The John Delcos New York Mets Report Featuring Mets' commentary, analysis and news.

Last night was another puzzling and unfulfilling game for the Mets, who lost 2-1 at Washington. They faced a pitcher, Ross Detweiler, who started the game with a 0-6 record and 5.71, one you would have thought they could handle.

They didn’t, getting only seven hits.

And, you don’t often read this, but the Mets wasted a strong start by Nelson Figueroa, who is now 0-5 for the month of September. He could have won at least two of those games with a little offensive support. Figueroa has given up four runs in 13 innings in his last two starts, losing both.

It also wasn’t a good night for David Wright, who continues to struggle at the plate. He also committed an error and should have had two. Wright is hitting less than .220 since returning from the disabled list after he was beaned by Matt Cain.

Last night was the 90th loss of the season by the Mets, who were projected to get to, and win, the World Series by Sports Illustrated.

Posted under Uncategorized

The Mets open their last road series of the season at Washington tonight against the Nationals. Nelson Figueroa does the honors on the mound and he continues his push for a spring training invite.

Figueroa (2-7, 4.88 ERA) pitched a superb game in his last start, September 22 against Atlanta, giving up two runs on two hits in seven innings. Figueroa has had both good and bad moments this season, but he hasn’t blown anybody away with his consistency.

I still see him as no better than a long reliever. If one from the patchwork rotation in September emerges as a fifth starter, although none has been lights out, I would say Tim Redding has been the best and Pat Misch has the advantage of being a left hander.

The best-case scenario for the Mets’ rotation next year regarding a fifth starter, would be the acquisition of a solid No. 2, the healthy returns of Oliver Perez and John Maine, and Mike Pelfrey to make a step forward. If one of those three becomes the fifth starter, and everybody pitches to expectations, then the Mets’ pitching would be greatly improved.

Here’s tonight’s line-up against Nationals starter Ross Detweiler (0-6, 5.71 ERA):

Angel Pagan, LF
Luis Castillo, 2B
David Wright, 3B
Carlos Beltran, CF
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Fernando Tatis, 1B
Omir Santos, C
Anderson Hernandez, SS
Nelson Figueroa, RP

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

It’s not bragging if you can do it. It’s easy to say Ted Williams was a born hitter, and perhaps to a large degree that was true. But, nobody studied hitting more than Williams, who kept a book on every pitcher and broke down the strikezone into a series of batting averages to where if a pitch is thrown to a particular area he could tell what his average would be.

Williams lived to hit, and the essence of his career could be boiled down to one quote.

“A man has to have goals – for a day, for a lifetime – and that was mine, to have people say, ‘There goes Ted Williams, the greatest hitter who ever lived.’ ”
- Ted Williams

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

In 1960, in his final major league plate appearance, Ted Williams homers off Baltimore’s Jack Fisher at Fenway Park, with a 450-foot drive over the Red Sox bullpen.

 

It was Williams’ 521st homer, placing him third on the all-time list at the time.

Williams does not take a curtain call, but after taking his position in left field, he is replaced by Carroll Hardy and given a standing ovation as he returns to the dugout.

Williams averaged .344 with 37 homers and 130 RBI a season during his career. Had he not spend five years serving in the military during World War II and the Korean War, it is staggering to think what his career numbers would have been.

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

Pat Misch threw the Mets second complete game of the season, shutting out the Florida Marlins, 4-0. The other was by Livan Hernandez in May against Washington. File that under the “Go Figure” category.

Nobody could even put the odds on what that would be entering the season.

Misch had been hit hard in his previous three starts, but did have some good moments this season. Will Misch be in the Mets’ rotation next season? Doubtful, but he pitched well enough to merit a spring training invite.

Let’s face it, the Mets have pitching holes and don’t have the luxury of dumping a guy who just threw a shutout for him. If the Mets don’t make any off-season pitching acquisitions, or if Oliver Perez and John Maine have health issues, Misch could get a chance to compete for the fifth starter role or as a long-reliever. That he is left-handed works in his favor.

In addition, Jeff Francoeur homered again, and the Mets are expected to offer a contract extension. The Mets have enough off-season wants on their shopping list, and signing Francoeur would shorten it.

Lastly, David Wright did not start yesterday. He did not hustle on a ball hit by Francoeur, and consequently didn’t cross the plate before the final out was made so his run did not count. Wright met with manager Jerry Manuel in a closed-door meeting after the game and apologized to his teammates.

If the Mets are to name a team captain, Wright would be the logical choice, afterall, he is the face of the franchise. He’s had a miserable year and the one thing the Mets can’t have is for their leader not to hustle.

In a season such as this, examples are being set all the time. That Wright did not hustle can’t be tolerated. However, that he was stand-up and took accountability is also a powerful example to his teammates.

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

Good afternoon folks. Sorry to miss you last night. I had an obligation I needed to take care of. I do appreciate those who checked in and posted.

David Wright has the day off. Wright didn’t go all out on Jeff Francoeur’s hit and as a result didn’t get the run as the out was recorded at second before he crossed the plate.

There’s no reason for it and it is rare when Wright doesn’t go full out. Wright, stand up as usual, apologized to his teammates after the game.

The Mets close out their series at Florida today with Pat Misch on the mound. That’s something I don’t understand. Misch, who likely won’t be with the Mets next year, gets a start despite not pitching well, while Bobby Parnell, who is part of the future, was pulled.

Still think that’s odd and Parnell should have started.

The game means something to the Marlins, who are still alive. For the Mets, more of the same. We’ll also check in on the Jets, who are wearing the ugly Titans jersey, against the Titans. Giants are on later.

Here’s the batting order:

Angel Pagan, CF
Anderson Hernandez, 2B
Daniel Murphy, 1B
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Cory Sullivan, LF
Fernando Tatis, 3B
Josh Thole, C
Wilson Valdez, SS
Pat Misch (1-4, 5.59 ERA), LP

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

John Maine is one of the things the Mets hope to salvage from this dead season. Maine, who spent the bulk of the season on the disabled list, is the perfect example not to get too excited over the phrase, “will have surgery but is expected to be ready for spring training.

Maine underwent shoulder surgery last September, but was sidelined again with the generation of scar tissue which irritated the nerve and caused weakness in the arm. There has been a drop-off in velocity which Maine hasn’t regained. However, he’s looking at it as spring training when a pitcher gradually builds up his arm strength over five or six starts.

Maine will make his third start since coming off the disabled list tonight at Florida and will get another before the season ends. Maine is hoping get back enough strength to where he can look at going to his normal offseason program.

Maine is coming off a strong outing last Sunday against Washington in which he gave up two hits in five scoreless innings. He threw 75 pitches and could go as high as 90 against the Marlins. In his first start off the DL, he gave up a run in three innings at Philadelphia.

“I’m happy with it,” Maine told reporters about his progress. “I think I went out and did my job. I think you can always be a little more pleased with your performance when you look back at it. But I thought I did okay.

“I don’t go out there thinking it’s going to hurt. You can’t. It hasn’t hurt. I’m hoping it’s behind me.”

There had been speculation Maine would not be offered arbitration and would be cut loose. However, the pitching-depleted Mets will undoubtedly offer arbitration considering how well he has pitched. Maine can become a free agent after the 2011 season.

Maine took a step back last season after winning 15 games in 2007. He is 6-5 with a 4.13 ERA this season.

***

NOTE: Something has come up and I don’t think I’ll make the chat room. Please carry on without me and have a great night.-JD

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

Carlos Delgado has scrapped hopes of returning this season and returned home to Puerto Rico. He obviously doesn’t want to be around this teammates for the concluding days of this lost season, and most likely said good-bye for the last time.

My feeling it the Mets won’t bring back the injury prone Delgado for one more season, believing Daniel Murphy has shown enough to be entrusted with first base for 2010.

It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if Delgado signs with somebody and hits 30 homers next year. It also wouldn’t surprise me if he had a year like 2007 and the first half of 2008 when there were rumblings he should be traded or released.

Delgado is at the point of his career where you can’t realistically rely on him to remain healthy, and if he is, to produce the 30 homers and 100 RBI he generally has over the past decade.

Will Murphy be able to produce healthy Delgado-like numbers? Probably not right away, and maybe not ever, because Delgado was a special player. However, when the Mets can’t expect Delgado-like numbers from Delgado, it is time to cut ties and go younger.

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

For one game, at least, the Mets played the way they promised during spring training as they rallied in the eighth and ninth innings to severely damage the Florida Marlins’ pennant aspirations.

Three players stood out: Tim Redding, Jeff Francoeur and Cory Sullivan.

* Redding has pitched well since joining the Mets’ depleted rotation, good to the point where he should be brought back to compete for the fifth-starter or long-relief role. Of all the throw-ins into the rotation, he has outpitched Bobby Parnell, Nelson Figueroa and Pat Misch. He also has a strong track record against Philly.

* Francoeur has been a joy to watch since coming over from Atlanta. He clearly likes playing in New York and hustles all the time. He should be rewarded with an extension. Given a full season, he could hit 20 to 25 homers next year.

* Sullivan is an absolute professional. Teams need role players such as him and the Mets would be wise to bring him back, as well as Alex Cora.

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

Carlos Beltran knows all about losing, having beginning his career with the woeful Kansas City Royals. This season has been a flashback.

“It was like this for many years in Kansas City. Every single year.” – Beltran

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09