorated to the trade deadline, that is like picking up 15mill worth of players for a full season, so pretty significant.