The Mets hidden problem
Most Mets fans would quickly admit that they follow a very flawed team. They lack reliable starting pitching beyond Mike Pelfrey and Johan Santana, their offense without Carlos Beltran has been inconsistent at best. One problem that hasn’t received enough publicity, however, is the presence of New York’s free-swinging right-fielder, Jeff Francoeur. Many members of the media, and many Mets fans, immediately latched onto Francoeur upon his arrival last season as a glimmer of hope in an otherwise awful season.
While many people who follow the Mets might consider Francoeur to be an asset, a look at his stats reveal that this is simply not the case. According to fangraphs.com, Francoeur swings at a mind-boggling 44% of the pitches that are thrown out of the strike zone. To put that another way, Francoeur turns half of the pitches that he sees which aren’t in the strike zone into strikes. Francoeur also swings at an incredible 60% of the total pitches he sees. With statistics like these, it’s not surprising that he is unable to have successful at-bats. After Francoeur’s successful rookie season, it is clear that pitchers around Major League Baseball quickly realized that throwing Francoeur a strike was not necessary in order to get him out. Francoeur has done nothing but confirm that impression, as he continuously swings at pitches that are well out of the strike zone. As if to make matters worse, Francoeur has an uncanny ability to make contact with pitches out of the strike zone has led to a parade of weakly-hit popups. Until Francoeur displays the ability to work pitch counts and swing at hittable pitches within the strike zone, it’s unlikely that he will ever develop into a productive Major League Hitter.
Although Francoeur is, by all accounts, a great guy and an even better teammate, the fact that he is nearly an automatic out who longer serves as a serious power threat outweighs any of the benefits that his personality might bring.
by Nathan Eagan at the Sports Fan Blog Network
Maine is first real test for Mets’ iffy rotation
The Mets got exactly what they expected out of Johan Santana in their season-opening win over the Marlins on Monday.
Now comes the hard part: Seeing what the other four-fifths of the starting rotation will give them.
And that starts tonight, when John Maine takes the mound against Florida at Citi Field after yesterday’s off day.
“You always want to get the year started off strong,” Maine said. “It’s the same thing every season. Your first couple of starts, you’re anxious and you want to get off on the right foot. No matter what you’ve been through to get there, that doesn’t change.”
Click here to read the full article – By DAN MARTIN of New York Post
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Mets closer still battling conjunctivitis
All-Star closer Francisco Rodriguez returned to New York Mets camp on Monday after being hampered by conjunctivitis for more than two weeks.
Rodriguez had been told to stay away from the team until the pink eye cleared, but the contagious infection took longer than expected to improve. He was sick when he reported to New York’s spring facility, but it went undiagnosed until just before full-squad workouts began Feb. 25.
The right-hander said he went to the doctor on Friday and was cleared to return Monday, although he still is infected. He continues to take eye drops and isn’t allowed to wear contacts yet.
“It feels much better,” Rodriguez said. “It’s still a little uncomfortable, but it’s good to be around. I was cleared to be around the guys, so it’s fine.”
While away from the team, Rodriguez was limited to playing catch with his brother, Edward, in the driveway of the closer’s home. But Rodriguez is not worried about his progress. He said he probably only needs one bullpen session before pitching in a game, and is looking forward to getting back into a regular routine.
Rodriguez last stepped on a mound about a week ago when he emerged from hiding for a light bullpen session.
Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com
Beltran can resume work in 12 weeks
Carlos Beltran had surgery on his troublesome right knee Wednesday and the All-Star center fielder will miss the start of the season. His decision to have the operation also sparked a dispute about whether he had received permission from the team, and perhaps whether the surgery was needed at all.
The New York Mets said Beltran is expected to resume baseball activities in 12 weeks, a timetable that likely would keep him out for most of April — and maybe longer.
New York’s first official workout for pitchers and catchers is a little more than five weeks away, on Feb. 20. The Mets open the season April 5 against Florida.
“The doctor said eight weeks, possibly, and a window to 12 weeks to resume baseball activities. With elite athletes, the timetable is sometimes shorter than the original prognosis,” Beltran’s agent, Scott Boras said.
Click here to read the full article – By of ESPN.com
Yankees fans… “No Bay, Okay!”
Jason Bay, the newly introduced New York Met has all New Yorkers excited for different reasons. On paper his departure from Boston is a win for both ball clubs, although as it typically turns out for the Met’s, Bay will most likely under perform, have a significant drop in numbers, and or will be injured and forced to retire. Conversely Yankees fans can now breathe a sigh of relief knowing they no longer have to deal with an over-achiever wearing the red pinstripes.
Jason Bay’s departure from the Red Sox to the Mets, benefits which club, the Yankees, Mets or Red Sox the most? Let me know what you think…
Wally Backman’s hiring with Cyclones may manage to motivate New York Mets manager Jerry Manuel
I believe Wally Backman will end up managing at Citi Field eventually, and when it happens it will be a very good day for the Mets. But for the moment he is no more a threat to Jerry Manuel’s job than Jay Horwitz, PR man to the stars.
There is some history between Backman and Manuel that dates back to their days together in the White Sox organization a decade ago, and it seems fairly clear they weren’t trusting allies. Depending on who you talk to, it was either because Manuel saw Backman, then an acclaimed minor-league manager, as a threat to his job, or their personalities merely clashed.
Either way it’s irrelevant, at least for now.
The Mets did the right thing in bringing Backman back to the organization after all these years, giving him a chance to make everyone forget the off-field indiscretions that got him fired as Diamondbacks manager before he ever signed the contract.
Click here to read the full article – By John Harper of NY Daily News
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My Best All-Time New York Mets By Position
Here are my all-time best New York Mets By Position…
When I picked my team, I only considered their contributions while a member of the Mets. If they played longer for the Mets, I gave them a slight bump in rankings since their impact on the Mets should be greater than someone playing only a couple seasons. As a general note, I started watching the Mets around 1985-86 so my choices will be biased towards Mets who have played in the 80s or later.
My squad contains one player at each position, five starters and a relief pitcher/closer. I listed other people I considered in the running for each position. I also added a link to some of our sports memorabilia by each of my choices..
OK.. Here is my all-time Mets squad.
Catcher – Mike Piazza
Also in the running: Gary Carter, Todd Hundley
1B – Keith Hernandez
Also in the running: Carlos Delgado, John Olerud
2B – Edgardo Alfonso
Also in the running: Jeff Kent, Wally Backman
SS – Jose Reyes (No Mets shortstop was even close)
3B – David Wright (He has only scratched the surface of his potential)
Also in the running: Howard Johnson, Robin Ventura
LF – Kevin McReynolds (This was a tough one.. There was not a clear favorite in my mind)
Also in the running: Cleon Jones, Cliff Floyd
CF – Carlos Beltran
Also in the running: Lenny Dykstra, Tommie Agee, Mookie Wilson, Lee Mazzilli
RF – Darryl Strawberry
Also in the running: Rusty Staub
Starting Pitchers –
1. Tom Seaver (Top 2 were obvious but I am somewhat biased towards players who played after 1986 and probably would have chosen a few older pitchers had I actually seen them pitch a little more)
2. Doc Gooden
3. Johan Santana
4. David Cone
5. Al Leiter
Also in the running: Jerry Koosman, Pedro Martinez, Tom Glavine, Jon Matlack
RELIEF PITCHER – John Franco (Captain and long time Met.. got the benefit of the doubt even though I remember a few rough spots for him in his last year or two. The other ones I listed are dominating pitchers but had less actual time with the Mets than John Franco. I like KROD so far, and can see him moving up here if he does well for the Mets for the next couple seasons)
2. Francisco Rodriguez
3. Billy Wagner
Also in the running: Armando Benitez, Jesse Orosco, Roger McDowell, Jeff Reardon, Randy Myers, Tug McGraw
– Now that I went out on a limb.. anyone else want to try..?
Written by Evan Kanter of the Sports Fan Blog Network
Wright looking forward to 2010
It was fitting that yesterday’s 5-1 win over Houston, the penultimate game of the Mets’ sorry season suffered through a rain delay: The entire injury-riddled campaign has been like water torture that just wouldn’t end.
Manuel is determined to make sure Wright does just that, admitting the latter developed “phobias” — Manuel’s word, not ours — after getting beaned by a 93 mph Matt Cain fastball on Aug. 15. He’s hit just .242 since, looking uneasy at the plate and admitting he still thinks about the beaning.
So, with Wright showing modest improvement in his last three games — 5-for-12 with three doubles and three RBIs — Manuel didn’t want to risk his star getting drilled by errant Yorman Bazardo (19 BB in 27 1/3 innings pitched).
Click here to read the full article – By BRIAN LEWIS of New YorkPost
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