Daily Archives: September 17, 2007
David Wright, talking to reporters, after being asked if he is angry following tonight’s loss…
“I don’t think angry is the right word. I think it’s frustrating. Guys are
pressing a little bit. The errors, they’re gonna happen – hopefully not 10 of them in two games – but, you know, it’s gonna happen. That’s something that comes along with playing the game… “We’ve hit a bump and there’s a couple of different options. Like we said, we could very easily play below what we’re capable of and just continue to coast or we can step it up and play the kind of baseball to get us to this point. “Guys in here understand that this is a crucial time, this is extremely important and we need to respond. “The will to win was there. I just don’t think that the execution was there…I think, and I know we don’t have much time left, but, I think it’s just a matter of time where we bust out and start punching some teams.”
In standard fashion, Willie Randolph told reporters after tonight’s embarrassing loss that he is not angry with his team’s performance because he believes that his team is playing its hardest, they’re giving him 100 percent, and he is confident they will turn it around.
When asked if he talked to his team after the game, regarding their poor play, he said no, adding that even if he did he wouldn’t tell reporters about it.
…look, folks, if he is dejected, or angry, etc, he’s not going to show it…do yourself a favor, and stop wishing he would…as i said this morning, from what i can gather about him, to be angry or rattled, to willie, would be a sign of weakness to his opponents and to his players…instead, he is going to project confidence and strength, even if he truly feels weak…he could be the angriest man on earth right now, angrier than you or i, and we’d never know it…
…and that’s a good thing…as long as also deals with the reality inside his locker room internally…it’s a good thing, as long as he addresses his team in some way, be it one on one, in a group setting, in a dungeon throwing chairs or in a meadow picking daises, just do it in a way that translates in better results…he could do it in private, by telegraph or on a stage in times square for all i care…just do it…do it and get back to winning…
Tagged Willie Randolph |The Mets (83–66) lost to the Nationals (67–83) by the score of 12 to 4 in DC tonight.
For the painful blow by blow, read Yahoo! Sports.
…it isn’t bad enough that the bullpen can’t get a batter out, but when the ball is actually put in play they can’t field it or throw it, either…now that is a bad bullpen…i mean, that’s taking-it-to-a-whole-other-level type of bad…best part about this implosion, Guillermo Mota wasn’t even a part of it…amazing…
…the bad play spread, too, and that’s what has me worried right now…i mean, up until Brian Lawrence and the Bullpen imploded, the offense had looked good, as did the defense…yesterday’s loss to the Phillies was shaping up to be a speedbump…then, slowly, as the pitchers flushed the game away, hitters started getting sloppy, outfielder’s began jogging to pop-ups, infielders booted ground balls, and throws, and coaches looked worried, and the dugout looked scared, and the all while i sat silent, pad and pen in hand, not writing, just staring at the television wishing the game would stop and magically flip back to last week when we were all full of hope and confidence instead of doubt and fear…
…and that’s the thing, that’s what i can’t stop thinking about right now, it’s that the Mets look scared, and Willie Randolph looks nervous and like he has totally lost the handle of who he is, what his team is and where they are headed…they all look confused, actually…and right now, despite the standings, they do not look like winners…in fact, again, despite their record and being in first place, etc, just looking at their faces and body language, this team appears to be 180 degrees different than it was one-year ago today…swagger has been replaced by fear…fist pumping has been replaced by shrugged shoulders…and their attitude isn’t cocky or confident, it’s chaois and paranoia…what’s worse, i feel the same way…
…as i said yesterday, i’m all for willie’s even-keel approach, even when the team is losing…but the Mets aren’t just losing right now…they’re playing like garbage…they’re losing, and they deserve to lose, and in this case, even-keel doesn’t work…some fans will say i am finally coming around, or changing my tune, etc, but that is not correct…i always feel this way, the problem is that up until now the Mets have at least performed well, they just get beat on occasion, and that’s okay…to stay steady in those situations is important and wise…but, to stay steady when looking like they have over the last two days, in the final stretch of the season, when looking just flat out bad, against bad competition, well, steady is the last thing i want…
…naturally, there will be super-emotional fans who want willie fired…tomorrow…with two weeks left and his team in first place…which is hilarious, and will not, and should not happen…obviously…but, i can understand the frustration…willie talks a lot about how this or that is a test for his team…will they respond…etc…well, this is a test for him now…i like willie, but even i am not dumb enough to ignore the obvious, which is that he has lost total control of his team right now, and appears to be throwing darts with some of his recent decisions, in the middle of small crisis…as a fan, i can tolerate a lot because i never lose sight that this is only entertainment…i can tolerate odd double switches, burning three players for one move, sticking with curious veterans, etc…but bad play and ugly actions just bug me because it makes me feel like i am wasting my time by watching…in the end, it isn’t entertaining, regardless of wins and losses…this is not to say willie can’t get it all back…actually, i believe and expect that he will…i trust his resume and philosophy and style…that being said, it’s also test time for willie, and even i have an open mind about the result…
…it’s times like these when i tell myself, ‘Ya Gotta Believe,’ but, honestly, in the face of sloppy play, a scared-looking team and bad baseball, it’s tough to believe, it’s tough to even want to believe…the thing is, i can’t help it, i do believe…it’s who i am…for every ounce of my blue-and-orange soul that fears the worst, there is another ounce that believes that the best can and will happen…but you’re testing my faith, guys; all of you, from willie right down to the last man on the roster…so, come on, you’re better than this…like my cousin would say, ‘cut the bullshit,’ and get your act together…have some self respect…i mean, do you want to win or not…the division is right there for the taking…get serious, play smart and win it already…
The Game
The first-place Mets (83–65) look to turn the page as they kick off a three-game series with the Nationals (66-83) at RFK Stadium this evening, starting at 7:05 pm EDT.
The Lineup
- SS Jose Reyes
- 2B Luis Castillo
- 3B David Wright
- CF Carlos Beltran
- LF Moises Alou
- 1B Shawn Green
- C Paul Lo Duca
- RF Lastings Milledge
- SP Brian Lawrence
The Pitchers
Brian Lawrence (1-2, 6.31 ERA) starts for the Mets. This is his first start since August 27th vs. the Phillies, when he was knocked around for five runs on 10 hits (including two homers) over 4.2 IP. He has allowed 18 runs on 37 hits in 25.2 IP as a Met.
Tim Redding (3-5, 3.42 ERA) takes the hill for the Nats. Redding left the game in the third inning of his last start vs. the Marlins after getting hit on elbow with a batted ball. He has allowed more than three runs in a start only twice this season (out of 12 total starts). In five career appearances vs. the Mets, Redding is 1-0 with a 3.12 ERA. He allowed just one run over six innings against the Mets back on July 28th.
The Notes
The Mets have won five straight games at RFK Stadium.
Shawn Green is 5-for-9 vs. Redding.
According to Elias Sports Bureau, Moises Alou is the oldest player (41 years, 75 days) ever to have a 20-game hitting streak.
Wily Mo Pena is batting .287 with eight homers and 16 RBI in 26 games since joining the Nationals on August 18th.
The Bleachers
For a live chat, head over to The Hot Foot Bleachers.
…enjoy…and as always, let’s go mets…
Over at his blog for the Journal News, John Delcos reports Mike Pelfrey and Philip Humber will not be up for consideration when it comes to putting together the bullpen for the playoffs.
According to Delcos, there is not enough time to properly evaluate either for this type of role.
For more news and notes, including news about Carlos Delgado‘s progress, head on over to Delcos’ blog.
Tagged Mike Nichols, Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber |13 of the Mets final 14 games will be played against the Nationals and Marlins, who they are 15-8 against this season.
They are 8-4 vs. the Nationals, including a 5-1 record at RFK Stadium. They have outscored the Nationals 30-to-14 at RFK this season. They begin a three-game series there tonight.
They are 7-4 vs. the Marlins, including a 5-0 record at Dolphin Stadium. Along with the undefeated record, the Mets have obliterated the Marlins to the tune of 39-to-13 at Dolphin Stadium. They will begin a four-game series there Thursday night.
…bottom line, if the Mets can’t get it done against these teams, they don’t deserve to be playing October baseball…
Tagged Stats |…in an effort to find anything remotely positive about Mets RHP Guillermo Mota, i failed…mota has failed in every situation he has been put in this season, as evident by the following splits…
Right-handed hitters are batting .230 against him, with an .833 OPS in 124 at-bats. Mwanwhile, left-handed batters are hitting .230 against him, with a .670 OPS in 87 at-bats
…his getting out lefties does not impress me, as most lefties have trouble against right handed pitchers who have an effective change up…
The first batter Mota faces is batting .302 against him. Opponents are batting .328 against with him with runners in scoring position. With two outs and runners in scoring position opponents are hitting .406 with three home runs 
in 32 at-bats
…i really don’t know if it could get any worse for a relief pitcher in the above situations…
…i mean, i understand he is in the bullpen and needs work, but at what point does Willie Randolph stop ‘trusting’ mota…and will his performance this season affect willie’s decision if mota makes the post-season roster…
…it’s funny, when other relievers have struggled, such as Jorge Julio and Ambiorix Burgos, willie pitched them in spots where they couldn’t hurt the team to see if they could work out their issues…so, it’s puzzling why he hasn’t also done this with mota…
…this post isn’t meant to pile on the already mile-high mound of loathing for mota…i’m just pointing out what a head scratcher it is to see mota enter games in certain situations…i mean, Scott Schoeneweis recently spent 11 straight days in the bullpen without being used…if schoeneweis received that type of treatment, why can’t mota…
Tagged Mike Nichols, Stats |
In an article for Yahoo! Sports, Jeff Passan interviews Mets first base coach Rickey Henderson regarding his single-season record of 130 stolen bases, and whether or not he feels that it will ever be broken.
Jose Reyes, as quoted by Passan:
“There are plenty of guys who could steal 40 or 50 bases, but 130? Come on, bro.”
Henderson, on his record:
“I don’t know how I lasted hitting the dirt that many times, but it is 25 years later, and I’m doing OK. And my name is still in there.”
…interesting, no third person rickey references…i don’t see this record ever being broken, but nothing’s impossible…
…aside from his recent base-running mistakes, few things are more exciting than reyes on the basepaths…but there’s no way i want reyes to focus on beating this record…
…i won’t take it as far as Billy Beane, but sometimes stealing bases is counter- productive…reyes does have 78 steals, but the 20 times he got caught makes me wonder how often he would get caught if he ever gunned for 130…i just don’t think it’s worth it…
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |In the Daily News, Lisa Olsen writes…
“The Mets are playing some god-awful baseball. They’re having trouble catching the ball, throwing it, pitching it, hitting it in key situations and beating it to bases. It’s gnaw-your-arm-off-in-the-morning ugly, the sort of ugly that makes you wonder what in the world they must be thinking.”
…every one of those statements should be followed by: against the Phillies…because, the Mets played clean, crisp and critically acclaimed baseball the previous 12 days…and, frankly, based on the previous 149 games, i have every reason to believe they’ll return to playing well starting tonight…
…i mean, just go back and look at the schedule since the start of August, when the Mets won four of five (woh, up), then lost four of five (woh, down), then won seven of eight (woh, up), then lost of seven of nine, including getting swept in philly (woh, down), then they won eight of nine (up), and now they’ve lost three of four (down, again)…
…i don’t know about you, but i’m exhausted…the Mets have been telling me 
all year that ‘my season has come.’…instead, they should be qualifying that by saying ‘my roller-coaster season has come’…
…seriously, for a fan like me, who is conditioned to expect disaster, this season has fried my nerves…
…today, i went back and listened to myself in some recent interviews, and then re-read my writing, and it appears i am no longer making sense, probably because i no longer know what is up and what is down…compared to last season, which was like a stroll through the park, picking daisies, all casual with long deep breaths and sunshine, this season is like walking through a mine field…holding my breath…at night…and i’m totally lost…
…assuming the Mets survive and get to the playoffs, if we get a petition going, do you think we can get the post-season to start in the second week of October…because, i think i speak for every one when i say i need to get off the roller coaster for a minute just to catch my breath…my stomach is sick and i’m dizzy…
…please, team, get your bearings over the next two weeks…because if you don’t, i might throw up over the railing…
In a recent e-mail exchange about Willie Randolph, a fellow fan casually tossed out the following statement…
“I don’t think it is a coincidence that Jose Reyes has had a big decline and has looked clueless at times in the field and on the basepaths since he got embarrassed by Willie in Houston.”
Actually, in the previous 29 at-bats before being pulled off the field on July 6, Reyes hit .172.
In the 31 at-bats that immediately after being pulled, Reyes hit .387 with three stolen bases in five games.
…my point is, there is nothing to suggest the public embarrassment from six weeks ago did anything to contribute to jose’s recent struggles, which actually started only two weeks ago – a month after being pulled…in fact, the opposite may be true…
…nevertheless, reyes is not right…he’s making odd mental mistakes on the base paths, physical errors in the field, not just on grounders and throws, but on where he is setting up in advance of the play and on cut off throws, and he’s not always running hard out of the box…he just has a strange, uncharacteristic, low-energy confusion about him, that actually reminds me of reyes circa 2004…i have no explanation for it, and do not hear the team talking about it much, as well…last week it was all about him needing a day off…if he’s burned out, i don’t know how one or two days away was going to help…
…fact is, it’s go time, and if jose is gonna be the super-star we know him to be, to really jump up in to that elite group of player he has no choice but to step up, shake off the grogginess, and be that super star…how that happens i have no idea…that’s why i am sitting here, and am not in uniform…frankly, it’s like magic to me that it even happens at all…but, nevertheless, it has to happen, because the Mets will not keep winning in spite of jose’s malaise…at some point, it’s going to catch up with them, if it hasn’t happened already…
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