Monday, July 28, 2008

4 out of 6 - not bad

Sure more would have been better, but I'm somewhat heartened by the way the Mets played after losing on Tuesday & Saturday nights. Two tough losses - especially Tuesday night against Philadelphia - and they responded very well. That's new and another reason to believe. It's one thing to run off 10 straight, but it's another to win 2 and take the series after a stomach punch like the one the Mets took on Tuesday night.

I'm still not sure they have the horses to win, but at least they seem to have the character, which was really the bigger question.

*****

Great listening to Howie reminisce about the Jethro Tull concert back in the mid 70s this week. He cracks me up.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Here come the Phils

I should be looking forward to these three games, right? I sort of am. I guess I'm still waiting to be convinced that the run before the All Star Game is real and wasn't just a function of playing San Francisco & Colorado.

Tonight's the real test. Whatever about the Mets beating Philadelphia, this is a real test for Johan Santana. He's supposed to be the ace so how 'bout pitching like one. He's been mostly good, but he's been nowhere near what I think Met fans hoped he'd be. I was skeptical before the trade because I was unimpressed with him last year when he took himself out of a game after 8 innings despite the face he had a shutout going and had 17 K's. What big time starter doesn't want to finish that one? To try for the record 20 K's?

The Phillies haven't been hitting lately. They had a tough weekend in Miami. The Mets had a mixed weekend in Cincy. I'd have been happier if they'd won a game without so much sweat and lost one after making it tough on the Reds, but didn't happen.

We all want 2 of 3, but more than that I want to see the Ace pitch like an Ace or I'll begin to believe the Mets will be a long time recovering from the Santana contract.

Monday, July 14, 2008

Nothing but 0s

What a week for the pitching staff. Pelfrey - again - outstanding. It's not as sudden as some would have us believe, but his consistency has been amazing. He's shown occasional glimpses of what he was capable of, but now I'm so confident when he's on the mound. I knew - KNEW - the game was over the second the ball left Beltran's bat. I never really doubted again.

If Pedro had gone 7 on Saturday I'd have nothing to worry about. However, his short outing is a concern. I'm not sure he can be relied on to remain healthy the rest of the season. And, if he goes down, we'll see ... El Duque? Maybe otherwise we'll see ...? Armas is out injured. Is Claudio Vargas still hanging around New Orleans? I don't even know.

Reyes should be on the All Star Team. No question. The NL Players are worse than the fans as choosing Ramirez was not outrageous, but Tejada and Guzman? Give me a break.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

"As long as he's not a Met fan"

I'm listening to the Giants & Cubs from Wrigley on WGN. Only half paying attention because it's 7-0 in the 6th. Harden was tremendous.

Anyway, I pricked up my ears when I heard Ron Santo say that he didn't mind if a fan was a Cardinals fan. Pat Hughes asked him about it and Santo responded that (from memory) "No, Cardinals fan is okay. As long as he's not a Mets fan".

I didn't know that Santo hated us. I say he should be booed next time he shows his mug at Shea.

Good OIlie

Wow! Three straight good starts by Oliver Perez. I'm reconsidering my view that he should be dealt. I half expected the performances against the Yankees & Phillies (both lefty dominated), but last night he did well against a righty-stacked line-up.

This is the kind of roll I really like. I love good pitching. Hitting is streaky and a 7 game winning streak can become a 7 game losing streak. Pitching is less streaky. I'm feeling better about the team's future.

*****
I just want to update on Wayne Hagin: he's getting more comfortable and more forceful in his opinions. He's growing on me.

Friday, July 11, 2008

Tatis & the staff

I know the Giants can't hit, but still that was as good a pitching display over three games as we've seen by the Mets in a while. Other than Maine's roughish outing - 3ER in 4 2/3 isn't horrendous - the staff really came through. That's what I anticipated at the start of the year: only I thought it would be Martinez who'd be giving Santana a run for his money as 'ace' and not Pelfrey.

You know when Milwaukee was in New York and Gabe Kapler was beating up the Mets I 'wondered' about what he'd been up to while he was out of baseball. He seemed like superman reborn. Well, Tatis has been every bit as good as Kapler.

*****
Great moment on Wednesday night when Howie described the moment Seaver came to bat in the 8th inning on July 8, 1969. Howie said it was possibly the moment he'd remember best about Shea. He set it up well with the background about life in NY in the late 60s and the Mets franchise up to that summer. Howie said it was the loudest he ever heard Shea and that was a reflection of what was going on in the game, but also how much everyone in the stadium realized that the Mets were for real. The team had come of age. And here, coming to the plate, was the Mets' answer to Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and Ted Williams. The Mets own superstar, Tom Seaver.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Whew!

You wanna feel good about the three wins over the weekend, but last night was way too shaky. They coasted after getting the big lead and it nearly cost them. Imagine

I remember a while back when the Mets reached .500 after a long phase below that Willie Randolph talked as if that was the last we'd see of a sub-.500 club this year. Then the Mets went on another tailspin getting swept in San Diego and, well, that's where we've been ever since. Now they've won 5 or 8 on a road trip to St. Louis & Philadelphia. They're back above .500 and they're within striking distance of the Phillies. Is this just another tease?

I would have preferred it if they had won more easily last night. I didn't like sweating the 7th-9th innings. I know Howard's HR should have been a double. But, of course, Charlie Manuel helped out by subbing Bruntlett for Utley in the 6th inning.

How 'bout Oliver Perez? I'd written him off, but maybe all he needed was a change of manager and pitching coach? Maybe? We'll see how this develops, but he's been good since Rick Peterson "went for his tea" (as they say on this side).

*****
Last night on the tag play at home where Easley was thrown out trying to score on Martinez's 6th inning single Wayne Hagin described the decoying Chris Coste as standing there like "a street-walker". Don't think he meant that.

Friday, July 4, 2008

Good enough?

Four games in St. Louis and two wins. You didn't expect more than that, did you? So it wasn't a lost series, but that Wednesday night game just irks, doesn't it? If it weren't for all the other games "like this" you'd just chalk it up saying "every team is going to have its games like this".

So, at least last night was an easy win. I thought Howie made a good point in the 5th when he wondered if Jerry Manuel would remove Ryan Church, who was slated to rest tonight. Manuel didn't make the move, but gave Wright half a game off.

How long will the Mets give Pedro to get it together? The velocity is there, but he can't command his pitches. Did he come back too soon? Would he go to New Orleans to work on his command? At the moment I'd rather the Mets stick with Armas for a few weeks and give Pedro time off (or in the minors) to work on his issues. There's even a chance Hernandez - remember him? - will be back to pitch and free up Pedro even more.