Mets Merized Online

I was chatting with a Yankee fan by the water cooler on Monday, and something he said really resonated with me.  He told me that when David Wright came up against Mariano in the 9^th, on Friday…. he knew the game was over. This really convinced me that things have changed drastically for Mister Wright.

This isn’t going to be another article written about my theories on why David has morphed from a dangerous, pure, clutch hitter, with power; into an all-or-nothing slugger, with speed, and mediocre power.  Nor, am I going to expound with theories on how he can recover his long-lost aura of super-stardom.  What I would like to do is talk about an epiphany I had when looking over his projected stats for 2010.

David Wright is slowly but surely transforming into his long-time hitting coach….Howard “HoJo” Johnson.  Now, I am not saying that this is a conscious thing that HoJo is trying to do to David.  I’m only speaking of a familiar feeling, and the end results.

Howard Johnson was an awesome player, certainly one of my favorite Mets in the late 80’s. He had multiple 30-30 seasons for the Mets, and was easily their most dangerous hitter for more than a few years.  The problem with Johnson (besides the fact that he lost it at all 31) was that he was a classic compiler. 

He never hit for a high average; He would get the occasional clutch hit; He would steal 25-40 bases; He was an ok third baseman (with a cannon arm); and he would hit 30 plus HR every other year; In other words he was a very solid but unspectacular ballplayer.  With all his numbers, he wasn’t someone that teams had to game plan for, in order to beat the Mets. 

I fear this that David is becoming this type of hitter.  The numbers are so similar. .260 30 HR 30 SB 100 RBI is what most projections have David at this year.  Hardly numbers to sneeze at, but not the numbers we where hoping for, from the face of the franchise!  Those numbers are eerily similar to an average Howard Johnson year. 

The problem with emulating Howard Johnson (besides the fact that no one outside the Mets even remembers him), is that HoJo was never a “core” player that other teams feared.  He finished in the top 5 for MVP twice and had multiple silver slugger awards, yet he is a distant memory for your average baseball fan outside NY.

I don’t know about you guys, but I had vastly higher hopes for David.  I really thought he was going down the road to all-time Mets greatness, I fear this is now at risk.  Forget about numbers, we as Mets fans know that certain aspects of his game have been declining since 2008, and I now fear that he is settling into mediocrity.

I hope I’m wrong, but did anyone here even think for a second, that he would come through against Mariano last Friday? I surely didn’t.

So I sat down with the intention of writing an article about Jose Reyes.  I wanted to discuss how high my expectations where of him and how he never became the player everyone expected him too and probably never will.

I looked at some statistical analysis and I have to say….I was a bit surprised.  Jose hasn’t been nearly as disappointing as I expected. 

I think the main problem is that after his 2006 season everyone expected an improvement on .300-19-81 line, with 122 runs and 64 SB thrown in. An improvement on these lofty numbers, would be flirting with all-time Rickey Henderson type greatness.  I think most Mets fans (including myself) expected him to dip into Rickey Henderson territory in the coming years; unfortunately, he never has….and because of his mediocre OBP, probably never will! 

That is certainly a little disappointing, because it seems like that stellar 2006 season was more of a career year, than average production for Jose.  That being said, I think we would all be more than happy to get the .297-16-68 Reyes, for the next 10 years!

I can only speak for myself, but I think I bought in to all this Reyes hype.  I’m getting sick of every announcer and sports writer proclaiming Jose “the most exciting player in baseball.” 

He is a great leadoff hitter, and gold glove caliber SS.  That is it; and that is a lot!  He isn’t this dynamic game changing force that everyone claims he is. He isn’t the one guy that every team has to focus on to beat the Mets (especially with so many other holes right now).

He isn’t the most exciting player in baseball!  He certainly is ONE of the most exciting players, but let’s not set expectations that he will never reach (especially with a career .335 OBP).

He is very good, and very important to the success of this team, but he will never dabble in hall of fame territory.  He would have done it by now.  Players like Jose are in their physical prime at 25 not 30 (speedy, athletic, explosive).

I love Jose Reyes as much as any other Met right now.  But let’s not mince words my friends. 

We expected Rickey Henderson, but we got Brian Roberts….which isn’t so bad!

The past four years have been very harrowing for all Mets fans; throughout this painful stretch I personally have been feeling a sort of deja vu.  It took me a while to figure out why, but now I know.  The 2006-2010 Mets are reminding me of the 1988-1992 Mets. 

Scary isn’t it?

The 1988 Mets where dominant, the NL east race was over mid-summer, and they had the perfect mix of grizzled veterans (Keith, Carter, Ojeda), and young studs (Doc, Straw, Cone); they where easily the pick to win the World Series that year, and were certainly picked to obliterate the Dodgers in the NLCS.  Light hitting catcher Mike Scioscia had other plans.  He hit a stunning 9^th inning HR off a dominating Doc Gooden in game four at Shea, to erase a potential 3 games to 1 lead for the Mets…and all but lock up the NL crown.  The Dodgers went on to stun the A’s, etc, etc, etc.

The team never recovered!  While the older vets began to decline, management tried to plug holes with high profile free agents and blockbuster trades;  Juan Samuel and Frank Viola in 89; Vince Coleman  and John Franco in 91, and Bret Saberhagen and Bobby Bonilla in 92.  The team was worse every year, culminating in a 90 loss season in 1992.  The organization collapsed and didn’t recover until Mike Pizza graced us in the late 90’s.

Flash forward 2006.  The Mets dominated all summer long!  Led my grizzled veterans (Lo Duca, Delgado, Glavine, Pedro) and young studs (Wright, Reyes, Maine, Beltran); they where locks to win the NL East crown, especially after dominating the Dodgers in the NLDS.  They where certain locks to crush the woeful Cardinals who barely got into the playoffs with an 83-78 record.  However, light hitting catcher Yadier Molina had different plans.  His shocking HR off Aaron Heilman at Shea shocked the Mets in game 7 of the NLCS, and sent them packing.  The Cardinals went on to beat the Tigers, etc etc etc. 

The team never recovered. While the older vets began to decline, management tried to plug holes with high profile free agents and blockbuster trades; Moises Alou in 2007; Johan Santana in 2008; Krod and JJ Putz in 2009; and Jason Bay in 2010. The team has not been producing!

I can’t help but feel that history is repeating itself.  I know the Mets are not that far out this year, but do we really feel that they have the personnel to compete for the NL East let alone the NL crown this year?  Remember when Davey Johnson was fired in 1990, they made a run under Bud Harrelson…it was a mirage! This team has way too many question marks!  Too many holes!  Johan doesn’t look like his normal self;  Jason Bay and Reyes are struggling mightily;  The manager makes some head-scratching moves daily!  I can’t help but fear that we are on an elevator to hell…..going down!……Again!

I love this team and want it to succeed more than anything in the world, but I honestly feel that we aren’t heading in the right direction.  The Mets as an organization needs to stop using this “WIN NOW” philosophy, and we as fans should understand (I think most would).  This has killed us in the past and will kill us today.  I say, lets rebuild like the Yankees did in the 90’s….from the inside up.  Once we rebuild our homegrown core, we can add quality free agents to fill out the team.

Right now, much like 1989, it appears we have no organizational philosophy, and I don’t want to hear about someone throwing firecrackers into a pack of reports ever again!

I attended my 7th opening day yesterday.  It was the perfect day for baseball, and the Mets looked great.  David Wright floated back into the heavens and made everyone breathe a deep cleansing breath of relief, and Johan Santana looked almost like the vintage ace of old.  So then why was I not completely ecstatic?

Sorry if I come off as a pessimist, but there was a very heavy sense of anxiety throughout the day. It started in the parking lot and continued in the stands, even after Wrights cathartic homerun. The buzz was there, but the unbridled confidence and excitement that usually accompanies opening day, was not. 

I have lived through my fair share of disastrous Mets teams and seasons, but I must say I have never felt the level of apprehension that I felt in the stands Monday afternoon.  Maybe it was my own personal feeling affecting my perception, but I really don’t see it that way. 

I didn’t see one drunk twenty-something yell out LETS GO METS to anyone who would listen. There where very few Let’s Go Mets cheers, even when the crowd was prompted by the PA.  The cowbell man looked a little bored because he wasn’t getting much support.  Even the people around me weren’t talking much baseball.  Everyone seemed very subdued and apprehensive.  

I could swear at times you could hear a pin drop, which in a 2-0 opening day Mets game, against the rival Marlins, is unheard of.  In fact, my inebriated friend (had maybe 3 or 4 too many) managed to pass out in his seat for about an inning.  He wasn’t THAT drunk… it was that quiet! 

This type of atmosphere didn’t really shock me, but it upset me.  When it comes down to it, although sports tend to transcend mere entertainment, (I swear that the Mets mean more to me then certain people I care about), it’s mostly about having fun and being entertained.  Seeing a beautiful stadium full of jaded fans (including myself) really made me angry at Mets ownership and management. 

Forget the silly moves and wasted money on poor players.  Forget the botched injuries, insane personnel decisions, and silly double talk from management.  The NY Mets brain trust took the simple pleasure of watching a ballgame away from many fans on Monday.  I’m sure plenty of people had fun at the game, I certainly enjoyed it.  But to this opening day veteran, it simply did not have the buzz that it should have.  I only hope the Wilpons where listening!

Some pitchers just don’t have it.  You can tell from the first inning you ever see them throw.  Some pitchers look dominant from day one and besides some growing pains, you always feel like it will all click eventually.  Then there is Mike Pelfrey.

We have all heard about how filthy Big Pelf’s stuff is.  How unhittable his “bowling ball sinker” can be, etc etc.  So why isn’t he dominating after 80 ML starts?  Why is he still having trouble putting hitters away? I noticed something fairly obvious in his last spring training start, and if what I saw is true, there is still hope.  However if I’m wrong, I can’t sincerely see, how Mike Pelfrey will ever become a bona fide frontline starting pitcher.

I think Mike is tipping his pitches.  Now there are two ways to tip pitches, one is where something obvious happens like you spread your glove differently for breaking pitches, one guy notices and soon the entire opposing team knows.  Then there is the way that isn’t quite tangible.  No one player can pick it out, but somehow they “feel” what’s coming. I think Mike Pelfrey suffers from a case of the latter.  Here’s my proof.

One can plainly see how filthy his sinker is, especially when it hits 94-95 on the gun.  What I saw in his last ST start, was various players continuously fouling of nasty 94 mph sinkers in… Then fouling off some solid sliders out…IN THE SAME A-BAT!  How is this possible?  I don’t think it is, unless the hitters knew what was coming. 

In one at-bat against Ryan Ludwick, a solid but unspectacular hitter, I saw Ryan foul of some insanely filthy 2 strike pitches with utter confidence, even breaking balls….until the point that Pelf grooved a slider and Ludwick jumped on it.  This simply does not happen to guys with good stuff, especially in Spring Training.  I realized this happens to big Pelf way too often, even when he is “on.”

We have seen this with John Maine as well; the difference is that Maine has a sneaky, but straight fastball, that doesn’t fool anyone. Pelfrey’s ball moves and bores.  No scout can tell me that Ryan Ludwick should have such little problem continuously fighting off perfectly located sinkers, splitters, and sliders like that.  He looked like a hitter who knew what was coming, and there is only one hitter in baseball that can do this on a regular basis, who also happens to be on the Cardinals.

If I am wrong, Pelfrey will simply never be anywhere near the #2 he is projected to be right now.  If I am wrong, his stuff is a TV optical illusion and a hype lie perpetrated by various scouts and officials.  If I am wrong; we are in deeper trouble than we all think we are this season.  If Mike Pelfrey pitches less than 180 innings this year the Mets do not compete.

Yes here it is….another favorite Mets moments list.  This has been done to death…..but I feel it’s mandatory to read at least one every month to remind all of us why we love our NY Metropolitans.  Also, I will make this one just a tiny bit different. This will consist of some very personal experiences at actual games I attended.  Here we go:

July 25, 1987 –  My first game at Shea, ever.  My dad surprised me on my birthday with tickets to the game.  My dad, being an immigrant, had never been to a game either at this point (although he got me into the Mets).  We arrived at Shea to find out Straw was not in the starting lineup.  We didn’t care because the sights and sounds of the ballpark where spectacular.  El Sid started and the Mets lost 7-5, but we did get to see Straw come in as a pinch hitter in the 8th inning and blast a solo HR.  Shea was rockin’ even though we lost.

May 1992, Mets vs Cardinals – My friend and I cut school to take the 7 train to watch Brett Saberhagen throw a nine inning two hitter. The problem was that the score was tied 1-1.  The game went 14 innings and at the top of the 14th, the Cards loaded the bases with no outs, Terry Leach on the mound.  I turned to my friend and said, “game over, no one gets out of this jam”.  Terry got out of the inning unscathed and the Mets won it in the bottom of the 14th.  What a game!

1999 NLDS Game 4 – Yes I was there, Hung Over beyond belief, because I was at the game the night before.  This was payback to my father, because now I was taking him to his first playoff game.  And what a game!  Hangover went bye bye half way through the game.  When Todd Pratt hit that ball off Mantei, the stadium shuddered and went dead quiet for about 1.5 seconds….all eyes where on Steve Finley, and I could swear everyone in the park thought he caught the ball, when he looked into his empty glove, I almost went deaf with the roar of the crowd.  The stadium shook for a solid 15 minutes.  I have never heard Shea Stadium this loud….until….

2006 Game 6 – Ouch, I was there too.  The stadium was as loud for the entire game as it was at the end of Game 4 in 1999.  When Endy made that catch, I could swear Shea was going to collapse.  I had tears in my eyes because I was yelling so loud.  When Yadier’s ball went out…dead silence.  Complete dead silence…  So much so that I could hear the dirty birds congratulating Molina as he crossed home plate….from my seat!  Not my favorite moment…..but certainly….a moment.

There are many more that I will write about in the future….that is….if I haven’t bored all of you to death by now.

Yes here comes another post about the Mets personnel choices.  We are two weeks away from first pitch so why not.  This post will not be about whom I feel should make the team; my problem is with how the Mets make their choices.

Besides the “core” that everyone keeps talking about.  By this I mean Wright, Reyes, Bay, K Rod, and Santana. Should anyone’s job be safe right now?  Has anyone else on this team really proved that they are a lock to make the opening day roster?  I say, absolutely not! 

I am a huge John Maine fan, I have been won over by Frenchy, and I salivate over Jon Niese’s potential.  The problem is that, this team cannot afford to let deserving players sit while unproven commodities find their way during the season.

Yes I’m talking about Mike Pelfrey, Daniel Murphy, Jeff Francoeur, John Maine… the list goes on.  Can the Mets really afford to send a guy like Chris Carter (who has done nothing but rake his entire career) down to AAA? 

Can interesting options like Hisanori Takahashi and Nelson Figueroa be ignored when incumbents like Mike Pelfrey and John Maine have done NOTHING in 2 years to prove they deserve to be in the rotation?  Sorry Figgy haters… he has outperformed John Maine, Ollie Perez and Mike Pelfrey for two years and counting!

I am not saying that these other options are clear cut favorites, what I am saying is that other teams do not operate this way.  Why is there such little competiton in Mets camp, year after year?

Why do the Mets continuously reward mediocre performance?  If Mike Pelfrey can’t give us quality starts, if John Maine can’t develop consistent command or an out pitch, if Daniel Murphy doesn’t start hitting…NOW, the Mets need to look elsewhere.  I know some of these guys are out of options, but you can’t let options alone dictate your roster.

Lets not kid outselves, this is still a win now team.  This is a team that needs to win in the next couple of years.

I’m pretty sure all Mets fans want the best possible team on the field, day in, day out regardless of options and contracts.

Watching Johan Santana’s understandably horrific spring training debut yesterday, something dawned in this Mets fans head.  No, there is no fear whatsoever that Johan is a different pitcher post-op, in fact, quite the contrary.  Based on his velocity and arm slot, I am positive he will have a monster year.  The reason I have absolutely no fear that Johan will return to form this season, is the same reason that I really began to fear for the 2010 NY Mets sometime during the third inning of Tuesdays 8-4 loss.

I have no faith in the other four starters behind Johan, and I can’t imagine how anyone inside or outside the Mets dugout feels any differently.

Johan Santana has an impeccable history of performance and dominance; in fact he has already recovered from the same surgery once before, only to earn a CY Young award the following season.  Not one other pitcher in the potential starting rotation has even had more than one full successful season.

Yes, Mike Pelfrey has great stuff, was drafted highly, and showed flashes of brilliance in 2008.  Yes, John Maine was a top pitching prospect in the Orioles organization and has shown flashes of brilliance in 2007.  Oliver Perez has shown nothing but inconsistency at best and Jon Niese has hardly proven a thing at the major league level.

This has been discussed ad nauseam  throughout the entire off season, so then why does it seem like we have all been brainwashed into forgetting how marginal our starting pitching really is?  Watching Johan get hammered and not worrying whatsoever about his season really brings things things into perspective.

Will anyone feel confident if John Maine gets roughed up in his next start?  Will anyone worry if Oliver Perez gives up 5 runs again (even if he is throwing strikes)?  What If Mike Pelfrey misses another bullpen session because of his knee?

My point is that we are indeed the underdogs this year.  I think some Mets fans are already forgetting this as spring training can sometimes cause all of us to be overly optimistic at times.  Front office communication issues aside, the Mets are not a complete team this year.  Unless we somehow turn one of our five in-house catchers into a dependable innings eater, 2010 will no doubt be a grueling uphill climb.

The good thing is…. the champagne always tastes sweeter at the end!

As all of you know by now, Jose Reyes is on a plane to NY, in order to get tested for an overactive thyroid.  While this is certainly concerning news, even if he has this condition, chances are it will be treatable and he will be ok.  What worries and concerns me however, is how inept the Mets front office is at handling information.

What other major sports organization, continuously releases contradicting reports and constant misinformation, about its star players?  This isn’t a new occurrence ladies and gents.  This has been going on for years.  This is the same organization that allowed an all-timer like Mike Piazza, to have to proclaim in a press conference, that he wasn’t gay.  These are the same keystone cops who told us that JJ Putz had passed a physical and was 100% healthy.   How can we forget Carlos Beltran’s two month “sore quad,” and “Microfracture surgery” rumors; both poetically handled by Jay Horowitz and crew.  Oh and off course, last but certainly not least, the very same Jose Reyes’ sore hamstring turning into a season long exile and then tendon removal surgery.

Is there any fact checking that occurs before a statement is issued or “leaked?”

Are there any checks and balances set up to ensure factual information is being received and delivered?

Is there any member of the Mets medical staff who can speak or write in English, or are they still all using Sanskrit?  Actually, this would be a great excuse, since it’s a dead language that can potentially get mistranslated.

I am not one of these pessimistic, doom and gloom Mets fans, which are always one slip away from the bottomless crevice.  However, I do feel that our beloved organization is a complete mess right now and forever will be, unless changes are made.  Worst of all I think that this type of inept behavior has a direct effect on what goes on between the lines.  With how important image is for today’s athlete, and how quickly and easily information gets around the globe, I can’t imagine the players feel like they are in good hands.

I worry for Jose Reyes and his health and his family…but I think he will be ok.  I worry more for our Mets and the team of warrior poets that are manning the offices at Citi Field, because I can’t imagine, how they will finally get it right.