Mets Merized Online

Johan Santana has won the National League Pitcher of the Month Award for September. As reported on MLB.com, Santana finished the month 4-0 with a 1.83 ERA.

The left-hander will receive a specially-designed trophy to commemorate his Pitcher of the Month performance. Santana won that award five times for Minnesota in the American League when Ron Gardenhire was his manager.

“Believe me, they have the best pitcher in baseball,” Gardenhire said. “A stud, an athlete, the heart, the whole package.”

Santana, who had thrown 125 pitches in his previous start before facing the Marlins on short rest, was just the fifth pitcher since 2000 to post a complete game on three days’ rest.

“That’s the greatest performance I’ve ever seen on a baseball field,” left fielder Daniel Murphy said. “That was a game we had to have, and he dominated from start to finish. That’s something I’ll remember forever.”

In Saturday’s pressure cooker, Santana had both the will and the skill.

“That’s the way you take care of business,” Santana said.

Santana took care of business all month. In 44 1/3 innings, he allowed nine runs on 39 hits while fanning 47 and walking 13. The 29-year-old lefty didn’t allow more than two runs in any of his six starts and he recorded 10 strikeouts on both Sept. 1 at Milwaukee and Sept. 23 at Chicago.

The following is a list of current Mets players. I’m thinking the Mets are going to hang on to their core players and basically do some major house cleaning as well.

I have analyzed each player based just on my gut feeling, on a scale of 1-5. (1 means they are as good as gone, and 5 that they are practically untouchable)

I only rated six players as untouchable, and believe it or not one of them was not Jose Reyes. He was in countless rumors last off season, and if Minaya decides to really shake things up, I believe Jose Reyes will go before David Wright and because Beltran has a rock solid not trade clause. That being said, I’m almost certain Jose Reyes is going nowhere.

Let me know what you think.

It was like the movie Groundhog Day. Except instead of waking up to Sonny & Cher every morning, once again, we are waking up the day after the Mets were eliminated from playoff contention in the last game of the season. Last year was heartbreaking because the lead lost and this year was heartbreaking because it was the final game at Shea.

However, I am not as devastated as I was last year. I had come to accept that our bullpen (quite frankly) sucked and that even if we did make the playoffs, we would lose in the first round anyway. We did the best we could, even after a mediocre start under Willie Randolph. It just wasn’t good enough.

I’m actually kind of glad the season ended the way it did. It clearly showed what problems we had and what Omar needs to do to better the team, such as dismantling and reassembling the bullpen from scratch and getting rid of Luis Castillo, who reminds me more and more of Guillermo Mota. We were such a better team without Castillo (and Mota) on the field and on the bench. Castillo is dead weight to me and needs to be dealt. And give Carlos Delgado another year; he really deserves it thanks to his stellar performance in the 2nd half.

I’m glad to see that they’re bringing back Jerry and even though the Mets didn’t make the playoffs, I still think he’s a legitimate Manager of the Year candidate.

I’m ready to put 2007 and 2008 behind me if the Mets are. We’re getting a fresh new start in Citi Field and I’m ready for the great memories to begin.

Forever and always……LGM.

Being so caught up in the Mets-Marlins and Cub-Brewers games, I didn’t even bother to notice that the Phillies also won yesterday, pushing the Mets back to finishing three games behind in the National League East.  It basically would have taken four more wins during the season to take the division, but still only one more win to force a one game playoff with the Brewers for the Wild Card, and two more wins to have clinched it.  Three more wins, and we would have gone head to head with the Phillies for the division title, and had we lost that, we still would have taken the Wild Card.

If only the Mets had brought in Daniel Murphy from third base after leading off the ninth with a triple earlier last week.  If only the Mets had not blown seven saves for Johan Santana throughout the year, and only blew, let’s say, three. If only this and if only that. 

How long could this team come go on coming so close without winning before they give up or lose all of the “talent” they currently possess?  We saw it with the Braves and the Yankees, how they put together one championship team after another, year after year in the 90’s, and now neither of them are in contention anymore.  Eventually the talent gets too old or moves on, and the team is suddenly no longer built the way it once was, when it was predicted by everyone in the sport to win it all.  It’s inevitable that the same will happen to the Mets, only we have to hope that they manage to squeeze out at least one World Series victory before that day comes. 

The Mets need an overhaul.  They need a whole new bullpen, except for Joe Smith.  Ayala has to go. Heilman has to go. Schoeneweiss has to go.  And on and on and on.  They need a second baseman, a left-fielder (unless Murphy proves he is ready for the job full-time) and possibly a catcher.  And regardless of what the reports say or how anyone feels, they need a new manager as well.  Obviously Willie Randolph was not the problem because the Mets found themselves in the exact same position, ironically playing the exact same team, on the last day of 2008 that they did in 2007.  To say that last year they underachieved and this year they overachieved is crap.  They so underachieved this year as well, it’s just that compared to the way they started the year, they ended on a much better note than anyone thought they were going to.  Mets fans are getting tired of standing by their team and accepting mediocrity.  It’s not that we’ll ever stop supporting them; it’s not that we’ll ever lose pride.  But for crying out loud, let’s go already!

Yesterday was quite a disappointment for Mets fans in every aspect.  Not only were our hopes of October baseball put to rest, but so was our beloved Shea Stadium. It would have been nice to go out with a bang, but that wasn’t to be.  The ceremonies were absolutely incredible to watch on tv, I can only imagine what it was like in person.  Although, if you didn’t have a front row seat, it may  have actually been better watching from home.  SNY did an outstanding job of covering the celebration all day.  Tears filled my eyes several different times while watching the closing ceremonies, but especially when Piazza and Seaver closed the gates in center field at the very end.  It really hit me hard, where I didn’t think it would.  I never imagined I would get that emotional over a buillding.  But it’s not the structure going down that breaks my heart.  It’s the memories it holds, that will be hard to recall without having the place to go back to. 

Adam Rubin of the Daily News has a poignant article about Pedro Martinez who is planning to pitch again next season.

“I’m going to take myself some time to rest and finally finish taking care of all the problems that are still around my family after my dad passed away,” Martinez said shortly after the Mets’ season-ending 4-2 loss to the Marlins. “I’m going to get my mind straight and figure it out. If my body continues to feel the way it is, hopefully I’ll come back next year and see you somewhere, either here or somewhere.”

Sorry Pedro…

While I admire your desire to keep on keepin’ on, please set your sights elsewhere.

Sure, Pedro suffered through a series of unfortunate events this season including the passing of his father, several DL stints and of course trying to comeback from arm surgery. But, dare we take a chance on another injury prone and older player after what has befallen the Mets for two straight seasons?

Do the Mets simply ignore the lessons of what doomed this franchise in the last two years?

Pedro may have been a big reason that the Mets were back on the map again when they first signed him back in 2005, but lets not ignore the fact that from a statistical basis he has been a first class bust. His 5.62 ERA which happened to be the worst in his storied career, is more than just a warning sign, it’s a sobering slap in the face for any disillusioned Mets fan who has a yearning to see Pedro in a Mets uniform in 2009.

“I don’t know what their plans are,” Martinez said. “I’m just really proud to be part of the Mets’ organization and to have been part of their buildup. Everybody from top to bottom in this organization is a class act and very nice people. You couldn’t ask for a better organization to play for.”

Thanks for the kind words Pedro and I wish you well. Maybe if there was any chance that you might enter the Hall of Fame as a Met, I’d feel differently. But, there is zero chance of that happening. The truth is we paid you very well for four seasons and in return we got 32 wins and an average of eight wins per season. I’m sure you’ll understand… 

Don’t take it the wrong way, it’s not you… it’s me. 

There’s a world of difference between good teams and great teams. There is a vast disparity between being a winner and being a champion. The 2008 Mets are a good team, not a great team. They are winners, but definitely not champions.

Many people this season have accused this club of having no heart. This weekend, I believe, the Mets showed that to be the case. After Johan Santana breathed life into a dying team on Saturday, the Mets rolled over and were officially read their last rites on Sunday by the Florida Marlins.

After falling short in our quest to dethrone the division champion Phillies, we were ready to accept the consolation prize of wild card. At the start of the year, no one would have expected that on the season’s final weekend we would be scoreboard watching to see what the Brewers were doing. And as we battled for the last post season spot, how did we respond? By scoring 5 runs in 3 days. That’s not what champions do. The Mets should have taken charge of their own destiny and not left our fate in the hands of the Cubs.

In all the years of rooting for the Mets, I can honestly say that this was one of the most frustrating, aggravating and disappointing seasons in recent memory. We’ve had better seasons and we’ve had worse ones. But I never remember a season that was an unending struggle all year. With the exception of the emergence of Mike Pelfrey and Santana’s dominance, there were not a lot of bright spots on this club.

What made this season difficult is one simple fact: This team had too much talent to play this poorly. Yes, we had injuries and yes, we had an overworked bullpen. But those are excuses. Again, that’s what separates the good teams from the great teams. Good teams make excuses but champions find a way to win.

The 69 Mets were so overmatched in the post-season, it was almost embarrassing. But yet, when all was said and done, we went 7-1 en route to our championship. It was called a ‘Miracle’ for a reason. In 73, we went into the post-season with the lowest winning percentage in history at the time. But we managed to defeat the legendary Big Red Machine in 5 and pushed the Oakland A’s, in the midst of their dynasty, to 7 games before losing…with the tying run at the plate in the 9^th inning. Even in 86, we had great players. But great players alone were not enough. Game 7 of the 86 Series made us winners. But it was Game 6 that showed the heart that team had. If one of the players on the 08 team would have hit that slow roller to Buckner, they would have stood in the batters box waiting for the ball to roll foul. (Ok, that’s an exaggeration but you get my point.)

The Mets have prevailed over some of the best pitchers in the history of the game in life and death situations: Jim Palmer Mike Cuellar, Catfish Hunter, Vida Blue, Roger Clemens. But yet, Sunday it was Scott Olsen who limited us to 4 hits and shut down our offense. Is our hitting that bad? Was Scott Olsen possessed by the spirit of Cy Young? Or did we simply fail due to a lack of heart? I cant picture the Mets team of 69 or 86 getting bewildered by a Scott Olsen.

After Sunday’s loss, the Mets closed the door after 45 years at Shea. The post-game ceremony featured appearances by Doc Gooden, Darryl Strawberry, Buddy Harrelson, Ed Kranepool and Jerry Koosman just to name a few. The final pitch ever tossed at Shea was thrown by Tom Seaver to Mike Piazza. The difference between winners and champions has never been so apparent. As we paid tribute to our past heroes, our past champions, the 2008 Mets cleared out their lockers and made excuses to reporters. The only real champions at Shea on Sunday were on the field long after the final out was recorded.

I’m still trying to digest everything that has taken place. It’s hard to believe that we can end the season so remarkably similar to last year which was what we were trying to avoid all costs.

I have so much I want to say, but it’s still too convoluted right now.

There are some things I do feel very strongly about, and then a bunch of other things I’m still trying to figure out.

The Shea farewell didn’t help matters as it actually choked me up at the end when Mike Piazza and Tom Seaver combined to throw the last pitch ever at Shea and then they both walked toward centerfield, exited the stadium and closed the gates. I can’t believe those two made me cry…

If I have learned one thing from this season, it is that David Wright should never be mentioned in the same sentence as the words Team Captain. Wright’s a great player, but lets face it, a Keith Hernandez or John Franco he is not. This team does need an on the field leader, and to me the best candidate for that job is Carlos Beltran.

Maybe someday Wright would make a great captain, but for now let him learn a few things like stepping up when it matters most, doing his talking on the field instead of all those post game interviews, and hitting better in the clutch. He looked like an absolute train wreck in the last two weeks… tired, spent and emotionally drained.

Go get some rest this off season David, and I look forward to you coming back and giving us your best season yet. Stop trying to be the team leader and just relax and do your thing for now. I always enjoy watching you play, and I know someday soon you will become the first MVP in Mets history. Until then, let others lead while you follow. 

Jon Heyman of SI.com is reporting that Jerry Manuel will return to manage the Mets in 2009 and that both sides will be working on a new contract in the next few days.

The Mets have decided to bring back Jerry Manuel as manager despite the disappointing end to their season, SI.com has learned.

Manuel is expected to be approached to hammer out a new contract in the next day or two. The Mets again failed to make the playoffs after losing 4-2 to the Marlins on the final day of the season. But Manuel’s bosses believe he did an excellent job under trying circumstances, including late-season injuries to closer Billy Wagner, starter John Maine and an overall bullpen breakdown. The Mets were 55-38 under Manuel after starting 34-35 under Willie Randolph.

Mets owner Jeff Wilpon said, “I feel totally different than last year. I think last year we underachieved. This year we overachieved.”

… Well at least we are off to a good start for next season.

Somehow, I found these lyrics to be very fitting today.

We’ve got to hold on to what weve got.
It doesnt make a difference if we make it or not.
Weve got each other and thats a lot,
For love – we’ll give it a shot.

We’ve got to hold on ready or not.
You live for the fight when its all that you’ve got.

Oh, We’re half way there,
Oh, Oh, Livin’ on a prayer.
Take my hand and we’ll make it I swear.
Oh, Oh, Living on a prayer.

— Bon Jovi

Thanks to our graphic designer Kelly for making such a cool graphic and for all the Shea graphics too!

Enjoy the game everybody and Lets Go Mets!

I bet professional sportswriters dream for days like today. The last
regular season game at Shea Stadium will be one played with fire and
brimstone as the Mets are on the line for the postseason. Win and then
we see what the Brewers do, lose and then we have to pray. There are so
many things going on, so many emotions and they will all be heading to
Flushing tomorrow. Will it be the last game at Shea? Will there be many
more this season? It all comes down to this. 161 games down to one game
and then possibly another game. Taking the mound on this historic day
for the fish will be Olsen, and he will be dueling the always on the
edge of seat Perez.

Olsen, 8-11, has pitched 195.2 innings and
has an ERA of 4.23. He will most likely tommorow reach the 200 innings
in a season plateu for the first time in his career. In his last five
games he has a 2-3 record, 30.1 innings, and an ERA 4.45. In his last
start against the Mets he lasted 6.1 innings and allowed 6 runs. In
2008 against Mets, he has seen them 4 times, has a record of 0-3,
pitched 22 innings, and has had an ERA of 6.95. Here are some Mets
stats against Olsen:
     Reyes 14-32, 4 2B, 3B, HR
     Beltran 12-27, 3 2B, 3 HR, 5 BB
     Wright 9-29, 4 2B, 3 HR
     Evans 6-10, 2B, HR
     Ramon Martinez 3-6
The
Mets can hit him. Look at those numbers. The Mets offense has not been
here the last two days, but it was here the couple of games before
that. The Mets have not faced a pitcher that they have experience
against yet this series against the Marlins but that changes tommorow.
They have seen him, they know him, and now they need to act.

Perez,
10-7, has been really rocky as of late. On the season he has pitched
188.2 innings, and has an ERA of 4.25. In his last five, he is 1-0 over
27.1 innigns and an ERA of 6.26. That being said, 6 games ago, he faced
the Marlins and lasted 6 innings, alllowed 3 hits, 2 R, 1 earned run, 5
BB and 4. On the season against the fish, he has faced them 5 times
already and is 3-0. He has pitched 31 innings and has a cool ERA of
2.03 with 16 BB and 32 K’s.
     Ramierez 8-30
     Ross 9-25, 2 2B, 3B, 3 HR
     Willingham 7-20, 2B, 3 HR
     Uggla 6-26, 2 2B
The
main thing for Perez is for him to keep the walks to the mininum. When
he does that he, he is fine. He has been doing that against the Fish
this year with 2 K’s per BB. If he does that, then he will be
successful. Last time against the fish, he walked a lot, but he was
able to get through it. In 2006, the Mets called on Perez to lead them
in the all important Game 7 of the NLCS. He was in the middle of a
terrible, terrible year. He came out that night and he was on fire and
he was brilliant. He can do that again. He needs to do that tommorow.
Lets Go Mets! Lets Make the Playoffs!

Check 213 Miles From Shea!