Eddie C. Blog: Divisional Race...What Race? ...8/27
Let's get one thing straight before the Mets embark on what's touted as a crucial 10 game road trip - 7 vs. the Phillies and Braves, then 3 in Cincinnati. As a matter of fact, 13 of the next 19 are against either the Phils or the Bravos, the Mets' two closest competitors in the division. Showdown time, right? Hardly. There is no race in the National League East - there hasn't been a race, nor will there be one in September. It's over, and it has been for quite awhile. Ever since June 2.
The Mets have hit their high point - 18 games over .500 - twice recently (August 21 and 25). As they head to Philadelphia, they're 17 over (73-56) after a 3-3 homestand - 6 up on Philly and 7 up on Atlanta. Back on June 2, the Mets downed Arizona at Shea for their 20th win in 29 games, and hit their high mark at the time - 16 over - just 54 games into the season (35-19). On June 2, they led the Braves by 3 1/2 games. But they then became susceptible - and nobody took advantage. Over the next 18 days, the Mets played 16 games and dropped 13 of them - and lost just 2 games off their lead. You do the math. Since June 2, the Mets have played 75 games and gone 38-37 - one whole game over .500 - and have actually increased their division lead by 2 1/2 games. Go figure.
The Mets face a Phillies team that already is without two of their starting pitchers (Freddie Garcia and Jon Lieber) and now has their ace, Cole Hamels, on the disabled list. Their # 2 starter, Brett Myers, is now closing and not faring that well. Flash Gordon has turned out to be a flash in the pan. The Mets will face these four starters in the upcoming series - J.D. Durbin, Adam Eaton (just coming off the D.L.), Jamie Moyer and Kyle Lohse (a retread from Cincinnati). The Phils will get a big boost from the return of Chase Utley, but that doesn't solve their mound problems. The Braves are trying to make it work with John Smoltz, Tim Hudson and three guys named Joe - and the Mets may likely miss Smoltz this weekend. Any team that has won all four series thus far against the Mets, taking 8 out of 12 games vs. the first place club, and still finds itself 7 games behind in the standings has some serious problems to sort out and overcome.
While others around him have alternated between being healthy and spending time on the D.L., or have blown hot and cold in their offensive production, David Wright has been a pillar of strength in the middle of the Mets lineup. Currently, Wright has reached base safely in 18 of his last 23 plate appearances - 10 walks, 5 singles, 2 doubles and a HR. He's batting .319, 8th best in the N.L. He's scored 89 runs, that's 4th best in the N.L. Wright has drawn 77 walks - 8th most in the league - leading to a .413 OBP, good for 6th place. He'll be a 30-30 guy before all is said and done - right now he has 23 homers and 28 stolen bases - and he's knocked in 86 runs. Did I mention 32 doubles? No, Wright's not perfect - with one more swing and a miss, he'll hit the century mark in strikeouts - but his overall stability and steadiness has been vital to the well-being of this playoff-bound club.
Expect to see a lot of Pedro Feliciano this week against the Phillies' and Braves' lefties and switch-hitters. Opponents are batting just .177 against Feliciano, the 4th lowest mark among N.L. relievers, and lefties are hitting just .153 against him. Steady as she goes, Pedro.
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.
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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