5
2011
Mets Heading To Philly With A Sense Of Purpose
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One beat writer called the upcoming three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies one of the three biggest series of this entire season. Whether it is or not remains to be seen, but I would bet you couldn’t get one player, coach or manager to agree with that. And if anyone should know, wouldn’t it be them?
With that said, I do believe the series could have some added significance.
The opening weekend started out with a loss that had some fans already climbing out their windows and perched on ledges. I’m happy to report that by late Sunday afternoon, most of them were safely back inside and getting ready to watch Bobby Valentine on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball.
The Mets took two out of three and in doing so they achieved something they couldn’t do until August last season, that is to win a series against an NL opponent on the road. The fact that it came against a division rival, who some predict to finish ahead of the Mets, was an added bonus.
Now it’s off to Citizens Bank Park where the Phillies are off to a 3-0 start and stand alone atop the NL East. If the Mets take two of three in the series, the Phils will have some company at the top and the Mets will roll into Citi Field where throngs of curious fans and onlookers will be gathered to cheer them on and keep the good times rolling.
Our own Mike Branda, who most of you know as Jessep, spoke to Terry Collins before the weekend series and asked him specifically about winning on the road – something the Mets did a terrible job of last season.
This evening, the Mets and Terry Collins were gracious enough to let several bloggers join a conference call and ask Terry their one question. I knew what my question would be if given the chance, and so I asked Collins what he can do as Manager to get the team to focus on traveling and playing better on the road.
Collins recognized the value of the question, which told me that this is an issue he is not only aware of but that they are working on it right now. Collins explained that he will be addressing it in the locker room, and focusing on the struggles on playing on the road and how to overcome them during his pre-game address.
He needs his team to get used to the ballpark they are playing in quicker, and on the flip side when playing at home they need to use Citi Field even more to their advantage.
Collins went on to say that crowd noise is not and should not be a factor when playing on the road, he went on to reference Gordie Howe saying that if the crowd is booing you, then you must be good.
You could read the rest of Jessep’s post here.
Now, while I disagree that this series is a huge one for the Mets as it pertains to the 162 game schedule, I do agree it could be important that by winning the series, it could boost the confidence level of this team.
Winning two games, or even three, can give this Mets team a much needed swagger that carry them well into May, June and even July. We heard it all before – winning breeds confidence, and confidence breeds swagger.
It appears that Collins has already achieved much with this rare series win on the road, and the team displayed the mental toughness to claw back and even add on runs late in the game, which wasn’t always the case in the last two seasons. There was clutch pitching, timely hitting and even David Wright got into the act with a big home run in game two. Wright also appeared to show a side of him that has not been seen since 2006, when speaking to reporters after the game. There was an excitement in his voice, an air of confidence in his tone, and a sparkle in his eye.
Lets see what happens beginning on Tuesday when Chris Young takes the mound and makes his Mets debut against Cole Hamels. This could be a fun series to watch given the rivalry that has built up between the fans and the players themselves too. But it could be an important series too as the Terry Collins and his team can make a big statement and draw a line in the sand.
Lets Go Mets!
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 23 | 18 | .561 | - |
| Nationals | 23 | 19 | .548 | 0.5 |
| Phillies | 20 | 23 | .465 | 4.0 |
| Mets | 16 | 24 | .400 | 6.5 |
| Marlins | 11 | 31 | .262 | 12.5 |
Last updated: 05/18/2013
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It is one of the most important series this year. First of all, there’s nothing that can be done in the next few days about the last series or the one after the Phillies right now. We can only do something about this one.
More importantly we are catching the Phillies in a weakend state with fresh injuries on top of lingering one’s. We can make it harder for them while at the same time making it easier for us. Plant a seed of doubt. Disturb their confidence. Raise some questions. Ratchet up a little pressure and come home with a good vibe about the team.
The Phillies sure took advantage of the NL’s dislike for us in 2007 and 2008 and used it to their advantage. We can use their overdog status to our advantage and watch them squirm a little and see just how comfortable they are as the front runners with an injury riddled team.
We have a very easy first month that includes 12 games with Washington, Arizona and Houston, nine of which are at home. Taking 2 of 3 in FL, 2 of 3 in Philly (while serving notice), 9 of those 12 and splitting four with Colorado at home and getting at least one in Atlanta (while at least looking decent) puts us at 16-9 when Philly comes here. Lets see how overdog plays in Citi without being so confident and comfortable especially if we could provide something resembling a show of force from the stands to pile on with.
Two of 3 there will put overdogs tail between his (her?) legs and bring out more people to watch the defending World Champions and the despised former Brooklynittes in the following series’. Good baseball (and smart baseball) in those two series could really be a springboard to a good fun summer and fresh positive atmosphere for this team to play in.
So year, I do feel this is one of the most important series we’ll play all year, and not just because it’s the next one either.
Wow T you got it all figured out! 16-9, Gotta love the optimism.
Gotta think positive walking in like he said. Walk in confident and show them Phils that we won’t be so easy this year. Make those fake sellout claimers squirm in their seats. Then come home and win our home opener series please.
Last weekend was dress rehearsal and it went well – tonight is Opening Night.
Show the Phillies what you’re made of, guys!
I don’t know if it is very important but it is a good opportunity to make a statement in the Phillies house that they will not be pushovers this year.
Phillies are in a weakened state as well and we will face only one of the three Pitchcateers, but they will still have to play solid baseball to win. If they come out with a series win it would give them a boost but it will not be enough by itself. they will still have to beat the Phills a few more times this season if they wish to compete.
As for their road series win I really would not get too excited about it just yet. Considering the fact they have virtually been on the road throughout ST (they didn’t play in Citi) they should be well acclimated to road conditions as they have all been living them since they arrived.
What we need to see is how they play on the road after a long homestand at Citi Field.
See how they adjust from sleeping in their own bed to sleeping in some awful hotel bed!
This team despite the questions about the starting pitching has enough to win despite that pitching. All it takes is to have the run support. As of now the only batting slots that could be considered weak hitting are the 2B and Bay replacement slots. And even those are not all that weak just not Beltran, Wright, Davis type good.
If we stay away from errors in the field and they hit for their average I think this team can beat just about anyone, including the Phils!
You guys kill me. Just because you took 2 out of 3 from the lowly Marlins, you’re talking shit like you can even compare yourselves with the Phillies? Seriously, your team sucks and you have a great chance to finish last in the division depending how soon the Nats get Harper and Strasburg on the team.
Awww, da wittle Phrillies phan wants to talk some twash. Feeling insecure, little fella?
Your team hits with the intensity of a t-ball league, but hey, you got that pitching staff, right?
Actually, your bullpen sucks. But you’ve got them awesome starters, right?
Well, Blanton is over paid and Lee has back problems and they are all in their 30s, when pitchers start their decline. Hey, that should be fun to watch the next 6 years!
So, your pitching staff means you have to win right now. Which they can do if they have a really good defense behind them…uh-oh
More losses then any team in any sport……….you’re team has had success the last few years, sure, but you arrogant jerks forget how BAD they were for over a CENTURY!!!
seriously, this sounds like all of the playoffs talk on this site early last June. chill out people. even if we sweep the phillies ( like we did early last year ), it won’t mean anything. 3 games ? are you kidding ? do you all also think that the red sox are destined for the cellar and that the yankees will be chasing baltimore in september ?
I appreciate the optimism, but perhaps it can be tempered with just a little reality.
Reality, really? Reality to a long suffering Mets fan is the score of the last game and what was accomplished.
Phillies are a good measuring stick early in the season but as stated they did play well last year early against phils and then the wagons came off the Mets wagon when the driver, Manuel, just could not rally the troops and save his job.
I see a different team, 14 walks against a pretty good staff in Miami, Johnson beat us and Vasquez owned Mets but we took 2 out of 3 so we begin the march lead by our very own Patton, Collins.
I just wonder, as Thole is being rested cause of the amount of games he will be playing, who is going to give Terry C. a rest, it is a long season and we don’t want our intense leader to burn out early, maybe Oberkfell will take over a few games. LOL
The Mets were 9-9 vs. the Phillies last year. If they could have played that well vs. the marlins and Nats, they would have been in the running for a playoff spot right until the end of the year.
i had to check your math here.
they were 9-9 vs the nats and 6-12 vs the marlins.
so, if they were 9-9 vs both the nats and marlins, they would have won 3 games that they lost and would have finished the season 15 games out.