Beat Crazy

[Edgy MD]

The tack-on, three-run homer in Wednesday�s 10-6, sweep-completing win over the Phillies, after which Davis� on-base plus slugging is still .548, 22nd among 24 qualifying major league first basemen, has not happened yet.

Two firstbasemen have been worse than Davis and haven't lost their jobs yet?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Yeah that was my first thought. I don't wanna go look it up but it's possible one of them is that fat whore who plays for the MFYs.

[A Boy Named Seo]

I think that bum Pujols might be one.

[Vic Sage]

Two firstbasemen have been worse than Davis and haven't lost their jobs yet?

Pujols (CA) and Smoak (SEA); Albert ain't losing anything, but Smoak could get sent down.

[Ceetar]

Vic Sage wrote: Two firstbasemen have been worse than Davis and haven't lost their jobs yet? Pujols (CA) and Smoak (SEA); Albert ain't losing anything, but Smoak could get sent down.

i should just subscribe to B-R so I can see these full lists better.

if you go by OPS+ Ike jumps ahead of Gaby Sanchez.

[G-Fafif]

Hacky Hackerson...John Harper, that is, in the Snooze on the Mets possibly being trade-deadline buyers:

If you gave GM Sandy Alderson truth serum, he�d tell you he had no such thoughts when this season began, as he goes about trying to build the foundation for long-term contention in the future.

How about "GM Sandy Alderson probably had no such thoughts when this season began..." instead of pretending to read minds and insisting on using Cold War cliches?

[metirish]

I would have phrased it thus

If you were to water-board GM Sandy Alderson , he�d tell you he had no such thoughts when this season began, as he goes about trying to build the foundation for long-term contention in the future.

[G-Fafif]

metirish wrote: I would have phrased it thus If you were to water-board GM Sandy Alderson , he�d tell you he had no such thoughts when this season began, as he goes about trying to build the foundation for long-term contention in the future.

You're right. Harper and I almost let the terrorists win.

[Ceetar]

He's right you know. His imagination about what Sandy Alderson was thinking in February is WAY MORE IMPORTANT than worthless things like current standings and actual results.

[Edgy MD]

No GM should put too much thought into deadline retooling, as he (or she, potentially) should hellbent be building a team where all the pieces are in place and a minor league system where all the reinforcements are ready, even in seasons where that's a fool's errand.

That said (1) nobody knows more than a military leader that systems are volatile, and the best plans are the ones that allow for planning after the best plans break down, (2) Alderson explicitly said on several occasions that he was leaving room in the budget to potentially take on some degree of salary, if necessary, as the season progresses. (Although I suppose truth serum might tell me that that was just a small cover for his bosses being cheap and broke.)

[MFS62]

Cheap and broke?
Then Sandy may be getting ready for some post - planning breakdown planning.*

Since the Spring, we've learned the Wilpons aren't as broke as we anticipated. They lost less (maybe even gained) money on the Madoff mess and attendance has been higher then many have predicted. Maybe the purse strings are getting looser. Who knows?

But then he'd still have to deal with "cheap".

Later

* Sandy must have learned the military "6 Ps" (prior preparation prevents piss poor performance).

[Ceetar]

Also this is a silly filler story that has to talk in absolutes. It's never strictly adding a rental versus selling commodities.

It's possible no matter what the record Sandy could look to add a piece that won't just be helpful this year, but next. It's possible Mejia/Beato/etc make Jon Rauch expendable and they trade him not because they're out of it but because they don't need him.

[Edgy MD]

Edgy DC wrote: (Although I suppose truth serum might tell me that that was just a small cover for his bosses being cheap and broke.)

To be clear, I'm not actually asserting this.

[Ceetar]

Edgy DC wrote: Edgy DC wrote: (Although I suppose truth serum might tell me that that was just a small cover for his bosses being cheap and broke.) To be clear, I'm not actually asserting this.

I think it was more challenge/threat than cover. Suggesting that if Mets fans come to the park and buy tickets and suggest an increased revenue stream there will be justification to add payroll in July if something works.

[Ceetar]

Andy Martino back and covering the team for the ..News right? These guys are so interchangeable from me that I saw his tweets and didn't even think "hey! he's back!" until someone else noticed.

He did have a kid, so paternity leave or whatever.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I forgot to buy a paper today!

[Edgy MD]

Mike Kerwick ?@mikekerwick Yankees signed Marty McFly to a one-day contract. McFly told reporters, "Nobody calls me chicken!" #mets #yankees #bockbockbock

[Edgy MD]

Dueling Andys on Twitter? Is this for real?

Andy McCullough ?@McCulloughSL Another member of the beat, to me: "Please stop reading my game stories."

Andy Martino ?@SurfingTheMets Source: It was me RT @McCulloughSL: Another member of the beat, to me: "Please stop reading my game stories."

[Ceetar]

presumably McCullough wanted to switch to FAcebook but not get called out on it by Martino.

[Ceetar]

http://deadspin.com/5924224/baseball-writers-of-america-its-hot

Don't usually like deadspin, but I snickered at this. (I guess I like Baseball writers less)

[Edgy MD]

A Wall Street Journal report on the Harvey dilemma. Pretty boilerplate stuff until you get to the very bottom.

The Mets' Matt Harvey Conundrum By BRIAN COSTA ATLANTA�If the Mets were in full rebuilding mode, or if they seemed primed for a championship run, the decisions would be easier this time of year. But like most teams, they reside in the vast, murky area in between. Enlarge Image Associated Press Mets prospect Matt Harvey in February And so they must choose between the needs of the future and the demands of the present, balancing both but ultimately giving more weight to one or the other. That will be true as they approach the trade deadline at the end of the month. And it is especially true now, as they grapple with the question of the moment: What to do with Matt Harvey? If all had gone to plan, no one would be asking. Harvey, one of the Mets' top pitching prospects, would continue to hone his skills at Triple-A Buffalo. And the Mets' starting rotation, their biggest strength in the first half, would remain intact. But with Dillon Gee set to undergo surgery Friday that will keep him out at least until late September, the Mets need to plug a hole. And that's where Harvey comes in. If the Mets want to call up a starter from the minors, there is no debating what their best option would be. Harvey, the Mets' first-round draft pick in 2010, has a 3.39 ERA in 18 starts at Buffalo and ranks second in the International League with 102 strikeouts. But if the priority is Harvey's development�if it is ensuring he can not only survive but thrive in the majors before he gets there�the Mets believe there is reason to wait, if only a little longer. His command has been inconsistent, evidenced by both his walk rate (3.8 per nine innings) and an untold number of balls left up in the strike zone. A Mets official said a promotion for Harvey, 23, is not imminent, but manager Terry Collins said there is "a remote possibility" he starts for the Mets on Wednesday in Washington. "We're not sure he's ready just yet, but who knows? There may be a force feed," Collins said Thursday after a team workout at Turner Field. "If the people that see him say he's ready, bring him up. I'm all for it." The Mets have seen the ills of pushing prospects too quickly to fill a major-league need, notably with Jenrry Mejia two years ago. But Mejia, who hasn't made it back to the majors since 2010, was 20 years old then and had never pitched above Double-A. Harvey is older, more experienced and more polished. Even team officials who prefer a conservative approach don't believe he's far from major-league ready. Before his team's game in Pawtucket, R.I., on Thursday, Buffalo manager Wally Backman said Harvey has made major strides in the past month, keeping his emotions in check and keeping the ball down in the strike zone. "I think if Matt were to go up there tomorrow, he's definitely not going to embarrass himself, without question," Backman said. "He's going to go up there and he's going to compete. He's learned a lot. There's still a lot for him to learn." And therein lies the Mets' dilemma. How ready does Harvey need to be before he's deemed ready? And at what point does that become secondary to the reality facing the major-league team? At 46-40, the Mets will return from the All-Star break Friday and begin a potentially pivotal stretch against other contending teams, including the Braves, Nationals, Dodgers and Giants. They can avoid using a fifth starter until July 21, if necessary. But they cannot get by with a four-man rotation. And their best internal option other than Harvey is swingman Miguel Batista, who doesn't inspire dread but doesn't inspire an abundance of confidence either�not as a permanent solution. As talk of a possible promotion swirls around him, Harvey said he's trying to remain focused on his next scheduled start Monday for Buffalo. He said his only reaction to this week's events is sympathy for Gee, whom he became friends with during spring training. "You just feel sorry for him and wish the best for him," Harvey said. "That's all that I got out of the whole thing." But it could mean far more for Harvey than he is letting on. �Jared Diamond contributed to this article. Write to Brian Costa at brian.costa@wsj.com

Jared Diamond?! Stringing for the WSJ Mets beat?!

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

Edgy DC wrote: Jared Diamond?! Stringing for the WSJ Mets beat?!

I think there's a chapter about the Mets in Collapse.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Mets � Willets Point wrote: Edgy DC wrote: Jared Diamond?! Stringing for the WSJ Mets beat?! I think there's a chapter about the Mets in Collapse.

Good one!

I really liked Guns Germs and Steel, by the way.

[ashie62]

Matt Harvey! The other Mike Pelfrey...

[G-Fafif]

Speedo Tracksuit reveals some among 25 guys working and traveling in close quarters in jobs where competitive instincts are a prerequisite are not always thrilled with one another or their situations, go figure.

ATLANTA � Aug. 1, and not a day before: That is the earliest we will consider believing this Mets movie is different from the two bombs they dropped in 2010 and �11. Has this grim weekend not underscored the risk of drawing early conclusions? We are not alone in these thoughts. Despite all the quotes from players and team officials about better vibes at Citi Field, there is a fairly high level of trepidation in some corners of the organization about dark weeks ahead. Consecutive losses to the Braves after the All-Star break, defined by pitching failures, validate the concern. The Mets are glad to have a young team, happy there are no veterans asking publicly to be traded, as Jeff Francoeur and Luis Castillo did in 2010 (this year�s club is not without its surly older players, but most discord remains in-house). But they also know that youth, the same element that gives life in the spring, can sap it in the summer, when kids unaccustomed to 162 games wear down. Mets officials love Kirk Nieuwenhuis� makeup, but see a fading rookie with far too many strikeouts. They still believe in Lucas Duda�s power potential, but consider his defense in right field unacceptable, and are trying to convince him to stop attempting home run thunder with every swing. They like Jordany Valdespin�s versatility, but worry about cockiness in the clubhouse and herky-jerky hacks at the plate. They still hope that Ike Davis is a future star, and say publicly that his Valley Fever is no longer an issue � but believe me, the Mets are monitoring Davis� health, and wondering how it might be tested by relentless summer heat. Pile all these concerns on top of one another, without even mentioning the bullpen or rotation, and it is simply too soon to say we were wrong in predicting irrelevance, no matter how many times the Mets crush Jonathan Papelbon�s spirit or speak of a brighter vibe at Citi Field. Hey, New York is a savvy baseball city, but not without its dumb narrative traps. Each spring for the past two years, the town has bought Mets� first-half hope that is equal parts organic and synthetic, created by a combination of decent play and our willingness to regurgitate story-assisting spin. The script, predictable as a Hollywood rom-com, proceeds like this: In May and June, the team wins more games than the media sourpusses thought it would, and the fellas in the clubhouse tell us how well they are getting along, so much better than in other years. We should have learned by now that these story lines are too fast and too easy. But the time to hesitate in judging is nearly through: In about two weeks, it will be safer to say whether this team is capable of accomplishing more than its recent predecessors. Conveniently, and somewhat remarkably, these Mets will face a nearly identical test to the one that confronted them at the end of July two seasons ago: a long journey west. On July 15, 2010, a 48-40 team began a three-city swing through San Francisco, Arizona and Los Angeles. Two wins and nine losses later, the Mets flew home amid club-generated rumors that coaches would be sacrificed. Within weeks, the clubhouse devolved into a Lord of the Flies-style survival game, with anonymous sniping, players annoyed with coaches, coaches annoyed with each other and a 79-83 finish that felt much worse. This year, following a challenging week of games against the Braves, Nationals and Dodgers, the Mets will close July with a three-city march through the National League West, facing two strong teams in the Giants and Diamondbacks, and last-place San Diego. By the middle of that trip, we will know if this year is special, or merely another dud, a reminder that first-half bubbles don�t often remain inflated. �It�s a different cast of characters (than in 2010),� one team official said. �Let�s see how they respond to a similar challenge.�

[Ceetar]

The script, predictable as a Hollywood rom-com, proceeds like this: In May and June, the team wins more games than the media sourpusses thought it would, and the fellas in the clubhouse tell us how well they are getting along, so much better than in other years. We should have learned by now that these story lines are too fast and too easy.

This one is nice. He's basically saying he was lazy and sloppy with the storylines early, while starting to justify his "The Mets aren't good enough" story line that he had planned all along.

[bmfc1]

He's just back from a month paternity leave and he's an expert again?

[Edgy MD]

I don't know if he is or isn't an expert, but that column is awful. It promises fact and delivers opinion. And you can't discern after three readings where he's giving you the opinion of Mets management, the (somehow consensus) opinion of players, or merely his own.

Gosh, the Mets are monitoring Ike Davis' health. How terrible.

[Fman99]

Douchy Hack wrote: Pile all these concerns on top of one another, without even mentioning the bullpen or rotation, and it is simply too soon to say we were wrong in predicting irrelevance, no matter how many times the Mets crush Jonathan Papelbon�s spirit or speak of a brighter vibe at Citi Field.

I don't even know what this means. Clumsier than a Daniel-Murphy-in-left-field appearance.

[bmfc1]

Sherman, today:

They have duplicity with, say, a lefty-hitting second baseman. But the industry knows the Mets have had multiple disciplinary problems with Jordany Valdespin and that arbitration eligible Daniel Murphy is about to get expensive for a defensively deficient player without power. With Matt Den Dekker coming, the Mets should definitely make available fellow lefty-hitting outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis (viewed as a fourth outfielder in the industry) and maybe even Lucas Duda. Duda�s real position, first base, is blocked by Ike Davis.

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/no_bull_MKZdLSwtlJrPwemAOgrXWL#ixzz21Ai5iYSF

Why "disciplinary problems" is he talking about with Jordany? I know he's a hot head and there are temperament issues, but the phrase he uses typically goes with NFL or college players and guns, drugs, or domestic violence. Am I unaware of some issue(s) or is Sherman overstating things?