First Series Reflections

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Wait'll we face an opponent with a good lineup.

Sheesh

[metirish]

="John Cougar Lunchbucket":25h9bpe3]Wait'll we face an opponent with a good lineup. Sheesh[/quote:25h9bpe3] I've been reading the Cincinnati Enquirer and message boards out there and that has been a topic , the difference in depth of both clubs. they are wondering where the home runs are going to come form. Their lineup today should not be beating the Mets , of course you can't win them all but his game was tough to listen to. Starting pitching after Santana is obviously a question.

GYC Apr 09 2009 02:12 PM

I feel as if we have only one reliable starter. I don't trust Maine yet, and I'll never trust Livan. I'm getting the feeling that this is going to be a loooooong season, barring some miraculous turn-around/consistency from Ollie and if Pelfrey can somehow manage to get by on one pitch like last season.

Edgy DC Apr 09 2009 02:21 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Apr 09 2009 02:22 PM

What is this word "reliable"? Ron Darling won 99 games for the Mets and was never reliable --- at least not in the sense that I think people are using the word. I'm just looking for better pitchers than other pitchers. There are only a very few aces. We're lucky to have one. Go for talent and depth, and maybe we'll find another. Someday.

TransMonk Apr 09 2009 02:22 PM

Based on history: for every start that Ollie has like the one he had today he will give us a gem (likely against the Braves). If Maine looks decent tomorrow, I'll feel better about today. I still feel that if our 1-4 pitchers can put up similar numbers to last season, we will be fine. At least Livan is durable and predictable...which will make him easier to watch for me than Perez and Maine.

HahnSolo Apr 09 2009 02:51 PM

Other than Ollie, is there really anybody to blow raspberries at after these first three games. The offense seems to be clicking. Well, we could have done with fewer LOB, but the bats showed up. The bullpen has been OK. yes, it would have been nice for O'Day to get out of that inning today, and for them to not make a 9-4 game into a white-knuckler. But I'll take 2 outta 3 on the road anytime, anywhere.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Apr 09 2009 02:59 PM

I'm not unhappy with the outcomes -- 2 of 3 is the best you could expect -- I'm just struck by the fact that the Reds when all is said and done might have the worst O in the NL and put up 17 runs in these last two games, off a variety of arms. Yuck!

DocTee Apr 09 2009 03:02 PM

]Wait'll we face an opponent with a good lineup. This weekend's opponent, for example.

OlerudOwned Apr 09 2009 03:18 PM

Man, everyone is really ripping on Cincy's lineup. Votto and Bruce are blooming big time mashers, Phillips and Ramon Hernandez are two of the better offensive players at their respective positions. Encarnacion has some serious pop and Hairston was a pretty useful player last season. They're certainly no all-star team, but they ain't a bunch of sniffles either. I'm going to reserve any panic about Perez for a few weeks, while muttering curses on the WBC under my breath.

metsguyinmichigan Apr 09 2009 05:14 PM

No complaints from me. I'll take two of every three just fine. It was an early getaway day game after a long night. Ollie did what Ollie does. He'll probably get out first no-hitter then give up eight runs in his next start. Cincy is a better club than people give it credit for.

Farmer Ted Apr 09 2009 05:26 PM

On pace for 106 wins.

smg58 Apr 09 2009 05:28 PM

I'm betting the Mets aren't the only team Joey Votto goes to town on this season. Without making a detailed assessment, I'd take the Reds lineup ahead of Houston's, San Diego's, Washington's, and Pittsburgh's. Maybe Colorado's as well since Holliday is gone.

Number 6 Apr 09 2009 10:39 PM

I'd take it over San Fran, as well. Now we're at almost half the teams in the NL.

Edgy DC Apr 10 2009 07:08 AM

I'm calling a tie with Atlanta also, depending on who you think is the abler rookie --- Jordan Schafer or Chris Dickerson.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Apr 10 2009 08:42 AM

Geez. I've been on the Joey Votto Bandwagon from Day 1. But the fact remains the Reds had a below average O last year and are coming back without their best offensive player in Dunn. The point of course, wasn't to quantify the Reds' bad O but highlight the Mets' poor pitching. The amount of hits and walks they Mets surrendered these guys might have looked far worse had we been matched against, say, Philly or Chicago. That's all I was saying.

batmagadanleadoff Apr 10 2009 08:51 AM

The '86 Mets, with Sid and Aguilera as their back of the rotation starters, lost to every singe team during the regular season. So why shouldn't this year's version? Can't win 'em all.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Apr 10 2009 08:52 AM

The Mets pitched poorly in 2 of these 3 games. Oh, and: ="John Cougar Lunchbucket":wp3iao0n]I'm not unhappy with the outcomes -- 2 of 3 is the best you could expect...[/quote:wp3iao0n] HahnSolo Apr 10 2009 10:34 AM ="smg58":1lvyjxj3]I'm betting the Mets aren't the only team Joey Votto goes to town on this season. Without making a detailed assessment, I'd take the Reds lineup ahead of Houston's, San Diego's, Washington's, and Pittsburgh's. Maybe Colorado's as well since Holliday is gone.[/quote:1lvyjxj3] I might, might be able to make a case for the Nats, when healthy: C Flores 1b N. Johnson 2b Belliard ss Guzman 3b Zimmerman LF Dunn CF Milledge RF Kearns that aint too shabby batmagadanleadoff Apr 10 2009 04:45 PM Not-So Quality Start, but Enough By Ben Shpigel MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. � A quality start, as coined by my friend and esteemed colleague John Lowe, is awarded to a pitcher who pitches at least six innings and permits no more than three earned runs. The following teams have three quality starts: Pittsburgh, San Diego, Los Angeles Angels and Kansas City. The Mets, through three games, have none. None of the Mets� starters got through the sixth inning in Cincinnati. Considering the team won two of three there, that is not the end of the world. But the early stumbles of Mike Pelfrey and Oliver Perez have forced Jerry Manuel to use more of his bullpen than he would like, and the Mets� relievers pitched 11 innings against the Reds. The relief corps may get another workout tonight, when John Maine pitches, and potentially Saturday, too, when Livan Hernandez debuts. Just something to think about. http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/mets/

[Guest GYC]

I feel as if we have only one reliable starter. I don't trust Maine yet, and I'll
never trust Livan. I'm getting the feeling that this is going to be a loooooong
season, barring some miraculous turn-around/consistency from Ollie and if
Pelfrey can somehow manage to get by on one pitch like last season.

[Guest Edgy DC]

What is this word "reliable"? Ron Darling won 99 games for the Mets and was never reliable --- at least not in the sense that I think people are using the word.

I'm just looking for better pitchers than other pitchers. There are only a very few aces. We're lucky to have one. Go for talent and depth, and maybe we'll find another. Someday.

[TransMonk]

Based on history: for every start that Ollie has like the one he had today he will give us a gem (likely against the Braves).

If Maine looks decent tomorrow, I'll feel better about today.

I still feel that if our 1-4 pitchers can put up similar numbers to last season, we will be fine.

At least Livan is durable and predictable...which will make him easier to watch for me than Perez and Maine.

[HahnSolo]

Other than Ollie, is there really anybody to blow raspberries at after these first three games.

The offense seems to be clicking. Well, we could have done with fewer LOB, but the bats showed up.

The bullpen has been OK. yes, it would have been nice for O'Day to get out of that inning today, and for them to not make a 9-4 game into a white-knuckler. But I'll take 2 outta 3 on the road anytime, anywhere.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I'm not unhappy with the outcomes -- 2 of 3 is the best you could expect -- I'm just struck by the fact that the Reds when all is said and done might have the worst O in the NL and put up 17 runs in these last two games, off a variety of arms.

Yuck!

[DocTee]

]Wait'll we face an opponent with a good lineup.

This weekend's opponent, for example.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

Man, everyone is really ripping on Cincy's lineup. Votto and Bruce are blooming big time mashers, Phillips and Ramon Hernandez are two of the better offensive players at their respective positions. Encarnacion has some serious pop and Hairston was a pretty useful player last season. They're certainly no all-star team, but they ain't a bunch of sniffles either.

I'm going to reserve any panic about Perez for a few weeks, while muttering curses on the WBC under my breath.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

No complaints from me. I'll take two of every three just fine. It was an early getaway day game after a long night.

Ollie did what Ollie does. He'll probably get out first no-hitter then give up eight runs in his next start.

Cincy is a better club than people give it credit for.

[Farmer Ted]

On pace for 106 wins.

[smg58]

I'm betting the Mets aren't the only team Joey Votto goes to town on this season.

Without making a detailed assessment, I'd take the Reds lineup ahead of Houston's, San Diego's, Washington's, and Pittsburgh's. Maybe Colorado's as well since Holliday is gone.

[Guest Number 6]

I'd take it over San Fran, as well. Now we're at almost half the teams in the NL.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I'm calling a tie with Atlanta also, depending on who you think is the abler rookie --- Jordan Schafer or Chris Dickerson.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Geez. I've been on the Joey Votto Bandwagon from Day 1. But the fact remains the Reds had a below average O last year and are coming back without their best offensive player in Dunn.

The point of course, wasn't to quantify the Reds' bad O but highlight the Mets' poor pitching.

The amount of hits and walks they Mets surrendered these guys might have looked far worse had we been matched against, say, Philly or Chicago. That's all I was saying.

[batmagadanleadoff]

The '86 Mets, with Sid and Aguilera as their back of the rotation starters, lost to every singe team during the regular season. So why shouldn't this year's version?

Can't win 'em all.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

The Mets pitched poorly in 2 of these 3 games.

Oh, and:

="John Cougar Lunchbucket":wp3iao0n]I'm not unhappy with the outcomes -- 2 of 3 is the best you could expect...[/quote:wp3iao0n]

HahnSolo Apr 10 2009 10:34 AM

="smg58":1lvyjxj3]I'm betting the Mets aren't the only team Joey Votto goes to town on this season. Without making a detailed assessment, I'd take the Reds lineup ahead of Houston's, San Diego's, Washington's, and Pittsburgh's. Maybe Colorado's as well since Holliday is gone.[/quote:1lvyjxj3] I might, might be able to make a case for the Nats, when healthy: C Flores 1b N. Johnson 2b Belliard ss Guzman 3b Zimmerman LF Dunn CF Milledge RF Kearns that aint too shabby batmagadanleadoff Apr 10 2009 04:45 PM Not-So Quality Start, but Enough By Ben Shpigel MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. � A quality start, as coined by my friend and esteemed colleague John Lowe, is awarded to a pitcher who pitches at least six innings and permits no more than three earned runs. The following teams have three quality starts: Pittsburgh, San Diego, Los Angeles Angels and Kansas City. The Mets, through three games, have none. None of the Mets� starters got through the sixth inning in Cincinnati. Considering the team won two of three there, that is not the end of the world. But the early stumbles of Mike Pelfrey and Oliver Perez have forced Jerry Manuel to use more of his bullpen than he would like, and the Mets� relievers pitched 11 innings against the Reds. The relief corps may get another workout tonight, when John Maine pitches, and potentially Saturday, too, when Livan Hernandez debuts. Just something to think about. http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/mets/

[HahnSolo]

="smg58":1lvyjxj3]I'm betting the Mets aren't the only team Joey Votto goes to town on this season. Without making a detailed assessment, I'd take the Reds lineup ahead of Houston's, San Diego's, Washington's, and Pittsburgh's. Maybe Colorado's as well since Holliday is gone.[/quote:1lvyjxj3] I might, might be able to make a case for the Nats, when healthy: C Flores 1b N. Johnson 2b Belliard ss Guzman 3b Zimmerman LF Dunn CF Milledge RF Kearns that aint too shabby

batmagadanleadoff Apr 10 2009 04:45 PM

Not-So Quality Start, but Enough By Ben Shpigel MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. � A quality start, as coined by my friend and esteemed colleague John Lowe, is awarded to a pitcher who pitches at least six innings and permits no more than three earned runs. The following teams have three quality starts: Pittsburgh, San Diego, Los Angeles Angels and Kansas City. The Mets, through three games, have none. None of the Mets� starters got through the sixth inning in Cincinnati. Considering the team won two of three there, that is not the end of the world. But the early stumbles of Mike Pelfrey and Oliver Perez have forced Jerry Manuel to use more of his bullpen than he would like, and the Mets� relievers pitched 11 innings against the Reds. The relief corps may get another workout tonight, when John Maine pitches, and potentially Saturday, too, when Livan Hernandez debuts. Just something to think about. http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/mets/

[batmagadanleadoff]

Not-So Quality Start, but Enough
By Ben Shpigel


MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. � A quality start, as coined by my friend and esteemed colleague John Lowe, is awarded to a pitcher who pitches at least six innings and permits no more than three earned runs. The following teams have three quality starts: Pittsburgh, San Diego, Los Angeles Angels and Kansas City. The Mets, through three games, have none.

None of the Mets� starters got through the sixth inning in Cincinnati. Considering the team won two of three there, that is not the end of the world. But the early stumbles of Mike Pelfrey and Oliver Perez have forced Jerry Manuel to use more of his bullpen than he would like, and the Mets� relievers pitched 11 innings against the Reds. The relief corps may get another workout tonight, when John Maine pitches, and potentially Saturday, too, when Livan Hernandez debuts. Just something to think about.

http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/mets/