NY Mets 2014

[syam24]

Not much to add to Saucy's notes, a good comeback win after the walk off loss to the Nats and Bryce Harper on THursday. Chris Young is gone, never liked the signing but that's the way it goes sometimes. Looks like the Mets are ready to see what they have for next year, bringing up Den Dekker, putting Flores in at short for the long run. Really, the writing has been on the wall for awhile that we just didn't have enough offense to compete this year. It's possible a couple of more moves may happen this month. Lets go Mets!!

 

[sonny10305]

 

[syam24]

Nice pic of Robin. An unexpected death is always tough on folks.

 

[syam24]

Nice series by the Mets vs Phila. Could have been a sweep with a little better bullpen effort on Sunday, but 3 outta 4 ain't bad. Recker's bomb Monday was key to supporting Jon Niese's good effort for the win. The news on de Grom was not too bad, so hopefully after some rest he will be back to close out Sept. Montero will start in his place, if they play tonite. Devistating news about Jeremy Hefner, feel bad for him. Beat the Nats, Let's go Mets!!

 

[Sausy]

Good news about Jacob de Grom merely needing rest... hopefully he'll be fine after a couple of weeks and will only need to miss two starts or so. Yep, syam loved the Recker homer... he really does have nice power but inconsistent play affects him at the plate. The Mets though have to continue with Travis d'Arnaud is their first string catcher... really showing much more consistent production since his stint in AAA and he does have very good power himself. Glad to see Jon Niese go a strong seven allowing only the two runs and being much more in command than his recent starts.

Disappointing start by Montero last night, to say the least. Looks as troubled as he did before he was sent down to Las Vegas, where he was doing much better especially in recent starts. Giving up four home runs is unacceptable... the walks too... he had such a great reputation as a control pitcher, and even with the walks early on this season at Las Vegas it took him 74 innings to give up four home runs. Still WAY too early to push the panic button and trash Rafael Montero as overrated and a bust however he's going to have to really focus and work hard because in the majors, you pitch like he's been doing and you'll be run out of the majors before long. Or banished to the bullpen.

 

[Sausy]

Good news about Jacob de Grom merely needing rest... hopefully he'll be fine after a couple of weeks and will only need to miss two starts or so. Yep, syam loved the Recker homer... he really does have nice power but inconsistent play affects him at the plate. The Mets though have to continue with Travis d'Arnaud is their first string catcher... really showing much more consistent production since his stint in AAA and he does have very good power himself. Glad to see Jon Niese go a strong seven allowing only the two runs and being much more in command than his recent starts.

Disappointing start by Montero last night, to say the least. Looks as troubled as he did before he was sent down to Las Vegas, where he was doing much better especially in recent starts. Giving up four home runs is unacceptable... the walks too... he had such a great reputation as a control pitcher, and even with the walks early on this season at Las Vegas it took him 74 innings to give up four home runs. Still WAY too early to push the panic button and trash Rafael Montero as overrated and a bust however he's going to have to really focus and work hard because in the majors, you pitch like he's been doing and you'll be run out of the majors before long. Or banished to the bullpen.

Have to add that's a very good pic of Robin Williams, sonny, beautiful simple tribute. So sad, what an incredible talent but even more important to his friends and family just a wonderful person. RIP Robin

 

[sonny10305]

Well we did not expect much playing the Nats and that’s what we got, nothing.
Ok so our offense is asleep again and even our pitching is beginning to crack a little but I am starting to question Terry Collins ability. First the move to put Flores permanent spot at short was a dumb call; I understand that Tejada was having trouble with his bat but what player isn’t? Plus Wilber Was supposed to be better offensively and that has not happened at all plus the biggest thing for me is the defense, Rubin is a far better at short Flores is not a good shortstop, sooo big mistake there. Don’t know what to do with Flores other than let him fill in at Short here and there but not permanently. He can also play second but we don’t need him there either Murphy will finish out the season with no more time off so Wilber had best keep his boney butt away from second cause that’s Murph territory. Next is giving denDeckker all the playing time in the outfield, don’t get me wrong I love that kid but you can’t just let Nieuwenhuis rot on the bench and then expect him to stay fresh wasting away, they both need to play I just don’t get it. Same applies to Recker I understand he is out backup catcher but he heeds more playing time. Next up is Collins working of the pen which has been questionable at best and don’t get me started on those wild and wacky double switches of his; I mean WTF is that about? No, I am beginning to have serious doubts about his ability to move his team forward.
I am off to Vermont with the Cyclones don’t have much time now I will post again after I get back Just wondered what you guys think of how Collins is handling he team now.

 

[sonny10305]

I forgot in my post above to mention the one and only Kevin Burkhardt has taken the Ice Challenge for charity. KB you are the best

Also getting Harper to lol as only KB can

 

[Sausy]

I don't know if anyone can get better out of this group. I'm done with Flores at shortstop.... Mets either keep Tejada there, seriously look at Matt Reynolds who is tearing up AAA Las Vegas(not so much in home runs but average, hitting like a combined .340 in Binghamton and no Las Vegas the last couple of months)or trade outside the organization. Collins isn't the best strategic manager but the Mets seem loathe to bring in Wally Backman from Las Vegas.. corporate shmucks don't trust him but the guy gets his players motivated. Whether they keep Collins or not, the reluctance to spend has got to end this offseason....the Madoff thing has been settled and the Wilpons don't face financial ruination anymore so if they can't or won't up the ante then get the hell out. New York doesn't need a pinching pennies baseball team, just sick of seeing the Mets play like this. Fucking embarrassed at home swept by the Nats.. .11 fucking straight wins at CitiField!!!!!! No way we should be shown up like that at home.... and notice in the past series the Nats had NO problem hitting the ball out, while Citi is not a homer friendly park it's not at all an impossible one. It's so frustrating checking on the score from work(usually work evenings) and seeing the Mets are playing like shit. I just don't think canning Terry Collins would result in much different... Gee wasn't that bad last night but two home runs and his command was off, and when the Mets pitchers aren't at their best most nights their offense just doesn't step up. We never get several hot bats in a row.... we get teases of good play, then totally flat for stretches. Good teams bounce back, they adjust, they attack. The Mets have yet to prove they can do any of these with any reliability. Again changing Terry Collins for another corporate acceptable choice I just don't know will make any difference... I'm not optimistic it would.

Always good to see KB doing what he does so well, really going to miss him after he leaes once the season ends for Fox Sports out west.

 

[syam24]

The Mets are in the "let's see who might stay her for next year" mode. They want to see if Flores and den Dekker can hit at the major league level. They kinda know about Tejada. Your catcher is d'Arnaud now and in the future, Recker will only see spot duty. The Mets need some outfield bats, HR hitters. The only thing I was encouraged by in the. Nats series was Duda hustling and scoring from first on the dropped fly all by Frandsen with two outs. Many others would have jogged and ended up on third instead of scoring, that was well done. Beat the Cubbies, let's go Mets!!

 

[Sausy]

Zack Wheeler is so close to being the ace type so many believe he has the talent to become. Another game where he allowed to runs or less... two runs tonight in six and two third innings, allowed four hits, four walks and struck out ten. He struck out the first two batters in the seventh but after allowing a walk pushing his pitch count to 120, TC took him out again next being able to quite go seven full innings which is the area he has to improve in over the next few years, command and focus. He realizes it and is working hard to improve it but it's going to take some time trying to develop from a thrower to a pitcher with command and control of his primary and off speed pitches. The good thing is he's still tough to hit, he can still get the strikeouts and he has that steely passion that he's going to be able to pitch out of trouble, and as we have seen in his streak of the past couple of months he does. Mets win 3-2 over the Cubbies and the beleaguered Jennry Mejia despite his nagging ailments recently effectively closed this one tonight.

Eric Campbell was the all the offense the Mets needed tonight slamming a three run homer for the Mets 3-2 margin of victory. Ironically, I was reading an article in ESPN local baseball news reports that TC has said if Eric Campbell were more of a power threat he'd be damn near impossible to keep out of the lineup with his hitting ability.. this was his second MLB career homer. Soup as sonny and his Met teammates call him has done a nice job providing depth and performance and has even played a solid left field despite primarily having been an infielder in his career.

 

[sonny10305]

With the Mets off on Thursday SNY will carry the Brooklyn Cyclones/Staten Island Yankees game live which means a chance for you guys to see Michael Conforto and the future Mets. We are being told but mot confirmed is that Dice-K will have a rehab start. Dice should return to the Mets when the roster expends Sept 1st meanwhile he pitched six innings for AA Binghamton and looked good. Looking forward to meeting him all be it by interpreter and I will try and not make the same mistake Dan Warthen made with that nasty slur, Oh Dan…..
So check us out and see guys play real baseball instead of that stuff the Mets play we have won five games in a row with a 1.game lead in the race for the NYPL's Wild Card. Also in Brooklyn on Tuesday, August 19th we will host the best that the New York-Penn League has Annual NYPL All-Star Game



Even better news is that Jacob deGrom should be ready to return this weekend in LA with Justin Turner and the Dodgers. Behave yourself JT; yeah like that will happen

I watched a replay of yesterday game last night wanted to see how Rafael Montero was going to do since his starts have been rocky. My feeling is that he will be traded over the winter so it is important for him to improve his value so we can make a nice deal for him and he did that yesterday looking so much better. Maybe now he is beginning to translate what we saw him do in the minors and have better success here; he can’t get away with the mistakes he made in AAA now with the big boys like getting called strikes and all those swing and misses, that don’t happen much here; like they say location location location ya can’t be middle middle in the majors unless of course you throw 105 miles an hour I Did not see him hang so many pitches yesterday that slider killed him in last outing. Maybe too he can get that change up working haven’t seen it much and most important he needs to work on the differential in the velocity; you have read me say many time how important that speed difference is between the fast ball and the change up he has got to get that improved.


Conforto a big hit with the fans here in Brooklyn

 

[syam24]

Hated to see the Mets waste two more solid pitching efforts, but that's what their lack of offense did. Montero pitched well on Sunday and today Carlos Torres filling in for Colon, who went to be with his ailing Mom, gave them 5 solid innings, but the only offense wS a Duda HR. Except for some good hitting just prior to the All Star break, it's been a dismal offensive effort this season as a team. Murphy and Duda's emergence have been the exceptions, along with d'Arnaud's picking it up after a short stay at Vegas.

 

[sonny10305]

OMG Syam you think things are bad now just think; the Mets are set to begin a five-game road trip through Oakland and Los Angeles facing some of the best pitching in the game.

Good grief it is going to be a bloodbath I tell you a bloodbath.

Since the All-Star break, the Mets are last in baseball in runs scored, batting average, slugging percentage and hits with runners in Scoring position, while leading the league in strikeouts.

On a positive note at least we will have good ole Kevin Burkhardt calling the games in Oakland and that’s always fun. Gary Cohen is taking a couple of days off.

With my busy Cyclones schedule I can’t see the games live and will catch them later on my DVR witch will be good cause I can fast forward thru the bad stuff.

 

[Sausy]

I want to comment but every time I do I just get MORE aggravated. Torres filled in quite admirably when Bartolo Colon had to return to the DR on his mom's passing, prayers and condolences to the Colon family. He's been shaky at times of late in the bullpen but in five innings gave all you could expect from him... Mejia's injury has to be affecting him and lately he just doesn't have it like before injuring the leg muscle. Lucas Duda is showing he is the real deal but you just can't allow the offense to be this pathetic... 16 hits in 4 games, four hits a game on average. I just don't get this team...and if fucking Sand Alderson is going to be hogtied again by the Wilpons into not spending this winter, Met fans should protest every game until the Wilpons sell. I'm fucking tired of this.... though thankfully he didn't do a panic move and get Troy Tulowitzki or Carlos Gomez from the Rockies. He better make big moves this winter because it's a travesty... Wilpons say they can't spend until the Mets draw better but the Mets awful offense continues to betray good-decent pitching and no one really believes in them so why would the fans show up? I just am beyond pissed right now how embarrassing and a joke we look!

Thankfully we'll have fun when KB helps call the games and I hope to god it's not as bad as sonny fears it could be. Syam love how you can keep it short and sweet but it's really got to piss you off too. You want to have hope and they give it for a few games(mostly though because of strong pitching) but then they just DON'T generate offense at all. Granderson was a horrible choice as a free agent because of his propensity to strike out and hit for low average.... he was coming around for about a month before the All Star Break but now he's as much a part of the problem as anyone. You can't afford to make mistakes overhauling the club this winter so you have to pick the right players from inside and outside the organization. However mainly you have to have a club that manufacture runs during slumps, make their own breaks. It's the only way to win... find a way even when things aren't going well. But at times like this the Mets instead spiral out and get stuck in a hole they can't get out of... that kind of mindset and result has to STOP !

Michael Conforto looks real good so far for the Cyclones.... sonny, any others you think will be names for Mets fans to remember?

 

[Sausy]

So much better when the boys hit and find ways to get on base! Now if we can just figure out how to get Zack Wheeler to get over the hump into maximum pitch efficiency!

Lucas Duda continues to really shine with two hits including a huge three run homer to dead center. Eric Campbell continues his fine play with a couple of hits including a solo homer early. Mets got RBI's from Curtis Granderson, Daniel Murphy, and Wilmer Flores...best thing is all the RBI came with two out. Scoring runs in bunches and timely clutch hitting... two big things a successful offense must do on a consistent basis which the Mets have rarely done. Ten hits and several walks scoring 8 runs made it a rare fun day to be a Mets position player and fan!

Zack Wheeler basically pitched well, but again high pitch counts limited how deep he could go into the game and today for the first time in awhile he couldn't even finish six innings, going five and two thirds allowing four hits and four runs but the last two were unearned and set up by a errant throw by Daniel Murphy. Zack has spoken of getting more efficient and going longer in games and saving the bullpen but his conversion from blowaway stuff thrower to smart, command and control pitcher ho can use the mighty fastball complemented by several other effective pitches to devastating effect. He may get there and he has the talent... he's not fun to face especially when he has his fastball and hook working. But when he can control another off speed pitch is when he will truly be scary, and right now it's a process. Oh, he's damn good there's no doubt in the least, but he still is learning and scratching only the surface of his potential. Still Mets have to be happy with his progress this year and it's just incumbent with Zack he develop confidence and consistency with his control so he can become the tremendous top of the rotation star he has the physical talent to achieve.

Off day Thursday, weekend series with the Dodgers. In the words of syam, "Let's go, Mets!"

 

[sonny10305]

Nice post Saucy my man I could not agree more maybe we are gonna turn it around again

I Hope you got a chance to see the Cyclones on SNY last night it was a sellout of 8,000 give or take one or two at MCU Park. Dice K pitched for us as a part of his rehabilitation, and we shutout the Yankees, 2-0.
Matsuzaka threw five scoreless innings, and after getting into a little loaded bases trouble early, ya know like he does, he pitched out of it giving up two hits and striking out seven. A bit of a scare with a collision in left-center field between John Mora and Michael Conforto going after a ball Mora got the worst of it and in fact left the game a little shook up It was a must win for us after a really brutal loss on Wednesday, I mean BRUTAL. Even Michael Conforto was charged with a throwing error, advancing the runners. But not last night when things went better with Pedro Perez knockin a double to right field then Michael Bernal followed with another double that drove in Perez and we were on the board. I loved the aggressive base running from Bernal who tried to score from second, yeah he was thrown out but still ya gotta love the hustle. Our awesome catcher Tomas Nido now has a ten game winning streak. And not to be left out is our saver, Shane Bay who closed it out and is now 14 for 14 in saves so far this season. Not a lot of hits last night thanks to great pitching by SI Yankees, Conforto went 4-0 an usually quite night at the plate for him. Mike is batting .307 along with our locked an loaded center fielder John Mora at 3.33 Saucy you asked about our Cyclones to watch; well John Mora is one for sure tough kid reminds me a lot of den Decker he is fearless out in center where fly balls go out to die Thomas Nideo is going to be very successful in the majors he calls great games know his pitchers calls smart games and is one to watch for sure I thought he handled Dice K brilliantly last night.

I did meet Matsuzka but he speaks no English so I had no conversation with him not sure what he thought other than what the interpreter who was himself a really cool guy made Dice K very accessible and was very friendly to all of us

Looking forward to tonight as we have our Military Appreciation Night and Brooklyn Beach Party those beach parties are always a heck of a lot of fun. Later this month we go at it again with the Staten Island Yankees on what is called Night at the ballpark. We will be wearin Nickelodeon "90s Are All That" jerseys which will be raffled off during the game with all proceeds to benefit the ALS Association. We already kicked that off by having our own version of the "Ice Bucket Challenge" using Buckets of slime; ya know Nickelodeon style dumpin slime on the home office geeks which was awesome. We will do that on Nick night and if you male an ALS donation you can join the team on the field after the game and join in on the ice bucket challenge around the infield.

Mike models the new Jersey



I thought we played pretty darn good against that Oakland team I expected not to go well at all and with that am so pumped for the Dodgers series tough pitching there but who knows maybe we will knock em out. I think LA has Haren on the mound tonight and he has struggled against the Mets, going 3-3 with a 5.25 ERA in 11 games, But most of all I want to see Justin Turner play his old team and with the Dodgers their baseman banged up JT has been getting a lot p playing time n I doing really well batting an impressive .314 .which includes his two-run homer last night in the eighth inning to beat the Padres and giving Kershaw’s his 15th win. Justin had way to much fun playing Ike Davis and the Pirates so now he gets to mess with his ole teammates again should be fun.
I know first hand he has some mischief in his bag of tricks planned for the guys, wouldn't be JT if he didn't

JT enjoying the spotlight in LA



And how up for the Mets series is he?

 

[syam24]

THe win over the A's on Wed was terrific, scoring 8, count 'em, 8 runs, against Samarjia, of all people. Big 3 run crank from Duda was the big hit, and Zach Wheeler pitched effectively enough for the win with some bullpen assistance. Familia got the save, giving Mejia a two day break prior to the LA series. Suacy, I do get frustrated and angry at the lack of offense by the Mets, but some of it is baseball wide. With these shifts that teams employ, it's time for the batters to take what is given them and hit the other way, it's the only way to get the teams to play them straight up again. I know the Mets are not as offensively gifted as some other teams, but that is why they should take advanctage of any opportunity given. At least we miss Kershaw, since he threw another gem last nite. We may have a shot at winning a couple games here. Let's go Mets!!

 

[sonny10305]

With these shifts that teams employ, it's time for the batters to take what is given them and hit the other way, it's the only way to get the teams to play them straight up again. Let's go Mets!!

I get irritated with the shifts as well BUT there are those wonderful times when one of our boys pulls the ball the other way for a hit. The best is when third baseman tries to rush back to his position only to miss the ball as he falls on his face and the ball goes into he outfield , now that's funny

 

[Sausy]

Great Cyclones post sonny... looking forward to seeing Michael Conforto, Thomas Nideo and John Mora going through the system. At this level while it's still a business these players also have a great fun, informal atmosphere and Coney Island is such a great part of Brooklyn history. Good on the Ice Bucket Challenge twist and I like the community feel of minor league ball, just seems a looser atmosphere though on the field everyone gets down to business and we always see our Cyclones bust their asses off. Not everyone will make it to CitiField but the ones who do usually start their Mets journey at Brooklyn. Hope the guys you mentioned are among the ones that do make it. Michael seems to be adjusting really quickly and hopefully his having major college experience greatly speeds up his arrival.

JT was a nice part of tonight's win and he's had a fantastic year as the complimentary jack of all trades who with over 200 ABs is hitting a career high .314 and doing everything expected of him and more. In ESPN New York Terry Collins was praising JT as one of his favorite players and it just boggles the mind how some in the Mets front office did a complete character assassination of him as he left the Mets last offseason as lazy, non hustling and difficult to coach. What drugs were they on? He's sorely missed, his exuberance and mischievousness... he often would make a key play or deliver a clutch hit especially when he was being used more consistently. Glad you gave JT his props and glad he could get back nearer to his home and play so well for a team like the Dodgers who appreciate his talent and leadership and intangibles. Only thing sadly they cut out was his delightful pie celebrations after nice wins but small price to pay for playing with a club that wants and respects you and what you bring to the table

Awful mess last night... Jonathon Niese did pitch into trouble but generally was able to pitch out of it but errors by Wilmer Flores were costly and Dodgers broke through in the seventh 5-1 and added another in the 8th . Poor Mets fielding, especially by Wilmer Flores who has not shown much either in the field or at bat... a bad job by Torres coming into relieve Niese and Montero gave up another run and was subsequently returned to AAA Las Vegas as after the game Jake de Grom came off the disabled list. Niese went six and two thirds, deserving a better fate but giving up 8 hits and five runs(only two earned) and still appearing not quite back to form since returning from his pre-All Star break shutdown for a tired shoulder. Still he battled well but the defense and relief just didn't have his back tonight. Curtis Granderson had an early homer and Lucas Duda added an RBI groundout but Mets couldn't get it going at the plate and lost last night to the Dodgers 6-2.