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Wright Remains as the Third Best Third Basemen of 2010

There are no newcomers to the top five third basemen list. Although everyone is the same, four out of the five players moved in the standings. Read on to see who the new number one is!

3. David Wright, New York Mets: Wright is the only player on the list to remain in the same spot since early June. Wright’s consistent offense this season is helping the Mets stay in the hunt for October. Wright is hitting .305, with 17 home runs and 77 RBI’s. Wright’s numbers have pretty much stayed at the same pace since early June, his average only dropped two points and he added five more home runs and 27 more RBI’s. Wright already surpassed his abysmal numbers from last season when he only hit 10 home runs and 72 RBI’s. Saying all of that the Mets are only one game above .500 this season and are tied for third place in the division six and a half games behind the first place Braves. With the trade deadline passing two days ago, the Mets didn’t make even one move! Wright is having a great year, but he cant do it alone. The Mets just gave up on their season by not making any moves to improve a mediocre team. If they do somehow make the playoffs, the Mets will have to pull off another miracle.

Click here to read the full article – By Eric Heyer of Sports Fan Blog Network


August 2, 2010 Posted by homerunheyer | Bloggers, David Wright, Eric Heyer, MLB, NY Mets News | , , , | No Comments Yet

Front Office Messages

I was looking at Metsblog today and ran across this quote from Jayson Starks: “The Mets have backed off their shopping plans after their disastrous road trip…” So do the Mets believe that their current slide has them out of the race?

I’m happy with the result. There are no players on the market that warrant top prospects in return. But management doesn’t seem to have the same reason for dropping out. From that quote I get the feeling the Mets think they are too far out of the race.

What bothers me is not what the Mets are doing but how they think. If earlier in the season they thought making a trade could make them a playoff team, why aren’t they making the trade? Why are they waiting till the team is out of the race? Last season they did the same thing. I understand you don’t want to give up prospects, but that is half the reason you have them. It would be nice to develop every player in your system, but that is not realistic or smart. Not every prospect turns into a top player,

Minaya seems to be too scared to make a move and looks for any excuse not to. He seems to be haunted by the Scott Kazmir trade more than Steve Phillips is. I’m, sorry. Right now it worked out, but I don’t want a GM that seems to be incapable of making a deadline deal. Contending teams make them all the time, look at the Phillies and the Cliff Lee trade last season.

Another thing: the Mets don’t want to change their coaching staff because they believe they can win with these guys…but they don’t want to make a trade because they don’t think they’re in the race?

I am ok with not acquiring a player, I just don’t like the mindset management has. Honestly it is more fuel to the fire that if the Mets can’t turn things around and make the playoffs it is time to clean house. Met fans are tired of the same show and the same results. The only way people are going to start believing again is if the stench from the 2007 collapse is finally removed. That starts with management and hopefully will trickle down to the field.

July 27, 2010 Posted by slavite | Bloggers, Evan Slavit, MLB, NY Mets Stuff, New York Mets, Original Content | , , , , | No Comments Yet

In a Slump?

For the first time since early last season, the Mets lineup featured all of their stars. Reyes, Castillo, Beltran were all in the line-up together, ready to lead the Mets to a playoff berth for the first time since 2006. Unfortunately their arrival did nothing for the Mets, who fell to the Diamondbacks 13-2 in one of their worst games of the season.

So what is wrong with this Mets team?

Despite popular belief, not a lot. It is easy to freak-out right now. The bats are cold, K-Rod is anything but lockdown, and Pelfrey has stunk to the tune of a 6+ ERA since his stellar start to the season.

Even with all of these problems, the Mets will be fine. It has been 5 games since the All-Star break. The Mets have lost four of those and haven’t looked good doing it, even struggling to get their one win this road trip. The biggest problem: the bats. But that is something that won’t remain a problem for long. The Mets have too many All-Star players to let this slide continue.

Reyes has finally returned from injury and if all goes well he should add a spark. Beltran is working his way back and when he gets into a groove can carry this team. More importantly, when he proves he can play everyday, Francoeur will finally be shown the bench. I like Francoeur and think he has been a terrific fielder, but when you have an OBP below .300 you are a detriment to your team. Ike Davis looks to be heating up, and Bay has to start hitting eventually. Even through this tumultuous season for Bay, he has gotten on a few hot streaks.

As you can see, even though the bats are struggling this road trip, there is no reason to believe that will continue. They are in transition right now with players returning from injury, and some regulars cooling down. It has been horrible timing, but there are 162 games in a regular season for a reason.

What worries me more is Pelfrey, Takahashi and K-Rod. Pelfrey has gotten worse and worse each outing. It is not that he doesn’t have good stuff, but like last season he has lost confidence. I could easily see this spiraling down in a situation like last season. If Dan Warthen and Jerry Manual want to prove they are good at their jobs they will find a way to fix this. Manuel is awful at managing in-game situations, but his strength is supposed to be motivating his players…well let’s see it.

Takahashi has shown us he cannot handle a starting job. He does not have good enough stuff to make mistakes. He needs to go in the bullpen where he can pitch 1-3 innings. Unfortunately there is no one ready to take his spot outside of a trade, and if all the Mets need is a fifth starter, it is not worth giving up good prospects to get it. I have faith the Mets will find a solution to this problem, I just hope they are smart enough to not give up the farm.

For K-Rod I have no confidence in him and probably never will. Unfortunately he is our best option and while he has blown a league-leading five saves, he gets the job done more times than not. We can win with him, it just won’t be pretty.

by Evan Slavit at the Sports Fan Blog Network

July 20, 2010 Posted by slavite | Bloggers, Carlos Beltran, Evan Slavit, Francisco Rodriguez, Jason Bay, Jeff Francoeur, Jose Reyes, Luis Castillo, MLB, Mike Pelfrey, NY Mets Stuff, New York Mets, Original Content | , , , , , , , , , | No Comments Yet

Make a Move

The Mets are in the running for a playoff spot, a situation they have found themselves in the past few seasons around the trade deadline. Unfortunately for the past three seasons the Met have failed to secure a spot down the stretch and have missed the playoffs all three years. A common factor with these teams has been their reluctance to make a big time move at the deadline. A move that could put them over the top, changing them from contenders to leaders. So should the Mets change their tune this season and make a trade before the deadline?

I think it is really tempting to say yes, but I am not sure if its the best move. Once Cliff Lee was traded to the Rangers, the trade market lacked a true ace. Sure adding a Ted Lilly or Brett Myers would allow the Mets to move Takahashi to the bullpen, but those guys are not a big improvement over any of the other Mets starters. Come playoff time, it would be hard to take Niese, Dickey, Pelfrey, or Santana out of the rotation. So does the newly acquired pitcher get the boot into the bullpen?

Minaya has done a good job holding onto his prospects the last couple of years. It is finally starting to pay off with some nice depth and big league help, but it still isn’t deep enough to give top prospects away. If they can get one of these guys for scraps, perfect they should make the move. But if the cost is Jenry Mejia, or Fernando Martinez, or even Josh Thole I am not sure it is worth it.

Standing pat, I am not sure the Mets make the playoffs. Perhaps with Beltran and Reyes healthy the Mets offense goes on a tear, but with only four spots in the playoffs and a lot of contending teams, nothing is a lock. It is tempting to make a trade to put the Mets over the top, but not at the cost of tops prospects.

by Evan Slavit at the Sports Fan Blog Network

July 19, 2010 Posted by slavite | Carlos Beltran, Evan Slavit, Johan Santana, Jon Niese, Jose Reyes, MLB, Mike Pelfrey, NY Mets Stuff, New York Mets, Original Content | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | No Comments Yet

The Good Old Days

With the Braves series wrapping up I feel what left a lasting impression on me was how quick and easy the Braves won the first two games after taking a lead into the ninth inning. Seeing Billy Wagner come out and throw heat, overpowering the Mets hitters to a 1-2-3 inning the first night was just magical.

Ever since Wagner’s injury, the Mets have had problems with the ninth inning. In 2008 when he sustained the injury, the Mets were not the same and again struggled down the stretch resulting in a collapse…though only 3.5 games that time.

I distinctly remember going to the first game we found out Wagner was injured. Santana had pitched magnificently to help the Mets to a 4-1 lead over the Phillies, just to have the bullpen combine to blow the save without Wagner and ultimately lose the game.

With word that Wagner would not make it back for the 2009 season, the Mets went out to sign the best closer on the market, K-Rod, and trade for a second closer in J.J. Putz. The result: an early injury to Putz and a miserable second half for K-Rod.

While K-Rod has been better this season, he has still come out to throw some stinkers. Even when he does get the save he makes sure to make it close.

Putz has left the Mets to have a respectable season with the White Sox, and in more disappointing news, Wagner has left to the rival Braves to give them a top-notch closer.

I never understood why the Mets were so determined to ship him out last season. Aside from saving money on his salary there was no reason to. Its not like they brought in great prospects. Chris Carter was the best pick-up and after refusing to call him up earlier this season, it seems likely he will be demoted once Beltran returns.

Keeping him would have gotten two draft picks from the Braves as he was a type-a free agent. I understand there was a fear that no one would want to sign him, but it was a risk worth taking.

by Evan Slavit at the Sports Fan Blog Network

July 12, 2010 Posted by slavite | Billy Wagner, Bloggers, Evan Slavit, Francisco Rodriguez, MLB, NY Mets Stuff, New York Mets, Original Content | , , , , | No Comments Yet

What is Mejia Doing Here?

While the Mets started the season off with some very questionable moves (Gary Matthews Jr. and Mike Jacobs) they have managed to fix them throughout the course of the season. That is every move except the decision to keep Mejia in the majors. Mejia is the Mets top pitching prospect, a pitcher with good enough stuff to translate into an ace of a staff one day. Today, however, he is not on that level as he still has control problems and has yet to develop his secondary pitches. In order for Mejia to blossom into the pitcher the Mets envision him being, he should be sent down to the minors.

In the majors players do not have the luxury of working through their problems, especially in New York, because the club is expecting to win now. Growing pains are not something this Mets team wants to see, especially now that they are so close to taking over first place of the division. The Mets have shown as much, refusing to put Mejia in a tough situation. Instead Mejia has come in when the team is either winning or losing by a large margin. If the Mets needed Mejia in the majors you would expect them to use him in more important situations. If the Mets do not need him and instead want him to develop, sending him to Buffalo will be much better for him than mop-up duty in the Majors, even if it is against better competition.

It is not like the Mets do not have other options to replace Mejia in the bullpen. Right now Bobby Parnell has been pitching really well and could come up and be a great boost to the bullpen. Hell the Mets would probably be better off promoting Manny Acosta than keeping Mejia in the majors. Ultimately it makes little sense to keep Mejia in the majors, and all it is proving to be doing is affecting his confidence. The Mets have a star on their hand and they better make sure they take care of him or they could be out a potential ace.

by Evan Slavit at the Sports Fan Blog Network

June 17, 2010 Posted by slavite | Bloggers, Evan Slavit, MLB, NY Mets Stuff, New York Mets, Original Content | , , , , , | No Comments Yet

David Wright Makes #3 of the Best Third Baseman of 2010

Three out of the five third baseman on this list are having comeback years. One of the players career looked like it was over, one of them hasn’t had a good year since he was in the National League, and the last comeback player had a power outage last year.

3. David Wright, New York Mets: Wright has his groove back! After a disapointing season last year for him and his team Wright has found his way once again and is helping the Mets make a run at the first place Braves. Wright only belted 10 home runs last year and 72 RBI’s, but he still hit .307, which isn’t bad. The Mets expect Wright to be their power bat in the lineup though, which is why last year was a down year for Wright. Not to worry, Wright is leading the National League in home runs with 50 and has two more home runs than last year already, with 12. Wright has helped the Mets move to within a half a game behind the first place Braves. Wright is leading his team with average, RBI’s, home runs, on base percentage, slugging, and runs. If the Mets took Wright out of their lineup they would probably only be a .500 team this year.

Click here to read the full article – By Eric Heyer of Sports Fan Blog Network


June 16, 2010 Posted by homerunheyer | Bloggers, David Wright, Eric Heyer, MLB, NY Mets News | , , | No Comments Yet

The State of the Mets Rotation

Currently the Mets sport a rotation of Johan Santana, Mike Pelfrey, Jonathon Niese, RA Dickey and Hisanori Takahashi. Dickey and Takahashi did not start the season in the rotation, but after John Maine and Oliver Perez hit the DL Dickey and Takahashi took over. As of right now Dickey and Takahashi are pitching very effectively and are a big reason the Mets find themselves seven games over .500. With the likely return of Maine the Mets should avoid tinkering with the success of the rotation and put Maine in the bullpen.

To start the season the Mets held out hope that John Maine and Oliver Perez would finally be able to put it together and prove to be reliable pitchers in the rotation; however, neither impressed during their time with the team.

Oliver Perez, probably the player the Mets had the most staked into after awarding him a 3 year 36 million dollar contract a season ago, played so poorly the Mets tried hiding him in the bullpen. Unfortunately he was not even effective there and, after he refused a minor league assignment, the Mets banished him to the DL.

Maine’s story is a little more promising. He did not pitch very effectively to start, but after returning to being primarily a fastball pitcher Maine was able to pitch well enough to keep the Mets in games. The problem was he still had trouble pitching late into games and sustained an injury that forced him out of a game after throwing just five pitches before landing him on the DL.

Maine has recently thrown in a rehab game and is working his way back to the majors. The question is: Should the Mets put him back in the rotation? Right now the Mets are clicking, and a big part of that is the current starting rotation. In addition the bullpen has been more effective as pitchers are pitching six and most of the time seven innings. In fact Pelfrey and Niese started back to back games where they pitched for nine innings. While Dickey and Takahashi will never be top-line starters, they are getting the job done right now and that should not be tinkered with, especially in favor of a player that struggles to pitch five innings.

John Maine’s best career move looks like a transition to the bullpen. He has a lively fastball, but not a ton else and like I keep mentioning, he has trouble going deep into games. In the bullpen only one or two strong pitches are needed to be effective. It would be great to convert Maine into a set-up guy, or if we are lucky an eventual cheaper option to K-Rod at closer when Frankie’s contract is up after next season.

While Dickey and Takahashi’s effectiveness might wane as the season continues, John Maine is not a good replacement. He has had numerous times to prove his worth, and outside of 2007 has failed to do so.

by Evan Slavit at the Sports Fan Blog Network

June 15, 2010 Posted by slavite | Bloggers, Evan Slavit, Francisco Rodriguez, Johan Santana, John Maine, Jon Niese, MLB, Mike Pelfrey, NY Mets Stuff, New York Mets, Original Content | , , , , , , , , | No Comments Yet

Young Guns

For all the heat Omar Minaya got over the off-season, it is about time we give him some credit. While it was definitely warranted to question him in the past, Minaya has looked over a farm system that has provided some quality players for the big league team this season. I am talking about first baseman Ike Davis, and starting pitchers Mike Pelfrey and Jonathon Niese.

Ike Davis has solidified first base for the Mets, a position that has not seen a full season of production since 2006. Carlos Delgado never picked up his play in 2007 and while he went on a tear the latter half of 2008, his bat was pretty much non-existent the first half of the season. With the injury to Daniel Murphy the 2010 season was looking like much of the same with journeymen Mike Jacobs and Fernando Tatis splitting time at the position. Luckily for the Mets Davis had hit well enough in Spring Training and the start of the season for the AAA Buffalo Bisons that there was little resistance to calling him up. While he is barely hitting .260 on the year, he has still provided power with 7 home-runs, great defense, and more importantly…hope for the future.

Pelfrey has flat out dominated from the start of the season. I do not think it is a stretch to say that I feel more confident when he takes the mound than when Johan Santana does. All Pelfrey has done is go 9-1 on the season with a 2.39 ERA. He has given the team the 1-2 punch they have needed, and gives the team loads of confidence every time he takes the mound.

Finally there is Niese. He came up last season and pitched pretty well, but suffered a nasty hamstring injury during his third start since the call-up. The fear was he would not be able to recover enough to warrant a spot in the rotation to start the season. That fear was put aside early as he pitched so effectively during Spring Training that Jerry Manuel put him in the second spot following Santana. During the season Niese has managed to keep the optimism going with a stat-line that reads: 3-2 3.61 ERA 45 K/ 19 BB. To follow that up, Niese had only one blemish in his last start, a double in the third inning. Despite that hit Niese was perfect in a complete game effort where he shut-out the Padres.

Since David Wright and Jose Reyes were called up quite a while ago, the Mets have failed to add impact players to their big league team. This is Pelfrey’s third season, but following last year his career did not look as promising. While it has only been a few months, at this point it looks like Minaya has done a better job with the farm system than anyone has given him credit for. Not to mention the great acquisitions of Angel Pagan, Rod Barajas, Henry Blanco, Hisanori Takahashi, and RA Dickey.

by Evan Slavit at the Sports Fan Blog Network

June 14, 2010 Posted by slavite | Bloggers, Carlos Delgado, David Wright, Evan Slavit, Jon Niese, Jose Reyes, MLB, Mike Pelfrey, NY Mets Stuff, New York Mets, Original Content | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | No Comments Yet

Rod Barajas Makes #3 of the Best Catchers of 2010

There aren’t many big name catchers in the majors anymore, there are only a handful that come to mind as top tier catchers in the league.

3. Rod Barajas, New York Mets: Barajas has been a major contributor for the Mets this year. So far Barajas is making the Mets look like geniuses for picking him up from the Blue Jays. Barajas already has 11 home runs which leads his team and 30 RBI’s which is third on the team. If Barajas keeps up these numbers he will have career highs in those two categories. Barajas’s average has been a little low only hitting .267, but I think the Mets will take that with the much needed power he has been producing for the team. Will this power last from Barajas? His career stats say no, and I would have to say no also. I do think Barajas will still have respectable numbers once the season is over though.



Click here to read the full article – By Eric Heyer of Sports Fan Blog Network


June 9, 2010 Posted by homerunheyer | Bloggers, Eric Heyer, MLB, NY Mets News, New York Mets | , , | No Comments Yet

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