Random Stuff 4-17-08

Johnny Baseball has not been horrible, but I think everyone has really, really high expectations for him in 2008. Since people have such high expectations, he has been a slight disappointment.

"It was the walks," Maine said of his unhappiness.

Indeed, the free passes continue to be a problem for Maine this year. He's walked 12 in 16 2/3 innings. No other Met has more than seven.

Maine (1-1) said he's not comfortable with his fastball.

"It doesn't feel 100 percent right now," he said. "Hopefully warmer weather will help it."

The bar has been set high for him this year and a mid-rotation starter would be a huge disappointment at this point for John Maine.

Also from the above link, Church likes #2.

In his second straight game in the two-hole, Ryan Church had two hits, including a solo homer. He had a hit and a walk in that spot on Tuesday, too.

"I love it," Church said. "I've been getting some pitches that I've been able to do something with."

Yesterday someone said in the comments (sorry, too lazy to look!) that Willie could be prepping for Alou and batting Church 7th is just nuts when you have Castillo in front of him. So, Willie could be doing some pre-Alou tinkering. If so...

Reyes
Church
Wright
Beltran
Delgado
Alou

Wow. That has some punch straight down to six and could do some insane damage.

As for Church, I was a believer. Now, it seems other people are coming around.

Joe Smith has looked amazing this season.

"I made a few changes in my delivery, subtle. I'm trying to stay crouched through the whole thing, trying to get to the lowest release point," said Smith, who opened with 151/3 scoreless frames last year before struggling and being demoted - an experience the 24-year-old learned from.

"I went through a little bit of everything. I started hot, went through the middle of the year struggling, got sent down, had to come back. Last year was a good year for me; I learned a lot from it," said Smith, who had a 6.43 spring ERA. "I was working on stuff, had a tough spring, but they showed faith in me. Now I'm going to do what I can to help the team win."

Smith is good.

Carlos Beltran, team leader? Believe it.

"As a teammate, I know, I see when somebody's not happy and I didn't think he was happy," Beltran said last night. "I tell him 'I want you to be the Reyes that you always have been.; "

First Los making bold claims and now this? Very good.

"I have to enjoy my game and be the way I am," Reyes said. "I can't worry about the other team getting mad because other teams they do that, what we do they do it, too. I don't care about that. I just care about this team."

Hmmmm...Methinks the Metsies are waking up. Maybe I'm looking into this too much, but I like what I am seeing.

"We don't care if these other teams get offended," Beltran said. "We're going to play the game like that."

Last night seeing Reyes at the top of the steps in the dugout going nuts felt right. I makes me smile like a five year old girl in a Barbie factory....or like a 43 year old pedophile in a Barbie factory with five year old girls... whichever you prefer.

Tim Marchman talks Forbes. Read it and like it.

It seems the guy might have been playing around.

So far, Beltran only has one homerun. However, he has 13 walks (good for 2nd in the league) and he has a 7 doubles (good for third). The patience is there and the pop is there, so the homeruns will be coming.

Jon Heyman goes over some baaaad deals.

Pavano's agent Tom O'Connell -- the fourth agent the right-hander has gone through in his career -- believes that Pavano would still be a desired commodity on the free-agent market this winter, even with his injury history. "Carl's a 1-2 starter," O'Connell said. "Those guys don't grow on trees. Those guys are very rare, 200-inning guys are very rare in this game, and they're the ones that make the money. And he did it two years in a row, before he got hurt, and I'm sure he's going to do it again."

Are you sure you are sure? I hate agents and their stupid spin. It generally seems as though they assume everyone is stupid. I get the fact that they have to say positive things about their player, but this makes both himself and his player that he is representing look stupid. How about just admitting Pavano had a rough time of it and is chomping at the bit to get back into the flow of things and is coming along great?

Is Tom O'Connell trying to be Scott Boras' evil twin? The sheer lunacy of such a statement wreaks of Boras.