Good morning all. Hope the sun shines on you today. Before getting into the Mets, just an observation on Florida’s drivers. There are probably more tanned, left middle fingers here than anyplace in the country.
I’d also like to thank those of you who rallied to my defense yesterday. It means a lot that you recognize the effort that goes into this blog. To make this work, I can’t look at the Mets totally positive or negative. It has to be objective.
What I liked about yesterday was Oliver Perez. But, it remains a puzzle. He said the key was his ability to focus. That also means there are times when he does not. Those times is when he hurts the Mets.
He’ll be a big part as to how long they hang around in October, and, I do believe they will get there.
Heading to the clubhouse now. Will check in from there.
16 Comments
John- Do reporters have free rein to interview any of the players? If so, why haven´t we seen any interviews (from anyone) with Humber this month? I´m curious about his health/readiness, given his lack of use; i.e. is there a legitimate reason why he hasn´t been used this month.
John,
I couldn’t agree more. What’s worse is, when he loses focus, he makes mistakes. When he makes mistakes, he lets them pile up by making another and then another. He needs to learn to let go when he makes a mistake and buckle down. His body language is so obvious to me watching, it has to be even more so to the opposition. I am sure they can tell when they’re on the verge of having Ollie on the ropes.
He has good stuff, as we saw yesterday—even if it was the Marlins who are a young, free swinging team.
Hopefully Johnny Maine can get it together and pitch well today. I’d love to couple that with a Philly loss, but you know they aren’t going to lose another game this season :)
Didn´t I read yesterday that OLlie has more unearned runs than any qualifying pitcher in the league? I can understand how that could frazzle him; I hope he can learn to get over it…
JD: Interesting observation (and true) about drivers in South Florida…not only do they use that middle finger but they drive like they’re the only ones on the road, never NEVER use their turn signal and if they do, they believe that gives them the RIGHT to move into that lane, even if you’re in the way.
Perez was so on yesterday….this was probably one of the two best games he’s thrown all season and with no walks. NONE….wow….
Omar, in response to your last post on yesterdays “Mets Chat Room” – JD said on Thursday or Friday that the Mets staff reads everything like the CIA, as he put it. He said that he had been asked several times not to speculate about certain things, but responded by saying if the Mets didn’t conceal these things, he wouldn’t be speculate. So it looks like the Mets care about everything that is said by professional sports writers.
Wow, I didn’t know there were drivers worse than those in New Jersey. I am so cloistered. :-P
I guess we need these young pitchers to have nerves of steel, but that comes through experience and maturity.
BTW, a no name pitcher is going for the Marlins today…that has been a big problem for the Mets this season. I’d rather see Smoltz or Hudson…but they’re pitching against the Phillies this week, right?? Go Braves!
One more drivers comment. I once heard a comedian who was appearing in South Florida who remarked about the drivers – something to the effect that each driver should have the flag of the country they are from because they appear to follow the rules of the road for that country…..when he told it, it was funny but the gist of it is true….not all drivers from the northeast US are the reason there are SO MANY LOUSY drivers down here….
Why is Peter Abraham writing about the Mets and Willie Randolph. At least he has similar views on Randoplhs deficiencies.
SpiderPig: Forgive my ignorance…but who does Peter Abraham write for? A Philadelphia paper? Shed some light on this for those of us who don’t know the bloke, please.. :-)
John…I totally agree with your points on Reyes and I’ve been thinking the same thing since the allstar break. It hurts me to say it as a diehard Mets fan, but I’m not a homer and I can be realistic…Reyes has reached the point where I’d almost call him a very “overrated” player. I’m sick of his inability to get a big hit when we need it, and I’m maddened by the way he’s reverted to his rookie habit of golfing at obvious balls in the dirt. He needs to shape up and stop playing like such a bum.
One interesting thought (and I apologize if this is something you’d already addressed in the past), but what do you think about the idea that maybe Rickey’s presence as a Mets coach may actually have been a bad influence on Reyes? I’m the allstar break and Rickey’s joining the staff were about the same time when Reyes started going south…running in dumb situations, getting stupidly picked off base, and having horrendously bad pitch selection. Any thoughts?
-To Dave in Spain: We can talk with anybody in the clubhouse. I’ve spoken with Humber a few times since he’s been up and have quoted him.
-To RMKMets: There’s been a lot of talk about Henderson’s influence. Reyes hasn’t been the same player since Henderson’s arrival. How much is he to blame, I don’t know, but there’s been some impact. How much we’ll know if Henderson doesn’t come back next year.-JD
John Delcos,
I’m a regular reader of this blog and occasional contributor who has always respected your work. That is until reading some of your comments in yesterday’s chat.
You were way out of line, kicking ass as if you have no ties as a professional journalist also representing a newspaper chain. No, considering your work situation, it is not appropriate to put your opinion in street form under your real name, talk down to some of the posters, and sound like a street punk. Blog or not, you should be maintaining some modicum of professionalism, and most especially not come back the next day and say “To make this work, I can’t look at the Mets totally positive or negative. It has to be objective.” You were not objective in your tone and insults, and have the nerve to claim the next day you were. Shame on you, John.
Didn’t know the Mets actually read this. wow. Perhaps I’ll gripe more.
In response to the above, /i was not going to read yesterdays stuff. now I will.
E.L.-
Blogs are not ¨journalism¨ per se. Opinion is expected. As to Delcos´ tone yesterday, did you read the garbage posts that he was responding to? The level of respect and intelligence on the thread yesterday was very low, and I think Delcos was perfectly justified in everything he said. If you want dry, factual commentary read the regular game articles in the paper. Come to a blog and take what you get.
That said, some of the posters yesterday were way out of line—perhaps there should be posted rules of polite blogging behavior or something. Or a means of censuring people who are gratuitously insulting to others.
Dave in Spain,
Thanks for the response.
I think it’s up to JD to rise above the fray and act like a professional representing a newspaper chain on their blog which is what this is. Some people use blogs as opportunity to mouth off in ways no one would dare in the real world, and I’m shocked to see JD join in the fray. And I mean, shocked. I just expect better from a beat reporter than use of street tone and putting others down. No excuse for it. Only JD knows his reasons, but whatever they are, I find his tone and personal attacks, inappropriate.