Jul 25

Memo To Terry Collins: Don’t Make Promises You Can’t Keep

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As I type this the Mets are flying to blistering Phoenix with the words of Terry Collins ringing in my ears. The Mets followed up their 1-5 road trip with an 0-6 homestand.

Collins’ post-game presser today was filled with promises we’ve heard before. Over the next two weeks, the Mets will start playing as they did in the first half. They would b more patient with their at-bats; they would pitch better; they would play better defense; and, they would be fundamentally sound.

Sounds good. Also sounds like something we’ve heard before. What I don’t understand is how Collins can promise all this. If it were something that could be readily promised and delivered, then why don’t the Mets play that way all the time?

The thing is Collins can’t make such a promise. Not only is it impossible, but he doesn’t have the talent on his team to make it happen.

 

Jul 25

Mets Waited Too Long …. As We Expected

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When the  Mets looked into over the cliff a few weeks ago but failed to make a deal, many thought by the time they would be ready it would be too late.

Guess what?

That’s exactly what happened. The Mets have lost 11 of 12 and are behind by double-digits. It doesn’t matter whom they trade for now, the competitive part of the season is over.  The Nationals have too much good pitching to fold now and there are too many teams they must leapfrog for a wild card.

The Mets will wait until next year as we expected. Let’s hope the things that put the Mets in position to make this year exciting will be in place in the future, such as R.A. Dickey’s run and the pre-no hit Johan Santana.

You never know what the future might bring. We don’t know if the Mets will have the same things in place that made the first three months exciting and hopeful. We also don’t know if those young pitchers will blossom.

The Mets had a chance this season to make a play, but gambled next year’s hand will be better. We shall see.

 

Jul 24

Young Can’t Stop Mets Freefall

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Chris Young did his job. Two runs we’ll take. And, it happened early. Then the Mets became amazing again, and not in a good way.

A team rallies to tie the game late, then gets blown away in extra innings. How often does that happen? Maybe once every few seasons? But, in back-to-back games? I wish I were joking, but nope. It happened Sunday and Monday. The Mets have now lost five straight, again, and ten of 11.

Yup, that’s the definition of freefall.

Ruben Tejada committed a costly error last night, but it is hard to get on him because he’s been so good this season. Pedro Beato couldn’t overcome adversity, which is his job. He’s gone.

It looks as if Lucas Duda might be optioned to make room for Matt Harvey, but does it matter anymore?

Jul 23

Mets Should Have Short Leash With Young

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How long will Chris Young last tonight before things unravel? Whether it is the fifth, sixth or seventh inning – anything later is a pipe dream – it really doesn’t matter because the third time through the order is when he loses it.

There’s a few ways around it. The first is to give him 18 outs then pull him regardless. The second, and the most prudent, is to give the 18 outs PLUS the first runner. Once somebody gets on pull him because this is when things unravel.

Against the Nationals last week it was an infield hit then a homer. Just like that, the momentum shifted. I realize the Mets have no bullpen to speak of so Terry Collins can be understood for wanting to stay out of it.

But, staying with Young isn’t a great idea, either.

Here’s tonight’s lineup:

Ruben Tejada, ss
Jordany Valdespin, rf
David Wright, 3b
Ike Davis, 1b
Daniel Murphy, 2b
Jason Bay, lf
Kirk Nieuwenhuis, cf
Josh Thole, c
Chris Young, rhp

Jul 23

Mets Now Fading Into Sellers?

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Falling below .500, the Mets are no longer the National League’s feel-good story. That would be Pittsburgh and Washington, two perennial losers poking on top of their respective divisions.

As the Mets struggled the past weeks and faded, they resisted the urge to buy relief help, the commodity that will define this season. Mathematically, they remain alive, but watching those long faces in the dugout yesterday afternoon in the 12th inning, one can surmise the frowns greater than the math.

They might have another run in them, but they must start it against the Nationals, followed by ten games in the Pacific Time Zone. Yeah, no problem.

As the Mets transform from buyers into sellers, just who do the have worth putting on the block. David Wright, Daniel Murphy and R.A. Dickey would bring the most, but they are the core to next year and those beyond.

Any of their relievers, save Bobby Parnell and maybe Tim Byrdak can be had.  Byrdak, actually could bring something if the Mets were to call it quits. Off the bench, Scott Hairston and Jordany Valdespin might bring some value, but I’d like to keep both.

As the story of this season is written, things unraveled first with the bullpen and then the starting pitching. The offense, while not great, has been good enough to put them into contention.