2010 -- Wow, we suck again ...

[Guest Kong76]

.... and are the Least of the East NOW!!!

[ashie62]

It can only get better

[Guest Edgy DC]

Wright not running hard was the real indicator, to me. With three subs in the lineup, we need some focus from the remaining regulars. The game won't fall into your laps, men.

[Guest Kong76]

I just read on Twatter that David is unhappy with the Mets. He doesn't
like the ballpark, he doesn't like Jerry, he wishes he'd get ovations like Jose,
and that he wants out. I can't divulge the source of this twat, but it's the
reliable stuff. Maybe there's something about it on facebook, be right back.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I suspect it won't be long before the buzzards start circling over Jerry Manuel.

I think he's been dealt a bad hand this year, but I won't regret his departure if it comes to that.

Of course, I hope the Mets start a 12-game winning streak tomorrow (or Tuesday, or whenever they play again) but my guess is that the next hot streak will come after there's a new manager in place.

[metirish]

Edgy DC wrote: Wright not running hard was the real indicator, to me. With three subs in the lineup, we need some focus from the remaining regulars. The game won't fall into your laps, men.

I thankfully was doing ribs on the smoker after the first inning and didn't see any of the rest of the game , what happened with Wright?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Hey, F.U. David Wright! Yeah, I said it. Get the F out of town and count the money if you will but until then I expect you to play hard for me. Bitch.

[Guest Edgy DC]

metirish wrote: Edgy DC wrote: Wright not running hard was the real indicator, to me. With three subs in the lineup, we need some focus from the remaining regulars. The game won't fall into your laps, men. I thankfully was doing ribs on the smoker after the first inning and didn't see any of the rest of the game , what happened with Wright?

I speak of the previous game.

[Ceetar]

I can't see any of the players actually liking Manuel, who seems to constantly chew them out in the media.

Wright may be the one guy that had the power to get rid of him in the offseason though. Maybe he should've spoken up.

I hope the Mets can put up a 12 game streak. I think they're capable of it for sure, but i do agree that it probably won't happen until we have a better manager. Sometimes I do wonder if Manuel manages the team like losers because they've lost recently, or he just doesn't know any better, but we've needed a guy that's going to focus the team on winning and massage egos and pump up confidences.

[metirish]

Ceetar wrote: I can't see any of the players actually liking Manuel, who seems to constantly chew them out in the media. Wright may be the one guy that had the power to get rid of him in the offseason though. Maybe he should've spoken up. I hope the Mets can put up a 12 game streak. I think they're capable of it for sure, but i do agree that it probably won't happen until we have a better manager. Sometimes I do wonder if Manuel manages the team like losers because they've lost recently, or he just doesn't know any better, but we've needed a guy that's going to focus the team on winning and massage egos and pump up confidences.

I don't like Manuel all that much but I would that no player would have the power to be rid of a manager . I'm sure I am naive but I would hate to even think that a player is going to ownership with such nonsense.


When was the last time the Mets put up a 12 game winning streak? ( I'm actually just curios on that)

[TransMonk]

metirish wrote: When was the last time the Mets put up a 12 game winning streak? ( I'm actually just curios on that)

I don't see where they've ever won 12 in a row. They had 11 in a row in 1969, 1972, 1986 and 1990.

[smg58]

There's a first time for everything!

The offense going into another big-time rut with RISP was the last thing anybody needed. I wonder how often Jason Bay has gone a full week without driving in a run. Wright is not hitting with men on base often enough.

As for Manuel, I hope he doesn't need to be fired, but when he comes out and says that the team looked unprepared against a guy who pitched (and sucked) for them last year, he's condemning himself. Still, while you could argue that giving playing time to Matthews is in his control, ultimately the team as constructed should do better overall than they did this past week, and the players have to take responsibility if this continues.

On the bright side, the week wouldn't have looked so bad if Barajas had hit the liner another foot to Willie Harris' right (on edit: or if the pen pitched as well in the extra-inning game against the Marlins as it did the rest of the week). I do think we're due for some breaks. And of course, the longer Reyes is in the lineup, the better things will get for him and the offense. It's still awfully early.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

metirish wrote: I don't like Manuel all that much but I would that no player would have the power to be rid of a manager . I'm sure I am naive but I would hate to even think that a player is going to ownership with such nonsense.

If Pujols wanted LaRussa-- HOF manager credentials and all-- to manage the rest of the season in a Cardinal-red gingham pinafore, management would be all, "Come on, Tony-- just think about it."

As for Manuel, I hope he doesn't need to be fired, but when he comes out and says that the team looked unprepared against a guy who pitched (and sucked) for them last year, he's condemning himself.

The postgame comment about being "unprepared" yesterday-- I thought I was the only one who caught that-- smacked to me of Manuel being both unadvisedly candid and somewhat resigned.

[TransMonk]

I have to say I'm ready to move on from Manuel. Granted, it's only been six games...but he has done nothing in those 6 games to give me confidence in his managerial abilities. Nothing.

[Centerfield]

You know, when the Mets suck, I'm able to get into that Ben Grimm state of mind.

I tuned in yesterday and saw the Willingham grand slam. Watched through the bottom of the first, then took the kids outside to play.

Later I checked in and saw it was 5-0, so I flipped over the Masters and that was that. It affected my mood not one bit.

You know, the puzzling this is I can't figure out why we're so bad. It's not like we have all sorts of bad contracts. Sure, Castillo is bad, but that's only 6 million. Perez is not worth the money either, but you'd think that a big market team could absorb those and still be good. I don't know.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Centerfield wrote: You know, when the Mets suck, I'm able to get into that Ben Grimm state of mind. I tuned in yesterday and saw the Willingham grand slam. Watched through the bottom of the first, then took the kids outside to play. Later I checked in and saw it was 5-0, so I flipped over the Masters and that was that. It affected my mood not one bit.

I was in exactly the same mental place, CF. Watched through two, then flipped on golf and fed/changed the YoungerPooper, then grocery shopping with WFAN in one ear, and cooking.

Funny thing... I think I got into Grimmy a bit last year about this. Maybe I've-- hell, maybe we've-- just adjusted my/our expectations properly preseason.

[ashie62]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: metirish wrote: I don't like Manuel all that much but I would that no player would have the power to be rid of a manager . I'm sure I am naive but I would hate to even think that a player is going to ownership with such nonsense. If Pujols wanted LaRussa-- HOF manager credentials and all-- to manage the rest of the season in a Cardinal-red gingham pinafore, management would be all, "Come on, Tony-- just think about it." As for Manuel, I hope he doesn't need to be fired, but when he comes out and says that the team looked unprepared against a guy who pitched (and sucked) for them last year, he's condemning himself. The postgame comment about being "unprepared" yesterday-- I thought I was the only one who caught that-- smacked to me of Manuel being both unadvisedly candid and somewhat resigned.

Even if Jerry thought his team was unprepared there was no reason to present it to the media. If Jerry is going to do these 'resigned" press conference's he will wear out those who aren't already fed up with him.

Chip Hale on deck

[Guest Edgy DC]

Wait, Manuel has resigned?

[Ceetar]

metirish wrote: I don't like Manuel all that much but I would that no player would have the power to be rid of a manager . I'm sure I am naive but I would hate to even think that a player is going to ownership with such nonsense.

Nah, Wright would probably never do it. But if he let Omar get wind that maybe him and some other guys didn't really care for Manuel's attitude/leadership/anything after last season, You'd have to think Omar would think three times (presumably he already thought twice about it) about firing him.

[soupcan]

It's easy to get in the 'Grimm State of Mind' right now - Last season was just such an energy suck. 2-4 to start with not a lot of offense in the losses reminds me of last year.

BUT....its still just the second week of the season and I'm inclined to remain optimistic. As Smiggy said - Harris doesn't make that catch and our boys are 3-3. Yesterday Matthews came up 3 (4?) times with RISP and did dick. Put Beltran in CF and I'd like to think that that spot in the lineup comes through just once and changes the entire game. This team could be 4-2 just as easily as they are 2-4.

[metirish]

I gotta ride the soup train on this

Lets Go Mets

[MFS62]

That proves that nothin' goes better with Mets gear than orange high heeled shoes.
Thanks.
Later

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Didn't they start 2006 at 0-5 before Pedro finally beat the Braves, or was that the year before?

I'll give them a bad week, but we can't panic until the end of the month

[metirish]

I think that was 2005. Piazza had the cigar waiting for Willie and his first victory as Mets manager.

[A Boy Named Seo]

I think my favorite chick is the one second from the right. She's the only one not trying to be sexy and that makes her sexy. Plus, she's got an old skool Mets champs tee that she didn't cut up to make into a skirt or something. Yup, that's my chick.

[HahnSolo]

A Boy Named Seo wrote: I think my favorite chick is the one second from the right. She's the only one not trying to be sexy and that makes her sexy. Plus, she's got an old skool Mets champs tee that she didn't cut up to make into a skirt or something. Yup, that's my chick.

Those are chicks? (other than the third from left)

[Guest Edgy DC]

I like the one with the puppy.

The problem with a discreet meeting with the GM register displeasure with the manager is that it never remains discreet. A player who isn't in the circle who approaches the GM --- or a wife, or a friend, or somebody else --- leaks to the media that these players sat down with the GM, and they are labled as crybabies the rest of their careers.

It's for the GM to judge how effective the manager is with the team, and if he can't see that the team is frustrated and won't play well for the manager, then they need to deal with it and find a way to play hard anyway.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Hahn, you're more full of poo than Pete Rose's barn silo.

Damn, ABNS called my first pick. Dibs on far left.

(Far right, in the Fonzie gear, is the designer. Met her early last year.)

[metirish]

Far right has nice legs. I'd eat chips out of her nickers so I would.

[Benjamin Grimm]

It's easy to get in the 'Grimm State of Mind' right now - Last season was just such an energy suck. 2-4 to start with not a lot of offense in the losses reminds me of last year. BUT....its still just the second week of the season and I'm inclined to remain optimistic. As Smiggy said - Harris doesn't make that catch and our boys are 3-3. Yesterday Matthews came up 3 (4?) times with RISP and did dick. Put Beltran in CF and I'd like to think that that spot in the lineup comes through just once and changes the entire game. This team could be 4-2 just as easily as they are 2-4.

My outlook isn't necessarily one of pessimism, although I am a bit on the pessimistic side right now. I think there's enough talent for this team to potentially contend, so I'm not ready at all to give up on them. I think the best way to describe my approach to my Mets-rooting is that I don't get upset when they lose. I mean, I may groan and say, "that sucked!" but then I shake it off and get on with the important aspects of my life. The Mets are a diversion, if they win, it's a lot of fun and I enjoy it immensely. October 2006 was terrific, a fun ride and I enjoyed the ups and downs. And just because it ended on a down didn't undo the fun that preceded it. When Beltran was called out on strikes, I stopped thinking about it and went to bed. If he had hit a three-run homer, I would have been thrilled, and probably would have slept very little that night.

I know we don't all have the same perspectives. But this is what works for me, and I'm quite happy with it.


Anyway, here's what I see ahead for the Mets over the next few weeks: If the losses continue (and they may or may not) and Jacobs is still struggling, he'll be the first to pay the consequences. I think they'll ditch him and promote Davis or Carter. (I read that keeping a guy like Davis in the minors for the first 20 days of the season delays his potential free agency by a full year. If that's true, I can see Davis lingering in Buffalo until late April or early May.) Yesterday's homer notwithstanding, Jacobs has been a dead spot in the middle of their lineup, and his position is one where they have a few options for upgrading. (Davis, Carter, and Murphy, depending on how he's doing.)

We may also start seeing more Pagan and less Matthews.

As for the pitching... it's certainly too early to tell after six games. We've had good starts from Santana, Niese, and Pelfrey, and bad starts from Maine, Perez, and Santana. If somebody starts becoming consistently bad, I guess Nieve could step into the rotation. If the Mets were to bullpen or demote Perez it would be seen as a bit drastic by some (and overdue by others) but I think the Mets will feel desperate to stay at least on the outskirts of the race this year, and they'll do what they have to.

Jerry has a short leash, I'm sure, but I think he at least gets the full month of April, unless the Mets really tank, like losing 9 of their next 10. I don't know who would replace him (Hale? Teufel? Oberkfell? Backman? Melvin?) but if he does get fired, I'd like to see them not go the interim route. Take an extra day or two to decide and pick the guy who they want to manage the Mets into 2011 and beyond. (I'll pause here for everyone to fantasize about Bobby Valentine for a moment or two.)

I don't think Jerry is incompetent or evil. I think he's a manager of roughly ordinary ability. I'd like to see the Mets replace him with somebody who brings more than that to the table. And yes, Bobby Valentine is one such manager. But I'm sure that there are others as well.