Delgado is just on fire right now. He has a .363/.459/.725 batting line in his last 25 games and has driven in 26 during that span.

What happened to the Phillies' offense? Blanton and Myers won't matter a bit if these guys are struggling to average 4 runs per game.

Ryan Church makes it back without his head falling off and I like our chances.

Otherwise, there will always be serious nerves and one Marlon/Tatis/Cancel AB away from meta-pain.

Utley looked lost in this series but he'll straighten himself. He wasn't going to hit 45 bombs so he was due for a slump. The Phils need Howard to hit if they are going to have a great offense but he's looking pretty useless against lefties right now. I don't fear him at all when a lefty is on the mound.

BTW, how good has Ollie been recently? Last 5 starts: 1.34 ERA, 33.2 IP, 39/12 K/BB, .98 WHIP. This dominant stretch comes after getting lit up by Seattle.

The man is an enigma.

From the notes at the end of the ESPN recap:

The Mets are expected to promote RHP Brandon Knight from Triple-A New Orleans to start against St. Louis on Saturday.

I admit to knowing nothing about this person.

I admit to knowing nothing about this person.

He used to be a Yankee prospect, made a few appearances for them 5 or so years ago, he's supposed to be going to the Olympics. Off the chart numbers in AAA. Righthander with fringy stuff. Kind of surprised they are going with him instead of Niese.

From the notes at the end of the ESPN recap:

The Mets are expected to promote RHP Brandon Knight from Triple-A New Orleans to start against St. Louis on Saturday.

I admit to knowing nothing about this person.

He'll still throw a two-hitter.

If Jose Reyes had showed up late to the rubber game of this series with first place on the line, he would have been crucified. Mr. Do No Wrong, MVP Jimmy Rollins? They say almost nothing on BBTN, giving him almost a free pass. Instead, they talk about . . . Reyes's home run last night. Not to give him credit, mind you. But to question whether his celebrations are too exuberant, yet again.

What a bunch of crap. Jose Reyes is twice the player Jimmy ####### Rollins is. Rollins happened to flukishly have a better year in 2007, and the difference was critical in an extremely close race and it was magnified by how poorly Reyes played at the end of the season. But in general, and overall, Reyes is so much better than Rollins, it's a joke that the media extols Rollins for his supposed virtues. The double standard would be a joke, but it's not funny.

Jose Reyes: .296/.362/.480
Jimmy Rollins: .269/.332/.430

Yet you'd never know Reyes is kicking his sorry ass this season, to listen to the media.

l like it - reward strong performance in AAA. Niese isn't ready yet anyway, I'd let him finish the season in AA.
Obviously, it drives me crazy that they're rewarding Muniz and Knight and ignoring their most productive player in the minors this year. Please free Pascucci.

He used to be a Yankee prospect, made a few appearances for them 5 or so years ago...

Ohhhhhhh yeah, I remember now. Well, it will be interesting to see what happens.

Good point on Reyes, Sam.

Howard, get on this! Call out the media! :-)

Sam has a strong point. It's mystifying the way the media collectively makes up its mind about a guy, and then just won't let go of it. The media has decided that Jose Reyes is overrated and Doesn't Respect the Game.

The Mets are expected to promote RHP Brandon Knight from Triple-A New Orleans to start against St. Louis on Saturday.

I admit to knowing nothing about this person.

He's a young loner on a crusade to champion the cause of the innocent, the helpless, the powerless, in a world of criminals who operate above the law.

Reyes is the Mets' whipping boy. I hope he learns not to care what the media thinks from Delgado? Delgado cracked me up today. Someone asked him about his resurgence and how everyone in the media and Met fans wanted him released.

He replied all sarcastically "Did they? Nobody told me anything."

It was outstanding.

This is what sometimes bugs me abt the Mets fans here. Their team is doing well, they get lot of media coverage, but they still somehow feel slighted and want more of the pie. Almost as bad as the Red Sox.
You guys have a good, fun team. Don't make me hate it by whining about every little perceived insult.

I do not disagree, Ludwig. It's terribly irritating in general. Hell, I was at the game last night and I felt like I was sitting next to the worst of the chatterers (I won't name names). Nothing but whining and bltching the entire game, and after we won he immediately started complaining about the 1st game of the series. STAY HOME!

The Reyes thing has a little more merit than that, however, even in my opinion.

They made a mistake firing Randolph.

Their team is doing well, they get lot of media coverage, but they still somehow feel slighted and want more of the pie.

Sorry, but it is not just a "little perceived insult." It has been an ongoing, consistent stream of disdain aimed at Reyes from some of the Mets' own announcers, from national broadcasters and commentators, and from columnists. Everything he does -- including stuff from last year dredged up and re-hashed, re-warmed over, and brought back to life -- is used to make him look like he was single-handedly responsible for the Mets' failings as a team. They even blamed him for Glavine's getting torched by the Marlins in Game 162 last year. And then he hits a critical home run last night, and because it didn't fit the theme Davey O'Brien had been barking all night long (Rollins is Mr. Baseball and Reyes is a punk), he and Showalter blast him for the way he ran the bases -- which ESPN then rehashed AGAIN tonight.

Forgive me if it makes me furious -- the media creating an image that doesn't in any way, shape or form fit the player or his performance.

They made a mistake firing Randolph.

No bigger defending of Willie than me on BTF, and even I think it was the right thing to do, even if done like crap.

Do you really think that or is it sarcasm?

Also, if it makes you feel better, Sam, there was nothing on Reyes on the late edition of BBTN.

Their team is doing well, they get lot of media coverage, but they still somehow feel slighted and want more of the pie.

The Mets get more than their fair share of publicity but because they are a big-market team that has not been that successful, I think the majority of it is negative. That's to be expected.

Wow, I didn't realize it was that bad. I haven't listened to WFAN at all this season.

ESPN just spent a decent amount of time discussing Rollins on the midnight edition of Baseball Tonight. They didn't eviscerate him, so Sam won't be mollified, but they certainly didn't ignore the situation.

But I will say this: as much as I think I'm right about Reyes, I will admit to having been 100% wrong about Delgado. Man . . . obviously, he's not really as good as he's been hitting in July as a general matter, but I didn't think he was even capable of a sustained streak like this anymore. He's now quick enough to wait on pitches -- and that is making ALL the difference. He was starting SO soon before that he was committing to pitches there was no way he could hit. Now, he's waiting longer -- and then still able to get around on pitches when he does swing -- and by waiting he's laying off the crap that was getting him out before. What a turnaround.

Add even the career norms of Ryan Church back to the line-up, and a cooled-off but still productive Delgado, and you've got a good enough offense. Not a league-best kind of attack, but good enough.

Do you really think that or is it sarcasm?

What do you think, Lassus?

What do you think, Lassus?

That I've already lost interest.

Add even the career norms of Ryan Church back to the line-up, and a cooled-off but still productive Delgado, and you've got a good enough offense. Not a league-best kind of attack, but good enough.

Give the Mets a healthy Church and I think they have arguably the best offense in the NL. That might sound ridiculous but just take a look at the rosters. Is the Phils offense better with Jimmy Rollins playing at his pre-2007 level and Howard completely useless against lefties? Utley's outstanding but he's not going to hit 45 homers like he was on pace for in the first half.

The Cubs and Brewers have an argument as well as the surprising Pirates but I think the Met offense is the best if they get a healthy Church back.

Forgive me if it makes me furious -- the media creating an image that doesn't in any way, shape or form fit the player or his performance.

MSM is all about results, and not means. For all the hype the Mets have got over the past 4 years, they have yet to win a pennant. And that weighs heavily with the national media, rightly or wrongly.
Why is Reyes the object of all this scorn now? Because for two years + , he was the subject of all the adulation. He was "the most exciting player in baseball". And suddenly, he is in the middle of the collapse et al.
If the Mets win the pennant this year, you will hear nada about this next year. While you may be objectively correct about how MSM is turning on Reyes, it is fairly obvious from afar why they are doing so. Put it this way, if the Mets win the World Series, next year its all going to be Reyes being Reyes.
To whine about this at length just gets the goat of unbiased observers. We all understand how good he is, and how this is being overblown.

Give the Mets a healthy Church and I think they have arguably the best offense in the NL.

Nah. Not if Church is hitting at career norms (115 OPS+) as opposed to what he was doing earlier this year before getting hurt (133 OPS+), and if Delgado reverts to merely being productive (say, his current season average -- 118 OPS+ -- rather than his scorching July pace). That would give the Mets a pretty averageish offensive 1b and RF, and probably an averageish C (assuming a combination of the above-average Castro and below-average Schneider), unless Manuel starts playing Castro a lot more than he has. That's not a recipe for a league-best offense -- especially not when you throw in the black-holish LF.

MSM is all about results, and not means. For all the hype the Mets have got over the past 4 years, they have yet to win a pennant. And that weighs heavily with the national media, rightly or wrongly.

The Braves haven't won a pennant since 1998 which is a longer stretch of time than the Mets. The Mets have been the better team since 2006 and the Braves had been just as big a disappointment as the Mets prior to New York good recent stretch.

The Braves get far more favorable publicity than the Mets.

That's not a recipe for a league-best offense -- especially not when you throw in the black-holish LF.

Sam, the Phils were second in RS in the NL prior to today's game and the Mets are only 8 runs behind them. That is nothing considering home ballparks. Sure, the Mets have holes but so does every other team in the NL.

The Braves haven't won a pennant since 1998 which is a longer stretch of time than the Mets. The Mets have been the better team since 2006 and the Braves had been just as big a disappointment as the Mets prior to New York good recent stretch.

The Braves get far more favorable publicity than the Mets.

99 you mean. And they have won 6 div titles since. And they have have finished under 500 only once ( 79 -83 in 2006, cos of the bullpen ). The Mets have a long way to go before they build the kind of cachet the Braves have. This comparison is just a strawman.

Sam, the Phils were second in RS in the NL prior to today's game and the Mets are only 8 runs behind them. That is nothing considering home ballparks.

Did I say the Phillies have the best offense in the league, either? I don't believe I did . . . Unlike the media, which is in the tank for the Phillie's line-up, I actually recognize that their real strength has been Moyer, Hamels, and their bullpen, who have given them a very effective overall pitching staff that has been stronger so far this year than the Mets (disguised by the respective home parks).

I think the Cubs actually have the best offense in the league. I'll grant you can make a case for the Mets, who have scored the most runs in road games of any team in the league (although they are slightly behind the Marlins in RPG on the road).

The Mets have a long way to go before they build the kind of cachet the Braves have. This comparison is just a strawman.

I guess that's my bias because I don't think what happened 5+ years ago is that relevant to a discussion about how well-run or how good a team is now. The Braves were the ideal MLB franchise. That just isn't true anymore, IMO. How long do the Braves get to rest on their laurels?

I'm not even sure how the Braves got into this conversation. One of the few upshots to being an also-ran is that the internet back-and-forth usually passes your guys by.

Well, whether the Braves have left-over credibility that buffers them from criticism, distinct from the Mets, that doesn't really explain the Reyes-centered assault, does it? I can certainly see why John Schuerholz would have a Teflon-coating that Omar Minaya wouldn't benefit from (of course, that won't do much for Frank Wren going forward . . . .), and of course Bobby Cox would never, ever get the withering media treatment Willie Randolph got (and that difference, unlike the way Reyes is treated vis-a-vis Rollins, is totally understandable and justified). I guess the closest comparison on the Braves is maybe Francoeur -- who doesn't get half the criticism that might be justified from the mainstreamm media for his failings, but the reasons for that have little or nothing to do with any credibility the Braves have, and everything to do with the media not paying enough attention to the ways a player like him falls short of being productive (even before this year, when his suckitude has been too obvious for them to ignore).

"Kind of surprised they are going with him instead of Niese."

They don't want to risk having Niese damage his trade value by coming up right before the deadline and getting shelled.

I'm not even sure how the Braves got into this conversation. One of the few upshots to being an also-ran is that the internet back-and-forth usually passes your guys by.

I guess I was a little surprised by Ken Rosenthal. He covered a game for the Mets for Fox recently while the Mets were on their big winning streak and made it a point to mention that the Mets were just beating up on the NL West. Then recently, he wrote this excerpt:

If the Braves are smart — and when are they not? — they will recognize that they need to sell for the first time since 1990, when they traded Dale Murphy to the Phillies.

Rosenthal's attitude surprised me but he's never been much of analyst. He's more of a reporter.

They don't want to risk having Niese damage his trade value by coming up right before the deadline and getting shelled.

Yup. They won't be able to get Jason Bay straight up for him, so they'd have to settle for Xavier Nady instead

The hell with Brandon Knight - call up Brad Holt. Dude struck out 14 and walked two in six innings tonight. On the season, he has a 1.57 ERA with 51 Ks in 34.1 innings.

I guess the closest comparison on the Braves is maybe Francoeur

You are right in the sene that MSM, despite their current criticism of him, have not turned on him half as much as they should have. If you read Braves Jornal for the past 2 weeks, you would know who the happiest people on earth wuold be if the MSM turned on Francoeur as they should ( Braves fans, if you need clarification ).
The trouble is this. The Braves have made non-sensical dcisions in the past and gotten away with it. Ice Williams leading off on a World Series team??? The corpses of Brian Jordan and Raul Mondesi as starting outfielders for a division winner???? The Braves have gotten lucky in the past, and thats scarred the MSM enough to not voice their voices on what seems like current nonsensical decisions. Thats what I meant by building up a cachet. But the Braves reservoir of goodwill is running out, and it surely will if they don't win the division soon. But given the Mets history of catastrophic decision making, are you surprised the MSM is turning on them? Plus they sell more by criticising the Mets than the Braves, and that is a big motivating factor.

Isn't Brandon Knight a wide receiver for the Jets? Or was it the Giants?

Brandon Knight was a great point guard for Pitt, probably the first star of their current longstanding run of success.

It's Sammy Knight I was thinking of...

This shouldn't be a surprise, from Phillies fan to Mets fan, but I disagree with just about everything you've written, Sam. If you don't mind, I'd like to respond to a few things you've said. Before I start, I'd like to preface my statements with the fact that I think that Jimmy Rollins is one of the most overrated players in baseball.

If Jose Reyes had showed up late to the rubber game of this series with first place on the line, he would have been crucified.

Jimmy Rollins may not have been crucified, but he's gotten his fair share of criticism, at least here in Philly (and no, not the J.D. Drew brand of criticism).

Mr. Do No Wrong, MVP Jimmy Rollins? They say almost nothing on BBTN, giving him almost a free pass.

I think putting any credence into an ESPN analyst's opinion is a bad move. They're routinely wrong about almost everything. I was so surprised that Buster Olney was right about the Sabathia-to-Brewers deal, and he was quick on that one.

Instead, they talk about . . . Reyes's home run last night. Not to give him credit, mind you. But to question whether his celebrations are too exuberant, yet again.

They are. Personally, I don't mind them one bit, but there's no question that Reyes' celebrations are excessive, immature, and unsportsmanlike. Phillies radio color broadcaster and former pitcher Larry Andersen said Reyes should have been hit in the neck in his next at-bat. While I think that's a bit too high, I don't disagree with the sentiment.

Jose Reyes is twice the player Jimmy ####### Rollins is.

Reyes: 101 career OPS+, 79.7% SB success rate, NL worst .812 RZR among qualified SS this season
Rollins: 98 career OPS+, 82.5% SB success rate, 8th out of 11 qualified NL SS with an .834 RZR

Rollins happened to flukishly have a better year in 2007

Eh, it wasn't really a fluke. His ISO increased from 2005-07 from .142 to .200 to .235. Last year, he had a .303 BABIP which is about what you'd expect.

But in general, and overall, Reyes is so much better than Rollins

Rollins: 53.3 WARP-3 over 8 full seasons, average of 6.6 WARP-3 per season

Reyes: 36.4 WARP-3 over 4 full seasons and 2 half-seasons (2003-04), average of 7.3 WARP-3 per season.

On average, Reyes is about a half-win better. Not "so much better" than Jimmy.

it's a joke that the media extols Rollins for his supposed virtues. The double standard would be a joke, but it's not funny.

Methinks you're just imagining this. ESPN especially has a fetish for New York teams.

Jose Reyes: .296/.362/.480
Jimmy Rollins: .269/.332/.430

Rollins is traditionally a second-half player, so let's revisit this when the season is over.

Reyes: 101 career OPS+, 79.7% SB success rate, NL worst .812 RZR among qualified SS this season

Rollins: 98 career OPS+, 82.5% SB success rate, 8th out of 11 qualified NL SS with an .834 RZR

If you're going to use career numbers for the offense, you should do the same for the defense. Reyes is having a bad year with the glove this season but he's been superb the previous two seasons and his career ZR is .840.

If you want to give credit to Rollins for being the better defensive player this year than Reyes gets a huge advantage on offense(nearly 30 points of OPS+) as he's been a much better offensive player in 2008.

If Reyes stays healthy, it is very likely that he has a significantly better career than Rollins.

It's mystifying the way the media collectively makes up its mind about a guy, and then just won't let go of it. The media has decided that Jose Reyes is overrated and Doesn't Respect the Game.

Personally, I blame the Mets organization, the local media and their fans. If you haven't noticed by all of the national commercials featuring his smiling mug, the country wants to like Jose Reyes. But then he goes and does something trivial and then the Mets coaches turn it into a huge issue and then the local media picks it up and sensationalizes it even more and then the national coverage have no choice but to at least pick it up and report it.

Don't blame "the media" for the Mets eating their own.

Also, for the Mets fans complaining that the national media doesn't give your team enough respect, it doesn't exactly help that less than a month and a half ago every single one of you were calling for an organizational-wide turnover from the manager to the general manager to the owner.

BTF Mets fans are simply never content to be in the middle. You guys either have to be rooting for the best team and best organization in the league or they have to be woeful martyrs attached forever to the albatross of Mets fandom as you despise and revile every second of it.

If you're going to use career numbers for the offense, you should do the same for the defense.

I couldn't find career RZR numbers. If I could have, I would have!

BTF Mets fans are simply never content to be in the middle. You guys either have to be rooting for the best team and best organization in the league or they have to be woeful martyrs attached forever to the albatross of Mets fandom as you despise and revile every second of it.

And your point is...?

Delgado is just on fire right now. He has a .363/.459/.725 batting line in his last 25 games and has driven in 26 during that span.

I really didn't think he had much left to be honest.

The hell with Brandon Knight - call up Brad Holt. Dude struck out 14 and walked two in six innings tonight. On the season, he has a 1.57 ERA with 51 Ks in 34.1 innings.

He's a first round college pitch hazing teenaged NYPen Leaguers-
What's curious is that under Minaya's watch, he's started his high round (1-2) college pitchers in much higher leagues, wonder why he stuck Holt so low- especially since it;s pretty obvious that he's not gonna learn ANYTHING in that league.

Phillies radio color broadcaster and former pitcher Larry Andersen said Reyes should have been hit in the neck in his next at-bat. While I think that's a bit too high, I don't disagree with the sentiment.

That's a good example of the vitriol that has led to the MSM ganging up on Reyes. Sam, I don't think they'll ever give up the Marlins game 162 anecdote, because it jibes with how they themselves feel about all the celebrations. It gives them validation that the pros feel like they do, even if as an afterthought on one ocassion.

And while I normally think the MSM goes overboard on the Reyes celebrations, I have to say, against the Phils, they did boil the blood a little bit. Moreso his celebration with Delgado after the latter's HR in the first game ... that must have lasted a good "five-Mississippi." Or not even blood boiling, it's almost like a parody. It immediately makes you wonder how much time these grown men must have taken out of a day to work on fancy handshakes.

I'd like the Mets to acquire Casey Blake. I'm assuming he won't cost much in a trade, and he'd be a nice bat in the corner outfield. If Church can come back, the Mets could have a lineup of Reyes-Church-Wright-Delgado-Beltran-Blake-2B-C with Endy coming in late for defense. That'd be sweet.

Howard, get on this! Call out the media! :-)

It's pretty crazy, and on my list.

What's curious is that under Minaya's watch, he's started his high round (1-2) college pitchers in much higher leagues, wonder why he stuck Holt so low- especially since it;s pretty obvious that he's not gonna learn ANYTHING in that league.

I can see why it looks this way from the numbers, but it isn't the case. He just learned how to throw a good changeup. I mean, three starts ago was when he started. With that, improved command of his slider, and the fastball that got him drafted, NOW he isn't in a position to learn anything in Brooklyn. I suppose he could have learned at St. Lucie, for instance, but this way he got to do it with no pressure. I can't imagine the Mets expected he'd take to the change this quickly and this well- look how long it took Pelfrey to add secondary pitches.

But Holt is already well beyond Pelfrey on both change and slider, in both movement and command. I'm VERY optimistic on him if he stays healthy.

Speaking of early Mets draft picks from this year, Reese Havens is putting up a nice line in his short time at Brooklyn as well: .261/.370/.493. That's good for an .863 OPS in a .680 league. He's striking out too much, but he's walking enough and showing enough power to ease my concerns. I don't want to make too much out of 80 PAs, but given his age and his scouting report entering the draft, I would move him along quickly and see if he can possibly get to New York in the next couple years.

I can see why it looks this way from the numbers, but it isn't the case.

... but still

Mulvey- 2nd round pick, one start in GCL, sent to AA
Humber sent to the FSL (A+)
Pelfrey 4 starts in FSL sent to AA
They did have Kunz make 12 Apps in Brooklyn before sending him to AA...

Speaking of early Mets draft picks from this year, Reese Havens is putting up a nice line in his short time at Brooklyn as well: .261/.370/.493. That's good for an .863 OPS in a .680 league. He's striking out too much, but he's walking enough and showing enough power to ease my concerns. I don't want to make too much out of 80 PAs, but given his age and his scouting report entering the draft, I would move him along quickly and see if he can possibly get to New York in the next couple years.

Not that this necessarily has much to do with your point, but I thought I read he was out for a month...

The 'clones are Jeff Wilpon's baby. Anyone doing well will not be promoted out of there. We are more likely to see Flores or Marte in Brooklyn than having PelfreyII promoted to A-ball.

Then again, Joe Smith started in Brooklyn and got promoted after a couple of weeks to AA. Kunz and Rustich started there as well. Eh, let Brad stay there. They need all the help they can get.

==

I thought it was just Reyes who had a problem with Willie, but both Delgado and Hojo pretty much laid CDel's resurgence at the feet of Willie's dismissal.

==

I was hoping Niese would pitch at Shea tomorrow. I wonder if Knight considers one MLB start to be worth losing his Olympic eligibility.

I thought it was just Reyes who had a problem with Willie, but both Delgado and Hojo pretty much laid CDel's resurgence at the feet of Willie's dismissal.

When did this happen?

It was alluded to in several columns the past couple of days.

Newsday's David Lennon wrote today:

Mechanics? Video? I think not. Hitting coach Howard Johnson pretty much tells you all you need to know about what flicked the switch in Delgado. (I'll give you a hint -- it happened while you were sleeping on June 17).

I thought it was just Reyes who had a problem with Willie, but both Delgado and Hojo pretty much laid CDel's resurgence at the feet of Willie's dismissal.

When did this happen?

I hadn't heard about Delgado, but I had heard that Beltran and a couple of pitchers had issues with Willie...

I wonder if Knight considers one MLB start to be worth losing his Olympic eligibility.

He won't lose his Olympic eligibility.

The ludicrous anti-professionalism rule was discarded along time ago

I don't buy that about Delgado. It is likely he had personality issues with Willie but I don't think it had a major effect on his play.

Was Willie one to interfere with the work of the other coaches, or was he a more hands-off individual? If it's the former, then that could explain Delgado and HoJo's comments - Willie trying to enforce his hitting beliefs on Delgado, for who they don't work.

Not following the Mets, I honestly don't know.

Willie trying to enforce his hitting beliefs on Delgado, for who they don't work.


Delgado is a veteran who has a considerable resume. I don't think he'd let anyone change his hitting style unless he wanted to change it.