|
|
|
The Mets (22-24) lost to the Rockies (19-29) by a score of 6 to 5 in 13 innings tonight at Coors Field. The Mets have lost five consecutive games.
For a complete recap and box score, check out SNY.tv.
- Oh Billy, Bill, Billy, that was a biggie. That was not the time to be giving up your first earned run of the season on a Matt Holliday homerun in the bottom of the ninth and blowing your second save of the season. I don’t know, but I think there is a reason for the closer to be interviewed tonight after the game.
- Oliver Perez was all over the place tonight, walking eight through five innings. Despite having below average stuff tonight, Perez was able to battle and keep the Mets in the ballgame until he was pulled in the sixth.
- Joe Smith was asked to clean up Perez’s mess in the sixth, but was unable to strand two inherited runners. Smith has been excellent stranding runners up to this point, only allowing three of 18 to score.
- If Endy Chavez hamstring injury from a year ago is any indication, we won’t be seeing Marlon Anderson anytime soon. Val Pascucci anyone?
- It was all for naught, but nice to see the Mets fight to regain the lead in the top of seventh after the Rockies tied it up in the bottom half of the previous inning. However, and I know it’s nitpicking because he did get the run home on a sac fly, but it irritates me that Jose Reyes went up and swung at the first pitch and popped it up.
- Speaking of Reyes, he legs out a hustle double in the top half of the tenth, but then proceeded to get picked off second by the pitcher. Nothing is going right for this team and their lack of focus on the base paths continue. In the words of Gary Cohen, “What else!”
- Also, I know a manager being ejected is overrated and not something in Willie’s personality, but after Reyes struck out on a borderline strike I would have liked to have seen Willie Randolph argue a bit on Reyes’ behalf. Of course, typical of Randolph, he said a few words and marched himself back to the dugout. Who knows maybe seeing their manager get ejected for defending his players may light a fire under this team. Hell, It’s worth a try at this point.
- What a bizarre game. We can only hope this is rock bottom and Mets start to fight their way out of this mess.
The Mets continue their three-game series with the Rockies tomorrow with Claudio Vargas on the mound, game time at 3:55.
 |
 |
 |
RSS 2.0 Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Fuentes balked on the Reyes pickoff play.
Most definetly, very obvious. Just saw the replay again and it was so obvious. Definite balk.
I’m not even one of those guys that gets mad at Willie for not going out there and arguing stuff and making a fool of himself.
But how does he not go out there and argue that? I saw it live from my living room. It was an enormous play.
What a crushing loss.
Danny, not a single coach argued that. They were like stunned that something like that happened. They were in shock dumbfoundedness.
It WAS NOT a balk.
Watch the play again, Fuentes never touched the ground with his foot until it swung all the way around towards second base. Yes, he was initially going through the motions like he would throw home, but then before the foot touched the ground, he swung around.
So in the end, it was a step towards second base and a throw. This is 100% legal. Also note, it doesn’t matter he hesitated on the throw because you’re allowed to fake towards second while stepping towards second, anyway.
Also note, the definition of a balk is not simply “deceiving a runner”, which is the common misconception. There are plenty of legal ways to deceive runners. Fuentes’ move tonight was one of them.
You’re wrong. He started his leg down towards home and then spun. If you are still in contact with the rubber, you can hang your leg and still turn to second base and either make the throw or fake it. But if you are engaged with the rubber, you CANNOT start towards home and then stop the leg and turn it around. You can only hang the leg and spin.
I’m not wrong. See rule 8.05 on http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/downloads/y2008/official_rules/08_the_pitcher.pdf
This rule lists the 13 ways a pitcher can balk. Please find the rule between 8.05a and 8.05m that says this was a balk. Hint: you won’t.
And don’t refer to 8.05a which states, “It is a balk when the pitcher in contact with his plate, makes any motion naturally associated with his pitch and fails to make such a delivery.” This doesn’t apply if you legally disengage from the rubber, such as in making a legal pickoff attempt.
You’re trying to tell me this is a balk by saying you “cannot start towards home and then stop the leg and turn it around”. That is legal.
Balks don’t govern pitcher’s body weight shifting towards any direction. As long as your body never comes to a full stop while your leg is in the air and you step towards the base you throw to (or legally feint a throw to) then there is no balk. Otherwise, every left-hander who’s ever picked off a runner at first base would be called for a balk (even the ones who step towards first base when they throw).
whether or not it was a Balk, we still lost….. so frustrating!!!
His stopping of his leg after bringing it down is the balk whether it was still in the air or not. As you say it has to be done in one motion which it was not. There was a delay when he stopped his leg and he actually picked the leg up again to be able to spin. At my game this morning I asked all three umpires (who do D1 games) what they thought and all 3 said without hesitation that it was a balk. Saying once you start to bring the leg down you have to be stepping toward the base your throwing or going home. He did neither.
That was as obvious a balk as I have ever seen but the Mets are approaching the Cubs as the most cursed team in baeball.
Anyone hear Tom Petty then David Bowie singing
Free Falling
Ch, ch , ch changes
i would really like outfielders in the outfield…..and second basemen that can play the position…and a manager that can manage….at this point the only thing to look forward to is seeing evans in left tomorrow….hopefully…or maybe willie can play castillo in left and play easely on second….sheesh
ballz
IT. WAS. A. BALK.
I know it wasn’t the reason they lost and that their bats should have corrected it. But gimme a break. That was a BALK. Pitcher stepped to home, then turned around. Of course you’re gonna pick him off. You just DECEIVED THE RUNNER. Doesn’t anyone get this? I complain about this and nothing cuz…well for one, I’ll start caring about this team once they snap out of it….also I’m a bit meticulous when it comes to things like this. Something so small as this missed call could have CHANGED THE GAME!
Agreed.
no post game commentary due to audio problems HMMM
Tick Tock Willie, Tick Tock.
That was one of the more egregious balks I have ever seen. His leg was coming down toward the plate. So grating that Reyes is getting lectured by Mazzilli for his supposed lack of concentration when all he did was take a secondary lead.
It doesn’t matter his leg was coming down towards home plate, because it never came down to the ground. You can flail your leg in any direction. The rules only govern where it initially lands, which in this case was towards second base. I watched the replay on the mlb.tv feed just now to be sure. It was an overhead shot which gives a clear view.
It was NOT a balk.
His front foot didn’t his the ground, but you can’t bring that front foot downwards in the direction of home and then pivot on your back foot right before the front foot hits the ground.
The rule is that a balk is when “the pitcher, while touching his plate [i.e. the rubber], makes any motion naturally associated with his pitch and fails to make such delivery.”
Clearly there is some leeway with the leg kick upwards, but you can’t bring your foot downwards toward home and then suddenly stop — Fuentes was about 75% into his motion. It’s a balk.
Where in the rules does it say anything about the foot having to hit the ground before it’s a balk?
Hitting the ground is the “step” that the rules refer to when saying you have to step towards the base you throw to. It doesn’t tell you what you can and can’t do in the process of making that step (except in the case of bringing your foot behind the rubber then throwing to first, which is not related to this).
You’re missing the point. You can’t start your motion towards home plate and then try to pick someone off. The balk rules state that once you begin your motion to home plate, you must finish that motion.
When a left-handed pitcher does a pickoff to first, the 45 degree angle is the line of demarcation between throwing to first or having to continue your motion to home plate.
When a runner is on second base, the beginning of the motion to home plate is when the leg starts towards home plate. You can’t start the leg towards home plate, stop it, and then spin and throw to second base.
I can tell by the language you use, you have never actually sat down and read the rule book.
The rules actually say the start of your motion towards home plate, when in the set position, is when your hands separate after having come to your stop. (See time of the pitch.) Note this does not commit you to pitch, this is just when your motion begins.
But if your motion beginning committed you to pitch, and your motion begins when your hands separate, then by your logic, any pickoff attempt is a balk!
This is why your logic is flawed.
See rule 8.01c. “At any time during the pitcher’s preliminary movements and until his natural pitching motion commits him to the pitch, he may throw to any base provided he steps directly towards such base before making the throw.”
Now you’re trying to make the case Fuentes was committed to the batter, but as long as the pitcher can physically still turn around and make a natural throw to a base, he is not committed to the batter. Since Fuentes made a natural turn, step, and throw, he obviously had not committed himself to throw home.
Agreed. Rule 8.05(c) says it’s a balk if you do not step toward the base you throw to. That doesn’t mean that if you do not step toward home, it can’t be a balk (even assuming that this doesn’t count as a step toward home).
8.05(a), which is a separate rule, and another way that something can be a balk, says that it’s a balk if you make a motion naturally associated with the pitch. Obviously, this isn’t interpreted totally literally, because you can start your leg up. But as Danny says, the dividing line has always been whether you start to bring your leg down toward home. As as he points out, balks are regularly called when a pitcher starts the leg down toward home and then throws to first, even if the leg doesn’t touch down in the direction of home.
It was not a “natural” turn — he hopped on his back foot. Nor does that matter. What matters is that he got to the point of his windup where you have to go home — that point is when the front leg comes down in the direction of home.
No offense man. But I played college baseball and that’s how the rule was explained to me at every level. I completely disagree with your interpretation.
I use the language of someone who actually has physically carried out the words in the rule book at a high level.
Exactly Seth. The actual application of that rule is that the leg coming down towards home starts the motion to home plate.
Agreed with Danny. You are focusing on 8.05(c), but this was an 8.05(a) balk.
And by your logic, you could even fake a throw toward home (as long as you don’t “step”) and then turn around and throw to second. The problem is, 8.05(a) bans that.
Search on Google for “Jim Evans balk video”.
If you’ve seen that DVD, you’d understand it. This is by Jim Evans, who has trained MLB Umpires for 25+ years. I think he knows what he’s talking about.
And Mr. College Baseball Big Shot:
I’ve umpired more games than you’ve played, and I’ve seen players and coaches a lot better than you know less about the rules. Even Tim McCarver and Joe Morgan mess up the balk rules consistently, and Morgan’s a Hall of Famer.
Take an umpiring course if you want to understand balks.
That’s why I said no offense, I wasn’t trying to big-time you. I was just trying to give you my perspective on why I feel so strongly about how this rule is interpreted.
I disagree with you.
Haha, and obviously I wasn’t that good, I wouldn’t be posting on metsblog at 3 AM if I was.
But I was a fast dude that stole a lot of bases, so I acclimated myself to the balk rules very intimately.
Well it sounds like you disagree with the rule. But this is how the rule is enforced, with the reasoning I gave above. I can guarantee that there isn’t a professional umpire, majors or minors, that would have called that a balk.
I’m pretty sure Bob Davidson would have called it. Umpires are afraid to call balks unless they are blatant and 100% sure, especially in a close, extra inning game.
Ha, okay, maybe Davidson, but just because I can’t trust him after the home run call last week.
But no one else.
The Jim Evans link appears to be down, or at least I can’t get it. Lemme ask you, then, how far can you get into your motion before it’s a balk? Can you raise your arm as if you’re pitching while bringing your foot down toward home, then do a 180-hop on your back foot before stepping and throwing toward second? And if not, why not?
Here is a clip from a Jim Evans video. How is what this guy does worse than what Fuentes did?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0qcHzAGDeY
Here is a Jim Evans video — how is what this guy does worse than what Fuentes did?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0qcHzAGDeY
First, if you feint a throw to the plate it’s a balk. It doesn’t matter what your feet or body do, the arm cannot feint towards the plate at any time.
If you “hop”, you have to land with your step towards the base you’re throwing to. This is called a jump turn.
But as for your free foot, it’s okay if you bring it towards the plate and spin it back to second. If there was some point where you couldn’t, then there would have to be a rule that says, “if your leg is however many inches from the ground, then you have to throw home” or something like that. My point is, there isn’t.
The reason you don’t see this move a lot, is that most pitchers don’t have the balance to bring their foot in one direction, and then change directions, without stepping until they’re completely in the new direction.
The Colorado announcers on mlb tv said Feuntes does this a few times a week. Zero balks called on him this season according to the stat sheet.
And I got on the Evans page. Try: www[dot]umpireacademy[dot]com/store/product_info[dot]php?products_id=30
Fuentes doesn’t drive his legs as much as most because he’s a shot-putter, so he can keep his balance.
I’m intrigued by how you were taught to interpret the rule. It’s not the same as I was instructed to read as a baserunner.
Don’t be confused between when a baserunner SHOULD run and when a pitcher can’t pick him off without balking.
A baserunner should be taught to run when the pitcher is physically in a position where he can’t turn and throw. While he could still legally, if he can’t physically make a pickoff attempt, the baserunner should leave at that point in order to get the best possible jump.
There is a point in the delivery between when a pitcher can’t physically make a pickoff throw, but still could legally. Thus, baserunners often leave before the pitcher is legally committed to the plate. That’s what makes them a good base stealer. No sense hanging around if you can’t physically get picked off, even though it wouldn’t be a balk if the pitcher somehow had the balance/skill to pull it off.
But again, don’t be confused between the strategy of stealing bases and the rules regarding balks. I have a feeling many coaches teaching base stealers do get this confused, which is what leads to many of the misconceptions about balks.
I’m going to bed by the way. Nice discussing with you. Hope I helped clear the rules up a little.
Goodnight. Great discussion. Thanks very much.
I would have done the exact same thing Reyes did, which was start a hard secondary when he did to make sure I got to third even if it was a mediocre bunt from Castillo.
ags & danny — I’ve appreciated this discussion too. I’m still not entirely satisfied this wasn’t a balk. There isn’t anything in the rules that says you can’t feint a throw home with your arm. Now obviously you can’t. But that’s because there is a more general rule that says you can’t make any motion naturally associated with your pitch, and this includes feinting a throw home.
The question then is, is bringing your foot downwards toward home and starting momentum in that direction “a motion naturally associated with” the pitch? Here, he didn’t simply lift his right (front) leg up, bring it downwards, pivot, and then put that leg down toward second. He lifted it up, brought it down in the direction of home, then did a hop pivot on his back foot. If you look at the replay and focus on his back foot, you see that as his right (front) leg is coming down, he jumps off of his back foot and lands on that same back foot in FRONT of the rubber. This one-legged hop was how he was able to break the momentum he had started toward home. Then he set his feet (waiting for the shortstop), stepped toward second, and threw. Maybe where he went wrong was stepping off the rubber improperly — jumping forwards off the rubber with his back foot. In any case, it still doesn’t gibe with me that you can get that far into a delivery, with clear momentum toward home, and not have it be a balk.
I’m not at all familiar with the balk rules as written, but I think it’s telling that very few balks are called involving a pick-off to second base. That was a funky move, and I thought “balk” at first, but then I thought the motion required to turn and through to 2B is so involved anyway, it’s a very subjective judgment at best.
In any case, it shouldn’t be an issue. Reyes screwed up.
One thing is for certain: Willie should have gone out for at least an explanation.
ags412 – you posted the rule that says it was a balk. part of the rule you posted says:
“until his natural pitching motion commits him to the pitch”
that means once he starts towards the plate, he can’t stop and turn around and throw to second.
it’s cut and dry.
Yes it is cut and dry. He started and stopped. His leg coming straight down, and that was what he did because you cant throw it forward and then bring it back because thats physically improbable, is still considered stepping toward home. Now if he spun before his leg came to a stop he would be fine, but he did stop and hang the leg. That stop was the failure to deliver the ball to the plate that technically he stepped toward. That would also be considered decieving the runner and my umpire friends had also attended a professional umpires school with one of them actually doing a couple of years umpiring in the minors, so dont say all umpires. As they say, it all depends on how you interpret the rules.
Also, the balk WAS the reason they lost. He was on second with no outs.
wasn’t rock bottom yesterday?
Rock bottom is tomorrow
What’s below rock bottom?
Six feet under.
The 3-2 pitch a couple innings later was low too (that one was at least arguable, unlike the balk). Jose got thoroughly hosed tonight.
Yes, I also noticed that Holiday’s home run was too high!
So how many rock bottoms are we going to have?
where’s balkin’ bob when we need him?
Perez just walked him
LOL, well played!
Where’s Ronnie when you need him? He would have been all over that balk. He definetly would have looked at what the pitcher did to get Reyes and saw that balk.
Plus, Keith was too busy rooting against the Mets to notice.
I get the distinct feeling that everyone who played for the 1986 Mets has an eye on the soon-to-be-vacant Mets managerial position.
Just another day, another dollar in Metsland.
And you have to love that the D-Backs walk into Atlanta and just destroy the Braves after what they did to the Mess. Says more about how bad our boys than how good the Braves are.
Fire’em all, Wilpons. Fire’em all.
If I have to hear/say “we can only hope this is rock bottom” one more time, I may step in front of a bus. Seriously, this team is eating my soul. Argh.
Oh, and yeah. That was totally a balk.
Seriously, I was very surprised Gary and Keith (not to mention Willie and our base coaches) never even addressed the issue. Then Lee Mazzilli goes on an extended lecture about Jose trying to do too much. So grating.
Willie managed another wonderful game huh.
1) He starts the 6th w/ Perez who was already at 100 pitches and was lucky to get thru 5 innings w/ only 2 runs and Smith was ready. But nope he waits until Perez puts 2 on to start the inning to pull him.
2) Bats Casanova instead of Church w/ a runner on 3rd but bats Church later in the game with nobody on and 1 out.
3) Using Heilman instead of other pitches such as Wise that hadn’t yet been used. Heilman should be last man outta the pen at this point.
4) Why on earth w/ 1st base open to you pitch to the guy (Holliday) that should’ve been MVP last season. I know Atkins was 3-5 that game but geez, you can’t get beat by Holliday w/ 1st base open. That is unforgivable.
Any other blown strategies I’m missing or forgetting?
And few other things- Willie’s stubborness is also out of control. Case in point- tonight’s starting lineup. You can’t score runs in Atlanta so what’s he do? Run the same lineup out there. Start Tatis for a night, shake things up. But nope, takes a pulled hammy to Marlon for Tatis to even get an at-bat. Also, Reyes’ argument w/ the home plate ump- Willie could you at least run out there and make sure he doesn’t get thrown out. Who would you have used there if he got tossed. Are you afraid of umps? Is it like going to the principal’s office for you when you were a kid?
Lastly, do you ever talk to Reyes about his baserunning? He keeps making the same mistakes over and over and over. He’s 24, he needs to be coached. Not you just sitting there assuming he should know better time after time.
I can answer some of these questions
1) Willie needs his starters to go innings. The next off day is June 9th, that means not burning up the pen and getting more out of your starters.
I cant answer the 2nd one.
Points 3 and 4 tie into each other. Heilman does good with the bases empty and he was doing his job. Holliday was 0-4 against heilman and Atkins was 2-3 against heilman. I’d go after the guy who doesnt have a hit against me as well.
Willie did go out when reyes struck out and kept his player from going out. Reyes being picked off 2nd base was a missed call on the umpire with the balk, but that doesnt excuse reyes for his blunders, not only this game, but this whole week it seems like. Talking to reyes will make him understand, but reyes has to decided to use the brain in his head.
Heilman does real good at allowing baserunners also. And to me, 0-4 is misleading v. Holliday. To me, it means he’s due to get a hit against him. Everyone else has. To me it’s just like pitching to A-rod instead of 1 of the other yankee hitters. sure, they may have more success against a certain pitcher but you just can’t let certain guys beat you w/ 1st base open and the game on the line. Holliday is 1 of them, and so is Pujols, A-rod, Bonds in his day.
I’m in total agreement with your comments!! One point, and this is not to excuse Reyes but as a runner on second base his responsibility is to watch the second baseman and the third base coaches job to watch the shortstop. That being said Reyes didn’t seem to be watching anyone including the pitcher.
One final point – objectively it’s the players that win or lose but I truly believe that the owners, the GM, the manager and the coaches are responsible too. As much as I like HoJo these guys look lost up there. What was the Mets batting avg. with Rick Down compared to HoJo? And Omar has made some good moves but also some terrible ones. I’ve been a fan since 62 and between the collapse of last season and the start of this year is almost too much to take.
I feel your pain. They are really trying the patience of this usually very patient fanbase.
Soul-crushing last calendar year or so for Mets fans.
That was a balk, by why was Heilman pitching to Holliday, at least make him fish ? I’d rather take my chances with Atikins, even then you have a base open, crazy
I can’t believe I stayed up late to watch this. People, yea it was a balk that’s not the point, what the hell was Reyes Doing that far off second, that play sums up this season, there heads are not into the game. How many bad baserunning plays have we seen this year? Willie talked about the fans not being over last year, I know I am, but the way these players play are they over last year? Now Claudio Vargas going on three days rest with most of the bullpen being used tonight, can you say ugly game and another loss. Speaking of ugly, hey team you were whining and complaining about the boos before you left on this road trip, wait till Monday night, hope you got alot of cotton for your ears because you will need it. By the way, did you see when Reyes was arguing with the ump and Willie comes out and calls Reyes over with his hands like he’s Jose’s dad or grandad, can Willie get thrown out of one game.
Um, Reyes started his secondary because Fuentes started his motion towards home. That’s probably why he was so far off the base.
Obviously, yet again, SNY has made Willie and the Mets look bad. Fire Bill Webb!
Yes, it sucks that the team lost. However, for once, the team lost without committing any mental mistakes, which at least makes it easier to sleep at night. It is urgent for this team to put together a little winning streak, but I was encouraged from a few things I saw in this loss, namely Perez getting by on sub-par stuff, and the Mets actually coming from behind. Being the eternal optimist that I am, I say that you are going to lose some games..at least this loss was a function of the other team beating the Mets, instead of the Mets beating themselves. Hopefully they can at least take the next two games to get themselves back to .500…With Francis in the game tonite, hopefully he wont make an appearance the rest of the series. I strongly believe that the boys in blue and orange can take the rest of the series…Lets Go Mets..
Balk or not getting picked off at 2nd with 0 outs isn’t a mental mistake???
If it was in fact a balk -and it did look like one- how can you fault the baserunner? Plus, it wasn’t a guarantee that there would have been a hit to drive him in, had he been on second.
I’m glad that you’re encouraged… You may be the only Met fan in America that is encouraged by anything that this team is putting out on the field… This team is quite seriously a freaking joke…. If i see Heilman blow one more game.. Im honestly going to blow chow… He is absolutely the worst piece of c*** and why Willie even uses him anymore is beyond me… He’s a guaranteed loss and i’m not sure who i hate more.. Him or Randolph… And Btw.. nice job Wagner… that’s what you get for wearing a Patriot hat during your rant… That’s what you get for associating with cheaters, and liars..
Its not that I am encouraged…its more that I can’t fault them for the loss…Teams are going to lose games, and while the Mets have had more than their fair share of losses, you can’t fault the team if they play sound baseball, which they did, aside from the controversial balk/pickoff play.
No mental mistakes? Whattya call letting perez pitch the 6th?
and willie!
I hate this team
I personally think that there is something going on in the clubhouse we dont know about regarding willie and his players. there not responding to him for some reason!
Just got back from the game in Denver . . . Good times. Good night.
Mike,
Wags has blown only one save…the other were as a result of errors.
, “but I think there is a reason for the closer to be interviewed tonight after the game. ”
Don’t get sassy with Wags dude. you are treading on
territory that is innapropriate. Wags has given his heart and soul to the team.
Tonight was not the night for Wag. to blow a save in the ninth.. Say what you want about Wagner… but holy s***! how do u say what you said, and come in and blow a game like this? This team is all about non-performance, non backing up your comments, making ridiculous bonehead plays on the basepaths, and just looking like clowns night after night… This is without a doubt, the most difficult team in sports that i’ve ever had to watch…. I don’t even know what to say about this squad anymore. From top to bottom just rotten to the freaking core… Perez, Heilman, Delgado… the list goes on.. Sorry folks but ive never been more disgusted as a fan ever than i am by this team…. Just needed to vent
sometimes MVP caliber hitters do what they are paid to do
it happens
Yea I can’t blame Wagner for tonight’s game. Holliday hit a first pitch low fastball. Sometimes you just gotta tip your cap to the hitter. After all, he is Matt Holliday. Wagner has been lights out and its appropriate the 1st earned run he allowed was a good piece of hitting. Of all the things to complain about tonight, I was surprised Wagner’s earned run was the 1st comment on the wrap-up.
In the 2 previous years things were a lot different reyes was always leading the league in stolen bases/delgado could actually hit/the team had life! now it simply doesnt and randolph should be fired! Omar next if any more moves he makes dont pan out!
Tony Paige on WFAN just suggested that Willie do a strip tease to motivate the team.
I’m a Met fan from Illinois. I’ve been around Cub fans my whole life whining and crying about there team. I finally am beginning to understand what it is like to be a Cub fan as the Mets just continue to play pathetic baseball.
Balk or not, Reyes getting picked off 2nd base is inexcusable.
Heilman just shouldn’t be doing anything other than mopping up during blowouts.
Randolph needs to be let go.
Tonight, for the first time in 3 years, I just knew we weren’t going to win. We are a team that must change and the change must come now.
Simply put,these players are not responding to willie and look like they are lost.Its time for new blood and some type of motivation for this club!
I wish lou pinella was available!But hes not so who?the mets need a mgr who is positive yet will get on their butts when hes needs to and doesnt take any crap from umpires!
does billy martin have a son?
Ricky
What i dont understand is why the wilpons or omar are letting it get this far.willie has to go.
B/c Omar doesn’t want to look like he was wrong about Willie and the Wilpons don’t want to pay 2 managers at the same time. One to manage, the other to sit home.
Monday will not be pretty at Shea. Leave your children at home.
Mine is coming…enjoy gipper. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diZVPTRINFc
It’s okay! The Knicks do it all the time!
In the face of last nites devastating loss, lets not overlook the fact that David Wright looks totally lost at the plate and Carlos Beltran contributed another typically clutch 0-for-5 effort last nite.
When Fernando Tatis off the bench contributes more than your number three and four hitters combined, how can you really expect to win?
Wright is over rated… and Carlos (take your pick) is basically a #2 hitter with some power but way too inconsistent and DEFINATLY needs to go now..The other Carlos (D) needs to slink away…far away…and just ..you know..not show up one day and that will be that!!
The New York Mental Midgets!
Pitching to Matt Holliday with first base open?
FIRE WILLIE NOW!!!!!
Off topic question …….perhaps it’s been asked and answered already but i’ve missed it …
Why haven’t the Mets recalled Angel Pagan ?
Is he injured ?
Season: Over
I actually stayed up to watch this game…yikes!!
1. Willie is not going .. Omar made that clear
2. Delgado ain’t going anywhere ..too bad
3. Castillo looked like he was gonna fall down and crawl into his wheel chair – Omar ought to be fired just for this signing.
Bad, Bad, Bad – I’ve been a fan since 1962… I’ll keep watching and rooting for them but they sure look like they want to be someplace else. The players are just “here”…
SNY commentary – Love the TV booth guys!!!! .. Need more Harold in the studio…get Maz another gig…why is Daryll there?
come on, the “voicing of support” from the GM to the manager usually is the kiss of death. besides, it’s not omar’s call; when willie gets fired (and he will), it will be the wilpons that pull the trigger.
the party is over, guys. the best we can hope for is meaningful games toward the end of summer into september. we’re back to that. what a shame.
Well, all I can say is that I thought rock bottom was the Braves series? I guess not. If he is not gone on Monday, then I will lose all faith in this organization. Their acceptance of losing cannot be supported anymore.
At least my future looks bright:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diZVPTRINFc
dude, if i did something like that, my wife would KILL me.
Nah, my wife’s a Mets fan. She suffers WITH me. I’m a very lucky guy.
you ARE! my wife’s an Oprah fan! LOL.
“Fight to get out of this mess” Since when have we ever see this team fight? They get punched in the gut and they NEVER respond. I’ve tried to remain positive but this team has shown me nothing of being able to turn it around. Omar needs to make some kind of trade for another outfielder because if we are relying on some minor leaguer forget it. Hey Omar!! SOS
Save Our Season!
omar should act to save himself while he’s at it.
I think Reyes is a bit too infatuated with his own talent….he needs to boost his gray matter a bit, would make him a bit more complete…
most overrated player in baseball today: jose reyes.
Carlos Beltran may give him a run for his money before it’s all said and done
OHHHHHH the pain
well thats about as bad as it gets. i really don’t think it can get any worse….
-coming into the game after being swept in 4 by braves
-bad ollie once again walks the ballpark
-willie botches pitching change by leaving OP in to start the 6th
-injury to an already short OF
-wagner blows a save
-reyes with a piss poorbaserunning blunder getting picked off at 2nd with no outs in the 10th
-willie doesn’t argue enough after reyes gets called out on a bs called thrid strike
-heilman loses the game
If i asked you to draw up the worse scenario, short of wright reyes or beltran getting hurt, this was it.
the sad thing is you are not describing just one game, but also the season!
not to beat a dead horse but how does willie not argue the balk on the pickoff, or take so long to get out there after reyes was called out on strikes?
if he hadn’t already lost his young shortstop, i guarantee you he did last night. it’s time for a change.
Dude, it’s over until Willie is gone, don’t even try to find reason in his actions anymore, he’s a pssy, that’s it, he doesn’t like confrontation. He’s a bad strategic manager, a horrible motivator, doesn’t stick up for his players, and too sensitive for the NY media. Omar, wake the fck up, GET HIM OUTTA HERE!!!!!
it amazes me that even now he refuses to do anything to make himself look better.
he must want to be fired.
It doesn’t help Willie that Giuseppe Franco has more range at 2nd base then our current second baseman
“We all have to do better. It starts with me. Put it on me.” – Joe Girardi, after Mets swept Yanks in Bronx
“I’m one of the guys that doesn’t take credit for winning, but I understand because I am the manager, I’ll take the bulk of the blame for losing. I don’t think that’s fair, but that’s the way it is, and I accept that.” – Willie Randolph, before last night’s game in Denver
Would Willie getting ejected really help the team? Or is that just something that the fans want to see?
it wasn’t about him getting ejected. it was about him protecting his player. maybe the players want to see him show some spark as much as we do.
worked for girardi.
Four score and seven years ago, the Mets won. Maybe they would’ve won if the umps had called the balk. I really think God hates us.
God is a Mets fan. Even he can’t turn this team around.
Time to fire Randolph, Peterson & HoJo and hire Mazzilli, Darling & Piazza.
Are you serious? Mazzilli and Piazza? Have you forgotten to take your meds again this morning?
I’m glad that I am now more educated on balks, however, I’m not glad that these Metropolitans earned themselves another “L.”
Additionally, I’m not glad at all with the player focus displayed yesterday. I must say, this loss is NOT pointed towards Willie.
First of all, I can care less whether or not the pitcher balked, because Reyes undoubtedly should take full responsibility for taking a huge base runner off the bases – and putting himself – head down – sitting in the dugout.
Secondly, when it rains it pours, so it wasn’t much of a shock when Wagner blew the save. Let’s face it; getting a win these days is like pulling teeth.
Furthermore, you just know that things aren’t clicking when you had every opportunity to close the deal and earn a win, and once again it all falls apart at the worst time.
The players need not look anywhere other than at themselves. Willie’s off-the-hook for this loss, so every single player is 100-percent accountable for yesterday’s crushing defeat.
Finally, I’ll be writing more regarding the topic of players opening their mouths to the media, and influences on their manager and performance.
does anyone else think willie maybe shoould have considered pullie Ollie after the 5th? Instead of after he barley escaped the 5th he was struggling the entire night got them 5 innings and could have left with the lead 4-2 to make it Joe Smith’s inning? Just another example of Willies poor use of the bullpen he’s terrible and he cost us another one yet again…. could have had some insurance to bring to Wag’s instead of trotting Ollie out there who had already thrown 96 pitches on a night where he had very little. Set him up perfectly to implode and put Joe Smith in a bad spot wtg willie