This has been a very un-Mets-like season. It should have been the season from hell but it wasn’t. We should have gotten nothing for Beltran and spent gobs on K-Rod but that didn’t happen either. We should be in massive debt and bleeding money but looks like even that isn’t happening. However, we’ve seen what now seems like the annual run of debilitating injuries, bullpen meltdowns, and we’re sitting well behind the Braves. But those aren’t the only reasons we’re still the Mets and this recent Padres series showed us why. We’re still the Mets because…
Cameron Maybin, a perennial disappointment who averages a .253/3/15 season stat line just put up a .368/1/3 4-game series with 3 SB and 5 runs scored. And the only game he was held hitless? He had 2 RBI.
The Padres are 27th in the MLB in runs scored with 444. If they averaged as many runs per game over the whole season as they did in the 4-game Mets series, they would have scored a whopping 121 more runs on the season, putting them squarely in 4th place.
Will Venable went from April 6th to May 3rd of this year without collecting even one extra-base hit. Venable now has 18 extra-base hits on the season. Exactly one sixth of those came in yesterday’s game alone in which Venable smacked two doubles and a triple.
R.A. Dickey turned in his 3rd straight quality start loss. He gave up just 3 earned over 6 innings. The two unearned runs? His own error. So 5 runs. Coming into today, Jonathon Niese had collected two wins in his last three starts, both of which saw him give up 5 runs in 5 innings, all earned. Today? Only 2 earned over 7 2/3. And a loss.
And despite all this, the Mets still managed to work the series split. But how could I call myself a Mets fan if I wasn’t self-deprecating?
12 comments
Anonymous
8/12/2011-11:09am at 11:09 am (UTC -4)
remember, there is always next year!
Anonymous
8/12/2011-1:01pm at 1:01 pm (UTC -4)
For a minute there a couple of games ago, you could start to get the sense that you couldn’t turn the game off, even if they were down by a couple runs going late into the game, but how quickly that pendulum swings back to the point we all sit, wait and watch for that other shoe to drop.
MetsFan4Decades
8/12/2011-1:53pm at 1:53 pm (UTC -4)
Two big factors stand out for me on this 2011 season:
- injuries
- quality pitching
I thought 2009 was bad, 2010 was annoying but 2011 was completely disappointing. Losing Reyes twice, losing Ike for the season, holding our breath on Beltran, missing a month or better of Paulino, season lost for Johan and Young – are just a few reasons why yet another year we weren’t competing for a post season berth. I would have added poor Murph to this list but the season was basically over by the time he went down.
Doesn’t help that our BP is basically one big crap shoot.
Since we were losing Beltran anyway, I’m ecstatic on what the return was for that trade. Just as happy with unloading KRod’s contract as well. I’ll be curious who we actually get back in that trade but even if it doesn’t pan out, the 17.5 MIL savings alone was worth it.
Looking forward to 2012. Things I want to see happen:
- Reyes signed
- Ike back on the field
- BP overhauled
- Johan back on the mound
- bring in one quality SP
I’m assuming Murphy will be ready to go but I’m not exactly sure if he’ll still be here. I’ll bet once ST starts, Sandy will be shopping him around to see what we might get in return. If not, I’ll be just as happy if he starts the year at 2nd base. Right now, I still think he’s our best bet in the short term.
In the meantime, I still tune into every game daily. It’s still NY Met baseball and you never know what you’re going to see.
Anonymous
8/12/2011-2:45pm at 2:45 pm (UTC -4)
Complete BP overhaul is an understatement. You basically a whole new pen, minus Beato and Carasco, and Beato isn’t a given to stay on the Major League team next year. Parnell is a mess, no way Iggy or Izzy are back. Acosta is, well, Acosta. Byrdak is 113 years old. Soooooo, new closer, new setup man, new LOOGY & ROOGY, no clue on the long man… It’s going to be some busy BP action, for sure. I wonder if Nathan will be offered Arb or not. I’m under the impression the Twins will hold onto Capps, but not Nathan.
As to your comment on a SP, I’d go as far to say they need 2. 1 that is a solid, non-injury concern and then a flyer on an injury type. Cap hasn’t been all that impressive, but I would certainly consider him to come back, especially with his flexibility to pitch out of the BP, if needed. Knowing Santana’s injury and there are no signs that he’ll return to anything Santana-esque like, We are still looking at a Niese, Dickey, Gee, Pelf and (insert Cap, Schwinden, off season signing, etc. etc.). Hopefully Santana can be that spot, but I’m not convinced he can be. I’ll see it when I believe it.
Anonymous
8/12/2011-3:08pm at 3:08 pm (UTC -4)
nathan coming back home would make a nice newsday feature until he blew his arm out again.
i doubt his option is picked up (i think 12.3m).
Anonymous
8/12/2011-3:15pm at 3:15 pm (UTC -4)
I certainly would prefer something more stable, but I thought he would profile nicely as an “Alderson Reclamation Project on the Cheap” ® . While it is wise to not lose potential draft picks for the up coming years, it is really going to limit just how well the BP is built back up. I’m thinking there will be more than just 1 high risk/reward signing.
MetsFan4Decades
8/12/2011-4:04pm at 4:04 pm (UTC -4)
I too would like to see 2 SPs but didn’t want to sound greedy.
Schwinden is not really impressing me down there. I see him more as a 6/7 starter for depth. You suggestion is the better idea. Although to get a quality type solid pitcher back we’re going to have to give up something.
If only this were 2013 next year, we’d have a few more pitching options available.
TRS86
8/12/2011-7:33pm at 7:33 pm (UTC -4)
Guys I am almost certain the most we will get for the rotation will be another Cap type. They will not be ready to cut the ties on Pelfrey and who else are you replacing? Gee? There are not many mid-rotation guys available and virtually no aces.
MetsFan4Decades
8/12/2011-8:08pm at 8:08 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, I wasn’t expecting an ace but what happens if Johan isn’t ready to go April next year?
Rotation is: Pelf/Dicky/Niese/Gee and who?
TRS86
8/12/2011-9:04pm at 9:04 pm (UTC -4)
Most likely Cap or someone similar. There is just not much on the market. I like Wilson but with this market he could get vastly overpaid.
Anonymous
8/12/2011-2:26pm at 2:26 pm (UTC -4)
Nicely done..
Ceetar
8/12/2011-5:37pm at 5:37 pm (UTC -4)
All this shows is that basicaly the Mets are no different than any other team. Things that you expect to fit into your “Mets profile” don’t happen, because they’re not actually more likely to happen to the Mets. A lot of the perception about the ‘type’ of team a franchise is is all media driven narrative. Like how Derek Jeter is a better postseason player than Carlos Beltran. (not true)