A four game sweep, huh? I've heard those things shouldn't be so easy to achieve.

Here's to hoping the next time I see Willie Randolph, he's cleaning out my pool. Which since I don't have a pool should be a very long time.

So who's leaving the organization first, Willie Randolph or Fernando Martinez?

Can I get someone to tell me again about how the Mets are going to win 95 games and win the division by at least 5 games? I mean, they're a lock, right? Santana is going 23-5 with a 2.29 ERA in the NL, right?

Can I get someone to tell me again about how the Mets are going to win 95 games and win the division by at least 5 games? I mean, they're a lock, right? Santana is going 23-5 with a 2.29 ERA in the NL, right?

I said this (Mets winning the division by 5+ games) and I still think it is going to happen. The Braves have played phenomenally so far this season but the Mets are still within striking distance. I can see why people doubt the Mets but I still believe they are the best team in the division.

I will be more than willing to eat crow in September if this doesn't happen. But not in May.

I think the Mets need to shake up this lineup.

1) Bench Castillo for Gotay. Or AReyes. Even IPOR.

2) Bench Schneider for Castro

3) Find a spare OFer who can hit better than Endy. Maybe Pascucci.

They lost Gotay on waivers at the end of spring training... to the Braves.

Bench Castillo for Gotay.

Got some bad news for you there, Rasky...

I said this (Mets winning the division by 5+ games) and I still think it is going to happen. The Braves have played phenomenally so far this season but the Mets are still within striking distance. I can see why people doubt the Mets but I still believe they are the best team in the division.

I will be more than willing to eat crow in September if this doesn't happen. But not in May.

Uh, have you checked out the Braves expected W/L record based on their run differential? It's absurd how UNLUCKY the Braves have been this season, as evidenced by their record in 1 run games. Prior to this series with the Mets, the Braves had been playing far under expectations.

If anything, the Mets are lucky to still be within striking distance given their play thus far in 2008. That's not to say the talent isn't there- it most certainly is- but they haven't performed up to expectations (forget W/L records for a moment) either.

Let's not forget that Willie Randolph made it into the HOM! Some respect here, people!


But yeah, this looks bad. But I think things are going to have to get way worse and way later for Willie to be fired.

Got some bad news for you there, Rasky...

Living in a delusion is better than this current reality. The Gotay waivers never happened.

I just want someone fired. It's all I've ever wanted. Doesn't have to be Willie.

Uh, have you checked out the Braves expected W/L record based on their run differential? It's absurd how UNLUCKY the Braves have been this season, as evidenced by their record in 1 run games. Prior to this series with the Mets, the Braves had been playing far under expectations.

This is true but the Braves have undererperformed their W/L consistently over recent years that I am beginning there's something to it other than randomness. Second, I don't think the Braves are as good as they have played. If they are, then obviously, I'll be wrong and I'll eat crow. I'm not going anywhere and will own up to my prediction. It's just too early for me to give up on what I said.

That said, this team is now 27-35 in its last 62 games going back to last season. I think this team is talented but objectively speaking, you have to begin to doubt the quality of the team. It is what it is.

The problem is that the Mets don't just have to finish ahead of the Braves, we also have to jump ahead of Philly. Something has to change about this club soon.

Newsday: Wilpons put Mets manager Randolph on hold

As much as I'm worried that things could play out how Lassus sees them, this article makes me really believe that I really could wake up tomorrow to see Willie fired. Or not. Who knows. #### this team.

EDIT: Take a look at the poll results in that link too. As of this writing, it's

Yes. The sooner the better. (1124 responses)

39.7%

If the Mets don't improve soon, I'd give him the boot by mid-season. (747 responses)

26.4%

Only after the season if the Mets fail to make the playoffs. (393 responses)

13.9%

I support Randolph. It's the players that need to step up. (567 responses)

20.0%

This is true but the Braves have undererperformed their W/L consistently over recent years that I am beginning there's something to it other than randomness

Not true. I don't want to look it up at the moment, but I know the Braves performed above their expected W/L record just season, at least for the first half of 2007. They won an disproportionate number of one run games last year, only to have their luck flipped this year. It happens, but it proves my point that the Braves - in 2008 - had underperformed prior to this series with the Mets.

Second, I don't think the Braves are as good as they have played. If they are, then obviously, I'll be wrong and I'll eat crow. I'm not going anywhere and will own up to my prediction. It's just too early for me to give up on what I said.


What makes you think that they aren't as good as they have played when they have suffered as many injuries to key players (if not more) than the Mets have thus far in 2008? John Smoltz, Rafael Soriano, Mike Gonzalez, and Peter Moylan have all missed significant time thus far (and I'm not even counting Mike Hampton, since he's no longer really considered a piece of the puzzle)-- that's the team's #1 starting pitcher, closer, primary setup man/secondary closer, and third best reliever (and that's an arguable point given Moylan's numbers in 2007) - and still are in the position they are in today.

I'll give you credit for sticking to your guns, though, and you have every right to do so since you're standing behind your predictions. I respect that.

That said, this team is now 27-35 in its last 62 games going back to last season. I think this team is talented but objectively speaking, you have to begin to doubt the quality of the team. It is what it is.

The key going forward is the offense. And that boils down to three main things, I think. Is Reyes going to be merely good or great? Is Delgado going to be adequate or awful? Can the Mets get decent production out of left field?

The Mets need at least two of those three things to go right this season. I don't feel like laying the odds on that though.

Random question: How are the Mets hitting in the clutch this year compared to last?

Bobby Cox has to figure out left field, a starter, and keep his bullpen in order. That's a pretty darn short list for a HOF manager. If you are a Braves fan you have to like your chances.

The Phillies have lots of good players and seem to like their manager.

Florida may have the best player in the league and a history of surprises.

Solid division.......

Yeah, the "no comment" from Wilpon is encouraging.

They need a 1999 purge.

Can we clone Stalin and make him the manager of the Mets? Or GM?

Look, I'm a Braves fan but I'm not silly enough to claim our one-run games record isn't "luck". We have had some crap relief pitching. That'll go a long way to blowing games for you.

As much as I'm worried that things could play out how Lassus sees them, this article makes me really believe that I really could wake up tomorrow to see Willie fired. Or not. Who knows. #### this team.

Tom Verducci was on KNBR today with Tommy Tolbert and Ralph Barbieri, and he made a good point on this topic -- the All-Star game this year is at the Toilet and Randolph has already been selected as a coach. To fire him before then would be a huge embarrassment for both sides. He sees a Randolph sacking before the break as hugely unlikely.

I mean, seriously, say what you will about Stalin, I'm sure he would run one #### of a baseball team. Yeah, he'd burn up the whole minor league system doing it, but this is New York baby! That kind of GMing plays here!

If only Bobby V would pick up his phone.

"Moshi moshi..."

Can the Mets get decent production out of left field?

If only there were a freely available left fielder who could potentially make a difference for the Mets offense...

Besides the former Pirates who are available, I'm sure that Neal Huntington would listen to offers for Nady and Bay right now. Andrew McCutchen is hitting well at Indy (293/382/459) and Steve Pearce will eventually get back to his old slugging self. The Pirates could easily call up Cutch for CF and slide McLouth to LF the way that Nate's hitting, if they wanted to trade either Bay or Nady (playing the one that remains in RF). What would the Mets be willing to give up for Bay or Nady right now?

The problem is that the Mets don't just have to finish ahead of the Braves, we also have to jump ahead of Philly. Something has to change about this club soon.

I thought the goal was to NOT finish in second place.

What makes you think that they aren't as good as they have played

Well, I don't think Chipper Jones is going to hit .410 this year. You apparently do. I don't think McCann will post a 160 OPS+. I don't think Jurrjens is as good as a 153 ERA+. I don't think Campillo will have a 0.99 ERA at the end of the season. If you don't think the Braves players are over-performing, well, you're the biggest fanboy EVAR.

I thought the goal was to NOT finish in second place.

Given the last couple of seasons, I'd think the Braves would love a second-place finish.

Well, I don't think Chipper Jones is going to hit .410 this year.

'

Regardless of hitting .400 this year, that $20 bet I made in 1998 that Chipper Jones would make the HOF is looking better and better...

This sucks. :(

Reuters is reporting that Ken Oberkfell bought a new suit.

McCann and Chipper will cool off, sure, but so what, they're still among the best hitters at their positions. Kotsay will probably see a dip as well.

On the other hand, Teixeira and Francoeur probably will see a bump upwards, particularly in slugging. Matt Diaz is off to a terrible start.

I thought the goal was to NOT finish in second place.

Given the last couple of seasons, I'd think the Braves would love a second-place finish.

Just in case you missed it in trying to snark on the team that just kicked your team's sorry whiny ass, my point was that overcoming Atlanta and Philly won't, from this vantage point, win you anything. Florida is the division leader. But, don't worry, I think the Mets are pretty solid favorites to finish ahead of Washington.

EDIT: and you're right, of course. I'd be thrilled if this Braves team finished second.

Uh, have you checked out the Braves expected W/L record based on their run differential? It's absurd how UNLUCKY the Braves have been this season

The Braves are two games worse than their third-order pythagenport record... that's not that bad.

Indeed. These pythag things have a std deviation of, what?, 5 games over a season? I'd expect them to be next to useless this early. As stated above, the Braves "unluckiness" basically boils down to having a crappy pen. If games were 12 innings long, most of those one-run games would be 8 run games.

Just in case you missed it in trying to snark on the team that just kicked your team's sorry whiny ass,

Seriously, did you miss the last week of last season? And it is baseball - any team can win a handful from any other.

See also: your edit.

Dude, it's been a long time since I felt really able to lord it over a Mets fan. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed it. If I wait for the end of the season, I probably won't be able to. So, I'll take my shots now and cowardly avoid this place once the Braves fall back.

Well, there were 30,000 fans at Turner Field last night. Which means there were 15,000 Delta Airlines tote bags left over.

I mean, seriously, say what you will about Stalin, I'm sure he would run one #### of a baseball team. Yeah, he'd burn up the whole minor league system doing it, but this is New York baby! That kind of GMing plays here!

I'd love to see a "Not Another Step Backward" order come from the Mets front office. Maybe complete with Mr Met with a machine gun in foul territory to make sure that everybody advances on cue. Shea Stadium in rubble by September.... the Mets dig tunnels under the stadium and refuse to be flushed out.

Although, Randolph seems more to be playing the part of Friedrich von Paulus in this little narrative I've concocted, wondering how the hell something so winnable went into the crapper so suddenly...

Well, I don't think Chipper Jones is going to hit .410 this year. You apparently do. I don't think McCann will post a 160 OPS+. I don't think Jurrjens is as good as a 153 ERA+. I don't think Campillo will have a 0.99 ERA at the end of the season.

First, I was addressing Russlan's inference that the Braves are performing in accordance with their expectations (based on run differential); I wasn't making a wholesale claim that the Braves are in line for a significant W/L adjustment. Sure, the pen (early on- look at the pen's May #s - outstanding) deserved alot of the blame (well, ok, Chris Resop mostly), but we're also likely about to see 3 dominant relievers added to the pen within a month's span in Smoltz, Soriano and Gonzalez. There's no guarantee that they'll be as effective as they potentially could be, of course, but the latest reports coming out on the three have been very, very positive. And I will bet you Smoltz makes a comeback (yet again) and dominates, as he usually does.

Second, NO, I do not think Chipper will end up hitting .412, or .400 or even .370 to finish the season. He will, however, continue to be one of the best bats in the majors so long as he stays healthy (and he's shown no indication of lingering effects from his previous ailments thus far in 2008). No, McCann is unlikely to finish the year with a 160 OPS+, but he's also a HELL of alot better that you give him credit for. I'll be happy when you're doling out the mula come year's end with your ridiculously low OPS+ prediction for Brian. Jurrgens may not end the year with a 153 ERA+,, but he's going to be a very, very good pitcher for years to come (much to your dismay, I'm sure). On the flip side, as someone else noted, Tex, Frenchy, Diaz have all underperformed (and we've also suffered through Bobby Cox's absurd fascination with a platoon at 2B (until this series, actually, when Kelly finally showed Cox what he's truly capable of and now sports a nifty .870 OPS from 2B- and he's quite capable of putting up even better numbers than that), and that accounts for alot on lost offense. As I noted before, they've lost a #1 starter, our closer, our primary setup man, and our 3rd best reliever (plus the aforementioned lackluster offensive performances) and they still kicked your team's sorry arse.

you're the biggest fanboy EVAR.

No, Chris, that title is reserved solely for you.

What the Braves really need is another starter (who doesn't), especially if Smoltz goes back to the 'pen. Hudson is fine, and Glavine we can live with. Jurrgens has been great, but he's only 22 and has pitched around 140 innings in each of the last few seasons.

That said, I think the Braves have the potential to bash their way into the playoffs like in '03.

Not true. I don't want to look it up at the moment, but I know the Braves performed above their expected W/L record just season, at least for the first half of 2007. They won an disproportionate number of one run games last year, only to have their luck flipped this year. It happens, but it proves my point that the Braves - in 2008 - had underperformed prior to this series with the Mets.

I'm surprised this has stood. The Braves had a terrible record in one run games last year, and finished 4 games below pythag. The previous year they had finished 6 games below Pythag. In my opinion, their struggles in 1 run games this year are due as much to poor clutch hitting as the bullpen, if not more.

Random question: How are the Mets hitting in the clutch this year compared to last?

2007:
RISP : .277/.362/.438
Men On: .274/.336/.432
3rd, less that 2 outs: .318/.348/.439
2 outs, RISP: .239/.358/.376
close/late: .250/.335/.352
high leverage: .257/.330/.399

2008:
RISP: .258/.355/.366
Men on: .274/.361/.391
3rd, < 2O: .357/.370/.459
2O, RISP: .212/.358/.332
close/late: .231/.336/.269
high lev: .236/.319/.292

It's early, but the Mets have really been terrible in high leverage situations this year.

Wouldn't you expect worse performance in high leverage situations than average because you are more likely to be facing the best relievers the other team has? Not disagreeing, just asking.

Wouldn't you expect worse performance in high leverage situations than average because you are more likely to be facing the best relievers the other team has?

Probably, but that would have been true in 2007 as well (which was the comparison being made), no?

Scroll down for photo.

I'm surprised this has stood. The Braves had a terrible record in one run games last year, and finished 4 games below pythag. The previous year they had finished 6 games below Pythag. In my opinion, their struggles in 1 run games this year are due as much to poor clutch hitting as the bullpen, if not more.

Did you read the qualifer following my statement regarding same? I clearly said "at least for the first half of 2007." The Braves DID end up with an abysmal W/L record in one run games last season, but they were actually 3 games above .500 in one run games in early June and even finished June 2 games above .500 - it was July and thereafter where the team started to lose the close ones.

So I stand behind my initial statement, although I do agree that it was perhaps a bit overstated- the Braves DID win more one run games than they lost EARLY on in the season, but it wasn't as many as I had thought (prior to veryifying the numbers).

We have had some crap relief pitching. That'll go a long way to blowing games for you.

Eh, all things considered, their bullpen has been very good this year. My sense from watching the games is that they almost never get a big hit late in close games. I can't remember the last time they did actually. And the Clutch stats back this up.

2 outs, RIPS: .687 OPS
Late & Close: .718 OPS


Their team OPS is .794, so the offense is greatly underperforming, or choking - however you want to put it - in clutch spots. And it's been like this for a few years now.

you're the biggest fanboy EVAR.

No, Chris, that title is reserved solely for you.

Don't let kevin hear you say this.

On the other hand, Teixeira and Francoeur probably will see a bump upwards, particularly in slugging. Matt Diaz is off to a terrible start.

In Chris's world, Braves only overperform. If they are under their usual numbers it just means they have finally found their true talent level.

As stated above, the Braves "unluckiness" basically boils down to having a crappy pen.

This is the same pen that is 6th in the NL in ERA and has been lights out in May right? And the one that may actually get some of their good pitchers back soon?

Wouldn't you expect worse performance in high leverage situations than average because you are more likely to be facing the best relievers the other team has? Not disagreeing, just asking

In 2008, the Mets tOPS+:
with men on 109,
with RISP, 100,
2 outs, RISP, 93.
Close and late, 70.
High lev 71.

MLB average:
with men on 107,
RISP 105.
2 outs, RISP, 93.
Late and close, 93.
High lev, 99.

In 2007, Mets:
men on 102,
with RISP 107.
2 outs RIP, 92.
Late and close, 79,
high lev 89.

MLB average in 2007:
with men on 106,
with RISP 106.
2 outs RISP 100,
late and close 91,
high lev 101.

In 2006, Mets:
men on 107,
with RISP 114.
2 outs RISP 101,
late and close 96,
high lev 112.

MLB average in 2006:
with men on 105,
RISP 104.
2 outs RISP 98,
late and close 93,
high lev 101

They do suck in late and close situations, and high lev situations, both relative to the 2007 Mets, and especially MLB average and the 2006 Mets.