The Phillies hold a two-nothing lead over the Brewers in a best of five series. One more and Philadelphia moves on to face the winner of the Dodgers-Cubs series. This may sound immature on my part but I really do not care who wins the Brewers-Phillies series.
The Phills beat the Mets for the NL East title two years in a row. I really do not have any love for this team or even the players on the team. I have a hard time cheering for the Phillies. I might have a little stronger stomach for the Brewers, but not by much. After all, it was the last day of the seasons that Milwaukee officially knocked out the Mets from the wildcard.
I realize that really neither the Phillies nor the Brewers knocked the Mets out. The team that beat the Mets this year, and last year as well, was the Mets. They played awful down the stretch and can only blame themselves for their disappointing seasons.
I would like to see the Cubs move on. That may not seem likely right now but they had the best record in the National League. In addition, it has been too long since the Cubs have been to a World Series. It would be interesting and fun to see it happen (assuming it won’t be the Mets and this year it cannot be).
Stay tuned for some upcoming post in terms of what the Mets should do, or should not do during the off-season and my argument as to why Johan Santana deserves consideration, serious consideration, for NL Cy Young Award winner.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Schleptember Morn
“Again?”
“Yes, Again.”
“Surprised?”
“Unfortunately, NO!”
This was not a real conversation but it very well could have been the way a conversation went yesterday with any of my friends. In typical Met fashion, the team waited for the last day of the season to officially be eliminated.
Sure the bullpen was a problem, as it has been for the better part of the season but this team has been one of the most “unclutch” hitting teams I have ever seen. The offensive numbers are good but look at how well they did with a runner on third and less than two outs. How often were they able to get that run home? Look at the team batting average in clutch situations and I think you will see some pathetic numbers.
A friend of mine told me last year he read an article that was title Schleptember, it was about how, while many teams sprint to the finish line during baseball season, the Mets just Schlep along. That is exactly what happened again this year. It was not the historic collapse of last year but it was pathetic.
Personally, I like Jerry Manuel and think he has earned the right to stay. Omar may need to go as he brought (and bought) us a team that was too old. Minaya’s comment about how last year the Mets underachieved but this year they overachieved was just plan dumb. They would not have gone out and brought in someone like Johan Santana if they did not think he would help get them to post season. Obviously, they fell short once again.
So, what about changes for next year? As far as I am concerned, Keep Wright and Reyes in the infield, keep this kid Daniel Murphy in the outfield and keep Santana and Pelfrey as two key pitchers. This doesn’t mean that everyone else should be traded but I would see what you can get. I certainly think they need to get younger. That means that Delgado, Castillo, Alou, even Taits (who did an amazing job filling in) need to go. They need to get at least one more starter (I would not pay what Ollie is going to cost, I don’t know about Maine and I would dump Pedro). If the Mets could sign CC, that would give them a strong 1-2-3 punch. And, I certainly would revamp the bullpen, from top to bottom. I do not think Wagner is coming back and even if he did, I think they need a new closer. And, I would get rid of Minaya.
The last thing I would like to see happen, but I know it won’t, is for me to give up on this team, stop following them and not let them do this sort of thing to me anymore.
Due to the upcoming holidays, I probably will not be posting over the next couple of days but I will be entering a new post shortly after that making an argument for Santana as NL Cy Young Award winner. It won’t happen but he certainly deserves it.
“Yes, Again.”
“Surprised?”
“Unfortunately, NO!”
This was not a real conversation but it very well could have been the way a conversation went yesterday with any of my friends. In typical Met fashion, the team waited for the last day of the season to officially be eliminated.
Sure the bullpen was a problem, as it has been for the better part of the season but this team has been one of the most “unclutch” hitting teams I have ever seen. The offensive numbers are good but look at how well they did with a runner on third and less than two outs. How often were they able to get that run home? Look at the team batting average in clutch situations and I think you will see some pathetic numbers.
A friend of mine told me last year he read an article that was title Schleptember, it was about how, while many teams sprint to the finish line during baseball season, the Mets just Schlep along. That is exactly what happened again this year. It was not the historic collapse of last year but it was pathetic.
Personally, I like Jerry Manuel and think he has earned the right to stay. Omar may need to go as he brought (and bought) us a team that was too old. Minaya’s comment about how last year the Mets underachieved but this year they overachieved was just plan dumb. They would not have gone out and brought in someone like Johan Santana if they did not think he would help get them to post season. Obviously, they fell short once again.
So, what about changes for next year? As far as I am concerned, Keep Wright and Reyes in the infield, keep this kid Daniel Murphy in the outfield and keep Santana and Pelfrey as two key pitchers. This doesn’t mean that everyone else should be traded but I would see what you can get. I certainly think they need to get younger. That means that Delgado, Castillo, Alou, even Taits (who did an amazing job filling in) need to go. They need to get at least one more starter (I would not pay what Ollie is going to cost, I don’t know about Maine and I would dump Pedro). If the Mets could sign CC, that would give them a strong 1-2-3 punch. And, I certainly would revamp the bullpen, from top to bottom. I do not think Wagner is coming back and even if he did, I think they need a new closer. And, I would get rid of Minaya.
The last thing I would like to see happen, but I know it won’t, is for me to give up on this team, stop following them and not let them do this sort of thing to me anymore.
Due to the upcoming holidays, I probably will not be posting over the next couple of days but I will be entering a new post shortly after that making an argument for Santana as NL Cy Young Award winner. It won’t happen but he certainly deserves it.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Gangsta
It was a great win for the Mets yesterday. Make no mistake about it. Despite my post from yesterday, it was great. Jerry Manuel, when asked about Johan’s performance after the game, said his pitcher was “Gangsta,” and I have to agree. Manuel also said that as the Mets head into tomorrow’s game (now, today, game 162), it would be impossible for his players not to be pumped up and excited.
This is where Manuel and I part company. I have mixed reactions about yesterday’s game. Watching Santana pitch was amazing. He pitched such a beautiful, dominant game, a complete game despite throwing a career high number of pitches three days earlier. Santana has made it so the final game of the season (unless we need a tiebreaker) means something (which some help from Milwaukee which lost to a Cubs team sitting most of its regulars).
My fear is, last year is still fresh in my mind. Last year the Mets should have been pumped for the final game of the season after pulling back even with the Phillies in the wildcard. Last year, following the game of John Maine’s life, with Tom Glavine (perhaps the ace of the staff) going, he allowed seven first inning runs and the season was over. To have the Mets win yesterday only to have my heart ripped out today is a real fear. I don’t believe they will automatically be pumped. I don’t believe that Oliver Perez will definitely pitch a great game. And, to a point that Gary, Keith and Ron made yesterday about the fans, particularly not being involved during Friday’s game, I think the problem was the Mets were trailing before they even came to bat; the Marlins took the crowd out of the game early. I fear that could happen again this year.
Yesterday’s win means nothing if the Mets don’t get the wildcard. Sorry, but that is exactly the way I feel. With C.C. Sabathia going for the Brewers today, the Mets have to go out and win. I realize that Sabathia is going on three days rest for something like the fourth straight time, I realize that the Cubs beat him a couple of weeks ago and I realize that the Cubs will be starting their regular lineup and that could help the Mets. Still, it is their ace and, of course, the Mets ace will not be pitching today.
If both teams do win, it will be interesting to see how a one game playoff goes as neither team will be able to use its ace. I believe I heard that the Mets would use Pedro if it came to that. Part of me thinks that would be good since he has dealt with these pressure situations before. Part of me thinks it would be bad since he has not had a great year. All of me wants a Met win today coupled with a Brewers loss so we do not even need to worry about a tiebreaker.
Let’s Go Mets!
This is where Manuel and I part company. I have mixed reactions about yesterday’s game. Watching Santana pitch was amazing. He pitched such a beautiful, dominant game, a complete game despite throwing a career high number of pitches three days earlier. Santana has made it so the final game of the season (unless we need a tiebreaker) means something (which some help from Milwaukee which lost to a Cubs team sitting most of its regulars).
My fear is, last year is still fresh in my mind. Last year the Mets should have been pumped for the final game of the season after pulling back even with the Phillies in the wildcard. Last year, following the game of John Maine’s life, with Tom Glavine (perhaps the ace of the staff) going, he allowed seven first inning runs and the season was over. To have the Mets win yesterday only to have my heart ripped out today is a real fear. I don’t believe they will automatically be pumped. I don’t believe that Oliver Perez will definitely pitch a great game. And, to a point that Gary, Keith and Ron made yesterday about the fans, particularly not being involved during Friday’s game, I think the problem was the Mets were trailing before they even came to bat; the Marlins took the crowd out of the game early. I fear that could happen again this year.
Yesterday’s win means nothing if the Mets don’t get the wildcard. Sorry, but that is exactly the way I feel. With C.C. Sabathia going for the Brewers today, the Mets have to go out and win. I realize that Sabathia is going on three days rest for something like the fourth straight time, I realize that the Cubs beat him a couple of weeks ago and I realize that the Cubs will be starting their regular lineup and that could help the Mets. Still, it is their ace and, of course, the Mets ace will not be pitching today.
If both teams do win, it will be interesting to see how a one game playoff goes as neither team will be able to use its ace. I believe I heard that the Mets would use Pedro if it came to that. Part of me thinks that would be good since he has dealt with these pressure situations before. Part of me thinks it would be bad since he has not had a great year. All of me wants a Met win today coupled with a Brewers loss so we do not even need to worry about a tiebreaker.
Let’s Go Mets!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Thanks... ... ... ... FOR NOTHING!
Folks,
I’d like to tell you not to worry, that I truly believe the Mets will still come back and claim the wildcard spot. I’d like to tell you that since the Phills have not yet clinched the division, I truly think the Mets could take the NL East title. I would like to tell you that the Mets won’t choke. These are the things I would like to tell you; unfortunately I can’t. This team is toast, they are done and once again, instead of making it easy (or easier) on Met fans, they have found a way to RIP THE HEARTS out of those who loyally follow this team.
Years ago, back in 1977, when the Yankees made that remarkable comeback against the Redsox, then Redsox’s first baseman George Scott uttered a quote that has stuck with me for all these years. As the Yankees were turning up the pressure and heading to Boston for a three game set, Scott said the only definition of choke he knew was when someone put their hands around your neck and started to strangle you. The announcer, playing this comment in retrospect, at the end of the season after the Yankees ended up winning the World Series, said of the Scott quote, “That was exactly what the Yankees did (putting their hands around Boston’s collective throats).
Right now, it appears the difference between the ’77 Redsox and the 2008 Mets is, the Mets are the ones putting their hands around their own throats. Two years in a row we are going to be finished off by the Florida Marlins. This is Pathetic. The Mets should be embarrassed but they won’t be. They still get the millions of dollars (in large part because we fans are stupid enough to pay for tickets to see this team).
I would like to tell you that things will be easier this year because they screwed up last year so they have programmed fans to expect a collapse. I’d like to tell you that since the Mets never had such a huge lead this year, it is not as disappointing. I can’t honestly say these things.
This is the first time in a month that the Mets have not had at least a share of the lead in the NL East or the Wildcard. They picked a hell of a time to do it and as a result, I would like to tell you I am giving up on this team. I can’t do that either. I am just a stupid fan who continues to follow this team and hope, even expect, they will perform and come through.
They say the classic definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. I continue to follow them and continue to expect them to be able to get into post-season. I guess that makes me insane and makes it time to see a Psychiatrist.
I’d like to tell you not to worry, that I truly believe the Mets will still come back and claim the wildcard spot. I’d like to tell you that since the Phills have not yet clinched the division, I truly think the Mets could take the NL East title. I would like to tell you that the Mets won’t choke. These are the things I would like to tell you; unfortunately I can’t. This team is toast, they are done and once again, instead of making it easy (or easier) on Met fans, they have found a way to RIP THE HEARTS out of those who loyally follow this team.
Years ago, back in 1977, when the Yankees made that remarkable comeback against the Redsox, then Redsox’s first baseman George Scott uttered a quote that has stuck with me for all these years. As the Yankees were turning up the pressure and heading to Boston for a three game set, Scott said the only definition of choke he knew was when someone put their hands around your neck and started to strangle you. The announcer, playing this comment in retrospect, at the end of the season after the Yankees ended up winning the World Series, said of the Scott quote, “That was exactly what the Yankees did (putting their hands around Boston’s collective throats).
Right now, it appears the difference between the ’77 Redsox and the 2008 Mets is, the Mets are the ones putting their hands around their own throats. Two years in a row we are going to be finished off by the Florida Marlins. This is Pathetic. The Mets should be embarrassed but they won’t be. They still get the millions of dollars (in large part because we fans are stupid enough to pay for tickets to see this team).
I would like to tell you that things will be easier this year because they screwed up last year so they have programmed fans to expect a collapse. I’d like to tell you that since the Mets never had such a huge lead this year, it is not as disappointing. I can’t honestly say these things.
This is the first time in a month that the Mets have not had at least a share of the lead in the NL East or the Wildcard. They picked a hell of a time to do it and as a result, I would like to tell you I am giving up on this team. I can’t do that either. I am just a stupid fan who continues to follow this team and hope, even expect, they will perform and come through.
They say the classic definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. I continue to follow them and continue to expect them to be able to get into post-season. I guess that makes me insane and makes it time to see a Psychiatrist.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Finally!
The Mets managed to stop the bleeding. I don’t know, however, if this is just a temporary measure or a permanent measure. The Mets gave up a lead but managed to fight to come back and tie the game. Yesterday’s game had a very different feeling than the night before. The night before you could feel the Mets trying to find a way to lose the game. Yesterday, I really got the impression they wanted to win.
Unlike the previous night, this time the Mets managed to score a ninth inning run. At the time, it ensured that the Mets would have at least a share of the wildcard lead. Milwaukee, scoring four runs in the tenth, ultimately did make sure it was a tie for the wildcard lead. The truth is, the only reason the two teams are tied right now has to do with the Mets inability to play over the past week. That is why it was so refreshing to see them win a ballgame.
The problem is trying to figure out if the Mets are just toying with their fans, trying to find a new way to break our hearts or if the Mets truly are going to play strong baseball over the last three games of the season. I am disgusted the Mets are not in first in the NL East and I am disgusted that the Mets are tied for first for the wildcard instead of being in first. Still, they have to deal with where they are right now. Last night, they finally did that in an appropriate manner.
Let’s Go Mets!
Unlike the previous night, this time the Mets managed to score a ninth inning run. At the time, it ensured that the Mets would have at least a share of the wildcard lead. Milwaukee, scoring four runs in the tenth, ultimately did make sure it was a tie for the wildcard lead. The truth is, the only reason the two teams are tied right now has to do with the Mets inability to play over the past week. That is why it was so refreshing to see them win a ballgame.
The problem is trying to figure out if the Mets are just toying with their fans, trying to find a new way to break our hearts or if the Mets truly are going to play strong baseball over the last three games of the season. I am disgusted the Mets are not in first in the NL East and I am disgusted that the Mets are tied for first for the wildcard instead of being in first. Still, they have to deal with where they are right now. Last night, they finally did that in an appropriate manner.
Let’s Go Mets!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Runner On Third But...
In watching last night’s game, I couldn’t help but feel the Mets did not want to win the game. The kept handing it to the Cubs. Chicago, with nothing left to gain, tried to help the Mets at every juncture but the Mets simply turned down the offer every time.
A Carlos Delgado grand slam gave the Mets a 5-1 lead. Ollie decided to give it back to the Cubs and the Cubs took a 6-5 lead. So the pitching was not there. What was more troubling was the lack of offense. The Mets had a runner on third with less than two outs in the seventh inning, the eighth and the ninth yet the only run they scored was on a bases loaded walk in the eighth with two outs. Had the Cubs not tried to help the Mets, the game would have been over in nine innings but the bases loaded walk actually gave the Mets a chance to win.
In the ninth inning, Daniel Murphy led off with a triple. A runner on third and no one out! That forces the opponent, in this case the Cubs, to play the infield and the outfield in. Pinella decided to pitch to Wright and David after working the count to 3-0 ended up striking out—Runner on third and one man out. Pinella than had the Cubs walk the Carloses to load the bases. The problem is once you get to the sixth spot in the order, with Church not yet hitting, the Mets have no one. Church grounded into a force out to the second baseman who threw the lead runner, Murphy, out at home and there were two out. Castro made an out for the third out and we went to extra innings. What was so frustrating was this was not the first golden opportunity the Mets squandered.
After the Cubs got the Mets out in the bottom of the ninth, not allowing a run to score, I turned off the game. I knew at this point the Mets did not want it and that they were not going to win this game. I would have loved to be proven wrong but alas, it was not to be.
I have big doubts, especially with Pedro on the mound tomorrow but hopefully they can turn it around.
Let’s Go Mets!
A Carlos Delgado grand slam gave the Mets a 5-1 lead. Ollie decided to give it back to the Cubs and the Cubs took a 6-5 lead. So the pitching was not there. What was more troubling was the lack of offense. The Mets had a runner on third with less than two outs in the seventh inning, the eighth and the ninth yet the only run they scored was on a bases loaded walk in the eighth with two outs. Had the Cubs not tried to help the Mets, the game would have been over in nine innings but the bases loaded walk actually gave the Mets a chance to win.
In the ninth inning, Daniel Murphy led off with a triple. A runner on third and no one out! That forces the opponent, in this case the Cubs, to play the infield and the outfield in. Pinella decided to pitch to Wright and David after working the count to 3-0 ended up striking out—Runner on third and one man out. Pinella than had the Cubs walk the Carloses to load the bases. The problem is once you get to the sixth spot in the order, with Church not yet hitting, the Mets have no one. Church grounded into a force out to the second baseman who threw the lead runner, Murphy, out at home and there were two out. Castro made an out for the third out and we went to extra innings. What was so frustrating was this was not the first golden opportunity the Mets squandered.
After the Cubs got the Mets out in the bottom of the ninth, not allowing a run to score, I turned off the game. I knew at this point the Mets did not want it and that they were not going to win this game. I would have loved to be proven wrong but alas, it was not to be.
I have big doubts, especially with Pedro on the mound tomorrow but hopefully they can turn it around.
Let’s Go Mets!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
High Pitch Count
I’ve got a really tight schedule today so I am keeping this really short. I simply want to say how thrilled I was to see the Mets win yesterday. In addition, it was nice to see Johan Santana throw more pitches than he has before; never in his career had he thrown as many pitches as he did last night.
I like the fact that Jerry Manuel was willing to do it and I liked the fact that Santana did it and did not complain. Certainly I hope that it does not have any damaging effects on Johan’s career. I certainly do not think it will and it may make him an even more durable and valuable pitcher. Still, there is the little bit of concern but I was thrilled he want as deep as he did.
Hopefully they can win another one today!
Let’s Go Mets!
I like the fact that Jerry Manuel was willing to do it and I liked the fact that Santana did it and did not complain. Certainly I hope that it does not have any damaging effects on Johan’s career. I certainly do not think it will and it may make him an even more durable and valuable pitcher. Still, there is the little bit of concern but I was thrilled he want as deep as he did.
Hopefully they can win another one today!
Let’s Go Mets!
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