Mets vs Dodgers

So the "streaking hot" Mets met the juggernaut Dodgers.

The Dodgers just seem unbeatable right now. Until the twenty-seventh out is recorded they seem to still have a chance. It seemed like the Mets should be able to at the very least muster up one win, with Harvey pitching in this series, then the following day (yesterday) it seemed like they where going to win. With the Mets up 4-2 going into the bottom of the ninth, Either hit a two run blast to tie up the score against Hawkins. Puig later, in extra innings wound up scoring after a hustle double (big surprise there).

The Mets never seemed out of any of these games but kept on falling just short to be on the winning side of the scorecard.

Some other worthy notes is that Marlon Byrd finally hit is 100th homerun of his career. I think that this will take some pressure off him. There is no way he wasn't thinking about this, and letting it build in his head. But I'm sure he would take a win instead of his 100th HR.

That being said, congratulations to him!!!

Trade talks

At the start of yesterday's game against the Marlins, I thought that they where going to win, then the Mets jumped out to that three to nothing lead.
Then the Marlins tied the score and all I could think about was, "Oh great more of the same." But that wasn't the case!

Ike Davis had the game-winning double (good for him) in which Byrd wound up scoring from first with hustle. He just got in there too.

Bobby Parnell came on to get the save. With runners on the corners, that he put there and two outs he got Stanton to ground out to second base.

Byrd is on the trading block, as I think he should be. The guy hustles, plays the game hard and well for the most part, the right way. I thought there would be a lot more talk about him going somewhere. I know the Mets are probably asking for a lot, but he is putting up better numbers than Justin Upton and costs only a fraction of the price. The teams that need that help are: Texas Rangers, Pittsburgh Pirates, and there probably are a couple of other teams that would like a right-handed bat, like say maybe the Yankees? But that's in all likely hood, not going to happen.

What do you think? Do you think that the Mets will trade any of there "chips"? I think there best trade chip is in Byrd and if the price is right, MAYBE Parnell. What do you think about the trade possibility's?

Extra Inning WIN!!!

Finally the Mets win an 14+ inning extra inning game. In a game that took just under five and half min that saw fans leave while the seagulls started circling more and more.

Matt Harvey pitched okay today. He did not look his best today but it was enough to keep the Mets in the game. He only gave up three earned runs in seven innings, striking out six while walking one.

EY Jr. is just so much fun to watch. He hit a triple to leadoff the sixth, that was almost an out because he slowed up rounding second base. He scored right after that by a Daniel Murphy single. But he's exciting, his speed just ignites this offense. It seems like when he's hitting the Mets tend to be able to score. I do however wish he would run a little bit more on the basepaths or maybe that Murphy could let him run a little bit more. EY also wound up scoring the winning run in the 16th inning.

David Wright picked his Home Run Derby team and when he was doing an interview about the team he picked before the game, he was asked who he thought should be starting the All-Star game. His response was, "Oh that's an easy one, I just 'Hi' to him, it's Matt Harvey." There are other players that it could be but I think that it just lines up perfectly to have Harvey start. He's pitching on Saturday instead of Sunday, he's one of the most exciting pitchers to watch, he wants it, oh and his home field is the where the game is to be played this year in Citi Field.

Zack Wheeler goes 2-1 in an offensive onslaught

Zack Wheeler started today's game and got what Matt Harvey has been lacking...run support. Wheeler labored through five innings, but got the job done for a win, in a 12-5 win over the Milwaukee Brewers.

Even though the Mets got a lot of run support for Zack Wheeler, he had to throw 99 pitches through five innings of work but only gave up three earned runs. He did not looked pleased in the dugout though. I like the fact that he wasn't pleased with his performance and that he seemed like he wanted to do better, wanted to be more productive and give the laboring Mets bullpen a rest.

Kirk reached base six times, got four hits, and five RBI. He might have actually benefited from being moved to the number five slot in the lineup. He might have noticed that TC actually has confidence in him. He made Terry look like a smart man, and I hope that he continues along this same path.

Ike Davis returned today, and I didn't want him batting fourth in his return from the minors. I just thought it was like throwing him back into the fire, putting him right into the thick of the lineup but it wound up helping the Mets. Despite going 3-5 with two RBI and a walk, he still looked unbalanced. I didn't like the way he was after he strides. He did however get three hits and when he was in Las Vegas, he hit well. Like I have said before, he benefited from being sent down due to being able to relax and just focus on his stance and hitting. He did have a strikeout however and I thought that after that strikeout, he was going to fumble and start down the same path but that was not the case. As Met fans, we all want him to succeed. We all want him to be able to bat fourth in a l prominent  lineup.

Andrew Brown Gives Mets Win!!!

The Mets somehow were able to pull out this win on July first. I'm not entirely sure how they did it while they left countless base-runners on but managed to pitch themselves into a win. Shaun Marcum, scratched and clawed to make it to the sixth inning. In the first inning it looked like Marcum was going to have another day. Paul Goldschmidt hit another home run (can anyone get this guy out?) to make it a two to nothing game. Then in the second inning Aaron Hill singled to left field to score Didi Gregorius. Now it is three to nothing, and the Mets don't look like they are going to be able to even buy a hit while runners are in scoring position. Not until the bottom of the seventh inning when David Wright stepped in and Eric Young Jr. on second base, and  David Wright singled to left field. Omar Quintanilla hit a shot to deep right field that Gerardo Parra almost made a great play on, but had to be taken out of the game due to an injury. Quintanilla got a triple and then with two outs and a runner on third, Eric Young stepped in he doubled to right field, it looked like it could have been a triple, but why make the last out of an inning at third base with the middle of the order coming up? Then there was a wild pitch that could have probably scored EY if he was on third but instead it pushed him over to third. So with J.J. Putz coming in to close out the game at 3-2, Satin had better ideas. Byrd was about three inches away from tying the game up at threes but instead stood out at second base for Josh Satin to single him in. Tie ball game. Satin then moved to second on Buck's walk, then took third on a wild pitch but Buck (who's run doesn't matter) got thrown out at second base. So we're heading into extra innings. Cody Ross (one of the Mets many nemesis's) led off the top of the 13th and homered on a 1-0 count. Everyone probably just thought the game was over cause the way the Mets have been going all day, it would just make sense, but then the bottom of the thirteenth came. Byrd struck out to lead off. Josh Satin lashed a double to right field, Buck was intentionally walked, Matt Harvey then was up there to bunt them over, he did his job. Then Quintanilla was intentionally walked. Both of these intentional walks are questionable, Buck has been ice cold, why not go after him to leave a hot Quintanilla in the on deck circle? But anyway, it's bases loaded with two outs and Andrew Brown steps in: foul ball-strike one, foul ball-strike two, and then on an 0-2 count Andrew Brown singles to left centerfield and Satin and Buck both scored!!! The Mets win!!! Put it in the books!!! The Mets win!!! That was a very exciting game to watch, aside from it being very frustrating, it was a fun game to watch because the Mets actually won it!

Zack Wheeler and Eric Young Jr.

Zack Wheeler is not our savior, he looks like he can be extremely good, once he settles in. His pitches are all plus, he has four. He still looks like he has some room to grow physically, and once he is able to put all of that together with decent command, he could be a great number two in this young up and coming pitching staff.

I think that Wheeler added a shot in the arm for them but the real shot in the arm, currently, is Eric Young Jr. This kid is a good leadoff hitter and fun to watch. He reminds me of a dialed down cheap mans Jose Reyes. I think that he would be great to have and maybe he can be reunited with Carlos Gonzalez to make our outfield good defensively as well as offensively.

Well Collin McHugh has thrown his last pitch for the New York Mets, at least for now. The Mets FINALLY got a speedy guy that can get on base, steal some bags, and play a good defense, in Eric Young Jr. The Mets have wanted him before and have made attempts at getting him but they finally achieved their goal in obtaining EY Jr. I liked this move because it didn't really look like McHugh was going to be nothing more than a mop up guy, spot starter or a fifth starter AT BEST.

I have like EY Jr. for a little bit now. He shows speed, and the ability to steal a base at the top of the lineup, something that the Mets haven't had since Jose Reyes. The best EY Jr. would have done in Colorado would have been a fourth outfielder. They already have Carlos Gonzalez, Dexter Fowler, and Michael Cuddyer  patrolling their outfield. All of them great outfielders that belong in their everyday.

Eric Young Jr. has been a great shot in the arm for this team!

Zack Wheeler

So this has been a fun couple of days, the Mets almost win three games in one day, but at least they took both of the games in the double header. They had 3 straight great pitching performances in the same day and the phoneme that is Zack Wheeler has finally made his much awaited debut. He looked pretty good throwing his fastball around 96mph and he looks like he has three to four plus plus pitches. But the only problem that it looked like he was having was location. He looks like he was fairly nervous making his debut, so I'll chalk it up to nerves. I think the Mets made his debut against the best team for him. The Atlanta Braves are a great team for Wheeler since they are an all or nothing team. They either hit a homer run or they strikeout. Luckily they are in a cold streak and it's been more strike outs rather than home run. Wheeler's next start will be against White Sox ace Chris Sale.

Lucas Duda moved to first base

So the Mets moved their left fielder to first base; you know, the same left fielder that Collins said, he won't be playing first, I want him to be able to play left field. Well if I didn't give it away with my clues, it's Lucas Duda. He will be starting at first base tonight with Murphy moving back to second base. Murphy should have never been moved but that's in an older post. So after saying that the Mets can't move Duda because they don't want him to be moved around, they move him...without ANY reps over at first base. I don't understand this organization. At this point, can you really trust this organization? Are they actually going to spend money this off season?
There are so many holes on this team that they need to spend money this off season. I'll tell you what positions they don't need instead of the positions they do, to try to keep this short. They don't need a third baseman, two starting pitchers, and a closer. You could add in second baseman and catcher. But if you do that, they need a solid and durable catcher behind Travis d'Arnaud.
Duda has turned into what seems to be an expendable piece, otherwise why mess with him as "your left fielder". They would have put Satin or Turner over there so Duda could learn the position and get some reps over there. Flores is still in the minor leagues, just hitting the ball better than most of the players on this major league club. Should Flores be called up? Should the Mets have so much stock in d'Arnaud? Should Duda have been moved to first base? If so, why not earlier?

Mets walk off on the Chicago Cubs

Okay so yesterday, I just got too bored of the game against the Mets and decided to do other things other than watch the Mets lose to the Cubs. I was outside when I got the update about Byrd hitting another ninth inning homer that probably won't even amount to anything. I went to go watch the game in hopes that something could maybe happen. I started to watch, when Duda walked, Buck singled to right, and Quintanilla hit a beautiful sacrifice bunt to the third baseman. Kirk Nieuwenhuis stepped up to the plate and i half wanted to call his shot because he has a thing for the dramatics but another half of me wanted to just turn off the television and leave the room because Kirk has looked lost at the plate. After a slider for a ball from Carlos Marmol and Marmol throwing pretty much nothing but sliders, he threw a fastball. Kirk was waiting for it, and he gave it ride out into the rightfield seats. As soon as it was hit, I was already jumping up and down! Even though I only watched pretty much a total of two innings, I watched the most exciting one.
So Bob Costas, what exactly do you do here? Your voice is annoying and you never have any good idea's. You barely know sports and you say just stupid things that just get people upset. He said that the Mets had no right to celebrate after that 4-3 win. Can you explain that to me? You win a game, you celebrate, you're happy. Everyone celebrates especially after a walk-off win like that, on a get away day.
Anyway, Happy Father's Day to my amazin' father and to all you other amazin' father's that have done such a great job raising your children even when they where kicking and screaming and making you want to pull your hair out.

Post Met Game Thoughts

Okay so is anyone really surprised that Matt Harvey pitched well enough for the win, but was straddled with his first loss of the season? It was only a matter of time. Harvey pitched like he normally does, better than a quality start but the offense just couldn't keep up there end of the game...again. I know it doesn't matter if he starts the all-star game, just as long as he's there. Most of the Mets brass probably wants him to not even be in the all-star game cause the all-star game doesn't matter to them and he has less of a chance to get injured as long as he's not there. But with his attitude, I feel like he wants to not only be at the all-star game as a starter but also START the game. But with the offensive struggles the Mets have been going through, he won't get that start.
So Harvey made a 2-1 pitch to Matt Carpenter that he hit to right field. Byrd tried his hardest to make the catch but it went in the gap for a run scoring triple and the Cardinals jumped out to a one to nothing lead in the third inning. Pretty much from then on out we all knew that the game was over but hoped and prayed that the Mets could scratch out a run, even two runs because Harvey deserved that. On almost any other team he'd already have double digits wins or close to it, but he gets no run support. I don't get it! Do they just relax and say, "Oh okay Matt Harvey is pitching, he'll be fine on his own."? Score some runs for the guy that has pitched his heart out for a losing squad. Every five days he runs out there and all but one time, has given the Mets at the very least a quality start if not, has kept them in the game.
I know in my last post I stated some predictions for the game. They only combined for 13 strikeouts, but they did both go 7 innings and Matt Harvey was pulled for a pinch hitter in a time that called for a pinch hitter, but it still had to be a tough spot because it was Harvey pitching. I thought Mike Matheny's idea to walk Kirk was a great move to force Terry Collin's hand to pull Matt Harvey. It wasn't because Kirk is on fire (0-18 at that point), it was a testament of how great Matt Harvey has pitched and just showed how much they didn't want him to still be in the game. Maybe it was also because to be able to watch the Mets bullpen you need to have a bottle of Tums handy.
Byrd wound up hitting a solo homer in the ninth but it was already too late as Allen Craig had a RBI single to score Beltran in the eighth inning, at that point it was 2-0 (Byrd's homer made it 2-1). They got the tying run all the way to third thanks to a Buck double and a roll over grounder by Kirk. Josh Satin stepped in and well you probably have seen this episode before, yup, he struck out swinging at a 3-2 count on a pitch that even Joe West would have called ball four.
It's a completely different feel when Harvey takes the mound. You get the feel that the Mets can win any game that he pitches, and probably should, even with this offense.
So I leave you with these questions. Should Harvey start the All-Star game? Should Harvey have been pulled for pinch hitter, Justin Turner? When will the Mets start hitting for Harvey?

Adam Wainwright vs Matt Harvey

Today's game is supposed to be Adam Wainwright vs Matt Harvey. This game shows a lot of promise of being good, I just hope the weather cooperates! This is the rubber game of a three game series.

I have never liked Adam Wainwright due to his strikeout of Carlos Beltran, kind of ironic that Beltran is now behind Wainwright, I guess if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. I wanted to actually be able to enjoy this game at Citi Field but this rain seems like it's going to just put a damper on things. 

If both of these guys have even just there good stuff, this could be a great game. I think that Harvey and Wainwright goes at least seven and combine for at least 15 strikeouts. This has a battle of the bullpens written all over it, and I hate to say that because the Mets pen is god awful, aside from Bobby Parnell. I think that Harvey essentially needs to go the distance, while the Mets need to work Wainwright's pitch count and wear him down, and actually manufacture runs. That means ACTUALLY getting the bunt down. The bunt just seems like a lost art in baseball nowadays, I just like the fact that you can move the runner over or maybe even get a run from just a simple bunt. The Mets need to play situational baseball!!! I know that this is all a lot to ask for, for the Mets bullpen to actually hold a lead two days in a row, and then to ACTUALLY hold a lead for Harvey? I really hope I'm wrong in my pessimistic thinking but this is the way the Mets have made me think. I think Harvey pitches stellar against a team that is hard to do that against, especially with two out. I think Harvey gets a no decision because he gives up a single in the eighth inning with two outs and Terry Collins winds up taking out Harvey cause it's a close game and he has almost 100 pitches. I really don't like when he does that, let him try to get out of it, who are you going to bring in from the bullpen? Let him get it! So I ask you, what do you think will happen this game, if it gets played? And as I wrap up this post, the sun is trying to sneak out!

A Loss was in the Cards

The Mets went up against one of the best all around teams this year in the St. Louis Cardinals. So the Mets just do what they always do, they gave you the hope of a win, the illusion that they could make it a ball game. Jeremy Hefner came out there in the top of the first inning and set them down in order.  They came up there and Michael Wacha did not look to have it. Despite Valdespin making an out to lead off the game, he hit it on the screws. Then Omar Quintanilla stepped in, and hit it out to extend his hitting streak to eight games, and give the Mets a one run lead. Then Murphy's infield single was sandwiched between walks by Wright and Duda. Marlon Byrd then walks up to the plate and probably the only player that has done what he is supposed to do in the outfield and at the plate (but yet has struggled to find playing time until recently). He lifts the ball to the outfield to score a run. John Buck walked to reload the bases and then Kirk Nieuwenhuis grounded out to shortstop to end the inning. A real Mets juggernaut offense.

Then just like always the wheels started to fall off beginning with none other than the person that will have a new position for fantasy owners in a few days, Daniel Murphy. His throwing error was just the start of flood gates being open. The top of the fifth inning saw the Mets lead slip away with five runs, that was capped off with a three run homer by Allen Craig. The Cardinals wound up scoring four more runs throughout the game. A game where the Mets handed the Cardinals the game in the fifth inning. The Mets gave the Cardinals about five outs in the fifth inning and anytime you give a good team extra outs, they will capitalize.  Hefner only gave up one earned run (six runs) in six innings with one walk while striking out two. So you tell me, should Daniel Murphy be at first base? Michael Wacha eventually settled down after the first inning and got into a rhythm to the beat of his first major league win. This kid looks like he can be really good, I looked at him, and had to take a double take because I thought it was Wainwright on the mound for a minute.

Some bright spots for the Mets: Hefner pitched well, but not well enough. Valdespin did however have two hits. Quintanilla hit a homer run. 

I don't know why TC is giving the second base job to 'Spin, just handing it to him until at least Sunday. And now they might be bouncing Murphy around from first to second, this is just not right!!! If they want him at first I'd keep him there, but were he actually belongs is at second base. Keep him at one position, let him walk into the ballpark knowing were he's going to play day in and day out, he's earned that right. And sadly not many people on this team have.

The Cardinals are a team that just always seems to be able to find a way to win. It doesn't matter who they lose or who they put in on their 25 man roster, they just win. They play the game hard and they play the game well. This is the kind of team the Mets only wish that eventually they could have.

Do you think it's right that they gave the starting job to Valdespin? Do you think it's right what they are doing to Daniel Murphy?

Daniel Murphy moved again

Okay so let me start this blog off with something that has just happened today. Daniel Murphy has been moved over to first base since Ike Davis was sent down to Triple-A and Jordany Valdespin will slot in at second base, his natural position. Ike Davis taking so long to actually be sent down, is another story in itself. So Daniel Murphy FINALLY found a position he can actually play in second base, and play it well enough not to be a liability there (remember the experiment in left field?). He has been solid at second base, so what do the Mets do? They slide him over to first base. He has been the Mets second best offensive player this season, so why have him worry about his defense again? I don't want to have to have blame his offensive struggles on trying to learn left field and then trying to learn second base but there has to be some correlation there. They can fill the gap until Ike Davis is able to relax, decompress, and figure out his timing. They can fill this gap with guys like Josh Satin, Zach Lutz, and Justin Turner. I understand that they don't want to move Lucas Duda, but then why are you moving Daniel Murphy; the guy has come so far and worked so hard since he first moved over to second base.

Now for Jordany Valdespin. Personally, I am unsure how I feel about him. I like that he is fast and could maybe eventually cause havoc on the base-path's, but I don't think his batting average will get much higher than .250. I do not like his attitude at times, with him acting like he is better than everyone else. Take a page out of David Wright's book and just hit, run, sit down and cheer. He wants to win, you see it, but then you see Valdespin staring down the pitcher because he got hit by a pitch, when he shouldn't be surprised because they hit you. If you're going to do this unadvised defensive scheme, then why not leave 'Spin on the bench and call up Wilmer Flores? He's batting over .300 this season so far against Triple-A pitching, with six homer's. Or Wilmer Flores could even play first base while Daniel Murphy stays at second base. Maybe Wilmer Flores could put a little bit a charge into this lineup that has looked exactly like we thought it would in the beginning of the season. Or at the very least, it would be fun to see some of the young kids play ball in Flushing. I'd like to see some of the young outfielders they have down in the minor's, give the future a chance now, so we can figure out if they should be on the Mets next year, or back in the minors for more seasoning. Let me know what you guys think about if Flores should come up. And does anyone else think that it's the wrong decision for the Mets to move Murphy over to first? 

A Little Bit About Me

Hello, and welcome to my blog!!!
This is going to be a blog about the New York Mets and some baseball related blogs. I have been a huge Mets fan for a very long time and I have been through their ups and their downs. I have a lot of found memories of the Mets, like: John Olerud getting the cycle (I was at that game); the 2000 world series (even though they lost, at least they made it); Robin Ventura's infamous game winning "Grand Single"; the "hi57ory" made day were Johan Santana threw the New York Mets very first no hitter; and my personal favorite home run, Mike Piazza's game winning home run against the Atlanta Braves, their first game back after the horrid event of 9/11.
I also have horrible memories of this team, like: Luis Castillo dropping an easy pop fly against the New York Yankees, that should have ended the game with the Mets "putting it in the books" on the winning side, but instead like a lot of their games, especially recently, they let it slip away; Carlos Beltran striking out against Adam Wainwright in the 2006 NLCS; and of course the New York Mets blowing a seven-game lead with seventeen games left in the season in 2007.
I have stuck by this team through the dark time's in hope of being able to one day go to a ticker tape parade.
This will be a blog will be about my thoughts, concerns and analysis about the New York Mets. I hope to hear your feedback.