30
2010
Sorry Joe D. – Too Early To Call The Mets Legit
An article by Former Writers
Joe D, I loved your article. As you say:
Sometimes, all it takes is just one guy to reinvigorate a clubhouse and get them motivated and excited and focused on the big picture which is winning baseball games.
The change in the clubhouse started when Jeff Francoeur arrived, and it’s taken longer than I expected for everyone to start coming around, but ultimately they have and that’s what is most important.
The arrival of Ike Davis was the finishing touch on what is now a rejuvenated clubhouse that once again believes in themselves and are determined to elevate their level of play.
I know that there are still many of who continue to rein in your optimism. But believe me when I tell you that this bullpen is as good as, if not better, than the one we had in 2006 when we came sooooo close to the World Series. The depth which was sorely lacking last season is suddenly very good and probably the best in the NL East. Imagine when Murphy and Beltran do return and the bench all of a sudden becomes the best in the league? Pelfrey’s improvement is not a fluke, it’s just a year late, but it’s for real. The world did not fall apart with Jason Bay and Jeff Francoeur manning the corner outfield spots as some speculated. Citi Field is no longer the albatross so many believed it to be. The Mets can win in Citi Field and DO have a homefield advantage. Everyone who wondered if Jose Reyes would be the same upon his return, have seen the evidence with their own eyes. Reyes is back.
These things I just ran off are just a few of the reasons that lead me to believe these Mets are not a fluke. These Mets are completely legit.
I’m sorry but I’m not ready to sign on to your prematurely heightened expectations for the 2010 season. Here’s why.
Starting Pitching: If Mike Pelfrey keeps going at even close to the same pace as he has in April, I will not only eat my hat but also make a large contribution to MMO. There are still so many unanswered questions about Jon Niese, John Maine, and Ollie Perez. I’ll be better able to evaluate Niese after tonight’s start against the Phillies. (Note I am writing this at 6:10 PM an hour before game time.) John (I threw 97%, 87 MPH fastballs and the Dodgers still couldn’t hit me) Maine has proven nothing. Oliver Perez has proven nothing other than he probably won’t be as bad as last year. As backups for the rotation we have Dillon (not ready for prime time) Gee, and R.A. (what’s R.A. stand for anyway) Dickey.
Relief Pitching: A great bullpen in April does not translate into a great bullpen at the all-star break. Let’s see whose arm hasn’t fallen off by mid July. In any event, relief pitchers go hot and cold. The entire relief staff happens to all be hot at the same time.
Offense: Jose Reyes has been awful. And he is doubly awful as a #3 hitter. Let’s see David Wright hit consistently with some power. And let’s see Jeff Francoeur continue being patient for another month. And Ike Davis? Is he the second coming of Jayson Heyward who is now batting .239 and with one RBI in his last 8 games.
The Mets deserve the credit for going 9-1 on this homestand. But the timing was right for their success. They played three teams; the Cubs, Braves, and Dodgers who came into Citifield playing horribly and left Citifield playing even worse. Errors and bonehead mistakes alone caused these teams to lose at least two games.
Sorry for the downer. I think I’m being realistic.
Are there reasons to be excited?? Absolutely YES!!
And remember – you’re never as good as you think when on a winning streak and you’re never as bad as you think when you’re on a losing streak.
About the Author: Former Writers
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I have to disagree with you Danny. Believe me, I was the first one to complain after only one (dismal) week into the season. But now I see and feel a difference. And I’m not saying that this team will or won’t go all the way. It’s too early to predict anything – good or bad. However, the team certainly is different than it was the past three seasons. They actually have fight in them for the first time since the winning 2006 season. Regardless of the outcome, I think this year’s team gives us a lot more to look forward to and enjoy and be proud of.
Reyes has to be moved from the 3rd spot, if he is not on base then why would pitchers throw fastballs to Bay. Hes popping up too many pitches.
Incidentally, I agree with you and Danny about moving Reyes to leadoff. He has shown he has his legs back, and psychologically I think Reyes prefers leadoff but wants to be a team player so he grins and bears it at three spot.
Joe D
You’re making me look bad tonight. 8-1 and Niese pitched beautifully. Wow! I’m happy to be wrong.
Okay Danny, that was creepy, I never saw my name in a title before, lol. I enjoyed reaing your counterpoints, but I must still stand my ground. I’m not saying the Mets are world beaters, only that they are legit and can compete with all the other teams in their division icluding the Phillies. You cant give credit too the Cubs, Dodgers and Braves for being bad, without giving the Mets credit for being good. I know it’s April, hmmm actually April is over, and the Mets have closed the book on 20% of the season and are in first place. That alone makes them legit.
I understand your point about the bullpen but it doesnt worry mr because I have just as much confidence in Calero, Dessens and Parnell in AAA, and Iggy when he comes back. We have quality depth which we didnt have before.
I think the offense is already coming around and a weekend in CBP will turn their power numbers into top 5 in the league.
I still say they are legit.
Joe D I am not sure you had a typo but 22 games is not 20% or 1/5th of the season. After 32 games they would be 20% through season.
Obviously my extra sensory perception had me peering into the future where I saw great things, and… yeah it was a typo.
You have E.S.P.N.?
Nothing is more irritating to me or do I find so arrogant as the words..
I’m being a realist……….
There is NO way you or I know how the season will end or even continue for that matter, when anyone uses these words it’s just another way of saying “my opinion is right and yours is wrong” which in itself is idiotic since there is right or wrong opinion…………
So keep using that expression, but it doesn’t mean you know anymore then the next Jack………
Danny is a tempered writer whose writing strikes a balance between baseball’s heaven and hell, places that inevitably are visited with winning and losing streaks.
So I don’t think he was being condescending or vain. In fact I look forward to his articles. But after the boorish postings of some members of our community in recent weeks that foolishly had gender and macho overtones, you’re entitled to not cut slack for anyone. I commend you for sticking to your guns. That’s because I would expect nothing less from the three women who are my daughters.
Thanks to all: Danny, Kay and Joe.
Great post Danny. Spot on. Met fans can root for their team and still be cautiously optimistic about the remaining 140 games.
If Jon Niese and Mike Pelfrey continue to pitch as well as they have behind Santana, then maybe this team has a chance. And I agree that Francouer has brought a certain swagger and optimism to this team that was lacking before (think Atl misses him yet?:) ). However, there are two things that concern me: 1-The pitching staff’s combined (exception Johan) lack of control, and 2-The amount of usage some relievers are getting. If you look at the pitching stats you’ll notice almost all the pitchers are walking WAY TOO many hitters. This is ESPECIALLY true for K-Rod, Maine, Neise, Perez, Nieve, and Feliciano. Sooner or later those walks will come back to hurt them. Secondly, if Feliciano and Nieve don’t soon get a day or two off, their arms are gonna fall off! I know Jerry’s managing for his job right now, but he needs to ease up on some of these guys a bit or they’ll have nothing in the tank in August and September. On the other hand, when you have Maine and Perez struggling to pitch even 5 innings, he (Jerry) doesn’t have much choice I suppose. Plus, the starters getting deep pitch counts (95+) by the 5th and 6th innings doesn’t leave Manuel much choice but to go to the “pen”.
This is where I have to say Dan Warthen HAS GOT TO GO!!!!! Just what exactly has he done to help the pitching staff? He’s helped them WALK MORE batters, that’s about it. I wouldn’t (and don’t) want Rick “I can fix Victor Zambrano in 10 minutes” Peterson back, but the Mets need a new pitching coach. I think firing Warthen would benefit the Mets much more than canning Manuel at this point. If they do, I have a candidate in mind, and he works for ESPN: Orel Hershiser. He’s had success as a pitching coach in the past AND has a history with the Mets. Plus, his “Bulldog” mentality couldn’t hurt either.
Great, dominating, team win tonight. This is starting to look really special and the only thing that keeps you from getting really excited is it’s early in the season.
No, it’s not too early to call the Mets legit – baseball is a marathon, not a sprint and there are a lot of good things and bad things along the way.
When I looked into the dugout last year, I saw players with long faces. So far, this year I see players acting like happy kids and that’s enough for me right now.
Legit? I suppose that’s an appropriate word for going from way back to up front in such a short time.
Will it last? Only the baseball gods know the answer to that one and we will just have to wait and see what happens along the way from here…. and I think it’s going to be a great trip for all of us.
Annie, it has already been a great trip. Even the Wilpons are breathing easier.
I think we have more balance this year and more upbeat players. (Names will be furnished upon request, but let’s just forget ‘em.)
Eight in a row means that we are at this point in the season FOR REAL!
And I am back from abroad and we still won, nay, slaughtered the Philthies!
Yes, phuck the Phillies!!!
I am a realistic Mets fan who had low expectations going into 2010 and was told for the Mets to prove me wrong. I know its only May and I know its 23 games into the season but I am very happy at the way we are playing now and just want to compete every single night. I think we are a legitimately good team because of the return of Reyes, who has not been horrible Danny K., he just needed to get his feet wet. You do not play since May 2009 and expect to be good just like that? Come on. The pitching has been good and the offense has come together. Yes, I am concerned with the bullpen later on in the year and starting staff but I am just enjoying the ride and maybe it can turn into something. I do not care what the experts say, Let’s go Mets!!
And another thing, another home-grown talent named IKE!! you win with home-grown and vets and the Mets have that, not to mention the catching staff has been awesome. I am not missing Santos or signing that slob Molina now.
Having three dependable starters will make them respectable, in the 82 win range. what really hurts them, and I hope I am wrong, is the drop off from these three to the dreadful ollie and maine. They need to upgrade at least one of those slots. The other thing that helps is the mediocrity they are competing with in the NL. The makeup of the lineup is better this year. I just think that guys like Francoeur and Bay are not wrapped up in this Philly phobia the mets have shown. Their catchers are better. Ike appears to be unflappable. I don’t know whether the kid in Buffalo (Gee) could give them anything. Two rookies in the rotation is dangerous. But they have to get someone who can go seven and be competitive on a regular basis. And Jerry and his stupid rules…. “If I take you out of a game you are out the next day”….what are you smoking, Jerry? It is not his throwing arm. Don’t be a dunce. He left with an eight run lead for precautionary reasons. If he can swing even half-assed he is needed over GM2, who is no longer a major league hitter. Jerry is just an ass. And you are right, the BP has been great. Unfortunately Jerry will wear them to the nubs with his hyperactive pitching changes and countless get-ups in the BP. Just a few things to watch out for.
There is a lot of evidence that pitchers these days don’t go seven innings. I put up a post a month ago which showed that even Santana pitches just a bit more than six. As I best remember it, on average Santana gives them one more out per game.
Danny K
You’re one of my favorite article writers in here, but lately all you do is criticize and down the mets when they’re winning, I don’t get what’s up with that, to me it seems ur bitter about something, I can’t get my hands around it but I will.. I’m one of the biggest pessimist and I’m surprise about as the next guy at how well we’re playing, enjoy the ride my friend, this year it seems different fro some reason, last year manuel would’ve left perez to finish the inning, this year as you saw he plug him out right away and we were able to win the game, and another thing, years past we as a team were criticize for NOT BEATING THE BAD TEAMS, now we are and we don’t get credit, which one is it?? And btw, is not like the phillies have been beating the 1927 yankees exactly, they beat up on houston, nats, atlanta and got shut down and almost sweep by the phillies,and jose reyes has been awful??? Go and ask bay and he’ll tell you how much he like reyes ahead of him?? It makes our lineup deeper man,have faith..and go mets bro..
Get that checkbook ready Danny. The Cards with two legitimate starters in Carpenter and Wainwright plus Pujols and Holliday when not struggling are considered an elite team so why can’t the Mets be there too?
I have believed that Niese, from his performance last year, was going to be a legit starter for us, number 2,3 or 4 who cares as long as he wins or keeps us in games. Pelf seems to have matured and I know he won’t keep his ERA under 1 but with his splitter now he is not predictable to hitters.
Maine I believe just needs to stop criticizing himself. Whether he regains his high mph on fastball, it still rises, is hard to hit and mixing in off speed will make him dependable.
Ollie, well, Ollie is any other teams 5th starter, other than the stupid contract, that you want to not let the game get out of hand but how many 5th starters have his stuff when he is on so anything we get from him is a bonus.
Mejia needs to go to AAA to stretch out his arm cause you never have enough starting pitching so what is Omar and Jerry waiting on?
This lineup, with Jose batting 1st,is good enough to compete and win.
I say put Pagan at 3rd, he drives in runs so give him a chance.
Yes, this team as you saw last night is good and so what that they beat those teams when they are down, what about when we were playing bad in 09, were our losses any less important to those that beat us?
You win when you play, regardless of other teams woes, that is the nature of a long season.
LGM!
Danny, in yur next post offering will u please explain to everyone what definition of REALISTIC you’re choosing to use?
Some counterpoints, if I may, you obviously realize it’s only MAY 1, I’m guessing that’s only because the team is performing well; had they been sucking you’d likely realisticly forget the date & proclaim your doom & gloom as BIBLICAL TRUTH!
my counterpoints sinmply are these:
Re Pelf’s performances to date, why is it impriobable that a first rounder, out of a superior collegiate baseball program who basicly skipped years of MILB development should “suddenly” fulfill his dominant promise? BTW it isn’t improbable at all rather it’s about damned time!
You do also realize that having questions remaining after only 1 month about the overall performances to be expected out of 3 “young” starters, Maine(29), Perez(29), Niese(24) should still have questions that isn’t a detraction; but a fact of baseball! How else do u suppose veteran SP become to be reliaable & dependable?
You aren’t still creamin’ for Garland, Sheets, Pineiro are you?
Relief pitching, while I won’t blow smoke to disguise the fact they are getting a ton of usage; that’s again to be expected with young starters; but what everyone’s missing is the availability of 3 plug & play relief arms in Buffalo named Calero, Dessens & Parnell all MLBers warehoused in AAA until needed. having basicly 10 effective bullpen arms with 7 available regularly is called PLANNING!
Reyes is awful? HAND IN YOUR OBJECTIVITY CARD IMMEDIATELY! Reyes has just recently accumulated a standard spring training alottment of abs as such, since doing so, he’s currently batting somewhere North of .330. If that’s awful check your dictionary one more time, it’s certainly EXPIRED!
WILL THIS TEAM CONTEND? IT’S UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME; BUT I’D CERTAINLY WANT U TO RESPOND IMMEDIATELY WITH THE NAME OF A TEAM WE SHOULD WORRY ABOUT!
DANNY, WHILE YOU’RE RESPONDING TO MY INITIAL REQUEST FOR YOUR DEFINITION OF “REALISTIC” also please include whether u believe the depth of ownership’s [pockets is a REALISTIC CONSIDERATION for you. BTW, the wilpons are well off as compared to filthy rich ownership across town or in Minn. Considering the depth of their apparent resources, the Wilpons, have allowed Omar to create a team we can certainly be proud of regardless of how the season ends. Take a look around the division, both the PHLS & BRVS dealt away their respectively apparent #2SP for financial savings. Atl dealt Vazquez, PHL dispatched Lee. While our ownership certainly cut back overall payroll, they still proceeded to acquire a much needed LF power bat at great expense. the ONLY one of the 3 to make such a large acquisition to fix an existing flaw.
Danny, in my dictionary “WEBSTER’S II NewRiverside University Dictionary” (1984) REALISTIC adj. 1. tending to or expressing an awareness of things as they really are 2. accurately representing what is depicted or described
Danny, I don’t see any mention of context or future consideration anywhere. Rather Realistic pertains to TODAY, NOT TOMORROW. i.e. REALISTICLY WE A R E A CONTENDER!
Seriously, Danny choosing to see things as u believe them to be is NOT realistic by any means. What does your pessinistric approach gain for you. are u happier because of it? Are u so desperate to look inightful & knowlegable. Would u look foolish being optimistic against the odds? maybe; but who cares? Trust me, YOU GOTTA BELIEVE! is all about OPTIMISM & certainly not your brand of REALITY!
trust me, believe it WILL happen in case it does u can enjoy the euphoria for years after, even as an oldtimer on a porchswing. bitterness never lasts more than momentarily & satisfaction at predicting doom, not at all! Why do u think DEPRESSION IS A DISEASE & OPTIMISM ISN’T?
I am going to apologize for misuse of the word “realistic”. I was trying to counterbalance Joe’s optimism with some more conservative assessments.
I root for the Mets with all my heart each and every game.
Alex, I’m not bitter at all. I’m excited like all Mets fans.
Danny, apology certainly unnecessary; but certainly accepted. To me; however, my concept of a trueblue/orange sportsfan is incongruous with a need for conservatism. If I’m going balls to the wall rooting, I’m not concerned about wearing a cup; but that’s just me. I’m often confused by this need for negativity. so what if I want to see my players/team as the best, as long as I wager with my head & not my heart it’s no foul, case in point, as I’m typing this Pelf’s just surrendered 5R to Phl. Am I happy, obviously not; am I slitting my wrists, not hardly. am I less positive about my team’s PROSPECTS THIS SEASON, Why should I be they’re still in First place on May 1 & will remain there through May 2.! I guess after enduring this rollercoaster for 48yrs. one game, even a game 7 loss isn’t altering my optimism, one ioata. My secret? I haven’t lived within WFAN’s reception geography for most of the past 30 yrs or so. BTW U know what? we’re still in line to take 2 of 3 in PHL, u, me & everyone else reading this would’ve signed up for that last week. No?