Mets Merized Online

Happy Saturday Mets fans and welcome to another edition of Hot or Not. This week, we’ve watched our Metropolitans resurge against the (formerly) first place Marlins. They took a step backwards last night against the Dodgers, but I believe that they can still turn this thing around!

Hot as Fire
David Wright: Heeeeeeeeee’s baaaaaaack! After last night’s game, he brought up his batting average to .284 and he now leads the team in home runs and RBI. I expect D-Wright to put himself in the MVP race in the coming weeks, even though it is only the last day of May.

Jose Reyes: Heeeeeeeeeee’s baaaaaaaaack, part 2. With that being said, Jose Reyes has also done much better for us in the past month. His batting average rose to .281, he’s getting on base more often, and in my opinion, getting smarter about reading the pitchers. If his number of steals had to go down just so his success rate would be higher, I’d totally be okay with that.

Fernando Tatis: Any guy who hits a walk off double in the 12th inning against a (former) first place team automatically goes on the Hot list.

Cold as Ice
Aaron Heilman: After last night’s performance, I had to put him here. At least Tom Glavine recorded an out on That Day. You may say to me, "But Jessica, he pitched 4 scoreless innings against the Marlins." So what? There’s another guy in our bullpen who we unceremoniously booed on Opening Day with a 1.19 ERA.

Luis Castillo: To me, he’s still the rally killer. Maybe this hip injury is a blessing in disguise. Maybe he needs a couple of days off to re-adjust where his head is at. So, I get it, he’s had double knee surgery and he needs to learn how far he is physically able to go.

These are just a couple of my picks. Was I right on or was I totally wrong? Here’s to hoping for continued success! Lets go Mets!

Update: I am aware of Castillo’s power numbers as of late. But he still seems to be the one to end the big inning or end the inning when we have potential to score (i.e. Reyes on third with two outs, Schneider on second and Reyes on first with one out). As I said when I started writing this column, a player’s productivity is not my only factor in considering my picks. But I’m still glad he started hitting.

There was a baseball team that played many years ago. Their statistics were less than stellar to say the least. The # 2 and # 3 starters were both under .500 for the season. The right fielder led the team in RBI’s with a mere 79. The power came from a first baseman who led the club with an insignificant 23 home runs while hitting a lowly .239. No one else on the team had over 20 dingers. Speed was provided by the third baseman who led the team–with an unbelievable SIX all season. Or in other words, he averaged one stolen base per month! This unassuming bunch of ballplayers went all the way to the World Series, before losing in 7 games.

The team was the Mets. The year was 1973. And led by the rallying cry of Tug McGraw who roared "Ya Gotta Believe," the Mets came ever so close to yet another miracle. Jerry Koosman and Jon Matlack were 14-15 and 14-16 respectively. Rusty Staub led the team in RBI’s despite playing injured much of the year. John Milner, The Hammer, worked at first base while hitting his 23 round trippers and Wayne Garrett’s 6 stolen bases were not exactly Jose Reyes territory.

As an interesting side note, the skipper of the 73 Mets was Yogi Berra. Berra was not initially well liked or well received by the Mets faithful. The job of manager fell into his lap one year earlier with the untimely death of the much loved and much revered Gil Hodges. Berra, as you know, was best known for being a Yankee. (Sound familiar?)

I look at the 2008 Mets and am proud to announce that "I Still Believe." The ghosts of the 07 collapse still haunt our minds and remain at the forefront of our conscious. Since it is difficult, if not impossible, for us, as fans, to eradicate the horror of last September, we should not expect anything different from the players. We watched our lead crumble before our eyes but the players lived it. September 2007 was almost nine months ago. But in baseball time only 50 games have passed since we handed the division to the Phillies. It is not fair for us to expect the players to come out Opening Day and be completely healed from the left over scars, pain and heartbreak.

Yes, we are off to a slow start. The first third of this season has been filled with turmoil, bone head plays, dissension in the clubhouse, rumors of racism, players-only meetings, finger pointing and everyone from fans and the local media calling for the head of Randolph on a plate as if his first name was Osama.

I look at this season and feel the best is yet to come. This past week the Mets have played with heart and soul, fire and passion, not seen since 2006. In spite of the despair in the dugout, the Mets remain close to first place. Pedro Martinez, our number 2 starter, was injured in the second game of the season. Our number 5 starter, El Duque, has been injured forcing the Mets to bring up Mike Pelfrey sooner than desired. We have already had to deal with injuries to catcher Brian Schneider and Ryan Church who, thus far, has been the team MVP. And, of course, Moises Alou, but that goes without saying.

Things can only get better. David Wright is hitting 25 points below his career batting average of 309. Jose Reyes has struggled and is below his career batting average as well but he has shown some fire in the belly of late. Carlos Beltran is hitting 16 points below his career batting average but has hit 305 for the last month. And Carlos Delgado, who has suffered the scorn of Mets fans all year, can only get better. Plagued by injuries in 2007 and suffering a wrist injury the final game of the 2007 season, Delgado is still on pace to hit 26 HR’s and 81 RBI’s. Add this to the fact that our first baseman is hitting nearly 60 points below his career batting average and slugging at only 389 rather than his career 594, things can–and will-only get better.

April and May will not be remembered by Mets fans for early struggles. Instead, it will be remembered by the Phillies and Braves and Marlins as a blown opportunity. They’ve had their chance to put us away, to bury us. But we are still here, still alive. We are still within striking distance of the top of the National League East.

I look at the stats of our hitters and I am hopeful. I see the spirit returning to this team and I am cautiously optimistic that it remains. I look at the talent we have, from Johan Santana, the best lefty in the league since Sandy Koufax, to future Hall of Famer  Billy Wagner and I feel confident. I look at the 2008 Mets and can proudly state that I Still Believe.

Two years ago, on May 23, 2006, the Mets were playing the rival Phillies. The game was tied 8-8 and went into extras. The Phillies’ Ryan Madsen had entered his 7th inning of relief when one Carlos Beltran stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the 16th inning. That night, Carlos Beltran hit a long home run over the Mets bullpen, sending the Shea Faithful home happy. I had not seen the end of the game, and even went to bed that night thinking the Mets had lost. When I found out they won, I was ecstatic as any Mets fan ever was about their team.

Fast forward to May 28, 2008. The Mets are in a rut. They’re playing like they’re dead. Fans aplenty are calling for Willie Randolph to be fired. Endy Chavez tied the game in the bottom of the 9th with his first solo home run of the season. Here we go again; an extra innings game gives them extra opportunities to win. In the bottom of the 12th, with David Wright on third and Carlos Beltran on first, Fernando Tatis steps up to the plate and……BAM! He hits a walk off double off Justin Miller to beat the Marlins and gain a game in the standings.

Last week during ESPN’s broadcast of the Mets-Braves game, the commentators said the Mets were playing like they were dead. In today’s recaps of the game, the word "energized" was used to describe the Mets. Some fans would even call it Amazin’. I call it a miracle. I said a couple of weeks back that the Mets were still waiting for their turning point in the season, the one win or the one bad call that would do a complete 180 one the season and have the Mets come out better than ever. This is that turning point, Mets fans. Their resurgence is no joke to me. 

Seeing those guys jumping around, smiling, and celebrating their victory is what makes my world go around.
Thank you, Fernando Tatis. Thank you for turning the season around. 

Visions of 2006 have cluttered my mind over the past three days. For much of the last eight months of baseball at Shea Stadium, the Metropolitans were a hollow vessel lacking a heart beat. They were there in body, looking quite lavish in their blue and orange uniforms, but it was quite evident that the hunger and drive to attain victory was lost somewhere along the way.

Was it the benching of Jose Reyes in mid-2007? The hanging Aaron Heilman change up taken into the dark night sky off of the bat of Yadier Molina? Over the course of the last season and a half of play, the Mets have become an enigma, one that I don’t believe anyone could solve. SNY has seemingly become the place to tune in to find the best soap opera on television lately. Each morning a new headline, a new controversy, and new negative outlook is cast upon our beloved Metsies.

Stating that Willie Randolph has taken the bulk of criticism for the teams underachieving and heartless efforts could be classified as the understatement of the year, and you wouldn’t get much of an argument. Though at a point I was indeed in favor of a managerial change, I’m not so certain it is imperative any longer. Hell, Randolph is one of the most classy, upstanding men you will find in this business, nobody can take that away from him. Facts are facts though, and the fact in this case is that managing the Mets to victory is in his underlying job description. If a shipping manager at UPS fails to have his deliveries out in a timely manner, he would be shown the door. Case in point, if Willie doesn’t tally up the W’s, I could not argue with the Wilpons decision to fire him, if it were ever to reach such a point.

However, in Randolph’s defense, the last three days have been an ominous reminder of what the Mets once were, and what they could be. The road to reaching .500 has served as a complete about face. Fun and excitement is again a daily element on the diamond. They’re playing loose and comfortable, and it has been displayed in their recent three game surge, following a disastrous 1-7 road voyage.

After having all but his head under water, and sinking fast, where is the credit being issued to Randolph now? Sure, I know, it’s only three games, lets not jump too far into optimism, but you cannot overlook the drive the squad has displayed lately, and I feel as though if Randolph warranted as much scrutiny as he received when Flushing was sitting at rock bottom, than he should be given some credit for their possible rise, hopefully it shall continue, all the way into first place, but one step at a time, don’t forget, a wise man once said, Rome was not built in a day.

The troops are currently in the staging area, cleaning their weapons. The engineers are working on the engines and we’re starting to see them click on some of the available cylinders. D Day has been set for June 3^rd.

Pedro Martinez has thrown a rehab session in A Ball St. Lucie and has been declared ready to return. And not a moment too soon. He returns to what he all hope is Major League form, on Tuesday as the Mets take on the Giants in San Francisco.

In the last two games against the Marlins, the Mets have started showing signs that they’re a team with a pulse. For about the past year, the Mets haven’t been playing as a team as much as they were a group of superstars on the same field. No cohesiveness. No gel. Not so these past two days though. On the field and in the dugout, I sense changes afoot.  Heart, maybe? Excitement?

The doldrums we’ve gotten used to seem to be shaking off some of the players that had been highlighted and chastised across all medias. Aaron Heilman has been spotting his pitches well in his last two outings and he’s been very effective. Luis Castillo, was actually productive from the right side of the plate Wednesday night.  

As the Mets begin playing as a team again, is the re-addition of Pedro going to help to bring the team together or will it work against the cohesiveness that’s been developing? Pedro felt “perfect, physically” after his rehab start Wednesday night.  He went six innings, throwing 82 pitches.  He allowed two runs on four hits, no walks and six strikeouts in this effort. Pedro says that it’s “uncomfortable” to see what the Mets are going through and not be able to help. I think we’re all looking forward to his return and the boost he will hopefully give this team.

The Mets just finished a three game series, taking two of the three from the Fish. They’re starting to show some flashes of what they are capable of. It should work in their favor that they go right into this next series without a day off. Tonight, the Mets welcome Joe Torre back to New York. The Dodgers come limping in after a tough series with Chicago where they got swept.  Not only are they limping from this past series, but they come in as depleted as the Mets.  Their best hitter this year, Rafael Furcal, is on the shelf at least past this series (phew) and Andruw Jones is on the DL as well.  Starting for the Dodgers on Thursday will be Brad Penny, who has a 7.13 ERA and a 0-3 record at Shea Stadium in the past three years alone.

This is definitely going to be an uphill battle, but thankfully, it looks as if the Mets may have already hit their bottom and are already pushing forward into the battle for supremacy in the NL East.

I’ve seen enough of Damion Easley, Fernando Tatis and Marlon Anderson before he got injured, to know that we can and should do better than Carlos Delgado at first base. His slump is not technically a slump. Slumps don’t last two years. Delgado is in steep decline and the sooner the Mets realize it, the better it will be for the team.

Carlos Delgado is one of the biggest reasons for this team’s lackluster performance so far this season. Take a look at some of these unnerving statistics on our $20 million dollar man…

As reported in Newsday, among major-league first baseman with 50 or more at-bats, Delgado ranks 30th in batting average (.215), on-base percentage (.294) and slugging percentage (.387). He also is sixth in strikeouts with 41 in 181 at-bats.

Additionally, he is by far, one of the worst fielding first baseman in baseball. The New York Post reports, Delgado’s .985 fielding percentage and 8.61 range factor are both second-worst among first basemen that qualify in appearances.

Also, let us not forget that the only fire we’ve seen from Delgado this season was just this past Monday, when he went off on a reporter who simply asked him his opinion of Willie Randolph staying on as the manager. Rather than giving his manager a show of support he declined to comment and hurled a profanity laced tirade at a guy who was just trying to do his job.

It wasn’t that long ago, in 2005 when Carlos Delgado was being pursued by Omar Minaya, that Mets fans learned Delgado had no willingness or desire to play in New York. I was surprised when Omar traded for him only one year later, and wondered what the motivation was for the Marlins in dealing him. That’s when we learned about his back-loaded contract that is stifling the Mets.

During last night’s thrilling victory against the Marlins, Delgado chose not to join his teammates who all flocked to the field to embrace the moment. He sat alone in the dugout and sulked. Additionally, during that game when John Maine was sent in to pinch run for him, he left Maine hanging when he attempted to high-five him.

As far as I’m concerned, Delgado gets straight F’s in Batting, Fielding, Attitude, Value, and Class. If you want to give him a "B" in leadership just because he walks to the mound and talks to the pitchers when they struggle, then so be it. But I wish he would do less talking with his mouth and more producing with his bat and glove.

Last week Delgado was asked a question about Willie and the team’s performance. He answered, "I don’t get paid to think". You know what, that’s true enough, but being you brought up your pay, when will you start doing what you get paid to do? Why should the highest paid player on the Mets and one of the top ten earners in baseball get a free pass?

I say the hell with him. I’ve seen this team perform without him in the lineup, and they play better without his lethargic bat and anemic fielding. Do us a favor Omar and trade him, release him, cut him, whatever… just do it. And between now and then, if you have to play him, then by no means should he ever get another at-bat against a left-handed pitcher. It’s time for the Mets to say good-bye to the Delgado shift.

One word describes last night – AMAZING!!  What we witnessed last night, my friends, is reminiscent of 2006 – the Team, the Time, the Mets!  They did everything right – from quality pitching, aggressive base running, timely hitting and passionate energy.  Tears filled my eyes as the team greeted Beltran at home plate, as he scored the winning run, and then piled on top of Tatis, who most definitely was last night’s hero.   The super subs showed the rest of the team, as well as the fans, how great it is to win, and to win in New York.  While it may be because they are playing for a job, whatever the reason, it’s working.  Now I’m not one of those superstitious, front-running types of people.  But, for goodness sake, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!  Keep running this lineup out there, until it proves to be a fluke.  It’s no worse than what you were using, and as of right now, it’s better.

I have one piece of advice for Willie and the organization – DUMP DELGADO!!  Did anyone else catch the attitude he gave John Maine as he came in to pinch run for him?  Maine offered up a hand for a high-five and all Delgado did was smirk and run passed him.  My first instincts were confirmed after reading other’s comments about Delgado’s absence in the on-field celebration.  What gives with this guy?  Is it really a coincidence that he sat for two nights and this team played like they never played baseball before?  He has to go. 

Just one final note…Not only was I thrilled with the way the Mets played last night, but I was also delighted to hear Pedro speak after his rehab start.  Not because he is returning soon, although that is great news.  But because of the positive attitude he has about the team and the fact that he feels upset that he hasn’t been here to contribute and make a difference for the team.  What a great example of a leader.

Just before the start of the bottom of the 11th, SNY played a video of the 1969 Mets singing "You Gotta Have Heart". Tonight, the Mets showed that they had plenty of heart as they come from behind twice to beat the Marlins 7-6 in an extra-innings thriller! 

The night started out very promising for Oliver Perez who cruised through the first couple of innings, but as usually is the case with the bewildering lefty, Perez began to unravel. He started walking hitters and hanging breaking balls over the fat part of the plate. Oliver Perez gave up three homeruns including two of them to Cody Ross, the second one was a three run bomb that put the Marlins in the lead 5-4.

The Mets had jumped to an early lead on the strength of a pair of homeruns by Luis Castillo and Jose Reyes. For Reyes it was his seventh and third in this series. He is officially on fire!

The bullpen took over and kept the Marlins at bay. Scott Schoeneweis continues his solid season with another hitless inning lowering his ERA to 1.35. Aaron Heilman came into the eight inning and struck out the side in impressive fashion, then followed it up with a perfect ninth. It was his second straight solid appearance. Maybe he has turned a corner?

Bottom of the 8th… The Mets tried to mount a comeback when David Wright hit a leadoff single, but Carlos Beltran hit a hard shot that was snared by the third baseman, then former Met prospect Matt Lindstrom, came in and blew Damion Easley and Fernando Tatis away with pure heat to end the threat. It was puzzling that Willie didn’t pinch hit against the right handed fire-baller with lefties Delgado, Schneider and Chavez all on the bench.

Endy Chavez led off in the bottom of the ninth and launched a rocket over the leftfield wall to tie the game at 5-5. Nick Evans grounded out and was followed by Carlos Delgado who came out to pinch hit for Heilman and drew a one out walk. Reyes popped out, leaving it up to Luis Castillo who drew another walk… John Maine came in to pinch run for Carlos Delgado who was on second… but David Wright would end the inning with a flyball to left for the final out. (Wright is batting .197 with runners in scoring position and two outs.)

Billy Wagner started the 10th and pitched a 1-2-3 inning, striking out Luis Gonzalez and Jacques Jones in the process. Mets pitchers struck out 14 batters in the game!

Bottom of the 10th… Beltran pops up on the first pitch and slams his bat down in disgust which really impressed Keith Hernandez. Easley follows with a fly to center and Tatis is caught looking at strike three.
 
In the 11th inning, Duaner Sanchez pitched a perfect inning and then in the bottom of the inning he lands on his ass after getting knocked down while attempting to lay down a bunt after Endy Chavez singled. With two outs the Marlins walked Jose Reyes to put runners on first and second for Luis Castillo who had homered earlier in the game, but despite putting a charge into it, he lined out hard to center. On to the 12th…

Duaner was absolutely filthy, but Alfredo Almezega got lucky and launched his first homerun of the season to put the Marlins up 6-5. Ouch! 
 
Bottom of the 12th… David Wright walks on four pitches to lead off the inning, every Met is standing and hanging on the rail in the dugout… Carlos Beltran slaps a single up the middle on a hit and run, runners on first and third. The tying run is only 90 feet away with Damion Easley at the plate… He strikes out swinging at a slider off the plate. Fernando Tatis is up… He lines one down into the left field corner for a two run double scoring Wright and Beltran, and the Mets win it!

The super subs do it again, this time in dramatic fashion, and believe it or not… the Mets got themselves a two game winning streak!

What a game… Game Ball to Fernando Tatis!   

Please be advised that this blog was compiled yesterday, before the Mets beat the Marlins 5-3 at Shea.  If in fact this team is beginning to turn it around, this will all seem a little less meaningful. 

They say, “No news is good news.”  In the Mets case, no news is, well, no news.  Same old story, day after day, week after week, and even month after month.  Stretching back to June 1st of last year, the Mets are four games under .500.  And all you hear is, “We gotta keep battling.”  

Those who feel that Willie should have been given the boot should make one thing clear.  The feelings are not personal; this is business.  Willie was a good player in his own right, and is probably a decent guy deep down inside.  And while Omar and the Wilpons may have decided not to make any changes on Monday,  there is no solid evidence of Willie remaining here for any certain period of time.  In other words, the meeting probably was in fact to discuss Willie’s comments in the Bergen Record and to clear the air, and not to discuss his fate as Mets Manager.  Of course, since the team’s performance has been mediocre at best lately, there were also talks of how to improve and get back on the right track.

The fact that this team is playing sub .500 baseball for the past year should be more concerning than the Mets organization as a whole, is presenting it to be.  Last year’s collapse is forgotten, despite what some local media people say.  It’s all about what this team has done for us lately.  They are actually in a worse position now than they were last September.  Last year, they just took for granted that they had the division won.  Now, this team’s confidence is shot, and it shows the most in the way Jose Reyes has been playing.  Not focused, not fundamentally sound, and with an acceptance of losing. 

I have no confidence, whatsoever, in this team coming back when they are down.  And with this team, no lead that they do manage to scrounge up, is safe.  How long must we Mets fans wait for a change?  Exactly how patient do we have to be?  Even the most patient of fans cannot possibly hold their tongues any longer. With all of that said, should Willie bear all the responsibility for the team’s troubles?  Absolutely not.  It starts at the top and trickles down.  Here’s how I see it:

1.  Omar Minaya’s decisions to sign players like Luis Castillo and Moises Alou to long-term, big-money contracts have proven to be careless and inefficient.  Castillo is only 32 years old, and can’t play a day game after a night game.  Alou could have still been a good player and a quality presence in the clubhouse, but he’s always hurt and is getting on in years.  And since Delgado never wanted to play in New York anyway, acquiring him was also a disaster of a move. Minaya’s "win now" mentality, with no Plan B, has destroyed hopes of a Championship beyond 2009.  If they don’t do it now, they will have to start the rebuilding process, and we will be right back to where we were in the 90’s.  Ticket prices are up, but attendance will be down.  And with a brand new, state-of-the-art stadium, I don’t think the Mets can afford to do that.

2.  Willie Randolph’s reluctance to get on his players when they are slumping may leave a bitter taste in the mouths of all those he comes into contact with. By not going out there and arguing and fighting for his team, he basically lets the umps and the rest of the teams know that they can put anything over on us.  We all know that he can only play who he has, and while he shouldn’t have to re-teach them the fundamentals of the game, he does have to remind them of what they need to do sometimes.  I think at this point, Willie should be taking some time to talk one-on-one with a few guys on this team who need to step it up – Beltran, Delgado, Castillo, Reyes and even Wright.  It needs to be reinforced and reiterated to them what their role is on this team, how they can make a difference individually and what is expected of them.  These guys need to be concerned about themselves as far as what they can do differently to transform this team back to the team of 2006, but not so much to the extent of a me, me, me attitude. Let each player be held accountable for their own actions and leave it up to them to turn it around.  Let each guy do what he does best, whether it’s Reyes stealing bases, Beltran making outstanding catches in the outfield or Delgado hitting homeruns.  One hot hitter or one very well pitched game is not enough.  This team needs to come together as a unit. Willie’s  relaxed and redundant post-game comments say, without using the exact words, that it’s okay the way things are.  It’s not okay.  And as far as the comments, the only race that should be on anyone’s  mind is the Pennant Race. 

3. The players not performing the way they are expected to and capable of is not Willie‘s fault. What is his fault goes back to #2.   Maybe they don’t want to play for Willie.  Maybe they feel that if Willie doesn’t go out there and stick up for them, they don’t need to play hard for him.  Even though they would only be spiting themselves if that were the case, sometimes a statement needs to be made.  At the same time, I don’t think it’s fair that the players be asked if Willie should stay or go.  As Carlos Beltran said, it is not their decision to make.  However, in listening to some of the player’s comments, it was not indicated by many that they do support him and feel as if he should stay. It may be possible that this team really isn’t that good.  Just because a team has Championship talent, doesn’t mean they are of Championship caliber.  Having talent and using it are two different things.  And most importantly, Championship teams have to want it.  This team may be overflowing with talent, but they are not producing wins.  It has only gotten worse over the last month or so, sinking from averaging .500 to three games under.   This team is lazy and lifeless.  They are way overpaid and way underachieving.  They know that firing one manager is easier than firing a team of 25.  So there is no motivation.  Why should any one player step it up when no one else is;  they aren’t
going anywhere anyway.  And there are no consequences suffered by these players for their lousy play. 

Aside from a managerial change, what other modifications can be made to improve this team?  Guys like Aaron Heilman, Carlos Delgado and Luis Castillo have little to no value to another team.  And the guys that do, like Wright, Reyes, Beltran, Wagner and Santana aren’t going anywhere, and rightly so.  So what’s left are the in-between, average guys who haven’t done poorly but haven’t done anything so spectacular; they have simply lived up to the expectations allocated to them.  These are guys like Church (who may be considered to have exceeded expectations), Endy, Maine, Schneider and Smith, etc.  Taking that into consideration, what other moves can be made?

Fire Willie? Fire Peterson?  Fire HoJo?  It’s not the way they are doing their job, it’s the way they are not doing it.  It’s what’s missing, not what’s there that’s causing problems. The Mets need to decide if Willie is part of the problem or part of the solution.  He obviously did a good job of selling himself to the Wilpons on Monday.