Mets in the Morning: On tap for today
-
- February
- 17
Sunday morning, so the boys get to sleep in an extra half hour. Then fielding drills and throwing. For the most part, the days are kind of quiet the first two weeks of camp.
Every once in awhile somebody will come out and say something. Totally out of character for Carlos Beltran to say that yesterday. But, I liked it. No harm. Shows confidence. Besides, as an athlete you should think your team is the one to beat.
Sure, we’ll hear something in response from Clearwater today.
Planning on writing Mike Pelfrey or Brian Schneider for tomorrow.
This entry was posted
on Sunday, February 17th, 2008 at 8:46 am by John Delcos.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Print This Post
| 
Advertisement
Hope Beltran gets off to fast start or he is gonna hear from the reporters.
If you interview The Schnide, make sure not to mention wet paper bags. He tried to hit his way out of one last year and… rumour has it that it didn’t end well.
Mike (RE: Schneider): So Mike, not a big fan, huh?-JD
When your team throws away a five-tool rookie with unlimited ceiling and you get back a no-hit defensive catcher whose… defense has been slipping the last few years… and a part-time corner outfielder…
As a fan, you’re left with an inability to cut Back-Up Catcher and Platoon Outfielder one whit of slack, I s’pose.
Uh Oh…. You’re not on the Church bandwagon Mike C. The other boys will be upset you said the truth about his career.
Nope, the truth about on the field performance doesn’t upset this falsely labelled apologist. My perception/opinion that someone else has overreacted to off the field remarks does. I don’t think he is a whiner me-first player for saying what he did, you do. Multiple attempts by both of us to bring the other party over to their view of things have failed. There we have it. You may continue to attempt to convince me and the others you’ve deemed apologists of our folly if you wish, it’s a free country. Otherwise I would politely and with much respect say, next topic please.
Go away for a while and come back and the Church battle never ends. Hope something happens before opening day to give us a new thing to argue about. But what?
What would you like to argue about Gravedigger? Would you lke to criticize Beltran for saying the Mets are good? Would you like to criticize the Santana trade? This unfortunatley seems to be the only thing to argue about. It ain’t going to be much fun arguing about the last reliever or 5th guy on the bench. Or whether Alou/Delgado or Delgado/Alou is a better lineup. This is a set team with nothing to talk about really so what’s wrong with arguing the merits or demerits of this guy? He’s either gonna play like a good player or not despite any defense or attack on him anyway. All I know is there are about 5 of us who blast Church regularly and his defenders seem like they just have to respond. If you want to end the topic stop defending him. I’d rather fight about Church than fight about who will replace the injured XXXXXXX…...
Happy Presidents day to all.
The venom for the Milledge trade should not be directed at Church and Schneider.The blame should go to Omar who mortgaged the potential of Milledge for the league average ( or medicore ) results the Mets will get from Church and Schneider. I believe for the next two years the Mets will have the overall better results from this trade. The question is if the Mets go to the World Series this year, will this ease the pain of seeing Milledge possibly being a great player two years from now.
I agree with you Scott from Pelham. Going to the World Series there should be no pain should there? And its hard to boo Omar anymore since the Santana trade. But I think you must admit before Santana Omar was blasted regularly on this site and on others. I think there would have been a lot less hositility towards this new guy if he wasn’t written of by so many posters as being such a big improvement. If he does their thing he will be cheered, and you all know it, and if he doesn’t, I’m sure 90% of his defenders will boo him at Shea. (I won’t use apologists since it hurts gravediggers feelings)
“All I know is there are about 5 of us who blast Church regularly and his defenders seem like they just have to respond. If you want to end the topic stop defending him.”
Sloppy, I think it’s the other way around. There is no need to “blast” Church. It’s not like Omar traded Milledge for Ryan Langerhans.
“I think there would have been a lot less hositility towards this new guy if he wasn’t written of by so many posters as being such a big improvement.”
Letsgomets, I think you need a visit from the hyperbole police once again. No one is touting Church as a “big” improvement. He is essentially a younger, slightly more powerful, and more athletic version of ‘07 Shawn Green.
And let’s not forget a very important point. Those who defend Church can come across as promoting him as the second coming when this is not the intent. For some bizarre reason there are a few who just lambast this dude. I mean, those who blast Church do so in a condescending, snarky, and often mean spirited manner.
It is confounding to me how people can spew so much venom in the direction of a player they’ve barely seen play, know very little about, and is coming off a nice season.
So yes, I will continue to defend Church. Not because I think he will turn into Paul O’Neill. Not because I think he will become our 4th regular to start in the All Star game this season. And not because I think he’ll suddenly develop 40 HR per year power. I will continue to defend Church because his treatment by some on this board has simply been unfair, whether it be the portrayal of his attitude and character or his on-field play.
I am still waiting for any kind of compelling argument as to why Church deserves to get “blasted” other than “he was traded for Milledge” and “bleh, he didn’t get a lot of PT on the Nats.”
And notice how no one runs to Schneider’s defense when he gets “blasted.”
Citing a guys mediocre career is a far cry from flinging venom. If I called Willie Mays a mediocre ballplayer you’d have a case, but starting facts is not venom. The guys has been mediocre. The guy has made bad comments about certain groups who live in NYC, and denyting them is the shame…. I’m gald you defend Church Keith. Becuae its fun to argue with you.
I don’t see Schneider being blastd very often. Why? Because you read positive things about him. You read in the Times how he asked for films on all our pitchers right after the trade. You read how he asked for film on all the opposing batters as soon as he was traded. He has shown he is a pro. As Seaver would call him he ’s a pros pro. He’s never been called out for making derogatory comments about groups and he’s never whined about where he played. I like Schnieder. He’s won me over by what he’s done, unike Church. He may not be a star but he’s already proven to be a team guy.
You haven’t heard any “compeelling” reason to blast Church becauseyou in your pro-Church mind, reject every comment. I on the other hand have proven an open mind by embracing Schneider who originally I didn’t want on this team.
Sloppy I guess if Church is the only argument available then I will take your advice and stop defending him because I believe both sides have stated their cases pretty thoroughly and yet no one has changed sides. Sounds like a stalemate. My defenses are over.
Sloppy: Maybe the defense of Church on this board would stop if all you Church attackers would just give the guy a chance to prove himself. I can throw out all the comparisons to Paul O’Neill that I want to, or point out that the guy (even though it is a real small sampling,) is a masher at Shea, and that his career against lefties isn’t as bad as people would make it seem, but the fact is that guys like letsgo already have it in their minds that he is going to be a failure. My point is give the guy a chance and lets see what he becomes. If he gives the Mets 25/80/.275 with a good slg and obp that he has had in the past then i’ll be satisfied. Again it is not his fault that Omar traded Milledge for him.
Original: He’ll get his chance in April. If he puts up the numbers you want and Delgado puts up those numbers I expect no complaints about Delgado and I won’t complain about Church. but Delgado will be blasted just like last year for numbers Church can only dream about. At least he said he, Delgado, stunk. He didn’t find something to blame. That’s called a man. Maybe Church should learn from him. He didn’t blame his hand or his kid or the way the wind blew last year.
Sloppy: Im still trying to understand why what Church said was so bad. It’s not an awful thing for him to say that his home run total might be bigger at Shea. My final Church prediction will be 22 homers 75 rbi .275 BA .350 OBP .490 Slg. That should work fine in this lineup.
Steve: Its his first talk to the press and its not a team statement. Its a me me me statement. Santana talks about Pedro, Schneider talks about how happy he is to be on a good team, this guy nothing but I’m gonna hit a couple more HRs. As for guessing his numbers, whatever… I’d be pretty happy if he can actually be a right fielder…...
sloppy: I think you are reading a bit too much into one statement to the press. Lighten up a bit. I just hope you will not be the guy ripping him for every little thing he does wrong.
Lets say he goes 3 for 5 one day but misjudges a flyball that proves to be meaningless, I do not want to hear a rip job on the one bad play and totally ignore the good part of his day. But sadly I expect that this is how Church will be
treated all year long.
If this makes me A Church apologist, then it is what it is.
“Citing a guys mediocre career is a far cry from flinging venom.”
My statement was less directed towards you and more towards some others from a few weeks back who were saying that Church “stunk” or that he would be an “abyss” or a “black hole” in the lineup. IMO, that’s just not an accurate description of his MLB production. You say mediocre, which is fine, while I personally believe he is slightly above average with a chance to be above average… however at this point we’re parsing words. My goal has been to have people realize the value or a “mediocre” or “average” player like Church. It is a hard to find everyday players. As much as we love Endy, he is not an everyday player. As much athletic ability a guy like Ben Johnson has, he has not proven capable of playing every day. Players like Xavier Nady and Ryan Church, while not putting up sexy numbers, fulfill a vital role on good ball clubs. They provide league average production, which is more difficult to come by than one would think. This is why sites like Baseball Prospectus make the baseline “Replacement Player” in their VORP stat. Because replacement players are readily available while a productive, league average player is not.
I also think you’re looking at his quote the wrong way. I don’t think he was whining about where he played. I felt like he was simply pointing out that his hitting style did not play well at RFK. Ryan Zimmerman is in the same boat. They’re both line drive hitters who would be smacking 25-30 homers if they played in Philly. Instead, they play in RFK, so those line drives go off the wall instead of over it.
“Its his first talk to the press and its not a team statement. Its a me me me statement.”
Sloppy, how do you know this was Church’s first statement to the press. Check out some of his quote from an AP article on him and Schneider:
“It’s a great situation to be in,” Church said. “It’s one of the biggest stages in all of the major sports. A lot of pressure and everything comes with it, but it’s part of the territory.”
“Here, it’s a little different,” Church said. “Not winning is going to be basically a failure. That’s how it’s looked at. So, get it done.
“I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve never been in this type of situation,” he added. “Just knowing that they have the confidence in me and they traded for me … it’s definitely a confidence-booster.”
“The 29-year-old Church has played mostly left field and center during four seasons in the big leagues, but said he’s comfortable in right, too.
“I’m not afraid to run through walls—and get thrown back,” he said.”
Then there is this quote from an MLB.com article: And [Church] is excited—thrilled, even. While many players have qualms about being traded to another team, Church said he was delighted from the start.
“I was pumped,” he said. “When they told me I was traded, the first thing I said was, ‘Who was it?’ When they said New York, I was like, ‘Thank God.’”
Lastly, there is this snippet, from newsday.com: “Count Ryan Church among the earliest position players to arrive in camp after he cruised in Friday morning. The highly-motivated David Wright was the first, followed by Church, who drove down from his home in Viera.”
So,in sum, Ryan Church is: very excited to be in New York and on the Mets, understands that playing here is different and embraces that, and arrived at camp early, second only to DWright among position players. Looks to me like he’s a guy who is ecstatic to be a part of a contender, a contender that believes in him to boot, rather than a bottom dwelling franchise who would shuttle him back and forth between AAA.
No offense Keith but I think the Letsgo guy’s “Church apologist” line is kinda on the bullseye. For Church’s sake I hope you are his agent. Are you Scott Boras by any chance?
Ok, it was his first comments in PSL, when more people are paying attention. Did you read the on line article in the NY Times about Schneider? That was impressive.
PS: I see the MLB internet package is up a few $$ again this year but they also make the annual claim that the picture is better. I hope so. They did improve it last year. The Mets are in Pittsburgh in August. Come on out guys, get good seats and listen to all the Mets being cheered unlike at Shea where there is so much booing. Keith and Gravedigger you can get seats in Right Field over the scoreboard and have a chat with Church every inning. Maybe he’ll hit one to you even, who knows.
Sloppy, might just take you up on that. As August gets closer we’ll see. PNC looks GREAT on TV, I would love to see it in person. I have been to one game at Three Rivers in ‘93 and all I can say is I’m glad you got a new stadium and I look forward to CitiField here. Had a great time in Pittsburgh then (best keylime pie I’ve ever had), we rode those mountainside car thingys down to the river then took a boat across to the stadium, docking next to a statue of Roberto Clemente in a thickening fog. It was eerie, at the time I remember thinking I’d just crossed from West to East Berlin. But I did love that there were TV’s in the stands, so I could decide whether to watch the game below me on the field or above me on TV.
“No offense Keith but I think the Letsgo guy’s “Church apologist†line is kinda on the bullseye. For Church’s sake I hope you are his agent. Are you Scott Boras by any chance?”
Fair. However, as it’s been mentioned, there is little to debate with this team. Any other concerns are hard to disagree on unless you’re obtuse. For example, I’m not going to disagree on concerns about Delgado and Pedro bouncing back or injury concerns regarding Alou and El Duque.
Although, I do think apologist is not entirely accurate because I do concede to hit shortcomings/concerns. I think advocate would be more accurate.
Sure, Schneider’s interviews have been quite impressive, however he also has a ton more responsibility. He has to familiarize himself with a whole new pitching staff. Sure, Church has to become more comfortable in RF and against LH pitching, but he did show up to camp earlier than every position player, save for the indefatigable David Wright.
My point was that you guys are VERY quick to jump all over Church for anything. I was just pointing out other sources that show he is very much the team player.
Gravedigger: If you come to PNC try to go to a night game and sit behind home plate (even though Church won’t be able to hit a HR to you). The view of the city as night approaches is usually much more impressive than the Pirates! You can still take the river boat to the park or you can park downtown and walk over the Roberto Clemente Bridge…. I’ve been to new parks in a bunch of places, Pittsburgh, Philly, Baltimore, Atlanta, Cincy, Colorado, Texas, Milwaukee and PNC is # 1. If Wilpon park is as nice as PNC park than the Mets’ fans will be very happy.
Keith: I don’t think we were any harder on churcho than the posters were on Delgado last year, and certainly not harder than they were on Mota (who unlike all the guys in the steroids report who say woops I made a mistake, at least paid some price for being an idiot and a cheat).
sloppy, I envy you that you’ve been to all those new parks. The only one I’ve been to that you mentioned is Atlanta, saw 3 Met games there in early Sept. last year (before it all went horribly wrong). Pelfrey pitched great, my brother and I couldn’t believe what we were seeing from him. The park itself was not particularly memorable for me except that I loved the big wide open bar and the noticeable amount of space/room. Not at all cramped, and I say that from the perspective of a former Fenway season ticket holder. Fenway is the definition of cramped. I hope to get to some of those other places you mentioned someday.