Daily Archives: September 1, 2009
I’m all for David Wright doing whatever is necessary to protect his noggin, but, dude, I’m sorry, Jeff Francoeur was right, that helmet is the silliest looking thing I have ever seen. Tonight on Twitter, so far, he has been described most often as looking like the Great Gazoo from the Flinstones and Dark Helmet from Spaceballs.
Mike Meech of the Phillies blog, The Fightins, writes to Twitter, “I can’t wait to see it from Google Earth.”
The Mets (59–72) begin a three-game series with the Rockies (72–59) tonight at 8:40 pm in Colorado, with Mike Pelfrey (9-9, 4.80) taking on Jorge De La Rosa (12-9, 4.72).
Angel Pagan will hit leadoff tonight for the Mets, followed in order by Luis Castillo, David Wright, Jeff Francoeur in right, Fernando Tatis at first base, Nick Evans in left field, Omir Santos behind the plate, Anderson Hernandez at shortstop, and Pelfrey.
The Rockies have won 29 of their last 42 games in Coors Field.
De La Rosa is 2-0 with a 4.91 ERA in seven games against the Mets, including a start in late July when he gave up just two runs and three hits in 6.1 innings.
Pelfrey has a 20–inning scoreless streak against the Rockies.
Wright was activated from the disabled list before tonight’s game.
Update, 7:40 pm:
Prior to tonight’s game, Jerry Manuel told reporters rookie C Josh Thole will make his first start during Thursday’s day game.
Manuel also said Wright will not play during tomorrow night’s game, as he eases him back in to the lineup.
Ed Coleman will talk with Thole during tonight’s pre-game show on WFAN, which you can listen to starting at 8:00 pm.
Tagged News |Terry P: Yesterday you wrote quite negatively about Jose Reyes. What do you suddenly have against him? He’s a rare talent, and should never be traded.
Matthew Cerrone: I have nothing against Reyes, but I do have questions about his game – and I’m not sure why that’s a bad thing.
Personally, I think the Mets would be crazy to trade Reyes, and I hope they’re not considering it, because a) he has yet to realize his full potential, and b) he has less value today, since he’s missed most of this season with an injury.
To be honest, the bitter tone in my post from yesterday, here, was probably the result of me being frustrated with this overall season, while missing Jose’s energy and attitude on the field… frankly, the Mets don’t feel the same and are far less entertaining without him.
That said, I do have questions about his game. I feel pretty confident about how David Wright will perform next season, despite his drop-off in power this year, but I find I still wonder about Jose.
For instance, I know Jose is fast, but I still have questions about his plate discipline and his decisions on the base paths. I know he has a tremendous arm, but he seems to be regressing with his glove. I love his on-field energy, but I wonder about his focus.
Remember, even in 2006, which I feel was his best season to date, he was only hitting .250 in early June.
Here’s the thing, Jose’s current level of play and stats are fine… but, I can’t help but imagine him one day taking over like Rickey Henderson, which I realize may be unfair because Rickey is one of the greatest players of all time. Nevertheless, I still wish for that level of dominance from Reyes.
In other words, while I am comfortable with what Wright has become, I expect more of Reyes, because I believe he’s capable of so much more than Wright, and I wonder if or when he’ll rise to and stay at that next level.
Jim W: This perception of Reyes drives me crazy – he is already great… This mystical ‘other level,’ Reyes has already reached it… It is an unrealistic standard… even a fantasy.
Matthew Cerrone: It’s a fair point. For instance, he’s always the top ranked SS in Fantasy Baseball, yet I don’t feel he’s worthy of it. Of course, I drafted him first in my league. So, what does that say?
Actually, I think it says I have unrealistic expectations.
Tagged News |In a must-read report for the Daily News, Adam Rubin writes a profile of 22–year-old C Josh Thole, who has 
been added to the Mets roster and will join them in Colorado tonight.
According to Rubin, “An NL scout who recently watched Thole came away impressed with his balance and patience as a hitter… The scout projected Thole eventually as the lefty-hitting part of a platoon at catcher, or as a backup in the majors, and compared him with former major-leaguers Darrin Fletcher and Scott Bradley.”
In his report, Rubin talks with Thome, and writes about the team’s options at catcher going in to next season.
… the Mets could benefit from having a fletcher, Ramon Hernandez, Michael Barrett type, in house, for the next six seasons…
…frankly, short of Mike Piazza, it seems like catcher is always an afterthought for this organization… i feel like it’s a position they’re always scrambling to fill, though, for all i know, this may be the case for most teams…
Tagged News |
It feels like the Mets are always looking in the rear-view mirror, reacting to yesterday’s criticism, yesterday’s news, and yesterday’s problem.
For instance, the team’s biggest problem in 2008 was an ineffective bullpen. So, Omar Minaya traded for JJ Putz and signed Francisco Rodriguez. However, early this season, while the bullpen looked great, the starting rotation was inconsistent, and the offense was nonexistent… and then the injuries came.
Actually, Minaya’s biggest talent may also be his biggest weakness, in that he’s a terrific Patchwork GM.
In other words, though he will always do whatever is necessary to fix the big problem of today, and do it well, I am not sure he recognizes what might need to be fixed tomorrow… and so it feels like, to me, that 
he and the roster are always unprepared.
What’s worse, this is not limited to on-field issues, but it also extends to off-field issues as well… whether the Mets are reacting to fan criticism of Citi Field, or media reports about financial dealings, or talk-radio chatter about beat writers and shirtless executives, the team seems to spends a lot of their time issuing press releases and public statements, which only seem to perpetuate the very story they are trying to beat down in the first place.
Come to think of it, it’s like the Mets are playing an eternal game of Whac-a-Mole, whether it’s on field or off, knocking down one issue today, only to have another emerge tomorrow.
Why is this? Are there too many people involved with making decisions? Is it because they live in the shadow of the Yankees? Is it a lack of a plan? Is it a lack of focus on what they’re trying to accomplish, who they’re trying to be? Or, is it some other reason?
Tagged News |“Was Sean Green worth all that,” asks Joe Janish of Mets Today.
In a post to Mets Lifer, Dave lists 13 ways for a Mets fan to stay positive.
Andrew Tworischuk of Take the 7 Train explains why the honeymoon is over for Daniel Murphy.
In a column for Gotham Baseball, Mark Healey looks back at the 1986 Mets, or, ‘The Toast of the Town.’
Kingman from the Real Dirty looks at a few items that must be addressed this off season.
Shannon Shark of Mets Police is having a difficult time writing a column about the 2009 Mets in September.
In a post to Mike’s Mets, Joyce Mandelkern says she is married to the Mets, ‘Till Death Do Us Part.’
Lastly, Jason of Faith and Fear in Flushing explains why, despite it being against the Mets, you were lucky to see an unassisted triple-play.
Tagged News |
Last week, in a report for MarketWatch, author Erin Arvedlund was quoted as saying Fred Wilpon will be forced to sell the Mets as soon as 2010, due to roughly $700 million of Bernie Madoff-related investment losses.
Last night, Arvedlund appeared on the FOX Business Channel to discuss her book, Too Good to Be True, and talked again about Wilpon and the Mets, saying:
“It’s my opinion, based on my research… What’s going on with the Wilpons, and lots of investors, they borrowed money and leveraged up their investment… I believe the $700 million figure is correct, based on my source who worked in the Mets front office for two decades.”
Later, Mets VP of Biz. Operations Dave Howard called in to the show to debate Arvedlund, and said:
“Her claims are outrageous, unfounded and grossly irresponsible… The figures she’s throwing out are inaccurate and substantially overstated… We have said from the outset that the losses incurred from the Madoff fraud have not and will not affect the operation of the Mets. The team is not for sale, whole or in part. It is family owned and it will be family owned for the long term… There’s no need to sell… There will be no sale and I can’t state it any more definitively than that. Her source is bogus and her claims are false and irresponsible.”
Arvedlund responded by saying, “Time will tell.”
To watch the entire discussion, click below:
Tagged News |
