It’s that time of year again. Pitchers and catchers have reported to Spring Training and position players start reporting for workouts this week. Fortunately for them the weather is in the high 60′s and up while we freeze here in New York waiting for the 2009 baseball season to start. The Mets this year will be playing games in their new home Citi Field. With a new ballpark comes a new chapter in the history of the New York Mets. The slate is clean to start building a new history in our new beautiful ballpark. The demons of the 2007 and 2008 are not present in Citi Field and that is what we need going into the 2009 season.
With the way the past 2 seasons have ended there are many reasons for Met fans to be less than optimistic coming into the 2009 season. The lineup is exactly the same as it was last season. The same goes for the starting rotation minus Pedro Martinez. The Mets didn’t sign Manny Ramirez, Bobby Abreu, Adam Dunn or Orlando Hudson. There are reasons however to be optimistic this season. The bullpen has new additions such as Sean Green, J.J. Putz and closer Francisco “K-Rod” Rodriguez. Met fans were in agreement that the bullpen needed to be overhauled after blowing 29 saves in 2008 and being the reason the Mets failed to make the playoffs again. Scott Schoeneweis and Aaron Heilman are thankfully no longer with the club. With all that said and done why are Met fans still so pessimistic for the 2009 season?
The lineup is the same and we know that down the stretch the lineup was not very clutch. David Wright has been criticized to no end the last several months for “choking” down the stretch even though Wright hit .302 with 33 HR’s and driving in 124 RBI’s . We all know Luis Castillo would end a rally with a double play or a strikeout with men in scoring position. Brian Schneider is not an offensive threat. Ryan Church is a wild card in the lineup this season as we don’t really know what to expect with him. Last season he was having an MVP type season before suffering a concussion in Atlanta. Church’s return left a lot to be desired behind the plate. Fernando Tatis was a streaky hitter but did come up in clutch situations. Tatis struck out 59 times in 273 appearances at the plate before getting injured. Daniel Murphy was a pleasant surprise. He exhibited patience and excellent plate discipline that is beyond his years. He is another wildcard entering this season. Scouts have had time now to properly scout him and the book is out on him. Pitchers will be making adjustments going up against him and therefore Daniel must adjust as well.
This off-season there were many good hitters on the free agent market such as Manny Ramirez, Adam Dunn, Bobby Abreu, and Orlando Hudson. Met fans have been foaming at the mouth for a least one of the above free agents to join the Mets in Citi Field this upcoming season. Having said that the lineup was not the problem in 2008. The Mets scored 799 runs which was second to the Chicago Cubs in runs scored and tied with World Series champions the Philadelphia Phillies in the same category.
I think the bullpen was part of the problem for the lineup not coming up in clutch situations. Not only were the Mets facing an opposing team’s pitching staff but they were trying to outscore their own bullpen. For the Mets to win they had to score 8 or 9 runs in every game so that when the bullpen came in they would win a game by 2 or 3 runs on a daily basis. Take for example a game played on September 14, 2008 at Shea Stadium against the Braves. David Wright had a solo home run in the bottom of the 1st inning as well as a 2 run home run in the bottom of the 3rd inning. The Mets went into the 9th inning with a 4-2 lead and the bullpen quickly blew the game by allowing 5 runs to score in 1 inning. That is just one example of the Mets scoring runs only to have the bullpen blow all their hard work. David Wright hits 2 home runs in one game, drives in 3 RBI’s and the team still could not win the game, a game that if we did win would have left us tied with the Brewers in the Wild Card race.
Our front 4 in the rotation are Johan Santana, Mike Pelfrey, John Maine and Oliver Perez. Joining the front 4 could be Tim Redding, Freddy Garcia, Livan Hernandez or Jonathan Niese. The rotation last season lost John Maine who was hurt most of the season which caused him to under perform and Pedro Martinez would make a start then have to miss at least one start due to not feeling loose enough. Pedro had a tough year professionally and personally. He got injured his first start into the season and his father had a long illness and unfortunately passed away. Pedro is gone this season and I wish him well unless he pitches against the Mets. The rotation was missing two starters but was still able to keep the Mets in the game until the bullpen came into pitch.
Johan Santana would have had at least 7 more wins last season if it was not for the bullpen. He would have been in the running for a Cy Young Award if the bullpen did not come in and constantly cost him game after game after game. Pelfrey had a great year, showing the Mets that he is a workhorse and that he is not another prospect that was all talk. Pelfrey pitched well over 200 innings last season. Jerry Manuel had made it known that they wanted to rest Pelfrey down the stretch but unfortunately could not due to the lack of depth in the bullpen. John Maine did not have his best season last year. He got injured and had to have season ending surgery on his shoulder. Maine did not walk a lot of guys but he goes to 3-2 counts against too many hitters and is usually out of the game by the 5th inning while exceeding over a 100 pitches by that time consistently. Maine has said that his shoulder was bothering him for most of last season but is now throwing and is 100% better. Oliver Perez is as inconsistent as they come. He will shut down the Yankees but can’t make it out of the 3rd inning against the Pirates. He just signed a nice big contract and all eyes will be on him this season to justify the contract. He is 27 and has great stuff. Ollie has a hard time staying focused throughout the game and that needs to stop this season. Left handed pitchers take more time to mature so hopefully he is at the point where he can stay focused whether it’s against the Phillies or the Pirates.
The bullpen last season blew 29 saves. Think about that number. You cut that number in half with a capable bullpen and it comes out to 14.5 games. The Mets would have won 104 games last season. Not only would the Mets win the National League East but that would’ve been the best record not only in the National League but throughout Major League Baseball. The Mets came into last season not knowing who was the 8th inning guy and having a setup guy by committee. By the end of last season Billy Wagner went down with season ending surgery which would cost him to miss all of the 2009 season as well. Jerry had no choice but to have a closer by committee. This proved disastrous for the 2008 season as there was no pitcher in the pen that could come out and close the game. Omar Minaya saw this and went out and got the best closer on the market in K-Rod. He traded Heilman away to Seattle for Sean Green and their closer, now our 8th inning setup guy J.J. Putz. Now the bullpen has 2 potential closers in the bullpen. If K-Rod has to save 3 games in a row and the Mets need a closer to go out for that 4th game in a row Jerry Manuel has the option of resting K-Rod that day and sending out Putz to save the game. How about if the Mets do have a good lead in the division and they want to rest K-Rod for the p
layoffs? Putz can closeout the remaining games giving him some work and giving K-Rod some much needed rest. If K-Rod does have a pitchers slump Putz can be called to save a few games while K-Rod gets his head on straight. This year the Mets have options for the bullpen. Something that was not available last year for them. In turn this will help the starters in the rotation as well as the guys in the lineup to better perform.
Many fans including myself throughout most of the off-season have been criticizing Omar and the Wilpons for not going after the flashy free agents the way the Yankees did with C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira. Last season the Mets didn’t make the playoffs because of the bullpen, not the rotation and not the lineup. It was not David Wright’s fault that the Mets did not make it to the playoffs. Omar went out and improved the bullpen which was what he needed to do. Will K-Rod and the improved bullpen blow save opportunities this season? Most likely yes. Will they blow 29 games this season? No! I don’t even think they will blow 14.5 games this season. The bullpen has the best 1-2 punch in the majors. Sean Green is a workhorse and will be a great addition to the pen. I believe that Sanchez could become the 7th inning guy and be part of the bridge to get to K-Rod. Barring injury I think the Mets have a great chance on winning the N.L. East. Are the Mets the team to beat? I have to agree with K-Rod and say the Mets are the team to beat. What do you readers think?
i think he should keep his big mouth shut!we look like morons!
I think maybe because he wasn’t around the last 2 seasons, he can feel justified in saying that… but I personally wish he hadn’t. First ‘our season had come’ and gone, with nothing but heartache to show for it… then last year, Beltran also claimed we were the team to beat. And beat we were… by the team who went on to win it all, no less.
I absolutely love these boys more than anything but after 2 straight seasons, I think it’s safe (and painful) to say that this year the Phillies are the team to beat. And beat we shall.
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OK! OK! THIS TEAM 2 BEAT NONSENSE IS PURE BS BEFORE ANY GAMES HAVE BEEN PLAYED. ’08 IS OVER, PHILLY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THEIR OPPORTUNITY WE DID NOT. THE NY & PHL PRESS IS BEHIND THIS NONSENSE & I’D LOVE TO SEE ANY PLAYER RESPOND WITH” IT’S EARLY & EVERTY TEAM IS THE TEAM U HAVE TO BEAT TO WIN! HOWEVER, I DO BELIEVE IF DAVEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THIS TEAM WE’D HEAR THAT ‘D’ WORD AGAIN ala DOMINATE!
As things stand now the Phillies are the better team. Mets still have several holes and even more questions that can become holes. Unfortunately, as things stand we will be fighting the Braves for 2nd with the Phillies about 5-6 games better. Hate to say it but that’s reality.
Best article I have seen on blogs in a long time. The bullpen cost the Mets last season not the line up and certainly not David Wright. Met fans have become little more than Philly fans north turning on their team as they jump off the band wagon. What’s next snowballs thrown at Santa for Christmas in July?
Looks like it to me.
At least it does on paper. Looks like they fixed the needed pieces of what went wrong last year will not happen this year.
This year the starting staff and the pen is going in stronger then last year. Pelf is now considered to be a good starter, Main is now healthy, and there sure is a strong chance that from the group of a 1/2 dozen pitchers one of them will be good enough for the 5 spot.
Plus look how much the offense can still be better then last year. Instead of the weak clutch hitting the offense was good enough, and this year it should be even better.
Delgado is now completely over his injuries and can do it all year long.
And the same can be said for Beltran, cause he did improve over his game as the season went on last year. And now he is able to go all out.
And Reyes and Wright are now in a position to reach their potential. And I feel that their potential still has some way to go.
Plus if Church is over his concussion, as he said so, then he will be much better then he was playing after he got hurt.
Plus Castillo has worked hard to get into shape this year. So why can’t he be closer to his stats this year.
Perhaps not all of this will happen, but I feel enough of it will.
And that is the way I feel. This team does have the stuff to go all the way.
Christian please explain how you see the Phillies as 5 or 6 games better than Mets? All teams have questions right now the Phillies have an injured 2nd baseman and 3rd baseman, their starting pitching is weak after Hamels and who thinks their bullpen will be as lights out this year esp with no JC for 50 games.
As for the Braves look at the SP they are just a bad team.
It’s nice to hear K-Rod saying optimistic statements.
However, the Phillies have won the division 2 straight years (and won it all last year). Therefore, I think it’s safe to say that the Phillies are the team to beat.
Yes, the bullpen blew 29 saves last year, but a blown save doesn’t always end up being a loss. A blown save can also be a lead lost in the 6th inning, not always the 9th. So it’s hard to just say “take half of those away” because it’s not that simple.
Christian, the Philles are not the better team. Outside of Utley and Howard as your two threats, who do you have. We have a better rotation and better bullpen and a lineup to match Philly. They lost Burrell and replaced with Ibanez, come on. The Mets are gonna prove that this year there will be no collapse. Let’s go Mets!!
Give the guy a break. As Marty Noble from Mets.com said,”On a day when no game was scheduled, they couldn’t play. So they took physicals and talked. But before anyone else chastises Rodriguez, understand the remarks he made Saturday hardly were expressed as a challenge to the defending World Series champions.
K-Rod neither was beating his chest nor growling. He wasn’t standing with defiant posture. He didn’t pump a fist or speak with attitude. In the course of a quiet conversation with the media on his first day in camp, he said in the most civil tones, “Whatever they did, I have all the respect in the world. They worked hard and they deserve it. This is a different year and different ballclubs now. I don’t want to make controversy, but with me and [J.J.] Putz and the [other] additions in the bullpen, I feel like now we are the team to beat.”
It wasn’t a battle cry, any sort of proclamation or a declaration of war. No one should characterize it as that. It wasn’t even news. K-Rod had said almost exactly the same words shortly after he signed with the Mets.
He was being analytical, not the least bit agitated. And though he had mentioned Cole Hamels in the context of Hamels’ “choke artists” comments of December, the words Rodriguez spoke hardly constituted a volley in the Jimmy Rolliins-Beltran-Hamels back-and-forth of the past two years. If Rodriguez had said “We are the team to beat” with any kind of emotion, it might have registered on the news seismograph.”
So Let’s go Mets!
Come one people be realistic here and put away the rose colored glasses. Utley is now do back much earlier then originally expected. Ibanez is no slouch and a better overall hitter then Burrell. Phillies have a much stronger bench then we do. We have many more questions then the Phillies do. I mean seriously people get real.
How about being a little bit more optimistic? The friggin season hasn’t even started yet and you already got the Mets in 2nd place with the Braves!
It has nothing to do with being optimistic or pessimistic, its all about facing facts and understanding reality.
Actually Greg, the average NL bullpen blew 23 saves. However, your point is correct in that if the Mets had an average pen, they would have won the East, while winning 95 games.
Facing facts? I think you mean facing predictions because you just like everyone else have no clue what this season is going to be like.
Well duh Mets 09 if everyone knew what was going to happen then why watch.
Don’t get nasty Christian….you know exactly what I meant
lol so saying someone has no clue isn’t getting nasty? lol
My statement wasn’t meant to be vindictive..it was meant as a simple statement that nobody can predict what the season is going to be like. If I remember, the Mets were picked to win the East the last two years and looked what happened both years. I think it is hard to predict what a season will look like based on previous numbers and apparent “holes” we might have. The season just has to play itself out and see how the new members mesh well. So in that sense, no I wasn’t nasty and you could do with a little bit more optimism
The Phillies won the World Series last year. They are the team to beat. Hopefully, we’ll go out and beat them.
They are a gritty bunch of guys who were very “clutch”. We were not. However, this is a new year. Hopefully we are going to be hungrier than they are and we’ll get the job done. They were only three games better than us last year, I don’t see them being six games better now.
i hate to say it, but i agree with christian you guys, the phillies are the better team right now, and no it has nothing to do with their championship season and they are the champions…they just are better.
I have no problem with what Cristian said except the only issue is that I don’t think anyone wants to go into this season thinking we are just going to finish in second place. I like to enjoy my baseball season and don’t want to go into it with low expectations. I agree that the Phillies are the team to beat; so let’s do that and not roll over dead before the season even started.
Christian you need to chill. A better bench then the Mets, whoopdedoo!! They are not the better team, we owned them last yr and they won it all and honestly who did they really beat to get there? You win with pitching, thats common sense and we have the better pitching. If you want to talk bench, we do have Angel Pagan and Alex Cora, they are not crap. Geez Christian relax. Ibanez a better hitter than Burrell? please. Burrell is a home-run hitter and the bopper they are gonna miss to compliment Howard, Ibanez is good for an 80 year old. I like the fact to play Murphy and Tatis, so be positive. You are telling me that Hamels, Myers, Blanton, Moyer and whoever the number 5 is is better than Santana, Pelfrey, Perez, Maine and Garcia, Redding, Hernandez or Niese? come on. K-Rod and Putz are also better than Lidge and Madson. YOU WIN WITH PITCHING AND WE ARE STACKED!!
The Phillies are the team to beat, please. They were handed the division in 2007 and if our bullpen did not collapse down the stretch then they would never have won the division in 2008. If we had made the wild card last year we would have beaten them in the playoffs. The Phillies do not scare me. The only team that can beat the Mets is the Mets. Be positive Christian and all the fans, this is a new year with a new ball park and manager and hope. Let’s go Mets!!
You seriously think our rotation is better then the Phillies? I’m sorry but you way off. Pelfrey had a very strong June through the end of the season. But keep in mind after a terrible 2007 he got off to a 2-6 record last year. He was awful against the Braves, Phillies and Marlins. Also he started last season as the #5 starter and moved up to the #4 by the end of the season, now he is being depended on as the #2 this year. For a kid who still needs to fine tune his secondary pitches being given the #2 spot is a huge risk. Maine is nothing special and the league showed signs of catching up to him since the 2nd half of 2007, he simply isn’t that good.
I’m not going to sugar coat things, I’ve been watching, studying, working in and playing the game for many years. This team is still 3-4 players away from a championship caliber team. I hope i’m wrong but as many here will concur I have a extended history of being right when it comes to anything related to baseball.
Christian, you really need to chill with the pessimism.
My god your the one that seriously needs to relax. I am usually one of the most optimistic on this site but i’m also all about the facts. Again this isn’t about being pessimistic or optimistic is about the facts. If you where here last year I was very optimistic about this team, but as this team stands right now we aren’t a championship caliber team no less a division championship caliber team. We have more questions going into spring training this year then we did last year.
I was here last year and I really don’t think you were all that optimistic then either. All I’m saying is why don’t you just wait until the season progresses before you start making all these assumptions that are really not based on anything solid.
What??? Not based on anything solid? How do you figure? This is a site meant for talking Mets and everything Mets, you shouldn’t tell anyone what they should or shouldn’t say. This has been a constant topic discussed here and many people here have many of the same concerns I do.
You are making assumptions on something that has not even happened yet. You have no clue what is going to happen this season so to go and say we are a second place team, yeah, I would say that is not based on anything solid. And for every one person on here that “has the same concerns as you,” there are three that are hopeful this will be a good year. Don’t rain on their parade, kiddo.
Christian, I just wanna know something. You said that this team is 3-4 players away from a championship caliber team. Who do you think should the Mets get in order for them to become a championship caliber team? Hudson & Ohman in my mind wouldn’t be such bad pickups.
Mets 09 – There is a difference between being realistic and being hopeful. I’m hopeful but you can not be blind to reality. Baseball (like any sport) is all about predictions, strategy and statistical analysis. If you just want to sit back and be “hopeful” then you simply do not understand the game, the culture and the history, your more of a casual fan.
Christian, I would say that 95% of Americans are casual fans…they enjoy the game for the game, not for all your statistical analyses. I am well aware of the holes and gap we have in our lineup and pitching staff, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to go into this season saying my team is going to finish second place. What’s the point of even watching the game then? I think you need to enjoy the game a little bit more and put down the numbers for a second. You aren’t a professional so leave it to them.
Hitman – First off Mets have two major major needs one being a legit #2 starter. Could Pelfrey become that #2 starter? Perhaps, but to put that much stock on a pitcher who has not been higher then a #4, who just had his first breakout season and in that breakout out season was still awful in the first two months and bombed by three teams in our own division. We basically have A #1 and a bunch of 3′s and 4′s. Could one of those 3′s and 4′s step up? sure, it could happen, but you do you really want to take a chance on a big big IF.
Second, Mets desperately need a righty bat. The current lineup is too lefty heavy and contains too many if’s.
While those are the two main weaknesses, a 3rd is the need for a player who can provide 2 of the following skills, .300 average, contact hitter and speed. Other then Reyes and Beltran this team sorely lacks speed. Castillo use to fill all three of those skills.
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CHRISTIAN, I RESPECT YOUR TECHNICAL EXPERTISE; BUT QUESTION YOUR FANDOM; I’M COMFORTABLE SAYING I’M THE LONGEST TENURED MET FAN ON THIS SITE, HAVING BEEN A CONVERTED DODGER FAN(1St G EVERY ASTTENEDED WAS IN EBBETS FIELD) THE SIMPLE FACT THAT STATISTICS, THOUGH A VITAL PART OF THE GAME, HAVE TAKEN A DOMINANT ROLE AMONGST SO-CALLED FANS. ONE THING STATS WILL SHOW ABOUT THE SO-CALLED RIVALRY, IS THAT THE PHILLIES FINISHED ON TOP LAST YR SUPPORTED BY CAREER YEARS PROVIDED BY LIDGE, ROMERO, VICTORINO & WERTH. TOPPING A NYM SQUAD SANS ANY ‘CAREER YR ATTAINEES” CONVERSLY HAMSTRUNG BY BOTTOM OR NONEXISTANT YEARS FROM PEDRO, DUQUE, ALOU,SANCHEZ, WAGNER, CASTILLO, DELGADO(1st HALF) AND YET THE MARGIN EWAS ONLY 3G EVEN AFTER PHL WAS SPOTTED 29 BS. CHRISTIAN, YOU, LIKE MANY OTHERS HAVE A TENDANCY TO CONCENTRATE ON ALL THAT COULD GO WRONG WITH NYM WHILE SIMOULTANEOUSLY ASSUMING ALL WILL GO RIGHT FOR THE OPPOSITION. U ASSUME UTLEY COMES BACK UNFAZED & MAINE IS HINDERED. THIS IS REDICULOUS. HERE ARE 2 CHALLENGES I BELIEVE WILL FAVOR THE NYM IN ’09. PLAYERS WHO SWITCH LEAGUES FACE UNFAMILIAR OPPONENTS; PITCHERS HAVE THE ADVANTAGE IN BEING “STRANGE” SINCE THE USUAL “BOOK” LETS U KNOW WHAT’S COMING; BUT DOESN’T DETAIL THE NUANCE SUCH AS VELOCITY & SPECIFIC MOVEMENT UNTIL U FACE IT ENOUGH. THIS ‘ADVANTAGE’ DOESN’T LAST LONG, POSSIBLY NO MORE THAN 2 ABs;BUT IT’S DEFINITLY AN ADVANTAGE. HITTERS STRUGGLE BECAUSE THEY HAVE THIS PHENOMENON AGAINST THE MAJORITY OF PITCHERS THEY’LL FACE. SP CAN BE OUTED BY THE 3rd OR 4th INNING THEROUGH INTENSE OBSERVATION BY OPPONENTS. IN THE CASE OF IBANEZ(37) HIS AGE IS NOT A FRIEND; BUT A FACTOR U IGNORE. THIS ENTIRE PHENOMENON SHOULD CERTAINLY FAVOR NY SINCE THE REVAMPED PEN IS ENTIRELY MADE FROM IMPORTS, K-ROD, PUTZ, GREEN, WILL ALL BE UNFAMILIAR TO OPPOSING BATTERS WHO WILL EACH ONLY GET 1 AB/G AGAINST THEM & LIKELY NOT IN THE GAME LONG ENOUGH FOR LINEUPS TO GET A SOLID “READ” ON THEIR MOTION, MOVEMENT, VELOCITY & ALL THE TAPE IN THE WORLD IS NO SUBSTITRUTE FOR “LIVE” FACE-OFFS. IN NO WAY DO I SEE THE BRAVES AS A CONTENDER OR OBSTACLE TO WHAT WE WANT, VAZQUEZ, LOWE, KAWAKAMI ARE NOT ADEQUATE SUBSTITUTIONS FOR SMOLTZ, HUDSON, HAMPTON WHILE THEY STILL HAVE A POWER OUTAGE IN THEIR OUTFIELD EVEN IF THEY DO SNAG GRIFFEY. ONLY IF U COUNT KAWAKAMI’S ENTIRE JAPANESE ACHEVEMENTS LAST YR AS MLB CALIBER DOES THE ATLANTA 5 MAN ROTATION HAVE A .500 RECORD FOR ’08. CHALLENGE US? THEY’LL BE FORTUNATE TO HOLD ONTO 4th. SORRY! I CERTAINLY DON’T ANTICIPATE A REPEAT OF CAREER YEARS IN PHILLY NOR A REPEAT OF METS’ WOES FROM ’08. IF YOU DO I’D LOVE TO KNOW WHY. WHILE YOU’RE AT IT, PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY TATIS WHO HIT 24 PRO HRs IN ’08 SANS SPRING TRAINING SHOULD BE DISCOUNTED FOR LESS IN ’09 @ 34 WHILE U ANNOINT 37 YR OLD IBANEZ IN A NEW LEAGUE?
Mets 09 – I love the game, I enjoy every second of the game. I eat, sleep and breath baseball. it is a huge part of my life. Making predictions is part of the fun. What do you think trades are based on? The prediction of how they will perform and how they fit the team.
I didn’t say the Mets WOULD finish 2nd, I said as the the team currently stands they are a 2nd place team. Those holes can be filled either by current players stepping up or deals made to bring in talent to fill those holes.
Christian, I going to defer my rebuttal to METS62FAN who I really think just hit the nail on the head. I’m kinda questioning your fandom and/or loyalty to the Mets as well.
I am not way off on the rotation. Christian I am not going to argue with you. We agree to disagree and I know about my Mets so I feel we have a shot this year and will not care about your opinion anymore.
METS62FAN – I would have to strongly disagree with your statement that I have a TENDANCY TO CONCENTRATE ON ALL THAT COULD GO WRONG WITH NYM WHILE SIMOULTANEOUSLY ASSUMING ALL WILL GO RIGHT FOR THE OPPOSITION.
Most fans will look at the Mets numbers and decide if they are good or bad without comparing them to other teams. Time and time and time again I have posted Mets numbers compared to the league and shown that the Mets are average to better then average to top of the league. When people here ripped Schneider I took his numbers and compared them to all major league starting catchers and showed that Schneider was among the best not the among the worst like many here believed. I don’t look at what the Mets do and assume anything I take their information and compare them to everyone else, if its positive I’ll say so, if its negative I’ll say so.
Last year there where several posts claiming the Mets had a horrible history of developing major league production from top draft picks. I showed that the Mets where actually in the upper middle portion among drafting success.
Over the last several years many fans on many Mets sites claim that signing older vets to minor league contracts with spring invites was a Omar thing or even a Mets thing. When the fact is every team does it every year.
Your comment that I assume is way way off base. I have posted blog after blog after blog telling how much I despise people who assume. So many fans today make assumptions and in my mind there is nothing more disrespectful, unintelligent, or unprofessional then assuming. You know the saying that when you ASSUME you make an ASS out of U and ME. I always state my posts on fact or on my opinion I never ever assume.
There is nothing looked down on more in the sports industry then making assumptions and labeling them as fact and that is a common practice among reporters and bloggers which is why the media and blogs get such a bad reputation.
As to your comment about players switching leagues, with the number of players moves these days and interleague play the production difference between players switching leagues has been recently evening out, the difference in first year league changes are much small then they use to be. Switching league just isn’t a major issue anymore.
You say Ibanez age is a factor but what about Delgado’s. History has shown that power hitters production drops off earlier then that of line drive and contact hitters.
Technically speaking since they are WS winners, they are the team to beat, however, that doesn’t mean it can’t be done.
If people looked “on paper” at the teams of 69, 73 and 00 NO one would say they would make it to the WS, and yet they did.
Not sure my friend Christian, how they don’t have a hole at 2nd base, but we do. I KNOW the arguments against Castillo, and thats not my point, my point is, Utley is coming off major surgery, Castillo’s surgery is a year removed and coming of a “bad” year. So if anything, thats a wash.
I think we overthink sometimes and realize with Spring Training, comes a clean slate, and people that have watched this game for a long time know, anything can happen usually does.
Christian, I still don’t agree but whatever I guess.
Didn’t Christian say that Ollie would definitely not be coming back to the Mets? HMMMMMMMMM….
Yes Wrick it may come as a surprise but even i’m wrong every once in a while. Thanks for pointing out the only thing I’ve been wrong on in a long long time.
Christian,
Arrogant much?
lol who me?
exactly….
CHRISTIAN, IF I MISSED THE RANT WHERE U QUESTIONED UTLEY’S REBOUNDING FROM HIP SURGERY OR ROMERO’S POTENTIALLY RETURNING AS MOTA FROM HIS SUSPENSION OR MOYER’S FINALLY TURNING INTO GLAVINE, I APOLOGIZE; HOWEVER IF YOU IGNORE ALL THESE ITEMS WHILE HARPING ON MET ?. I REST MY CASE.
Unfreaking believable some of you so freaking sensitive. Why do the facts hurt so much? If any of you are seriously questioning my love for the Mets then your not even worth my time. But seriously I’m not going to sugarcoat things like most of you do. I speak the truth and only the truth and back it up with facts, if you don’t like the facts then that’s your problem. Its really pathetic how so many people here are followers and do not think for themselves. Seriously what is wrong with you people?
Christian,
So I’m guessing you have either Asperger’s Syndrome or a social anxiety disorder because no sane person would write what you just wrote.
Mets 09 – What are you a Dr?
Am I correct because I am rarely wrong when it comes to matters such as this?
Do you have the credentials to make such an assumption?
I have friends that have anxiety disorders or ADD/ADHD. What struck me from your statement is your accusing those such people as being insane. That is an offensive and inappropriate statement.
I didn’t say they were insane. I said no sane person would write what you wrote….big difference. Re-read what you wrote out loud and then tell me if that is the markings of a lucid individual.
So……..how bout them Mets
LGM! But according to Christian, they are a second place team before the season even started.
Mets 09 – You indicated that people that have have either Asperger’s Syndrome or a social anxiety disorder are insane.
You made the assumption that I had one of those disorders and that no sane person would say what I said thus your indicating that those with Asperger’s Syndrome or a social anxiety disorder are insane. You wrote it not me.
Kay – Can you believe this hooligan? I simply state my opinion that the Mets have holes and he starts this absurd story questioning that i’m a Mets fan. Can a fan of a team not say anything negative, my god.
Well Christian I have the opposite problem – I get accused of sticking up too much for Met players.
I backed you up in another thread that you always come back with facts and figures……….
However, in this instance, I don’t think I, personally, believe in preseason predicitions because of whats on paper, I think the accuracy of that is somewhat skewed, as I mentioned above, what do you think they numbers would have said about the 69, 73 and 00 teams – frankly going into the season – they weren’t so good, especially 73. While they didn’t win it all, they did make it to the dance.
As a purist I’d say ST comes and EVERYONE gets a clean slate.
I think we ALL, need to take a breath and relax a bit, we are all guilty of getting too wrapped up.
The games can’t start soon enough.
Has anyone else been reading the articles about how Castillo looks in much better shape and is running well!!! We can only hope!
Well said Kay
There was a day late last season where I reader said I was to positive and then another reader said I was too negative, both comments where in the same blog. Its a no win situation to some people, no matter what you say these people will find fault in it.
Yeah I read an article on Castillo on mets.com yesterday and was very impressed. If he can return to the old Castillo that would be a huge boost.
Ok…I’m gonna go with social anxiety disorder then. The way you are with the numbers, I was leaning towards Asperger’s or high functioning autism but we’ll just leave it as that.
Remember Christian, all I said was that preseason predictions are useless and you have no way of knowing the Mets are a second place team as you are not a professional and your knowledge is limited because of it.
Anyway, I agree with Kay…let’s drop all this and enjoy ST. Nobody in here knows whats going to happen.
CHRISTIAN, NEITHER I NOR ANYONE ELSE IS DISPUTING THE POSSIBILITIES THAT THE FOLLOWING MAY OCCUR: 1)CASTILLO MAY SUCK AS BADLY IN ’09 AS IN ’08, 2) DELGADO MAY HAVE AN ENTIRE ’09 LIKE THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF ’08, 3) TATIS MAY JUST DISAPPPEAR INTO A .250 5HR 50RBI PLAYER IN ’09,4) PELFREY MAY SUFFER A SETBACK TO ’07 LEVELS, 6)MURPHY MAY BE A FLASH IN PAN PLAYER. MY/OUR PROBLEM WITH YOUR APPROACH IS IN NOT EQUALLY EMPHASIZING 1) CASTILLO MAY REVERT TO EARLIER FORM, 2)DELGADO MAY USE A HEALTHY OFFSEASON & SPRING TO REINFORCE THE APPROACH USED IN HIS METAMORPHIS OF JULY/AUGUST, 3) CHURCH’S RECOVERY MAY RESTORE HIS PRECONCUSSED FORM, 4) PELFREY MAY STABILIZE INTO THE TOPEND PROSPECT WE DRAFTED OR 5) UTLEY MAY SRUGGLE WITH HIP RETURN ALL SEASON, 6) HOWARD MAY FEEL CONTRACT WEIGHT, CUTTING DOWN SWING TO REDUCE Ks,7) LIDGE MAY REVERT TO HOUSTON FORM. CERTAINLY ALL U PONT OUT AS POSSIBLE PROBLEMS ARE POSSIBLE JUST AS THEY COULD ALL WORKOUT FOR OUR ENJOYMENT. A LITTLE REALITY OF, THE PHILLIES EXPLOITED POSITIVES IN ’08 CHOOSING TO VITUALLY STAND PAT, WHILE THE METS’ SUFFERED THROUGH INCOMPETANCE IN THE PEN THAT PRESSURED THE LINEUP TO NOT ONLY OUTSCORE THE OPPOSITION; BUT TO OUTSCORE THEIR OWN BULLPEN IN ADDITION. THOSE PRESSURES WERE STRONGLY ALLEVIATED. RECOGNITION OF BOTH SIDES OF THE COIN YOU FLIP IS ALL THAT’S REQUIRED. BY ONLY SEEING IT AS TAILS U P*SS US OFF. DON’T TAKE IT PERSONALLY, U SHOULD PROBABLY DRINK MORE(LOL) WE STILL LOVE YOU & KNOW U ARE INSANE OVER THE NYM. THERE ARE TIMES U REMIND ME OF THAT EXTRA IN MANY ‘B’ SCI-FI MOVIES WITH THE SANDWICH SIGN ADVISING REPENTENCE.
METS62FAN – Now your putting words in my mouth. In fact I’ve said many times that I think Church will bounce back big this year. As for Delgado I said that power hitters are known to have a drop off in production around ages 36-38 which is early then line drive or contact hitters. I never said that Delgado would indeed struggle, I never said that he wouldn’t have a great season. This is you assuming such and assuming is looked down big time in the industry. I look at the facts I look at the game much different then a normal fan because I know the game from the professional side. I can not look at the game from just a fans point of view because its been ingrained into me to view the game from all sides. This is the very reason many people clash with my views.
Mets09 – I’m not a professional now but I have worked in various positions in the industry.
Christian,
I realize you have worked in the industry but that still doesn’t make you a professional.
CHRISTIAN, YOUR RESPONSE IN PICKING NITS ON WHAT U DID OR DIDN’T SAY IS TANTAMOUNT TO BUMPING INTO TREES WHILE LOOKING FOR THE FORREST. I WAS USING HYPERBOLE IN DETAILING THE UNSPECIFIED HOLES U REFER TO IN STATING IT’S A SECOND PLACE TEAM AS CONSTRUCTED; BUT THaT MIGHT
STILL FINISH FIRST. I TRULY FEEL SORRY FOR YOUR APPARENT INABILITY TO LET YOUR HEART DO THE HEAVY LIFTING IN THE SPRING SINCE THERE’S SO MUCH LEFT FOR THE BRAIN TO LIFT AFTER APRIL STARTS.SORRY, IT’S FEB & MY HEART IS BUSY LETTING MY BRAIN REST. YEARS OF DISSAPOINTMENT HAS LEFT ME WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT UNKLESS I LET HOPE SPRING ETERNAL IN THE SPRING. WIN OR LOSE IN SEPT/OCT DOESN’T MATTER AS MUCH. THE BAD FEELINGS ARE WORSE, THE EXHILARATION NOT AS HIGH. TRUXT ME, YOU MAY BE MORE EXPERIENCED IN THE NUTS & BOLTS, MY TENURE IS IN THE HEARTS & FLOWERS. I BELIEVE @ 59, I’M OLDER, NOT NECESSARILY WISER; BUT CERTAINLY OLDER. IF U WISH TO REALLY ENJOY GETTING WHERE I AM, LET YOUR HEART LOOSE FROM ITS’ BINDINGS MORE OFTEN.