New York Mets 2008

[Sausy]

Yes,Darryl Strawberry,and for that matter,Dwight Gooden....what careers they both could have had if they just didn't take things for granted.As long as he's completely dedicated himself to staying clean,I'm all for him being involved in the Met's organization.Plenty of great memories from Darryl Strawberry...just wish there could have been a lot more.

I haven't been keeping up nearly as much with the Mets this spring as I should,I have to admit sonnyHow has Oliver Perez looked?And John Maine?

 

[gambit2212]

Maine looked great in his last start. Perez on the other hand pitched lousy and had really bad control issues. Really earning that $6.2mm salary he got in arbitration. He's the one that's really got to step it up this year and earn that paycheck or I won't feel bad if the Mets let him get to free agency and not sign him (he WILL go to free agency because his agent is Scott Boras). Santana pitched well against the Red Sox and Pedro is going to pitch another simulated game.

Some of the injured players are making their way back. Playing badly but it's a great sign that they are playing at all. Hopefully there's enough time in spring training for them to step it up and start playing well and carry that momentum into the regular season.

 

[Sausy]

Maine looked great in his last start. Perez on the other hand pitched lousy and had really bad control issues. Really earning that $6.2mm salary he got in arbitration. He's the one that's really got to step it up this year and earn that paycheck or I won't feel bad if the Mets let him get to free agency and not sign him (he WILL go to free agency because his agent is Scott Boras). Santana pitched well against the Red Sox and Pedro is going to pitch another simulated game.

Some of the injured players are making their way back. Playing badly but it's a great sign that they are playing at all. Hopefully there's enough time in spring training for them to step it up and start playing well and carry that momentum into the regular season.

Thanks gambit!i've noticed happily we have another big Mets fan on board and I look forward to your perspectives on the season.Perez pitched a good one tonight!I hope he does well,but if Scott Boras gets loopy with his demands for Oliver Perez,it's great they held on to Mike Pelfrey....Perez is good but one or two decent years doesn't make him Pedro Martinez or Johann Santana.

Glad Santana is really gearing up for the season and settling in beautifully and Maine is doing quite well himself.The Mets have two first rounders and a sandwich pick this year,so they can always protect themselves by drafting to level college pitching and gain another first rounder if Perez is going to not be worth the huge money Boras will try to extract.

 

[sonny10305]

The Mets pitching has been impressive so far this spring.

Santana has been outastanding!

Perez got rocked in his first two outings tagged for six runs in one game and 11 hits, three walks.
His velocity just was not there throwing about 85mph, I mean that’s not unusually in spring but that’s really low.
What I see is he is up in the strike zone, and he needs to get the ball down. He has little command.
On the plus side he seems to be tough on lefties and still has a decent slider, which he often fools batters with.

Maine has been brilliant; he threw four no-hit innings on Sunday, and retired 12 of the 13 batters he faced, allowing only one walk. Maine is ready!
I haven’t seen him throw many sliders; guess he is still searching for that.

Pedro has not pitched yet, he is scheduled to pitch on Sunday. He will also take the ball in the Mets second game of the season April 1st Sources say in simulated games he has looked very good showing flashes of the old Pedro, He allowed four singles and no walks and struck out two in what amounted to four innings of pitching and pronounced himself "very happy with everything."


I saw Pelfrey on Saturday, he did not pitch well, and he allowed seven runs and seven hits in 3 1-3 innings.
It Sorta reminded me of him from last year, falling behind in the count pitching behind guys, missing his spots. He also walked four and struck out three.

Even Billy Wagner had a couple of good outings, now there is a guy I worry about
He has started throwing his curve ball again, something I did not see much of last season. He is also working on his slider. That will give him four pitches, so maybe he won’t blow so many saves.

Hernandez says he has mastered his new wind up, which allows him to pitch without pain, and will be ready very soon. But I dono, what I saw were high throws and low velocity. Basically throwin soft balls. I am going to be very interested in seeing how he can overcome such a dramatic change. I have very serious doubts about this. But hey, he’s the Duke, and so we will see.

Did anyone notice what Reyes has been trying out? He tried hitting a swinging bunt, or what I think they used to call Butcher ball. So far he failed miserably at it, but I think he’s working on it. That’s just what the opposing team’s defense needs, As if he does not make em crazy when he is on first, and a definite threat to steal, or when he is on third tourchering the pitcher.
It’s also great with two strikes, cause if you bunt you are out, but this way it’s a foul ball.

Hey Sausy, are you right about Boras, It will be intersting to see what happens with Perez.

 

[Sausy]

I like Maine's mentality,his even keel likeability,his lack of glaring ego...kind of a pitcher's David Wright....he knows he'll get the big money soon and he appreciates and loves being a Met.Perez seems to be working out of his early rust as you noted and he is really talented,just hope he really likes his situation and wants to remain a Met.They'll pay him very well,but they shouldn't break the bank because some idiotic teams made boneheaded decisions and gave multimillion long term contracts to pitchers who have dubious consistency and long term health qusetions.

El Duque is unique and he might have another good year left,but you can't depend on it.And I am glad to see the focus and effort to bettter utilize his great speed coming out of Reyes....he has too much power to limit himself but his game has to start with his speed and ability to disrupt and cause chaos for the opposing team on the bases.

 

[Sausy]

I know....Cards beat Mets in extra innings 6-5,don't get me startedbut Mike Pelfrey was great and Carlos Beltran is back and getting healthy and ready with for the season after the knee scoping and cleaning.But if a certain Cards fan here must celebrate,gloat and dance a jig,by all means do so though the real season hasn't started yet!

 

[sonny10305]

I know....Cards beat Mets in extra innings 6-5,don't get me startedbut Mike Pelfrey was great and Carlos Beltran is back and getting healthy and ready with for the season after the knee scoping and cleaning.But if a certain Cards fan here must celebrate,gloat and dance a jig,by all means do so though the real season hasn't started yet!

Oh see, now ya went and done it.
Gettin Cory (abs) all fired up.
Poor baby still hasn't accepted the fact that the Mets are gonna clobber those cards this year

I think the Mets have lost every game with the cards so far this spring, but that's ok, were just giving them a couple of little mercy wins, ya know we do feel sorry for the little fellers. Watch out after March 31st.

Love ya Abs

Both Carlos' will be an important part of the 08 season, have you paid any notice to Delgato's swing? It's just not the same, I am sure he is working with HoJo on it though.I haven't seen Beltron play yet, hopefully this weekend.

Oh, and how about Angel Pagon, he is on fire. I love that kid!

 

[sonny10305]

Looks like The Mets' new ballpark, Citi Field, will host the Midsummer Classic, prolly in 2013.

While no exact date has been set, commissioner said that after ther Mets move into Citi Field, they would host an All-Star Game.

It would be the second in Mets history; then-brand new Shea Stadium was the site of the 1964 game.

This year's All-Star Game will be at Yankee Stadium in the final year of the ballpark.
Hey Abs, The 2009 All-Star Game will be held at Busch Stadium.

 

[Sausy]

Looks like The Mets' new ballpark, Citi Field, will host the Midsummer Classic, prolly in 2013.

While no exact date has been set, commissioner said that after ther Mets move into Citi Field, they would host an All-Star Game.

It would be the second in Mets history; then-brand new Shea Stadium was the site of the 1964 game.

This year's All-Star Game will be at Yankee Stadium in the final year of the ballpark.
Hey Abs, The 2009 All-Star Game will be held at Busch Stadium.

Thanks sonny!I just love Citifield!God what a beautiful place for the Mets to call home starting next season!

I read about that yesterday,sonny...just wish it wasn't gonna be a five year wait til MLB showcases CitiField.But maybe the Mets can beat MLB to the punch with a World Series championship or two..or more!

Glad to see the Cards getting the All-Star Game next year.They've got a great tradition and fans(including our very dear Cory)and a beautiful stadium.If I'm right I think teams like the Angels,Padres and Brewers get All-Star berths in between the Yanks this year and The Mets in 2013.Boy,nothing personal...but

 

[Absolut]

^

Now, as long as excuse my french fucking Ballpark Village would at least start to rise outta the god damned hole in the ground that WAS Old Busch stadium...




http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/bu...4C1B061125B76A258625740C000DA944?OpenDocument

 

[Sausy]

^

Now, as long as excuse my french fucking Ballpark Village would at least start to rise outta the god damned hole in the ground that WAS Old Busch stadium...




http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/bu...4C1B061125B76A258625740C000DA944?OpenDocument

Sounds like a really impressive enhancement to the area,but sometimes these megaprojects just get so fucked up they never get realized.Hopefully,for Cardinals fans and St. Louis residents,this project really gets going soon!

 

[sonny10305]

NY Mets 2008

First Order Of Business?
Unfinished Business.

 

[Sausy]

NY Mets 2008

First Order Of Business?
Unfinished Business.

Let's Go,Mets!

 

[Sausy]

John Maine outstanding against the Baltimore Orioles....Mets win 1-0,Maine goes six scoreless innings allowing only one hit,seven strikeouts and is 3-1 this spring.

 

[sonny10305]

Our back end of the rotation is in trouble. Neither Hernandez or Pelfrey are ready. With the Duke throwing 60MPH Frisbees and Pelfrey not able to strike out batters, and basically imploding it’s a bad situation this close to the start of the season. The fifth position is very much still up for grabs, we can not rule out the possibility that both pitchers will not be in the starting rotation.
Could Figueroa be in? On Friday, Hernandez and Pelfry both get another chance, and on Saturday Figueroa will pitch. What if Hernandez and Pelfrey both crash and burn and Figueroa throws gas, will that make the difference? After all, the roster is not due until Sunday. Now I’m not sayin it’s what I would like to see happen, but at this stage of the game, the bottom line is, Hernandez and Pellfrey are not ready and perhaps Figueroa is.
Maybe Hernandez needs to go to the pen and Pelfrey to AAA at least for a while, then give the 5th spot to Figuiero. Another crazy idea would be Sosa, I know Sosa is our long guy, and I like him there, but what if Sosa moves to the starting line up and Fiqueroa cold be our long guy. All kinds of possibilities, and we will know soon. Yeah I know maybe I'm losing it, but something has to happen that may not include Hernandez or Pelfrey in the 5th spot.

As for Maine, oh man is he on fire, he is pitching like our #2 guy, his spring ERA is 1.78, nice!

I am also happy with Wagner who scared me a bit last year, his full wind up works for him; he is pitching better than with the stretch.

 

[Sausy]

Yea,I'm concerned about the ineffectiveness of El Duque and Pelfrey,but t is the fifth starter we're talking about,and there is virtually no team who has a really dependable one.I love the first four spots in the rotation....don't get all worried about the fifth starter.I'm hoping Pelfrey especially with his youth and ability can get himself back on track soon but there are options like you mention.

 

[sonny10305]

Yea,I'm concerned about the ineffectiveness of El Duque and Pelfrey,but t is the fifth starter we're talking about,and there is virtually no team who has a really dependable one.I love the first four spots in the rotation....don't get all worried about the fifth starter.I'm hoping Pelfrey especially with his youth and ability can get himself back on track soon but there are options like you mention.

Oh I know you are right, It's just that after last season with the collapse, I am more gun shy than usual, the pitching was a major part of bad season ending.
So I am wanting a strong starting rotation one thru five and a firm long man back up. remember too, Perez has been very inconsistent this spring as well. We also need to watch how healthy Pedro will be. I want nothing left to chance this year, I want strong dependable starting pitching and a reliable pen to get the job finished and build a strong bridge to Billy Wagner. Is that asking too much?

I thought it was a wink of the eye to the Braves yesterday, when the Mets pulled Santana who was scheduled to pitch. Willie decided not to give the Braves a sneak peek at Johan. Fun move, I loved that!

 

[Sausy]

I hear you...hopefully nothing is taken for granted this season.I love those fun little psychological ploys too!

 

[sonny10305]

Just a couple of programming notes

On Saturday 3/29 there will b two show on TV worth watching.

7:30 on NBC, The Amazing Shea: a history of the ball park
7:30 on WB, 2008 Mets: built To Win

Yeah, there both on on the same day at the same time, a brilliant move.
So crank up the TiVo or DVR

Time is almost here
Mets/Marlins opener Monday March 31, Santana on the mound.
Mets home opener at Shea April 8th against the Phillies (member them?)
Pedro on the mound.

 

[Sausy]

Just a couple of programming notes

On Saturday 3/29 there will b two show on TV worth watching.

7:30 on NBC, The Amazing Shea: a history of the ball park
7:30 on WB, 2008 Mets: built To Win

Yeah, there both on on the same day at the same time, a brilliant move.
So crank up the TiVo or DVR

Time is almost here
Mets/Marlins opener Monday March 31, Santana on the mound.
Mets home opener at Shea April 8th against the Phillies (member them?)
Pedro on the mound.

Thanks sonny for the program notes!I'll certainly try to watch the WB one and DVR the NBC one.Thankfully I get back early from work most nights now!

Damn excited about both Opening Days,especially the home one(the last at Shea)and appreciating having such pitching masters as Johann Santana and Pedro Martinez do their thing!And the rise of Olover Perez and especially John Maine into top tier pitcher status!

As for the Phillies,we know what to do this time....and it won't be pretty for them!