There is so much talk about what the Mets need next year. Should we build a team to take advantage of the CitiField dimensions? That means pitching, defense, and speed. Maybe the answer is yes. But you cannot ignore the need for power in the lineup.
Here are some interesting statistics. The Mets had 93 homerless games during the 2009 season: 46 at CitiField and 47 on the road. The Yankees had 30 homerless games during 2009 : 7 at Yankee Stadium and 23 on the road. There was only one game at Yankee Stadium this year in which neither team hit a home run. That was on June 18th against the Nationals.
Below is a list for 2009 of all major league teams with total team home runs and the team leader. As you can see, no team comes close to the Mets in home run hitting ineptitude.
1. 244 Yankees, Mark Texeira 39
2. 224 Rangers, Nelson Cruz 33
3. 224 Phillies, Ryan Howard 45
4. 212 Red Sox, Jason Bay 36
5. 209 Blue Jays, Aaron Hill 36
6. 199 Rays, Carlos Pena 39
7. 190 Rockies, Troy Tulowitzki 32
8. 184 White Sox, Paul Konerko 28
9. 183 Tigers, Miguel Cabrera 34
10. 182 Brewers, Prince Fielder 46
11. 173 Angels, Kendry Morales 34
12. 173 D’Backs, Mark Reynolds 44
13. 172 Twins, Mark Cuddyer 32
14. 161 Cubs, Derrick Lee 35
15. 161 Indiana, Shin-Soo Choo 20
16. 160 Orioles, 25 Luke Scott
17. 160 Mariners, Russell Branyan 31
18. 160 Cardinals, Albert Pujols 47
19. 159 Marlins, Dan Uggla 31
20. 158 Reds, Joey Votto 25
21. 156 Nationals, Adam Dunn 38
22. 149 Braves, Adam LaRoche 24
23. 145 Dodgers, Andre Ethier 31
24. 144 Royals, Miguel Olivo 23
25. 142 Astros, Carlos Lee 26
26. 141 Padres, Adrian Gonzales 40
27. 135 Athletics, Jack Cust 25
28. 125 Pirates, Garrett Jones 21
29. 122 Giants, Pablo Sandoval 25
30. 95 Mets, Daniel Murphy 12
Look how pitiful the Mets power numbers were.
YOU CANNOT WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP WITH THESE MIND BOGGLING POWER NUMBERS!
Wow, you dont think it’s that big of a deal until you see a list like this. Of course injuries played a big part, but still this is pathetic. Wright stepped down insted of stepped up in Delgado’s and Beltran’s absence. Francoeur would have probably led the Mets had he played the full season with us.
Here is the price for Adrian Gonzalez-http://www.metsfansforever.com/mets_fans_forever/2009/10/what-will-adrian-gonzalez-cost-the-mets.html
ANTHONY, KEVIN TOWERS WAS LIKELY FIRED FOR THINKING THAT WAY. BETTER TO CONTACT DOUG MELVIN TO INQUIRE WHAT 2 SPers DOES HE WANT FOR PRINCE.ESP SINCE HE’S POSSIBLY LOSING HIS BEST FROM ’09, IF LOOPER DECLINES HIS 6M OPTION AS EXPECTED. MILW IS FACING A POTENTIAL ARBITRATION AWARD IN EXCESS OF 20M FOR ’11. MAKE BREWS SAY NO REPEATEDLY BERFORE PINNING HOPES ON GONZALES. BREWS ARE LOOKING FOR “EXPERIENCED MLB SP NOT PROSPECTIVE SP OR THOSE EARNING MORE THAN FIELDER’S 10M. WHO HAS THAT & HAS A POSITION & WHEREWITHALL TO PAY 10.5M FOR 1Y? FORCING THAT ISSUE IS A NO BRAINER! MAKE BREWS SAY NO SO MUCH THEY COUNTRER WITH WHAT MAKES US SAY NO.
The Mets are not trading for a 1 year rental in fielder, forget it.
ANTHONY, THE 1Y WOULD BE THEIR CHOICE, FIELDER ISN’Y A FA AFTER ’10; JUST ARBITRATION ELIGIBLE; I’M GUESSING WITH HIS NUMBERS & TEX ALREADY GETTINGH 20+ AND FIELDER’S AGENT IS BORAS HIS LIKELY AWARD FOR ’11 WOULD BE 20M+ NYM HAVE THEN TO DECIDE WHAST TO DO. IY OR MORE IS THEIR CHOICE; BUT HE’S STILL THE BEST AVAILABLE FOR POTENTIALLY THE LEAST MILB TALENT. IF NYM DON’T HARDPRESS EXPLORE, THEY’VE FAILED! GONZALES IS A NICE CONSIDERATION, HE’S OLDER & WILL COST OUR FARM SYSTEM’S CREAM, NEGATING DEALINGH FOR PITCHING. FIELDER LIKELY COSTS A COUPLE OF OUR MOSEST “EXPERIENCED” SP; NOT MILB PLAYERS. THEY ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME WITH THE HIGHLY TALENTED ‘CORE’ & MUST CERTAINLY STRIKE WHILE VIABILITY IS STILL THERE. TIME IS NOT NYM’S ALLY
Ok, fielder is not a FA still after the 2011 season, fine, but if u think this won’t cost the Mets at least Pelfrey, Martinez, Mejjia and Davis to get him, ur crazy and if the mets get him there signing him to a new deal. No question about it, probably in the 7 yr 140 mil neighborhood. I just don’t think the mets will do it, not for him.
ANTHONY, YOUR ASSUMPTIONS ON MILWALKEE WANTING OUR FARM DOES NOT COMPUTE WITH THEIR GMs UNQUALIFIED DESIRE TO ADD “2 ‘EXPERIENCED’ STARTING PITCHERS & A WILLINGNESS TO INCLUDE HIS TOP RANKED PROSPECT” TO DO SO. ATLANTA IS THE ONLY OTHER CLUB IN NEED OF POWER @ 1B & WITH STARTER ON MKT; BUT EACH OF THEIR STARTERS CURRENTLY EARNS MORE THAN FIELDER’S 10.5M. BTW FIELDER IS NOT QUALIFIED FOR FREE AGENCY IN ’11 RATHER IT’S JUST AS BAD AS HE’S ARBITRATION ELIGIBLE & IS REP’ED BY BORAS. SINCE THE NYM ARE NOT SWIMMING IN PROSPECTS, TO RESTRAIN THEMSELVES TO TEAMS WITH ASSETS LOOKING TO DEAL FOR PROSPECTS IS VERY LIMITING. RATHER THEY ATTEMPT TO DEAL WITH A TEAM LOOKING FOR “EXPERIENCED” RATHER THAN “FUTURE POTENTIAL” THE ONLY SURPLUS I SEE ON THE METS IS A SURPLUS OF EXPERIENCED 3 THRU 5 STARTING PITCHERS! FOR A TEAM THAT’S LOOKING TO ADD 2 SP & RUMORED TO LOSE THEIR WINNINGEST FROM ’09(LOOPER). MAINE & PELFREY CERTAINLY ARE BOTH SERVICABLE MID ROTATION ARMS & BREWS COULD KEEP THEIR PROSPECT. THE BREWS 2009 ROTATION:
GALLARDO(24Y)30GS, 13-12,185.2IP, 3.73 ERA, 1.31 WHIP
LOOPER(36Y)34GS,14-7,194.2IP, 5.22 ERA, 1.49 WHIP
SUPPAN(35Y)30GS, 7-12,161,2IP,5.29 ERA,1.69 WHIP
PARRA(28)27GS,11-11, 140.0IP, 6.36 ERA, 1.83 WHIP
BUSH(31),21GS, 5-9, 114.1 IP, 6.38 ERA, 1.47 WHIP
ARGUABLY MAINE & PELFREY, BOTH YOUNG & INEXPENSIVE WOULD CERTAINLY FIT RIGHT IN & COULD BOTH EASILY BE CONSIDERED CHANGE OF SCENERY GUYS.
MAINE(29) 15GS, 7-6,81.1 IP, 4.43 ERA, 1.69 WHIP
PELFREY(26),31GS, 10-12,184.1 IP, 5.03 ERA, 1.51 WHIP
FOREVER, MET FANS ARE ASTOUNDED WHEN OTHER TEAMS ACQUIRE PLAYERS FOR LESS THAN THEY WERE WILLING TO OFFER; YET REFUSE TO ACCEPT THAT POSSIBLY THE RETURN WAS GREATER DUE TO NEED BEILG FULFILLED. WITH A MID-RANGE 80M PAYROLL IN ’09 BREWS ARE FACING THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF THEIR ABILITY TO MEET THE SALARY AWARDED IN ARBITRATION FOR ’11, A SITUATION BORAS WAS OBVIOUSLY TARGETING FOR WHEN HE HAD HIS CLIENT AGREE TO A CONTRACT JUST SHORT OF ARBI ELIGIBILITY. BREWS FACE POSSIBILITY OF TRYING TO DEAL A $20M/YR PLAYER. METS ONLY NEED A 1Y BRIDGE TO DAVIS & ’11 F/A IB ARE MUCH MORE VIABLE THAN THIS YR!
TOO LITTLE FOR BREWS? THEY GET TO KEEP THEIR TOP PROSPECT & ADD 2 NEEDED CHEAP, CONTROLLABLE ARMS WITH PETERSON AS THEIR NEW HOT ADDITION AS PC WHAT BETTER ADVOCATE FOR ACQUIRING THESE 2 IS THERE?
This blog is completely useless. MetsMerized readers are used to better.
I wasn’t gonna post but this guy has to be reviewed before being allowed to write a blog. At least know something. His last blog was to fire Mike Francesa and Joe and Evan. That’s the prime Monday thru Friday radio time slot in the entire country…and probably the best there ever was in NYC.
Now this.
Well DUH…everybody was hurt! You’re blaming them for that?
Ya figure Delgado would hit 20 more or so, Beltran maybe 10 more? Wright 10 more since everybody was here and he would have had more pitches to hit? Reyes may have had about 7 or 10 more too plus some other guys probably would have had a bit more too.
That being said it probably would not have been a great power year anyway and we were still going to go for power in the off season in any event.
But to not recognize that and just purely hold it against them for not hitting HRs with what they had is just plain DUMB!
And if you’re happy you’re just getting readers and responses it’s not a good idea with useless blogs like these. You’re just an idiot and you should not be allowed to blog here. This site is much better than this.
You must be the only Mets fan in the world that doesnt feel we need power. Wake up dude! Did you even see those sorry ass stats? News flash – Delgado aint coming back! We need a 40 homer guy in this lineup.
Just copying and pasting this statement in my post because you missed it:
“That being said it probably would not have been a great power year anyway and we were still going to go for power in the off season in any event.”
Hey listen Bayonne Mets Fan. Delgado’s not coming back next year. Beltran hit 10 home runs in 81 games. How many do you think he’ll hit next year. He’s past his prime offensively. His power numbers are going down. Wright would not have hit one more homer if he had protection. He was getting pitches to hit all season. He just couldn’t make contact (note 140 strike outs). Who is hitting home runs in 2010 for the Mets?
Both of you guys missed my point (as usual).
Of course we are going to need power for next year. Even if everybody was healthy we STILL would nee power for next year. Of course I know Delgado most likely won’t be back…maybe.
That being said, I’m not addressing their needs for next year in this post. Everybody knows we need a lot of things including power
My whole point here was that it is completely ludicrous and totally unfair to criticize the Mets for not hitting HRs with the personnel that they had after EVERYBODY went down with injuries.
That is exactly what you’re saying here.
And its shows no knowledge of the game whatsoever.
How many homeruns do you think the Mets would have hit if they were healthy? I’m thinking no more than 30-40 more which would still be pretty bad and close to the bottom. I think youre being a little harsh yo the writer and undeservingly so.
And you can’t fix this problem by getting a guy like Holliday, who’ll hit like 22 HRs, and getting a guy who can be the right-handed platoon (meaning the guy who plays less in the platoon) with 12-HR Dan Murphy.
The problems with the Mets is so profound, and the team has no clue how to solve it.
I agree. The problem is deep rooted. And don’t forget their starting pitching is in chaos too. As far as power goes, they need a 20+ HR guy for the outfield and a full year of Francoeur should help too. Let’s hope that Murphy hits 18 home runs. I think they need to trade Castillo and sign someone like DeRosa and sign a catcher with some power too.
This would be a relatively economical way of increasing home runs while still having some money left for pitching and also not blowing up the farm system.
I can’t wait to hear what BMF thinks of this idea.
I remember the “GREAT” Gene Mauch said that his 1974 (or whatever)Expos will win with pitching, speed, and defense.
Guess where they ended up……..yeah LAST PLACE.
The mets had better drop that, speed and defense B.S. and get some bona fide Home run hitters.
If Jerry Manuel aticks to the “Small Ball” strategy this team is going nowhere. The fix is to get rid of Jerry and put more power in the lineup. We need power at 1B and LF. We can either trade for Adrian Ganzalez and trade away Ike Davis or stick with a plan to bring in Ike Davis or time. Either way, we still need a power hitting LF. Both of those positions need to be fixed and the only internal option available is the development of Ike Davis. But we need to establish 2 power positions in this lineup. Pitching becomes the next area that requires fixing. A new SP is required to follow Santana in the rotation.
So 1. change the manager to get rid of the Small Ball approach
2. Fix 1B and LF.
3. Address the pitching problem.
Should be sticks not aticks. Also bring in Ike Davis over time.
I think the problem is more Omar Miniya than Jerry Manuel. Manuel only has what Omar gives him as far as the players are concerned and Jerry has proven that he is not going to insult any of his players or throw them under the bus. Jerry knows he has a bunch of scrubs, so he’s saying he has to use what he is given. I did hear him this summer say he loves the 3 run homerun. He had a punch and Judy team made up of friends of Omar from the sandlots in the D.R.
Omar in my opinion is the residue that the Wilpons bought back from the Phillips administration and they need to just get rid everyone who worked under Steve Phillips while he was the Mets GM. Omar is nothing but Steve phillips lite…..you’re givena $140 million dollar payroll and you are not even competing or you are choking during crunch time…..there is something wrong.
In 2006 we were better than the Phillies, with the team we have now, we will fighting the Nationals to stay out of last place….Omar showed me how much he cares about the Mets when he was forced to fire Bernazard and tried to insult Adam Rudin.
What’s happening with X. Nady? He’ll be good option in left and I’d like to see Prince Fielder or Ike Davis at 1st.
More than anything I want to see Miniya gone. Like Phillips this IS HIS LAST GM JOB. Once he’s out of here I see him on ESPN deportes killing the Mets like Steve Phillips did.
If you give 99% of Mets fans $140 million to build the team, we’ll be competing in the World Series right now.
I’m Black, however I will not be going to Africa looking for players….like Omar is constantly in the D.R. looking for talent.
That’s suspect to me….I don’t care what anyone says. And it’s not that the players are hispanic, he’s signing scrubs, man…he’s signing dudes who will not make a semi-pro team.
In the beginning of his tenure, Minaya had so much success bringing in Hispanic players – Pedro, Beltran, Delgado, El Duque. Combined with Reyes, Mets fans were so excited. Minaya was on a hot streak.
Now it’s turned around. He is in a terrible slump. Maybe, hopefully, he can break out of it this year.
A bloop double is better than a line out to the wall. Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.
I was excited about Pedro, Beltran, and Delgado, coming here too. although like i said before…I could have signed them, all I had to do was give the most years, the most money, and no trade clauses. He used real money to sign those guys and coupons to sign the superscrubs. I enjoyed Pedro and I love Beltran’s game. Remember, we wasn’t Delgado’s first choice thanks to Bernazard and his “we’re latin” statement. Bottom line is the Omar hype was overblown. Maybe he works better with a shoe-string budget.
GREG, I’M CONFUSED BY YOUR POST INASMUCH AS BY “THE TEAM WE HAVE NOW” ARE U REFERRING TO THE 140M ROSTER OR THE ‘REPLACEMENT’ ROSTER?
I BELIEVE IF A PROPENSITY OF TOP TALENT WAS PRODUCED BY & IMPORTED FROM AFRICA & U’D SPENT YOUR ENTIRE SCOUTING CAREER ON “THE DARK CONTINENT” U’D BE ATTEMPTING TO MIND IT FOR AS MUCH “GOLD” AS U COULD SIGN!
If you look at the numbers you will see that there were 10 teams with less than 30 homers last year. Our totals were ridiculous but like the season itself an abberation. Yes, David Wright tried too hard to carry this team by himself but the idea of a full season with Francouer, Beltran and Delgado (if healthy) should get David back on track. It is apparent that the ball travels okay once the weather warms up at the new park. Should the Mets sign a slugging left fielder the numbers will go up but in order to compete with the Phillies we need not one but two dependable starters to add to our mix. I doubt that the Phillies will stand pat whether they beat the Yankees or not as they are just a bit away from being a potential dynasty. If they can add another starter to replace Moyer….look out!
If it were up to me, I’d go hard after Derek Lee now that Cubs are in transition, sign John Lackey AND Joel Pineiro. If we did that, I would like to see Chris Carter get a shot in left field in some sort of a platoon with Pagan, and the Mets sign Barajas or Molina to catch.
I love Halladay, but I’m not giving up the entire farm to get him. I love Holliday or Bay too, but neither are worth as much as what Beltran or Santana get paid.
If we add two solid pitchers like Lackey and Pineiro to go with Santana, Maine and Pelfrey, it should be enough to win the division. A lineup that looks like this:
1. Reyes
2. Castillo
3. Wright
4. Beltran
5. Lee
6. Francoeur
7. Carter/Pagan
8. Barajas/Molina
Would score a ton of runs.
Joe D.
I’m not sure I agree with you. The Cubs may not be in transition now that their new ownership is in place Lee has only one year and $13M left on his contract so they would more likely keep him. But he would be a good addition.
You can either get a big hitting left fielder like Holliday and keep Murphy at first base, or get a big hitting first baseman and keep a platoon like Pagan and someone else in left field. The result would be the same.
I think the Mets must upgrade their power and defense at second base and catcher. Molina/Barajas is fine for catcher. I want DeRosa at second and he can also play some first base as a righty platoon for Murphy.
Lackey is the guy you want as pitcher. You could easily argue that Pineiro had a career year and would be a disappointment. I also don’t trust Pelfrey. He has to show more consistency. I could see the scenario where he pitches poorly in spring training and starts the season in AAA ball.
Danny, the fact Lee has one year left is exactly why they might trade him.
As for Pineiro, he has a career 1.34 WHIP and 4.19 ERA pitching 8 years in the AL. He’s also 31 despite an 11 year career. I’m not saying he’s a 1 or 2 pitcher, but he’d be an upgrade over Pelfrey and Perez. I also like the idea of Randy Wolf too.
Lackey is the best of a weak free agent pitcher crop, but even though he’ll get a huge contract, I dont see him as ace material.
we dont need ace material, we have santana(ace material) we need someone wo can win 15+ games…lackey. case closed sign him
JOE, YOU’RE BETTER THAN THIS, IGNORING PEREZ IS IGNORING THE FACT NYM DON’T EAT PLAYER CONTRACTS. OTHER THAN THAT, WITH A COUPLE OF TWEAKS SUCH AS INKING LACKEY & MARQUIS, NOT LACKEY & PINIERO. ACQUIRING FIELDER, USING OUR NEW DEPTH IN MINORS TO MAKE A RUN AT CRAWFORD FOR LF & INKING MOLINA NOT BARAJAS. FOR STABILITY MY PROPOSED ROTATION OF SANTANA,LACKEY,MARQUIS,PEREZ,NIEVE WOULD BE AN ASSURED UPGRADE SUPPORTED HOPFULLY BUY A PRODUCTIVE LINEUP OF:
REYES-SS
CRAWFORD-LF
BELTRAN-CF
FIELDER-1B
WRIGHT-3B
FRANCOUER-RF
MOLINA-SANTOS-C
CASTILLO-2B
PITCHER
WOULD MOST CERTAINLY CONTEND AFFORDABLY WHILE MAINTAINING A SEMBLANCE OF TALENT IN MINORS INCL NIESE,THOLE & DAVIS.
ON MY BENCH WOULD BE MURPHY(IF NOT DEALT) INSTEAD OF TATIS FOR 1B,3B
ANDERSON HERNANDEZ INSTEAD OF CORA FOR 2B,SS.
PAGAN AS #4 OUTFIELDER
MY BULLPEN WOULD INCLUDE K-ROD,FELICIANO,GREEN,PUTZ*,STOKES,BOSTICK(2nd LOOGEY)
* ONLY ON REDUCED CONTRACT IF MED REPORTS WERE POSITIVE WITH AN UPGRADE OPTION TO 8M IF ELEVATED TO CLOSER(HEAVEN FORBID)
The Mets have actually come around with eating salary in recent years. They ate Mota’s salary, and Schoeneweis too. They paid the white sox to take Castro. There was also many indications that if Castillo did not get off to a good start this past season, the Mets were ready to eat his contract too.
JOE, ADD UP ALL THAT “EATEN” & U’VE NOT THE “FULL” MEAL PEREZ WOULD BE. THINK MATSUI, BONILLA NOT PIDDLIN MONEY
INTIMATING A RELEASE POSSIBILITY IS A FAR CRY FROM PROBABILITY, PERHAPS MORE OF A MOTIVATING INCENTIVE FOR THE HARDWORK INVESTED BY CASTILLO. A DEPRESSION BABY LIKE FRED DOESN’T WASTE MONEY EASILY HE’S ALWAYS BLANCHED AT THE OCCASIONAL NEED TO DEVOUR CONTRACTUAL $ WITH NOTHING IN RETURN.
So you want to sign Lackey, and Marquis and trade for Crawford and Fielder?
That’s a bit much to do. I don’t think so.
DANNY, THEY’RE ALL REPORTEDLY AVAILABLE & REQUIRE DIFFERENT, NON-CONFLICTING ASSETS. FIELDER: “2 ‘EXPERIENCED’ STARTING PITCHERS
CRAWFORD: PROSPECTS IS TYPICAL REQUIREMENT FROM TAMPA
LACKEY & MARQUIS $$$(MY GUESS 4/75 COULD LAND LACKEY OR THEREABOUTS WHILE 3/51, MARQUIS de STATEN ISLAND. BOTH MAY DESIRE MORE; BUT REMEMBER THE ECONOMY & BOSTON,NYY NOT LIKELY COMPETITORS. NEITHER IS A BORAS CLIENT NEGATING “MYSTERY BIDDER”.
WE HAVE A PITCHERS PARK. WE DONT EXPECT TO HAVE 300 HOMERUNS A YEAR…
Citi is NOT a pitchers park to the degree people think it is and the dimensions would lead you to believe. CHeck the road and home #s of HR for the Mets hitters AND pitching staff. We GAVE UP MORE HR AT CITI than on the road-WE HIT MORE HR AT HOME than on the road-IT IS NOT THE PARK, it is the players. FIRST priority should be pitching(SIT DOWN OLLIE), then work on the power aspect. Of course the 3 Stooges in charge will not commit to a rebuilding plan so we will be saddled with stop gap measures until Beltran is gone and then Wright/Reyes are gettin too old to bring in fans