Well, the winning streak stops at one. I had hoped the Mets would get on a role heading to the All-Star game but alas, that was not to happen. Despite the loss, I actually felt there were some big positives out of yesterday’s game. Mike Pelfrey looked sharper. That is good. Still, he does need to start winning games.
The second part of the game I liked was Willie Randolph’s reaction to Jose Reyes not running out a play. Reyes is one hell of a ballplayer. It is fun watching him and he is the catalyst for the team. Still, Randolph let it be known he was not going to show favoritism. If he is willing to pull Reyes from the game then seemingly he would be willing to pull anyone from the game.
Randolph also showed that despite players having so much control in this day and age, he still was going to show a strong backbone and insist that things are done his way. I tip my hat to Randolph for doing this.
Now comes the tough part. Somehow, he has to motivate them to go on a tear, on a long winning streak. There have been some well pitched ballgames against them this year but good teams need to find a way to win. Also, last year when the Mets scored first, or when they scored in the first inning, they had a remarkable record. This year they are playing closer to .500 when they score in the first inning. They need to go back to the formula that worked for them last year, basically scoring early and often.
I still fully expect the Mets to finish first in the NL East but I would like to see them improve on last year and that means going to the World Series and of course, if they are there, are want them to win. I do think they have the right manager at the helm, they just need to start playing more consistent.
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Friday, July 6, 2007
Appreciating The Other Teams
Well, it is good to see the Mets snap their four game losing streak. I hope they now put a winning streak together. It is amazing how much more enjoyable a game is when your team is playing well. Part of this is obvious. When your team is going well, you have a better chance of seeing them win than lose, and winning is more enjoyable. There is another part as well, however.
With the Mets winning four to nothing, I saw the Astro right fielder, Luke Scott, make a nice play on a ball hit by the Mets. After the catch was made my reaction was, "nice catch". I think I even said that out loud despite the fact no one was watching with me. Had the Mets been losing, or had it been close, I might not have said that or felt that way. With them winning, it did not seem to bother me to see such a nice play made.
I have always tried to exhibit good sportsmanship as a fan. I do enjoy seeing well played games. Nice plays in the field are enjoyable to watch (especially when made by my team). When the team goes well, it is just so much easier to do that. I hope the Mets go on a tear now that takes them past the All-Star game and that I am able to enjoy the play of not only my team, but of others as a result.
As for tonight’s game, let us hope that Mike Pelfrey comes through and shows just what a talent he can be. It is time for him to end his losing streak and put it altogether. That would certainly give their pitching a boost, and as mentioned in a couple of previous posts, their pitching could certainly use a lift (beyond the one they got from John Maine yesterday).
With the Mets winning four to nothing, I saw the Astro right fielder, Luke Scott, make a nice play on a ball hit by the Mets. After the catch was made my reaction was, "nice catch". I think I even said that out loud despite the fact no one was watching with me. Had the Mets been losing, or had it been close, I might not have said that or felt that way. With them winning, it did not seem to bother me to see such a nice play made.
I have always tried to exhibit good sportsmanship as a fan. I do enjoy seeing well played games. Nice plays in the field are enjoyable to watch (especially when made by my team). When the team goes well, it is just so much easier to do that. I hope the Mets go on a tear now that takes them past the All-Star game and that I am able to enjoy the play of not only my team, but of others as a result.
As for tonight’s game, let us hope that Mike Pelfrey comes through and shows just what a talent he can be. It is time for him to end his losing streak and put it altogether. That would certainly give their pitching a boost, and as mentioned in a couple of previous posts, their pitching could certainly use a lift (beyond the one they got from John Maine yesterday).
Thursday, July 5, 2007
We Need Pitching Help
During this past off-season, I watched closely what the Mets would do in regard to their starting pitching problems. Would they try and sign Barry Zito (who ended up being heavily overpaid by the Giants)? Would they go after another pitcher in the free agent market? Maybe they would trade for someone? I, along with most Met fans, fully expected to see them do something. They didn’t.
Much to my surprise, when the season started, the pitching was doing remarkably well. Tom Glavine looked like he was getting younger, Orlando Hernandez pitched well and John Maine was looking more like an ace of the staff than a number three starter, who one year earlier when picked up in a trade did not seem like anything special. The most pleasantly surprising pitcher, however, was Oliver Perez, who seemed to return to the form he showed when he first broke in to the majors.
Now, as we are one series away from the All-Star game, the pitching is looking more like I thought it would early on. Glavine is looking shaky, at best. Hernandez is very inconsistent. Maine, after having a strong beginning is unreliable. While Perez has had a few rocky starts (no pun intended), he has looked pretty good. Now, however, he is on the disabled list. With the exception of the fact that he did not even make the team out of spring training, you can say almost the exact same thing about Jorge Sosa that I just did about Oliver Perez. Still, with those two pitchers on the DL, it makes it a little tougher.
I am not suggesting we hit the panic button. I Know Pedro Martinez is progressing nicely. I know Perez and Sosa will be coming back. Still, The front office needs to do something. Glavine and quite possibly Hernandez will not be around after the season, and even if they are they will be a year older and should not be considered reliable. Even Pedro will be questionable at best. That leaves us with Sosa, Perez and Maine, and I still have questions as to whether or not they are the real deal.
Like I did during the off season, I will be watching closely, hoping to see the Mets pick up a starter. The important thing here is, whatever pitcher they get, they need to be committed to signing and keeping for a while. I do not want a rent a pitcher. I want to see the Mets build a dynasty. They have some good young players to build around. They need a young, proven, reliable starter to go with the rest of the talent.
Regardless of what they do, or when they do it, hopefully things will go better in Houston than they did with the Rockies. LETS GO METS!
Much to my surprise, when the season started, the pitching was doing remarkably well. Tom Glavine looked like he was getting younger, Orlando Hernandez pitched well and John Maine was looking more like an ace of the staff than a number three starter, who one year earlier when picked up in a trade did not seem like anything special. The most pleasantly surprising pitcher, however, was Oliver Perez, who seemed to return to the form he showed when he first broke in to the majors.
Now, as we are one series away from the All-Star game, the pitching is looking more like I thought it would early on. Glavine is looking shaky, at best. Hernandez is very inconsistent. Maine, after having a strong beginning is unreliable. While Perez has had a few rocky starts (no pun intended), he has looked pretty good. Now, however, he is on the disabled list. With the exception of the fact that he did not even make the team out of spring training, you can say almost the exact same thing about Jorge Sosa that I just did about Oliver Perez. Still, with those two pitchers on the DL, it makes it a little tougher.
I am not suggesting we hit the panic button. I Know Pedro Martinez is progressing nicely. I know Perez and Sosa will be coming back. Still, The front office needs to do something. Glavine and quite possibly Hernandez will not be around after the season, and even if they are they will be a year older and should not be considered reliable. Even Pedro will be questionable at best. That leaves us with Sosa, Perez and Maine, and I still have questions as to whether or not they are the real deal.
Like I did during the off season, I will be watching closely, hoping to see the Mets pick up a starter. The important thing here is, whatever pitcher they get, they need to be committed to signing and keeping for a while. I do not want a rent a pitcher. I want to see the Mets build a dynasty. They have some good young players to build around. They need a young, proven, reliable starter to go with the rest of the talent.
Regardless of what they do, or when they do it, hopefully things will go better in Houston than they did with the Rockies. LETS GO METS!
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
COLORADO?
Colorado? COLORADO?!! THE COLORADO ROCKIES????!!!?!?!
I understand the Mets are still in first place. I understand that they are a good team and I should be pleased with their overall record as we head towards the All-Star game. Still, all I can think right now is COLORADO???
After a terrible start for the month of June, that lasted for more than half the month, they finally started to turn things around. Then heading into Philadelphia, they took the first three games of a four game set (and three out of four) and seemed to stiffle the momentum the Phillies had built up.
While it would have been nice to see them take a four game sweep of the Phils, certainly I was not disappointed with their performance there. Losing the last game, however, followed by a lossing two in a row to a clearly sub-par Colorado team puts them on a three game losing streak.
I know teams go through there ups and downs. This is all part of being a fan. It comes with the territory. Still good teams have more ups then downs and that has been the way it has gone for the Mets for the past few years. Now, having suffered through that rough time in June, it is time for them to create their own good fortune. Losing three in a row, after winning three in a row; losing the first two games to a weak Colorado team is not the way to do it.
Once again, I say Colorado? COLORADO?!!! THE COLORADO ROCKIES????!!!?!?!
ARGGGGGGGGGGG!!!
I understand the Mets are still in first place. I understand that they are a good team and I should be pleased with their overall record as we head towards the All-Star game. Still, all I can think right now is COLORADO???
After a terrible start for the month of June, that lasted for more than half the month, they finally started to turn things around. Then heading into Philadelphia, they took the first three games of a four game set (and three out of four) and seemed to stiffle the momentum the Phillies had built up.
While it would have been nice to see them take a four game sweep of the Phils, certainly I was not disappointed with their performance there. Losing the last game, however, followed by a lossing two in a row to a clearly sub-par Colorado team puts them on a three game losing streak.
I know teams go through there ups and downs. This is all part of being a fan. It comes with the territory. Still good teams have more ups then downs and that has been the way it has gone for the Mets for the past few years. Now, having suffered through that rough time in June, it is time for them to create their own good fortune. Losing three in a row, after winning three in a row; losing the first two games to a weak Colorado team is not the way to do it.
Once again, I say Colorado? COLORADO?!!! THE COLORADO ROCKIES????!!!?!?!
ARGGGGGGGGGGG!!!
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
In Praise of the All-Star Game
As we near the All-Star game, there is once again a lot of talk about the selection process. Did the right players get in? Are they the best? Who get left off?
As a Met fan, I am pleased to see three Mets starting the game and four actually going. So the question is, do Jose Reyes, David Wright and Carlos Beltran deserve to be starters. Does Billy Wagner deserve to be picked by the manager. Should every team have to be represented, have a least one player on the team.
I think, for the most part, the process works well. I heard, years ago, either a former baseball commissioner or player describe the importance of the fans picking the starting team. The individual explained that the game was never meant to pick the best players but rather the ones the fans most wanted to see. If a player is retiring and this is the last time to see him in an All-Star game, it could be a sentimental pick and not the best player for that position, but why should it have to be. Likewise, if a player is going to be a Hall of Famer yet his numbers for the year are not good, maybe the fans still want to see this individual play. This is the fans’ game after all.
As for every team being represented, I am in favor of that as well. Again, as a game for the fans, each and every fan should have something in which to look forward. Having suffered through years where the Mets were pitiful, it meant a lot to me to know at least one of my players would be on the team. Since there was not much in which to get excited about during the year, I could hope that maybe it would be a player from my team that would make the difference.
It is for this reason, and hers, I regret the All-Star game no means something, the winning team getting home field advantage during the World Series. The game should be the players the fans most want to see and if the game means nothing, other than bragging rights and a good time for all, it is fine if the best players are not in the game.
The other argument that is made is how big city players have an advantage over the smaller cities. Again, this is one of the advantages of making sure every team has a representative. Also, I have yet to see an All-Star game where all players have been from one team. I think the fans truly love seeing players from different teams work together. That is one of the advantages of the All-Star game.
Here’s looking forward to a great game this year.
As a Met fan, I am pleased to see three Mets starting the game and four actually going. So the question is, do Jose Reyes, David Wright and Carlos Beltran deserve to be starters. Does Billy Wagner deserve to be picked by the manager. Should every team have to be represented, have a least one player on the team.
I think, for the most part, the process works well. I heard, years ago, either a former baseball commissioner or player describe the importance of the fans picking the starting team. The individual explained that the game was never meant to pick the best players but rather the ones the fans most wanted to see. If a player is retiring and this is the last time to see him in an All-Star game, it could be a sentimental pick and not the best player for that position, but why should it have to be. Likewise, if a player is going to be a Hall of Famer yet his numbers for the year are not good, maybe the fans still want to see this individual play. This is the fans’ game after all.
As for every team being represented, I am in favor of that as well. Again, as a game for the fans, each and every fan should have something in which to look forward. Having suffered through years where the Mets were pitiful, it meant a lot to me to know at least one of my players would be on the team. Since there was not much in which to get excited about during the year, I could hope that maybe it would be a player from my team that would make the difference.
It is for this reason, and hers, I regret the All-Star game no means something, the winning team getting home field advantage during the World Series. The game should be the players the fans most want to see and if the game means nothing, other than bragging rights and a good time for all, it is fine if the best players are not in the game.
The other argument that is made is how big city players have an advantage over the smaller cities. Again, this is one of the advantages of making sure every team has a representative. Also, I have yet to see an All-Star game where all players have been from one team. I think the fans truly love seeing players from different teams work together. That is one of the advantages of the All-Star game.
Here’s looking forward to a great game this year.
Monday, July 2, 2007
Reflections on Glavine
The more I watch Tom Glavine pitch this season, the more frustrated I become. I realize in last night’s game, Glavine only had one bad inning, and outside of that he only gave up three hits. I realize Glavine is closing in on 300 wins and has been one of the best pitchers around. I also do not like to be a ‘what have you done for me lately’ type of fan. I realize Glavine’s greatness (although his numbers were clearly much better in Atlanta than they have been with the Mets). I would love to see him win 300 games and it has been pointed out, if and when he does, he may well be the last pitcher to reach that milestone.
With all this being said, I still do not feel comfortable with Glavine on the mound. He has had a number of bad starts this season (today’s game, the 7/2 game among them). Even in the games where he has not pitched poorly, it seems that whenever the Mets score a run, Glavine more often than not has been letting the opposing team get at least part of it back the very next inning. I just no longer feel comfortable with Glavine on the mound.
I can understand him wanting to hang around until he gets number 300. I can even understand the Mets wanting him to do it with them. I think once he reaches that goal, it is time to retire. I do not think he has much left to offer and he should look to hang up a great career. If he gets his 300th win, unless things really turn around, I do not know I would keep him on the post season roster (assuming they get that far).
To Tom Glavine, in all seriousness, I say thanks for all you provided to me as a fan. I hope you are remembered for your greatness and not for hanging around for win 300.
With all this being said, I still do not feel comfortable with Glavine on the mound. He has had a number of bad starts this season (today’s game, the 7/2 game among them). Even in the games where he has not pitched poorly, it seems that whenever the Mets score a run, Glavine more often than not has been letting the opposing team get at least part of it back the very next inning. I just no longer feel comfortable with Glavine on the mound.
I can understand him wanting to hang around until he gets number 300. I can even understand the Mets wanting him to do it with them. I think once he reaches that goal, it is time to retire. I do not think he has much left to offer and he should look to hang up a great career. If he gets his 300th win, unless things really turn around, I do not know I would keep him on the post season roster (assuming they get that far).
To Tom Glavine, in all seriousness, I say thanks for all you provided to me as a fan. I hope you are remembered for your greatness and not for hanging around for win 300.
Sunday, July 1, 2007
The Complete Game
As a long time Mets fan, I have little to complain about during the tenure of Willie Randolph as the Mets manager, thus far. He has seemingly pushed the right buttons and done very well. I also realize that a complete game is becoming a lost art. Still, this weekend, I saw something that I don’t understand, something that aggravated me.
John Maine was pitching a beautiful game and had a 5 to 1 lead in the eighth inning. His pitch count was fairly low and Randolph let his pitcher come to the plate to bat in the eighth. As Maine took the mound in the ninth, I (probably along with a number of Met fans) was looking forward to a complete game. I was actually excited about the possibility.
The very first batter hit a double off of Maine. In the past, when Randolph has allowed a starting pitcher to begin the ninth inning, he has given the pitcher a very short leash. I understand that and even agree with it. In this case, however, after the double was hit leading off the inning, I was surprised to see Randolph make a trip to the pitching mound.
Even if the run scored, it would have still been a 5-2 Met lead. I felt with a low pitch count and the game seemingly well in hand, Maine should have been allowed to face at least one more batter before pulling him.
As I think about the move, it still makes no sense to me. The run did eventually score. The run was charged to John Maine. The Mets did eventually win the game. Maine was not on the mound when any of this happened. Giving up a leadoff hit in the ninth does not automatically mean the pitcher is out of gas. Maybe to many fans complete games no longer mean anything. Still, I am a little bit of a throw back and would have loved to see the Mets have at least ONE complete game before the All-Star break!
John Maine was pitching a beautiful game and had a 5 to 1 lead in the eighth inning. His pitch count was fairly low and Randolph let his pitcher come to the plate to bat in the eighth. As Maine took the mound in the ninth, I (probably along with a number of Met fans) was looking forward to a complete game. I was actually excited about the possibility.
The very first batter hit a double off of Maine. In the past, when Randolph has allowed a starting pitcher to begin the ninth inning, he has given the pitcher a very short leash. I understand that and even agree with it. In this case, however, after the double was hit leading off the inning, I was surprised to see Randolph make a trip to the pitching mound.
Even if the run scored, it would have still been a 5-2 Met lead. I felt with a low pitch count and the game seemingly well in hand, Maine should have been allowed to face at least one more batter before pulling him.
As I think about the move, it still makes no sense to me. The run did eventually score. The run was charged to John Maine. The Mets did eventually win the game. Maine was not on the mound when any of this happened. Giving up a leadoff hit in the ninth does not automatically mean the pitcher is out of gas. Maybe to many fans complete games no longer mean anything. Still, I am a little bit of a throw back and would have loved to see the Mets have at least ONE complete game before the All-Star break!
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