New York Mets Podcast #23
The Mets have their first 3 and 4 game losing streak of the year, getting swept by the Red Sox and then dropping the first game of the Yankees series. The team was suffering from anemic bats, poor fielding, nagging injuries and maybe the dog days of summer too. They certainly had their chance against the Yanks on Friday night with Orlando Hernandez going seven strong despite a rain delay. The Mets got nothing going against Mike Mussina or the Yankees bullpen.
Nice win on Saturday with the Mets roughing up the old unit. Reyes and Wright just keep paying dividends along with surprising contributions by Paul LoDuca and Ramon Castro. Trachsel is scary but gets out of the jams to win his seventh game. Wagner finishes but both Wagner and Trachsel may be dealing with lower extremity injuries.
Eight games against Pittsburgh and the 2nd place (for now anyway) Florida Marlins before the All Star break. Hopefully Nady, LoDuca, Delgado and others nagging with injuries can get some rest and recover for a strong second half of the season.
Brian from Rockland County phones in a couple of comments. Plus some comments off of the blog.
Take a moment to join the map and do me the favor of nominating this podcast for a Podcast Award under the Sports category.
Thanks in advance and Lets Go Mets!
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Welcome to Amazin’ Moments, the un-official New York Mets Baseball Podcast. This is where fans of the New York Mets pro baseball team get their fix.
Well that last game was an embarrassment. I think Willie yet again chose to leave a pitcher in too long. I understand saving the bullpen for the next night, but you can’t leave a young pitcher out there to dry when he is obviously overwhelmed and facing a great hitting team.
I think it’s time for Willie to pull the team together and assess where they are and where they want to go with the rest of the season. I’m afraid of the team buying into the “AL is so much better than the NL” talk and not being mentally prepared for some “should-win” games against the Pirates and Marlins.
One other thing I’ve noticed, not to keep picking on Willie, because I do like him….
He’s on camera during nationally televised games. A lot. And every time they show him, he’s just standing around with his arms crossed. You never see him consulting with his coaches or talking to players. He’s always standing on the top step, arms crossed and staring out at the field. I know it isn’t important in the scheme of things, but he needs to realize how people will perceive this. It appears as if he doesn’t know what’s going on.
Maybe that’s just my opinion. If you disagree and think it looks like he’s very introspective and intelligent, then please, feel free to respond. But I think the majority of fans would agree with me.
Congrats to all the All-Star selections (I’ll even cast a vote for Billy for the write-in).
Comment by Kevin | July 3, 2006
I thought that Willie left Soler in for too long as well. I know that he was trying to save Darren Oliver for tonight’s game but it became embarassing.
Meanwhile, Soler is a disaster. His skin is way too thin to have him trusted in games that mean something. I though he was going to cry out there on the mound.
I think Willie is trying to be like Torre. Joe Torre always has a poker face in the dugout and he must have had some effect on Willie. I’m not sure if it’s good or bad. But I would like to see Willie be more decisive in obviously disastrous situations like the Wagner v. Yanks meltdown or last night. He’s got to remember that the current game is the thing and then act accordingly.
Comment by Rob Safuto | July 3, 2006
Okay, i think that there’s been enough talk of willie leaving pitchers in for too long.
How about the pitchers not being able to win a game?!
Maine had absolutely no control tonight. He was throwing hard, but couldn’t locate his stuff.
Everything is being put in this nice little handbasket and we all know where it’s going.
Yes, he did keep Soler in too long. Yes, Maine was left in too long, but we need these guys to put up decent numbers for at least 6 innings.
If we’re going to run to our bullpen everytime we run in to trouble, why not just start with Oliver, Heilman or hell, even Wagner.
We need to get our act together. We need to stop getting injured and secure ourselves as a World Series team.
Comment by Gary | July 4, 2006
I’m not trying to shift the blame from out pitching staff to Willie. But I think that if we are going to get to the World Series, then coaching will be as important as good pitching and timely hitting.
Our pitchers are obviously having some difficulty and, like it or not, our high-powered, 4 all-star team is going have to bail them out in some situations.
I don’t think it’s panic time yet. We still have a double digit lead in the East. But if we don’t win 5 out of 8 at the very least before the All-Star break, it might be time for some kind of drastic shakeup.
Comment by Kevin | July 4, 2006
Two embarrassments in a row. Losing 11-1 to the worst team in the National League is a disgrace. And I don’t care who was on the mound.
As far as John Maine is concerned he showed me nothing the first time he came up. And the Soler experiment is done for now.
So the Mets still need help badly in the starting rotation. Nothing that Willie does in game is going to change that. On the other side of the coin if the game gets too far out of hand then that’s Willie’s fault.
I can’t blame Bradford and Feliciano for last night either because they’ve pitched well for us this season.
Comment by Rob Safuto | July 4, 2006