There were some pretty bad ones in the early 90's and 2000's, but today's lineup against the Marlins has to be up there.
Here is the lineup for the 2009 Mets on this 27th day of August:
Angel Pagan
Wilson Valdez
Daniel Murphy
Jeff Francoeur
Cory Sullivan
Fernando Tatis
Omir Santos
Anderson Hernandez
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Mets Should Focus on the Fundamentals
The lost cause of 2009 should be a time for the Mets to consider September as a really early spring training. The games are meaningless, except for a few "pride games" so the Mets might as well use the rest of the season to celebrate the fundamentals and punish those that ignore it.
Think of it as in-season scrimmages. Winning or losing doesn't matter. It's making sure the young players are playing the game the right way and the veterans are doing the little things consistently.
Here is what the Mets should be promoting:
No walks
This pitiful starting rotation should at the very least get it in their heads that walking the leadoff batter is unacceptable. Walk a leadoff batter, you're fined $1,000. Walk three batters in the game, you're fined $5,000 and immediately pulled from the mound. These walks are ridiculous. Throw it over the plate and put the ball in play.
Hitting the ball to the opposite field
This is something that is greatly lacking from the lineup, especially with runners in scoring position. Murphy and Franceour should get rewarded every time they go the opposite way.
Getting the runner over
If you're up with a runner on first or second base and less than two outs and don't at least get the runner over, you're fined $1,000. How many times have we seen innings begin with a runner on second and no one out and they still don't score. Unacceptable.
Reward/Punish Poor Hitting
You go 2 for 4 in a game, you're guaranteed to play the next day. You put up an 0 for 4, you're benched for 1 game. 0 for 2 with a walk and a sac bunt, you live to play another day. 1 for 5 but your hit came with 2 outs and runners in scoring position, you get the game ball.
These are little league level things, but it's obvious the Mets need to be worked on at that level. No one is watching these games once football season is under way, so the Mets should envision September 2009 as a way to work on developing their players and if wins come along the way so be it.
Don't give me the "they need to put fans in the seats" argument either. Fans aren't flocking to this team no matter what they do, so we might as well watch some fundamentally sound baseball. Anything is better than what we've seen over the last week.
Think of it as in-season scrimmages. Winning or losing doesn't matter. It's making sure the young players are playing the game the right way and the veterans are doing the little things consistently.
Here is what the Mets should be promoting:
No walks
This pitiful starting rotation should at the very least get it in their heads that walking the leadoff batter is unacceptable. Walk a leadoff batter, you're fined $1,000. Walk three batters in the game, you're fined $5,000 and immediately pulled from the mound. These walks are ridiculous. Throw it over the plate and put the ball in play.
Hitting the ball to the opposite field
This is something that is greatly lacking from the lineup, especially with runners in scoring position. Murphy and Franceour should get rewarded every time they go the opposite way.
Getting the runner over
If you're up with a runner on first or second base and less than two outs and don't at least get the runner over, you're fined $1,000. How many times have we seen innings begin with a runner on second and no one out and they still don't score. Unacceptable.
Reward/Punish Poor Hitting
You go 2 for 4 in a game, you're guaranteed to play the next day. You put up an 0 for 4, you're benched for 1 game. 0 for 2 with a walk and a sac bunt, you live to play another day. 1 for 5 but your hit came with 2 outs and runners in scoring position, you get the game ball.
These are little league level things, but it's obvious the Mets need to be worked on at that level. No one is watching these games once football season is under way, so the Mets should envision September 2009 as a way to work on developing their players and if wins come along the way so be it.
Don't give me the "they need to put fans in the seats" argument either. Fans aren't flocking to this team no matter what they do, so we might as well watch some fundamentally sound baseball. Anything is better than what we've seen over the last week.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
This Week's Sign the Mets Apocalypse Is Upon Us...
Here's your starting rotation for the New York Mets for the rest of the year: Pat "Squee" Misch (kudos to Brad Bortone for that one), Tim "I look like Rick White" Redding, Bobby "Bullpen Please" Parnell, Nelson "Long Shot" Figueroa and Mike "The Licker" Pelfrey.
Let that sink in....
Now enjoy your dinner.
Let that sink in....
Now enjoy your dinner.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
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.
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.
Citi Field: Home to Amateur Baseball
Citi Field opened its door to amateur baseball so it only makes sense that the closing month would feature amateur baseball as well. St. John's University baseball team played the first ever baseball game at Citi Field, and right now I might rather have their lineup and starting rotation than what the Mets will put on the field this week.
21 players will have seen the disabled list before the end of August. The Mets can now add Johan Santana and Jeff Francoeur to the list of casualties as both appear to be done for the season. Santana's injuries open up a Pandora's box of questions and issues that are sure to stir the winter hot stove fire for months to come.
For those optimists out there, there is a bright side. Let's get the blood letting done now while we're still numb to the pain. Let's clean house in August and get ready for an extremely busy and anxious offseason unlike any the Mets have ever seen.
If you thought last September was painful, September 2009 might be worse. The games will be without interest and meaning. It's sure to flood Mets fans with memories of those glorious seasons of 1994 or 2003 where baseball was merely a gap to fill between basketball and football.
I will say this. There is no team, I repeat no team, out there that could that have predicted or withstood this onslaught of injuries. The Mets could have made moves to improve their team, but it's undeniable that preparing for an injury epidemic of such magnitude could have been prevented. The Mets disabled list looks like an All Star lineup featuring Beltran, Wright, Reyes, Delgado, and now Santana.
But what this does for the Mets is force them to start over and build anew. The focus must be on starting pitching and then filling the holes of a power bat and a few bench adjustments.
If you thought the wait from last season's end to this season's start was long, you've just been given an extra month to endure this offseason. The wait for 2010 starts today, August 25th, 2009.
21 players will have seen the disabled list before the end of August. The Mets can now add Johan Santana and Jeff Francoeur to the list of casualties as both appear to be done for the season. Santana's injuries open up a Pandora's box of questions and issues that are sure to stir the winter hot stove fire for months to come.
For those optimists out there, there is a bright side. Let's get the blood letting done now while we're still numb to the pain. Let's clean house in August and get ready for an extremely busy and anxious offseason unlike any the Mets have ever seen.
If you thought last September was painful, September 2009 might be worse. The games will be without interest and meaning. It's sure to flood Mets fans with memories of those glorious seasons of 1994 or 2003 where baseball was merely a gap to fill between basketball and football.
I will say this. There is no team, I repeat no team, out there that could that have predicted or withstood this onslaught of injuries. The Mets could have made moves to improve their team, but it's undeniable that preparing for an injury epidemic of such magnitude could have been prevented. The Mets disabled list looks like an All Star lineup featuring Beltran, Wright, Reyes, Delgado, and now Santana.
But what this does for the Mets is force them to start over and build anew. The focus must be on starting pitching and then filling the holes of a power bat and a few bench adjustments.
If you thought the wait from last season's end to this season's start was long, you've just been given an extra month to endure this offseason. The wait for 2010 starts today, August 25th, 2009.
Mets Reality Check
Time for a quick Mets reality check as a lot of folks have been talking to me about their thoughts on this pathetic team and their hopes for what's to come. Let's set the record straight.
Bobby Parnell is not your saving grace
It's only his third start, but let's not paint Parnell to be the Queens version of Joba Chamberlain. I do think Parnell should stay in the bullpen and develop into that future closer for the ball club, but desperate times call for desperate measures. I hope this doesn't ruin him for future seasons.
The 2009 seasons is over
In case you didn't notice, but I think we're all at that point now.
Mets management is moronic
Omar Minaya has done everything to get himself fired. He's made some dumb moves. He's said some stupid things. He's even started a public fight with a reporter. But this is the guy management is supporting. Now they could be lying about backing Minaya and Manuel, but that's even dumber. Just don't say anything. Why come out with this vote of confidence during the most dismal stretch of games we've seen in the last 3 seasons? Because management is moronic.
Jeff Franceour is a New York guy
Jeff Franceour has done everything right since coming to the Mets. He's played hard. He's produced. He's dealt with the media better than guys who were here for a decade. His demeanor in the clubhouse and the dugout are infectious. The guy belongs here and I think he deserves a shot to stick around.
Mets farm system can't develop talent
Develop is the key word here. Outside of Reyes and Wright can you name the last great talents to come out of the Mets farm system? Ok, how about mediocre talent that at least deserves to play in the big leagues every day? Even the lock-it-up, shooting star players like Milledge haven't turned out so well. I don't know what's wrong, but there's something awry here.
Training staff has got to go
You can't tell me that all these injuries doesn't reflect in some way the training staff on the Mets. If guys are popping hamstrings like Pringles, it's time to look into a new training staff. I think you'd switch mechanics if every car you brought in for a tune up ended up having something else go wrong with it, right?
Bobby Parnell is not your saving grace
It's only his third start, but let's not paint Parnell to be the Queens version of Joba Chamberlain. I do think Parnell should stay in the bullpen and develop into that future closer for the ball club, but desperate times call for desperate measures. I hope this doesn't ruin him for future seasons.
The 2009 seasons is over
In case you didn't notice, but I think we're all at that point now.
Mets management is moronic
Omar Minaya has done everything to get himself fired. He's made some dumb moves. He's said some stupid things. He's even started a public fight with a reporter. But this is the guy management is supporting. Now they could be lying about backing Minaya and Manuel, but that's even dumber. Just don't say anything. Why come out with this vote of confidence during the most dismal stretch of games we've seen in the last 3 seasons? Because management is moronic.
Jeff Franceour is a New York guy
Jeff Franceour has done everything right since coming to the Mets. He's played hard. He's produced. He's dealt with the media better than guys who were here for a decade. His demeanor in the clubhouse and the dugout are infectious. The guy belongs here and I think he deserves a shot to stick around.
Mets farm system can't develop talent
Develop is the key word here. Outside of Reyes and Wright can you name the last great talents to come out of the Mets farm system? Ok, how about mediocre talent that at least deserves to play in the big leagues every day? Even the lock-it-up, shooting star players like Milledge haven't turned out so well. I don't know what's wrong, but there's something awry here.
Training staff has got to go
You can't tell me that all these injuries doesn't reflect in some way the training staff on the Mets. If guys are popping hamstrings like Pringles, it's time to look into a new training staff. I think you'd switch mechanics if every car you brought in for a tune up ended up having something else go wrong with it, right?
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Oliver Perez is the Devil
I do not make this claim lightly and frankly it's no joking matter, but I've come to the conclusion that Oliver Perez is the devil. You see films like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings always paint evil as being this ominous black cloud or blatantly dark being, but in actuality the power of the Prince of Darkness is in the fact that no one can tell who he is. But I'm telling you, he's Oliver Perez.
The year is 2006 and a desperate man named Oliver Perez decided to sell his soul to the devil for a shot at pitching greatness in game 7 of the 2006 NLCS. Perez relinquished his soul to the sole possession of the devil and got some majestic pitching magic out of it. In fact an Endy Chavez, catch sealed the deal for Perez and he thought he had made the best move of his life.
But of courses, the devil is a coniving being and as soon as Perez was taken out of the game, the deal was sealed, and one Yadier Molina at bat later the devil laughed at the foolishness of his subject. And so Perez has set a course for destruction not only for his mortal being, but for the franchise he is a part of.
You think the past two seasons have not had some influence by an evil and unseemly source? Do you think that giving up 6 runs in the first inning and being pulled with a 3-0 count to the pitcher is not the sort of thing only the seediest of minds could concoct? Or that Sunday's game was ultimately ended on the most freakish of plays in all of baseball right in the midst of the most unlikely of comebacks?
No team is this cursed on its own and I can trace it all back to that game 7 in 2006. Ever since that day, Oliver Perez has cast a shadow on this franchise and fooled them into believing he could be the pitcher they saw on that one day in October.
He does no exist. The mortal being known as Oliver Perez exists no more. The Devil himself lives in Queens and the Mets need to exorcise Perez from this team.
Pay him his ridiculous contract, but send him off to Buffalo to rot away his remaining years. I don't care that he's young. I don't care that he's been lights out in certain starts. I know a cancer when I see one and it's name is Oliver Perez.
Until the Mets right this wrong be prepared for a continued sprial downward into the depths of destruction.
Oliver Perez is no ordinary man. He's pure evil.
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