The Unexpected Mets

Everything is not going right for the Mets. Tejada who was off to a great start is injured. Thole who is off to a great start is injured. Pelfrey who looked solid is done for the year. Miguel Batista has somehow found his way into the starting rotation. The bullpen has let up more runs than the Mets have scored. Ike Davis is batting below the Mendoza line. Jason Bay is out. Justin Turner is playing shortstop. The Mets' schedule is the toughest in baseball to this point. And the Mets are playing 4 guys on a regular basis who had never started for major league team in any capacity up to this point.

Oh yeah and they just swept the Phillies...in Philadelphia.

This is bizarre. It's remarkable, amazing and I'm loving every second of it, but it's still baffling. How on earth are the Mets doing it? You can make an argument that they are the scrappiest team in the National League right now, but they're pitching is far from top notch.

The key has been 2 out hitting. The Mets are batting .289 with 2 outs and runners in scoring position after last year not being able to scratch past .200. Call it clutch. Call it timely. Whatever you call it, the result is winning baseball.

When the Mets finally do get some consistent outings out of their pitchers and Ike Davis finally turns things around, some even more amazing things can happen. Winning 5 out of 6 from the Phillies in Philadelphia in the first month of the season is beyond unexpected, but there's hope that more of this type of play is yet to come.

It's apparent that the Mets are making believers out of skeptics. I love the headline from Justice4U blog that reads: "If you don't like the 2012 Mets, you don't like ice cream."

I do love my ice cream. Let's go Mets!

Is Too Much Being Made of this Series with the Phils?

It's April. The Mets have started off relatively strong although they've lost their last two. Unexpected success has fallen upon the Mets in April which is a rough month schedule wise so early wins are extremely important.

In the grand scheme of things is this series with the Phillies important? Yes. Here's why: a win is a win whether it happens in April, July or September. In fact more wins in April puts you in a better position come the dog days of summer.

On top of that, the good will and positive feeling fans have for this team could quickly turn to apathy and disappointment should the Mets fold like a warm tortilla this weekend at Citizens Bank Park.

David Wright is still out at least for Friday's game. Bay is still Bay. And Santana won't be pitching this series so the outlook isn't ideal. The good news is we won't face Doc Halladay, but Lee kicks things off tonight.

I'm not about to say the season is over should the Mets get swept, but rather the warm, fuzzy reaction to this young team that we enjoyed opening weekend will quickly fade should the team fall flat in Philly. A win on Friday night could be just what the Mets need to stave off an early uprising.

Mets Season on the Brink

I know how melodramatic this sounds, but there's absolute truth in it. This week will decide the direction of the Mets not just for this year, but well into the off season. The players status with the team is on the line. Manager Jerry Manuel and GM Omar Minaya are on the line. And the Mets management direction for the coming years is on the line in this pivotal six game series with the Braves and Phillies.

Why so much drama? Well it's because the Mets are either heading in the wrong direction for the second straight year or putting up a fight to stay relevant into September.

The Mets have the unfortunate task of being put in this position on the road and starting off in the one destination that has plagued them for the last decade...Atlanta. The Mets may very well end the week 10+ games out of first and well out of wild card contention. If that happens, the rest of the season is just a formality. Jerry Manuel will be gone. Omar can back his bags. And players like Beltran, Castillo, Francoeur, and Perez should keep their phones handy as the Mets will more than likely look to break things up before the 2011 season begins.

On the other hand, if the Mets are able to put up a fight and gain some ground in the standings there's a stay of execution for the aforementioned Mets personnel and revival of hope in what remains of 2010.

But what if the Mets somehow escape this week with losing or gaining any ground in the standings? Honestly, I think that's close to impossible. The Mets will either implode as they have against the Diamondbacks or give us an improbably streak of wins like they did earlier this year.

The Mets are missing the infusion of youth that helped them put together 8 game win streaks earlier this season. Their lineup is mostly made up of what was expected, but along with it is the familiar feeling that most Mets had to start the season...low expectations.

A sweep of Atlanta would be like a Southern baptist tent revival for Mets fans with "ya gotta believe" as the chorus in our songbooks. A sweep by Atlanta will bring out the pitchforks and torches which are already quite handily accessible.

I want to believe. This team still has me watching every game, but Mets fans can only be strung along for so long. And I truly believe this week will break the Mets path in one of two directions. We have 6 games to see where it pans out.

Dear Phillies, Please Trade Jayson Werth

Now that LeBron-gate is over and it appears Cliff Lee is ending up with the Yankees (surprise!), it's time to turn our attention to other notable trade rumors.

The wildest one this morning is word that the Phillies are looking to trade Jayson Werth for pitching help. In fact details are even being released that the Phils are willing to trade Werth to the Yankees for Javier Vasquez.

Yes, Phillies. Please trade Jayson Werth.

Honestly, I like Jayson Werth as a player and would just love it if the Mets were able to get him as a free agent. Sure getting Vazquez would give the Phils a really solid starting rotation, but for the better part of the season that Phillies lineup is no longer frightening.

Utley is out for over a month. Polanco is out. Werth will be gone. That leaves Howard as the lone scary bat in what was once a murderer's row in the 3-5 spots in the order.

The rotation of Hamels, Vazquez and Halladay might be slightly better than Santana, Pelfrey and maybe Oswalt/Lilly, but it's not enough in my estimation to make it worthwhile to trade Jayson Werth. But by all means Philadelphia, make the trade.

Goose Egg Sweep of the Phils

Wow. 41 years since that has happened. Pelfrey battled, struggled, walked way too many, but still won. The bats came alive (except for David Wright). Series sweep of the first place Phils without giving up a single run.. And that was without Santana even pitching a single game. Mets baseball is fun again.

Hey Chris Coste, We Don't Want You

If you haven't heard already, Chris Coste really likes being on the Mets. Here's what he had to say:

“It’s the last team I ever saw myself playing for. I knew I was going to accept it, but had to think about it for a few days… It wasn’t my choice to leave Philly… I never wanted to leave Philadelphia, I will always consider myself a Phillie.”

The thing is I always saw you as a lousy catcher. Funny how beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Right now you're an ugly bench player. Don't bother calling a real estate agent. You won't be in Queens long. Tool.

Switching Horses in the Middle of the World Series

I've already detailed how tough a World Series this is for me as a Mets fan, and in a post last week I wrote about how I was going to pull for the Yankees instead of seeing the Phillies win back-to-back titles.

But a funny thing has happened while watching the first three games of this series, I found myself secretly pulling for the Phils.

I had no intention of doing this, but when A-Rod struck out three times the other night and Jeter hit into a double play I noticed a peculiar smile appearing on my face. In my mind I know I don't want Philly Nation to have the satisfaction of yet another title, but in my heart of hearts I just can't pull for the Yankees.

During the first three games of the series I secretly wanted Mariano Rivera to blow a save in front of the entire nation. I grinned as Utley sent a ball to Utley's Porch of the Bronx. I even went against everything I believe in by cheering for Victorino to throw out Swisher at home plate during last night's rain drenched game.

Why? Call it being a lifelong National Leaguer. Call it rooting for the "underdog." Call it being against evil. Whatever you call it, it's uncomfortable. But with the Phils down two games to one this Mets Lifer is switching horses.

Go National League. (I can't say it)

Most Conflicting World Series for a Mets Fan Ever

In a year when pain, injuries and exceptionally long stretches of disappointment are the norm, why should it be any surprise to Mets fans that the two teams that we loathe find themselves in the World Series.

The scrappy, nagging, pain in the neck, little brother complex Phillies have shown exceptional clutch and gotten great pitching to make their way to a second straight World Series. The bloated payroll, band box playing, A-Rod renaissance Yankees are finally back in the championship round after what seems like a long drought for the perennial contender.

And now as a Mets Lifer you must choose. Who do you root for?

It's like choosing between the Dallas Cowboys or the Philadelphia Eagles, watching The View or Glee, rooting for Lex Luthor or Charles Manson, eating brussel sprouts or lima beans; there is no good choice. Just pure evil.

Since death is not an option, a Mets fan must choose who will have their rooting interest. Never before have I been asked so many times who I'm rooting for in a World Series than this one. Even before the teams became official everybody and their mother wanted to know which team I'd be cheering for.

And so here's my decision. I'm pulling for the Yankees.

It hurts to even type that, but let me explain why. I'm traditionally a National League guy when it comes to the World Series, but the thought of the Phillies winning back to back titles is just too much to bear. If the Phils had lost last year, they'd have my backing 100%, but I can't take another 365 days of Phils as world champs.

Besides, if the Yankees win, so what? With a payroll the size of a NATO country they're expected to win. They have 5 potential hall of famers, the best hitter in the game, the best starting pitcher in the game (after Santana), the best closer in the game, and an All Star at pretty much every position. So what's there to really brag about if you win?

Some Yankee fans like to think that this is a scrappy, pull up by your bootstraps type of team, which just makes me chuckle inside. Their three free agent signings this offseason was larger than the entire payroll of the Florida Marlins. Not winning the World Series with this Yankees pitching staff and lineup would be a colossal failure in the hearts and minds of Yankee fans.

Even though I have to face Yankee fans more often than Phillies' fans, it won't bother me that they'll have "bragging rights" for another year. Pretty much everybody has bragging rights over the Mets.

And so the boys in pinstripes will have my rooting interest (as if they care), but part of me will also smile if they do end up losing.

Phillies Are Unavoidable

And so I've been sucked into postseason baseball.

I had valiant plans to avoid it completely and just wallow in my disgust of the Mets while focusing my attention on both college and pro football. But what can I say. I'm a baseball fan and the intrigue of the playoffs is honestly the first real baseball I've watched in quite some time.

Now I find myself basically rooting for anyone not named Phillies or Yankees, but this has yet to give me any joy. In fact I've found myself admiring what the Phillies are doing. Being down by 3 runs with 2 outs in the ninth and then coming back to win is something all Mets fans are familiar with. That's because we've been on the other end of those victories for the last three seasons.

But it's undeniable that this Phillies team is full of gamers, and something that Mets management would be wise to take notice of. Howard, Utley, Victorino, and Werth are all guys who thrive in the clutch.

I hate that.

Name a Mets player you have total confidence in when the game is on the line? Ok, I'll give you Santana, but after that it's a crap shoot. KRod? Wright? Beltran? Forget it.

The Mets need gamers, but that's not an easy commodity to find.

So I find myself unable to avoid the Phillies. I'm watching their games on TV. Rooting against them. Hoping for Lidge to crumble on the world stage. But it's not happening.

In fact, I'm out in California on business and guess who's staying at my hotel. Yup, the fighting Phils are arriving this evening.

I'll be the guy with a basket of bitterness waiting to yell at Pedro.

A Reasonable Phillies' Fan Misses the Rivalry

When Matt Seeker commented on one of my posts today, I saw that he linked to his Phillies' blog and rolled my eyes as I clicked the link. But to my surprise, Matt's Phillyosophy is a blog written by a reasonable Phillies fan.

Matt's post today about the Great Misfortune is an insightful take from the folks down 95 about the current plight of the Mets. Matt takes the position that he's sorry to see this happen to the Mets because there's no joy in beating this current Mets club. There's no competition that made the past two seasons of matchups so exciting.

I'm with you Matt. I think the Mets/Phillies rivalry is really the first rivalry the Mets (or even the Phillies) have had in recent memory. Sure the Braves were the Mets hated nemesis, but it wasn't a rivalry of heated battles or back and forth jockeying for first place.

That's what I'm missing this year. The competition. The rivalry.

At least one Phillies fan feels the same way.

Fan Dumps Beer on Shane Victorino

Honestly, this is uncalled for. It really is. I'm being serious. It's wrong. Absolutely, totally and utterly wrong. I hope the fan was thrown out of the game for this.

Ok, let's watch the video again.

Quit Being Short Sighted About Roy Halladay

Ever since I started on my Roy Halladay soap box I've got Mets fans telling me that I'm ignoring the real issue which is lack of hitting, I've got Phillies fans mocking me thinking that Halladay will make us a contender & I've got my wife telling me that Roy Halladay is my new girlfriend.

Well you're all correct, sort of.

You can't think of adding Roy Halladay as a short term fix to the Mets woes this season. Without a doubt our offense is atrocious. We lack any sense of clutch. We hit into more double plays than Julio Franco did. We need to fix our offense. But honestly there's not much that can done to fix it until (a) some of our best offensive players are off the deal and (b) we get to the offseason and can unload some contracts and sign some free agents.

Oh and by the way, if you think offense is our only issue did you happen to see Livan pitch last night? Or what about his start before that? Or the one before that? Or perhaps Oliver Perez at any point this season? Or Redding last night? Or Redding the start before that? Or Pelfrey's last start? Catch my drift?

Getting Roy Halladay is not a short term fix. If the Mets traded for him this season, I still believe that we'd fall short of the playoffs. He's not a fix for this season. There is no fix for this season unless there's a witch doctor who can heal muscles, bones and slumping bats.

Halladay is a fix for the next several seasons when you have healthy players, some maturing youngsters, and few offseason moves. The Mets absolutely, positively have to upgrade their offense, but it probably won't be done until the offseason when they'll have Delgado & Wagner off the books and can look at addressing their needs at first base and in the outfield.

But for the first time in a long time, the Mets won't have to worry about pitching as much as they have in the past. Our starting rotation would consist of the two most dominant pitchers in the NL (if not both leagues). Our bullpen would be solid with KRod & Putz still around. So the focus can then turn to the offense.

If you don't get Halladay you still need a starting pitcher this offseason unless you feel that Maine/Perez/Pelfrey/Livan is the rotation you want to go to the mattresses with for the next 3 seasons.

Acquiring Halladay drastically improves the Mets rotation, prevents the Phillies from acquiring a dominant ace, and allows you to not worry about your pitching staff in the offseason so you can focus on the offense.

Forget about the 2009 season. No moves made this year will send this team to the playoffs. The Mets need their injured players to return and for their existing players to be more consistent.

Halladay will not solve our 2009 problems, but he will absolutely help the Mets in the years to come if they can sign him to a multi-year deal.

Prepare for More Pain and Sufferring if the Phillies Get Roy Halladay

I'm warning you, Omar. If the Phillies get Roy Halladay, you are out of job and Mets fans are in a world of hurt for years to come.

People keep telling me that Roy Halladay will not fix the Mets problems this year. You're absolutely right. Forget this year. Let's focus on the years to come.

If the Phillies are able to trade for Halladay, they will have 1-2 punch in their rotation that can't be matched in the NL with Halladay as their #1 starter and Cole Hamels as #2. Add to that the potential that J.A. Happ is showing and the Mets will have to face at least one of these 3 guys every time they play.

Meanwhile the Mets will still have the best pitcher in baseball, Johan Santana, but we're then left with our potluck of Pelfrey, Perez, & Maine as #2 guys.

Halladay is the best investment you're going to find east of Albert Pujols. It's not like the Blue Jays are asking for Wright, Reyes & Beltran for him. They want prospects who may or may not pan out. We're talking guys who are in double A right now.

Remember how untouchable Lastings Milledge was? Now look at him. There are no guarantees when it comes to prospects. Chances are they won't become the next Manny Ramirez, Josh Beckett or Mariano Rivera.

Give me Roy Halladay for the next five years and the Mets will have the best pitching tandem in baseball. It's the smartest, safest investment in these troubled times. Pitchers like Halladay don't come around very often.

Grab Roy Halladay while you can or else we'll be dealing with his complete game shutouts during the heart of a pennant race for the next several seasons.

Mets Get Robbed as Umpire Helps Phillies Win

I can talk about the army of men the Mets left on base. I can talk about the poor fielding that led to 3 runs for the Phillies in the 7th to tie the game. I can talk about David Wright being a good player, but not great. (The great ones come through in clutch moments). I can talk about how much I can't stand watching Luis Castillo hit. I can even talk about how much we miss Reyes and Delgado. I can talk about all of that. But, unfortunately, all I can think about...and I knew the moment it happened given the way the Phillies have beaten us in recent years...is that blown call by the umpire in the 5th inning when Beltran grouned into an inning ending double play.

He ws clearly safe and not only would a run have scored, but the inning would have continued with Sheffield at the plate. Instead, the umpires's gift to the Phillies enabled them to claw back and literally steal the game. For a team who has not made the post season by one game the last two years, that just plain sucks. It's one of those brutal games that rips your heart out, that makes you toss and turn in bed all night, replaying it over and over in your head.

Sure the Mets had their chances, but the fact is they got robbed!

Citi Field: Home Run Haven

You would have thought the game was being played in Philadelphia. A total of 6 home runs were hit last night and ended up being the only way the Mets could score against the Phils on Tuesday night.

Wright, Beltran & the newly returned Ryan Church all hit blasts to give the Mets a much need win against the division leading Phillies.

Johan Santana was not on his A game and I was fearful that the Mets would continue their habit of not giving him run support, but that was not the case. The Mets should have scored 8 or 9 runs, but the bottom half of the order is extremely light on "clutch" and it showed.

But really the key to this game was the bullpen. Santana gave up all 5 runs, but Parnell, Felciano, & KRod were able to help out Santana and lock down the Phillies power bats to close out a 1 run victory.

What a difference a year makes. Another game tonight, and I'm hoping the Mets can take 2 out of 3 before the Yanks come in on the weekend.

Hop on the David Wright Hot Streak

Here we go again.

David Wright is on fire. After several weeks of abysmal baseball, David Wright is heating up, and just in time.

Wright is batting over .500 on this last road trip and getting multiple hits per game. I fully expect his average to jump 50 points over the next several days.

While this type of performance is not what we expect from David Wright (we expect him to bat .400 all season long) it couldn't come at a better time. The Mets are about to embark on their toughest stretch of the season as they play the Phils, the Yanks, the Orioles and Cards in the next two weeks.

We'll see if Wright's new found swing continues against more formidable opponents than the Pirates & Nats although when you look at the Phillies starting rotation it hardly the fearful force many Phillies' fans made it out to be at the start of the season.

In any case, a streaky, hot David Wright is what the Mets need. We'd like him to be a steady hitter, but that's obviously not what we're going to get from him at this point so we might as well ride this gravy train as long as it last until Omar can make a trade.

Bring on the Phils.

What's the Prediction for the Mets vs Phils Series? Pain.

To quote the eloquent and loquacious Clubber Langer from Rocky 3, I'm predicting "pain" this weekend in the Mets vs Phillies series.

The Mets are down in the dumps. From a mental and on field performance persepective, this team is pretty low. The manager is making questionable moves (questionable is an understatement). Fans are calling for the trading of David Wright (settle down there folks).And the lockdown bullpen that we thought we had is showing some chinks in the armor (please not again).

And here come the Phillies.

The Mets have played well against the Phillies in Philadelphia the last few years, but most times we were entering the series ready for battle or prepared to defend our perch at the top of the division.

Not so this time. This could be a slaughter of a series. No Santana. We don't get to face Hamels. Perez may have a nervous breakdown on national TV on Saturday. Fat Matt Stairs is guaranteed to hit a home run off us.

The only thing I can put confidence in is that Pedro Feliciano will be brought in to face Ryan Howard, and he will strike him out. It's the only guy Feliciano owns.

I hope I'm wrong. This team needs a lift. David Wright needs a "moment" to brake out of this funk and he'll have opportunity to do that at some point this weekend. But grab some Advil because pain may be coming.

Remember When We Were Going to Get Derek Lowe?

I remember getting into arguments back in January with fellow Mets fans who were telling me the price for Derek Lowe was too high. He's too old and not worth the money. I was told we could get the same kind of pitcher in Oliver Perez for less money and a younger arm.

If by same kind of pitcher they meant a guy with an ERA over 8 and an inability to beat the worst teams in baseball, than they were correct.

Oliver Perez is making Omar Minaya look like a fool for signing him for the millions upon millions that he did this offseason. Perez looks lost. He has absolutely no control and his fastball is topping out at an intimidating 88 mph.

Makes you long for the days of Rick Peterson.

Now you have a head case who you signed for huge dollars and can't get past the 5th inning to save his life. What's a GM to do? Thankfully, Perez is starting against the Phillies this coming week. If history has shown us anything it's that Perez pitches his best against tougher opponents.

A good outing against the Phils might be just what Perez needs to get his confidence back and hopefully right his sinking ship. If Perez lays another bomb, than the Mets are in a world of hurt because I don't think they can bench a guy they're baying over $10 million a year for.

Phillies and Mets Debate: Let's Settle This Now, Part 1

This past week I participated in a Mets/Phillies blogger debate on Bleacher Report with some fellow Mets bloggers and a few Phillies bloggers as well.

The debate focused on pitching and which team's set of arms was positioned for success this season. As expected you'll find logic and reason in some comments and pure wishful thinking in others.

Check out the debate here and feel free to weigh in with your own thoughts as well.

Romero Is Nothing Without Steroids

There is justice in this world, sometimes it just takes a really long time before we finally get some.

David Chalk over at Bugs & Cranks wrote a fantastic post about one of our favorite Phillies pitchers, J.C. Romero, and how his performance this week is possibly the most enjoyable thing to come out of the World Baseball Classic.

Chalk also provides the very same views that we've had about J.C. Romero who inexplicably is allowed to pitch in the WBC even though he's suspended for the first 50 games of the season for testing positive twice (yes, twice) for performance enhancing drugs last season. Oh, but it was ok for him to pitch in the World Series too.

I'm glad Chalk is talking about this too. Check out his post here.