Mets Merized Online

Let me start out by saying “kudos” to the fans at Shea last night for not booing Carlos Delgado.  It’s time we put this whole thing behind us, once and for all, and just root, root, root for the home team!  And just to set the record straight, I never said booing was nice.  I don’t boo players.  But the same way booing is not nice, neither is ignoring the fans when they want a curtain call.  Two wrongs don’t make a right.  I don’t agree with booing and I don’t agree with Delgado not giving a curtain call.  I think we, as bloggers, need to choose our words more carefully when criticizing the tendencies of other fans.  It’s okay to disagree.  But since we all share one common goal (to bring a World Championship to Flushing) we should respect and appreciate each other’s opinions. 

As far as the players go, they need to remember that playing professional baseball is a privilege, not a right.  It is because of us, the fans, that they are able to do what they love for a living and never have to work again.  They are living the life they live partly because of the talents they possess, and partly from the support the fans give them.

Great performance by Jose Reyes last night, getting on base six times.  Although he was the one who caused the game to go into extra innings, his offensive show was worth it, since the Mets did win.  

Endy Chavez had three hits on the night, proving that he could be the stand-in guy when needed.  David Wright had the game-winning hit, hopefully breaking him out of a 3-for-30-something slump.   

Duaner Sanchez and Billy Wagner had their first taste of trouble this year, although Wagner’s was due to Reyes’ ninth inning throwing error.  But they each managed to get out of it.  It was nice to see Wagner pitch the 10^th inning as well.  Great job by Willie using his pitchers last night. 

Johann gave a solid performance. As SNY’s Ron Darling put it, he was changing his pitch sequence with every hitter, making it hard for them to predict what was coming.  You know, I was never a fan of pitching.  I always took pleasure in the offense.  But I really enjoy watching Santana on the mound. 

Hopefully the Mets can take the final game of this rain-shortened 2-game set this afternoon at Shea, and head to Arizona with a winning momentum.  Let’s Go Mets!!

Yes, it’s true and it pains me to say it. We have created such a feeling of hostility in our own home park that it has permeated into the minds of the players and turned our Mets fan base into a laughing stock throughout all of sports.

We have made it a burden for the Mets to relax at the plate because of the unrealistic expectations we have for each player. It has become as though the weight of the world rests upon the shoulders of each and every player and I’m not just talking about those players who happen to be in a slump.

What my biggest fear is that someday beloved players such as David Wright and Jose Reyes will one day leave for the serenity and calm of a team like the San Diego Padres or Arizona Diamondbacks. If and when that happens we will have nobody to blame but ourselves.

When the Brooklyn Dodgers left us starving for National League baseball, we were left with a giant hole in our hearts. The Mets filled that heart with joy and it didn’t matter how bad they were, we loved them.

In 1969 they rewarded that love and loyalty with a World Series trophy that we could all be proud of. Since then the team has had their ups and downs like any other team, but their love affair with their fans was a thing to marvel at.

Those days are now gone because of an impatient society that has been fueled by sports reporters and beat writers who couldn’t care less, a sports talk radio show that revels in the failures of the team and it’s players, a team sponsored network that is disconnected from the team, and a blogosphere that has gone out of control with negativity and the fascination with the power it yields irresponsibly.

It’s a cocktail for disaster and the New York Mets are unfairly swept inside it.

The most unfortunate part is that all those things I mention are not representative of the majority of undying loyalists to the team like myself. The majority of Mets fans are the most supportive fans on earth, but their voices simply are not loud enough to drown out the mindless utterings and negative rantings of the aforementioned.

For the majority of Mets fans it’s a travesty… a travesty that is perpetuated each day with the constant barrage of sensationalizing each and every player’s misstep or dissecting and over analyzing every players quote. It’s not only sad, but disgusting as well.

Everyone is smart enough to realize that for some reason mostly all Mets players hit better on the road, yet they are too naive to see that we are the cause of it. They hit better on the road because that is where they are most relaxed and most comfortable. A homestand has become a great, giant burden for them.

How can we possibly win anything, when we’ve taken away our team’s home field advantage?

How can we hold players responsible for failing to produce in the hostile environment we created?

We have let renegade bloggers and writers warp our good sense. We have let what were supposed to be the radio and cable home of the Mets destroy the fabric of our loyalties and convictions. We have become unique in the sports world for this utter monstrosity.

Shame on us… 

I know it’s not my night, but since we have been rained out, what the heck…

What is the problem? So Delgado didn’t give us a curtain call after his second homerun in yesterday’s win against the Braves. Boo-hoo. I mean a curtain call is nice and all, but there is no right or wrong time to do it. A player doesn’t have to do it. The fact that we are wasting time discussing Delgado’s curtain call (or lack of) at all instead of just being thankful for a great game, is so hypocritical. We booed him because he wasn’t performing. Then he performs, and we boo him for no curtain call. There’s no pleasing us.

I know it’s New York and we expect the best. I know that players are getting paid loads to be number one. And believe me, I am neither agreeing with nor opposing Delgado’s actions. But players and fans alike need to understand something. Die-hard fans have an emotional involvement and attachment to their team. When we boo a player, we are not making any personal attacks on him. Usually, it’s not because we don’t like the person. We really just want to light a firecracker under him to get him going, and basically just let him know that we are disappointed in him and his current play. We have a right and an obligation to do that. And we hope that he will become disappointed enough in himself to snap out of it.

Similarly, when a player does well, we want to celebrate with him and let him know how thankful we are that he is here helping us win! Whether or not Delgado or any other player gives us a curtain call doesn’t change the outcome of the game, the series or the season. However, the fans who haven’t booed him and have no intentions of booing anyone when they are struggling, deserve the curtain call. It’s not fair to them. And those who have taken the booing to the extreme have ruined it for the rest of us. A “boo” here and a “boo” there is tolerable. But we are just going “boo” crazy. Maybe this Mets team feels betrayed by the fans and that’s why they are so unresponsive. How does that make Mets fans look to other baseball fans around the Majors? It’s time to end it already.

And what is this crap that David Wright told Delgado not to go out there? Come on people, do you really believe that the biggest leader on this team would intentionally give another player poor advice? And even if he did, it was ultimately Delgado’s choice, and no one else is to blame. Wright, as short-lived as his career may be, knows New York and is far more mature than that. If any advice was given, it was to in-fact go out there. What difference does it make to Wright if Delgado gives a curtain call or not? I believe that they were actually discussing the at-bat, because that’s the kind of player Wright is. By the way, I am not just saying this because Wright happens to be my favorite. I am saying it because I truly believe this is the case.

What in the world is all this fuss about curtain calls?? Like I said last night, who cares? As far as I’m concerned the only issue is that Carlos Delgado hit two homeruns and even won a Metsy for crying out loud…

Do we have to make everything so negative all the time… even when we should be happy… why are some reporters always trying to rain on our parade?

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What a heck of a job by Billy Wagner to start the season. I haven’t seen him dominate hitters like this since his Houston Astros days. Although his hitless inning streak came to an end at nine innings, he deserves all of our praise for such an amazin’ accomplishment. I’m glad to see him backing up all his tough talk in the off season with the type of performance that can only be described as… phenomina… stupendous… magnaminous… scintillating… other-worldly… do hyphenated words count as one… 

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If you enjoy betting on baseball, and believe that the team with the best bullpen wins it all, then place your bets on the New York Mets. I don’t care about Heilman’s and Sosa’s early season flubs. The Mets are all set to anoint Duaner Sanchez as our new setup man, and I’ll put our 8th inning and 9th inning end game options against anyone in the game right now, and that includes Joba and Rivera.

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You can’t have it both ways… I’m sick and tired of so called Mets fans going off on Willie when he leaves a starter in too long and then gets shelled, or pulling him out when he’s in trouble only to have the bullpen blow the lead. There’s plenty of other stuff you can nail Willie on, but please… cut him some slack on this one.

I’d rather be more pissed off at Oliver Perez and John Maine for having 100+ pitch counts in the sixth inning instead. Willie is only doing what any manager would do as far as the way these starting pitchers have been handled so far this season. How about Maine and Perez stop going to full counts on every single batter, and start throwing more first pitch strikes. The baseball odds are that the more first pitch strikes you throw, the better the results. Pitching from behind in the count is not a strategy for success. I bet even our resident baseball guru Christian would have to agree with that.

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Who’s ready for some swashbuckling action against those notorious bungling Pirates? After teeing off on Schmoltzie and T-Hud, I’m ready for some bloody carnage against those original men in black. The man behind our Series Previews, Brian, says that a sweep is in order. Arghhh matey, I’ll drink to that!

A happy Monday morning indeed Met-heads!

This makes two weekends in a row that I was able to lay my head down at night peacefully, knowing the Mets had won. What makes this victory even sweeter is the fact it came at the expense of John Smoltz and the hated Braves. I always cringe when I know a series against the Braves is coming because if the Mets don’t win I’m going to hear it from all of the Braves fans who have been on the bandwagon since 1991. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you Mets.

Much has already been made about Carlos Delgado not obliging the fans for a curtain call after his second homer yesterday. He claims it was because he didn’t feel it was worthy of a curtain call, but in my humble opinion I think he was making a statement. Not that it really mattered to me, but two homeruns don’t outweigh the inconsistency he has shown thus far. He only did what Carlos Delgado is supposed to do. I realize one of the hardest things to do in the world is hit a baseball, but when you make $16 million doing it I think a little consistency isn’t too much to ask. Hopefully, in addition to the immediate dividends it paid today, he can build on his success. That being said, he can hit 30 more homers and pout in the dugout all year if it means a World Series title.

Because I’m grateful to Carlos for helping to take 2 out of 3 from the Bravos, I would like to honor him with this weeks “Monday Morning Metsy” award. So here’s to you Carlos Delgado, slugger extraordinaire… Be prepared for more booing if you don’t keep improving.

Just a quick personal note today… This past week, the American Cancer Society held it’s annual “Relay for Life “ celebrations to raise money for cancer research, honor survivors and remember those who were lost. I just wanted to throw out a reminder to everyone to get themselves checked, depending on your gender you know what types of cancer. If you have other illnesses that could increase your chances of getting cancer like genetic pre-disposition or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), please take the time to stay current on your health. Your life is not something to fool around with. Visit www.cancer.org for more info! Thank you guys for your attention today and try not to work too hard!

Wow, what a way to make a statement. Today’s big win over John Smoltz and the Braves would not have been possible if not for the efforts of first baseman Carlos Delgado.

Delgado launched a pair of homeruns today and we’re talking huge blasts, not the the garden variety homers the Mets have been hitting this month. What was most impressive was the opposite field shot which put the Mets up 4-0 at the time. His second one came in the seventh inning with nobody on base and hit the scoreboard.

And yet as fans were filing out of Shea Stadium after the game, it wasn’t just Delgado’s homers they were talking about, as much as his snub of the fans who demanded a curtain call. Delgado knew the fans wanted one but he decided that his efforts were not worthy of a curtain call. At least that’s what he said afterward. Hmm… I wouldn’t blame him one bit if he was holding a grudge against the fans for the way they have been booing him over the last two homestands…

I remember Carlos Beltran going through the same situation a couple of years back, and eventually he was urged by Julio Franco to got out and tip his hat which he ultimately did. However, nobody was urging Delgado to do any such thing today, not even his buddies Wright and Beltran.

I don’t have an opinion either way, I’m just hoping that we get more of today;s Carlos Delgado the rest of the way. I’m easy like that..

It’s no surprise that everyone is looking at the Mets future center fielder. Martinez was signed in 2005 as a non-drafted free agent. Native of the Dominican Republic, Martinez has shown signs of a five-tool player last year as he hit some home runs along with speed and a great arm. He was slowed down, much like Carp, last year because of an injury to his finger in which he missed four games. After the injury he wasn’t hitting as much as he was before the injury.

In 2008, Fernando started off slow with an average around .200. However, over the past 10 days, Fernando has a 9-game hitting streak increasing his average to a decent .268. Over the past 10 days, Martinez is batting .304 with 4 doubles and 3 RBIs.

Martinez is only 20 years old, and needs another year to really develop. He does strike out quite a lot, as he has 23 Ks in 22 games played. He’s playing full-time in AA so he needs to cut down his swing and make more contact. His hot April can help him increase his confidence and hopefully provide his ticket to the Mets in September.

If Martinez and Carp can continue to hit well in April and May, I expect both of them to make a trip to New Orleans by July. We all know AAA pitching is totally different than AA pitching, but if Martinez can mature and shorten his swing, he can handle it. The future is bright for Martinez, and if he turns out to be the player the Mets think he’ll be, then the Mets have got a star in the future.

They say that money can’t buy happiness, but in the case of Carlos Delgado it’s even worse than that. The $16 million dollars he is being paid, actually $20 million with the option included, makes Carlos Delgado the highest paid player on the New York Mets and first base overall. Yes, even more than Albert Pujols! And yet, for Delgado the enormity of that contract has become his own personal cross to bear. He carries it on his back with every single at bat and on every singe play at first base.

Today Joel Sherman of the NY Post takes his shot at Delgado with some biting remarks.

The Mets cannot pretend what is going on with Delgado is a blip, because blips don’t last a year and a month. There was always a rate of exchange with Delgado – accept the poor defense get 35 homers and 110 RBIs. But the defense is worse than ever, and the offense would be unacceptable for a middle infielder in 1968. 

What he says is true. This slump dates back too long to call it a slump. It is a certain decline that 80% of 36-year olds go through unless they are on steroids…

It is hard to imagine the Mets offense ever taking off if Delgado continues on this path: one homer, nine RBIs and a .555 OPS, the second worst among 28 qualifying first basemen (Pittsburgh’s Adam LaRoche is at .429). At this point, Delgado’s 24 homers and .781 OPS that so appalled the organization and Mets fans last year would be a godsend.

I’d take last seasons numbers in a heartbeat!

Nevertheless, with Delgado two months shy of his 36th birthday, we should expect regression rather than rebound. That the Mets did not protect themselves for this contingency off of Delgado’s plummeting 2007 is a real blemish for Omar Minaya. Nobody on the roster is a full-time answer.

I wouldn’t say it was a real blemish for Omar, maybe just one of those mornings when you wake up with a pimple on the day of your big date… a $20 million dollar pimple.

Mike Carp is tearing up Double-A. But three scouts said the 21-year-old lefty thumper said is not ready for the majors. "I like him," one scout said. "But he is a level-to-level guy who is going to have to do Triple-A, as well, because he has a lot still to learn."  

They should promote him to AAA already!

There will not be a happy ending where Carlos Delgado is concerned. He got a free pass last season, but so far this season he has become the poster boy for all of the Mets failures. He is fast becoming as big of negative impact as Guillermo Mota was in 2007.

You’re probably thinking, why legend? Let’s face it, Keith Hernandez is the king of comedy with it comes to color commentary. There’s something about his informations or antics that make the game even better. No offense to Ron Darling, but every pre-game show I just can’t wait to see who’s sitting next to Gary. Just to display how great this man is, I prepared a short list on what he says in the booth that makes me crack a smile:

• He calls Gary Cohen, "Gaer" as in, "I noticed something about Delgado’s swing Gaer."
• Keith loves to talk about footwear, especially Crocs, or lack of them.
• Mex loves to talk about his Tootsie Roll Pops, usually in a bin or in his mouth.
• Keith seems to point out every ad-placements as possible.
• The Coors Freeze seems to amaze him more than anything
• New SNY camera angles also seem to astonish him as he’s always caught saying, "Great angle guys."
• He seems to like color too, as he’s always talking about the colored highlighters for his scorecard.
• I keep noticing that Keith makes fun of Kevin Burkhardt so much, especially around other fans and stuff.
• ..and to top it all off, Keith just loves to talk about the Cardinals and about events during his time there. He also loves to talk about the Cardinals Minor League system and his time there too. Hello Tulsa.

That’s not all of them, but yeah, those are the great ones that pop into my head. He has such great chemistry with Gary and he gets extremely entertaining during a blow-out or an extra inning game. His spontaneous jokes are just great and I firmly believe he loves his job way too much.

With fun comes controversy. Of course you all remember the incident with the comment toward women being in the dugout and how he states that a woman should not be in the dugout. Comment aside, he brushed it off and continued to be as random as a commentator can be, and everyone enjoys it.

I may be a bit biased, but I truly think that the team of Cohen, Hernandez, and Darling is easily the best broadcasting team in the business right now. Cohen’s perfect play-by-play, Darling’s in-depth analysis, and Keith’s speech about how he hates the head-first slide just fits every position. Keith’s great, and he knows he great.

"He’s my guy. I stick with my guys."

I’m sure there’s no need for me to reveal the source of that quote. After all we’ve been hearing those same words day after day for over a year now.

You can’t fault a manager for showing confidence in his players, but at some point you have to draw a distinction between performances that most often lead to wins and those that lead to losses. I have two questions for Willie about last nights embarrassing loss.

1. Why would you bring in Aaron Heilman to pitch in the sixth inning of a tie game with two runners on base after being burned by him three times already so early in the season?

2. Why would you stick with him after he walked Lastings Milledge to load the bases?

It has often been said that those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Hasn’t there been enough history on Aaron Heilman to know that he is clearly ineffective so far this season? It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that his fastballs are all up and he is relying to much on a changeup that lost its potency because he throws it too many times in the count.

What are we paying Rick Peterson for? Is there one pitcher you can name that has shown any improvement from last season? Why are John Maine and Oliver Perez still the same promising pitchers with the same lack of focus and inability to work deep into a game?

Am I the only one who thinks Heilman should have gotten the hook after he walked Lastings Milledge? Especially after seeing that scorching laser he drove down the left field line that just missed being a bases clearing double. Knowing how poorly Heilman has performed of late, shouldn’t have Joe Smith and Scott Schoeneweis have already been throwing in the bullpen and on call for the first hint of trouble?

I don’t know about you, but as far as I am concerned Joe Smith, Duaner Sanchez and Scott Schoeneweis are the only guys I trust in that bullpen after Billy Wagner.

Last night Gary Cohen revealed that the Mets’ bullpen have allowed three of the four grand slams hit so far this season. Pathetic…

When will it be time to usher in the Eddie Kunz era? Kunz is our top relief prospect and closer of the future. Obviously it’s too early to claim the mantra of closer of the future, but it may be the perfect time for "the reliever who can throw strikes of the future".

With ERA’s hovering around 7.00, can Eddie Kunz do any worse. Maybe I’m just talking out of frustration. Maybe I’m just tired of seeing the same guys get trotted out there and blowing would-be wins for us. Maybe I’m just tired…