My apologies for not having this up on Sunday, but as a recent college graduate I wanted one more Memorial Day weekend on the Jersey Shore before I entered the working world.
I also wanted to give the boys from Queens a chance to show me something - ANYTHING - to help make the tone of this column a little more positive. But, sadly, they let me down once again.
Like myself in the bedroom, the Mets started out with a bang (last Sunday's game against the Yankees) and then got more and more disappointing as the week went on.
As always, I'll wrap this baby up with my overall thoughts on the team's direction, as well as react to your comments.
But now, it's that special time that you've all been waiting for. It's time to break down this sorry week of Mets baseball, good, bad and ugly style.
The Good
Last Sunday's Beat-down Of The Yankees: It's these types of efforts that can send you up the wall as a fan. This was by far the most complete effort the boys have put forth so far this season.
They hit (11 runs on nine hits), pitched (Ollie Perez was outstanding, going 7 2/3 innings and surrendering two runs on only three hits) and played defense.
Moises Alou and Carlos Beltran were the only starters without at least one hit. Team MVP Ryan Church and Jose Reyes each went deep, and Carlos Delgado was robbed of a home run after the umpires mistakenly ruled the ball was foul.
Games like this provide a glimpse of what this team is really capable of, when everyone plays to their potential. But, that in itself has been the root of the Mets' problems this season; the inability to have everyone playing at their potential at the same time.
If they can figure out a way to get that happening on a consistent basis, they have the ability to blow teams out every night.
Nick Evans: Talk about a debut to remember. A Double A outfield prospect, Evans was called up after Alou and Church went down with injuries (more on those in a moment). A .292 hitter at Binghamton, the 22 year old went 3-4 with three doubles and two RBIs in Saturday's 9-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies.
Now, I know teams don't have a book on a kid who's making his major league debut, so I don't expect him to go 3-4 every night. But there's something deeper going on here. This guy brought a shot of life into the clubhouse with his fantastic game. Check out the postgame quotes from that contest, and everyone in the Met clubhouse talks about him with enthusiasm and smiles.
These are the types of players the Mets need to be playing every day. Maybe Nick Evans isn't quite ready to be an every day major league player, but if he keeps playing this well, why would he be sent back down when Alou returns?
Take a look at the Florida Marlins. They are a young team with a low payroll, and they're in first place. Young players bringing the fire and intensity to the ballpark every day, trying to prove themselves, trying to show they belong.
Nick Evans embodies this type of ballplayer, as does Angel Pagan. Maybe the Mets need to start thinking about playing players with something to prove, instead of players who are mailing it in.
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7 months ago
This team is killing me too. Im convinced they just arent a good team. Period.
I love the point about having players who have nothing to prove becuase thats what the majority of this team is made of.
Delgado's career is over and he's made his money. Beltran got his monstorus contract after one great offseason and has not played up to that cntract. He has been good, but not worth that money. Alou is a great hitter, but he seems to be the guy who always gets sick at work and still gets paid the same as everyone else.
Luis Castillo thinks he's Mr. Big Shot after his ridiculous contract. I didnt mind re-signing this guy in the offseason, but a 4 year contract is unbelievable. But I think guys like Wright and Reyes know their reputations are on the line. They are young enough to ruin their careers very early.
7 months ago
I agree with Wright, but Reyes to me just doesn't seem to care a whole lot about winning.
I could be completely off in that assessment. I obviously don't see him every day, I don't see the work he puts in and I'm not in his head after a loss so I don't know how much it affects him.
But you can really see the rift between Reyes and the coaching staff. Sure, he hit three bombs this past week. But his refusal to make a permanent change to his approach at the plate has finally caught up with him. He hits far too many balls in the air, and though he's been better at the plate recently, his approach certainly hasn't been.
I'm sure Randolph and the coaching staff have preached approach as a lead-off hitter a million times to Jose, but it's not getting through. Maybe it's the coaching staff, but I'm sure other coaches would be preaching the same things to him.
Couple that with the brain farts in the field and on the bases, and it just appears as though he's happy to be a major league player, and really doesn't care about winning a championship. Again, that could be the exact opposite of how it really is, but as fans all we have to go on is perception, and that's how I perceive Reyes.
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