Matty's Mets Blog

Oh Larry...

2007-11-12T19:30:00.000-08:00

...so Chipper Jones decided it was a good idea to make comments regarding David Wright receiving the Gold Glove award this year...let me first say this...David Wright was not the best defensive 3rd baseman...if my personal opinion...I would have liked to see Ryan Zimmerman win it...He deserved it...that being said...SHUT UP CHIPPER...honestly, who cares what you have to say...how about some class?...you make it sound like Wright was out lobbying for the award...lets review this shall we...it's a voted award and the mets can't vote for their own players...so tell me...how is he at fault for winning and why does he deserve to be doubted like that?...especially from someone who is looked up to as a great player in the game...why make comments like that...maybe wright won it because all around he plays the game right...all out and with class...maybe you could learn the class part from wright...take notes...

...on another note...congrats David Wright and Carlos Beltran...a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger award each...I like that 3-4 punch in the lineup...I hope it stays the same for next year...congrats guys...

...so my projected lineup for 2008...who knows...the more I think about it...the more I feel that Lo Duca will be back and the field will pretty much stay the same with the exception of Milledge full time in right...I am hoping for one solid starting pitcher move and one bullpen move...I say move el duque to the bullpen...spot start and solid relief...also keeping the health risks down...Give a young guy (Pelfrey, Humber, or Mulvey) a starting rotation spot...and then see what you got with some minor leaguers for the bullpen...

...I do think Wright is really going to take the team by the helm this year and i think Jose Reyes will re-find himself and be the catalyst and a leader as well...I feel with Milledge getting full time in right he will start off slow and some time in May/June find his stroke and use all fields...plus I think they should bat Lo Duca 8th to give Milledge some protection and clear the pitcher's spot more often...

...projected stats for 2008 assuming the lineup doesn't change...

Jose Reyes .303 16 HR 88 RBI
Luis Castillio .298 2 HR 58 RBI
David Wright .328 35 HR 125 RBI
Carlos Beltran .280 32 HR 127 RBI
Moises Alou .314 21 HR 88 RBI
Carlos Delgado .272 25 HR 80 RBI
Lastings Milledge .283 12 HR 72 RBI
Paul Lo Duca .295 9 HR 65 RBI

...that's all for now...

My projected (hopeful) 2008 roster

2007-10-19T15:17:00.000-07:00

2008 Projected (Hopeful) Lineup

Starting Lineup

1. Jose Reyes SS S

2. David Eckstein 2B R

3. David Wright 3B R

4. Carlos Beltran CF S

5. Jorge Posada C S

6. Moises Alou LF R

7. Carlos Delgado 1B L

8. Lastings Milledge RF R

Bench

9. Ramon Castro C R

10. Marlon Anderson 1B/OF L

11. Ruben Gotay IF S

12. Endy Chavez OF L

13. Damion Easily IF/OF R

Starting Rotation

14. Johan Santana SP L

15. Pedro Martinez SP R

16. John Maine SP R

17. Oliver Perez SP L

18. [Pelfrey/Humber/Mulvey] SP R

Bullpen

19. Billy Wagner CL R

20. Duaner Sanchez SU R

21. Scott Schoenweis RP L

22. Pedro Feleciano RP L

23. Joe Smith RP R

24. Orlando Hernandez RP R

25. [Rookie] RP L/R

*Johan Santana – trade two of three (Pelfrey, Humber, Mulvey), one of two (Martinez, Gomez) and Heilman

*David Eckstein – free agent signing

*Jorge Posada – free agent signing

*[Rookie] – rookie relief pitcher out of Mets farm system (Willie Collazo, Carlos Muniz)

*Gueirro Mota – release him, eat the money, not worth the pain

...okay so in reality...who knows...i do believe the posada and eckstein signing are possible and both good...Eckstein's got heart, he is a scrappy young player...and good attitude...Posada is a great leader, performs well, and again works hard...plus, with torre gone, he is more likely to sign elsewhere...and with the Mets keeps him home and in the NY spotlight and with willie again...either way, both would be great additions to the team...i don't know about you, but that lineup 1-8 is solid and would take that every day...

...as for the starters...they are going to have to be giving probably at least 2 of the 3 potentials (humber, pelfrey, mulvey) so whoever is left, gets the 5th spot...bump el duque to the pen...good relief, and can spot start...maine and perez are solid 3-4's with a santana-pedro 1-2 punch (assuming health is good)...getting santana will be quite the task...but it is doable for the right package without selling too much...

...the bullpen can be resolved from what we have already...first...bye bye mota...i don't want to see you ever again, you are worth eating the contract so we never have to see you in a mets uniform again...hopefully sanchez comes back and is healthy and can be what he showed us in the first half of '06...adding el duque to the pen gives us a bit more depth...i say give joe smith the shot...he has the whole off-season to get arm strength up and be effective...and then the last spot give to collazo or muniz in the minors...there are arms down there that we should take a look at...

...bench is pretty much the same...so with 3 solid moves...this team has a solid makeup for next year...but alas...i am not GM...so we will see...

Some thoughts from Joe and Evan on WFAN regarding the Mets

2007-10-01T11:51:00.000-07:00

Remarks from Joe and Evan on WFAN regarding the Mets:

Tom Glavine - don't let the door hit you on the way out
Randoph - team was not focused all year and he mishandled Reyes.
Reyes - single handedly caused the demise of the Mets and was the poster boy for the collapse
Peterson - get rid of him, if Rick Downs was fired during the year because of the offense, then he needs to be accountable for all of the pitching problems.
Minaya - bad moves, not resigning Oliver and Bradford, trading Ring and the other fella to San Diego for Ben Johnson, Banister to Royals for Burgos, Meister and Owens to Marlins for Vargo, 2yr deal for Mota etc.
Get rid of Henderson, bad influence on players.

The atmosphere in the clubhouse needs to change, it seems Minaya has too much influence with the players especially the Spanish ones and that the players aren't listening to Randolph (Reyes, Chavez etc). Also minaya and randolph are not on the same page. Randolph didn't want to pitch Lawrence in Washington last week, but Minaya did. Pedro on 6 days might have been ownerships decision. Also if Randolph goes then bring in a disciplinarian like Frank Robinson, or if they keep Randolph then let him pick his own coaching staff.

On the players:
Delgaudo - trade him
Castillo - try to sign him
Alou - keep him
Milledge - they think management doesn't care for him
Bullpen - blow it up (although they said to keep Feliciano and Schoenweis) Wagner has 2 years left but they are upset with him regarding his comments in some magazine.
Starters - keep Maine, Perez, Pedro and make decisions on Pelfry and Humber regarding trades or competing in the rotation, but they need an ace

...interesting and I completely agree with most of it...

...in addition for the catching position, talk is they should maybe sign Paulino or Pudge...but honestly, would it matter? besides Lo Duca gives the team a little fire under its 'you know what' which this team is in desperate need of...

...will be an interesting off season to say the least (maybe even the next couple of days)...i have a feeling the 2008 Mets are going to be a much different team...

...side note...i think it's just time to make David Wright the captain...he has stepped up and been the face of this team through the good and bad this entire season (in addition to Lo Duca)...it's time to have this team be built around Wright...he is the foundation and has the capability of being the leader of this team...which definitely needs someone to take it by the helm...

Dissapointing and Brutal End of the 2007 Season...

2007-09-30T14:01:00.000-07:00

...well...there is a lot to say but one word that can sum it all up...disappointing...

...it may have been a little better at least losing in a 1 game playoff, but to not even get to that point...just disappointing...

...the Mets officially have completed one of the worst collapses in baseball history...

...in the last 2 weeks...the Mets offense averaged 6 runs a game...which is great...the bad thing, Mets pitching allowed on average 7 runs a game...that is just inexcusable...and focusing more on today...pathetic tom glavine...the Mets brought you in to pitch in this type of game...a veteran who has been there before and can pitch in the big spot...tom glavine...done after recording only ONE OUT...just pathetic...i think i speak for most Mets fan we won't miss him next season...

...as for the bullpen and other starting pitching...bullpen was awful...no where near in comparison to the 2006 Mets...no lead was safe...and Mota and Schoenweis were nothing more than big overpaid disappointments...starters...el duque was great when healthy, but missed a good chunk of time...can't have that...Maine and Perez pretty much gave you what was expected...they really should be no more than 3-4 starters on a team...they would be amazing if complemented with good 1 and 2 pitchers...but we didn't really have that...pedro was great coming back...i'd like to see one more year out of him...joe smith...never quite understood why he was sent down...would have rather sent mota down...lots of changes need to be made...

...the offense...i am indifferent...moises alou was great...absolutely great...except he only played in 87 games...you can't have that...you need a full-time player...david wright...amazing year...30-30, clutch hits, getting on base, good for you and i hope you continue your success and continue to be a true anchor in this mets lineup...beltran, solid year, delgado, not a good year, lo duca, not a good year, castillio, worthy of looking at to be resigned...fits in that 2-hole well...and jose reyes...i don't know what happened to you in the second half...you looked and acted like a completely different person...no energy, not running out plays...your head was somewhere else...i hope you work on whatever it was in the off season and come back ready to go in 2008...

...positve note...the bench was great...gotay, castro anderson all had solid years...milledge looks for the most part ready to be an everyday outfielder...so can't complain too much about the bench...

...basically...and i am speaking for myself...i want to see a couple major moves this off season...the positions that need to be looked at and evaluated are catcher, first base, second base (although resigning castillio would be alright) and the outfield corners, although i think milledge needs to be the every day outfielder or should be traded at this point...not to mention at least one major big time starting pitcher...i'd like to see what we got with pelfrey and humber (his numbers didn't speak well to what he was asked to do for his first major league start, i think we can all agree)...but definitely a big trade or signing is needed...something to get this team over the hump in '08...

...i don't know...i am just in utter disbelief and disappointed in the Mets...they looked so strong at the beginning of this month and just tanked...Mets fans are probably the most depressed, lost, and confused people right now in the world of baseball...the Mets could not get out of their own way in the last 2 weeks of the season...I don't even think the fact that the season is over has truly hit me yet...unreal...

...let me just say this...hats off to the Phillies...you played well the last month and did what you needed to do to make the playoffs...jimmy rollins...i may not like you...but you backed up your talk in the beginning of the year...best of luck...although i can't say i would be upset if you lost in the first round lets be honest...but credit is given to where credit is due...we blew it...and they stepped up...bottom line...

...i am already looking ahead to opening day...as much as it sucks...this season is over and done with and a lot needs to change this off season...if there is clubhouse issues...they better get resolved now...to me...it's already next year...

...lets go Mets in '08...