CARLOS DELGADO - 3rd on the club in RBI with 49 despite a miserable first half. If you project his numbers out, you get 26 HR and 91 RBI. Batting average will probably remain below normal for the year (lifetime .282 hitter). He had a similiar slow start in 2004 - he finished 32 and 99. Great road trip to finish 1st half (.364 - 3 HR - 7 RBI) may be a good omen. Has to hit better with RISP (.205).
CARLOS BELTRAN - 16 HR, 55 RBI lead the club. His catch in Houston goes to the top of the highlight reel. Wish he would lead a little more in the clubhouse - but his quiet demeanor precludes him from doing that. Has been sometimes spectacular, sometimes spotty in the first half. Capable of some explosive runs so the Mets are waiting.
DAVID WRIGHT - Really coming on after a sluggish start. 16 HR, 51 RBI right there with Beltran. Has drawn 41 walks. Too many strikeouts (73). A real threat on the basepaths as well with 18 swiped bags so far. Becoming a leader by example and presence. Really lifted his hitting with RISP (now .286).
JOSE REYES - Run, Jose, run. Because nobody can catch you when you do. 110 hits - 46 stolen bases - 61 runs - 9 triples - 47 walks (10 intentional). Take out the garbage while you're at it. Mr. Everything got Willie's message loud and clear. As the other SS in town (Mr. Jeter) said, he loves watching him play because he just keeps getting better at everything each year. Keep igniting, Mr. Ignition Switch.
PAUL LO DUCA - Does anyone get more banged up on a game-by-game basis than the Duke? Would love to see what he could do with every body part intact for a season. 7th in the league in batting on the road (.331). Always a tough out and second only to Juan Pierre as the hardest to strikeout in the N.L. His temper can get the best of him (2 game suspension), but love the fire and passion he brings to a team sorely lacking it. Mets are making a big mistake if they turn their back on him in the off-season. Also must hit better with RISP (.194).
JOSE VALENTIN - Solid veteran who has not been the same since returning from the D.L. on June 7. Since then, Valentin is batting just .214 and just concluded a road trip where he hit .103 . Bears watching. Hope the knee injury is not taking its toll.
SHAWN GREEN - Going back to spring training, probably better than most people would have expected - .275 - 7 - 27. Fits better into this lineup when everyone is healthy and they're not. Range in right field diminished because of speed, but is positioning better.
MOISES ALOU - Who? This is who's replacing the too-often injured Cliff Floyd? Alou hit .318 and the Mets desparately miss his presence as a right-handed bat in the lineup for balance. Was hoping to play in 120-140 games - has played just 30. Again, RISP hitting lacking (.192).
RAMON CASTRO - `Loveable backup catcher who provides pop and calls a great game. .295 average, 5 homers in just 78 at-bats. Needs to throw out some base stealers, but always good with RISP (.308).
ENDY CHAVEZ - Hurry back, that's all I'll say. Sometimes over-exposed, but right now he'd sure look good patrolling the outfield on a semi-regular basis. Dependable 4th outfielder who Mets sorely miss. Was hitting .292 and playing great defense as usual when the hammy blew.
DAMION EASLEY - Quiet veteran who never complains but probably should play more. His numbers (.260 - 8 - 20) in 150 at-bats testify to that. Clutch performer with a lot of boom in his bat.
JULIO FRANCO - Why is he here? Well, leadership for one thing. I've cringed a few times too when he's strode to the plate in a big pinch spot. But when you think he can't, he does. Let's hope he does it enough.
CARLOS GOMEZ - Who knew? Arrived ahead of schedule because of injuries and promptly opened everybody's eyes. Tremendous raw talent with blinding speed not only on the basepaths but also in the outfield gaps where he has taken away several extra-base hits already. Too big with his swing sometimes, but a lot to like. Hurry back!
RUBEN GOTAY - Ever see Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid? Paul Newman and Robert Redford kept looking back at the pursuing posse, saying, "who are those guys". That's what all of us kept asking this spring, "who is this guy", when he survived cut after cut. We know now - a pretty versatile player. Hitting .333 with 3 HR and 12 RBI in just 72 at-bats. Also 8-20 as a pinch_hitter. Pretty darn good.
DAVID NEWHAN - 2-5 since being recalled. Hopefully that bodes well for the future.
BILLY WAGNER - 17 saves, just one blown in the first half. Tremendous year for Billy the Kid. Great consistency when the setup around him has not been. That speaks volumes.
JOHN MAINE - Should be going to San Francisco like Scott McKenzie. Opponents hitting just .214 against him - 93 K's - has kept the walks down lately. As reliable and consistent as you could hope in the first half. Watch his innings in the 2nd half - hopefully his endurance can carry him through.
OLIVER PEREZ - 3 wins in 9 tries for the Mets against the Braves, and Ollie's got all three. He's been up and down, but tremendous potential. The league hitting only .207 against him - 7th in the league in strikeouts per 9 innings. Too many walks at times, but a lot to like.
PEDRO FELICIANO - Rolls-Royce of middle relievers this season. Lefties are hitting just .106 vs. Pedro, the league just .172 . Willie not afraid to use him at any juncture of the game, early or late. Fantastic first half.
TOM GLAVINE - If any justice ( and run support ) existed, Glavine would have been past 300 wins last year, never mind 3 short this year. Ever cerebral, Glavine is always figuring things out and adjusting. His mind and work ethic more than make up for anything he's lost to Father Time.
JORGE SOSA - Are you a believer? Many aren't, but as long as Sosa keeps throwing that break-three-different-ways slider for strikes, he's gonna be tough to beat. 7-3 in 11 starts is a nice base to build on.
JOE SMITH - A lot of big outs this easy-to-like sidearmer has secured for his team so far. He has to do a better job with inherited runnners - 16 of 35 he's allowed to score. Can he adjust after the hitters have adjusted to his funky look? We'll see.
ORLANDO HERNANDEZ - I never know what to expect from El Duque from start to start. My question is - does he know? What the Mets do know is this - they want to make sure that he and themselves arrive in the post-season together, unlike last year when he came up lame and missed the whole enchilada.
AARON HEILMAN - The home run total is way up (6 already as opposed to 5 all last year) and some of them have really been costly. But Heilman has allowed just 2 of 19 inherited runners to score, the best percentage on the club. I think he's pitched better than given credit for. Has to create a more consistent body of work and nail down the 8th inning spot.
AARON SELE - The other Aaron. Most people would say bye-bye now or down the line - I say that's a bad idea. Just came up with 4 2/3 scoreless in the final two games before the break. He's a solid professional who's taught and is teaching the kids and young veterans on the staff a lot. He knows and accepts his role while helping others do theirs better. If Julio Franco can stay, this guy should too - for bigger and better reasons.
GUILLERMO MOTA - Up and down. Will the real Slim Shady please stand up - or out. Velocity doesn't seem to be the problem but location does. That's fixable. Changeup can still be nasty but has to be consistent.
SCOTT SCHOENEWEIS - Here's the deal. We dress up Shea to look like the opponents' park any time Schoeneweis enters the game. His ERA on the road in 19 games is 1.04 - his ERA at Shea in 21 appearances is 9.53. See a pattern here. He's given up 5 homers - all to righties - who are hitting.347 against him. And guess what? - all 5 have come at Shea. No wonder there's no local chapter of the Schoeneweis Fan Club. I predict a better 2nd half - his track record is too good for this.
MIKE PELFREY - It's starting to come around for the big fella. Craig Biggio couldn't believe he was 0-7. Don't know when it's all gonna converge, but steps in the right direction are being taken.
If I missed anyone, please, don't take offense. There have been too many injuries and too many transactions of the medical variety, so my mind is foggier than the usual fog that it's in. May you have a great All-Star break, and I hope the guy you stuffed the ballot box for is actually there.
The New York Mets today announced that Mookie Wilson has returned to the organization as the team’s minor league outfield and base running coordinator. Wilson, a former Mets player, coach and minor league manager, was last with the club in 2005 as the manager of the Brooklyn Cyclones (A) of the New York-Penn League.
The New York Mets today announced they have acquired outfielder Gary Matthews, Jr. and cash consideration from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in exchange for righthanded pitcher Brian Stokes.
The waiting is the hardest part / Every day you get one more yard / You take it on faith / You take it to the heart / The waiting is the hardest part. Tom Petty must be a Met fan. Or at least he knows what it’s like to be a Met fan.
Mets centerfielder Carlos Beltran had worsening of osteoarthritis of the right knee during the offseason. He had not been experiencing pain following the conclusion of the season.
The New York Mets today announced that they signed infielder Russ Adams, third baseman Mike Cervenak, righthanded pitcher R.A. Dickey, outfielder Jesus Feliciano, infielder Andy Green and infielder Mike Hessman to minor league contracts and invited all six to major league Spring Training camp in Port St. Lucie, Fla. next month.
The New York Mets today announced that they have signed righthanded pitcher Kelvim Escobar, one of five active pitchers who have made 200 or more starts and saved 50 or more games, to a one-year major league contract.
The New York Mets today announced that they have signed catcher/first baseman Chris Coste to a one-year contract and have added him to the 40-man roster.
The New York Mets today announced they have completed their 2010 major league coaching staff by naming Dave Jauss bench coach and Chip Hale third base coach.
Hopefully the Mets won't turn into pumpkins when the clock strikes midnight on Thursday night and the free-agent scavenger hunt begins in earnest for the 2010 season.
Former New York Mets star Wally Backman has been named the newest manager of the Brooklyn Cyclones, tabbed to lead the club in its tenth season of play.
I suppose when your two football teams have combined to lose 8 of their last 9 games after perfect starts, it's probably time for the Hot Stove to start heating up. Mets G.M. Omar Minaya has made no secret...
How to fix the 2010 New York Mets. A gargantuan task to say the least. Not an easy cure-all, but you have to start somewhere. For starters, they could use another solid starting pitcher. And a power hitter...
So it's not just the Mets who have perfected the art of blowing big leads late in September. The Tigers did them one big one better by proceeding to blow a 3-game cushion with just 4 games to play...
The Mets today announced that shortstop Jose Reyes will undergo surgery to clean up scar tissue around the accessory hamstring tendon behind the right knee (semi tendinosis tendon).
The New York Mets today announced that Bench Coach Sandy Alomar Sr. and First Base Coach Luis Alicea will not be returning for the 2010 season. Alomar Sr. will be offered another position within the organization.
The New York Mets today announced across the board decreases in the price of Season Tickets for the 2010 season at Citi Field with no increase in the price of any ticket next year. The average ticket price on a full-season basis will drop by more than 10 percent.
All right, nobody asked me but........everyone seems obsessed at this time of year trying to find better ways to keep the wild-card winners at a competitive disadvantage during the baseball playoffs.
No runs scored over 18 consecutive innings - and now an interminable rain delay at Turner Field. There's just no end to the excitement that these 2009 Mets are producing.
The New York Mets today released their preliminary schedule for the 2010 season. The Mets will open their 2010 season at Citi Field Monday, April 5 when they host the Florida Marlins at 1:10 p.m.
The New York Mets today announced that lefthanded pitchers Johan Santana and Oliver Perez each underwent successful surgery this morning at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan.
Mets centerfielder Carlos Beltran this morning was examined by Mets Medical Director Dr. David Altchek at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan.
The New York Mets today announced that lefthanded pitchers Johan Santana and Oliver Perez will each undergo surgery tomorrow at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan.
Does it ever stop? No, not with this team - not in this year. Tuesday the Mets lost three more pitchers - including their heart-and-soul ace Johan Santana.
Photographs of Citi Field in Queens - home of the New York Mets - taken from Chopper 880 by Tom Kaminski on Monday, February 8, 2009. The bullpens are being reconfigured and the Mets Hall of Fame in under construction.
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