|
Spring Break Training PART I |
Spring Break Training PART II |
 |
 |
|
|
|
SABRES, PENS, SHOTGUNS & METS |
BILL BUCKNER WAS INNOCENT |
 |
 |
|
| You are not authorized to post a reply.
|
|
| Author |
Messages |
|
TheMatts
Posts:1444
 |
| 07-15-2008 - SelecA - |
 Alert
|
NEW YORK, NY – We have come to the traditional mid-season break with the New York Mets finally playing proper baseball. Will the break help them rest up? The team is on such a roll that they would be wise to consider NOT going on a break and playing intra-squad games over the next three days. Kidding aside, we can now conduct a halftimehappy recap.
Thus far, for the majority of time, it has been a half season of expectations, disappointments and injuries. As a rule, injuries have a negative effect on a team and the same is almost true for the Mets. While Ryan Church’s head banging and Moises Alou’s Ham Stringing and Pedro Martinez’s Every Thinging have had a detrimental effect on us, the God’s of Baseball are exalting the strained hip flexor, quad strain and sore knees of Luis Castillo. Sometimes one event or player can be the answer to a team’s problems. In this case the answer is the absence of Castillo. Angry Ward on “Inside the Minds of the Mets:”
Luis Castillo: “This would be a good time for a fake bunt. So would this. Maybe one more time and then I’ll ground out to second.”
Succinct summary of this guy’s entire half. Throw in for good measure some Reyes-like daydreaming in the field and it’s a 4 year 26 million dollar catastrophe. His absence has given the Met reserves Damian Easley and Our Heinous Reyes a chance to fill in with determined play.
The outfield woes are similar, yet different than the infield’s. The difference between Alou and Church vs. Castillo is vast. The Mets actually miss the bats of both men but, with his latest malady, the memorial service for Alou’s career can now be planned. Church, noggin willing, can return to his position and contribute again. The similarity between the sets of injuries is more roll players excelling in place of starters. Super Endy Chavez and “There was something in the air that night, the stars were bright Fernando Tatis “ have given the team infectious enthusiasm offensively and defensively. We’re actually torn over the return of Church, devote followers though we may be. The chemistry on this team is at an all time high and who wants to mess with that. Jerry’s kids will be given playing assignments based on performance, not salary. Therein lies the great divide between Randolph and Manuel. It seemed Willie assigned guys based on who should play on paper. Yes on paper, Luis Castillo is your 2nd baseman but if he’s the pits he should sit. Yes Aaron Heilman was the set-up man for the first few months but if he’s tanking in each outing, he should ride the pines.
The pitching staff has also performed at it’s best in the last 2 weeks and Mike Pelfrey is displaying flashes of brilliance. The starters were touted as the best of the NL in pre-season and we’re inching closer to that every day. The bullpen could use some bolstering and perhaps Orlando Hernandez could provide the Mets what he gave the White Sox in their 2005 World Series run. We’re not convinced that Messrs. Heilman, Muniz, Schoeneweis, Feliciano and Wagner are going to hold down the fort without plenty of headache and heartache.
Now, what should the Mets do via trade before the July 31st deadline?
The trade version of genocidal cleansing took place when the Mets traded for Johan Santana and what’s left amounts to Fernando Martinez, Mike Carp and Jon Niese. In the big leagues rumors about Matt Holliday have occupied a fair amount of newsprint but the asking price was not only prospect loaded but also Pelfrey happy. It seems that it’s a sink or swim year with “whatcha got”. It’s not time to lose bonafide youngsters or emerging stars for a big bat. We might not get to the Promised Land this year but it’s Good Met Fun right now. Angry Ward is angry about something tomorrow. Thursday, we look at the Yankee mid-season.
|
|
|
|
Phil's brother
Posts:78
|
| 07-15-2008 - SelecA - |
Alert
|
| Oh there is no trading NL PLAYER OF THE WEEK, Mike Pelfrey at this point. That would go right up there with trading Seaver and Kazmir. No? |
|
|
|
Dude
Posts:528
|
| 07-15-2008 - SelecA - |
Alert
|
| i couldn't agree more with your assessment. . . luis was a drag on team play and chemistry and his absence has made the collective group stronger. Knowing Alou won't be back is also a great benefit, it keeps people from counting on him, which most of us knew all along, was foolish. I don't think Church's return will hurt the team, his bat will be welcome. Unless we can get something for nothing i say don't do it. Unless the pirates are willing to take castillo for nady, i say no. Omar, if any gm asks about pelfrey's availablity just hang up the phone. thank you. |
|
|
|
ANGRYWARD
Posts:511
|
| 07-15-2008 - SelecA - |
Alert
|
| Yep, we're all on the same page here today. Grote2DMax is looking like a genius for his early season support of Pelfrey. I agree with Dude that a Church return will only bolster the lineup and not mess with the chemistry. Keeping fingers crossed that Ollie can remain consistent and Pedro can stay healthy. Both are longshots but if those two can deliver some quality starts, the Mets should be right in the mix down the stretch. Wagner is still a big worry though. |
|
|
|
Mets4Life
Posts:37
|
| 07-15-2008 - SelecA - |
Alert
|
| I like Our Heinous Reyes. As a player and as a ridiculous name. Also appreciate the Clash reference in the post's title, even if it was a reference to cocaine use. Hernandez probably likes that song. |
|
|
|
Corporal Agorn
Posts:157
|
| 07-15-2008 - SelecA - |
Alert
|
| I like what the role players are doing but I think that they will slow down and/or falter at some point. That being said, yes Castillo must ride the pines and Church's return should not make you wary. He's been a clutch bat all year and there's no indication that it'll be different when he's back. |
|
|
|
|
| You are not authorized to post a reply. |
|
|
|
ActiveForums 3.6
|
|
ROY HOBBS ON STEROIDS??? |
MEAGHAN & JAKE: COOLEST FANS |
 |
 |
|
|
|
Nobody Remembers The Loser |
Giant/Super Tuesday |
 |
 |
|
|
|
MATTS-MATICS: Hockey Nuts Go At It |
See us on: "Law & Order" |
 |
 |
|
|
MATT FACTS:
Chad Pennington is NOT a Brett Favre fan... Hillary Clinton and Don Nelson have never been seen in the same place... Jerry Manuel is not related to Charlie ManuelJerry Manuel is not related to Charlie Manuel... Somebody namd Michel coaches the Pittsburgh Penguins... Tiki Barber quit the Giants. The Giants then won the Super Bowl... The New England Patriots only lost ONE game out of 19!!! Aaron Heilman was actually funny in re to Eli and Plaxico Burress helping the Mets as a pitcher and outfielder, respectively. Repeat, Heilman was funny... Jessica Simpson would rather date Tom Brady - trust us... Eli Manning is better than Archie - now... Alyssa Milano is a Met fan. RRRRR... Rickey Henderson speaks in the 3rd Person... Shawn Green has big ears... Howard Johnson likes to stay at the Holiday Inn, ironically... Sandy Alomar, Sr. is the youngest of 9 kids. That's why he was quick around the dish. Jiminy Cricket was the Philly Phanatic in a previous life…Fred Wilpon is pals with Sandy Koufax... Mike Ditka is a really tough guy.. Buffalo has a Triple A baseball team. They are NOT called The Snowballs... Chan Ho Park has people thinking of naming a ballfield after him - it would be called Chan Ho Park Park... John Maine has never been, oddly enough, to Maine... Curt Gowdy, Jr. has never been to Yellow Knife, Canada... Kevin Mitchell played 6 positions for the Mets in '86 and, according to Doc Gooden's book, didn't like cats... John Olerud & Wayne Gretzky have never been seen in the same place... Kevin McReynolds now makes his living doing laugh tracks for sit-coms... Tony Gwynn is nearing 300 lbs... Carlos Beltran has Mercedes Benz dealerships named for him in Barcelona, Spain... Willie Montanez was called Guillermo by Lenny Randle... Rusty Staub beat Jeff Kent in a race – TODAY... Jay Horwitz is a dynamite Cricket players – somebody said... Jeff Wilpon was a decent minor league catcher... Ziggy Palfy lives in Slovakia and is a big Met fan... Superman Returns, yet still can’t hit Billy Wagner... David Wright will win the Triple Crown – on a horse... Omar Minaya is Tobey McGuire’s stunt-double in Spider Man 3... Hilary Clinton has Mr. Met pajamas – we think... Albert Einstein was a HUGE Met fan... The Metropolitan Opera House was named for the Mets after their 2nd season in ’63... Wally Backman, ’86 sparkplug, considered changing his name to Wally Back-Matt... Neil Allen and Mike Stanton, former Mets, have Allen & Stanton Streets on Lower East Side named for them.
|