Daily Archives: May 22, 2008
David Wright, as quoted by Marty Noble on MLB.com, speaking after last night’s game…
“I can accept losing. Not easily, but every team loses here and there. But to
go out and give the effort we’re giving, to go out and lose without a fight…I just don’t think we have the fire I would hope we’d have.
The problem isn’t (with the coaches or manager), the problem is with us, in here…I want (my teammates) to take it personally when we lose. I want them to be ticked off…If it was a matter of talent, it’d be different. If we just weren’t any good, I could put my head on the pillow at night and sleep. But to got through the motions every night…Talking about it doesn’t get it done.”
According to Noble, Wright was the only player left in the locker room when these comments were made.
…don’t look now, but david just took a huge step towards finally becoming this team’s captain…the transition is almost complete…
To hear more from Wright, read Noble’s entire report.
Click play below to watch a clip of me and SNY’s Ted Berg discussing what’s next for the Mets:
To watch our video from earlier today, behind the scenes at Shea Stadium, click here.
For more from Berg, check out his latest column at SNY.tv.
Buster Olney reports in his blog for ESPN.com that Johan Santana‘s velocity is down 3-4 miles per hour from a couple of years ago – according to some talent evaluators. 
Olney further explains:
“He is short-arming the ball more than he has in the past — and this is after some red flags appeared in the physical examination he underwent before signing with the Mets. Sources say his shoulder showed some wear and tear, which is not unusual for a pitcher of Santana’s age. This is not to say Santana is not an effective pitcher now, but all of this information makes you wonder how effective he will remain during the course of his multi-year deal.”
…I can’t say that this is breaking news to me…i mean don’t most pitchers begin to lose velocity at some point in their career…at this point in the season, the only thing that matters is that johan continues to break up losing streaks…
Last week, SNY’s Ted Berg and I were allowed to roam around, behind the scenes at Shea Stadium and see how games are produced for television, while meeting with Keith Hernandez and Gary Cohen, among others, prior to the game.
…clearly, the best part of the afternoon was being able to enjoy a Tootsie Pop with keith…of course, i grabbed an extra one from the box, on the way out, to keep as a souvenir…
To watch our day at the park, click play below:
Tagged SNY |
In a report for ESPN Deportes, Dionisio Soldevilla quotes Pedro Martinez as saying, “I feel great physically and for the record I haven’t considered retirement.”
Martinez was scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday in Atlanta, but instead he has flown to the Dominican Republic to be with his ailing father.
…added to by Mike Nichols…
Martinez is in the final year of his four-year contract with the Mets and will be a free-agent at the end of the season.
…as fas as i’m concerned there should always be a spot for petey on this team…he’ll never again be the pedro we saw in his prime and despite his declining velocity and durability, pedro knows how to pitch and brings a swagger this team has been missing for nearly 11 months…
Tagged Pedro Martinez |
I’ve been very torn lately on how I feel about this team, but the dust is starting to settle and I think the true nature of the 2008 Mets is finally revealing itself.
I cannot pretend to know whether their problems stem from an incompetent Willie Randolph, a struggling offense, or a lack of team unity. However, what I do know is that this team has shown me little to be proud of. I have been telling myself that they’re better than their record, but lately the constant ups and downs have spelled out that their .500 record reveals just what they are: a .500 team.
Now, I’m not saying that they can’t turn this thing around – in fact, I still believe that they will. But if they keep playing such lackluster ball, things will only get worse for this team. Whether it be managerial changes, clubhouse division, or the most likely result, another failure to reach the playoffs – the path that they are currently on is certainly an ominous one.
Something is just not right. Perhaps it’s the pressure that each player has been placing on himself; perhaps all of the negative media attention around the Mets’ skipper is wearing on the club; whatever it is, these guys need to let it all go and get back to doing what I still believe they know how to do, and that’s playing solid, playoff-caliber baseball.
The paradox here is that they will have more fun when they win, but they need to have fun first before they can do so.
Sort this thing out fellas and start having fun again, because I certainly am not.
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |Whether for or against Willie Randolph, the fact of the matter is that his players are not performing well. They’re not doing ‘the little things,’ as he likes to say.
They are lacking swagger, confidence and they’re not playing smart, aggressive baseball. And so, speaking as a fan, regardless of wins and losses, they’re just not very fun to watch.
To me, this has everything to do with the make-up, health and talent level of the people stepping on to the field – and 
neither Randolph nor any other manager is going to change that.
And so, while people want to get on Randolph’s case, and understandably so, Omar Minaya should also be held accountable for the way this roster was put together and his potential lack of foresight regarding issues with age, attitude and energy.
Minaya has done a great job of getting this team from the Art Howe-era to a time when .500 is described as, ‘unacceptable.”
That said, I believe the Mets require more of a change on the roster than they do in the manager’s office.
Minaya’s style has been effective. Sure, he let go of Brian Bannister, Jeff Keppinger, Mike Jacobs and Heath Bell, but he also acquired Oliver Perez, John Maine, Johan Santana, Duaner Sanchez and Ryan Church, among others.
The thing is, and what worries me, is that the old market – in which Minaya worked so well – is now changing, and being run by a younger, different-thinking generation.
Smaller-market teams are now locking up their best young talent, meaning these players are less likely to hit the open market. There is more parity in baseball, and so teams are less likely to make trades. Lastly, players are breaking down and performing worse in their late 30s, probably due to the league’s new performance-enhancing drug policy, and so relying on older talent may not be as effective as it was just a few years ago.
I hope Minaya is able to adapt. I am willing to bet he can, and I’m eager to see him in action – sooner than later, by the way.
As I said a few weeks ago, I sense that the Mets are at a crossroads. Minaya did outstanding work, and did what was necessary to get from Howe to here. However, I have a feeling that more work will need to be done to get from here to a World Series ring – let alone remain over .500.
[Poll=100]
Tagged Omar Minaya |According to John from Rhinecliff, during last night’s broadcast, the local Braves radio announcers on WGST described the Mets as looking like a ‘dead team.’
Since taking two of two from the Yankees over the weekend, the Mets have since lost three in a row to the Braves, while 
being outscored 23 to 7.
Willie Randolph, talking to reporters after the game, regarding his team’s lackluster performance from last night, during which they lose 11 to 4:
“Team meetings are overrated, they’re as good as your next day’s pitcher. Like I said earlier, a change of environment is what it is also – you play in Yankee Stadium against a team that is struggling a bit what that type of pitching staff, you come to a new environment where it’s a different pitching staff and they’re pitching well. So, you have to just execute and get it done. You can never assume that because you had a couple of good games in New York that you’re gonna come here and do the same. You have to get it done, and we’ve not gotten the job done the last two nights…
“[.500] is not acceptable. That’s not the way we want to play baseball. We’ve got to find a way to get on a nice little streak here and play more consistently. That’s the bottom line. We’re better than this. But, it’s up to players and all of us to keep working and find a way to get it done…
“No one’s happy where we are right now and how we’re playing. We’ve been inconsistent. I’ve said it before, but we need to find a way to fight through this…I feel like we will, but we’ve got to start now and do it…
“Talking about it is not gonna get it done for you.”
During the discussion, Randolph pointed out Luis Castillo’s inability to put the ball in play in a spot with runners on base, one out and the pitcher on deck, adding, “I’m not necessarily picking on him, but you’ve got to put the ball in play, you’ve got to do those little things so we can get momentum going, put people away and stay in the game.”
Tagged Poll, Willie Randolph |
Binghamton (AA): 2-1 win over Connecticut
LHP Jon Niese bounced back from a rough start last week to fire 5 2/3 innings of one run baseball. He allowed four hits and four walks while striking out five. RHP Eddie Kunz earned his tenth save of the season, this one of the four out variety.
3B Danny Murphy was 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. Nick Evans began the night in LF before moving to 1B in the late innings. He was 2-for-4 with an RBI. 1B Mike Carp finished 1-for-2 with two walks and an RBI.
St. Lucie (A+): 7-3 loss to Dunedin
RHP Tobi Stoner took the loss despite making a “quality start”, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out seven. RHP Stephen Clyne continues to struggle, surrendering two runs on a hit and a walk in just a third of an inning.
DH Lucas Duda went 1-for-4, while OF DJ Wabick was 2-for-4. 2B Luis Rivera finished 2-for-5. OF Chris Fournier hit his second homer of the season and scored two runs.
Savannah (A-): 2-1 loss to Augusta
Tagged Minors |RHP Michael Antonini pitched well despite taking the loss, breezing through the first five innings before surrendering two runs and not getting out of the sixth. On the night, he allowed two runs on three hits and a walk in 5 2/3 innings, striking out eight.
No Gnat had more than one hit. 2B Greg Veloz was 1-for-3 with a walk, as was OF Richard Pena. Brooklyn native OF Carlos Guzman went 1-for-3, no walk involved. DH Jordan Abruzzo finished 1-for-4.
One of the few bright spots in last night’s game was Jose Reyes, who had two hits, two steals, a walk and a run scored. 
In this week’s installment of “The Starting Nine” on ESPN.com, Jerry Crasnick pays tribute to MLB’s top base-stealers and ranks Reyes as numero uno.
Crasnick writes:
“Rickey Henderson, Vince Coleman and Tim Raines were risk takers at heart, and so is Reyes. He feeds off the buzz in the stands and was born to unnerve pitchers and make catchers antsy.”
…jose’s play has been very encouraging lately, especially at the plate…now if only the rest of the lineup can follow…
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