14
2010
Mets Fans Everywhere: Way Too Soon To Panic
An article by Former Writers
Here it is, one day before “The Ides of March” and the so called pundits as well as the vast majority of the Mets faithful are in full panic mode and have come to bury Caesar long before the body is cold.
Come on everybody, 2009 was officially over on Oct 3rd or if you prefer the Julian calendar how about 11:59PM and 59 seconds on December 31st.
Just because two of our top five players will not be in the starting lineup on opening day, and the so called starting rotation has looked a trifle bit shaky three weeks into spring training, it doesn’t mean we should be holding our Hari Kari swords about 18 inches from the point of entry.
It’s true that I have been a Mets fan since opening day 1962, and believe me there were years that the season was over before the first pitcher threw his first fastball in spring camp.
It wasn’t until the spring of 1968 that any Met fan would finally get to see this team start to show some real competition between the lines. Seaver and Koosman were young arms with a world of potential and the manager was a patient man who was going to observe his team very carefully for the entire season and make the adjustments to turn them into a perennial winner and contender for years to come.
But I am digressing a bit here so let’s flash forward to 2010. What is it going to take from the Mets organization to put a winning and competitive team out there and challenge the Phillies while keeping pace with the Braves and the Marlins as well?
Are we closer to last place than to first?
I don’t think so. Outside of Mets training camp all the talk has been about the injuries to Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes and why it’s “Deja Vu” all over again. No!, it is not by a long stretch of the imagination. Let’s take a better look.
In the case of Beltran who started off the 2009 season like a house on fire and seemed to be heading for his best season as a Met, Carlos had his surgery in January, not May or June of 2010, but in January. Early reports said we wouldn’t possibly see him until June. Panic time? NO!
With opening day still three weeks away now we are hearing the possibility for a mid April return. Not too shabby.
For Jose we are hearing anywhere between two and eight weeks, but that started a week ago, not yesterday, and since this condition has been classified as a mild thyroid case, according to medical experts, a return by May 1st is certainly not out of the question, but many believe he’ll be back long before that with the slight possibility he may not miss any time at all.
I remember an Angels team as recently as last year that had none of it’s starters ready for opening day and winding up taking the Yankees to six games for a World series appearance.
My only fear is to see an opening day defense with Alex Cora and Luis Castillo moving in slow motion for a ball hit up the middle. Oh no, that thought is in real time.
Ruben Tejada is a very acceptable one month replacement.
Here’s what I have seen so far that has me greatly encouraged.
David Wright has three spring home runs and he is looking very comfortable at the plate and not lunging after fastballs that he couldn’t catch up to last year.
I like that Mike Pelfrey got banged around against Boston in the first inning and then bounced right back and threw three almost unhittable innings striking out batters in the process.
I liked that Ollie Perez is in the best shape of his life and is also throwing strikes. Four hitless innings yesterday wasn’t all that shabby either.
I like the fact that Nelson Figueroa doesn’t look 35 and would be my choice as the fifth starter ahead of both Jon Niese and Fernando Nieve who are both also quite capable of pitching in the five spot.
I like the energy and emotion that Jeff Francoeur is bringing to this club and for those of you who think his totals for the Mets last year were an aberration, you are all in for a big surprise.
I like that Fernando Martinez and Ike Davis are tearing the cover off the ball and with 400 AB’s in AAA these two guys may still contribute to the big club before the end of the season.
I like the professionalism that Jason Bay has brought to the team. For those of you who don’t believe he is a 25/100 guy, you are dreadfully wrong.
I like the way that Daniel Murphy gets better everyday both in the field and in the box. I watched every inning of every game last year and this guy doesn’t know the meaning of quit. There will be a lot less pressure on him this year and I expect a very solid if not outstanding performance from him. No he isn’t Keith Hernandez of John Olerud, but he’s only 24 and he will wind up to be a very productive player in 2010.
I like the fact that those who see our farm system as weak and without depth need to look no further than 20 year old pitching sensation Jenrry Mejia who is already drawing comparisons to Dwight Gooden and Mariano Rivera.
I like the catching situation with two extremely capable veterans in Barajas and Blanco being there to mentor future catcher Josh Thole who has Major League written all over himself.
What I like the best is that this years New York Mets will be underestimated by every team they play this year and like Tampa Bay of 2008 this Mets team is going to surprise a lot of people, especially it’s fans and those who cover this team in the media.
Most of you reading this are probably thinking this guy’s nuts and the Mets will be closer to last place then to first by seasons end and that’s your right to believe and think that way. I just want to go on record early enough to pick the team for a definite run for the playoffs in 2010. Playoffs? Did he really say playoffs?
Yes I did and living here in Vegas I get the opportunity to put my money where my mouth is. Right now the Mets over and under for the season is 81 wins. Are you kidding me? They will have 81 wins by September 10th. You heard it here first and blast me if you will but mark this one down and take it to the bank.
Let’s Go Mets!
About the Author: Former Writers
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If 2007/08 is any indication, we could have 81 wins on September 10, and still finish the season with 81 wins.
That’s my main hesitation for optimism. Even if we get everyone 100% healthy (which honestly, is a stretch), we’re still left with mostly the same cast of characters who blew it in 2007 and 2008.
I think we’ll have more than 81 wins, but I don’t think we will be serious playoff contenders. I’d say 85 wins is our ceiling.
I see us more like being 5-8 games out of the wild card all year. Just close enough to imagine we could go on a tear and catch up, but that’s about it.
Unless we make the playoffs, I think Omar, Jerry, Beltran, Ollie, and Castillo will be gone after this year.
If 1969 is any indication, this team is capable of doing everything the “experts” and “faithful” don’t believe they can.
1969 we had three guys named Seaver, Koosman and Gentry, with Nolan Ryan coming out of the pen, those guys were fierce competitors. They were surrounded by a team of pros, gamers, grinders, who made up a very good and balanced line-up and they played marvelous defense, and NEVER gave games away. They were also WORLD CHAMPIONS. And you dare compare our current collection of misfits and losers to them? Shame shame, know your name, WAYNE.
Again, I said no such thing, learn how to read……….I compared NO player, and going IN to the 1969 team the players namers were NOT World Champions…………
Shame Shame learn the game
It’s really a double edge sword. I’d like to see the Mets make the playoffs this year and if they don’t no one will be happier to see Omar and Jerry on the unemployment line. There are so many managers and GM’s out there that would be a vast improvement over these two guys it’s frightening.
Mex, no other way to say it; but if u were paying attention in both ’07 & ’08 u would realize that all 3 of our biggest causes for collapse are long since gone. namely Heilmanm & the two 4 letter words(Sosa & Mota)
I agree with 95% of Vegas’ prognostications; and while I certainly understand his emotional affinity for Figgy’s tenacity, I mut disagree with his optimistic execations for this posterchild rep of AAAA BALL.
If not Niese or Nieve, I’d prefer Takahashi get a tumble before Figgy. Taka certainly didn’t come with the fanfare of a Dice-K; but his pedigree as a former Japanese firstrounder & his maintaining a hold on the #2 ROTATION SLOT FOR A PERENNIALLY CONTENDING TEAM certainly poertends better results than provided by lesser Japanese League credentialed Kawakami in ATL. Besides HE’S ANOTHER SOUTHPAW STARTER to throw @ Phils & he’s UNKNOWN.
Wow, Rich what is in the water out there in Vegas? are you high on HGH or something? the Mets have absolutely lousy pitching, their rotation is a nightmare, their lineup is completely unbalanced, their defense is is as weak or weaker than it was last year and the bullpen has no decent set-up guys. I don’t care if you’ve been a Met fan since 1862, you are completely delusional. They aren’t going to any playoffs this year with this bunch of losers Omar has put together.
Stop letting people pee in your fruity pebbles.
I’m not surprised you and others will react this way to this posting. With that said I will have the last laugh. If Mets history has taught me anything, i am one who truly believes. I did in 69,73,86,88,99,2000,06 and now. We will see.
I’m guessing that’s a tributary Pete to Flushing persona non grata, Rose
If so, what is a 38 yr old lfer(Ibanez) who trickled to the end last yr giving u this yr?
Can I point to one advantage 20-30 yr old pitcher’s with 95+abilities have over 39-48 yr olds trying to finesse have? They can & should improve. To expect older pitchers to improve yr to yr is more foolhardy than expecting improvement from pitchers in their 20s with past mechanical/mental issues. the latter can be expected to be better because for the very first full ST they are all healthy & under a new coach(Warthen) with new, experienced backstops to help them through the minefields. Is it more logical to anticipate better performances from both Moyer(48) & Contreras(39+?) or Pelfrey(27), Maine(29), Perez(29)
There are certainly unknowns on every team in the NL East div. it’s pretty balanced in that regard. Baseball prospectus is supposedly predicting 87 victories seals up the division. I personally think it’ll take 90+; but I also believe NY will be in first placxe by the break & the remainder of the year will be a 2 team dogfight up & down the turnpike. I’ve always believed questions regarding younger talented players fulfilling their expectations are better than queastions about older players’ performances. The simple fact that NY is the only one out of ATL, NY, PHL without a critical player older than 35 will be enough of a difference maker. Most stats about the contributions received fronm players returning from injury include a high volume of players well within their 30s. The often overlooked stat about the ’09 Mets is how few of them were older than 35(1, Delgado) the rest are hopfully blessed with the resilience of youth, that and the lack of major surgeries(Rotators,TJ) bodes well for competitive returns.
way to go!!!! I love this article and feel the same way. I like what I see in this Mets team and the future of it. ie: Ike Davis, Thole, Martinez, Jenrry Mejia. If these 4 make it to the Big’s next year, not only will we have a wealth of young talent but think of the savings in payroll the Met’s could have to put back in the team and the farm system knowing they would have these 4 wrapped up on low pay. Boy talk about a run off sentence, sorry I got excited. They already shaved off 20 plus million. I believe they are getting much smarter with there choices and will continue to due so. I look forward to a much grittier and savy team this year.
Now this is an intelligent, loyal Mets fan. I salute you.
If Reyes and Beltran come back as scheduled we have a chance. If not we have no chance.
I disagree with you on Tejada. He is more likely to be an unacceptable one month replacement at SS. Still we can survive one month.
I do think many other things will fall into place including the starting pitching.
It’s the pitchers who I believe will surprise the most. I believe that Maine, Pelfrey and Perez can and will win 15+ games each.
Another poor deluded soul.
I’m sure there is another blog you can spread your venom in, if some of the faithful want to believe, save your arrogance for somewhere else.
Danny, isn’t that equally true elsewhere in our div. if Chipper, Hudson, Saito, Wagner go down where does that leave Atl? if Hamels & Lidge don’t rebound along qwith Moyer, Ibanez & Contreras is Phiily not in a stupored funk?
Looks like we shoulds all fold our tents & salute the Fish (LMAO!!!)
Finally a good post!!!!
Even though of course nelson figueroa’s name came up.. again!!!!
I wonder if nelson figueroa sponsor this website?? The never ending love for this guy is mind boggling!!
Why? Figgy’s been nothing but solid towards the end of last year and this spring. No one’s saying he’s going to replace Johan, but for the 5th spot, you certainly could do worse. Of course, Niese is younger and more exciting, but why not let him start off in the minors to ensure that he’s fully healed up and well seasoned. If he performs well, then bring him up. If not, Figgy can hold down the fort.
He really can pitch. It’s as simple as that. he rarely gets rattled and if he ever gets a decent defense behind him he could be scary.
vEGAS, RARELY GETS RATTLED? HAVE U TOLD THE gNATS ABOUT THAT?
yeah idk why but i dont get too gitty with excitement about nelson figueroa either, wether hes the fifth starter or a replacement starter..he just doesnt catch my attention. but anywho, he might make the roster and theres a good chance he’ll be the fifth starter.
If Figgy were no the efending champs Phillies and Yankees, there’s no doubt he becomes their fifth starter.
A very good post, followed by a dumb answer. Figgy we’re talking 5th starter NOT your ace, learn the difference.
Alex
How could Figueroa’s name not come up. 9 IP, 0 Runs this spring. You have to face the fact that the last two years he has upped his game and is pitching the best baseball of his career.
And please, do not respond back on this.
I will respond because you are absolutely right.
Gotta believe! Let’s Go Mets!
Duly bookmarked for review at the end of the season. I think you’re dead wrong and if I had any money to spend I’d bet the under.
I’ll also bookmark your comments simply because when the Mets do come through, Im sure you’ll be hiding in the woodwork.lol
Absolutely not! Ok fine, maybe I’m a little too pessimistic, but I do think I’m being as realistic as possible about this team. Our rotation 2-5 averages less than 9 wins a season. Thats really not enough to realistically compete for a playoff spot. If the offense were totally up to speed, then maybe I’d be ok, but we have two top stars gone for an indeterminate amount of time. I can live with both the dreadful rotation AND the anemic offense if I was at least confident in the FO and coaching staff to handle their youngsters. But instead, we’ve seen them deal away and/or mismanage talent in the past and it looks like they may bring up some of the younger guys earlier than they should. There is very little to be optimistic about.
Rays of hope: Santana had a great 4 innings, as did Ollie yesterday. Its only ST, but if it continues, and our young guys are given time to properly develop, and our FO is aggressive next offseason in pursuing top FAs, I think we have a good shot to be better in the future.
Well you think your being realistic.
I think it is realistic to think that the Mets will compeat for the wild card and give the Phillies a run for their money. And I also think that the Mets(in my opionion) are the favorties to win to wild card. Reyes and Beltran will both be back by mid April so I’m not worried about that.
Once Beltran and Reyes get back the Mets will score ALOT of runs. Bay is a good bet for another 30-100. Wright seems like he has got his power back and is in gr8 shape. Beltran is an allstar and Reyes is a top player. Once Francouer got out of Atlanta he went back to his old self he batted 3.11 with the Mets. At one time Francouer was considered to be one of the best young players in the game. He will be a very good hitter for us this year. Every1 seems to think Castillo is not good but he batted 3.00 last year! This year Castillo will continue to get on base. Murphy played pretty good in the 2nd half last season. He batted 2.82 in the 2nd half. He won’t hit for much power but this guy will hit for a high average. The Mets lineup is no joke it will be on of the best lineups in the NL.
I also think the bullpen is solid. K-rod is a very good closer. Calero had a ERA under 2. Igarashi has gr8 stuff and Felicano is death to left handed batters. The Mets bullpen will be very good.
I think we can all agree that the Pitching staff is the weak point of this team. But that being said we have do have the best pitcher in baseball. Maine is healthy this year and Perez is in gr8 shape. Pelfrey is young and is talented could this be the year he pitches to his potential? He was the #9 pick of the 05 draft. I think he could be a good middle of the rotation starter for the Mets. The rotation isn’t the best out there but it isn’t worst. It will be average.
The Mets will be a good team this year. and not to mention that this team has something to porve? Every1 is saying that they will bad. Don’t you think that would be good motivation?
I can’t wait for the season to start and I can’t for the Mets to prove every1 worng. Lets Go Mets!!!
The irony both camps of Met fans have a basis for their views. While i side with the more sanguine view, the are definite areas to be worried about. But IF Beltran, Reyes, and Wright are healthy and rebound AND IF 2 of the 3 guys behind Santana can be healthy and rebound AND IF the bullpen improves with the likes of Takahashi, Nieve, Figueroa, Calero, Igarashi, Feliciano, capable of handing the ball to K-Rod, then we’ll be in serious contention all year long.
Even with the Beltran and Reyes setbacks, so far we look pretty good: Wright, Francouer look solid; Bay will be a source of power and productive; Murphy hit 27 2-baggers in 266 AB’s in the 2nd half of a trying 2009 for him–he’ll be fine. We have F-Mart, Ike, Mejia, Tejada priming in AAA.
We are a lot deeper than last year. IF the team above reassembles, i don’t see why we can’t vie game/game with the Phillies. Go ahead, reap scorn on me, but that’s what i think. i bet we surprise positively, this year. Big time.
See, my problem is that there are just too many “IFs” for a team with this kind of payroll and talent. No other top team has these kinds of issues. Yanks, Phils, Sox, Angels, Cards, and even the Rockies can expect to easily contend for the post-season if their players play to their individual averages. Their fans know what they’re getting and don’t have to hope for a host of long-shot things to go their way just to have a shot at the playoffs.
Of course, things could be worse. Here is the only thing to have a greater disappointment per level of investment than the Mets: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/hadron-collider-to-be-closed-amid-fears-of-a-very-big-bang-1919450.html
Oh i agree about the ‘IFs’…it’s outrageous we have to live with them with the Mets, no doubt. Actually, i think the starting rotation is the biggest ‘IF’ and it’s the most critical area that has to produce OR we will not contend.
Here’s hoping…
Shamik, where are the “IFs” you are talking about?
Once Beltran and Reyes get back(mid April) the Mets WILL have one of the best lineups in the NL
With K-rod,Calero,Felicano and Igarashi the Mets bullpen WILL be soild.
The Mets rotation WILL be average. Maine is healthy Perez is in Gr8 shape. Pelfrey won’t be as bad as last year but he won’t be as good as in 08. somewhere in between.
The Mets WILL be a good team.
Move over Philly this is OUR year! Lets Go Mets!!
An average rotation isnt getting it done. An average baseball team doesnt make the playoffs. And the big IF with Beltran and Reyes is that we don’t know if Beltran’s knee is going to hold up and if Reyes will be be able to hit the ground running or will he initially struggle. If they both start slow, then coupled with that rotation, the team might be too far out of contention for it to even matter.
Shamik, c’mon really? I didn’t say the team would be average. I said the rotation was average. You can win with an average rotation. Look at the Phillies when the won in 08. Even this year the Phillies still have an average rotation.
Yes by April the Mets could fall out of contention. There is only 162 games in a season so the Mets can’t possibly come back if they start out slow lol.
Why do you always look any reason to bash the Mets? It seems like no matter what happens it’s always a negative. I’m probably wrong but I never saw you once say anything postive about the Mets. It’s always doom and gloom with you. I will be laughing when the Mets prove you worng this year.
Lets Go Mets !!!!
Did ANYONE really thing the 2000 team was anything but average going into that season?
OK, Vinny, Let’s say I agree with your pitching assumptions. Are the Phillies that much better in that regard? do they really have fewer questions? Hamels is so inconsistant(sub .500 last yr on a div champ!) he belongs amongst Pelfrey,Perez,Maine as a fourth enigma.Last yr it was generally acknowledge the Philies achilles heal was their pen; but they lost Eyre,Park & Myers from that contingent & only replaced them with Baez & Contreras. They’re also slotting the ancient(48) Mariner, Moyer in #5 coming off knee surgery ala Perez. While Atlanta certainly was the cream of the rotational crop in ’09, They’ve replaced their reliable #2 Vazquez with injury returnee Hudson giving them the oldest div. rotation now with 3 starters older thasn 35 in Hudson, Lowe, Kawakami. Jurgens & Hanson round it out with youthful excellence; but their replacment of prime aged fireballers in the back of pen(Soriano & Gonzalez) with 40ish injury returnees (Saito & Wagner) doesn’t portend well
62, I think the Mets rotation will be the same as the Phillies. The only difference I see is that the Mets rotation has more upside.
The Braves have the best rotation in the NL east no question but as you said they are getting up there in age.
“Pessimistic”, HAH, you are the “Debby Downer” of Metsmerized Online buddy.
How one can read this post and not feel good inside and want to contribute positive comments is beyond me. Does it make you feel good to put money on your team failing. Would you feel good for making a met against your “beloved” Mets. How much money would be worth it to see your favorite team fail.
Honestly ask yourself, “Why are you a Mets fan” if you will only support them when they are winning. The Best part about being a Mets fan is that you never know which season might be “the one”. We thought it was 2006, it might be 2010, or 2011, etc., but when it comes, it will truly be Amazing. Thats what makes it special, spending $200 Mil like the Yankees and expecting to win the world series every year takes all the fun and suspense out of baseball. Who wants to be the pompous a-holes of the league; I am ecstatic to be the no-shot-in-hell underdogs, just like my G-men were 3 years ago against those ass-hat patriots who were pro-claimed the winners a week before the game even was played.
It’s time for the Mets to slap the looks off of all the doubters face’s again; 1969 style!
Scott, can I adopt u? Living in NC, my blue & orange cap often creates mistakes from poorly informed folks to mistake it for NYY, whem I feel a need to explain to them what I believe the biggest difference is bet Met fans & Yankke fans. IMAGINATION! Yankee fans don’t need one; but Met’s fans thrive with one!
Gee pardon me for being cautious after being burned by this team 4 years in a row! You don’t have to question me about my loyalties. I grew up in Flushing and woke up every morning to see Shea right outside my bedroom window. I was at the first exhibition game against the Sox at Citi. I know where my loyalties lie and I ride the same emotional roller coaster with this team that everyone does. I also happen to be too young to remember the 86 championship, so the only thing that I have to show for my loyalty is 24 years of a barren wasteland. In fact, I’ve yet to have a single team I root for win a championship. Between the Mets, Jets, and Knicks I have 72 combined seasons with only 2 championship game APPEARANCES. The closest I have come to seeing getting a title was seeing the Pats lose their perfect season. So yeah, I may be a bit of a disgruntled fan, but I have my reasons. I’ll watch just as many games and root just as hard as anyone though
SHAM, i WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION U WERE IN YOUR 20s, as such u should certainly recall ’99,’00,’06. As to uour non-baseball tastes, I certainly feel your pain, remember, as an original in blue/orange I had to endure 8 yrs of basement Bertha’s company & unwanted advances(lol)
Here’s a little something u may recall that may put a smile on yr face, in 2003 when the Fish defeated the vaunted NYY a payroll comparison may have shown that the Yankee Player payroll exceeded the entire Fish payroll of players & non-players(exec,secty,vendors,security) and at some games the combined annual incomes of ALL in attendance; yet the Fish still managed to remove their trailer from the trailer park, drive it all the way uptown, ride the elevator through the playoffs up to the penthouse & managed to steal the presumed Yankees’ “jewelry”.
So in baseball, every April brings a new beginning laced with eternal hope for all fans & we certainly have more cause for hope than at least half of the participants.
My main point which a lot of fans have seemed to miss is that this is still only Spring Training and although it can help mold the coming season,it’s still a place to get ready. I believe the team is doing just that. My only concern will be once the season starts will Jerry continue his habit of over managing.
Great post I want to see more of these in the future!
Listen, i agree with the ‘glass half full’ camp, but our ‘IFs’ in the rotation cannot be denied AND we, today, cannot point to solid evidence all will be well…that the SUN will shine over CitiField when the ??? ‘pitch’. Perez was awesome yesterday; are we confident that he now has it ‘together’? Maine imploded today in 2/3s of an inning…5 runs! Pelfrey mystifies me more than Ollie, since ‘he’ has got great stuff…what the hell?!
i say IF 2 of the 3 ?, have good years, Johan is Johan, and the bullpen comes through, then, yeah we’ll be in the hunt all year…
Bob, will u please take each of the opposing rotations in our division & splice them the same way? I believe that may equal out your negativity. No we don’t feature a NYY or BOSOX level rotation. BTW no one in our div does either as u’ll see by my requested exercise!
According to MLB.com’s depth charts, here they are:
ATL:
JURRJENS
LOWE
HANSON
HUDSON
KAWAKAMI
PHL:
HALADAY
HAMELS
BLANTON
HAPP
MOYER
FISH:
JOHNSON
NOLASCO
SANCHEZ
WEST
VOLSTED
GNATS:
MARQUIS
LANNAN
OLSEN
MARTIN
MOCK
Please be fair & make sure u use the same skeptical eyewear. I believe this will help u see the LIGHT!
62, here is how I would rank the rotations as of now.
1 Braves
2 Tie between the Mets and Phillies
3 Marlins
4 Nats
I think putting the Braves at #1 rotation is a stretch considering Hudson’s injury history; Hansen and Kawikami are unproven for 30 starts in the Majors.
1) Phillies
2) Marlins
3) Tied Mets and Braves
5) Nats
NOT TO MENTION THEIR AGES:
LOWE-37
HUDSON-35
KAWAKAMI-35
BACKED BY OLDEST BACKEND OF PEN I KNOW OF IN SAITO(40) & WAGNER(39) BOTH RETURNING FROM MAJOR SUGERIES & YET TO PITCH IN SUCCESSIVE GAMES. 1G PER SERIES? WHAT A JOKE? ARE THEY REALLY AN UPGRADE OVER SORIANO & GONZALEZ?
LET’S NOT FORGET ATL’S BIGGEST BOPPER IS 38 YR OLD, BAD WHEEL,BAD BACK CHIPPER. WHILE NEEDING TO ADD OFFENSE ATL LOST KELLY JOHNSON & LaROCHE WHILE ONLY GETTING MELKY FOR VAZQUEZ.
Vinny, have u learned nothing from the Phillips’ yrs? On paper is not where the games are played. one fact most ignore; but is certainly pertinent about pitchers & their ages, is that pitchers over 33/34 rarely if ever put up career yrs while pitchers in their 20s more often heed the call to excellence. youth is maliable & improvable. age is brittle & tends to start well, ending mediocre at best over 162g or 30-33 GS. I certainly could be more impressed with Atlanta’s rotation & even choose to ignore their ages if they weren’t even older in the backend of bullpen Saito(40)&Wagner(39) or weren’t so reliant on a 38 yr old Chipper with a chronically bum wheel
62, I don’t think the Braves are good at all. Their offense is weak and their bullpen is bad. I will even take it a step further the Brave’s offense as of now is the weakest is NL east and The bullpen is a joke. But I do think as of now their STARTING pitching is the best in the NL east. Mainly because of Jurrjens and Hanson. Becuase I say their STARTING rotation is better doesn’t I think the bullpen is better. The Mets bullpen is miles ahead of the Braves.
If you asked me who has the best pitching(counting the bullpen and starters)I would say it’s the Mets.
1 Mets
2 Phillies
3 Braves
4 Marlins
5 Nats
That is counting the the starting rotations and bullpens.
Vinnie, as SNY’S version of SHREK & DONKEY(LOUDMOUTHS) would say, We’re sharing a brain”
Vinnie, I’d like your take on my biggest fear of these tryout/auditions
I fear that Takashi will not get a fair shot at the #5 spot & Nisse will be shoehorned in as it’s “his time”
@ 35 Takashi’s no ‘kid’ and I believe his 9 yrs experience as a #2 SP for a perennial contender in Nippon League will make him a stability answer along with Johan instead of another question to join Pelf,Perez,Maine.
I’m disappointed Taka hasn’t been given an opportunity at pitching to start a game before vets are removed so he can be judged against the best like Niese & Nieve. Though he hasn’t arrived with the fanfare of a Dice-K, his Japanese credentrials are superior to those brought by Atlanta’s Kawakami(effective #5 for ATL) What’s your thoughts?
62, It’s still too early to tell who wins the 5th spot in the rotation. As of right now I don’t think Niese is a lock for the rotation. Don’t worry about Takahasi not getting a fair shot, if he keeps pitching like this he will have a very good chance to win the job.
[...] at Metsmerized, Vegas Rich tells his fellow Mets fans that it’s way too early to panic: “Just because two of our top five players will not be in the starting lineup on opening [...]
Great post! It’s refreshing to come here and see the occasional optimism rather than all the constant whining I see elsewhere. I know that things aren’t as great as we’d like them to be, but we’ve been through a long off season and baseball is finally back and we should all be happy to see our team getting ready to start another season. I happen to believe that we are not as bad off as the newspapers and talk radio would have you believe. As fans we have one thing those guys dont have and that’s faith! Ya gotta believe!
I always knew women make better and more loyal fans. Nice job Maria, I’d have you on my team anytime.
bravo VR. yeah, you did forget to mention our secret weapon in Takahashi.
i was watching jonathan sanchez highlights today and was enjoying the optimism everyone has about that kid. but the funny thing was, every time i saw him throw it felt like a smaller, and believe it or not, wilder version of ollie. so here’s to oliver perez, getting mets fans forever off his case by throwing the first no hitter in our history.
but i’ll happily settle for first pitch strikes in the meantime…
LGM