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

There have been few players that could spin a quote like Rickey Henderson. A lot of times Henderson would be asked a question and ten minutes later he would complete his answer. However, there are other times when he would just nail it.

Like this one.

“I’m a legend. People aren’t going to forget about me. I mean, when people forget about me, baseball is over. I rewrote the book.’’ – Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson on his favorite topic, which, of course, is Rickey Henderson.

Despite being one of the greatest players of his era, Henderson made the rounds, playing for nine franchises, including four different stints with the Oakland Athletics, and two with San Diego.

Oakland Athletics (1979–1984)
New York Yankees (1985–1989)
Oakland Athletics (1989–1993)
Toronto Blue Jays (1993)
Oakland Athletics (1994–1995)
San Diego Padres (1996–1997)
Anaheim Angels (1997)
Oakland Athletics (1998)
New York Mets (1999–2000)
Seattle Mariners (2000)
San Diego Padres (2001)
Boston Red Sox (2002)
Los Angeles Dodgers (2003)

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

In 1991, Oakland’s Rickey Henderson hit safely in each of the first five innings, with singles in the first four innings and a homer in the fifth. Henderson also scored four runs and drove in four as the Athletics beat Texas, 19-5.

BOXSCORE

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

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