Keeping Pace

This is a pointless exercise that means nothing, but it is certainly interesting to see who is on pace for what at this point in the season. All these numbers are coming into last nights game so these totals are slightly higher that they should be after that boredom fest in Oakland, but it should be a negligible amount.

Jose Reyes in on pace to play 159 games, which seemed unfathomable after his first two years, 33 doubles, 18 triples, 20 walks, and 46 stolen bases.

Carlos Beltran is on pace for 18 homers, 73 RBIs, three stolen bases, and 51 walks in 144 games. Disturbingly enough, his homerun total and RBI total would be the lowest in his career since becoming a full time starter, with the exception of in 2000 when he was limited to 98 games due to injuries. His stolen bases total would be the lowest since '98, when he played in only fourteen games and stole three bases. His walk total would be the second lowest in every season he has been a starter with the exception of 2000 and 1999, which was his first year as a full time starter. Last season, he registered 55 free passes in only ninety games with the Astros after being traded. Those numbers seemed unfathomable before the season, but due to some nagging injuries, it is what it is and they are possible. I've been waiting for him to bust out, and I still think he can, but this team needs him to do it now. They are hurting.

David Wright is on pace to hit 25 homers, 86 RBIs, 43 doubles, steal 15 bases, score 86 runs, and walk 71 times all at the ripe age of 22. If the Mets choose to try and clone anyone, this would be the guy. They have done cows and cats, what not D. Wright?

You may want to sit down for this one. Cliffy Floyd is on pace for 144 games, 90 runs scored, 39 homers, 111 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases. Do you think he sits home and wonders what type of career numbers he could have put up if he was always healthy? He should top his previous career high of 31 homers and has a good shot of topping his career high of 103 RBIs and top 100 RBIs for only the second time in his career.

Mike Piazza is on pace to play 139 games, which is really surprising, but he is on pace for only 15 homers and 71 RBIs. After knocking in over 100 RBIs five years in a row, he will have not knocked in 100 in the last five years including this season. His 15 homers will represent the only season in his career that he has hit less than 20 homers in his entire pro career, including the minor leagues, when he has played in at least 100 games. Stick a fork in Mikey and drop him in the lineup.

After smacking 32 doubles in 114 games in 2004, Kaz is on pace to hit a measly 10 doubles in 139 games this season. Ugly. Just ugly. I'm not talking a little ugly, but Joe Torre ugly. I've been one of his biggest defenders this season, but it looks like he cannot make it in the Big Apple. Anyone looking to pick up a 1/2 price Matsui jersey? I'm sure the price slashing will begin soon on his stuff.

Pedro is on pace for an 18-3 record, 240 innings, 271 strikeouts, 132 hits allowed, and 43 walks. 271 K's would have him sit fourth all time for Mets single season strikeout totals. He is also on pace to lead the NL in K's and is on pace to be second behind only Johan Santana in the entire Major Leagues. Martinez's strikeout total would sit as his fourth highest single season total and his innings pitched total would sit 1.1 innings behind his single season high. Looking at his inning total, one would perhaps worry what he will have left at the end of the year, but he should have plenty left though. He topped 30 starts in '95, '96, '97, '98, '99, '02, and '04 and if Pedro keeps the same pace he is on now, his 2005 pitch total would rank sixth out of the eight seasons he topped 30 starts with 3303 pitches thrown. In the five seasons in which he has thrown more pitches, he pitched no less than 3468 pitches. Yes, he is a year older, but he has been so economical it is ridiculous. He should have plenty of arm left come the end of the year should the Mets need him for meaningful games because next year is now you have to catch the energy.

Victor Zambrano is on pace to walk 99 batters this season in 28 games. If he does end up starting 30+ games, he will certainly challenge his career high of 106 free passes.


* * *

Minor update:

• Norfolk beat Charlotte 3-2. Jae Seo is putting up a ridiculous stretch of games since being demoted to AAA. He went seven innings, gave up five hits, two runs, walked two, and struck out seven. He is now 4-1 with a 3.26 ERA. Angel Pagan went 2 for 4 with one triple and two RBIs.
  
  On the year, if you take into account Seo's numbers at AAA and in the Major Leagues, he has a 6-2 record in 14 games started with a 3.00 ERA, 8.69 K/9, 7.97 H/9, and a 3.65 K/BB. The Mets have two starters not in the rotation that could be better than three of the guys they currently have in their rotation. When will it be time for Omar to strap a set on?
  
  
• Binghamton beat New Hampshire 7-5. Yusmeiro made his return after going to Venezuela to see his baby be born and rest his arm and he was good. He went only 2.2 innings, gave up three hits, one walk, and struck out six. Petit was limited to 50 pitches as he recovers from right shoulder soreness.
  
  
• St. Lucie beat Daytona 6-5. Shawn Bowman continues to hit like a man possessed and went 2 for 4 with a run scored, his tenth homer on the year, and knocked in two RBIs. Lastings Milledge went 1 for 3 with a run scored and Caleb Stewart continues his hot hitting and went 1 for 3 with two runs scored, a homer, and one RBI.
  
  
• Hagerstown beat Lexington 8-2 behind another stellar game by Gaby Hernandez. Gaby went 6.1 innings, gave up seven hits, two runs, walked two, and struck out seven. He is now 4-1 with a 2.62 ERA. So far in 68.1 innings, the 19 year old has been dominant. He has put up a 6.16 H/9, 9.83 K/9, 3.15 BB/9, and 3.13 K/BB. When Yusmeiro Petit was 19, he pitched 83 innings in Cap City, then 44.1 in St. Lucie, and 12 in Binghamton. Though some might see it as rushing Gaby, I say let him get another game or two at Hagerstown and let him see what he can do in St. Lucie. He is a polished pitcher that is looking like a steal in the third round. Let his skill dictate where he plays and not his age.

From the NY Times:

The Mets have not been able to define major league roles for Diaz and Heilman and have not been able to clear roster spots for a couple of potentially deserving candidates.

How the Mets have not been able to find a defined role for Heilman is beyond me. It is as easy as putting him in a game when it is on the line. Bam...defined role.

BA's Prospect Hot Sheet is out and Stephen Drew is on fire. He started off the year 10-24 with a pair of homers and eight RBIs. Brian Bannister got an honorable mention.

From BA:

The Angels’ Double-A affiliate at Arkansas has been received an offensive boost, as Kendry Morales was promoted after just 22 games at low Class A Rancho Cucamonga. The 21-year-old Cuban, who signed a six-year major league contract over the winter, hit .344-5-17 in 90 at-bats while splitting time between first base, third base and right field.

He seems like he could be pretty damn close to the majors.

Has it really come to this? The Yankees looking to sell at the deadline?

The title of the day goes too...

Mets sluggish in loss

Not because it was a particularly good title, but because it was dead on. They looked bored, uninterested, deflated, and defeated. They had nothing and it is not even the dog days of summer yet. What they need is an injection of life somehow and Victor Diaz brings that on a daily basis. Get this first base experiment moving with Diaz sooner rather than later.