Tag Archives: Howard Johnson

Feb 02

Feb. 2.10: Back in the saddle again.

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Good morning folks. First off, I’d like to thank you for your well wishes yesterday. I should get back some of my test results today, but I’m feeling better this morning. So, again, thank you very much for you kindness.

WRIGHT: Will he be right again?

WRIGHT: Will he be right again?


Previously, I’d listed concerns of the Mets heading into spring training. One such concern was whether David Wright would regain his home run stroke. By most standards, Wright had a miserable season in 2009, and it was that way long before he took a fastball to his helmet. Wright hit .307 with a career-low 10 homers and only 72 RBI.

Wright did himself in early when he admitted the dimensions of Citi Field were getting to him. Once that became public, pitchers had their way with him from a power standpoint and gave him absolutely nothing to hit.

Wright tinkered with his swing, but an altered swing stays with a hitter, even on the road and his power numbers paled in comparison to other seasons in production away from home, too. Wright is human, and he began to press, and with injuries mounting up – without Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltran – there was little protection in the order.

Wright has been working hard with hitting coach Howard Johnson, who should have done more to persuade his third baseman to not abandon the form that produced these numbers for a 162-game average: .309, 27 homers and 107 RBI.

The problem, Johnson dissected, was in waiting on the pitch, Wright waited too long. The ball would bear down on him and he couldn’t adjust. Say hello to 140 strikeouts. A career high. That Wright hit over .300 despite his high strikeout totals illustrated how unusual Wright’s season actually was.

Their off-season work has been concentrated on Wright attacking the ball more out front, being quick with his hands and driving the ball.

Which Wright will we see in 2010?

I’m willing to bet last season was an aberration and we’ll see numbers closer to his career averages rather than last year’s posting. I’ve seen how hard Wright works and believe he’s too good a hitter, too good an athlete, not to rebound.

Yes, I think Wright will be back in the saddle again.

Oct 15

Is this something they’ll regret?

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One of sport’s premier hitting instructors, Rudy Jaramillo, is on the market after 15 years with the Texas Rangers.

It has been reported the Mets will not talk to him, that they are satisfied with the results of Howard Johnson. Just a thought … how come they can’t have both? Couldn’t Jaramillo work as an organizational instructor on all levels? Wouldn’t he be a great influence on the growing number of Latin players in the Mets’ employ?

If the Mets are going to talk to Kevin Towers, they might as well talk to Jaramillo. This might be something the Mets could regret down the road.

Sep 25

METS CHAT ROOM: Game #153; Where’s the incentive vs. Fish?

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CHAT ROOM

CHAT ROOM

Tim Redding is pitching for a job in 2010. What are the other Mets playing for? Redding (3-6, 5.25) is 2-2 with a 2.72 ERA in six outings since returning to the rotation, numbers that add up to effectiveness and worthy for consideration as a long-man or fifth starter. A .500 record makes it as a fifth starter, and that’s what he has been over the past month. He gave up two runs in seven innings last Saturday against Washington in more than a quality start. Actually, those are the numbers the Mets are seeking from Mike Pelfrey.

I like Redding as he’s a no-excuse kind of guy. He’s been stand-up and hasn’t thrown his teammates under the bus, which Mets starters would be justified in doing lately considering the offense. Over the last 16 games, the Mets have scored three or fewer runs 10 times. In that span, they have lost 13 games.

It has been draining, said manager Jerry Manuel, who for now, has a vote of confidence for next season.

“The losing is really difficult. It takes a lot out of you,” Manuel said. “You’re not playing for anything, but there is still a level of pride. You try to still give your fans hope that things will be OK.”

With his start tonight, third baseman David Wright will move ahead of Howard Johnson to set the club record for games at third base with 836. Wright enters the series on a 2-for-15 slide. He has batted .200 in 11 games against the Marlins this year.

The Marlins lead the season series 10-5.

Oct 24

Commentary: Can HoJo really have an impact?

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HoJo: How effective can he be really?

HoJo: How effective can he be really?

Howard Johnson is back as Mets’ hitting coach, which is fine by me because I enjoy talking with him. However, I’m not so sure things will be any different next year, and I wonder whether it is because of the same hitting coach or the same players.

I’m thinking the latter.

I hitting coach can go over film and mechanics with a hitter, but once he’s in the box, that guy is on his own and he’d better know what to do.

Every situation calls for a specific fundamental approach.

-It begins with getting on base, and it doesn’t matter how. Take the damn walk. And, this includes everybody, not just Jose Reyes, who fails to work the count. When they win and the offense clicks, David Wright likes to say, “we kept the line moving.” Well …. ? Why don’t they have that approach all the time. The Mets wasted way too many at-bats last year, and that starts with the approach by the hitter, who should have learned what to do in high school.

-Runner on second, no outs, hit the ball to the right side of the infield.

-Runner on third, less than two outs, hit a fly ball.

This isn’t brain surgery, it’s baseball.

Reyes need to bunt more, increase his walks and decrease his strikeouts. He needs to hit the ball on the ground. … Carlos Delgado must discover left field more than he does. … By his own admission, Wright must learn to relax and not try to do it all when runners are in scoring position.

Johnson is there to remind the players and work with them on mechanics, but it’s up to the players to be thinking the right approach. Johnson can remind them, but it’s up to Jerry Manuel from Day One in spring training to harp on them what to do.

Oct 24

Baseball after Midnight: Rays even Series.

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What's keeping you up tonight?

What's keeping you up tonight?

Good evening my friends out West and you night owls. Getting hungry. My favorite after midnight diner food is an omelet and rye toast. Breakfast food is always good.

We had an interesting post during the game on the issue of clutch hitting. It doesn’t always come after the seventh inning. I remember a conversation I had with Ryan Church during spring training about stats.

The topic was a “do your job stat.” Every at-bat comes with it a defined objective. Runner on third, get the run home, even with an out. The Rays did it twice in the first inning. The Mets? Well, we’ve had that conversation more than a few times this summer.

Another good game tonight. You get the feeling this one could go the distance.

As far as the Mets were concerned today, the Mets finally finalized their coaching staff. Howard Johnson stays, which was surprising to some degree considering all the finger pointing about their inability to consistently perform with runners in scoring position.

Whatever is on your mind, here’s your message board. I’ll respond in the morning.