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Poll: What’s an Acceptable Homestand
By Matthew Cerrone - May 9, 2008 3:23 pm

The Mets will play six straight games at Shea Stadium, against the Reds and Nationals, before facing the Yankees on May 16 in the Bronx.

[Poll=89]

89 Responses to “Poll: What’s an Acceptable Homestand”

  1. NPerez says:

    The Reds are terrible.
    The Nats are terrible.
    No excuses for this homestand. We should not lose more than 2 out of 7.

    • almar1965 says:

      Maybe its me, but how does 5-2 equal a six game homestand?

      A little slip there Matt?

      Regardless, they need to start breaking away from mediocrity, especially since they have the full lineup. Going 5-1 seems VERY reasonable.

      • zer09 says:

        Eh, another useless poll. Great job finding out that three quarters of Met fans are reasonable in their expectations of playing two mediocre teams…. Now the next poll should instead ask “What is realistically going to happen?” And you’ll see most of those votes go down to 4-3…

  2. AlreadyMissShea says:

    I hope that whoever voted for Win 0, Lose 6 being acceptable will provide an explanation.

    The weather right now is considerably worse than it was the night of the Pirates game that was called early, and there’s no window coming up. If they try to get this done, it’s going to be a very long night.

    • DK says:

      total BS, hopefully they call it early

    • mex84 says:

      Whomever it was cannot be a Mets fan. If that is the case they need to get a life and move out of their parents basemant and kiss a girl. There is more to life then trolling a rivals blog!

    • roman411 says:

      Voting 1-6? Must be Larry Jones!

    • JefJarrett says:

      The tail edge of the precip is pushing through PHL……..this is a much better scenario than that Pirates game, IMO.

  3. Nightlife says:

    Yeah, 5-2 seems reasonable.

  4. gipper91375 says:

    Stunning near unanimity here on Metsblog for 5-2

    • mackey_sassers_arm says:

      but even after going 5 and 2 and meeting everyone’s expectations, people will call for willie’s head due to a releiver giving up a home run in one of the losses.

      • AlreadyMissShea says:

        If, by that, you mean that people who don’t like Willie now will still not like him a week from now, then yeah, you’re probably right. And if the team loses five straight, the people who defend Willie will probably still defend him. That’s life.

        • Roach2 says:

          Not true (at least the 2nd part). if they lose 4 of these games, it will be time for a change. two MEDIOCRE teams…we should dominate them…

        • AlreadyMissShea says:

          I don’t mean everyone, but some people are going to stick to their guns no matter what. Far as I’m concerned, I don’t care about the manager anymore. I’m putting all of my energy into the Mets on the field. This is a good opportunity for them to re-establish themselves.

        • PatBurrellSmellsLikeDirtyLaundry says:

          Actually, 3 mediocre teams. The Mets are thus far mediocre.

        • AlreadyMissShea says:

          And I’ll say one more thing about that:

          If this team is as good as we think they are, then they should be sitting on a comfortable lead in almost every one of the next seven games before any managerial decision can work for or against them. Maybe that’s taking things a little bit too far, but I don’t think it is. It will be hard to blame Willie if the Mets fall behind in these games early and don’t figure out a way to get something going.

  5. Metlomaniac says:

    If it’s a 6-game homestand, why are we given choices of a record over 7 games? Are you including the Yankee game, even though it’s technically away?

    • mrose says:

      metlomaniac, he had a poll up saying 6, but realized its 7, so he threw up a new poll but forgot to change the text..its 7

    • AlreadyMissShea says:

      It’s seven games. 3 w/ Reds, 4 w/ Nats

  6. I put 5-2, 4-3 gets us nowhere.

    Any word on the status of the game? I dont think it will be played but I have tickets and if it will be played I’d like to go

    • AlreadyMissShea says:

      They say they’re going to hope for a window to get the game in. My ticket will stay right where it is now, on my refrigerator under my NY Mets schedule magnet. I’m still fighting off a miserable cold, and tonight is a good night to stay home and watch TV… If there’s no game, then The Godfather II will work just fine.

      • Strohan Santana says:

        Weather.com just changed their foecast from 80% to 30% CHANCE OF RAIN

        Gonna be cold and windy but hopefully be dry

        PLAY BALL

        • AlreadyMissShea says:

          weather.com also says it’s light rain right now, and it’s pouring out.

        • thornie says:

          It really is. A bunch of us here at my office have tickets, and are trying to stay updated. I just can’t see them even trying to get this game in. Perhaps one of those play, tarp, play. tarp games. If thats the case I’d rather not even go.

        • AlreadyMissShea says:

          Well I would be going if I wasn’t already battling a horrible cough and cold. I have a lifelong problem where a bad cough can end up being very serious for me, and right now it’s bad enough. Not that I’m burdening anyone with my problems :)

          But if I was feeling good right now, I would be there and stay through the delays as I always do. That’s just me.

        • RetireNumber17 says:

          Willie’s just a bad manager. Set aside ‘06 and the first quarter of last season, and this team is two games over five hundred during his tenure.

          What about ‘06, you ask, doesn’t that count? Well, bad managers have taken teams to the post season (see Art Howe). Bad managers have even led teams to World Series wins (Bob Brenly or Ozzie Guillen, perhaps?).

          Willie peaked with this team in ‘06. His days as Mets manager should be numbered.

          HireWallyBackman.com!

        • TobeRinkler says:

          What does this have to do with the thread? Or this?

  7. SheaVendor says:

    They’re play 3 against the Reds and 4 against the Nats.

  8. enough willie bashing.

    i don’t get it -JUST GET RID OF DELGADO,
    he’s not in a “slump”
    slump’s don’t last for a year.
    this is Omars fault.

    get X-man back. or just put marlon, or easly, or even alou there for now

    the only thing that willie does thats actually questionable is take his pitchers out too early.

    he was a great player, he’s a gentleman, let’s give it a REST. please

    right?

    • NYMBosco says:

      Fire Willie! He must go! He’s a gentleman but is asleep as a manager. But cut Delgado and eat his contract!

    • NPerez says:

      I really don’t think Willie is a bad manager, and I certainly don’t blame losses on him (most of the time), but I’m not sure that his managing style fits this team anymore.

      To be honest, every time we play a team with a manager that flips out and gets tossed from the game, I wish we had that. A big part of the job is PR – representing the team & sticking up for their need to win games. Willie keeps his cool through the worst of times, which only works when it has positive results.

  9. boozermetsfan says:

    ARE WE PLAYING TODAY?????

  10. mrose says:

    way I look at it….if we get a rainout tonight, hopefully a DH is scheduled for sunday, then they still pitch Pelf tomorrow, Santana and Perez Sunday, and then they are both good to pitch in the Yankee series. If Santana pitches tomorrow, hes also slated for Thursday and he will miss the Yanks series

    • mackey_sassers_arm says:

      A win against the nationals is more important than a win against the yankees.

      • Ceetar says:

        Not really. the Nationals aren’t going to compete for a spot so it’s not like we have to worry about keeping them down. Even though the Yankees aren’t that good, a win against them would do more for morale than beating up on the nationals.

        • mackey_sassers_arm says:

          Regardless of how much we as fans want to beat the yankees, beating a team in your own division is far more important than beating a team in the other league. How would losing to the Nationals effect their morale?

        • mrose says:

          Its also a lot more feasable to think that running out a #4 or #5 against the Nats gives us a better chance at a win, than running that same person out against the Yankees…
          i’ll go to the ole saying all the Willie haters say.. “a win is a win”

        • mackey_sassers_arm says:

          The way the yankees are hitting, it doesn’t seem too obvious. Plus, who will we be facing on Friday, Rasner or Igawa? come on now…

    • Another Matt says:

      Nah… I’d much rather have Santana pitch tomorrow, the last game of the homestand, and then, most importantly, in the double-header in Atlanta.

      That ATL double-header is the start of a stretch of 21 games in 20 days. We need to start it off with a lot of innings from our rotation.

  11. Arputter says:

    I feel like all these polls are meant to make us fans seem irrational…7-0 is ridiculous, but they should win both series

  12. Santanaman says:

    Is it possible that all of our expectations are out of wack? I mean, the 12-1 win the other night was great but loosing the complete game shutout was a bummer. It was at this point that I realized that my excitment for this year, the hope for retribution from last year and the addition of Santana has scewed the whole expectation thing for me. Is it possible that this is happening to the players as well. I think I need therepy.

  13. AloneAtTheTop says:

    over 700 votes in 20 minutes – WOW

  14. casey s. says:

    they need to win at least five games. they have to beat up the bad teams.

    • npanzeca says:

      If only we could have done that last year with the NL title on the line.

  15. pbelli01 says:

    Yea, 5-2 would be a nice homestand and a good way to go into the Yankees series. Although people will still find something to whine about on here when they lose those 2 games, or even 1 for that matter.

  16. SantanaCYYOung says:

    a sweep (7-0) is what i want, but expecting 5-2

  17. AlreadyMissShea says:

    7 votes for Win 1, Lose 6?

    • casey s. says:

      you have to wonder about that, right? who would find that acceptable vs. two of the worst teams in baseball?

      • AlreadyMissShea says:

        I’m thinking it’s people who believe that a week of bad baseball against bad teams will lead to a much faster bigtime shakeup or something.

        Guys, if anyone DOES think that way, all I can say is this: Win these games. If changes are coming, the decision has probably already been made, and it’s not going to be done any faster, nor will there be any guarantee that any panic moves will work any better.

        And that’s coming from someone who doesn’t like Willie, and isn’t crazy about a number of other things. People need to forget all of that if it clouds their ability to see that the important thing is to win these games against the teams they are supposed to beat up on.

        • gipper91375 says:

          Or it’s Philly/Skankee/Braves trolls. You know, the guiys who come on and stick up for Willie for the good of their teams.

          I kid. I kid.

      • npanzeca says:

        You watched this team last year with the title on the line vs 2 horrible teams, right? I’ll believe it when they do it and under Randope I don’t count on anything. I’m expecting 4-3 with at least 1 or 2 bad losses.

        • AlreadyMissShea says:

          The question isn’t what we expect. It’s what’s acceptable.

        • mackey_sassers_arm says:

          and i suppose the 3 losses will be becasue of willie and the 4 wins will be in spite of willie?

        • AlreadyMissShea says:

          Who said that?

        • npanzeca says:

          I’ve already voted for 5-2 being acceptable, its just not what I expect after watching this team for the last year.

  18. ravi3 says:

    So far this season the team has played to a 17-15 record, and has faced the tougher teams in the NL, and in nearly each series, has faced the team’s ace, including: Smoltz (2), Hudson (2), Hamels, Snell, Sheets, Zambrano, Haren, Webb…In nearly 1/3 of the games they have played, they were opposed by a true ace (that may be a reach for Snell, admittedly), yet they have been able keep themselves over .500, while their competition has feasted on some of the weaker teams in the league.

    Now that they have got a lull in their schedule the Mets need to step up and assert themselves. If they want to win over the boo birds, they need to get back to beating the teams they need to beat, instead of playing down to them.

    Considering that they have now 31 games in 31 days (day off after the Subway Series, then a double header to kick off a stretch of 21games in 20 days), they’ve really got to get going…

    BRUTAL upcoming schedule after playing the Yanks:

    5/20-5/22 at Atl (incl a double header)
    5/23-5/25 at Col
    5/26-5/28 vs FLA
    5/29-6/1 vs LAD
    6/2-6/4 at SF
    6/5-6/8 at SD

    Time to get the train rollin

    • krumbledkookie says:

      How is that brutal? SF, SD, and COL all stink.

      • stickguy says:

        and hopefully Fla has come back to earth by then (or it will be a good chance for the Mets to deflate that balloon!

        • bvaz says:

          yeah, no kidding. I am looking at the schedule letting up a bit. Atlanta is tough obviously and I know Florida has played well so far but they need to win the series against the marlins.
          then you look forward to games against San Fran and SD.

      • ravi3 says:

        Well obviously thats a weaker part of the stretch, but the toughness is that they have more games than days in that stretch. The starting pitching must be effective (particularly in Colorado) to ensure that the relievers can be some what effective by the end of the trip.

      • Another Matt says:

        It’s not the quality of the teams they play that’s brutal, it’s the 21 games in 20 days with travel:

        Atl -> Col -> NY -> SF -> SD

        That’s 3 long flights and no rest.

  19. stickguy says:

    I actually don’t think we will have a real feel for the potential of this team until Delgado is out of the way.

    So, it would be a good time for him to come up lame! even a muscle pull and a 15 day DL stint will give them a chance to try out a different look.

    If CD went down, I would like to see Evans called up to split time with Marlon at 1B, and also get some work in the OF. Just a little taste of the future maybe?

    Just plese Omr, under no circumstances panic and trade prospects for another Conine type!

  20. ness589 says:

    I won’t accept anything worse than 6-1. These are two of the worst teams in baseball. No reason why the Mets should not be able to plow through them except their own ineptitude.

  21. johnfromflushing says:

    want 6-1……..expect 5-2

  22. metties1 says:

    I just had a look at the pitching matchups. There are 2 Santana starts, and I’m sure we all expect them to win both of those. It is not unreasonable to expect them to win 3 out of the other 5..

    Belisle vs Pelfrey
    Arroyo vs Santana
    Cueto vs Perez
    Perez vs Figueroa
    Lannan vs Maine
    Chico vs Pelfrey
    Redding vs Santana

    • AlreadyMissShea says:

      I expect him to pitch well enough to win, and leave with a lead. I hope those games are wins for Johan, but that will depend on more than just how he pitches.

      • Another Matt says:

        This team should expect and be expected to beat those teams with Santana on the mound. I’m with metties1 on this one.

        • AlreadyMissShea says:

          I thought he said he expected Santana to get the wins in those. You want that, but it’s no guarantee. He didn’t get the win vs. the Pirates, but they did win the game.

  23. Movinondowntotheblueseats says:

    Hey, anyone notice that the Mets have played a tougher schedule than a lot of the divisional opponents? If you look at RPI on espn.com the Mets are ranked 3rd in all of MLB, and have played the toughest schedule (Phils and Braves are 25th and 29th respectively).

    • metties1 says:

      that’s interesting. should be a perception changer. It kinda goes along with Wright’s comments about the 3-3 road trip being OK because it was against 2 of the better teams in the league

      Of course, if that weren’t a valid statement no one would ever bash him for making that statement anyway

    • TheIcon says:

      There is an RPI for baseball? Who knew? I think it’s a pointless thing to keep a record of because there is no selection committee to decide who goes to the playoffs. It’s only a good system for college basketball.

      • Movinondowntotheblueseats says:

        Yeah, it is pretty much pointless in the long run, but right now, when we haven’t gotten around to the whole league, it could be more significant.

        That being said, we really need to beat up on the Reds and Nats.

  24. dave56dj says:

    WOW, love metsblog.com for the articles and factual stories but its polls like these that breed negativity. You cannot break down baseball into a 7 game stretch as though it were football (yes analysts do it all the time, but it doesnt make it right). Yes the reds are struggling and the nats will struggle all year, but teams lose 2 of three to bad teams all the time, should it happen, no? But your going to lose your minds if it does? MARATHON NOT A SPRINT. How long have the yanks been terrorized by the d rays? I would lovea 5-2 record, hell I would really love 7-0 but if they go 3-4 it does not mean its time to jump ship.

    This is the team we have, get behind it and cheer, the negativity doesn’t do anything. Heres a fan who cheers through and through, even for show delgado and heilman, keep it up boys the season is still young. Yes I have lived through the good times and bad so don’t tell me I’m too young and naive to remember the pain, 2007 was horrifying but bobby bo, vince coleman, saberhagen and the rest of those brats were no better.

    • metties1 says:

      I still watch the knicks on a nightly basis…

    • AlreadyMissShea says:

      I do know someone who only made it to one game so far. It was that instant classic Ollie pitched vs. the Pirates before they went on the road. They could have stood up and cheered all day, but men in white coats probably would have come and taken them away.

    • NPerez says:

      They can lose 2 out of 3. But they should be able to grab a sweep for the series after.

      Two consecutive bad series against two terrible teams would = fairly consistent failure.

    • dutti22 says:

      Some interesting points here.

      First off, I would agree that this poll is pretty useless. 7 games is 7 games. I’ll be worried if they go 1-6 or 0-7, but 3-4 or 4-3 (:which is largely rated as “unacceptable” from the results) is not reason for alarm.

      I, like many fans, have some concern. But assessing such a short period of games is really not that worthwhile. Assess a 30 game stretch. That seems to be what the Wilpon’s are going to do – why not the fans?

  25. AlreadyMissShea says:

    Hey, it looks like it’s clearing up a little bit.

  26. Felix the Cat says:

    Yep…storm is almost passed. Play ball folks.

  27. johnfromflushing says:

    met fans should just cheer everything…… loud wild overzealous cheering…. cheer outs, errors, strike outs ,loses…just cheer….

    put on your skirts and saddle shoes break out the pom poms and cheer….

    • AlreadyMissShea says:

      That would be funny as hell. After all of the nonsense of blaming the fans at Shea for everything, we should just cheer for everything that happens from now on. Castillo slaps into a DP, standing ovation. Heilman gives up a HR, loud cheers. Ollie fails to get out of the 2nd inning, demand a curtain call! :)

      • johnfromflushing says:

        i’m tellin ya, ams……….. it would be wild…. lol……….

  28. johnfromflushing says:

    historic collapse…….. yeah yeah yeah yeah.. whoo f—–g whoooooooooo!!!!!!! yeah degado …… take another seat ……… YEAH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  29. johnfromflushing says:

    delgado hit a LINE DRIVE out ………… yeah !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! for line drive outs …. whoooooo hoooooooooo!!!!!!!!!

    • NPerez says:

      Ah, gee whiz, well he hit the ball hard.. must just be a string of bad luck..yeah!

  30. mrosey says:

    Well its pretty unanimous. Mets need a big homestand. LETS GO METS!!!

  31. Tackle Him Stearns says:

    Let’s hope Keppinger doesn’t kill us!

  32. STOP the willie bashing.

    all this dime store psychoanalysis is disturbing. everyone thinks they “know” people who are on t.v. we all think we can “just tell”
    peoples character, by watching them at a press conference.

    havent we learned in our own lives about how wrong these impressions often are?

    we dont know how willie talks to his players or what goes on in the locker room. or if any approach would make any difference. and thats a good thing. it means willie treats his team with respect.

    do you really want someone like a billy martin or lou pinella as your manager?. martin was an alcoholic, and pinella looks like an ass. with his big gut sticking out. like a fat little child.

    if you could get bobby cox to miraculously manage this team, i’d take it.

    cox or guissieppi franco, he’d be cool.