Well, Jerry Manuel is on record as saying that he would consider batting Jose Reyes third during the 2010 season. I found out about this on Friday, but I needed a few days to wrap my head around this concept. I do understand the point to this - with Beltran missing the first month or so of the season, Jerry wants to stretch the line up as much as possible. Reyes batting third allows him to have a threat through the fifth or sixth spot in the line up (depending on production) whereas Reyes leading off only gives depth through the clean up hitter and maybe the fifth spot.
With that being said, I really hate this idea. I'm scared that batting Reyes third is going to change his approach at the plate. I do not want Jose swinging for the fences because he's now in an RBI spot... I want him hitting sharp line drives to the gap that he can easily turn into triples at Citi Field. Not only that, one of Jose's biggest assets (if not THE biggest) is his speed. If he's batting third and gets on base that is usually going to mean one of two things - either there are men on base in front of him, or there are two outs. Neither situation is conducive to Jose Reyes doing what he does best - rattling pitchers with the threat of a steal.
In the end, it doesn't matter what I think, because it is Jerry's decision to make. And I refuse to let this kill my Spring Training buzz... at least for now.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Ptichers & Catchers and D-Wright
That's right, it's that time again - pitchers and catchers officially report to spring training TODAY! I know most people don't really care about this, but I love spring training. It's the first chance you get to really evaluate where your team stands. I'm going to be paying close attention to our starting pitchers this year, since they're all coming back from either a season-ending injury or just a terrible year. I still think Big Pelf is the X factor and rumor has it that he's dropped 25 pounds and is ready to go (this is another reason to love spring training - everyone shows up in "the best shape of [his] life"). I'm ready to see big things from all of them.
There have also been rumors lately that the Mets are "aggressively" going after Rod Barajas. Just a few weeks ago, we were told the Mets were done spending money. I don't even really know what this means, and I can't say I'm going to obsess over this. Once again, I feel like management is talking way too much. Stop commenting on who is fighting who for which starting position. Let things unfold during spring training and see who earns the spot. At this point, does it even really matter if Jerry claims one guy has an edge over another?
And finally, David Wright made a splash yesterday with his statements about "expecting" to win the NL East and World Series (by the way, David is another guy with a voice you wouldn't expect. The Mets just attract these guys apparently). I love this from David. He's a major league baseball player - he SHOULD expect to win. He didn't say that they would win or continue the asinine "we're the team to beat" fight - just that he expects to win. I don't see anything wrong with this. He's showing confidence in the team he plays for and is still acknowledging the fact that at this point in time, the goal is to beat the teams that have gotten the better of us over the past few seasons. Props to D-Wright for setting the tone early this spring... maybe this will be his year he really comes into his own as the leader everyone has expected him to be since Cliff Floyd left the team.
There have also been rumors lately that the Mets are "aggressively" going after Rod Barajas. Just a few weeks ago, we were told the Mets were done spending money. I don't even really know what this means, and I can't say I'm going to obsess over this. Once again, I feel like management is talking way too much. Stop commenting on who is fighting who for which starting position. Let things unfold during spring training and see who earns the spot. At this point, does it even really matter if Jerry claims one guy has an edge over another?
And finally, David Wright made a splash yesterday with his statements about "expecting" to win the NL East and World Series (by the way, David is another guy with a voice you wouldn't expect. The Mets just attract these guys apparently). I love this from David. He's a major league baseball player - he SHOULD expect to win. He didn't say that they would win or continue the asinine "we're the team to beat" fight - just that he expects to win. I don't see anything wrong with this. He's showing confidence in the team he plays for and is still acknowledging the fact that at this point in time, the goal is to beat the teams that have gotten the better of us over the past few seasons. Props to D-Wright for setting the tone early this spring... maybe this will be his year he really comes into his own as the leader everyone has expected him to be since Cliff Floyd left the team.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Mex mentors Murphy
I meant to write about this sooner, but the snow has been distracting me. Keith Hernandez has been working with Daniel Murphy and Nick Evans on defense and footwork at first base. I'm glad someone who doesn't write this blog finally came up with the idea of asking Keith to help out.
In an interview for SNY, Murphy said that it was an honor to work with Keith (as a completely random side note, the first time I heard Murphy speak, I was shocked. He does not look like his voice should be that deep). I'm hoping that their sessions were productive and that Murphy came away from them with a better understanding of what exactly he's supposed to be doing over there. Mex is a great resource for Murphy and Evans and hopefully they will continue to pick his brain on first base related issues.
Of course, I'd be a lot more optimistic if Keith had given me some hope during his appearance on Daily News Live. He was completely non-committal when asked about Murhpy's future as a first baseman, which I suppose is fine... I mean, we don't want to kill the kid's confidence before spring training even starts (note to Jerry - keep your mouth shut). I personally believe that Murphy will be fine now that he's had time to work on the position and will have some protection in the line up. He's a solid player and I'd like for him to show us why he should be a starter and not just considered a back up.
In an interview for SNY, Murphy said that it was an honor to work with Keith (as a completely random side note, the first time I heard Murphy speak, I was shocked. He does not look like his voice should be that deep). I'm hoping that their sessions were productive and that Murphy came away from them with a better understanding of what exactly he's supposed to be doing over there. Mex is a great resource for Murphy and Evans and hopefully they will continue to pick his brain on first base related issues.
Of course, I'd be a lot more optimistic if Keith had given me some hope during his appearance on Daily News Live. He was completely non-committal when asked about Murhpy's future as a first baseman, which I suppose is fine... I mean, we don't want to kill the kid's confidence before spring training even starts (note to Jerry - keep your mouth shut). I personally believe that Murphy will be fine now that he's had time to work on the position and will have some protection in the line up. He's a solid player and I'd like for him to show us why he should be a starter and not just considered a back up.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Silver Linings
"Why? Because it's spring and baseball is coming, that's why." - Sports Night
Ok, so it's not exactly spring yet... but baseball IS coming! Since there are way too many strange, illogical things going on with the Mets (JJ Putz not having a physical, Omar working with an unknown budget, etc.), I decided that with Pitchers and Catchers coming up in two weeks, I'm going to focus on some silver linings. Here are the reasons I'm still excited for baseball:
1. During the Mets' 3 day mini-camp, Dan Warthen gave an interview to SNY where he said that Oliver Perez threw "the best he's ever seen" and that Santana has a better curve and breaking ball now than he did last year (side note - I still don't trust Ollie P. but I think that's the first positive report we've had on him in about 2 years).
2. Nelson Figueroa pitched a complete game 3-hitter for the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean Series yesterday. I understand that no one really cares because it's the Caribbean League, but I saw the ninth inning of the game and Figueroa looked sharp.
3. In the same game, Fernando Martinez went 2-4 with a 2-run home run. After seeing Martinez look incredibly under-prepared at the plate last year - not to mention the infamous pop up he decided not to run out - this is good news. Martinez is too young to be considered a bust, but it's time for him to stay healthy and light up AAA.
4. Jose Reyes is back. SNY's Kevin Burkhardt caught up with Reyes on Monday, and he looks great. He is reportedly running 90 feet sprints in 3.53 seconds. This is also the first time since Reyes went down with the leg injuries in May that he has sounded like he is ready to be back. To quote him, "there's going to be a show."
Maybe I'm grasping at straws... don't get me wrong, I know we still have holes and I know that a story about the front office's incompetence seems to surface every two days. But there's something about the promise of spring training that makes it all seem okay. At least for now.
Ok, so it's not exactly spring yet... but baseball IS coming! Since there are way too many strange, illogical things going on with the Mets (JJ Putz not having a physical, Omar working with an unknown budget, etc.), I decided that with Pitchers and Catchers coming up in two weeks, I'm going to focus on some silver linings. Here are the reasons I'm still excited for baseball:
1. During the Mets' 3 day mini-camp, Dan Warthen gave an interview to SNY where he said that Oliver Perez threw "the best he's ever seen" and that Santana has a better curve and breaking ball now than he did last year (side note - I still don't trust Ollie P. but I think that's the first positive report we've had on him in about 2 years).
2. Nelson Figueroa pitched a complete game 3-hitter for the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean Series yesterday. I understand that no one really cares because it's the Caribbean League, but I saw the ninth inning of the game and Figueroa looked sharp.
3. In the same game, Fernando Martinez went 2-4 with a 2-run home run. After seeing Martinez look incredibly under-prepared at the plate last year - not to mention the infamous pop up he decided not to run out - this is good news. Martinez is too young to be considered a bust, but it's time for him to stay healthy and light up AAA.
4. Jose Reyes is back. SNY's Kevin Burkhardt caught up with Reyes on Monday, and he looks great. He is reportedly running 90 feet sprints in 3.53 seconds. This is also the first time since Reyes went down with the leg injuries in May that he has sounded like he is ready to be back. To quote him, "there's going to be a show."
Maybe I'm grasping at straws... don't get me wrong, I know we still have holes and I know that a story about the front office's incompetence seems to surface every two days. But there's something about the promise of spring training that makes it all seem okay. At least for now.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Bring back '86
Last night, MLB Network was airing episodes of "Baseball's Seasons" - so of course, I set a reminder for when the 1986 season was going to be on. Watching this show actually made me sad - not because the Mets won't be winning the World Series this year, but because they are a shadow of what they used to be. You can say what you want about the 1986 team - they were arrogant and hated by all of Major League Baseball - but those guys had a grittiness and "don't mess with us" attitude that I absolutely love. Most of you know that I have a little taste for blood in baseball. For example, I'll never for the life of me understand why Mike Piazza didn't beat the hell out of Roger Clemens. I love it when pitchers send a message with a pitch that's a little too far inside, or when they utilize the retaliation hit-by-pitch. All in all, I love it when baseball gets down and dirty, with a hard-nosed style that basically says, "You can try... but you're not gonna beat us."
And that is what makes me sad. The 2009 New York Mets had none of these qualities, and I'm not very hopeful for the 2010 model. I can see why the 1986 team is loved by Mets fans. Of course, winning the World Series plays a big role, but it goes deeper than that. That team was everything that was simultaneously right and wrong about baseball. The closest we have come to recapturing that feel was in 2006, with Paul LoDuca leading the way. 2006 was a fun year in baseball because we all really believed the Mets were going to win. For me, that's the biggest difference in the last couple of years.
It's hard to describe the feeling surrounding the last few seasons. As a fan, I know that I wasn't as confident in the 2007 team. Maybe it's because we were crushed by a called third strike to end the previous season. Or maybe it's because the Mets had lost their swagger. They were good in 2007, but it's almost as if their hearts weren't in it. That's a dangerous trend in baseball, and it's the thing I envy the most about the current Phillies team. I want to see my players care about winning and to show it. Being level headed and saying all the right things can only take you so far - sometimes, you have to get your hands dirty. For that reason, I hope the 2010 Mets can catch another airing of "Baseball's Seasons: 1986" before Opening Day.
And that is what makes me sad. The 2009 New York Mets had none of these qualities, and I'm not very hopeful for the 2010 model. I can see why the 1986 team is loved by Mets fans. Of course, winning the World Series plays a big role, but it goes deeper than that. That team was everything that was simultaneously right and wrong about baseball. The closest we have come to recapturing that feel was in 2006, with Paul LoDuca leading the way. 2006 was a fun year in baseball because we all really believed the Mets were going to win. For me, that's the biggest difference in the last couple of years.
It's hard to describe the feeling surrounding the last few seasons. As a fan, I know that I wasn't as confident in the 2007 team. Maybe it's because we were crushed by a called third strike to end the previous season. Or maybe it's because the Mets had lost their swagger. They were good in 2007, but it's almost as if their hearts weren't in it. That's a dangerous trend in baseball, and it's the thing I envy the most about the current Phillies team. I want to see my players care about winning and to show it. Being level headed and saying all the right things can only take you so far - sometimes, you have to get your hands dirty. For that reason, I hope the 2010 Mets can catch another airing of "Baseball's Seasons: 1986" before Opening Day.
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