A blog dedicated to the New York Mets with some other baseball thrown in.

Friday, June 01, 2007

Swellicousness to the Nth Degree

Yesterday's game pretty much encapsulates the 2007 New York Mets. They look like they are having fun, they are resilient, they care, they are electric and dynamic, and they are good. Really fucking good. You can tell they are having fun because they are always smiling and interacting with each other. When something good happens, they show that unbridled excitement. They are always resilient. Down 2-0 before they even get up, they strike back quickly against one of the best pitchers in the league. Also, just when you think it is going to be a blow out with The Duque looking horrible in the first, he recovered, like Glavine did the day before, to give the Mets yet another quality start.

We know they care. Up 4-2 in the 7th inning after having just a spectacular game, Reyes struck out and was visibly mad. He wasn't mad at the ump either. He went down swinging and he was pissed because he chased such a bad pitch. It is still a learning experience for him and hopefully he stores that in his memory banks or writes it down like Delgado does. This team is electric. Perhaps no team can light it up like the Mets with Reyes leading the charge. He lead off the game with a walk and a steal and scored the Mets first run. He finished with a 2 for 3 line with a run scored, a steal, a walk, and played sparkling in the field.

Then you have Chavez stepping in with another great bunt base hit to drive in a run, Wright's resurgence and ability to pick off bases, and you see just about everyone on this team is multi-dimensional. Not everyone, but just about everyone. This team has so many weapons and just does so many things well. They are missing a few big components to this team and now Beltran might miss a few days. Will that stop them? Probably not. The Mets can start printing their playoff tickets today.



* * *

  • Bobby K. is drinking the Oliver Perez Kool Aid.

    Maybe it was the way Oliver Perez shut out the Braves for seven innings last week, raising his 2007 record against them to 3-0 with a 1.31 ERA. Maybe it was outpitching Andy Pettitte in the Subway Series, helping the Mets take two of three from the crashing Yankees and claim Big Apple bragging rights. Or maybe all you needed to know about Perez was that he dominated David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez in a spring training game -- striking out both Red Sox sluggers twice.

    Let's not get too excited about spring training, but the other stuff is true. All three wins the Mets had against the Braves this year belong to Oliver Perez.

  • More classics from Joe Morgan:

    Jason (West Orange): Do you see anything wrong with Bobby Abreu?

    SportsNation Joe Morgan: I don't see him enough to make that evaluation, but Joe Torre said that he's not as aggressive as he normally is. A lot of guys get off to slow starts. He's a proven hitter so you'd expect him to pick it up before the season is over.


    Wait. You only do one game a week and your job is commentate on baseball. Shouldn't you be catching a few Yankee games? In fact, didn't the Yankees just play the Red Sox? That seems like a series that would be on your radar.

    Brian (Chattanooga): What do you think the Royals should do with rookie Alex Gordon. They keep on throwing him in there and he just is not ready yet. Do you think the Royals will send him down to triple-A or just keep him there, because they have no hope anyway.

    SportsNation Joe Morgan: What you have to do is decide whether he's making improvements or being frustrated. the one thing you don't want to do is shatter his confidence, but if you can see the improvement with him, you should let him stay. The real key is not to kill his confidence as a hitter.


    The question was what do you think they should do. Not what two obvious scenarios you can pointlessly lay out.

  • Leave it to Neyer...

    SportsNation Rob Neyer: (12:01 PM ET ) Rise and shine, campers! It's sunny in Sunnyvale, clear in Clearwater, and always philly in Philadelphia. Sure, the Yankees stink, but that's just something we'll have to live with as best we can. Questions?

    Be strong people. Be strong.

  • What?

    Then last month in Statesboro, Ga., police say 21-year-old William Benjamin Smith broke into his neighbors' home and threatened to kill them while yelling, "Barry Bonds doesn't deserve to be the home run king."

    Weird.

  • Los goes down with a bruised knee. It didn't look bad, but maybe he was missing a TV show that he forgot to DVR.

  • Mota is back and though there was some hub bub about Barry and Mota both making their first appearance at Shea. Apparently there was some wind about how Met fans should not being hypocritical by booing one and cheering the other, but if I have to explain the difference between the two players then you probably need some professional help. Barry was getting booed loooooong before steroids.

    That being said, it is good to have him back bringing another dependable arm to the bullpen.

  • Reyes wants to steal home and he should try it when the opposing team has Delgado in the shift one day.

  • It's impossible to predict who will be on the board when the Mets pick, but with Andrew Brackman's stock dropping fast, would the Mets be able to stomach using a precious pick on him?

    There hasn't been a player to suffer a greater fall than Brackman, who didn't pitch in the ACC tournament and has made only one appearance, totaling four innings, during the entire month. The team has said his arm is simply tired, but if Brackman doesn't pitch again before the draft, he could slide out of the first round altogether.

    His athleticism helps him repeat his delivery, but he struggles with his balance and release point, leading to erratic command, especially of his secondary stuff. He touched 99 mph in the Cape Cod League in 2006 and again during an early-season outing in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and he pitches at 94 with exceptional plane. His mid-80s spike-curveball is filthy. Brackman's changeup was the pitch that had improved the most this spring, and grades as a third potential plus offering. He's still unrefined, but even without the polish, Brackman shouldn't slide out of the top 10 picks.

    The Mets do not pick until the 42nd pick in the draft and then have the 47th pick. With only two picks in the top fifty, could they afford to take a risk on someone that might be injured? They won't pick again until the 78th pick. Personally, I say yes. Even if he has to sit a year out and get Tommy John, the Mets are not in dire straits here when it comes to young pitching and position players. They could afford to take a chance a long term investment and although it is unlikely he falls, the Mets almost could not pass him up should he not return to the mound and continue to drop down the draft boards.

  • At the end of the game yesterday, SNY went back to a clip of Willie animatedly talking Peterson after a great game that was tightly played. It came off a bit wierd and of course we have no idea what they were talking about, but it brought up the question in my head. If Willie and Rick have a falling out, who goes? For me it is an easy one. One is replaceable and one is not.
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    23 Comments:

    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    The Mets kick ass and its that simple. And all you need to know about Reyes is that he single handedly tied up the game on Tuesday. That game was the best way to show the impact he has on the team.

    Joe Morgan also said that Torre says the problem with Abreu is that he's not as aggresive as he used to be? I thuoght what made Abreu so good was his patience?

    Regarding Mota, I'm not going to lie, I was at the game on Wednesday and I was also at Mota's first game against the Cardinals last summer, you know the one where Beltran had that walk off homerun (the best game of 2006). And there was a difference. Last season even when I was just watching Mota warm up, I felt his fastball was just explosive. That's the only word I can use to describe it, it was explosive, it was moving all over the place. On Wednesday even though the fastball was being thrown 95 mph it just didn't seem as explosive. I dunno maybe its cause Mota's only been pitching for a week but still his fastball despite being just as fast as last year didn't have the same type of movement.

    Why is it that the Mets always face the "hottest" team in the NL at the time? They've played the Cubs and Brewers when they were the hot team to beat and now comes the Diamondbacks and thier new Sedona Red jerseys.

    1:51 AM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Really depends on the draft board with Brackman. I could see a situation where the Mets don't take him at 42 but do at 47. I'm sure there are many teams willing to take him even if it means a year off. The first twenty or so teams drafting probably don't have that sort of luxury though.

    I generally blame most of my crimes on Barry Bonds, doesn't everyone? W.B. Smith is ill, very very ill.

    I'm impressed you know that's Sedona Red, Benny. I know my wine reds (though I know my red wines better).

    It's the Williams sisters or bust if you like U.S. tennis. There's no one left but plenty of good tennis here in Paris all the same.

    4:38 AM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Brackman plays for NC State, who will be in town this weekend for the NCAA Tourney. I was hoping to see him pitch tomorrow against my beloved Gamecocks, but apparently he won't pitch at all this weekend.

    That David Price kid from Vanderbilt will be nasty when he makes it to the majors. I saw him pitch this year against my Cocks. He and Kazmir will make a nice 1-2 punch for the D-Rays.

    8:16 AM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    was at the game and missed the willie/peterson "event"... can anyone elaborate?

    9:08 AM

     
    Blogger michael o. said...

    Benny, people used to wet their pants about his ability to get on base (i.e. walk). Now, he just sucks. Just one on a long list of guys who crap the bed when they become a Yankee. I think people are using that as a crutch to pinpoint his problems.

    Give Mota some time. It’s only been a week, but I know what you mean. His fastball touches 97 and is just a nasty pitch. I would say to just give him some time.

    That’s the point DG…there is a point in the draft where the top guys come off and you might think about a Brackman. Also, you have to have the ability to gamble on a high pick and not many teams are presumably in that position. The Red Sox certainly can…the Dodgers…there are a few, but not many that will be willing to pay and gamble.

    They have wine in France? Who would have thunk it?

    Kenny, the D-Rays definitely have something a-brewing. If they actually make a few good trades and get some of their young pitchers up to snuff on short order, they will be nasty. Problem is, Kazmir is in what, his 3rd year of service? Price needs at least one year of minor league action, one year of ramp up in the bigs…then Kaz is gone. Such is the problem with the Devil Rays. They won’t get everyone trapped into a Baldelli-esque contract.

    Joe,

    It was just a conversation in the dug out after the game between Willie and Rick. A game in which was really a great one for the Mets and everyone played great. Smith was great….Wager was great…The Duque was doing this thing. Willie almost looked like he was arguing with an umpire at times. He could have been venting about something that someone did in the clubhouse or maybe something an ump did, but it just seemed weird. He was pretty animated and there didn’t seem to be any reason for it on the surface leaving everyone to speculate. SNY felt it was weird enough to replay it after it happened since it was during the post-game wrap up. Probably nothing, but worth noting for sure.

    10:22 AM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Oh boy, I just read that the Giants dumped Benitez on the Marlins for Randy Messenger during last night's game. Apparently Benitez's implosion Tuesday night was a factor:

    http://www.sportspyder.com/article/mlb/mets/1007772

    "Benitez was 0-2 with a 3.78 ERA and converted nine of 11 saves, but blew Tuesday's game when he balked in the tying run. That loss blasted the lid off fan frustration back home, and Sabean implied that he was forced to play Pontius Pilate in shipping out Benitez.

    "'We exercised as much patience and professional courtesy as we could to give Armando a chance to have success here,' Sabean said. 'I don't take satisfaction in anybody's demise or inability to do their job.'"

    Here's to looking for more Benitez's flare-ups within the division as the season progresses. What could more fun than poking it at AROD? Man, the Mets are GOLDEN this week!

    -Jon from JCNJ.

    12:11 PM

     
    Blogger michael o. said...

    Good stuff Jon...Sabean's quote was money. Why the Marlins would ever want to assume that cash is beyond me. Even if they aren't picking up all of it, did they really need it? They have something for Aramando and it is definitely irrational.

    12:38 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Metdynasty here

    That was a well-written piece on the Mets, mike. Good stuff.

    No doubt Reyes is the key to this lineup. When he is hot, our offense rolls. I don't think Reyes has gotten into a rhythm yet. As good as he looks now, he might be even slumping. Remember the crazy June he had last season:
    .373/.420/.618 . I hope he is going to turn it up again this month. He batted .257/.336/.339 in May this year which was very similar to the numbers he had in April and May last year. The difference in 07 was his hot April: .356/.442/.596. Awesome numbers!

    NL west has some serious pitching.
    Team ERA: San Diego 2.92, LA 3.61, Arizona 3.70, San Francisco 3.77. 4 teams in NL west are in the top 7 in ERA in the entire major league! I know some of that is due to the poor offense in NL central and west, but they've got a lot of young pitching talents. The team will stand out in NL west is gonna be the one who acquires a key position player first. For the Mets' sake, I hope that doesn't happen.

    Haren and Peavy are having a monster year. We were trying very hard last winter pursuing those two. Again, Omar was able to identify the real goods. It's just that Beane and Towers are too fucking smart to steal from. Damn! Imagine if we had either one of them.

    Omar gave a great interview during the game yesterday. "It's all about drafting the best players" I love it.

    I don't know how you guys do it. I don't even have the time to follow enough ML players and you guys are talking about college players and prospects. I need to grow myself another brain.

    If Willie is replaceable like you said Mike, I am just curious whom do you have in mind that is able to motivate these players as well as he does and at the same time a better strategist and currently available. Again, not trying to start an argument or anything, I just want to know if Omar had to fire Willie right now, whom do you think is an upgrade over Willie that the Mets can get their hands on?

    12:41 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Kenny:

    The Mets and Rays are not having fun with Pitching prospects. The Rays have had PLENTY of talent yet their starters feature Kazmir and Seo..ex-mets. Among their non-developed Ed Jackson (via LA), Jeff Nieman, Dewon Brazelton, Bobby Seay...

    How long before pitchers start refusing to sign with them?

    Now they are bottling necked with outfielders, and controvery with Young and now Dukes.

    E

    1:05 PM

     
    Blogger michael o. said...

    That was a well-written piece on the Mets, mike. Good stuff.

    Nothing of mine is well written. You know it…I know it…everyone knows it.

    RE: West pitching…Nice big parks…light hitting clubs…that helps. The Mets are only one of what, three teams not have given up 200 runs yet? They are right there with them. Let us all revel in their goodness.

    Oh, Peavy or Haren would be great. I mean, Peavy is much better in my eyes with his filthy stuff. He can just be overpowering. I think Haren is Maine with better control. Good pitcher that will have some great years. Peavy I think can be great.

    RE: College players…I haven’t had much time this year to follow it all. I used to read BA religiously and was much more in the know.

    If Willie is replaceable like you said Mike, I am just curious whom do you have in mind that is able to motivate these players as well as he does and at the same time a better strategist and currently available.

    Well, the hypothetical questions was not who would replace Willie, but whom would you prefer to have it if came to them not being able to work together? I said Rick because frankly, guys like him seem to be much harder to find. No? I don’t think I’m off base here….as to who replaces him, Ken Oberkefell, Jerry Manual (possibly, I’d have to consider), and Gary Carter jump into my mind as guys who are already in-house.

    1:45 PM

     
    Blogger michael o. said...

    Alon (Brooklyn): What's your take on Oliver Perez resurgence? Fluke?

    SportsNation Jayson Stark: A testament to the incredible talents of Rick Peterson. He's the David Copperfield of pitching coaches. He works magic. He has this guy actually repeating his delivery. No walks in four of his 10 starts? Is that a miracle, or what?


    From Stark's chat...This has nothing to do with my lackluster love for Willie as much as my love for Rick. I'm just stating that Rick is more important to the long term success of this team than Willie.

    1:55 PM

     
    Blogger michael o. said...

    FYI...Stark said that Armando is getting the minimum with the Giants picking up the rest. I guess that's really not a bad deal if they feel they really need him. Personally, the Marlins are not going anywhere, see what you have in the kids.

    2:21 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Hey, I've got an idea! Let's start Oliver Perez in all games against the Braves! That'll solve our problems against them!

    2:33 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    I really don't think we talk about Oliver Perez enough. I don't think I have much to say about him other than... what a deal. Xavier Nady for Oliver Perez.

    2:55 PM

     
    Blogger michael o. said...

    Sidd...brilliant!

    Bryan, good to hear from you and no we don't. I'm still tepid about laying too much praise on him and jinxing him. He seems like he's too good to be true at this point.

    3:14 PM

     
    Blogger michael o. said...

    FYI:

    After last night's game, SNY cameras caught Randolph and pitching coach Rick Peterson in an animated discussion in the dugout. Both men dismissed it. Randolph said there was no yelling and Peterson called it "comical." Peterson said the two were talking about Orlando Hernandez's performance.

    Also in the piece..

    Kevin Mulvey, last year's second-round draft pick, had a strong outing Wednesday for Double-A Binghamton. The right-hander allowed one earned run in seven innings. For the season, he's 5-4 with a 3.07 ERA.

    I'm intrigued with this Mulvery character. I'm interested in seeing what he can do in New Orleans. He's a pretty advanced college guy so it is only a matter of time.

    3:27 PM

     
    Blogger AE said...

    "Yesterday's game pretty much encapsulates the 2007 New York Mets. They look like they are having fun, they are resilient, they care, they are electric and dynamic, and they are good. Really fucking good."

    YES THEY ARE REALLY FUCKING GOOD. This team has not lost more than 2 in a row this year. They've won 11 series so far, lost 4, and won single games against 2 teams. That's the best in the NL. Only team that might be slightly better than them is the Boston Red Sox. And I say only slightly...

    Check out this graph:

    http://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/images/6293_02_01.gif

    YA GOTTA LOVE IT...

    so yeah, once again the Mets show up #2 in just about everyone's power rankings, which is fine with me...

    4:45 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    I told you Carlos Zambrano was out of his fucking mind.
    And if you don't know what I'm talking about, you'll know what I'm talking about when you see highlights of the Cubs vs Braves game on ESPN...

    4:52 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    I don't want Zambrano on my team, not at that price.

    metdynasty.

    5:35 PM

     
    Blogger ossy said...

    i dunno if this has been touched upon since i been outta the loop for a minute but....

    can we get rid of david fucking newhan

    this guy hasnt shown me shit. unlike moustache man last year, i dont htink this guy has ever done anything in the bigs.

    why is he here? im sure if i scoured the waiver wire and minor leagues, i could find a serviceable player to replace him with.

    8:35 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    "why is he here? im sure if i walked over to my local little league field, i could find a serviceable player to replace him with."

    Fixed.

    11:30 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Maybe he is here because his father is a hall of fame baseball writer for the LA times! My real guess is that he is fairly versatile and he always hustles. I personally don't care for Newhan but whatever, who else are we going to fill his roster spot with that can play OF and INF?

    1:47 AM

     
    Blogger mr.bmc said...

    Best. Ejection. Ever.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7CCga0nbG8

    6:43 PM

     

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