Mets Chat Room: Go for the perfect trip.
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- August
- 18
The Mets will try to make it a sweep of their road trip this afternoon against Pittsburgh. John Maine is going, but they’ll keep an eye on him. They’ll try to find a spot for Luis Ayala.
The Mets’ batting order:
2B Argenis Reyes
LF Nick Evans
3B David Wright
CF Carlos Beltran
1B Carlos Delgado
RF Fernando Tatis
SS Damion Easley
C Ramon Castro
RHP John Maine
This entry was posted
on Monday, August 18th, 2008 at 12:38 pm by John Delcos.
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Sad to say, but runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs and the Mets score one run in the inning sounds average/above average to how they’ve hit in those spots all year.
Let’s hope Ryan Church got out of Florida. Looks as though “Fay” means business.
Maine needs to refrain from nibbling today and keep his pitch count low.
And the onslaught of foul balls begin. Why is Maine so easy for opponents to foul off?
Back to back walks against this pirates club is unacceptable! What is so hard about throwing strikes! Put it into play let your defense use their gloves. Back to back 8 pitch and 7 pitch walks, unacceptable. quit nibbling.
Maine is not looking good here at all.
Are we going to blame the rust again on Maine’s high pitch count? Again until i’m blue in the face, until he finds an “out pitch,” he won’t ever be more than a #3 starter or below. 42 pitches over 2 innings is completely unacceptable.
What happened that got Jerry so ticked off and tossed?
BH: I copied this from the Newsday blog: Top 3rd: Wacky inning. Following a Maine walk, Argenis hit into a tailor-made double play, but Wilson’s throw sailed over the first baseman’s head. Maine was out at second and Argenis was called out at first because he made a turn towards second base and was tagged out. Jerry Manuel came out to argue the call, but to no avail. He was thrown out.
Steve: As long as Maine can consistently deliver a quality start, 6IP less than 3ER, I’ll take it. Right now he’s the Mets #4 and he’s a much better 4 than those around MLB. I mean seriously… with how well Ollie/Johan/Pelf have been, how many OUTSTANDING pitchers do you expect this club to have?
You know its funny that if you were to show people a pitcher with an ERA of 4.50 for the season most people would say that isnt very good at all. However, that is what is considered a quality start these days….
That “turn” to second by Reyes wasnt even a step. I like the way Manuel fights for his team. You go Jerry!!
David: Agreed, however many of the pitchers in baseball who have 14+ wins have an ERA in the mid 4s. 3ER per start is good enough to at least keep your team in the game if you don’t leave with the lead. Keep in mind, Maine’s ERA is 3.8 so it looks like he’s a bit more “quality” than we’ve been giving him credit for.
Bob: Sorry, after last year you, me, and everyone else in baseball was expecting Maine to develop into at least a #2 starter. A guy that throws 6 innings is a bottom of the rotation guy which is what we don’t need or want Maine to be.
Easley really doesn’t want his spot back at 2nd I see. That’s 3 double plays he’s hit into in 2 days!
I’d like to see the Mets capitalize a bit more today. 2 runs after having 2nd and 3rd with no one out twice is not that cool. Oh yeah, and if Maine continues throwing over 20 innings an inning, he might not even see the 6th today.
oops…20 pitches an inning. lol
Wayne and Howie are trying to help the game along – they have given us a complete history of the evolution of the Pirates team uniforms.
I think it also may be time to give the big man a few days of rest at 1b. 7 for 40 batting .175 over the last 11 games up to date. I hope it’s not a sign of the old Delgado coming back.
Steve: I’m sorry but after he only recorded 5 wins in the second half last year, I was thinking 3 or 4 and realistically that’s what he is. Ollie has 1/2 stuff. Pelfrey in all reality has anywhere from 1-3 stuff depending on the day. Maine is an above average 3/4 starter. I agree that his pitch count is high, but with a reliable bullpen you’d take 6IP 0-2ER any day of the week.
By the way, how was that inning for developing an “out” pitch?
Delgado wasnt going to keep hitting like he did in July. He still looks a lot better than he did in the beginning of the year. He is hitting to the opposite field more, and thats a good sign. I wouldnt mind Evans getting a game or 2 there, though.
Bob: Was the talk at the beginning of spring training and the beginning of baseball season was Maine being the number 2 pitcher on this team or wasn’t it? Answer…it was. If you asked Omar privately if Maine was a disappointment this year, I bet you he would say yes. His starts consistently overwork the bullpen.
The turn was his head. He stopped and then walked back to the bag. The rule states he has to turn and show an effort to advance to the next base. Reyes clearly did not. It was arguably one of the worst calls I have seen by easily one of the worst umpires. Joe West is terrible. He should have been fined and/or suspended for that call. West embarrassed himself and his profession with that call. Inexcusable.-JD
Great start for the inning..walk the guy hitting .212
Steve: Maine’s projected numbers finishing the year are DEAD ON with his numbers from last year. It almost seems like you are now cheering for the man to do badly with your posts. You really need to relax.
I hate to pile on with Steve here but this inning is my problem with Maine 2 walks and you cant throw a pitch out and more than likely we’ll be seeing the Pen this inning or next. Very frustrating.
I have a new poll up on who should be the Mets’ closer with Wagner on the DL.-JD
West again, ugh. I’m with you JD, that guy has no business being an umpire in the majors, I cannot stand him.
Maines last 10IP 3H 0ER. Pitch count is high? But that’s quality.
JD,
Im assuming you’re not downloading any of Country Joe’s music ?
Sorry no question mark there, typo. I agree with you guys, too many pitches, too many walks, but he’s still quality. I guess we differ on our expectations of him? I was just basing mine on his career numbers, which is he right in line for again this year.
JD: Would you please set Bob straight and tell him that this was not what the Mets were expecting out of Maine this year…please?
JD: Can I write in myself as the new closer?
Im sorry Bob but it all goes back to what JD wrote about this morning in one of his posts. 5 innings is something you’re happy with from a rookie or a fill in starter not from someone whos supposed to be a cog in your rotation. Now you’re expecting a vulnerable bullpen to go 4 innings.
Brian Stokes in for the Mets. Maine threw 96 pitches. That’s a lot for five innings. It was a good call to get him out of there. No reason to test the shoulder.-JD
I would have put Maine as the closer. Then we wouldnt have to worry about his pitch count. Bring up Niese to take his spot. Unfortunately, He will not be available for the next 5 days or so.
Ah, Steve I respect the “crying to JD” line to “set me straight,” very classy. In two starts since returning from AN INJURY Maine has pitched 10IP giving up 3H and 0ER. Does it really matter what the mets were/weren’t expecting heading into the season? They’re playing their best baseball of the season right now, some people just like to hear themselves complain.
David: Maybe just the ballad, ``What did I see there?’’ ... Well, I guess you had to know they wouldn’t have a clean getaway.-JD
Bob: I never said I had class. lol
Time for the hitters to wake up. Cant go to sleep after the 3rd inning today.
And there goes the end of the feel good Brian Stokes era. I have to say though if the Mets offense were any good in finishing off this team, we would just see probably the lead cut in two.
Jesus, another DP for Easley. Can we please just cut this washed up toad?? There is no way he’s better than Castillo, no way….
Not a clutch game for the Met offense today.
Easley is almost so bad right now that I’d like to swap him for Castillo…almost.
The Mets have had more than enough chances to put this thing away. Here’s another one.-JD
Move ‘em on…head ‘em up…head ‘em up…move ‘em on…
And another chance blown. Time to give the big guy a rest at first base.
Looks like Ayala will be another reliever who won’t ever be used. Gotta stick with the guys! As bad as the bullpen has been when an offense is 3 for their last 42 with the bases juiced, there’s some blame to be shared.
Delgado’s bat turned to mush pretty quickly, didn’t it?-JD
Nice play by Sanchez to back up the play at third, but I guess that comes from giving up a lot of hits.-JD
Thanks, Josh. I said weeks ago that Castillo was underappreciated. Even on one leg, he was getting on base at a .360 clip. Easley is being used too much for his advanced age. He needs to go back to the bench.
Well it looks like one team today knew how to hit with RISP
I really think that Omar needs to lose his job over this bullpen. Part of it is bad luck, but he relied way too much on guys who were proven to be inconsistent at best.
We got rid of a stubborn manager who stuck with “his guys” when logic dictated a change; I think we need to get rid of our stubborn “general manager” as well.
I can only follow the blog entries and not see the game right now. Was Duaner that horrible today? If so, why did they leave him in after Pearce’s single?
I predict Tatis will single to left followed by an Easley DP.
My prediction: 4 runs in the top of the ninth with Ayala getting the save in the bottom of the ninth.
JD – Just as Delgado’s bat has cooled, the same can be said for Tatis, he’s lost about 20 points on his average in a week. Must trade for Huff.
6-1 road trip guys even if they lose. Take it easy.
Team is flawed, no doubt. But so are Phils and Fish.
Mets took advanatage of bad teams while Phils had tough part of sched.
Come home and go 5-2 before tough road trip and things will be ok.
Not the happy ending we were all looking for, but the return to Shea brings with it the new standing in the NL East.
Braves tomorrow night – safe travel everyone.
scoop: Didn’t the Phils just beat a Padres team who is 20 games under 500 2 games to one? That’s tough?
Bob, going to the west coast even against the Pads is not easy, especially after you get swept 4 games in LAD.
What would you do if Mets had gone 4-3 or 3-4 here? 6-1 is good. Not easy to win 7 in a row on the road. Last time Mets did it was 1991 I believe.
I’m ecstatic with the road trip, we’re in first by 1.5 games with 37 to play, who would’ve thought. Just saying, Padres usually aren’t considered a tough stretch of a team’s schedule whether they’re playing at home or not. Time to handle the braves.
And just ask Mets if going to SD is easy. 4 game sweep.
If you are not scoring runs, SD is not that easy to beat. They can still picth pretty good, especially in that giant builidng. Phils got some luck winning 2-1 and 1-0.
Great teams don’t win everyday. Maybe they win 6 out of 10.
I guess this is why I don’t post during games. Too many people with expectations that are unrealstic that the team will win every game.
Scoop: It’s also very difficult to sweep a 4 game series. It’s not as if the Pirates were awful at home. They were 33 and 28 coming into this series. The sweep would have been gravy, but i’m satisfied.
Don’t get me wrong, if you’d offerred me 6-1 before this started I would have taken it everytime, but I’m still ticked off about this ‘pen, and want Omar gone b/c of it.
Scoop: If you’re referring to me, I’m not sure what my “expectations” were exactly? I said I was ecstatic with the road trip, but by me saying SD isn’t a tough stretch of the opposing teams schedule that has nothing to do with my “expectations” of our ball club. I expected them to go 5-2 on this road trip, they’ve exceeded my expectations.
5-2 homestand. 73 wins with 17 needed after that for 90. Can’t see Phils winning 90. 17-13 very doable.
5-2 homestand? Wow, talk about expectations! For two clubs that the mets are 0-9 against, I’d say you’re asking for a lot.
BPs are a crap shoot. He could have completely changed the BP and they could still stink.
I’d wish they’d go back to the old ways of SP having the stamina to stay in games. Then this whole BP deal would be moot. Afterall, BP guys are there b/c they are not good enough to be starters (except the closer, usually).
Omar is not the greatest GM but besides Heath Bell (which I don’t feel was a mistake b/c he did not have that slider he has now) and maybe Mike Jacobs what else has he done wrong?
Maybe Castillo and maybe Show were bad signings. And his reliance on older guys. But all in all it has not been that bad.
For comparisons, how about Duquette or Steve Phillips? At least Mets are competitive now, if not frustrating. And if they now keep some of these young guys and go out and get a bat in the off season, they ought to be able to compete for some time.
If he traded Murphy or Niese for some BP guys who to my argument are just a crap shoot yr to yr, some of you would be going crazy that they traded away the farm, especially if those guys turn out to be something and the BP guys stunk it up.
Actually it’s a stellar 2-9
Bob,
Mets are 2-7 against Braves not 0-6. They are 2-1 at home against Atl. Braves are a very different team than the last time the Mets played them in Atl.
Hou has lost Lee and mets were playing poorly at that time. So 5-2 is not unrealisitic.
Sorry boys, I meant to say 5-2 homestand against two teams the mets are 0-9 on the road against.
JD: Was Jerry asked why he didn’t think of pinch hitting Jose for Argenis since he was the tying run at the plate?
I wouldn’t call Mike Jacobs a strike against Omar. His OBP is terrible.
The pen is a crapshoot. Much of the problem is that they all have stunk at the same time. Let’s not forget they had a great June. I’ve seen games where they’ve been beaten by bloops and bleeders, though they’ve also blown games by getting shelled.
The lack of hitting with RISP is nearly as big an issue as the leaky pen.
And Aubrey Huff is not the answer. He is playing WAY over his head, exceeding his career humbers in most categories.
Plus, he is due about $10 million for next year. He hasn’t played this well in 5 years. Do we really think he can maintain this level next yr?
Wow One of the worst calls you have ever seen!!!!! Denkinger would appreciate that comment.
What’s with this generic format that just came up? Maintenance going on and it is temporary, I hope.
Posting just ain’t the same without Delcos’ photo on the page…