The Mets were lucky they only played two games at Wrigley. As I type this they are getting on the bus to head to the airport for another two-gamer at DC.
Just a horrible showing today. Simply awful. Nelson Figueroa didn’t stink, but he got no help from his offense. Both he and Carlos Delgado combined for a defensive malfunction that kept the fourth inning alive and enabled the Cubs to score three times.
Both admitted they blew the play.
IN A NUTSHELL, Chicago 8, Mets 1
The offense was 1-for-9 with RISP and left nine runners.
FROM THE CLUBHOUSE
David Wright on the offense: “It seems like we get only one chance a game to have a big inning and if we don’t we don’t score any runs.’’
Carlos Delgado on not covering first in the fourth: “I went too far off the bag, then I realized Damion (Easley) had a better angle.’’
Nelson Figueroa on getting to the bag late: “I should have gone over and covered the bag. It was my fault.’’
IN-GAME ANALYSIS
4th INNING: Figueroa keeps on rolling. A wasted opportunity that inning. Carlos Delgado comes up small with the bases loaded. Mets 0, Chicago 0.
5th INNING: Just weak. You’d think they’d get a hit with RISP by accident. Chicago 3, Mets 0.
6th INNING: They are only down by two runs, but why does it seem so much more than that? Chicago 3, Mets 1.
8th INNING: Ronny Cedeno slam Jorge Sosa. Chicago 8, Mets 1.
POSTGAME NOTEBOOK
-Pedro Martinez was examined by Mets’ doctors in NY and is ten days to two weeks from throwing off the mound. And, that’s throwing a bullpen. That takes him into May. A week or so of bullpens and then two or three rehab starts (five days apart), and I do believe that will put him into June.
-Two more weeks for Orlando Hernandez in the boot.
-Ramon Castro and Moises Alou played in extended spring training games.
-The offense: Five hits and only three runners reached third.
Time for me to write my story and grab something to eat. I have no intention of watching Yankees and White Sox tonight.
I turn the blog over to you guys. Let it rip.
178 Comments
Keith,
I’m sorry that you don’t want to hear it but the fact of the matter is one of those wins against Philly the mets would have lost because the replacement for Rollins at short gave the game away with errors.
“The only guys with significant age on this team who we need to worry about are Delgado, Alou, and Wagner. Delgado is someone to worry about, but the latter two haven’t given us any reason to be worried.”
I say that’s a pretty big deal considering two of those guys
the mets depend on for offense and the other is the closer.
OH yes, you forgot castillo also.
Keith,
I commend you for your confidence in this team but I don’t feel confident that this team is as good as people think and I still don’t think they will win there division, I hope I’m wrong, time will tell.
Castillo is 32.
Wagner is pitching great. Age suddenly becomes an issue when the player starts to perform poorly. No one discusses age in regard to Smoltz. The same should go for Wagner. Wagner has been very good for us. Ditto for Alou when he is in the lineup.
tomg, my main point is that there is no point in being confident or not confident… it’s just too early. I could see the season going either way. My entire goal was to bring a bit of perspective while everyone is running around like chickens without a head because we lost to Carlos Zambrano and followed that up with a loss where we fielded a crappy lineup.
“the fact of the matter is one of those wins against Philly the mets would have lost because the replacement for Rollins at short gave the game away with errors.”
Ok, his replacement made two errors. But there is no way for you to definitively state the Mets WOULD HAVE LOST. There is absolutely, positively, no way of telling what would have happened.
I could play this game too. Had Moises Alou been healthy, we would have won even if Rollins was in the lineup. I could argue that if Pedro were healthy we would have swept. Also, don’t forget that Bruntlett made that great play on Beltran’s shot up the middle to end the final game of the series.
I just find it amusing that METS FANS are actively looking for ways to qualify the team’s 5 game winning streak.
What’s even more amusing is all this drum beating to have hello from DC banned.
Mets fans do a good enough job disparaging their own team!
Annie, it was so good to hear you agree that the blame is not Willie. I think these boys should be held accountable for their terrible playing, but they will be fine, not even out of the first month yet… As I sit and listen to all the things being said by “supposed†fans of the Mets, and people professing to be knowledgeable about baseball in general. I am compelled to take a moment to write a few comments myself.
The thing that drives me crazy is listening to all the people criticizing Manager Willie Randolph. Who is doing a SUPERB job of leading the Mets. There was a man on the train who commented to me (I was wearing a Mets jacket) that they had a bad weekend. I replied the season is young and they will be fine. He proceeded to say I don’t know, I do not like how they are playing, and added, and they really need to keep that Randolph on a short leash. Then on the radio this morning, there were people who were again talking about Mr. Randolph and how he has made “bonehead†moves, and they need to keep an eye on him. The proverbial “they†I am assuming is Minaya and The Wilpons.
Historically, managers are used as “scapegoats†when it comes to teams not winning or playing poorly. There have been some really bad managers who deservedly got the blame (Lee Mazilli with the Orioles, who was fired mid-season). But I digress…. To my friend on the train, I asked him how he figured Randolph was somehow to blame for the team losing; he really could not point to anything specific, but did make some comment on sending a runner home… (Yep, I can see how that is going to bring the Mets down, give me a break that is just aggressive ball, and had he been safe, it would have been the runner who was the speedy genius.) I then brought up that Mets “savior†Santana at the time was 1-2, he commented that he held the Braves to 1 hit, but that his team was not hitting the ball to back him up…. THE TEAM!!!!!! Willie is not standing behind them swinging the bat with them, as you would do with a 5 year old that one is teaching to bat, to the contrary, these are men that get paid MILLIONS of dollars to do a job. He then says he is disappointed in Reyes, he is playing like he does not even want to play anymore, like his heart is just not in it… again I say, How is Willie to blame for this??? Our pitchers are not pitching, our defense is full of errors, and our bats are not swinging, collectively. Yet everyone is so quick to blame our manager. At what point do we hold the players accountable for their salaries??? If I do not do the job that I get paid to perform, it is not my boss who gets reprimanded, or fired, it is ME !!!! So, again, I ask, when are these players that are getting paid millions of dollars to produce going to be held accountable for what they are NOT doing??? My train friend said to me well yes that is true, but he does not motivate his team, he is too instructional. ?????????????? WHAT????????
From what I have been watching apparently he is not instructional enough… I grew up playing baseball/softball year round through high school from the age of 7, I then joined the Air Force, and played softball for the air force, I have coached numerous teams, boys and girls, from 5 thru 18, and continue to play even now, So I do know a thing or two about the game, and it seems the Mets right now are making fundamental mistakes, not covering where they should be, making it seem that the player is unaware of where the play should have been, and what his role is. This is one of the things you always teach a YOUNG team, always know what to do when the ball is hit. If it is hit to you, know what you are going to do with it, or what to do when it is hit elsewhere… the kinds of mistakes professionals should not be making… and I am guessing Willie is assuming that his players already should know. (Could you imagine your surgeon making a “fundamental†mistake, OOPS, I am sorry sir/ma’am, I should have amputated your right leg, I took off the left accidentally, but hey the chief of staff should be kept on a tight leash, he could have prevented me from making that mistake) Small ball, fundamentals, it can win ballgames…. And the PLAYERS are the ones not executing. Yet Willie is being blamed. He is a winner, played as a winner, and coached as a winner. He was a great force in the Yankee clubhouse, and now the Mets and they are fortunate to have him. He knows the game and knows his players, and what is going on with them, things that John Q Public is not aware of, he makes changes, based on knowledge he has and because obviously the way things are is not working, then gets criticized for it and that becomes the reason for the Mets not winning. He does not make a change, and shows confidence in his players and their ability, and that becomes the problem, why is Willie not doing anything about it ??? Wake up people, while he may make some moves that one may say, “I did not get that oneâ€, that is OK, but I have heard over and over again I hate Willie, fire Willie, and on and on…. I am having a hard time believing that people really believe that he is to blame for dead bats, errors, and very simple fundamental mistakes. The Mets were not even on the map, of recent, until Willie took over the helm. Those of you who have such a problem, when another manager spot opens up, on any team, go for it, you are obviously more qualified to manage a team, and I am so sure your team would make it to the World Series, your first year as a manager. Shame on all of you, including announcers and writers, who add their own commentary and personal bias’, report what happened and let people draw their own conclusions.
I hope Mr. Randolph knows that there are fans out here who know what he brings to the team, and the organization as a whole, and believe that he is doing a great job, trying to maintain discipline and harmony, and those of us who know that a whole lot more goes into managing a team than innings, outs, balls and strikes, and believe in him and know he will get us there. It is always easier for one to manage from the stands.
A final thought- Get behind your team, PERIOD!!! The season is young, and as we all know, you can have a HUGE lead and it all fall apart. (AGAIN, fundamental stupid errors are what lost the season for us, collectively) It’s a good team and Willie is a great manager, and they will get the job done!!!!!!!!!! Have some faith and show some support for the team you allege to be a fan of… win or lose… BE A TRUE BLUE FAN!!!
Sorry John, did not mean to rant… : )
Keith,
please don’t compare me to that moron. If you don’t think the Mets don’t have issues here than you have blind faith.
Mets are 12th in the NL in slugging. They are an embarassment on offense.
btw could Marlon Anderson actually get a base hit.
I still have faith in the Mets and don’t think their problems are widespread. It’s basically just Delgado who is dragging this team down, as well as the bullpen other than Wagner. If they straighten/fix those areas, which is doable, this team is still the one to beat in the NL East. But the can’t wait on Delgado too long. He’s dragging the whole team down with him.
I don’t know how anyone can be unhappy with Church and Schneider so far. Church defensively is better than Green, Milledge, Nady, and Pagan who is worse in the OF than I thought he would be. Church is just a notch below Beltran and Endy in terms of defense. He’s also hitting both lefties and righties and with men in scoring position. Schneider has the 4th best OBP for a catcher in the majors so far. I wouldn’t be too concerned with the passed balls earlier either. He hadn’t caught these pitchers often before and was breaking in a new glove, which he ended up chucking. They’ve been two of the more productive players on the team, along with Wright and Pagan.
tomg: You call me a moron for blasting another team. I don’t hate your metsies half as much as you do. Three little losses and all the fair weather metsies are beating each other and most of the team. What a sad sad commentary on the metsie community. I feel bad for keith having to co-exist with all these fair weather fans.
We may be last but we at least don’t hate our team. And I bet most of you wish you could trade 90% of your team for one Jimmy Rollins.
Well off to the park, I was gonna be nice to the metsies, but why bother, since you all hate them so much anyway.
Keith, You may not care about fire but I am a firm believer in it. If you don’t get worked up in a competitive environment you don’t excel. We certainly can disagree all we want and neither can prove, but I will never be convinced that the Mets could have come back like the Phillies did last year. Why, Their manager, for all of his in game flaws (like Willie) never did or said anything to stifle their enthusiasm. Yet, from the Mets we heard about all the kids having too much fun. Now when the team is so obviously moribund from this lack of enthusiasm we have to have Carlos Beltran tell Jose to get it back. Why. Because it matters. But, Minaya gave a team of robotic players. And the results are that they don’t come back, they give up when games are tough, they don’t perform well in the clutch, Yes, I think it matters a lot.
I think fire won us the 73 pennant, i think fire gave those Willis Red led Knicks a championship over a far superior Lakers team, I think it gave the Giants the /super Bowl this year. I think its why the Braves failed so often in the playoffs, they had a bunch of Glavine’s who died when things got tough, enough…. I don’t want to go team by team.. I guess you know I didn’t love Kevin McReynolds either, but give me Keith or Gary or Dykstra any day, because they’ll exceed their skills. And give me Bobby Valentine with all his warts, to Willie Randolph any day, any night….. Give me Gil Hodges…. Carlos Delgado would have been taken out on the spot yesterday….. Just ask Cleon Jones…..
“Well guess what… we didn’t have Alou and half our team was playing like garbage. ”
I think you were very close to nailing it. Half our team is playin like garbage because half our team is garbage..
Keith, people calling for the idea of sending D-Wright down to AAA is a bit different than what the Delgado stir is all about.
D-Wright is quite younger than Delgado. Delgado is also coming off surgery. Plus no one is asking for Delgado to be sent down to the minors. I am convinced that Delgado has the mechanics to perform is job to an expected level. I also believe that Delgado has more of a mental issue about his slump more than anything else. It has affected his plate work and now his fielding (lets not forget he did throw into Utley not long ago).
As for Santana, he is in a new ballpark, a new league and in a new clubhouse. With that being said thre maybe an adjustment period for him until he really kicks it off. By the way if he was the best pitcher in baseball (if we are talking about the present) then his stats would show for it. Right now Peavy, Haren and Webb appear to have better starts. Not to take away from Santana but the proof is there. Santana was also suppose to bring a great deal of confidence for the Mets. Do the Mets have confidence right now? The make say so but their start might be showing otherwise.
As for the two Nationals, both showing great promise in their roles. I am still not too convinced on Schneider’s defense but I am more optimistic about him the others in the club house. However I made my point with these two. I really do not think you gained any ground from your point of view. We will just have to agree to disagree on this.
You may not have had high expectation for the Mets this year but I like the other fans expected them to hit the ground running. Kicking ass to the lengths of Arizona. I know they have faced some hard teams aready but it is not going to get easier for the Mets.
Yes, I expected some sweeping. I think the Mets did too. Oppportunies were blown already this year. This is the bulk of the frustration lives in the Mets fans.
Adding those three guys certainly helped things out so far. However, making the Mets a new team? I just really disagree with you on that.
The problems that are currently going on with the Mets right now are the same or very similar type of problems that went on last September. (those problems no need to mention since we all know them.)
Bringing a guy with a boot on his foot will not change things and perhaps will make things worse. Fig 1. and Pelfrey are both doing better than anyone has expected and have favorably benefitted the team considering their amount of time in MLB.
Tinkering with the line up is just not a good idea on many levels. The line up should already be intact with very little flexibility. That is my opinion. Take it or leave it.
Bench is a bench …not a give them some start time on a once or twice a week basis. What gives Willie that confidence to leave out some of his starters for yesterday’s game? Don’t give them days off because they are tired. Injured? Sure. Tired? Get over it. You can argue this if you want but I don’t care what else is to be said about it.
Fact of the matter is this is Willie’s team he can do what he wants, the record heading into October will show his efforts for better or worse (hopefully for the better). If for worse I am willing to bet Wilpon will find someone else.
You Nationals don’t hate your team? Why is the new stadium not selling out or even coming close to it during their home games?
“And I wasn’t making excuses. Every time the Mets do something well, you guys qualify it and I am getting sick of it. If they had dropped 4 of 6 from the Phils you would have bitched and moaned until the internet exploded. So they go out and beat the Phillies, yet you say they did it with Rollins out of the lineup. Well guess what… we didn’t have Alou and half our team was playing like garbage.”
If your getting sick of the qualifying (like most fans do with their team) then go elsewhere. You call it bitching or moaning but if we did not care, then there wouldn’t just that-bitching and moaning and whatever you want to call it.
What is with your “hollier than thou” attitude? You come on this site with whichever ever name you decide to use and pick up “flaws” on Met fans arguments. Give me a break. Your arguments have flaws too. But you know what? Big deal. It is not about that. This isn’t a debate club nor is it a technical writing seminar. Your irritating people with the way you go about your business. While you bring interesting things into this site, flattering yourself through your demeanor towards others does not strengthen your point of view if that what you are trying to accomplish.
This is a Mets-type blog we should not have to justify our ranting but we choose to. Just like you choose to have your “hollier than thou” behavior.
Who cares about Rollins so much? He plays for another team. He has made errors like the rest of them. Struck out like the rest of them. He’s a good player just like Utley and a few others. The Mets won without him. Good. That’s all I am going to say about that.
If I want to call Orlando Hernandez “El Dookie” I should be able to do so considering his crappy game level right now. Your the only one who cares to defend him. Good luck.
Hey Willow 13. You want some specifics for Willie? He has personally lost 3 games this year by bringing in the wrong relievers, or kept the guy on the mound too long. Secondly what mgr. does not call a single squeeze play, sacrifice or safety, in 3 yrs., esp. w/ a team that has the Met’s speed? Willie is a spectator..he watches the game. He doesn’t believe a mgr. can make a difference. The Mets aren’t hitting..have Beltran, bunt..call for a hit and run, etc. Let Delagado hit a swinging bunt towards third to mess up the shift. He did it once last year! If he was so great for the Yanks, why didn’t they tell him he would be the mgr. post Torre? Because they knew he would be a poor, non-motivating mgr. He had a wonderful career, because of the team he was on. Haven’t you noticed how lethargic the team and Wiliie are? He looks like he doesn’t have a clue. He will never admit that anything is wrong. He says just keep “turning the page”. Last year he ran out of pages. You really think that 12 teams passed on Willie as mgr because of his race?? How many black mgrs. have there been? He’s also a crybaby when he didn’t win mgr. of the yr…which no one thought he deserved anyway. Put this in your diary: “THE METS WILL NEVER BE A GREAT TEAM WITH WILLIE AS THEIR MANAGER” end of story.
stanley> If you loe the mets you should give your crytal ball to the team since you know which relievers will be good and which will be bad from afar.
Second your very out of date about the squeeze. didn’t you see Willie called the squeeze and the great Luis Castillo slept thru the sign and almost killed Pagan by swinging.
Have Beltran bunt? Beltran bunts and everytime he does the entire met fan base comes down on him for bunting.
Hit and run I’ll grant you that one!
“If I want to call Orlando Hernandez “El Dookie” I should be able to do so considering his crappy game level right now.”
I don’t even know how to respond to this. He’s hurt. He has no “game level” (whatever that even means.) To disparage a player because he’s hurt is pretty lame.
As for my attitude, I’m not going to apologize for being able to clearly articulate my point of view in a strong and organized manner. If that comes across as being holier than thou, well, as you would say, deal with it.
Rebel, you’re the one hiding behind a name, not me. My name is Keith, since birth. And educate yourself on the dynamics of the board before you get involved. Sloppy and I, as much as we quarrel, have a lot of respect for one another. I know my own personal perspective and philosophy on baseball is not the be all end all.
I simply call it as I see it. I believe the majority of the posters on this site are being ridiculous for getting all worked up over two losses in Chicago.
As for the qualifying, my point is a simple one. I’ve never seen a fan base that qualifies their own team’s VICTORIES. Usually they qualify the losses and flaws. Instead, I’ve seen people say “Well, there is no way we take 4 of 6 from Philly without Rollins.” Or “Ryan Church doesn’t get dirty when he plays.” It’s like you guys are actively looking for things to complain about.
If you want to complain about Delgado. Go for it. Heilman? Fine by me (I was in attendance when he blew it in ‘06… so I’m not a big Heilman fan.) The Castillo signing? Dumb as hell and Minaya should be called on the carpet for it. Heck, I even understand having issues with Willie’s managerial skills. But complaining about Church, Schneider, El Duque (who’s not even playing), beating the Phillies 4 of 6, and losing to Carlos Zambrano is absurd.
Sloppy, here’s the thing… Keith, Lenny, and Gary were GOOD. Cleon Jones was GOOD. Of course I’d take those guys on my team. They were all very good players.
Beltran talked to Reyes because he wasn’t being himself. He needed to stop trying to be something he wasn’t.
I think the media and the fans get caught up in this stuff too much. If you honestly believe that guys like Drew or McReynolds really don’t care about winning then I think you’re crazy.
An example from my own personal experience: when I played ball with my brother, I caught and he played CF. I was what you would classify as the fiery type. My brother was very laid back and calm… more like a Beltran type. But that didn’t mean he didn’t bust his butt every game and it didn’t mean he didn’t want to kick ass as much as I did. Not everyone expresses themselves on the field like Keith Hernandez or Milledge or Paul O’Neill.
Keith: I referenced Cleon as a Delgado case not a Keith Hernandez case. Cleon loafed after a ball in a very lopsided game vs Houston, and Gil made a very slow walk straight to left field and walked him very slowly back to the dugout. Jones was benched the next three games. Delgado… Today’s world…. Delgado sleeps on the field… ramification NOTHING.
Hodges was also a lot smarter then Randolph in dealing with the press. He changed line-ups often like Randolph in ways that seemed to make no sense. But instead of referencing his gut, he referenced a mysterious thumb injury. The 68-71 Mets had more thumb injuries then the rest of the baseball world combined in a century..
Jones I would put in the group of the first Kevin McReynolds. Well, maybe Jim Hickman was the first Kevin McReynolds but it didn’t really matter in the early 60’s. A crown now held by our Right Fielder. Of course, they’re all Kevin lights because he was a 20/20 man, who still never met expectations.
Sloppy, my mistake. Jones was before my time. You’re point is well taken. There should be ramifications for the way Delgado is playing. Whether it be lost playing time or being dropped in the order.
A little of both could not hurt either. However, at least lately he is making contact with the ball. Hopefully, it is a matter of time before he puts it in play.
I don’t think every guy on a team has to have fire to whip some ass. However I think that every team should have a few or at least one guy (Reyes) who do have that fire.
I do not think it is overrated. Some players need it, some do not.
mel (aka sloppy & various others): Your saying I am the DC moron is laughable. I only post here under one name.
hello from DC (aka JK, or as it should be JA):
You trying to act like you know anything about baseball is a bigger joke DCJK. You still didn’t tell us about your pretend journey. Any Nat fans beat you up or make you cry DCJK…? Did you have beer spilled on your perfect Met Tee shirt DCJK? Did you send the centerfielders oxygen because they were so fatigued from their extrmely strenuous night out there DCJK? Was that your first baseball game live DCJK?
Nonsense.
mel (aka sloppy & various others): Do you honestly think I am that DC moron or are you just grasping at straws in your uniquely juvenile way? DC and I don’t even share any views. I can’t imagine anyone would be so clueless so I gather you’re just really desperate.