24
2011
3 Up and 3 Down: 10 More Days Mets Fans!
An article by Gregg Hopps
Before we get to another Spring Training edition of “3 Up and 3 Down”, I’d like to thank Joe D. for welcoming me back to the MMO family. It’s great to back.
Three Up
1. Ike & Josh - One year ago, neither Ike Davis or Josh Thole were projected to be part of the team. This year they are going to be integral parts of the team. Ike Davis joined the Mets early last season, and stole our hearts with his gutsy defensive play and Ruthian style home runs. We all remember Ike falling into the Mets dugout to catch late inning foul balls, but his home run into the Shea Bridge is what I remember most. Josh Thole proved himself to be a wonderful defensive catcher, and he was able to handle the pitching staff. Thole’s offensive numbers were not that great last year, but he’s having a great spring. I expect great things from both these guys.
2. The New Attitude - Omar Minaya and Jerry Manuel are gone. The well respected Sandy Alderson and Terry Collins are here. I love the energy and positive attitude Collins brings to the Mets. Sandy Alderson has made a statement by releasing both Luis Castillo & Oliver Perez this spring. The days of the “no mas” Mets are over. Expect to see a high energy, fundamentally sound team this year, that will run out every hit.
3. Mookie is Back - Mookie Wilson is back with the big club. Wilson is one of the most beloved players in the history of the Mets. A key piece to the 1986 championship team, Mookie’s positive attitude and enthusiasm will be a welcomed sight around the Mets this season and he will be donning his uniform No. 1. We approve!
Three Down
1. The Circus At 2B – Opening night is only ten days away and we still have no idea who the starting second baseman will be. The competition is now down to Daniel Murphy, Brad Emaus, and Luis Hernandez. My best guess is that Emaus will be the starting second baseman, and Murphy will make the team as a “super utility” player. Murphy’s bat is too good to waste, and if there’s one positive about Murphy, he can cover 1B, 2B and 3B.
2. Met Bashing – If you’re reading this, you know better than anyone else, the Mets have not been too good the last few years. We get that. What bothers me is people who can’t tell David Wright from Orville Wright bashing the Mets. Sure the Mets are down right now, but if you can’t be positive in the spring, when can you be?
3. Pelf’s Spring - I have to say I’m concerned about Opening Night starter Mike Pelfrey’s spring. Big Mike is 0-2, with a 6.38 ERA. I know, I know, they’re spring numbers. But you would like to see a decent start by our ace at some point.Throughout his career Pelfrey has proven to be very inconsistent. Let’s hope on April 1st Pelf pitches a gem!
About the Author: Gregg Hopps
Gregg lives on Long Island, and has been a Mets fan since Bud Harrelson and Pete Rose slugged it out in the 1973 playoffs. "Keith Hernandez is the best defensive first baseman to ever have played baseball."
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Not to rain on your positive outlook, but didnt we also say Phillips and Minaya had positive attitudes too when they were hired? Doesnt any new manager or GM anywhere have a positive attitude? Lets stop it with the gloating over this front office until they actually win more games than Omar did in his first two seasons as a Met. The same people who say it’s too early to complain should also know it’s too early to rave.
There is nothing wrong with new front office having a positive attitude or fans either for that matter. You are never satisfied it seems.
The goal should not be to win more games than Omar did in his first two years. It should be to build a team capable of winning a World Series every single year. Year after year. That was the problem with Omar’s teams. They could have done it but with so much age at almost every position that he had to address, as well as the age of the inherited rotation and the age he added to it, how could it last?
It started losing important parts in August of 2006, lost a couple more in October. Then couldn’t last the season in 2007 or 2008. Imploded in 2009 and then flatlined in 2010.
Now we have to start all over again for the umpteenth time under the Wilpon.
I am sick of having to start all over again every five years and watching listless, stupid, uninspiring baseball in between the occasional bright spot.
That’s a gloat? I’m only saying it’s great to have a manager and GM here who are actually going to hold people accountable for their actions. For way too many years there has been a total lack of accountability, and even enthusiasm around this club. Omar was missing n action every summer he was here, and Jerry could only laugh and smile so much.
I’m not worried one bit about Mike Pelfrey as I think it takes him more than a month for him to get his sinker to sink. He had an even worse spring last year and started the season 8-1 I believe. My only criticism of this offseason has been the second base situation you mentioned. I think it will be a shuffling of the same 4-5 players all season long with niether player taking the job outright, In the process I think we will get little offense and bad defense along the way.
Pelf had a great start last season, no doubt. Heck, we were all wondering why he didn’t make the AllStar team. That said, the wheels fell off for the second half of the season. My biggest problem with Pelf is he’s incredibly inconsistent.
Wheels fell off for July. They were back on after.
NEWSFLASH! Mike Pelfrey has always been unable to pitch effectively prior to 4/1 see:
SPRING TRAINING STATS — LAST THREE SEASONS
TEAM W L ERA G GS CG SHO SV SVO IP H R ER HR HB BB SO AVG WHIP GO/AO
2009 NYM 1 2 7.77 6 6 0 0 0 0 22.0 32 19 19 3 0 6 10 .340 1.73 1.20
2010 NYM 0 4 6.15 6 6 0 0 0 0 26.1 37 21 18 8 0 2 16 .327 1.48 1.46
2011 NYM 0 2 6.38 5 5 0 0 0 0 18.1 28 18 13 1 0 2 5 .341 1.64 1.48
’10 was his worst, yet he began 10-0! he needs that sdrenelin practice doesn’t supply. call it missing that competitiveness if u want. We ALL went through this last season. Do u forget every hack demanding to know what’s wrong? Are u injured? All to Peld’s simplistic retorts, Ifeel great! I’m very satisfied. I’m getting my work in. Let’s just agree to believe he’s the anti-Heilman, Aaron who Spring after Spring overpowered everyone as a SP candidate, just to return to Mr. Potatoehead come 4/1.
Anyone notice Castillo played in his first game for PHL btw, they nearly lost Oswalt forever; but for an inch to the right. Similar type of occurance tht began in ’07 in Flushing. Wonder if Luis’ middle initial ids J.? Jonah, or Sp equivilant. As such, he may be the GREAT EQUALIZER. did we not possess a comfortable margin of a standings lead when he was acquired in ’07? I believe that was the last time we had any such lead that late in any season since; I PRAY THE OMEN WENT WITH HIM IN HIS BACKPOCKET.(All typed with tongue firmly cemented in my cheek; however, I thought it worthy of a chuckle) Certainly Mota & Sosa contributed directly & Jonah was merely a passenger
Pelf’s been trying to perfect his 2 seam sinker for the last 2 seasons. Of course his ST numbers will take a dip.
ST is for trying out stuff you worked on in the off season. ’62 is completely correct about that. Hopefully Mike has found something (a change up? his split?) to keep LH hitters from driving his pitches.
That’s why the opening day assignment was given to him before ST even started. Because the results of ST don’t matter for 90% of the people on the field.
Let him build up, get comfortable with things, go out and dominate starting in April.
T, tha nks for the support; however, yesterday I heard a report on SNY tht made me more optimistic about the Big Fella this season, The report indicated that Dickey has decided to “mentor” his younger, insecure, selfdepreciating, overly self critical stablemate. Considering RA’s demeanor & cerebral approach to life, maintaing a rabid competiotive spirit, I could not imagine a more perfect inhouse counselor for Pelf, esp since his shrink passed away.
That’s really a positive development ’62. The Mets have had far too few good teammates through the years. Floyd and Beltran are about all I can think of off hand. Perhaps Pedro but his run was way too short. I think Dickey can help stabalize that rotation in more than just one way.
By the way ’62, who was the shrink?
T, Harvey Dorfman
http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-03-01/sports/28656554_1_ryota-igarashi-mike-pelfrey-josh-thole
u threw me a curve with that question, little like my wife who’ll ask me a dozen questions re. a player’s personal life, like kids, #, sex, or some other detail I never thought particularly pertinent.
Does anybody realize Pelf’s still ONLY 27 & he only needs to surpass 11-9 record to more than equal Santana, not win 18+ games. Hell just 1W more than last yr Pelf will equal Santana’;ds greatest single season Met contribution, we’re NOT missing Seaver, here! Don’t look now but a rotation is made up of 5 pitchers, eaxh one constituting 20% of the projected GS vast improvement to 40%(#4+#5) should overshadow a dip in 20%(#1). More poroduction from 1B,2B,SS,LF,#4,#5!
This is likely the strongest #4,#5 in our rotation in 10 yrs. 2 former $2s
Thanks ’62. I don’t recall ever hearing of Dorfman and his association with Pelfrey. I recently read an article about Halliday where it mentioned something about seeing someone off the field but had no idea the guy was working with Pelfrey too. Interesting. Hopefully Pelf is ready to fly on his own.
One thing about Santana is that he has had really lousy run support and you have to admit that the defense behind him has been very suspect at times. In fact how many players good (or decent) players on BOTH sides of the ball has he had behind him?
Schneider/Santos/Barajas/Blanco/Thole (none), Delgado/Murphy/Davis (one), Castillo/Hernandez/Martinez/Valdez/Arias/Tejada (none), Reyes/Cora/Valdez (one), Wright (one), Alou/Murphy/Sheffield/Sullivan/Chavez/Fern/Bay (one), Beltran/Pagan/GMJ (two), Church/Francouer/Feliciano (none)
Not Seaver for sure, not Kooseman, either, maybe Matlack, but an older Matlack. Santana’s K’s were trending down for a couple of years with Minn, his walks were going up too. Injuries prevent continuity and while he wasn’t old when we got him he has not been dominant and even when he has been the bull pen has blown many saves, the defense has cost him wins and the offense has let him down numerous times.
Your right though that he hasn’t been an ace here but he’s still pitched better than the results on his W-L record would indicate. Not at the 137 M check level either, more like a real good #2 for us so far.
Thanks for the link ’62. I appreciate it and the time it took you to find it for me. Never heard of Dorfman before. Thanks.
I just can’t be too concerned over what Pelf is doing this Spring for some of the reasons some have already posted here before me.