Mets face key questions
Posted: Thursday, May 07, 2009 6:11 PM
There should be no panic over the Mets’ uneven start.
Easy to say from a distance, I admit, and tougher to employ in the New York cauldron, but the Mets, mired in a sea of negativity, have to ignore rather than fight that sensation.
Why? Well, because they have kept contact with the Phillies. And that must be the Mets' barometer. Florida has shown enough to convince they will be a contender in the NL East, but the title will run through Philadelphia. Atlanta can't score, and Washington is irrelevant so figure the division is three teams strong. The Mets are in the midst.
Can they survive the summer in their current state? That’s uncertain, uncertain, just like the team’s finances. Only the team’s owners, the Wilpons, know for sure, but reasonable minds can deduce concern over the Madoff scandal's impact on Wilpon family (which had invested big time with him) and money for the team.
Can they succeed playing the season with Daniel Murphy, a good top-of-the-order hitter and forgettable outfielder? Will Gary Sheffield show anything (he hasn't yet) to prove Detroit, which cut him to the cost of $14 million, wrong? Who picks up the offense when Carlos Beltran cools from his torrid start? Can Livan Hernandez produce more starts like his Tuesday stellar in Atlanta, holding the Braves to one run on only 75 pitches (the Braves have to be humbled by their weak offense)?
The most important question, though, to be answered by the 2009 Mets was the words spoken by general manager Omar Minaya last week. He told a reporter that he was concerned the Mets' top players were missing an "edge," and lacked a "little meanness." Fairly innocuous words -- except in New York where they were dissected with the focus of a medical examiner.
This blog has addressed the topic of the Mets clubhouse several times in the last year, and been sternly questioned by some. Minaya’s words confirm the sentiment expressed here last fall. Now, Minaya was extremely diplomatic, but cutting to the core of his words was a wish for someone to be the Mets' Derek Jeter. In the composition of this team over four years, and the devotion to creating Los Mets, that element has been missing. Sounds like Minaya knows it is time for this group to put up.
FIVE SWINGS:
1. HEADLINES I LOVE: The New York Daily News back page on Wednesday: "We Want Torre." Yankee fans chanted those words as Boston completed a two-game sweep. How Torre must chuckle when he hears that story with his Dodgers – now Manny-less for 50 games -- steamrolling a weak division while current Yankees’ skipper Joe Girardi is left to issue inane statements questioning a book about Alex Rodriguez, baseball's highest paid player.
2. ANOTHER HEADLINE I LOVE: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution website -- "When will the Braves win again?" Yeah, there were many times over 13 years broadcasting in the NL that I thought the same! But these Braves can't hit, a shame given the growing brilliance of starting pitcher Jair Jurrjens. They lost three straight home series, and now face a three-city road trip that could leave them in a bad position for mid-May.
3. DID YOU SEE THE CUBS LINEUP TUESDAY? The following didn't play: Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez, Geovany Soto, Milton Bradley, and Ryan Theriot. That's five of the eight position player starters. It looked like a spring road game lineup. Manager Lou Piniella said he has to rest his players, but all on the same day? The fans booed. Wonder if the opposing pitcher, reigning Cy winner Tim Lincecum, factored into Piniella decision?
4. HERE'S ANOTHER RANT ON TIMES GAMES TAKE TO BE PLAYED: The Red Sox-Yankees just played consecutive games in 3:48 and 3:47. One reason, even without Manny Ramirez and the real Big Papi, is that Boston still drew 15 walks over the two games. Their plate patience is extraordinary. But the length of games is inexcusable. With Monday's rain delay, the game ended past 1 a.m. ET. In no way does baseball win under that circumstance.
5. DONT LOOK NOW…but the Brewers are defying some (read including my) expectations by moving three games over .500. Trevor Hoffman is 4-4 in save chances, but manager Ken Macha is wisely cautious in his use of Hoffman, which is possible with the strong work of Carlos Villanueva.
