Mets need to show passion
Posted: Tuesday, April 15, 2008 3:31 PM
It was not a good weekend in Queens. The Mets lost two of three to Milwaukee. Johan Santana was outpitched in his Shea Stadium debut by Ben Sheets and the Mets hit into five double plays last Sunday while being victimized by sloppy play.
Much of this was buried in New York by the nonsense of a David Ortiz jersey being buried in cement in the new Yankee Stadium that’s under construction and Yankee manager Joe Girardi allowing Mike Mussina to pitch to Manny Ramirez last Saturday with two men on and first base open (Ramirez doubled home both runners).
But the Mets have to shake the specter of last September’s collapse and the accusation that they are without passion. It doesn’t help when their first baseman Carlos Delgado, asked if he was disappointed, disgusted or angry after the Mets blew a four-run lead and fell to Milwaukee 9-7 last Sunday, answered “About what?”
Right or wrong, the Mets will be held accountable this year, starting with manager Willie Randolph. It doesn’t help the front office when a team in need of starting pitching sees Brian Bannister, whom the Mets traded for the forgettable Ambiorix Burgos, start 3-0 for Kansas City.
FREE SWINGING:
OLD PITCHERS: Will we ever see another 350-game winner? Greg Maddux is one win away after throwing five shutout innings at Dodger Stadium last Sunday. Yes, the veteran right-hander has become a “five-and-fly” artist. But that’s a position he has earned and with a strong bullpen -- one of San Diego’s strengths -- Maddux still has value in today’s reliever-oriented game.
Shock in Washington this past weekend as Tom Glavine walked off the mound in the first inning of a Sunday start with a bad hamstring. Braves manager Bobby Cox echoed the thoughts of many fans in saying, “he had never seen Tom come out of a game for anything.”
Randy Johnson’s last run at a comeback started last night in San Francisco (the Big Unit was wild but did not allow an earned run in working five innings, striking out seven and walking four. Anything Johnson gives the strong Diamondbacks is a bonus. Johnson’s motivation? He’s pushing to 300 wins (he’s at 284).
NEW PITCHERS: San Francisco is playing better at home and the Giants are proving to have the best pair of young arms in the National League. Matt Cain pitched six no-hit innings last Saturday (as was the case in 2007, Cain was not rewarded when the bullpen blew the lead) and Tim Lincecum followed with 11 strikeouts in six innings last Sunday. The Giants desperately need to produce a position player and outfielder Fred Lewis is off to a good start at the plate.
RETURNING PITCHERS: While Monday marked Johnson’s return, last Sunday belonged to Francisco Liriano and B.J. Ryan. Mixed results as the Twins saw Liriano need 90 pitches to make it through 4.2 innings while Ryan saved Toronto’s win in Texas. The Twins are the perfect franchise to exercise the patience Liriano needs while Ryan arrived at the right time for Toronto after the Blue Jays saw Jeremy Accardo lose consecutive ninth-inning games to Oakland last week.
BEST VOICE: Former Mets general manager Steve Phillips (now on ESPN) is proving the best baseball analyst on television. Last Sunday night he masterfully compared Liriano’s outing to one of the left-hander’s 2006 starts. Matching pitch to pitch, Phillips calmly and clearly showed the decrease in velocity on Liriano’s fastball, the loss of break in his slider and lack of command with his change. It was all done without shouting or arrogance.
Phillips has the best traits in an analyst. He is candid and knowledgeable without sounding arrogant, and unlike many of his colleagues, he is willing to challenge a player or manager. He neither protects nor buries those in uniform -- a perfect blend for baseball analysis.
TWO NON-BASEBALL SWINGS:
TENNIS TATERS: You can’t imagine the pride that the world’s best tennis players have in their home-run-hitting prowess. James Blake homered during batting practice in Florida two weeks ago and doesn’t mind having it mentioned. Neither does Mardy Fish, who did the same two years ago at Shea Stadium. Baseball does cross all boundaries.
AND YOU THOUGHT “SLAPSHOT” WAS A FICTIONAL TALE: From yesterday’s Naples (Fla.) Daily News word that Florida (ECHL) defenseman David Cornacchia must remain in Florida to face sentencing for a Dec. 27 incident on an American Airlines flight that resulted in interference with a flight crew – a federal charge. He pleaded guilty and expects to be sentenced in the next month. He will likely not be able to play hockey in the United States again.
