Thursday’s Mets News: May is Here
So April is over now. The Amazins’ finished the month of April with a 14-12 record after playing 26 games. If you prorate it through 162 games then the Mets will be 87-75. At month end, the Mets are in a three-way tie with the Marlins and the Phillies. The Braves are 2.5 games back, and the Nats are 4 games behind.
It’s May now, and hopefully a new calendar month along with a trip out west will get the Metropolitans heading in the right direction. The Mets will go to Phoenix for three games and then to Los Angeles for three games.
After one month, all of you Mets fans keep on booing our team. What’s up with that? I understand some of it, but not all of it. I understand booing Delgado, Castillo, and Heilman for poor performances. I understand booing Schoeneweis for steroids, and I would never cheer for somebody that shouldn’t be allowed to play baseball anymore. I hear callers complain on WFAN because they want Willie fired. I think Willie is an average Manager. He lacks to NL knowledge that Bobby V. had, but he still has had a winning record with the Mets. Historically, that’s better than the majority of Mets managers. I don’t think this is Willie’s fault at all. He’s by no means perfect, but I’ve seen much worse.
I put more of this on Omar than Willie because all of the starting players that were part of the collapse are still on the field, with the exception of LoDuca and Green. If these players don’t feel like they have something to prove this year then Omar should get rid of them. Omar knows what type of heart these guys have. Only Wright and Alou played through the end of 2007. I’m was upset with the Mets as an organization for covering up whatever happened last year. Like I said in the offseason, I wanted to know what happened to Reyes down the stretch so I can justify it if he was sent to the Twins in exchange for Santana. If he was hurt and would be back healthy this year then I wanted him back. If he just quit then I wanted him out. Reyes said he slumped, and he’s still in a funk. Maybe he shouldn’t be here anymore. I hated the Castillo contract from the beginning. He’s not worth more than $10/year. He told the Mets he was 100% healthy in December when he got his contract, but he asks Willie for days off. He still can’t bunt or hit the ball. Pedro and El Duque lied to the Mets about how great they felt on Spring Training. They’ve been doing that for years already, and that’s why I wrote the post back then called “Talking the Talk or Walking the Walk”. Omar believes the lies that Pedro and El Duque told them about being healthy so we don’t have a backup plan in place.
On the positive side, I love what I’ve seen out of Church and Pagan. I never even liked Milledge because he’s a disgusting person so I loved that trade regardless of how any of the three players actually perform in the future. Figueroa has been pretty solid as well. And last but not least, Johan Santana is the man. He finished April with 3 wins. At three wins a month, he’ll end up with 18 wins at the end of the year. Santana could’ve had more wins of the offense could put up more runs or if the bullpen could hold a lead.
That’s enough venting for me. My point was that if the players weren’t good enough to win last year then why would they be good enough to win this year? And heart is something that shows up on stats sheets. I’m a Giants fan, and I just watched them win the Super Bowl with a bunch of rookies. The Giants were picked to finish last in their division even though they made the Playoffs two years in a row prior to that. The Mets are the favorites to win the World Series, but besides Santana what have they done?
Citi Field recalls, renews sport’s legacy - Barry M. Bloom pointed out how Citi Field is a testament to NYC’s rich baseball tradition.
Wagner returns to site of scary incident- Marty Noble tells us a story where Billy Wagner got beaned by a comebacker by Stinnett about ten years ago in Phoenix.
Forgettable day for Perez against Bucs - Marty Noble summarized yesterday’s game between the Pirates and the Mets.
Mets know D-backs present challenge - Marty Noble put together a pregame analysis for tomorrow’s game between the Mets and the Diamondbacks.
Schneider at Shea, but stays sidelined - Marty Noble reported that Brian Schneider’s thumb is improving, but the staph infection is not fully healed.
Strawberry writing ‘Straw’ memoir - The AP informed us that Darryl Strawberry is currently writing a book titled “Straw” that will be released in 2009.
Newsday:
Mets lose, 13-1, to Pirates; Wagner calls out team - Jim Baumbach also summarized how the Mets stunk it up yesterday. Billy had this to say about the team’s perfomance, or lack there of, “Today, we just didn’t show up. I’m not saying Pittsburgh can’t beat the New York Mets. But I’m just saying there’s no way we should have this lopsided of a score. Yes, you’re going to have games like this. It’s something that can’t continue to linger.”
Wagner rips Perez over poor outing - Katie Strang got this quote from Wagner about Oliver Perez’s start yesterday, “Perez honestly has to step up and know we used every guy in the bullpen the night before. He can’t come out there and decide he doesn’t have it today, so be it.” I hope Billy has something to say about every player every time they mess up which is pretty often.
Wright can do no wrong in fans’ eyes
Schneider back with Mets, but not ready to play
Water main break at Citi Field delays Mets game
New York Daily News:
Pirates crush sloppy Mets, 13-1
September stench still reeks at Shea - Mike Lupica discusses how poorly the Mets have been playing.
Oliver Perez takes walk on wild side - Roger Rubin explains what things Oli was doing wrong yesterday.
Can’t put a finger on Brian Schneider’s return to Mets
New York Post:
SCHNEIDER LEAVES HOSPITAL STAPH BEHIND
THIS (BLEEP) IS MORE THAN A BLIP - Mike Vaccaro found out how other Championship teams took loses like the Mets did yesterday and moved on.
INEPT OLLIE FUELS AMAZIN’ FOLLY
New York Times:
It Was a Dark Afternoon for the Daydreaming Mets - Ben Shpigel also summarized yesterday’s Pirates-Mets game.
The Star-Ledger:
Wagner has harsh words for Perez
