batmagadanleadoff

metirish wrote: I would really like to know what Manuel's definition of a third place hitter is. I don't like the idea weather perceived or real that now that Reyes or Francoeur or whomever speaks out against Jose batting third that it's now not going to happen, Jerry should have just penciled him in there and let that be that, instead we have weeks on speculation in the media and online about it. I agree about Reyes. Plus, I'm very skeptical about the idea that Reyes won't be batting third because of a comfort issue. I'd say that Reyes' explanation is disingenuous and that he won't bat third because of selfish and self-interest issues over his personal statistics, like runs scored and stolen bases. It's funny how you never hear about a seventh place hitter complaining about being promoted to a higher slot in the batting order. It's hard to say what Manuel's definition of a third place hitter is, or any manager's idea, really. One problem is that the lineup doesn't exist in a vaccuum; every hitter's slot should be very dependent on the identity of the other hitters starting that particular game. The third place hitter could justifiably change from game to game. Although it's hard to justify, no matter how depleted the lineup might be on a specific day, moving the eighth place hitter up to the third spot. Or demoting the third place hitter down to the eighth spot.

metirish wrote: Pagan hitting third is the new thing now that Reyes has given his disapproval to the idea of him doing it. Lennon has Manuel all but admitting that Reyes batting third is now on the dung pile , Pagan ,Wright and Bay as the 3,4 and 5 guys. This is yet another page out of the Willie Randolph playbook. Beause up until now, I though that Wee Willie Dead Balls was the only manager that thought that the third and eighth spots in the batting order were interchangeable and could be filled by the same guy. Unless Omar's making the lineups. Or Jeffie. Anyone deemed good enough to bat third should never be batting eighth.

Eight (8) ... like Willie Stargell, and Joe Morgan and Carl Yastrzemski. Oh ... and Bill Dickey, too.

We're two games behind the Nationals and Strasburg hasn't even been promoted to the Majors yet.

Well ... this is a crappy team as currently constituted, without Reyes and Beltran. And to the extent that Reyes is back, he's back only in the technical sense. The Mets need Reyes and Beltran back and playing like All-Stars.

Wright just got Beltraned.

Pagan's base-running blunders are so much more inept with each passing game, that they've gotten to the point that the opposition is now too confused to capitalize on his mistakes.

This lineup's so screwy that the bottom might be stronger than the top. Works out well this inning with Pagan (batting 8th) up with the bases loaded. Let's see what he does here.

Carlos Beltran's recovery from knee surgery taking longer than Mets first expected By Brian Costa/The Star-Ledger April 16, 2010, 3:21PM ST. LOUIS -- Carlos Beltran�s recovery from offseason knee surgery is taking longer than the Mets initially expected, and it�s not certain when he�ll resume baseball activities. When Beltran had surgery on his right knee on Jan. 13, the expectation was that he would resume baseball activities 12 weeks later -- around April 7 -- which would have put him on pace to return sometime in May, barring any setbacks. And just before the end of spring training, Beltran said he expected to start running around April 10. But Beltran has said all along his progress would be dictated by how he felt and there would be no definite timetable. Apparently, there still isn�t. Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said today that Beltran has not been cleared by doctors to start running and has not resumed baseball activities. Beltran is still rehabbing in Port St. Lucie, Fla. �There�s been no setback,� Horwitz said. �He�s just not at that stage. He�s still in a rehabilitation stage.� On April 1, after the Mets� final spring training game in Port St. Lucie, Beltran said: �I don�t want to talk about when I can come back because I don�t know yet. When I run, then that can give me an idea of where I am. Right now it�s hard for me to say because I haven�t run.� http://www.nj.com/mets/index.ssf/2010/04/carlos_beltrans_recovery_from.html

Edgy DC wrote: Francoeur has gone 0-7 today and is still batting .381. I believe that Francoeur entered today's game as the NL batting leader. (Maybe even the Majors)

I was out on a date. When I came back somewhere between 1 and 2 a.m., I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the Mets game was still being played. Are there any forum members who were born after that game was played?

So where were you on 7/4/85?

That bunt was bullshit. Just like Jacobs' sac of a few innings ago. If the Cards would be willing to guarantee the Mets that they won't score next inning, then, maybe, I'd sac bunt.

Hey Keith: Aren't you glad Wright didn't hit a HR last inning?

For no cost, I'll take half a dozen Seaver '67 Topps. And all the Topps Mets Nolan Ryans you got. I always told you what a swell guy you are.

I'll gladly take Wright's single but it was silly, I think, for Keith to suggest that the single was preferable to a HR.

Lennon on Francoeur Lennon: Francoeur becoming an OBP machine Obviously, I'm rooting for Francoeur to continue to draw walks at this season's rate. I haven't been paying attention to the minutiae of Francoeur's AB's this season as closely as others here have, but I can see that Francoeur still needs to improve his current rate of pitches per AB. As it stands, that rate is probably too low to sustain Francoeur's currently improved walk rates for any meaningfully prolonged stretch. Perhaps pitchers are missing very wide to Frenchy this year because of their historical and justified lack of respect for Frenchy's strike-zone judgment. I'd like to see if Frenchy's learning to lay off the close pitches. On the other hand, Francoueur's pitch recognition as a Brave was so dreadful, that simply learning to lay off of some of those missed-the-strike-zone-by-a-country-mile pitches might improve his offense significantly.

HahnSolo wrote: Great outfield assist, but he did strike down a barely-trying Adam Dunn. If that mars it at all I don't know. Not like he gunned down Nyjer Morgan. Still, Francoeur's throw was a precise missile. Unfortunately, I've seen too many Mets faster than Dunn get thrown out at home on balls hit farther and deeper than that one in recent times, so I didn't dock Francoeur on account of Dunn's slowness.

With two doubles last night, King Albert edges past our own Jeff "Walk Like a Man" Francoeur and moves into his familiar spot as MVP-of-the-NL-if-the-season-were-to-end-today.

I bet that kid's at least 20 years old.

... is leading the league in OPS, is second in RC/27 and so far, has one hellacious Clemente-like outfield assist to his credit. He leads his team in OBP and is 6th league-wide. He's also making like Rickey Henderson by walking 6 times in 28 official AB's. I said: He walked 6 times in 28 official AB's.