Medicority

Is that it? The end of all hope? I doubt it, actually, but there was something eerily final about last night's performance. It was as if the last shred of doubt about this team were finally eradicated. We've now seen incontrovertible evidence that the problems with this teams were not just Willie Randolph.

Perez - a bad outing. As Howie noted (again) there are two Oliver Perezes: Good Ollie and Bad Ollie. And not a lot in between. Last night we saw Bad Ollie, who has been more and more frequently seen this season. This followed another disappointing outing from Santana (& don't talk to me about Wright's error - that was only one base-runner of the 5 he allowed). The staff is, at best, mediocre.

The offense couldn't be more streaky. I can't understand why a team with so much speed is so streaky. Speed doesn't slump, right? Anyway, this team can't hit for power and doesn't run enough to make up for that. Yes, I know Wright sat it out, but how much of a difference would he have made? Anyway, the offense is mediocre too.

A mediocre pitching staff and a mediocre offense adds up to ... yup, a mediocre ball club.

It's not that they lost last night's game, but one play in particular that's annoying me today. Until last night's game I'd been feeling good about the direction of the team. It was the 4th when Jiminez had walked Castillo and Wright to start the inning and the Mets were leading 1-0. Beltran stepped to the plate and just like Howie I had visions of a big hit that would provide the Mets with a cushion. And, what happens? Beltran bunts the first pitch foul.

He bunted. What was he thinking? This is the same kind of stupidity that I was hoping that they'd left behind them last week (not that Willie ever wanted Beltran to bunt). That dumb play helped Jiminez settle and he got Beltran to ground into a force play and Delgado followed that up with a ground ball double play.

*****
By the way, great exchange between Howie & Wayne on Howie's Manhattan driving during Friday night's game. Again, there are times when I really enjoy Wayne.

I was going to abandon this, but won't for now

It's got nothing to do with Willie being fired. I just find I don't have the time I used to have to write here. I'm still listening to the games, although - believe it or not - I ran out of time for last night's game during the bottom of the 9th. I found out the score from the NYTimes web site.

I was not happy with the way the Mets handled the Willie firing, but it was hardly unexpected. Reading Randolph's comments yesterday in the NY Times has me wondering if he was just feeling too sorry for himself to get this team in gear. We'll see.

By the way, didn't the Angels do a TERRIBLE job of running the bases in this series?

And for all you doubters out there, I'll say it again. Wayne's not that bad. He knows the game. His tone and manner can get on my nerves at times, but I have to admit that I'm beginning to like listening to him and Howie together. They're both critically supportive, which is how I like my announcers.

Well the buzz we got from Beltran's 13th inning 'heroics' on Wedensday lasted a long time, huh? I'm not in a good mood today.

I found out early yesterday that the Met game was on live here. Midweek, prime-time Met games on t.v. are not a daily occurrence here in W. Europe. Unfortunately, I couldn't watch the game live because the rest of the family wanted to watch soccer. {And, truth be told, I didn't want to miss either of the games either. Croatia vs Germany was great stuff and I enjoyed the 1-1 game between Austria & Poland.}

So I set the VCR. It was about 10:30 or so when I started watching. And it was enjoyable. No? I mean Santana was pitching the way we all expected him too. Even those of us who weren't keen on the deal (I think that's pretty much me on my own) expected him to be this good on a fairly regular basis.

After he got through the 7th, I figured he'd be out for the 8th. Yes, 116 pitches and all that, but he's a big boy and even a tiring Santana is better than, well, pretty much anybody in the bullpen. But, no. Santana didn't. Willie hit for him in the 7th with Chris Aguila. I'm not even sure Aguila is a better hitter than Santana, but whatever.

Look, I know baseball has changed, but still. I doubt any manager ever hit for Seaver when he had a 2-0 lead. Definitely not when Seaver was in his prime as Santana is now. I don't care about pitch counts. Santana is supposed to be the team's stopper, their ace. He MUST pitch that 8th inning after a long game the night before. He MUST. So my sympathy for him losing the W is minimal. (I love the fact that Ralph was making the point about starters and their short outings earlier in the game.)

Wright popping out with one out and the bases loaded in the 7th was huge. I could handle the lack of offense against Haren, but the 7th was the time for the Mets to put the game away. Wagner should have had the day off.

As for Wagner. I never much liked him. I remember when he was with Philadelphia he was never one of those 9th inning guys who I felt meant "Game over" for the Mets when I saw him coming in. Now he's finally developing into that pitcher, only he's no longer with Philadelphia. Yeah, it's a slump. He'll come out of it. we hope.

"Mets win the game - again"

"Mets win the game - again". That's how Howie described it after Beltran's 13th inning winner. Joy mixed with relief because the Mets should have wrapped this one in the regulation 9.

I understand why Willie took Pelfrey out in the 9th. 112 pitches and he hasn't thrown that many too often. And, it was the 9th and he'd just given up a hit. I know the crowd booed, but did you really think Willie was going to leave Pelfrey in when the Mets needed to win that game?

Of course, that need is really dependent on whether you believe the Mets have a real shot still. I'm inclined to think otherwise and wouldn't have minded Pelfrey staying in for that reason. The Mets need Pelfrey to be a tough guy and trying to gut it out in the 9th might have helped there. Might have. Pelfrey has, it should be said, been showing some real toughness lately. So, like I said I didn't really mind Pelfrey coming out at that point.

Wagner's certainly lost it, unfortunately. He was untouchable before he mouthed off after that game a few weeks ago. Since then he's been all too hittable. And he hasn't been used all that much either. There have been few enough save opportunities lately.

I thought the Mets might have put the game out of reach when Webb left, but no such luck. The offense seems to have gone back to its no-late-inning-runs mode again. At least they got 2 in the 13th. Right?
*****

Howie remarked a number of times at how quiet it was at Shea after the homer off Wagner. It's what happens when your feeling punchy. How many times can Met fans take a blow to the head and answer the bell this year?

Starting the bottom of the 13th Howie pointed out that the fans had had an hour and a half to recover from the shock of Mark Reynolds's 9th inning HR. You could hear more life from the crowd when the Mets came to bat. Even after Wright was out - after just missing a pitch that he should have crushed - the crowd was a little livelier than in the 10th & 11th. Shock wears off. Eventually.

Not snake-bit, but flea-bitten

It's easier when you accept it. If you keep fighting it, keep hoping it's not true, keep thinking that your eyes (and/or ears) are wrong, keep dismissing everything logic tells you the angrier and sorrier you're going to be. Because eventually the truth will sink in and you'll be left pondering how you didn't see it.

Who do you blame for last night's loss? John Maine? Could be. Claudio Vargas? Maybe. Duaner Sanchez, Joe Smith? Either would be worthy choices The offense? Well, after the first few innings you could make the case. I don't blame any of them. The team is simply not that good and teams that aren't that good lose games the way the Mets lost last night.

They build a sizable lead and then hand it back. Eventually all you're left with is a highlight of Wagner and Schoenweiss helping the grounds crew with the tarp.

*****
Even Howie seems to have resigned himself to the fate of this year's Mets. His voice is lacking any real passion now and he can see 3½ months of tedious baseball ahead of him. Wayne is probably still happy just to be working and not as concerned that the games before him will be devoid of real excitement.

Back from my short break

I nearly didn't come back here. I went away over the weekend, which is what broke my momentum with the blog. I didn't miss any of the games in San Diego, in case you're thinking I was on retreat. I heard them all. Every excruciating inning.

I did write not that long ago that this team simply wasn't that good. Then they started playing better and I wondered (hoped) that my diagnosis was premature. But, no. The team's not that good. Worse, it's not likely to get better. Old & over paid is not easy to remedy, particularly when so many are under long term contracts.

Here's a question for you. Will Carlos Beltran hit 25 homers? Ever again? If not, is his fairly decent defense enough compensation to keep him in center? And, shouldn't he be batting second?

Anyway, three with the struggling, but young, Arizona Diamondbacks. The Mets could use a sweep. When was their last three game sweep. I could look it up, but I don't think it was this year. Was it?

Road trip blues

How much confidence do you have when Castillo's up in a big spot? I have practically none. I was really, really hoping Wolf would walk Castillo in the 7th. He never swings at the 2-0 pitch, which is often the most hittable pitch. Two nights in a row he K'd in a key spot. At least there are only 3 2/3 years left on his contract. Right?

Anyway, another hitless affair, which is ultimately why the Mets lost. They hit a few balls hard and Hairston's catch was key. Still, one run is too little return for 9 innings' worth of at bats.

*****
As Howie said a few dozen times, why wasn't Castro hitting in the 7th rather than Cancel?

That it's up to Oliver Perez to get the Mets off the schneid does not fill me with hope.

Walking Giles & other Padres

Tough one. All of a sudden Scott Schoenweiss looks all too shaky. He was solid right up until this road trip.

I wonder what it is that made it impossible for the Mets' pitchers to throw strikes to Brian Giles. It's a killer walking him in front of Adrian Gonzalez. You can only get away with that so many times before he's going to get you. He is, by far, the most dangerous hitter in the San Diego line-up.

The Mets didn't hit the ball and that's what cost them last night. San Diego's not a hitter's park, but you've gotta get more than 1 run to win.

I wasn't happy with Willie's decision to start the 9th with Schoenweiss. As Howie pointed out, Schoenweiss has asked Willie to use him exclusively against lefties. I do think Schoenweiss has to be able to get righties out, but I'm not sure if the 9th inning of a tie game is the place to make that point. And, of course, he walked Giles after walking Hairston and then hit McAnulty to end the game.

Schoenweiss pitched himself into trouble, but he couldn't get out of it unlike Pelfrey, who seemed to be in trouble nearly every inning. He wasn't great, but maybe more importantly he seemed tough. Getting Gonzalez to pop out with the bases loaded and one out in the 4th (? I think). Anyway, the Mets walked 7 in total and add Schoenweiss's HBP on McAnulty and, well, that's not a winning formula against a team that can't hit.

*****
The Mets finally put Wayne Hagin on the DL. Eddie Coleman came off the bench for Hagin. Wow, is Eddie stiff in the play-by-play role. And, he gets a little garbled when things are happening quickly. Such as "around second is Carlin the slide ... not in time". What's 'not in time'? The slide?

Switch to the Mets?

I'm weighing going to the Met game now or sticking with the Braves & Marlins from Atlanta and then tuning in the Met game. Quite a few talking points in this game, particularly Bobby Cox's decision to stick with his starter, Jair Jurrjens, despite the fact he's given up 5 runs in 4 1/3 and has runners on the corner with one out. Met fans would be screaming bloody murder if Willie made a decision like that.

Ricky Nolasco's pitching for Florida and he helped his own cause with a single after Freddy Gonzalez took the bunt off. The single was a key hit in a 4 run inning that gave Florida the lead.

Florida's defense is just awful, but they hit a lot of homers. Second in the league with 87 home-runs.

{Gonzalez went to the well once too often as Nolasco hit into an inning ending DP and killed off the threat they had going when I first started typing this post. Two minutes later and Atlanta has the lead again thanks to a two-run homer by Brian McCann. Joy over, time for the Mets.}

Reyes's defense

Just a few thoughts before I listen to the Mets' first game in San Diego. {I forgot to write about this game on Wednesday and now it's faded in my mind.}

I liked the comments from Jose Reyes about his defense. The fact that his 2-run HR sealed the deal for the Mets on Wednesday was great, but I like how he owned up to his defensive struggles during the post-game. 10 errors already. He had 12 the whole of last year. Strange.

That win in San Francisco on Wednesday was the closest the Mets have had to a ho-hum win in a while.

Admit it. I will. After the top of the 4th I was already grumbling about how (a) 'of course the Mets are the only team that can't hit Zito and/or (b) of course Zito finally gets it together against the Mets. I couldn't decide which it was, but I knew it was written in the stars that the Mets weren't going to score enough to get Pedro the win.

Well, we were wrong. 8 runs in the 5th, including an RBI single from Pedro Martinez. Everyone hit that inning, which is how teams score runs in bunches. This is what we hope for (expect) from the Mets, but it's been pretty rare this season until recently. Suddenly big innings feel 'normal'.

But really it was all about Pedro and his 6 innings on the mound. It's too soon for me to be convinced, but I'd given up on Pedro this year. If he really is back that will be a great boost. Still, the Giants are not a strong offensive unit so let's not get ahead of ourselves. His next start is Monday in San Diego, another offensively challenged team.

Oh, and a big 'thank you' to Scott Schoenweiss for making it 'interesting' in the 9th. Jeez. Still, if he's going to have a bad outing, that was a good game to have it in.

*****
Eddie Coleman came out of the bullpen to relieve Wayne in the 6th. Wayne had a sore throat.

During the 9th Howie & Eddie were talking about the flight out and how awful everyone, including them, felt yesterday. Then Eddie mentioned that he'd asked Pedro what he & Oliver Perez had talked about on their earlier flight to the coast. Pedro said they didn't talk about much at all. Perez was playing with Nintendo most of the way. God forbid he might talk to Pedro and learn something, right? As Howie remarked, "Why am I reminded of Slap Shot? 'They brought their toys'".

I love listening to baseball. There are times when I think I prefer listening to watching (less frustrating). However, there are times when I really wish I could see what's going on and last night when Pedro got his 2nd hit of the night and his first RBI of the year I'd have loved to have seen Pedro's face when he was standing on first.

Howie read out a text from Tom McCarthy, who was obviously listening to the game. McCarthy texted Howie to give him the background on Dan Giese of the Yankees, who Howie had never heard of. McCarthy added that he had interviewed the Dollar Dog tonight and added, "Who says my life isn't working out"? I got like McCarthy and wish he was still there, particularly during those 10-2 games.

Don't watch the ball, look inside his head

Uggh. "The freshest guy on the team", as Howie described Oliver Perez in the 9th. Perez flew out to SF early in order to get rest for his start last night. That worked out well.

Once us Met fans stop having expectations of Oliver Perez we'll be better off for it. I expect games like last night every time he starts. He cannot handle pressure of any kind. None. And, no, Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS doesn't count because nobody had expectations of Perez that night. We hoped, not expected.

No, Perez cannot handle expectations. The more he's expected to step up the more he can't/won't. He hasn't got the character. Something that Omar and Willie will have to ponder. He has a ton of talent, but no character. Ideally the Mets will trade him to Kansas City - or some such place - where Perez can start fresh and dazzle before people start to expect him to win. Oh yeah, they can't do that either because Perez decided to put extra pressure on himself this year by opting to go for free agency. Quite a walk year, Ollie.

The one big positive was the effort from Claudio Vargas. What a job. 4+ innings of shut-out relief. If only the Mets had been able to get a few hits with all those runners they had on. Vargas gave them the chance to get back in the game.

*****

No mention from Howie or Wayne on the scorecard watch.

Pat Gillick

Phillies' GM Pat Gillick takes calls from fans on WPHT during the pre-game. Doesn't do it all the time, but I've heard this a few times. Imagine Omar putting himself out there like that? No, me neither.

I think I caught Church's dizziness

Ryan Church back in the line-up last night. First time since he hurt his head in the collision at 2nd in Atlanta. He had been feeling dizzy, but was well enough to play last night. As both Wayne & Howie pointed out, the flight to SF will be telling. If he can endure that without any setback then we can say unequivocally that Church is fully recovered. Now all this good play by the Mets have me feeling a little unsteady.

Santana was shaky in the first and lights out after that. That's how I like my aces. It's my clearest memory of Seaver that he was most hittable in the fist. I always knew that if he got through the first unscathed that a Met win was pretty likely.

Two long balls from Beltran in two days. He can get hot. I hope he really gets it going now.

I would love it if just once the Mets would beat up Hong-Chih Kuo. I still haven't purged that image of him tossing his bat after that HR last season from my mind. Yet, he's been untouched by Met bats since. Errr.

*****

Eddie Coleman interviewed David Wright during the post-game. Coleman asked Wright about the clean-up hitter and Wright proceeded to wax lyrical (as he can) about playing behind Johan Santana. Funny. Coleman let it go, but he had to be laughing when the mic was off.

Wayne was talking about his first visit to Shea as a college student. He told Howie that when he was at Shea he saw something he'd never seen before: fans keeping score.

Wayne explained that beach balls and not scorecards sell on the west coast. Howie was shocked. He couldn't believe it that west coast baseball fans don't keep score, but Wayne said it is so. In fact, he set it as a mission for this upcoming trip to the coast for Howie to spot fans keeping score. Anyway, it was something Wayne said he started doing when he returned home to the west coast after seeing fans score games at Shea.

Again, Hagin's "outsider's perspective" is welcome and acts as an antiote to his "adios" and "You can kiss it good-bye" home-run calls.

I'm a believer ...

That was different too, wasn't it? Lost a game the night before when the bullpen (okay, Heilman) imploded. Then today we had the familiar 'failure to get the big hit' where the Mets leave a ton of runners on base. Yes, everything was going according to the plans the Mets have been playing by all season. Until.

Until the bottom of the 8th. Broxton comes in to begin the Dodgers' one-two lock-down at the end of games. Wright the double and then Beltran ties the game. Just like that and the 'new Mets' showed how different they are from the 'old Mets'. Then Delgado gets a hit. Talk about 'new'. Will sends in Evans to run for Delgado, which surprised me because the bench was so thin. I thought he'd use a pitcher (which I have to admit I don't like), but no he went with Evans.

Easley the bunt, Schneider the intentional walk and up steps the face of the 'new Mets': Fernando Tatis. Tatis delivered - again - and the Mets had the lead. No more runs, but that's all right because Wagner was really dealing in the 9th. 1-2-3, all K's. And another come-from-behind win. Two in a week.

Oh yeah. One other thing was different about yesterday. Pelfrey struggled early, but he found his rhythm. He retired the last 12 to keep the Mets in the game and give them the chance to come from behind to win. Great job by Pelfrey.