doesn Archives - Metsmerized

The Must Win Game…That Doesn’t Count

Rob Silverman — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 14:30:42 +0000

The date was October 19, 2002. 44,603 screaming fans packed Edison Field in Anaheim to witness Game One of the World Series. Giants Center Fielder Kenny Lofton walked to the batters box and dug in against Angels starter Jarrod Washburn. On October 1, 1903, almost a full century earlier, a less impressive crowd of 16,242 filled the Huntington Avenue Baseball Grounds in Boston to watch the Boston Americans take on the Pittsburgh Pirates in the very first World Series game. Pirates center fielder Ginger Beaumont dug in against Boston right hander Cy Young. 99 years had passed and The Fall Classic had remain relatively unchanged.

However, the commissioner and ‘the-powers-that-be’ felt a need to alter the tradition of Baseball. In an effort to increase viewer ship and revenue, they decided that the winner of the All-Star Game would have home field advantage for the World Series. This notion is ludicrous. The All-Star Game is supposed to be a celebration of the history of baseball, a chance for the torch to be passed to a new generation of heroes. From Phil Rizzuto to Derek Jeter, from Ted Williams to Manny Ramirez, from Willie Mays to…well, lets not get carried away.

Six years after the All-Star Game has “counted” and meant something, we are still confused. Is it an exhibition where the top stars are showcased? Or is it a “must win” game for each league? If it truly is a must win situation, then lets play a real All Star Game. If winning the All-Star Game is now so imperative, then why must every team be represented? Are we trying to win or are we just being fair? Managers should not be burdened with trying to get every player on the roster some playing time. If this is the case, lets just put the 9 best players on the field and let them go at it. Lets see Johan Santana duel Josh Beckett for 9 innings.

Fans, however, would not stand for this. As Mets fans, we are battling the Phillies for the top spot in the NL East. We would all be furious to see our ace “wasted” in a meaningless exhibition. One start against the American League means one less start against the Phillies or Marlins or a game that really does “count.”

If Commissioner Selig feels a need to tinker with the very nature of the World Series, here are some options:

1) Simply stated, the League Champion with the better record should host four of the seven games. If the AL champions win 97 games and the NL champs win 94, then the AL would host the Series. Plain and simple.

2) Since Selig and company are such fans of Interleague play, we can incorporate more meaning into that. Give home field advantage to the league champion who has the better overall record in interleague play. Along the same lines, why not just give home field advantage to the league that does better head-to-head? This would definitely increase interest. As Mets fans, we would actually care about a game between the Astros and the Rangers.

3) Simply go back to the way it was, alternating from year to year. This worked out well for a century.

These same individuals also claim that since “This Time It Counts,” fans across the board will watch the game. Again, I disagree. With roughly 70 games left to be played, it’s safe to say that many teams literally have no chance of making the post-season. I find it hard to believe that fans in Baltimore or Seattle or San Diego will be sitting on the edge of their seats Tuesday night, glued to the television.

I strongly believe the All-Star Game needs to be returned to what it was: a celebration of the games top players, a three day break for fans and players to rest, regroup and prepare for the pennant race. It gives us all one final chance to take a deep breath before the last push to October. The calm before the storm.

The team that has had home field advantage has won 8 of the last 10 World Series. Too much is at stake based on one game. The effects of a three hour ball game in July should not be felt in October.

The post The Must Win Game…That Doesn’t Count appeared first on Metsmerized.

Johan Santana Speaks, But Doesn’t Say Much

Joe D — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 09:54:08 +0000

After a well deserved rest back home in his native Venezuela, Johan Santana is back in the good ole’ United States as he prepares for another Cy Young type season.

Of course he has heard all the rumors and all the trade talk while he was away, but he offered very little in the way of shedding any light on the situation.

Associated Press quoted him as saying the following…

"I’m a Minnesota Twin. That’s all I know. It’s up to them. Whatever they have to do is going to happen. It has nothing to do with me at all,” Santana told the News-Press. “I said it from the beginning during the season last year, whatever will be the best for this team and this organization, I’ll agree with that."

Andrew Vazzano from The ‘Ropolitans said something in his blog that really illustrates just why Johan Santana is not just a huge star, but also a very likable player. He wrote…

An easy going guy, I see. It’s about time a superstar like this doesn’t have an ego about him. He isn’t making trade demands and choosing teams to make it harder on the Twins. Sure, he’ll demand money, but being the best pitcher in the league allows you some leeway in the contractual process (see A-Rod).

You look at all the big money players like A-Rod, Manny Ramirez, Randy Johnson, etc. and you can easily see what Andrew is talking about. Now I want Johan even more than I did already, and that was a lot…

The post Johan Santana Speaks, But Doesn’t Say Much appeared first on Metsmerized.

Just Because Willie Says Every Game Is A Big Game, It Doesn’t Make It So

Joe D — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 18:32:19 +0000

Did anyone happen to catch Willie Randolph’s interview last night on SNY’s Geico Post Game??

The reporters who were asking the questions really got his temperature boiling especially on one particular question that was asked…

Is your team approaching this as a big series, because it seems like the Braves are, and you’re not?

What followed next was a clearly infuriated Randolph trying to diffuse a question that clearly struck at the heart of his managing style.

“Of course, this is a huge series." he replied, "Why wouldn’t we approach it that way. We know the Braves are a good ballclub. I hate to say it, but I think that’s a ridiculous question"

"Every game we play is big, they hit the ball well tonight, the kid pitched a good ball game, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t approach it right or in the manner that we should have. We play hard every day. Our team plays hard every day no matter who it is."

I have no doubt that the team plays hard, but the writers question was not out of line. The fact that Willie doesn’t preface the fact that it’s a huge series to his team, tells me that Willie makes far too many assumptions about his team’s mindset.

Would he approach game seven of the NLCS in the bottom of the ninth inning with the Mets down by a run the same way as an April game against the Marlins?

That’s in essence what Willie is saying.

Hey Willie, we expect you to put out 100% for every game, but there are still games that demand 110%. Last night was one of those games. Spare me the "every game is a big game" rant. I’ve been hearing it all year, but I haven’t been seeing it.

What do you think about that??

The post Just Because Willie Says Every Game Is A Big Game, It Doesn’t Make It So appeared first on Metsmerized.

Was Ben Johnson Worth The Price If He Doesn’t Make The Team?

Joe D — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 22:00:07 +0000

There was a great article by John Delcos this morning about the chances of Ben Johnson and David Newhan making the Mets final roster. Apparently they are both fighting for the final spot, and unless the Mets decide to carry one less pitcher than expected, one of them wont be traveling to St. Louis on Opening Night. (I hate those words, I like Opening Day much better)

"It’s either be good or be gone," Newhan said.

I like both these players and I hope they both make the team, but I’m a little bit more sensitive about the subject when it comes to Ben Johnson. Unlike David Newhan who signed as a free agent, Johnson came over to the Mets along with Jon Adkins in a trade with the Sand Diego Padres. In that trade the Mets parted with their top two relief prospects in Royce Ring and Heath Bell.

For those who may not remember, lets look at what we gave up before I get more in depth about Ben Johnson.

Heath Bell made 22 appearances for the Mets last season but was mostly ineffective as his 5.11 ERA would indicate. However his numbers at Triple-A Norfolk, clearly displayed the potential of the young right-hander. He was 3-3 with a 1.29 ERA and 12 saves in 30 games, striking out 56 batters and walking eight in 35 innings. When you consider the losses of Chad Bradford, Roberto Hernandez and Darren Oliver, and couple that with the uncertainty of Duaner Sanchez and Juan Padilla (both who were expected to be ready but are clearly not), you cant help but wonder if Heath Bell might have fit in nicely in our bullpen. So far this spring for the Padres, Bell has made six appearances spanning seven innings and has struck out 10 batters while walking only 1. He lead all the pitchers in camp with a 1.29 ERA.

Royce Ring, a 25-year-old left-hander, went 0-0 with a 2.13 ERA in 11 appearances with the Mets last season, but was also impressive in Norfolk where he was 2-2 with 11 saves and a 2.97 ERA in 36 games at Norfolk. I thought he would have shined if he had been given the same role that Pedro Feliciano had last season as the lefty specialist, as Feliciano takes on a more significant role this season. Both Ring and Bell have made the Padres Opening Day Roster.

I guess by now you can see my concern if both Ben Johnson and Jon Adkins (who has been widely ineffective), do not make the team. In an age where an effective reliever has become so hard to find, and who’s roles have become much more important in a major league bullpen, why trade two seemingly major league ready relievers?

I could see making the trade if the Mets needed some depth in the outfield, but they didn’t need any depth with Chavez and Milledge already on the roster, and Carlos Gomez and Fernando Martinez on the way. Some thought the trade was a precursor for a Lastings Milledge trade for a top starter, but obviously that was not the case either.

I think Jon Adkins is nothing more than an average at best. It’s obvious that the key to the deal for the Mets was Ben Johnson. Johnson has an emerging powerful right-handed bat and could provide valuable insurance in case of injury to Shawn Green or Moises Alou. My problem is that we already had that insurance with Milledge, and giving up our two best relief prospects for an insurance policy we hardly needed may not have been best for the Mets.

What do you guys think?

On another note, Duaner Sanchez had a consultation with a doctor who revealed that the sensation was nothing more than scar tissue breaking apart. Sanchez will take the rest of the day off.

Also, the Phillies may have lost Freddy Garcia for a considerable amount of time. Nothing official has been announced yet, but his velocity has been down all spring, and yesterday he was shut down after complaining about soreness in his bicep. When asked to comment about their team’s chances, both Jimmy Rollins and Brett Myers declined to comment. (hee hee just kidding)

The post Was Ben Johnson Worth The Price If He Doesn’t Make The Team? appeared first on Metsmerized.