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Over the past couple of weeks, I keep seeing what I believe to be new lows for the Mets.
The latest bottoming out to me was yesterday’s comedy of errors in the sixth inning, when the Mets dropped two fairly routine pop ups on the infield, in foul territory, endured an errant throw from their latest center fielder, and that errant throw was not able to be cut off by their latest first baseman.
Like I said last night, losing is one thing. It is fine to lose games playing the best they can possibly play or when the pitching gets hit really hard.
But from what took place last night, and a series of games dating back to the Luis Castillo dropped popup at Yankee Stadium, I am forced to believe that the club has not emphasised and exercised fundamental play dating back to February and play like that disappoints me and pains me.
The old adage in baseball is that a team will win 33 percent and lose 33 percent of their games. The fate of the team lies in what they do with the other 33 percent. The teams that can get the bunts down, catch and throw the ball consistently, and are good situational hitters win that 33 percent in my opinion.
Over the past week, we have seen what the Mets are doing with that other 33 percent. The inning in Milwaukee last Tuesday and of course last night are indicators.
It doesn’t take a superstar or even a regular player to avoid problems like this, and that is what gives me such heartache. The plays that the Mets have failed to execute, such as not being able to consistently lay down sacrifice bunts and the defensive lapses, specifically Nick Evans failing to cut the ball off yesterday in the sixth inning, are things that our coaches made us run miles for.
It is really hard to feel confident right now, and as the disappointment mounts, even I feel pessimistic even with the return of their regulars getting closer.
That said, I am very hopeful that the issue today is that the youth and professional inexperience is the cause, and that this group is learning as they go, and therefore the Mets can begin to win that “other” 33 percent of their games.
I am going to be patient with this current group and not ask Omar Minaya to do something hasty, despite the need for more offense and the need for more consistent starting pitching…I know I am in the minority but too many times have I seen this organization make bad moves in what seems to be a desperate situation, only to fall flat in the end.
The reason for that is I too watch these games and say “Jose Reyes would have beaten that out” or “Carlos Beltran would have caught that ball” but if I have to say things like that twice in one game I know that bringing in one guy like Adam Dunn, Alex Rios, or Matt Holliday will not solve their problems today and while I believe the Mets are able to make a move, they can only bring in one player of that caliber.
That said if a player is available that fits the teams mold for Citi Field and their long term goals, I am all for it, even if it means that the team won’t win in 2009.
Completely agree, we are more than one player away and until we play better baseball and show us something, I would not jeapordize the future for this year. What saddens me the most though is do we really believe the guys we have in AA and AAA are going to be above average major league players? I am not so sure. So where does that leave us moving forward?
that is exactly why i have stated before that i am not against giving up a guy like fmart for a holliday or an all-star caliber ace(oswalt..peavy..along those lines) because while theres a chance fmart will be good…theres also a even bigger chance hes the next carlos gomez or lastings milledge, and if u traded him, u’d be getting “guarenteed” value in return. Doesnt mean i want to trade him, but if they did and they got a all-star or all-star caliber player in return i wouldnt go nuts over getting rid of fmart
finally jerry goes with his best defensive team today…
Cora
Murphy
Wright
Church
Evans LF
Reed CF
Schneider
Castillo
Johan
Do you know what’s funny there are some people out there that actually think that this team doesnt need offense and to hold onto our prospects. What a load of crap. The last month has been absolutely embarrassing. We were 9-18 in Jun and are 2-2 in July. Omar get a bat in here now! I dont think any other GM in the game today would allow there team to go so long without 3 core players and not make a move. I’m fed up and sick and tired of watching these back ups and fill ins everyday. It is PATHETIC! Make a big move, trade our prospects and lock an all star down with an extension for the next 5 or so years!!!!! I’ve been saying this over a month now. Look at our lineup for todays game it is sad – we will not beat good teams with this lineup it is impossible. If you dont believe me look at the month of June and this series vs the Phillies. This is the second series in a row we lost to our rivals and the same team that beat up by 1 game in 07 and 3 games in 08.
Its more like… this team needs so much help that it isn’t worth it to trade some prospects for rentals or more mediocre players.
And the funny thing is that no one is blaming Jerry for the lack of fundamental play. Everyone trashed willie randolph, but we did not see ANY play like this under willie. Jerry needs to go.
After these last few weeks I have a new, greater appreciation for just how good Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes are in the field.
Church and Cora are doing a respectable job, but I too find myself saying ‘that play normally gets made by _____’ a few times a game.
And for as little range as he has Delgado at least knows how to get in cut off position.
Yea, while both Church and Cora can play CF and SS respectively, both of there strengths are at RF and 2B respectively. Cora doesnt have the range to be an everyday SS at this stage in his career, and while Church did a more then servicable job in CF…by taking him out of RF and replacing him with sheff/tatis hurt the OF defense badly….i think Beltran and Church are the best defensive tandem in the NL…
I can’t understand all this love for Adam Dunn. A guy who has only hit .5 homers and less than .250 since June 1st is not going to make that much of a difference. Has he really made that much of a difference in the Nats lineup? They’ve scored less than the Mets.
He is on pace to hit almost 50 home runs… wake up kd bart
Michael, I’ve heard that a team is going to win 60 games no matter what it does and lose 60 games no matter what it does. It’s the 42 other games that are the ones that you need to win.
This team, for a full season, would not win 60 games…
btw, 33 percent of the season is 54 games, so you are quibbling over 12 games, or 7% of the season.
The problem is the players all get paid big buck, win or lose. They go on with there lives and its oer, we, the fans take the abuse for them. I have to hear about the collapse part and part 2, as well as game 7 in 2006, the Yankees game and now the Phillies eries, when will it end? I have to make excuses and justify the bad play, and, Im tired of it. Everytime they have a chance to give us fans something to be happy about and take pride in, they choke, and blow it. This team is the worst I have seen in years. They cany hit or catch and they are slowly falling out of it. I know its close or a “dogfight”, but, look at our record in close “dogfights” we are 0-2, that aint good. If they dont pull out front soon, it wont matter anymore.