The Citi Field Rotunda

The Mets were shut out last night in a 3 to 0 defeat handed to them by the Washington Nationals. It was out of the ordinary to see the Mets offense quieted in that way given offensive explosions that have become commonplace particularly on this road trip. Despite the loss there were two things that were encouraging to see. Firstly, the Mets pitching only gave up 3 runs which came on a hanging knuckler by R.A. Dickey that Jason Werth crushed for a 3 run homer.

Secondly the no-quit Mets in the top of the ninth got the bases loaded that came about with a walk to David Wright and singles by Jason Bay and Josh Thole. Willie Harris struck out to end the game but the larger picture is that, contrary to the last couple of years, the Mets were clawing and fighting their way back.

This current road trip resulted in 4 game sweep victory against the Reds. The Mets so far have broken even with the Nationals and today afternoon game will determine who wins the current 3 game series in Washington D.C.

Jason Bay has been steadily showing signs of improvement while Angel Pagan struggles at the plate. Reyes has been hitting the ball hard but his line drives have been hit right into the gloves of the infielders and outfielders for outs. Justine Turner has a 10 game hitting streak while David Wright and Daniel Murphy continue to be the bedrock of the Mets lineup.

While listening to Gary Cohen and Ron Darling last night they mentioned that the Mets this season have more wins on the road than any other team in the big leagues. I think this has less to do with the the teams comfort level on the road and more to do with the team having the misfortune of having their star players being on the bench due to illness and injury when they have been home. The last game at Citi Field that I attended this month had Wright, Beltran and Reyes absent from the lineup. As Pachanga from the film Carlito’s Way said, “Sometimes it bees that way, Papi.”

Lastly, that throw that Rick Ankiel made last night was sick. The Nationals left fielder didn’t catch a ball hit in his direction so Ankiel backed him up threw a laser to the catcher from the outfield. The ball went straight from Ankiel’s hand to the catchers glove to gun down the Mets baserunner trying to score from third base.

My intention was to write about last night’s exciting win in Cincinnati but Major League Baseball is now reporting that Carlos Beltran will likely be traded to the San Francisco Giants. Should this move happen it would make sense for Beltran, the Mets and the Giants. The Mets have no intention and not enough money to even entertain the idea of extending a new contract during the 2011-2012 off-season. The Giants who have an incredible pitching rotation and remain a very good team and the defending World Champions have little offense and the acquisition of Beltran should improve their ball club considerably. 

For Mets fans who think that Beltran’s departure will hurt the Mets chances of future success think again. Consider the following:

1) When you look at Beltran’s career with the Mets it’s a mixed bag. In 2006 he was a monster of a player. He tied Todd Hundley for the Mets single season home run record with 41 homers. He has two other good seasons but let us not forget how often Beltran was on the disabled list. Defensively, without question, Beltran made incredible plays in the outfield. That over-the-shoulder catch he made in Houston while climbing up that incline in dead center remains until this day one of the best catches I have ever seen. On the other hand, I recall many times confused over why he would play so deep at center leaving so many fly balls which should have been within reach land as a base hit a few feet in front of him. The stolen base prowess that he should have brought from Kansas City never really materialized. I have seen my share of hungry players throughout my time watching this game and Carlos Beltran was never among them. 

2) Beltan has passed his prime.

3) If the Mets are able to make a deal with Jose Reyes in the off-season the Mets will enter the 2012 season with Reyes, Wright, Davis and Murphy in the lineup. What happens with Jason Bay in the future remains to be seen but if Bay makes a comeback next year which I have seen players like Bay do in the past, the Mets will have five offensive forces to work with. Let’s not forget that the Met the Mets will enter the 2012 season with Santana, Niece, Gee, Dickey and Pelfrey. Grant you that this rotation cannot match up to Philadelphia or Atlanta but think of it this way; the Mets right now are 7 1/2 games out of the wild card and one game over .500. How much closer to play-off contention would this team be right now with a healthy ace like Johan Santana. Beltran is a nice offensive player when he is healthy but the guy we really need to be healthy is Santana.

The young pitcher that the Mets are likely to acquire in the trade with San Francisco is 21 year old Zack Wheeler. He is the Giants number two prospect and given his numbers he appears to be a power pitcher who walks and strikes out hitters. Alderson, the Mets General Manager, is moving in the right direction in this regard. Youth and pitching is precisely what this organization needs. Should this kid work out it’s gravy. Either way the Mets had a veteran player in Beltran whose time with us was up.

Goodbye Beltran and enjoy doing for San Francisco what you could not do for us in 2006 against Wainwright.

-Photo from Henry Ray Abrams/Associated Press

David Wright and Daniel Murphy were the stars of last nights victory against the Marlins but today I would like to devote some time to Daniel Murphy.

According to Mike Cardano of XLOG.COM Daniel Murphy, in the last 25 games is batting .359 with 18 RBI and he has played, contrary to expectations, solid defense in the infield. Murphy has played so far has played 40 games at first base, 28 games at third base and 23 games at second base. His overall numbers for the season thus far are: .307 batting average, 24 doubles, 6 homers, 42 RBI and 40 run scored.

Reyes and Beltran have clearly been the Mets offensive leaders this season but Murphy has been better than Jason Bay which is something very few expected at the start of the season.

If the Mets are not able to keep Reyes in the off-season the Mets can live with an infield of Davis, Murphy, Tejada and Wright. Murphy’s defense has improved to the point that I think he can play second base on a daily basis. If the Mets are able to keep Reyes then Davis, Murphy, Reyes and Wright in the infield presents a solid core of offense for the Mets next year which will be sorely needed because of Bay’s lack of production and Beltran’s departure will leave Angel Pagan as the sole everyday outfielder that can contribute to the team.

It will be interesting to see how Turner will fit in the equation but for now Murphy’s bat continues to help the Mets have a fighting chance to win ball games.

Two nights ago the SNY Mets broadcast was the best all year. Because the broadcast was done from the Pepsi Porch Keith, Ron and Gary were able to interact with fans. Keith bought hot dogs for himself and his partners and Keith joked around with the hot dog vendor. Carlos Beltran hit a home run to the Pepsi Porch and the fan who got the ball was later interviewed by the broadcasters.

The game ended with a walk off homer by Angel Pagan in extra innings that came very close to landing in seats the broadcasters occupied. It was a good feeling to see that victory.

Yesterdays game, I did not watch in its entirety but I did get to see that horrible play by the previous night’s hero, Angel Pagan, who threw the ball from center field towards first base with the first baseman, Lucas Duda no where near the bag to receive the throw. They lost.

The bottom line is that the Mets won their series at home against the Cardinals.

Jason Bay got hurt on the Wednesday night game by sliding in the outfield while making a catch and injuring his hamstring. Jason Bay has been a disaster. His contributions have been minimal and now he is out of the lineup.

David Wright is back in the lineup tonight. He hit a double for his first at bat and struck out during his second at bat. This is typical D. Wright. He is an extra base/strike out machine but it would foolish not to have his bat in the lineup. Wright is no question an upgrade over Ruben Tejada.

Keith and Gary were just talking about Hanley Ramirez and his lack of motivation on the field. Keith said that today’s players are cuddled too much. Gary said he thinks it is a societal issue. I think they are right. It wasn’t until recently that I heard that a player was given time off for paternity leave. I don’t feel strongly one way or another about whether ball players should be given time off in order to be present for the birth of their children. Back in the day athletes were blue collar guys who sacrificed time with with their families by traveling from city to city to support their wives and children. Not being there for the birth of their children came with the territory but I am sure that over time baseball changed along with the rest of society to grant employees more benefits and I am sure that this was something the players union pushed for.

I guess the objection I have against players using time off for paternity leave is that these guys are wealthy, they play half the season at home and nearly half the year accounts for the off-season so I don’t think it is heart breaking for players to be denied paternity leave.

Right now it is the sixth inning and the Mets have a 4 to 3 lead. I hope Mike Pelfrey can keep the lead

 -SNY Broadacast

Last night I devoted the evening to taking my little one to see the movie Winnie The Pooh, which is great for kids but nightmarish for adults, so I didn’t watch the Mets victory over the Cardinals.

The big news last night was Reyes and Beltran’s return to the lineup.

Before I continue with this train of thought there something I need to get off my chest right here and right now.

Those of us who watch the Mets television broadcast on SNY on a regular basis are familiar with the commercials aired in between innings. The Tito Puente Jr commercial is disturbing. He is just one of those guys who would benefit from some facial hair, weight loss and putting an end to wearing earrings.

So Beltran got on base every turn at bat last night and Reyes got himself another multi-hit game. Dillon Gee got himself another victory and he has quietly put together a nice season.

Izzy earned his first save of the year which was interesting to read because it indicates Collins isn’t comfortable, at least not yet, with having Parnell close games.

I went on Twitter a little while ago and some of the stuff I came across was absurd. Some Mets fans want Beltran to exercise his no trade clause and remain with the Mets. Really? Short memories we have. Beltran has had an excellent first half but the guy has not lived up to the expectations that his 7 year, 119 million dollar contract merited. In addition, the Giants, Braves and Phillies prove time and time again that pitching is the name of the game. If we can trade Beltran for good pitching let’s get it done.

Never forget strike three in 2006 against Wainwright.

Gary, Keith and Ron are broadcasting tonight from the Pepsi Porch. Great view.

I’m ending this entry in the top of the fourth with the Mets trailing 4 to 2.

Dickey has been shaky on the mound but to his credit that was an exciting RBI base hit to help the team get back in the game.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2011/07/19/2011-07-19_terry_readies_reyes_hellos__beltrans_byebyes.html

It was hot and muggy at Citi Field yesterday and when I entered the Rotunda and saw the Mets lineup I knew that it would be a difficult night.

At the heart of the order were Murphy, Hairston and Duda. Daniel Murphy has had, so far, an excellent season but this lineup does not come close to what was assumed to be the lineup at the start of the season. Beltran was still out with the flu and Reyes was getting himself ready to return to the team by playing a game Brooklyn.

By the way, the food at Citi Field is ridiculously overpriced. Now this is something that I don’t think would matter as much if the team out on the field wasn’t so lousy.

There were doubts in the beginning of the season about the team’s pitching. Johan was out of the rotation given his off-season surgery. Pelfrey and Dickey were question marks as well. I think Mets fans were confident that the offense could hold its own. A lineup with Reyes, Wright, Beltran, Davis and Bay should have done well. Bay started the season on the D.L. and he might as well should have remained there because his contribution to the team since his return has been abysmal. 

Jason Bay began his four year 60 million dollar plus contract last year with the Mets. He was on the disabled list last year and his performance has been awful this year. The run producer that we were expecting has yet to fulfill the expectations.

David Wright entered this season being the star of this team. He has a good, comeback season in 2010 after struggling in 2009. His injury came as a huge disappointment for Mets fans.

Ike Davis’ 2010 rookie season was one of the few highlights of a bad 2010 season for the Mets. With Carlos Delgado’s departure from the team, Davis showed the promise of a young home run hitter with a pretty good glove at first base so when he went on the DL earlier this year it was another blow it was has been a never ending series of let downs for this team.

Jose Reyes entered the 2011 season like a man on a mission. Up until an injury that happened right before the All-Star break he was a hitting machine who entertained fans with his energy and exhilarating triples. He should be back in the lineup tonight so that is encouraging. Whether the Mets will offere Reyes a new contract after the end of this season remains to be seen but, given Fred Wilpons struggles with money, whatever is offered may not be enough to keep him.

Carlos Beltran will be traded soon to a new team. Beltran, along with Reyes this year, was selected to the All Star game. He has stayed healthy which many of us have been surprised to see and his performance thus far stands to get him the sort of contract that he would like in the future. Personally, I think that Beltran did not do well as a New York Met. He came to the team at a time when Mike Piazza’s career was coming to a close and in the seven years that Piazza was a Met, the man fulfilled the expectations placed on him. He hit for power and average and he hit in the clutch. He also played a major role in getting the Mets to the World Series 11 years ago. Goodness time has gone by quickly. Beltran, on the other hand, did not even come close to making the impact that Piazza made despite getting a better contract.

I think Terry Collins is doing an excellent job given the circumstances this team currently finds itself in.

The last thing I want to mention is that those Keith burgers that are sold by left field need some improvement. For an expensive burger they should at least make sure that the bread is soft.

I’ve made several trips to Citi Field but I’ve never seen, as I do now, police officers with automatic rifles on the Shea Bridge. Unusual.