And then there were none. We did win 70 games, we’re guaranteed a top ten draft pick and we can all kick back and watch some football or so for the new few months. I’ll still be watching the playoffs with a decent amount of the Mets fanbase (and i’ll be cheering for the Rockies.) It was a season of ups and downs and downs and downs…but what does not killl you only makes you stronger. If we can bounce back from this season, the only way to go is up.
My Choice for the MetsMerized Player Of The Week is…Nelson Figueroa!
The final MMO Player Of The Week award had to go to Nelson. I’ve developed alot of respect for Figueroa. He’s a workhorse type pitcher even though he’s never really gotten a full shot in MLB. He’s a good guy and he’s not a terrible pitcher by any regard. When the games didn’t matter, Nelson stepped in like a professional and did his job. Even if he’s not on this team next year, he should be respected by Met fans for the work he’s done over the last two years.
Nelson Figueroa started two games this week, compiling a 1-1 record. Of course, that’s not the whole story. His E.R.A.? 1.20 (2 ER in 15 IP) His win was a CG SHO on the last game of the season (WHERE WAS THAT THE LAST TWO YEARS?!). In 15.0 IP, he allowed 10 H and posted a 3/12 BB/K ratio. He only allowed one HR and pitched fairly well on teh week overall.
Random note is that Nelson was 2-2 in fielding opportunies this week. Folks, the season’s over for the Mets and it’s time to start focusing on 2010 and the future past that. With the final POW, I not only give kudos to Nelson, but to all the award winners and the effort they put in every week.
Honorable Mentions:
John Maine: 1 GS, QS. W, 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 7 K, 1.29 ERA.
Angel Pagan: .385(10-26; 4 2B, 1 3B), 6 R, 1 RBI, 16 TB, 1 SB.
Past Award Winners:
One Hit Wonders: Ryan Church, Johan Santana, David Wright, Fernando Tatis, Nelson Figueroa.
Been There, Done That Twice: Luis Castillo, Angel Pagan, Daniel Murphy.
Three’s Company: Jeff Francoeur.
Of Note 9/27-10/4 (And of all MMO POTW awards)
Ryan Church is the only one of the list who is no longer with the team. Jeff Francoeur is the only player to win the award three times. Luis Castillo won the first award. Nelson Figueroa and Johan Santana were the only pitchers to win the award.
John Maine’s start was very encouraging.
Jeff Francoeur’s production down the stretch is worth something, right? The outlook is bright for next year, at least in his direction.
Josh Thole’s alright, but give him a year in AAA.
Daniel Murphy does deserve a spot in the Mets Organization. It may be in AAA to start the year, but I don’t think he’ll end it there.
What a season it’s been. I think Matt Cerrone put it best when he said “I’ll still be sad there’s no Mets game tommorow.”
Thanks Satish for these weekly features. Despite all the bad baseball, week after week you spotlighted one of the bright spots and I’ve enjoyed reading these player of the week awards. It’s amazing when you look at all the winners and don’t see the names of Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, K-Rod and Jose Reyes. That just shows why the season ended up like it did.
Thank you for the kind words, I appreciate it. I had alot of fun writing these articles, even in a season like this one.
The injuries sapped us of basically everything, but it does give the other players a chance to shine, to some extent. Jeff Francoeur was great down the stretch and even David Wright won the award only once.
Figueroa probably delivered the best pitching performance of the season. If memory serves me right, I believe he walked none. A remarkable accomplishment for any Mets starting pictehr. When will Dan Warthen drill it into their heads!!! PITCH TO CONTACT!!! What the damn good is a big park if you’re not going to use it to your advantage!!!
You write: “Nelson Figueroa started two games this week, compiling a 1-1 record. Of course, that’s not the whole story. His E.R.A.? 1.20 (2 ER in 15 IP) His win was a CG SHO on the last game of the season (WHERE WAS THAT THE LAST TWO YEARS?!).”
Well, in September 2008, his first year on the Mets, Nelson was brought up from Triple A and put in the bullpen. He appeared in 7 games, pitched 6.2 innings, 2.70 ERA. September 2008. Why wasn’t he asked to start as he had done all season in Triple A?
The exclamation was a reference to the fact that we failed to win on the last game of the season the past two years, not a reference to Nelson Figueroa. (It seriously hurt to write that. Three baseball seasons in a row like this one I hope to never experience again.)