New York Mets 2010

[Sausy]

I agree syam,sad to see Alex Cora go...very popular in the clubhouse,smart and passionate on the field and wish his talent matched his heart.I agree with those who feel he'll make a fine manager one day.

Speaking of heart,at least we got to see Johann Santana giving it all,pitching like a master and fielding like a Gold Glove extra infielder.He just has it in him that desire to beat you with whatever he's got...never rests in looking for the extra edge over his opponent.It's a waste how we're being treated to one of the all time competitors every fifth day and so many of his teammates just don't know to make the maximum of their abilities.

David Wright,love you but when you said after the game today the team has dug a hole,you've more than done your fair share of putting the Mets in this road trip in particular...absolutely garbage.You had two hits in the All Star Game riding into the break on a blistering pace since June 1 and with the exception of a couple of games you've made too many lazy outs and now striking up a storm again.You care,you hustle...we know and love you for it but you never pressed like this before last year...I don't know,maybe the bat is slowing and you should lose a bit of the bulk and get quicker at the plate,you know what to do but you have been getting further and further in the muck and I don't know why.Maybe sonny has some perceptions on what is wrong with your swing.

Carlos Beltran too...six strikeouts today,three apiece,by Carlos and David killing some rally opportunities.And defensively,oh Carlos that was pathetic that misplay...we really could use another untimely injury in the outfield nowI've read and it's true...the Phillies are going through a real tough rash of injuries,the Boston Red Sox as well but still in striking distance at least to grab the wild cards.Injuries are tough but they can be overcome...even Omar Minaya said to the effect the Phillies can contend even through all the injuries because they are a deep oganization.Mets made injuries the excuse last year....Phillies and Bosox are proof that even critical players being out for long stretches doesn't necessarily mean bottoming out in the standings.

RA Dickey had to have a stinker at the worst time but I don't fault him,you know he's going to give you it all and not mentally lose it like Mike Pelfrey has done all too often since late June.It just hurts even more to lose this game because we had Roy Halladay where we wanted,he was shaky but when he had to stem the bleeding and get the big outs,he did.Our relievers did a great job today giving us the chance to come back but as happens all too often even after inspiring victories the ugly reality of Mets baseball 2010 kicks Mets fans in the gut.Who knows if Carlos can get back his consistency or the increasing examples of reduced range defensively and poor at bats indicate a decline or a rustiness that will take weeks to get over.

The Mets come home Tuesday but I'm under no illusions anymore,they're going nowhere this year.At least though they can play for pride,to end the season on a note they owe their fans something to take positively into the offseason.

Sonny,no rush to play back the game,it'll hurt like hell...it's so great regarding the Cyclones dominating their division and having so many all stars on their squad who could be Mets pretty soon like Cory or Darren or any of the others you named...there is hope for the future which should bring some relief and comfort to die hard Mets fans who've been left dying awfully hard.I wrote on Facebook recently the two accessories a Met fan MUST have are antacids and a defibrilator and there is nothing from this road trip that can give any true Mets fan a sense of hopeful possibilities for postseason play that convinces me otherwise.It's just so frustrating and sad.

 

[sonny10305]

Ok so we lost, but we saw a team that was in fighting mood and we had not seen that in a while so that is a major positive. The new young guys seemed to set off the spark I mean how great is Tejada, my goodness for a shortstop he sure knows how to play second with those magnificent soft hands of his he made some outstanding plays, now he news to get hot with the bat. Did not see much of F-Mart yet but he had been doing really well in AAA so I expect him to contribute big time soon. Carter is outstanding for us as a pinch hitter seems to always come thru with the hit when we need him; yesterday he came sooo close to tying the game. Thole is our rising star and for sure our number one catcher in 2011, what’s not to love about that kid, Ike Davis still having the same ole problems I thought he would have adjusted to by now but we know he has the talent and I will easily have patience with him now if only he could learn more patience at the plate and stop swinging at everything he gets pitched to him. What I can tell you is I know first hand that Ike is totaly aware of his weakness and has finally stopped beating himself up over them he is now instead working hard to make the corrections. He studies every at bat in every game, sometimes when time permits he will go down to video room during a game and watch his last at bat good and bad. Ike will also spend most if not all of the off sesaon with his dad working on his skills, he will be bigger, and as he said "more badass" than ever in 2011. So it’s the new kids that are our future, some of the veteran players are getting tired and must step aside. If I never see Castillo again that will be fine, Reyes has returned to form and is doing better every game. Wright ….well David is just so frustrating to me I have no doubt he will be fine but he keeps having theses slumps that are strange to understand I mean he’s hot then he’s cold then he’s hot and then….well it just goes on and on I have never seen anything like that. He keeps changing his swing his approach just about everything, sometimes not at every at bat but during one as well. One thing for sure right now he has got to get closer to the plate he is too far back either that or get a longer bat. Beltran is lost, gone, confused and needs to sit on the bench till he figures things out It was Beltran and Wright that kept us from winning yesterday, all the kids got it done and then those two came to bat and did nothing, a real shame they both need to be ashamed of themselves. I cold not understand why Manual played Beltran yesterday instead of Francour Beltran is in a major funk and Frenchie has been heating up so why take him out. Well who can figure what Manual does anymore I gave up a long time ago. The outfield need Martinez Pagan and Francour period.

So Dickey finally had a bad outing, well it was bound to happen, they pounded that knuckler pretty good and were really patient and taking a lot of his pitches. But what did manual say about taking R A out “He looked to strong” and “in dire straits” huh, WTF did that mean, Oh Jerry you so crazy.

I enjoyed the fight, the comeback and the spirit of yesterday’s game it showed promise and gives me hope and they got to Roy Halladay, which doesn’t happen very often. We can still make the wild card it is mathematically possible you just have to believe.

 

[Sausy]

Can't disagree with where you're coming from sonny.You know I want to believe but these guys sometimes make it so tough.But I'm glad you still are keeping a positive attitude.

 

[syam24]

Speaking of believing, I believe tonite could be a bloodbath with Pelfrey up against Ubaldo Jiminez. I'm hoping that Big Mike can get back on track and pitch a decent if not outstanding game, and that some of the bats can come alive and we escape with a victory. Not very optimistic, but let's see what happens. Let's go Mets!!

 

[sonny10305]

I like to think of these next couple of weeks as make or break for our team, we have got to start winning if we are ever to hope to jump all those teams in he wild card race. A positive step was made by bringing up some of our fresh young talent to send a message to the veterans that they better shape up or look at your replacements in 2011.

One of our biggest concerns after pitching is Carlos Belran who is currently batting .197 with 1 homer and 7runs batted in. But besides that he is not the fielder he once was, not fully recovered from his injury, and he is now a liability to the team when he is on the field. There have been balls that should have been caught that he can't get to, balls that Pagan would have caught. Was he brought back to soon before he was ready, well I thought that at first but short of sending him to AAA to get himself together which ain’t gonna happen and we may be stuck with him. I really do believe he may not get better. Benching him, as I suggested yesterday, would be a bad idea as well cause he needs to play everyday if he is going to improve at all. Then there is the option of moving him to the corner or maybe batting him sixth or seventh which will only piss him off and just not work out positively even though it is something the Mets need to consider, Pagan belongs in center not Beltran.

We sure have a lot to be thankful for with our AAA team in Buffalo with so many great prospects who have been called up and will continue to be under the management of one of the greats Ken Oberfell. Ken by the way is very good about his losing players to the Mets and has said that he believes the Bisons exist to service and provide talent to its major league affiliate. I just thought that was a great comment for Ken to make.
What is also important is that Ken is able to replenish his team with replacements from Double-A Binghamton or acquisitions by way of a minor league free agent signings; I have seen that theses new kids always come ready to produce.
There are lots of new faces, and their promotions mean that they've had success which for sure gives them confidence. Because everyone up there is contributing it keeps everybody fresh the Bisons are the total team effort. Guys like Lucas Duda who is hitting over .300 since being promoted from Binghamton in June who has scored in 11 of his last 12 games with 30 extra base hits, and Kirk Nieuwenhuis who I wrote about last week is going to be a big and important part of that team. So the kids that are coming up from AA to replace the boys in AAA now coming or about to come to Flushing are raring and willing to go and make the next move to the bigs. I also have to mention Nick Evens who is batting just under .300 now and is going to break out soon Our Future looks bright when you look at the guys in Buffalo and the next generation now in Brooklyn with the Cyclones you can’t help but fell good for the future of the NY Mets.

Now if we could just get rid of Manual and bring Backman to the Mets.

I dono of you guys remember Sean Green but he appears close to a return to the Mets, he went on the DL way back in April with a cracked rib. I will have to see hi pitch again before making any comments on that but I do remember he was not giving us much before the injury with that submarine delivery I hope he changed that.

Yes Syam I am very worried about Pelfrey who hasn't won a game since June 25 and his ERA has jumped to 4.16. Early this year, Pelfrey's offspeed pitches, especially that split-fingered fastball, baffled hitters. But that changed when worrying to much about throwing strikes he slowed his arm speed, which of course alerted hitters when his breaking ball was coming basically telling them here comes a breaking ball and of course they are taking those pitches. He has got to get back to letting it fly and letting the grip take over. Warthen are you telling him that???

Saucy as you wrote I keep a positive attitude manly cause I see everyday what is waiting in the wings to join our team and that excites me…it excites me a lot.

 

[Sausy]

I hear you,sonny....don't get too frisky now...oh what the hell,the future makes me frisky too!

Now to deal for tonight at least happily with the present.So very happy for Pelf tonight...he needed it and came up big.Seven innings,four hits,no runs,just one walk and four strikeouts while being control tonight,that was really what we've needed from him.He knew he had to quicken the arm movement and not worry so much about throwing strikes and he did while as a result of being free and easy threw strikes much more often.His arm hasn't been the problem,but his confidence and mechanics and appparently Dan Warthen has been helping him return to the form he previously displayed being aggressive and not being on the attack rather than pitching defensively.He pitched much more to his strengths and being able to go seven after not cracking five innings in a string of starts helped rest the bullpen and build confidence.He's a great character guy,very talented but very sensitive and at times letting the mental part of the game trip him up.Let's hope that tonight's terrific bounceback reminds him when he's going good he's a damn good pitcher in his own right and to believe more in himself.

Takahashi may indeed be a great choice as the set up eighth inning guy.He works best when batters face him once compared to going deep as a starter,though we cannot forget his last start was his best effort in awhile.Fernando Martinez made a great diving catch to aid Takahashi's cause and he ended the inning without incident followed by a quick,efficient save by K-Rod in the ninth.

Josh Thole's double off the wall in right off of tough Rockies starter Ubaldo Jiminez(17-3) in the eighth after Chris Carter's walk leading off the eighth proved key.Jeff Francouer pinch running for Carter after he went to third on Thole's shot scored after the Rockies inexplicably walked pinch hitter Carlos Beltran(looking helplessly lost following three strikeouts on Sunday)and Jose Reyes drove a liner to Brad Hawpe in right.Thole ,known more for great patience and bat control showed he can drive a pitch every so often and helped put the Mets in position to capitalize which for a change they did.

We've been teased before but I'll take it if the Mets can at least build enough confidence that they can make their breaks if they hold em close.At least for tonight Mets fans can go to bed happy.For tomorrow,of course "Let's go Mets"!

 

[sonny10305]

Sure was great to see Pelf back on his game pounding the strike zone with that fastball of his. Once again we saw the Mike we have missed so much being aggressive and keeping the ball down again. Once again he was throwing inside; I loved that how he handled the left-handed hitters, making em sweat against his off speed stuff. Low and behold if he didn’t get em with strikes and I’m talkin both looking and swinging. It has been a while since we saw him move his fastball in and around the strike zone like that and we didn’t see any of those pitches left hanging over the plate for the batters to hit like off of a tee. Good stuff!

Josh Thole called a brilliant game keeping Pelf focused and guiding him along and has to be given a lot of credit for last nights win. Not to shabby with his bat last night either

As a pitcher I was salivating over that great pitchers duel Jimenez is a joy to watch.

What a relief to see K-Rod continue to get those outs without all the drama and base runners we had seen lately, he is pitching well again and man oh man do we need that. He has set down 20 of the last 21 batters to face him. Takahashi did what he does best and proved once again he needs to be in the pen maybe as K-Rods set up man. In fact I perked up when I heard Manual say that Takahashi will remain in the bullpen and not make his scheduled Saturday night start. To that I will say once again what I have been saying for weeks,
PAT MISCH….PAT MISCH…PAT MISCH
To ad to that possibility is the fact that Pat was pulled yesterday after pitching five innings in Buffalo Pat had only thrown 55 pitches, why would they pull him during a scoreless perfect outing?? Well maybe cause they want him rested for Saturday in Flushing. That’s what Pat thinks that what we all think. Ken O is not talking, come on Kenny spill it we will find out soon anyway prolly today.
I have followed Pat a long time we have mutual friends going back to his days in AAA with the Giants Pacific Coast League and I got to know him later in Buffalo. I have watched him develop into one hell of a pitcher I will be beyond happy to see him return to Flushing, and oh yes, one more thing let Thole catch him, be still my heart It just so happens that next Wednesday is Pats birthday hopefully we can celebrate it in Flushing. I have bitched about this for a while now I can not understand why with all of our pitching woos the Mets have not promoted him. He has been awesome in AAA

Carlos Beltran has cleared waivers, but it should not change things much, since his return he has not showed much and he would be difficult to trade right now. Beltran will have a lot to say anyway since he has a no-trade clause in his contact. More likely the Mets will try and deal Carlos in the winter. I would think Beltran might be good with waiving his no-trade protection if he has a chance to play somewhere he likes. If it sounds like I have given up on Carlos I don’t mean to but he is just not the same player he was and I am thinking more an more he may never be. Would I love to see him return to form? Of course but I am not optimistic to that happening is all I’m sayin.

 

[syam24]

Got out of work last nite in time to hear the top of the ninth on radio , and hear KRod's neat and quick save. I was shocked to here the score of 1-0. Sounds like Pelfrey did a great job keeping the Rockies in check. What a great change from his recent showings! If he throws this way on a more consistent basis, i.e. earlier in the season, it makes the rest of the rotation and the bullpen that much more effective. Two 1-0 shutouts in a few days is awesome pithcing wise, need a bit more from the Offense, although those two games were against Coles and Jiminez, no slouches. A much needed win and performance by Mike. Let's continue, can we say two in a row??? Let's go Mets!!

 

[Sausy]

I think sonny wants for the Mets to call up Pat Misch...he'll be floating on clouds if they do!He's a good choice,better than most available on the waiver wire right now so why not promote Pat and start him Saturday?He's a very good control pitcher who avoids unnecessary mistakes,and that's what the Mets need...a cool,focused,composed presence out there.

 

[Sausy]

Jonathan Niese pitches his heart out and Angel Pagan slugs a two run homer but the Mets collapse in the eighth(Takahashi tryout looks over as eighth inning setup man....NEXT!!!)as Takahashi and recently terrific Manny Acosta get beat up....Acosta giving up a grand slam to Melvin Mora,turning a 2-1 Mets into a 5-2 deficit and allowing another run right after resulted in a devastating 6-2 Mets loss.

David Wright was awful,getting the dubious honor of achieving the Golden Somberero of four strikeouts in the game,matched in futility by the increasingly useless Carlos Beltran.Nothing from anyone after the Pagan homer.David Wright basically said in the post game that though he was frustrated at his performance and it wasn't acceptable it is difficult top maintain consistency as a player,it wasn't a matter of streakiness ast the same time he was saying one week you're hot,the next your cold and thius is coming frrom someone who even with his power numbers short circuited last year always hit over .300 in his five full previous seasons and was a model of consistency...you could depend on him,he was one you rarely had to be concerned about.Now he's acting as if his streakiness is inevitable,you can't do anything about it because it's difficult to maintain consistency.You know I love you David,but wtf?!!!

And then after the game as if the atmosphere wasn't bad enough....tension on if Jonathan Niese didn't pitch the eighth because of a mild hamstring twinge he had experienced that Jerry Manuel said was the reason he pulled Niese,to be cautious with his past hamstring woes but Niese said he only mentioned to Manuel AFTER he was pulled.Someone is not being fully honest here.

And potentially much more troubling was closer Francisco Rodriguez,already seemingly to clubhouse reports after the game very tense and abrupt getting arrested in a tunnel outside the Mets clubhouse after the game for assaulting his father in law in a scuffle just afterwards..WTF is happening to our Mets?!!!Oh yes,and Johann Santana goes tomorrow at noon and the woman who says he raped her wants to press charges and says she's pregnant.This is bat ass crazy now....we're done,we haven't won back games in a month and a half,the future as sonny says may be very bright but the present is officially now a living hell for Mets fans and the organization,led by Fred Wilpon the oblivious.Great.Just great.

 

[sonny10305]

As soon as I saw Manuals puzzling confusing and frustrating line up last night I thought what a fool the man is it just gets worse and worse. Gone where all the young guys we were so happy to see out there. No Tejada (cause Castillo is so much better) no Ike, no Martinez, no Carter,
I just looked at that lineup and thought WTF

There were highlights among all the low lights. Jonathon Niese who was, once again, awesome. In 7 innings, he allowed only one run on 5 hits, walking none and striking out 7.If you are keeping tack of this stuff as I do, this was the seventh time that Niese pitched seven innings and allowed one run or less, he leads all rookies in this stat. It has not happened since Ron Darling did it back in 1984, but I was four and missed it.

I wondered why Niese did not stay in and it seems that Manual said Jon had some sort of leg problem, but Niese said the leg issue had nothing to do with being removed, just more double-talk and contradictions from Manual
I also did not understand why after Takahshi allowed two base runners Manual brought in Acosta
instead of K-Rod who has been pitching so well, even after Acosta loaded the bases num nutz Manual allowed him to stay in the game, no K-Rod. The result was another Jerry Manual induced disaster

I have to write about D Wright who as bad as he is right now I can’t bring myself to jump all over him. I don’t understand what’s going on with him; I know he is as frustrated as we all are witnessed by his beating his bat to death in the dugout after striking out four times. He could not even hit a soft throwing lefty Rockies pitcher last night a pitcher David would normally own. The boos at Citi were loud and clear and disturbing to me, that behavior is counter productive, he is David Freakin Wright for Gods sake, have some respect. I am betting he will get the day off today I am fully confident that he will get it together and fix this he is just to good not to.

One more thing about Manual, yesterday he said there is an ‘outside chance’ that Oliver Perez will start Saturday in place of Hisanori Takahashi, OLLIE PEREZ!!!! Why Jerry, why even make such ridicules statement, hasn’t he already proved over and over again what an incompetent fool of a manager he is without saying such a thing? If Perez pitches Saturday instead of Misch I will have to seriously consider making my good Yankee fan friend happy and start wearing a Yankees cap. Seriously though, that’s a game I would not watch. I will find it more about that later today or early tomorrow.

Meantime K-Rod is still being held in the detainment center in Citi Field, he has been charged with third-degree assault after a brawl with his wives father
Witnesses have said that K-Rod threw at least one punch. He will be arraigned this morning at Queens Criminal Court, Kevin B. is all over it and we should know more soon. Kevin said that K-Rod, obviously pissed about not getting onto the game, was approached by reporters when the game ended he yelled at them saying, “Did I fucking pitch, then why should I talk to you” The altercation with his father in law followed.

Then there is Santana who now has that women after him again, you may recall the woman accused Johan of rape for which he was never charged but now she s going after him in civil court. Johan had tried to make a six figure settlement with her but was refused.

Good Grief

 

[sonny10305]

A bit more info has come down since my post this morning regarding K-Rod. The altercation happened when K-Rod went to the family room after the game an got into an argument with his wife, whose father got involved and that’s when Frankie punched him out. I was after that K-Rod ran into a Kevin B and a couple of reporters and made the comment “Did I fucking pitch, so why should I talk to you” this was after the incident with his father in law and K-Rod was still hot and had nothing to do with the fact that he had not pitched as originally thought. What has most people the most upset (especially Kevin B.) is that it happened in front of many of the players wives and children both Reyes and Beltran just to name a couple had their kids witness the incident and that seems to be the most upsetting to most. Although the players won’t condemn Frankie’s actions publically Kevin B and Ron Darling have, saying Frankie had crossed the line. The Mets have issued a statement saying that they were very disappointed in Francisco’s inappropriate actions and are taking the matter very seriously. To the end Frankie has been put on the restricted list for two days, what that means is the Mets can replace him on the roster during that time and will not pay him. Igarashi has been called up and is on is way to Citi field. Frankie was to have had an arrangement this morning at 11 but that has been pushed back to a time yet to be determined. After Frankie pinched his father in law he attempted to leave the ball park but was restrained by police and held overnight. His Lamborghini is still waiting for him in the parking lot. This fool has always been a hot head and a time bomb just waiting to go off.

Meantime I have not yet seen today’s game but it was a beauty for Santana who threw a complete-game four-hitter and the Mets shut out the Colorado Rockies
I will watch it later tonight and write about it tomorrow
Perhaps Saucy and Syam can tell us a about it

 

[sonny10305]

Latest on K-Rod
He was released without bail after being arraigned on an assault charge The Judge ordered Frankie to stay away from his girlfriend and her father, who prosecutors said were "very fearful" of the athlete. The prosecutor asked to set bail at $5,000 which the judge denied.

The judge gave K-Rod until Saturday to get his belongings from the home and said he'd need to be accompanied by the police when he does.

 

[Sausy]

Sonny,knew you'd be on it,if anything comes up that's big news around here I know we'll hear it from you as quickly as you get the info.When I heard about it last night I was floored...the way the club was going what else could fuck things up?!

Won't tell you much about the game Santana pitched except it was such a beautiful thing to witness with all the crap going on.One of the best games Santana has EVER pitched,period.And there will be at least one really pleasant surprise you couldn't have seen coming based on the last week or so.See it as soon as you can,relax and enjoy it is the best example of after all we go through we still love our guys and want to scream at the top of our lungs,"Let's go Mets"!

 

[syam24]

The Mets played a very nice and neat game today, Johan was awesome as indicated by his shutout. Carlos Beltran had 3 hits and a sac fly to put the Mets up 2-0. Santana even had a fake bunt/hit and run single with Tejada the runner on base by a walk. The Mets scored 2 that inning. The Rockies never really threatened Johan, he was in complete control the entire game. Hopefully, the KRod thing will be just a minor bump in the road, I would guess he'll be found guilty, fined, some probation time. Unless he has some past legal incidents, I don't see this as a major issue in the big scheme of NYC law violations. MLB and the MEts will then get to add their punishments. Glad to see the Mets take some immediate action to put KRod on restriction, should keep the media dogs off them a bit.

 

[sonny10305]

Saucy I guess you were talking about Beltran going 3-3 as the surprise, I was thrilled to see that, so maybe I was wrong and he will bust out after all we will have to see but that was awesome.

Santana was incredible just a thing if beauty to see, he is continuing his tradition of being a dominant pitcher in the second half. I wanted to learn more about that amazing performance and found that of 115 total pitches, 79 were strikes, 14 of them were swinging strikes. He threw his mind blowing changeup 40 times, which accounted for 11 of those swinging strikes. He never threw more than 17 pitches in an inning and Manual was wise to leave him in cause he only needed five pitches to get through the ninth. I saved that performance on my DVR you can bet I will be watching it all winter. As if that pitching performance wasn’t enough Johan and Tejada executed a perfect butcher boy play that knocked me out I mean who expected that, for sure not the Rockies who were looking like WTF just happened there we thought he was bunting. Just perfect another thrill for that game, and let’s not overlook Thole who caught the master brilliantly, in fact you may have heard Johan singing Josh’s praises after the game. Ya had to love watching Josh set up that frame in perfect sync with Johan all day. Did you notice not once did Josh and Johan have a mound visit there was no need they were perfect together The kid can catch Dickey and Santana, not too shabby, I am so proud of him. I was impressed by the Rockies intentionally walking Josh showing him the respect not often seen for a rookie. Sometimes they will walk a batter to get to the pitcher but in this case they were just afraid to pitch to Thole.

News came down that Rod Barajas will begin his rehabilitation assignment with the Gulf Coast League Mets, so what dos that mean for Thole when Rod comes back? Well Josh ain’t going anywhere we will just have to carry three catchers again. This of course takes us back to Perez who is wasting a roster spot which we could use when Rod returns, that jackass is just holding that spot hostage and is completely useless. The Mets have got to make a move with him, I am sure the salary is the reason the keep him not wanting to throw away all that cash Omar was so foolish to give him but they have to pay him if he stays or goes but at least if he goes we gain that roster spot for another reliever or bench player. The Mets have got to suck it up and get rid of him he is wasted space.

So Beltran busted out and hopefully D Wright is next. I hope he can figure things out this weekend against the Phillies, I wrote about this a couple of times recently, David since the all star break is too far from the plate, For those of you who may not get the importance of that allow me to explain. One of the problems is that David can’t pull the ball from where he is standing now, he is too deep in the box and can’t reach the outside curve ball which is why I jokingly said the other day he needs to move in or get a longer bat The pitchers are taking advantage if his distance from the plate and that’s why you see him get so many breaking balls on the edge or outside of the plate, and that’s when David strikes out. Another thing, watch how he pulling off the ball with off with his shoulders, you can’t do that when you are as far back from the plate as he is, he just can’t reach the outside pitch from there. Simply put when you are as far from the plate as David has been lately you take away hitting the outside pitch, so of pitchers are going to pitch him outside. It’s that simple. That’s why I say if David would move closer to the plate he would take away that advantage over the pitcher. I have always had better success pitching batters who stand far from the plate than I do with those who don’t. The thing is David has to know this so why does he continue to do that only he knows. Some have suggested that like a lot of batters David is afraid to get to close to the plate especially after getting hit in the head last year but I can’t go with that cause until the all Star break he was standing close and all of a sudden move further back and that’s when his latest slump began I can not understand it..I just can’t

So the Phillies come to town tonight lets hope for a repeat of what happened the last time they were at Citi field.

 

[Sausy]

I bet there's somebody who's VERY happy this morning....first a brilliant one hitter by RA Dickey over the phooey Phillies(what a way to bounce back from his disappointing previous start!!!)....and Pat Misch is coming back up to start tonight's game!

 

[sonny10305]

Happy Saucy?? try

So finally after about a month and a half the Mets won back-to-back games.
More better is the fact that they were both shutouts, which hasn’t happened since 2002. R.A. Dickey came back after his last start focused and prepare4d not to make the same mistakes with the speed on his Knuckler and fastball, fixed that. knew he would.
Did it have to be the opposing pitcher to ruin the no hitter??
Still RA struck out seven and threw only 105 pitches in nine innings.

I’m not gonna go into that almost home run by Mike Hessman but I had to laugh at Raul Ibanez jumping up and down and crying fan interference, I thought he was gonna have a stroke. By the way how did that end up a ground rule triple? I thought fan interference is automatically a double, maybe it was because had Ibanez played the ball instead of jumping up and down and pointing to the fan Mike would have made to third, but I don’t think he is that fast though, Reyes yes, Pagan prolly, but not Hessman. Anyways I couldn’t tell if that ball was high enough to have gone out had the fan not touched it. More important to me was that we did not get him home with no outs and that sucked. It happened twice they stranded Pagan as well.

To make room for Pat Misch and the returning K-Rod the Mets optioned both Raul Valdes and Ryota Igarashi to Triple-A Buffalo. Igarashi did not even get to unpack and he’s gone again. Good news is because of Santana and Dickey we did not need him or K-Rod. Frankie will be back in the lineup tonight. Kevin B wants him to apologize to the fans and his team. Lemme tell ya no one is more irritated with K-Rod than Kevin, the usually good natured easy going Kevin fumes when he thinks about what Frankie did in front of all those kids. K-Rod is supposed to speak to the media before the game tonight we will see what he has to say. But don’t expect much, he is a bad dude void of personality and there is a reason he is not very well liked in the clubhouse. I have to think when his contract is up next year the Mets will get rid of him, perhaps unless they make him a starter, Mejia would be a great choice to replace Frankie.

Luis Castillo will probably be gone next year, last night he said that it’s hard for him to sit while Tejada plays He said “I know I can play every day, I'm not a bench player. I can still play." Also the Fans have been screaming at him all the time and it is getting to him. He finished his statement by saying “I can't be here anymore; I know I'm not going to be here next year."


Beltran had another good night and Wright had some good at bats better at least than he is has been but he is still a mile form the plate. Someone told me yesterday that David had been spoken to about that and he said it is not the problem. OK Dave, so then what is??.


Tonight Pat Misch will get his chance to show what he has done while in Buffalo, I think the biggest improvement has been his fast ball speed and breakin stuff. My heart will be pounding a little cause I know how much he has improved and how dominate he has been in Buffalo. So can he bring it tonight? I spoke to him last night and asked him if he packed all that great stuff he has been pitching in Buffalo. He sounded pumped and ready yet calm and confident did not seem at all nervous and very excited about being back. Pats no kid he has been around long enough to know what he has to do here, so let’s all wish him luck

 

[Sausy]

Thanks sonny,knew you'd be all that and more!

You bet I want to join you and wish Pat Misch the best tonight!

Let's go Mets!!!

 

[Sausy]

Well at least the Mets won two straight,and they can win the series this weekend if they win tomorrow night,ESPN game of the week if I'm correct.God,let's not embarass ourselves like tonight!Nothing offensively,shabby defense leading to three of the four Phillie runs so far.David Wright better get his head out of his ass...he's All Star,played like an All Star going into the break and performed so well in the All Star Game but he's lost now.Nothing offensively,erratic defensively including an inexcusable error allowing two runs to score after botching an inning ending grounder with the bases loaded.Pat Misch deserved better but also made an error himself and Ruben Tejada made a misplay causing the first Phillies run to score.

Sonny and syam I'm sure will have more to add...but I'm telling you as much hope as this club gives us it just takes it away just as easily.Sonny wrote extensively about David's mechanical problems at the plate,and David's uncharacteristic downplaying of it...I don't get it.David is usually the guy we can count on for consistency and professionalism....he still gives the effort but seems distracted or hesitant in some way,I can't put my finger on it.Most alarming is when after the game a couple of nights back,he's getting interviewed and basically saying players go in streaks,it's difficult to be consistent and yet he's always found some way to be consistently productive...even with his power outage last season,he was outstanding defensively and hit .307.This is the most prolonged futility he's ever shown at the plate and sonny had made some very detailed remarks about the weaknesses in David's technique...I read a great Met fan blog called Hot Foot which also had a piece about David's approach at the plate,similar to sonny's observations though sonny went into greater detail.David just for some reason can't get himself to get back on track,someone's got to really get it clear to him he's got to stop hurting the team with his stubbornness and get moving.Get that head out of your ass,David...never thought I'd have to ever say that!

Ike Davis,too...he's a rookie true but he just isn't making the adjustments fast enough.Beltran and Wright waited until too late,in the ninth to make some noise but as usual,nada.Davis strikes out,Thole stikes out,another tease over after getting our hopes up we could get to Madsen after doing nothing for eight with one of the masters,Roy Halladay.Unlike in Philadelphia where he looked vulnerable and we failed to take advantage,he was in control tonight....especially after earlier Jose Reyes roused the crowd with a patented triple to lead off the inning,and not coming around to score as Halladay easily matched the threat and pitched beautifully out of trouble.


I really don't even want to talk about K-Rod.The only thing I'll say is that for a long time,he's had a major chip on his shoulder...mouthing off,getting into spats here and there until his infamous beating of his fiance's dad Thursday.He needs anger management therapy right now,the club has to make it mandatory...he was raised in tough circumstances and the inner resentment and rage over his parents dumping him on his grandparents has always fired up inside him.This club,which has no one who demonstrates tough love,no one who willl be a real but tough father or brother figure and let him know he can't allow the past to interfere with getting the job done and making him personally a responsible man who'll do right for his own family,his own children.Fred Wilpon is in denial,Jeff Wilpon is under a desk,Omar is such a pussy enabler,Jerry just thinks everything will be fineGod knows we're in trouble here,another crisis will eventually roll in because there is no adult who'll cut through all the bullshit.No one who will show some common sense,who the fans know hears and understands their anger at this circus.So many people in the Mets organization should be on a therapist's couch.Maybe being a Mets fan is crazy in itself,it hurts so good!