Roundtable: What are You Most Worried About
In the first of a weekly feature on MetsBlog.com, I asked the rest of the staff to chime in on a specific topic:
Regis Courtemanche: Whether it is hitting with runners in scoring position, their starting pitching, or something else, what do you think is the Mets’ biggest issue right now?
Matthew Cerrone: In terms of talent, I’d say the starting pitching. I’m not worried about them as a staff, so much as I’m worried about them as individuals, and that all three, Maine, Pelfrey and Perez, seem to be in a funk at the same time.
Jordan Zakarin: I’m not too worried about 
Maine and Pelfrey… But with Ollie, this may have been a $36 million mistake. Just because a guy gets a big contract doesn’t mean he’s going to be good. Look at Zito in San Francisco. The Mets will at some point have to go out and get another starter - whether that’s a top guy or a middle of the rotation guy depends on Pelfrey, I think.
Brandon Eddy: I realize the lack of solid pitching and clutch hitting will take precedence here, but I am equally concerned with our alarming rate of errors (both mental and physical) in the last two weeks. It seems the team doesn’t have an edge and lacks focus at the worst possible times.
Regis Courtemanche: The errors are bizarre, but hey, the Nationals already have 20! Seriously though, if the starting pitching continues to be erratic, the Mets will be very active before the trade deadline, similar to how the Brewers were with Sabathia last year. As far Wright’s struggles at the plate, he will turn it around sooner rather than later.
Jordan Zakarin: It’s not so much the pitching, hitting or fielding in particular that I’m worried about (although the rotation may give me my very first ulcer), it’s more that this is the same team, more or less, that fell short in ’06 and collapsed the last two years.
I’m sure they play hard and want to win, but I would have liked to see a change in the culture. You can’t really trade the core of Wright, Reyes and Beltran, or Santana or Pelfrey, but bringing in someone in the outfield, maybe a first base to replace Delgado, something should have been changed.
As much as he annoyed people, a guy like Paul Lo Duca would have been perfect. Not him specifically, but someone like him. I just fear the window has shut. Of course, ask me after they rip off a seven-game winning streak, and maybe I’ll answer differently.
Brandon Eddy: I agree, Jordan. I feel like I am in a time warp since 2006. Other than some players here and there and the manager, not much has changed. If this team doesn’t turn it around quickly then 
something big needs to be done. The core of the team may be in need of a culture shock.
Regis Courtemanche: Good point, Jordan. I don’t know if it’s me or the team hanging on to the memory of 2006, but it’s like they keep trying to recreate their success from that season by patching holes. All the expectations may also be weighing them down. I wish they would just stop pressing and start having fun, because they just look flat to me.
Matthew Cerrone: Honestly, I think we tend to project a lot of our feelings on to the team, which is not to say they too aren’t feeling frustrated, fearful, etc., but I know we are feeling this was as fans. Regis mentions fun, and this is important, because the team has not been a whole lot of fun to watch in the last two years, even when they’re winning, because I’m constantly holding on for dear life for fear a massive collapse may be in store.
In the end, like I’ve been writing, I just don’t think we trust the team right now. Whether justified, appropriate or not, it is what it is – and until they get that trust back, we’re all going to be a bit edgy.
