now that he's utilizing the curveball Peterson told himnot to use a few years ago and developing a splitter in the off-season, yes he's finally starting to reach his potential. He's been better then santana so far.....its a good problem to have. It's after those two where the problems begin.
So lets see Perez is out of the rotation, Niese and Maine are on the 15 day DL...The Mets need to be on the phone with this guy right now (per rotoworld): According to Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle, Astros general manager Ed Wade has confirmed that Roy Oswalt has requested a trade. This should get interesting. On the surface, Oswalt is quite the chip to have. He currently owns a 2.66 ERA through nine starts this season and has made at least 30 starts in seven out of the eight last seasons. On the other hand, he is under contract for owed $31 million over the next two seasons and either $16 million or a $2 million buyout in 2012. There are plenty of teams that could use him, but it will be interesting to see what they get for an expensive 32-year-old pitcher with a known back condition. Source: Richard Justice on Twitter R.A. Dickey is the answer to nothing. Hisinori Takahashi has pitched well so far tonight vs the Yanks but who knows how long he holds up. Perez doesnt even deserve to be in the AAA rotation let alone the major league one. If this team wants to make the postseason this year they should have Oswalts agent and Jarrod Washburn's agent on the phone now. When Niese comes back he can be the fifth starter and Maine can go where he belongs at this point, the bullpen. - Beltran is still a ways off. - Murphy is still about 2-3 weeks from a return. - Castillo is on the trade block again. I hate when they tease me like this. Hopefully the Rockies bite as rumored. - Ike is a stud. Guy just missed two homers last in Washington. Still hitting 290/4hr/11 RBI and has been promoted to clean up hitter. - This can get ugly really quick. The Mets coming off a 2-6 road trip have a 6 game homestand with Philly and NYY. If there's a 1-5 homestand I think the winds of change may be blowing and I'm guessing Bob Melvin not Bobby V is their guy unfortunately. Jon Heyman agrees with me according to CNNSI.
Nice game tonight by the whole team getting hits with runners in scoring position. -Reyes' 4th 2 hit game in his last five corresponds to the team winning 4 of their last 5. Not a coincidence. -RA dickey is living on borrowed time giving up so many baserunners. - But Raul Valdez is a trooper. Perfect long man. He takes the ball whenever and throws strikes. Another lefty the Phillies cant seem to hit to go with Feliciano - Rumors abound about Oswalt and Millwood to the Mets. Millwood would be cheaper in players and long term cost and he always pitches well in contract years but Oswalt is the better pitcher even when hes owed 2/31M with a 2M buyout or 3/47M still on his contract. Take Oswalt unless they plan on getting Cliff Lee this coming offseason. I wouldnt bet on that so I think I'd take Oswalt now. - Francoeur is great at getting runs in but hes playing himself right in to a platoon with Pagan once Beltran comes back....probably around the ASB at the rate he heals. Ive seen dead people heal quicker. I remember when I used to like this wuss now I just want him to come back so we can trade his butt.
first time the mets have had back to back shutouts since 98. Takahashi is lookin good but dickey is on borrowed time. Too many baserunners for it to not bite him eventually. Timely hitting again tonight.
Agreed on Dickey, dare I say Takahashi is the left version of Maddox? They guy throws strikes and hits his spots, dam way better that Oliver!
he actually reminds me more of j.a. hall on Philadelphia except that he strikes out more batters. I do like him though as a fourth or fifth starter.
J.A. Happ? Man my Phillies have forgotten how to hit and score runs. But we're still in first for the time being. Happy Memorial Day everybody.
Seven games over .500 now and another bad team - Cleveland - on the horizon. And it's hard to believe this but this team really don't have a major weakness of any kind minus their difficulties on the road but they do seem to be working out this kink, even if it's against the awful Orioles.
this was our first road sweep in early a year. They're showing signs but beating up the worst team is something you're supposed to do. Also, I'm as big a mets fan as you will fin but we have holes. We need another starting and relieving arm badly and another bat. two of those holes can be filled internally. One of them is Beltran playing CF/RF when he gets back. That fills one spot in the order and makes the outfield defense excellent with he and pagan. The other is Takahashi. Once we acquire another starter regardless of who it is Takahashi can be put back in the pen where his innings and ability to strike hitters out is sorely missed. The bullpen era has gone up about a run since he became a starter. Niese is pitching well his last two times out but a Lee or Oswalt puts this team over the top. A rotation of santana-Lee or Oswalt-Pelfrey-Niese-Dickey/whoever is potentially the best in the NL. The lineup would be one of the top three in the NL Reyes Castillo/Tejada Beltran Ike Wright Bay Pagan Barajas
Mets are playing great right now. When/if Beltran comes back I would expect a Francoeur/Pagan platoon in RF. Both are playing very well and it kind of sucks one or both will lose playing time.
Hey give it sometime, I'm sure Francoeur will play himself out of the starting line up again this year.
If the reports that Beltran is still limping around are true it may be Pagan staying in center because hes played excellent there and Beltran taking over RF. Francoeur would then play RF on Beltran's off days or Beltran may simply shift to Center on pagan's off days. Either way it doesnt seem like it will happen before the ASB so we have time. Mets are beating up bad teams which is what you are supposed to do if you are a good team. Niese has been excellent since coming off the DL allowing 4ER in 23 innings with a 3-0 record and a sub 1 whip. By all accounts Seattle is insisting on him in a deal for Lee and so far Omar has rejected that overture. Little Dickey has been solid even if I'm not sure how long it will last for. Takahashi is going back in the pen where he belongs once Maine comes back. The bullpen ERA has been about about a run high without him in the pen.
Also, the gf got me tickets to the Mets-Twins game next Friday (Pelfrey is scheduled to pitch). Will be my first time at Citi. Any advice for those of you who have been there already?
Mike Francesa and Ray Finkle both approve of the Shake Shack burgers in dead CF, you really need to get a burger there. It's a nice stadium, I'm sure you'll have fun. Try to get their early to watch batting practice. Wear that Papelbon jersey I sent you in the mail. And root for David Wright to have a big game for my fantasy team. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhXYbN8hk0Y&playnext_from=TL&videos=2xKw-SeBHWo"]YouTube- WFAN's Mike Francesa: It's da bread![/ame] Note: It's a potato bread bun they use.
McFadden's is the place to go. Just trust me on this, Ive been to almost about every other place there. The other places are ok...
Meija demoted to the minors a couple of days ago to develop as a starter which is what many figured would happen. I understand why Jerry wanted him in the bigs to give the team the team more k's from the pen but I also understand that being a starter is Meija's long term future and always has been. Good article from Adam Rubin on how this also helps the Mets control Meija for an extra year:http://espn.go.com/blog/new-yorkmet...ion?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter Bobby parnell was recalled to take Meija's place. Similar type of pitcher (all fastballs) with much less upside. Meija threw 78% fastballs this year according to fangraphs.com, about what you will see from Parnell. I think Maine's days as a met are numbered. The team has discussed releasing him in recent days and he obviously clashes with Jerry. While I dont have any real use for Jerry, he happens to be right. Pelf, K-rod and Johan have publicly stated they want the mets to go get more pitching. Metsblog had a good piece on their comments. I like this team so much better with no Castillo, no Maine, and no Ollie. Its like they hired the witness protection program and maybe these guys wont be heard from again. Useless, all three of em.
There's obviously speculation that the Mets want to show teams that Meija could be a starter for trading purposes as well. I still say the Mets handled the Meija situation poorly (I felt that it was a panic move by Omar and Jerry Manuel to bring him up) but I'm glad they won't waste his whole season with him in the pen.
I think it goes deeper then simply wanting to showcase him as a starter. Everyone knows he should be a starter, no one ever disputed that long term. I think they were more afraid of stunting his growth keeping him in the pen all year. I just hope they dont "Joba him" for lack of a better term and mess the kid up ping ponging him between the pen and rotation. I think it also indicates another bullpen move is coming. Manuel is the one that pushed Omar for the move to keep Meija in the pen. On a different note, Carlos Beltran is officially starting his rehab assignment Thursday: Mets general manager Omar Minaya said that Carlos Beltran will begin a minor league rehab assignment with High-A St. Lucie on Thursday. Beltran has been playing in extended spring training games, however he has finally been cleared to begin an official rehab stint. Barring any setbacks, the hope is that he'll be able to return immediately after the All-Star break when the Mets travel to San Francisco. Minaya and Mets manager Jerry Manuel envision him as a center fielder upon his return. If he's right, Beltran could be the equivalent of a blockbuster mid-season acquisition. Jun. 22 - 4:13 pm et Source: Brad Como on Twitter
Bad news with Meija: Jenrry Mejia was examined in New York on Monday and diagnosed with a posterior cuff strain in his right shoulder. The Mets say he will return to throwing "as tolerated," but we're not exactly sure what that might mean. Mejia was lifted from a start at Double-A Binghamton on Sunday after complaining of discomfort in his throwing shoulder. Hopefully it turns out to be nothing too serious and moving him from the pen to starting didn't cause this. Knowing how the Mets deal with injuries, I wouldn't be shocked to wake up and find out they cut off his right arm and started to teach him how to throw left handed.
According to WFAN radio he shouldnt miss more then 1 start... Also Omar quoted in Newsday today as saying Meija could be included for Lee of the Mets are given a window to negotiate a contract extension. Have to say right now Wright and Reyes playing the best baseball of their careers. Reyes especially has been electric.
Lee has gone on record saying he's going to test the FA market after the season. So I doubt any team would be able to get that window, but I still think that the Mets might land Lee by July 31st. I just have a gut feeling. I found it laughable when Met fans (and hosts) were calling up WFAN killing both Wright and Reyes. Do these people not realize just how good and talented both players are? Who cares if Wright is striking out a lot, he's still putting up the numbers else where and giving the team solid defense. Reyes hadn't played MLB ball in almost a year, of course it was going to take him some time to get going. I'm not surprised at all by either of their play. I am however surprised at how bad Bay has been this year.
Lee has gone on record but if say the Mets dealt for him and offered him say 5years/90-100M I think we'd get his signature.... The fans youre referring to are fair weather fans. I dont think real met fans ever wavered on Reyes even if he does have primadonna tendencies. The K's did worry me with Wright but never to the point Id deal him. He and Reyes make each other go I believe; theyre perfect complements. I always believed that the head shot that Wright took last year had a lot to do with the K's but he seems over it.... Bay hasnt been bad, just hasnt gotten the power stats yet. But as a Boston fan you know Bay's homers come in droves. He's always been a second half player save for last year....
Hey it is possible that he'd sign for that, but you'd have to think that other teams would offer him more than that. I mean Burnett and Lackey both got 5 yr 85 million dollar deals and Lee is a much better pitcher than they are. I could see a team like the Yankees signing him 5 year 110 million dollar deal. I still think he'll be a Yankees in 2011, but I wouldn't be upset if he did land with the Mets for the long term. As for Bay, yeah I guess all of his numbers besides HRs and SLG are within his career lines but as a Met fan I'd be worried about his power, especially when he's making 16 million a year starting next year. I know he's been streaky but with only 4 HRs in 3 months is pretty alarming. But hey maybe this is his 'David Wright Citi Field' year where he doesn't hit for any power for whatever reason and then turns it on the next year.
Well here's the thing with Lackey and Burnett...they were younger FA's then Lee will be and they benefitted from weaker FA classes. As important I think Lee really wants back at Philly. The other part of the Bay thing is that the wind blew out more in Taxpayer Field last year in the summer and the park became more of a hitters park. I know the stats dont reflect that because of the injuries last year but I saw some homers last year that never would have gone out in April last year.
And somehow, someway Im blaming you for Little Dickey's worst outing of the year. Guy has a sub 3 era and gets lit up... ugh
You mean he wants to get back to Philly. He misses the Phillies. All I can say is the Mets and Braves better make hay while Utley and Polanco are on the 15 day DL. I see Ruben Amaro picking up a big infield name sometime this week.
They weren't on the DL during that Memorial Day sweep. Chase Utley is a good player and all but... we have the best second baseman in the NL on our roster. You know it's true.
Ok, what the heck was Steve Phillips thinking??? http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/t...onilla-12-million-per-season-through-2035.php The crazy state of affairs known as the NY Mets FO.
Jerry Manuel and the use of this bullpen brings back memories of Willie Randolph. I am dreading the thought of a big game in Sept and him using 7 guys to get 3 outs. Scary
I'm not upset the at the Yanks deal for Lee (if it goes through), they are asking way to much from the Mets for a guy that will sign with the Yanks in the off season anyway. He is my question, the Cubs are going to go through a fire sale, do we look at Zambrano whom we may get on the cheap? Or a Ted Lilly? I don't want to give away the farm.
The Mets could get Zambrano for nothing but no you stay the heck away from him. He's not only on the decline with a lot of $ owed to him but he's a loose cannon. You don't want that headache. Lilly will cost the Mets something and although he's pitching well this year his stuff hasn't been as good and his velocity is down.
Well, Beltran is back tonight and Frenchy goes to the bench, will be interesting to see how that works. and welcome back Carlos, meet Mr. Lincecum.
Nah Joe Morgan already said Utley is the best 2nd baseman in the game, when healthy. I think Robinson Cano is the only one who comes close to Chase.
Going somewhat OT here. I will be in New York in August for a wedding. My son and I are big Astros fans (I know, really not a good time for that, but hey thick and thin) and the Astros will be in town playing the Mets. A few questions: 1. Is it easy to get tickets? Best way to get tickets. 2. I believe we are staying somewhere in Manhattan, subway best way to game? 3. How are Met fans with fans of opposing team? My son (11 year old) loves to wear all his gear(hat jersey) to the game, which is fine with me as long as the experience is not ruined by obnoxious fans around us. obviously there are jerks everywhere, just not sure if there is a general do or don't in NY. Thanks for the info. Texphinphan
