So, the Mets lost 6-4 yesterday. I am never thrilled when they lose but I know it is part of the game; no team has ever gone 162-0. Still, the way the lost yesterday was very frustrating. First of all, it is the same story with Oliver Perez as I want to say, “Will the real Ollie please stand up”. He was given a four nothing lead, he was sailing along and then came the fifth inning. Ollie, with all the money you are getting paid, with the fact that you think you are a “real” pitcher, I suggest you learn how to keep a lead. If this was a rare occurrence, I wouldn’t say anything but it’s not. Oliver Perez is the most inconsistent pitcher around.
Then we have the base running mistakes made by the Mets. Perhaps Beltran was right to try and score in the eighth and certainly Molina is an accomplished defensive catcher. Still, when three outs are made on the base paths, something is not right.
Of course there is also the mater of the defense. Certainly the Mets should have played better in the field. Certainly Daniel Murphy needs to make “the play”. It just seems to me that right now everything is not coming together for the Mets. If this team wants to be taken seriously, they better start playing like they want to win.
Let’s Go Mets!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Speaking Against Sheffield
Perhaps I am in the minority but I am very disappointed that the Mets signed Gary Sheffield. I have a number of reasons. The biggest one is this farce that he has always wanted to play for the Mets. WHAT??!?? It was a few years ago when the Mets and the Yankees were talking about swapping Mike Cameron for Gary Sheffield. Personally I preferred Cameron back then but that is not where I am going with this. It was Sheffield who said he did not want to play for the Mets (or any other team). Sheffield said he would not play hard for any other team and if it got him in trouble, he would simply retire.
Someone explain to me how the above remarks are the comments of someone who has “Always wanted to play for the Mets,” which is what both Sheffield and Omar Minaya are saying. He had the opportunity to come to Shea (yes, at the time, it was Shea) and he said he didn’t want to. He said he wouldn’t play hard for the Mets. He said he would sooner retire than play for the Mets. But, of course, he has always wanted to play for the Mets.
This also shows the problem one gets with his personality. How can a team want anyone who says he is not going to try his hardest? Okay, maybe once in a while you have a lapse, you’re exhausted, you don’t try as hard as you should but, to say you are not even going to try? What kind of nonsense is that?
Then there is the fact of what his numbers were during spring training. It is not like he was hitting the cover off the baseball. His average was pretty low, under 200 I believe. Sheffield’s power numbers were down. The fact that the Tigers released him while still paying him all that money should really show what they think of his playing ability.
Perhaps with the dollar amount so low, the Mets had to take a chance. Perhaps they thought to another player they were able to obtain very cheaply, that being John Olerud and decided it was worth the gamble. Perhaps it is worth the gamble, perhaps things will work out for the Mets but I know if I were the owners and management of the Mets, I wouldn’t go after him.
And think about it, I got through this post without even needing to talk about his defense as another reason not to sign Sheffield.
Someone explain to me how the above remarks are the comments of someone who has “Always wanted to play for the Mets,” which is what both Sheffield and Omar Minaya are saying. He had the opportunity to come to Shea (yes, at the time, it was Shea) and he said he didn’t want to. He said he wouldn’t play hard for the Mets. He said he would sooner retire than play for the Mets. But, of course, he has always wanted to play for the Mets.
This also shows the problem one gets with his personality. How can a team want anyone who says he is not going to try his hardest? Okay, maybe once in a while you have a lapse, you’re exhausted, you don’t try as hard as you should but, to say you are not even going to try? What kind of nonsense is that?
Then there is the fact of what his numbers were during spring training. It is not like he was hitting the cover off the baseball. His average was pretty low, under 200 I believe. Sheffield’s power numbers were down. The fact that the Tigers released him while still paying him all that money should really show what they think of his playing ability.
Perhaps with the dollar amount so low, the Mets had to take a chance. Perhaps they thought to another player they were able to obtain very cheaply, that being John Olerud and decided it was worth the gamble. Perhaps it is worth the gamble, perhaps things will work out for the Mets but I know if I were the owners and management of the Mets, I wouldn’t go after him.
And think about it, I got through this post without even needing to talk about his defense as another reason not to sign Sheffield.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Let's Go Mets!
Baseball season is underway and it is time for me to get back to posting on this blog. I have a number of thoughts and will probably be posting a number of them over the next few days. First, let’s take a look at the Mets and discuss my thoughts on how they look this year.
There play has not been terrible but they certainly have not gotten off to a terrific start and I have my concerns (I did heading into the season). While I give Omar credit for addressing concerns about the bullpen, I still think it has some problems. If the Mets have a lead after seven innings, we are in good shape with Putz and K-Rod. If, however, the starter does not go seven innings, I have my concerns. A number of the arms are new and/or unproven and I have concerns. Beyond that, Jerry Manual seems to really like the lefty-righty switch. How long can you go with using three different pitchers in one inning because you keep switching a lefty for a righty? Put a guy in there and have some faith!
Starting pitching is also a concern. I like Livan Hernandez as the number five starter and certainly I like Johan as the number one starter. Pelfrey, who is probably the number two starter is still unproven. Last year he came into his own in the middle of the season and did well but he has yet to show great numbers for a full year. Ollie is WAY TOO inconsistent and John Maine is coming back from an injury. Sure, there is no indication that Maine is suffering effects of the injury but he still has to show he can come back strong.
I have concerns about Delgado at first and hope his resurgence the second part of last year is the real deal. Castillo at second looks much better than he did last year but we are dropping him to the number 8 spot and expecting much better numbers from him. That is cause for concern. Reyes and Wright at SS and 3rd I like.
I like Daniel Murphy but he is still unproven. Beltran has put up some good numbers but still, as far as I am concerned, has not developed into the type of player making the money he is getting or the type of player we saw for Houston a few years ago during the Playoffs. Church in Right is still coming back from his injury and I don’t know how he will fair. As for Gary Sheffield, I have MEGA problems with him playing the outfield (and playing on the Mets) but that is for tomorrow.
Hopefully, everything comes together this year, despite my concerns, and they have a FANTASTIC season.
Let’s Go Mets!
There play has not been terrible but they certainly have not gotten off to a terrific start and I have my concerns (I did heading into the season). While I give Omar credit for addressing concerns about the bullpen, I still think it has some problems. If the Mets have a lead after seven innings, we are in good shape with Putz and K-Rod. If, however, the starter does not go seven innings, I have my concerns. A number of the arms are new and/or unproven and I have concerns. Beyond that, Jerry Manual seems to really like the lefty-righty switch. How long can you go with using three different pitchers in one inning because you keep switching a lefty for a righty? Put a guy in there and have some faith!
Starting pitching is also a concern. I like Livan Hernandez as the number five starter and certainly I like Johan as the number one starter. Pelfrey, who is probably the number two starter is still unproven. Last year he came into his own in the middle of the season and did well but he has yet to show great numbers for a full year. Ollie is WAY TOO inconsistent and John Maine is coming back from an injury. Sure, there is no indication that Maine is suffering effects of the injury but he still has to show he can come back strong.
I have concerns about Delgado at first and hope his resurgence the second part of last year is the real deal. Castillo at second looks much better than he did last year but we are dropping him to the number 8 spot and expecting much better numbers from him. That is cause for concern. Reyes and Wright at SS and 3rd I like.
I like Daniel Murphy but he is still unproven. Beltran has put up some good numbers but still, as far as I am concerned, has not developed into the type of player making the money he is getting or the type of player we saw for Houston a few years ago during the Playoffs. Church in Right is still coming back from his injury and I don’t know how he will fair. As for Gary Sheffield, I have MEGA problems with him playing the outfield (and playing on the Mets) but that is for tomorrow.
Hopefully, everything comes together this year, despite my concerns, and they have a FANTASTIC season.
Let’s Go Mets!
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