Opinion: Always Inconsistent must be Consistent
The Mets are 5.5 games out of first place, their lowest point of the season; and they are four games below .500, while trailing eight teams for the Wild Card, including the Marlins and Braves.
Jerry Manuel said last night, when asked about the standings:
“That doesn’t concern me as much as the way we’re playing concerns me. For example, if (the Phillies) lose tonight, that still doesn’t give me hope or optimism at this point. We’re just not playing good baseball. We’re not pitching. Even
though we didn’t make any errors (last night), we’re still not catching it like I would like for us to. We’re not turning double plays.”
I agree. Who cares, because if they do not start playing better, it doesn’t matter where the are in the standings, as it will only get worse.
Manuel later explained, ‘at this point,’ he needs to consider all options when filling out his lineup card and starting rotation.
“This is a place and a league where you’ve got to perform,” he said, “and when that’s not happening, then you have try to figure out a way to make it happen.”
Here’s a suggestion, Jerry: Play your best players, every day, every night, in the same place on the field and in the lineup.
Manuel said before yesterday’s game that he likes to be consistent with how and when he uses a player like Fernando Tatis, because it’s important for the player to wake up and now what to expect each day. The thing is, I don’t understand how Manuel’s recent lineups, which are seemingly pulled from a hat on a whim, accomplishes this.
He also downplayed the idea of momentum in baseball, saying momentum disappears the minute the next game begins.
That may be. However, it is equally important to give players a chance to get in to a rhythm, and develop individual momentum, especially young players like Nick Evans and Daniel Murphy. I’m not 
saying Murphy and Evans will each hit .300, and lead this team to a winning streak, but, who knows, maybe they will. The thing is, we’ll never find out unless they’re given the chance.
Yes, Fernando Tatis is a nice guy and a great story, but it isn’t 2008. He’s not going to again be Comeback Player of the Year.
“With the way we’re built at this time, it might be best if we went pitching, defense and then offense,” he later said. “If you can pitch and catch the ball, you have a chance. The other thought behind that is offense can come and go, but if the defense is a constant and the pitching is a constant, you have a better shot.”
In the end, I’d like to see Murphy at first base, Luis Castillo at second, Alex Cora at short, David Wright at third, Nick Evans and Ryan Church in the outfield, Omir Santos behind the plate for defense, and Jeremy Reed and Gary Sheffield teaming up in left field, because Sheffield’s body most certainly needs rest, and I do not think Reed is an every-day player.
In addition, I’d begin to ignore the disabled list, and operate as if Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran, and Jose Reyes, are not coming back. Instead, I’d try to acquire a middle infielder, like Freddy Sanchez from the Pirates, or a Mark Ellis, Nomar Garciaparra or Adam Kennedy from the A’s, which can return Cora to the bench, where he is better suited. Also, I would not rely so heavily on Sheffield for much longer than the team has. Instead, I’d keep looking for ways acquire a player like Royals OF David DeJesus and Mark Teahen, who, while not difference makers, are under contract, factor in to the future and can stabilize the batting order.
