|
|
|
Bookmarks
You must be logged in to view your Bookmarks.
Hot Topics
Strikeouts and Knuckleballs (67 - 9:25pm, Jul 08)Last: JLAC is engulfed in a harmless burst of flameIt Occurs To Me (16 - 3:49am, May 01)Last: HarrisHow Do You Solve A Problem Like Castillo? (92 - 12:32am, Apr 05)Last: Adam StarblindCan't Anybody Here Catch the Ball? (11 - 3:18am, Jul 25)Last: phoenixscienterAbout ####### Time! (10 - 9:17pm, May 27)Last: HarrisKeystone Options (92 - 6:59pm, Mar 16)Last: josehamiton1032Johan, Pelfrey, Maine - and Pray for Rain? (89 - 12:26am, Dec 15)Last: Exploring Leftist Conservatism since 2008 (ark..)Math Loses Again (104 - 6:38pm, Dec 12)Last:  Chris DialReturning to Status Quo (37 - 1:29am, Dec 11)Last: Dog on the sidewalk has an ugly braceletWhat I Saw Last Night - 30 APR 07 Mets-Marlins (16 - 4:04pm, Dec 08)Last: Crispix Attacksel RiosBecause You Are Bad At It (55 - 4:09am, Jun 21)Last: calhouniteMLB Mandates Vambraces (33 - 3:38pm, Mar 20)Last: Russlan is not RussianKong (95 - 4:34am, Jan 13)Last: Scott FischthalSector One Cleared (25 - 4:50pm, Oct 01)Last: GuapoFive Down, One to Go (24 - 5:27am, Sep 03)Last: Chris Dial
|
|
Reader Comments and Retorts
Go to end of page
Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.
1. More Indecisive than Lonnie Smith on 2nd... Posted: June 05, 2007 at 02:47 PM (#2393563)I still expect some decline from Maine and Perez and Sosa, but I think that will easily be offset by Delgado's recovery (he did this 2 or 3 years ago, but only for six weeks IIRC) and Wright staying the course expected for the rest of the season. All of this you assume as well. And the bullpen has been terrific as you rightly suggest.
I'm not saying the Braves are playing for the wild card; after all, in most of the past summers than not, they have gotten hot, with 19-11, 20-8 months and the like. But not with this pitching staff, and not with Andruw doing his best to mimic Richie Sexson. If I'm a betting man, I'm putting the Braves in the thick of the WC race, not division title.
1) If Valentin is healthy, he should play more than a regular platoon role. If offense were the only consideration, I'd agree he should sit against lefties. But it's not, and his glove is SO much better than Easley's that I'd sit him only (a) against the toughest lefties, and (b) when it is prudent to keep him fresh and ready for late season duties (i.e., avoid day games after night games, that sort of thing). So I'd make it a modified platoon, letting Valentin play against righties and many lefties, despite the offensive "hit" we might take.
2) I'm glad to see you are giving a little ground on Peterson, Chris -- if grudgingly. To me, of course, the evidence has been there for a while, but I know you never bought it when it came to Glavine's turn-around, and you blamed him for the Jae Seo mess and gave him some of the blame for the Kazmir debacle. To me, I think he took more of the hit for the Kazmir thing than he deserved, though he certainly deserved some. And Seo . . . well, we've seen what's become of Seo. So many Mets' pitchers have now thrived better with Peterson than they did elsewhere (or in Glavine's case, before his arrival), and so many of them give him at least some of the credit (as Glavine does), that you just have to say his ideas are working to help. He is an immense asset to the organization.
3) I think Green's improvement IS "outside his expectations," or at least it's outside mine. And before his injury, he was starting to come back in line with my expectations. I still think his performance will end up hurting the Mets, and the only question will be how much, and how soon. All that said, though, it would take a mighty amount of stubbornness not to admit: he's done an outstanding job, and helped stake the Mets to this lead. Well done.
4) Much as I loathe Mota, my one prayer for the next portion of the season is that his return will be the event that finally -- finally -- leads Randolph to quit using Schoeneweis against any but the most lame of righty batters, and even then only in the most harmless of situations (big lead, no one on base, etc.). The Mets now have enough right-handed relievers in whom Randolph SHOULD have confidence (Smith, Heilman, and Mota) that he should not be inclined to experiment with Schoeneweis any longer.
Maine's BABIP in his last 6 starts is .330, and it is now .264 on the season, and .239 as a Met. There was no doubt in my mind that Maine's BABIP wasn't going to stay in the .220s but the question now where will it stabilize.
I actually think this team's offense is better than last year's because they are more of an OBP team than last year. The Mets EQA is .279 so far this season, which is 10 points higher than last year.
Glavine, Perez, Maine, Duque, and Sosa have a combined ERA of 3.01. That's pretty damn ridiculous.
The Mets' offense has a .285 secondary average, vs. their defense with a .267, much closer than their BA splits (.275/.223). Make of that what you will.
I can't make heads nor tails of it.
However, where the hell was everyone? Friday night, team in first and the park was 2/3 - 3/4 full. Is that normal. I was pretty surprised. That makes me think the concession areas and gates might be a bit more difficult if the place was packed. I stayed near the park as I was flying out of Laguardia Saturday morning so I don't know how getting to/from the stadium is.
Anyway, a fine time had by all.
The Braves most certainly are playing for the wild card.
It sure felt like a hell of lot of people when I was waiting for the train home, though.
I think Shea is crappy compared to the newer ballparks and it is really time for a change, but it's still not unpleasant to see a game there. I hear driving is pretty terrible with the new construction taking out a nice chunk of close parking (although I've been to 4 games so far and taken the train to all of them).
Good to know. It did seem big. Let me look up the attendance...whoa, dude. 40,230. The magical Russian wins.
I got to the hotel hours ahead of the game and went over for BP. So, I didn't get the mad crowds on the train. And, of course, I just walked back to the hotel afterward.
BTW, if Stache comes back, I think you have to send Gotay down. He needs to play everyday.
I was on this other blog where some dude was calling Beltran a pansy and saying Alou was soft and they should be playing already.
Gotay's track record up all the way to debuting in the majors at 21 was one of a solid 2Bman, .275/.350/.450 ish level of ability. Somehow he got lost around ages 22-23. He's certainly the Mets' best option for the next 2-3 years. I'm getting annoyed with seeing Easley getting so many ABs right now, it's time to let Gotay play until Valentin returns.
Agreed. Beltran knows his body better than anyone. Until he feels comfortable playing, I would just rest him. Alou should be back soon, and Green will definitely be back after the 15 days.
I would love to promote Coles for a week just to see what he can do. Newhan can take a breather - tweak a hammy or something.
I'm in complete agreement, especially a guy like Beltran who is signed for many more years. Especially with the way the Mets have been playing without them. The team is 15 games over .500. There's no urgency, so why not give beat-up guys a little extra rest to make sure they come back healthy and stay healthy?
Newhan can take a breather - tweak a hammy or something.
Newhan is my least favorite Met. It's not even like he's young and likely to improve.
You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.
<< Back to main