Hi Metsie,

And every time he takes the mount I could just envision Fred Sanford saying “it’s the big one, Elizabeth!”

When you remove everything before the last screwup it’s pretty easy to make someone look like they are world beaters.

The only difference I see is that he isn’t giving up that last RBI hit he was giving up 5 weeks ago.

And I’ll give him props for not doing so, But he is still a heart attack whenever you see him walk to the mound.
and anything less than a 2 run lead and you really have to worry.

David was always available to the media but that did not make him a leader in the true sense. And nobody should take that as a knock against him no matter what Francesa tried to imply for some players are and some players aren’t.

However, as you say, David is showing signs of taking over the role with these young kids and perhaps it is now his time as he has grown and matured into a young veteran.

I hope he’s here for many more seasons too and can’t conceive the front office forcing him to walk but then, by the end of last June when the Mets were surprising everybody being in the wildcard hunt and exciting us as much as they are now, I couldn’t conceive the front office not reversing it’s earlier positions regarding KRod followed by Beltran so at this point, who really knows?

We might get a better sense if we are still in it and the front office sticks by it’s earlier stance of not to expect a big signing over the summer. If they don’t spend in another month even for a rental (and that means more in terms of cash than a high ranking prospect) that in itself might give us a better idea of what to expect down the road – the issue being money more than a competitive team. For a team like the Mets playing in the biggest market in America, that shouldn’t even be an issue – but as we know, it is.

Thanks for the excerpt.

Hey, I go back to the days of Jack “hair breath Harry” Hamilton so I should be used to these type of things already, right?

That chicken stuff is should not to be taken seriously because I doubt either club does and doesn’t need anything tacked up to motivate them.

One of the more funnier lines I remember coming from a pitcher regarding other hitters is what Whitey Ford had posted on Willie May’s locker during the ’62 or ’63 all-star game. He said “sorry I didn’t make the team this year but Houk didn’t want me to make you look bad!” Of course, the joke was Willie having Whitey’s number in previous all star contests and post season.

“When you get past all of the “chicken talk” you see that Francisco has been one of the best closers in the league for the last five weeks, and the numbers prove it. Since May 14th, he has converted 10 of his 11 save chances with a sparkling 1.76 ERA, giving up only three earned runs in his last 15 innings of work. I am sure that Mets fans could do with less drama from him, but he has gotten the job done, and that’s all you can ask from your closer.”
– Rich Coutinho

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/06/23/coutinho-chickengate-is-much-ado-about-nothing/

I knew there was a reason I liked that Coutinho guy.

Have a good one Joey D.

Its just not knowing down the stretch (and YES, there will be a down the stretch with these guys!) if he will be more like Benitez or KRod that’s getting to me. I’ll take a 1-single-2-single-walk-3 inning every day even if my heart can’t!

It’s gorgeous out side- yes, do take advantage of it. Then settle back for the game tonight.

Joey D.

And that is all I was doing here. When all is said and done he has gotten the job done of late. 15.1/IP, 10/SV, 1/BS, 7/BB, 16/SO and a 1.76/ERA. Has it been the shutdown type variety? Obviously not but if I am going to call him out when he blows a save (which i have) I am going to recognize him when I feel it is deserved.

Hopefully your concerns are put at ease and Francisco makes the 9th innings more comfortable for you.

Have a nice day Joey D.

Hernandez was a LEADER….
Is Wright even half the leader Hernandez was?

Wright is the leader here, he is the guy they go to, look up to…
But that is as much by default because he is all there is,

That said he has shown some attempt to be the leader, go talk to the Pitcher, Talk to the Ump after Davis throws a little fit for striking out looking, being the front man to the press in addition to his usual lead with his bat.

Ask me again in 2 years (if he is still here) if he is a leader or not.
This is his first year as leader and it’s only because we traded the leader away last july!
Right now he is just starting to show some signs of being willing where before he would defer the position to someone else.

That is not meant as a knock as it is a genuine concern because stats are deceiving and he still has to prove to us that he can get in and out of trouble in the ninth in the consistent fashion like the Francisco he replaced. He nearly blew the game against Baltimore and even last night he was saved by Torres running down a shot to deep dead center. If that went for extra bases, the game could have eventually been tied with the walk and single that followed.

And we don’t know if Francisco has the composure to deal with the games late in the season with the season possibly on the line. I would be OK if the saves aren’t easy but he comes through. It’s still just a wait and see thing.

Who on this team, fan base, etc would have imagined that this would happen?

I for one did not expect this but I feel that with No Han’s return injury free plus 1st no hitter in in Mets history, RA’s re-invention of the soft knuckle ball into a hard one that he can make dance, plus maturation of Niese, Gee and return of Young that there is now consistency in staff on a day to day basis and it seems their challenge to each others in starts has made them a better pitching staff.

Cue baby crying effect.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xRrUVVKigk