I'm back!
As I sit here watching the Rangers-Flyers game, I've come to the realization that it's time to get the blog up and running again on a frequent basis. After all, the baseball season has officially started..well, kinda. I mean I was actually up at 6 am this morning and watching the Sox-A's game but it just didn't feel like Opening Day. I wonder why? Oh, right. It was 6 am and they were playing in Japan! Does anyone out there understand why MLB keeps this charade of going to Japan thing a regular thing? I mean the NFL went to Europe this year (what team won that game again?) and played their game on Sunday at 1:00 pm, just like every other NFL game. MLB goes to Japan, granted much further than London, and plays their games at 6:00 am in a quasi-Opening Day situation!! Then the two teams, who play 2 games in Japan, fly back to the US and play 3 MORE EXHIBITION GAMES before, once again, starting the season on Monday. Seriously, can anyone explain this? Why can't they play exhibition games in Japan in early March? What is the need for these "real" games? Please someone tell me!!
OK..I will pull it together
So... I decided I am going to blog today on my spring thoughts on the Mets and then follow up in the next couple days with my season predictions.
I went to spring training again this season. Actually went to the very first game to see Johan face the Cardinals. This is a picture is his first actual unofficial pitch as a Met.
As you can see by these pictures, I took Nate with me and he loved it. He chanted "Lets Go Mets" and entertained all the senior citizens in our section all game long. (he made it to the 7th..easy)
Anyway, Johan didn't look great that day but man has he looked great since. This guy is just unreal good and I still can't believe we have him.Pedro also has looked awesome and I can't wait to see him on Opening Day (thank you once again Dani!!!). Ollie has looked strong and then, of course, we have our Maine man John, who has basically looked like Cy Young this spring.
The 5th starter...well, this is the price we pay for having Johan and Pedro. Lets just all pray Duque can get it together by June.
The starting pitching really looks great. I can't say enough about it.
The bullpen...well, let's first all celebrate that we don't have Mota!!! Yeah!! Wagner still is great as much as he kills us all sometimes. Heilman will be solid, as usual. Feliciano will do his job. Then really, are we confident about anyone else? Schoenweiss? Is this Register guy actually going to be on the team or will the Rockies reclaim him? I guess Duaner is the wild card here. We need him to come through.
On the hitting side...man, this team should be better. I mean we have Reyes, Castillo, Beltran and Wright. But really with Alou down and Delgado making believe he is 56 years old, what do we have in the 5-9 spots? Is it possible Ramon Castro will be the 6 hitter at times? Is Ryan Church ever going to hit the ball and does Howard Johnson really need to be changing his stance? (really, HoJo is our hitting coach?) Is Angel Pagan our LF? Did Brian Schneider talk to Michael Strahan about taking camp off entirely? Is Easley really are backup 1st baseman? I mean is it my imagination or should 140 million get you more guaranteed offense than this?
This all said. I think we are going to have a great season. As the Giants proved once again, defense wins championships. In baseball, defense is pitching (along with actual defense) and we have the best starting 4 in baseball.
I can't wait until Monday.
Good to be back...
LETS GO METS!
4 comments:
Coop, welcome back! I've been waiting for a blog from you. I mean we won the superbowl and landed Johan! Anyway, I gotta disagree with you on one point here. Our rotation is not as solid as it may seem though a rotation led by the big J will be solid no matter what. And I mean, that Cardinals team won the World Series for christ sakes. But let me throw this scenario out to you. Pedro goes down for extended period...... Now what? This is assuming as you are that Ollie will have another strong season even though he has been struggling this spring with his spots and got his big payday..... But we will assume Ollie is solid again, now we have two holes to fill in the rotation. Yes, we are still scary in a three game series with Johan and Maine (who is making some ridiculous low salary I believe and will want a big payday as well with another big year) but what about in the LCS or if we can be fortunate enough the WS? It's a hole. And if Ollie is not what he was last year then what? Can Pelfrey right himself maybe in the minors for a handful of starts? Questions to consider my friend not even touching the bullpen situation. Is Dennis Cook available? But let's start this season so I have something to cheer for finally, I hate this dead period in sportsland.
Great to have you back Yark! Good to hear from ya.
Let's be honest, Pedro wants to get paid again and has now had the time needed to come back strong from this injury. He is "only" 36 and if there is one guy I believe can do things magical on the baseball field, it's Pedro Martinez. The guy has a .692 winning % for his career. I have faith in Pedro. And as we all know, the two most motivating words in sports "CONTRACT YEAR" always make things more interesting.
As far as Ollie goes...there goes those 2 words again...CONTRACT YEAR. I fully expect Ollie to mature some more, learn from Johan and Pedro and have a very nice season. 15 wins again? Sure, why not?
OK...one thing I am saying now on this blog. Mike Pelfrey is not going to make it in this town. His pitching IQ is below Ollie's (again, I like Ollie but it's his stuff I love, not his brain. Every time there is an error in a game he is pitching in, that is a guaranteed run or 2 because he loses it).
I may be one of the only people who still thinks Duque will come around. The guy was really good last year. Opponents batted just .206 off him for the season in 27 starts. He needs to get healthy by mid-May. Until then, we can trot out whomever, but unless we sign someone, we got nothing in that 5 hole.
I hope the scenario plays out Coop. I was playing devil's advocate and throwing a scenario out to you to show you we have NO DEPTH. Pedro has averaged 219 IP over his career and that includes the past two hurt years. He doesn't have a Roger Clemens frame or Nolan Ryan, to have longevity. Even Johan has had elbow problems. These little guys that throw gas with sick sliders don't last into there late 30's.
I haven't liked Pelfrey since the first time I saw him. He is Jeff Weaver. Lots of movement but always seems to find the fat part of the plate.
That being said, I need a world series baby!! YA GOTTA BELIEVE. LETS GO METS, LETS GO METS.
Let's send out the old girl, Shea Stadium, with a bang and open up Citi Field with a banner raising. Oh yea!!
So excited for the blog to be back and for the season to begin tomorrow!! LETS GO METS!!!
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