Jeff Freier, Hot Stove New York - Obviously the Phillies have a better bullpen. I think New York’s ’pen has a 15.1 scoreless streak heading into this series and Philly’s bullpen is blowing games left and right, but you’d have to be crazy to say the Mets have a better bullpen overall. Brian Stokes and Luis Ayala have really helped the Mets, using Feliciano and Smith as lefty-righty specialists is working and the Phillies relievers are coming down to earth a little but the Phillies are still better. Both make the games a little too exciting, though.
Jon Atwood, Hot Stove Philly - Despite the recent struggles over the past two weeks, the Phillies’ bullpen continues to have one of the lowest ERAs in the league. The Mets, on the other hand, are one of the league’s worst pens. Aaron Heilman has an ERA of 5.23, Luis Ayala’s is 5.40, Pedro Feliciano’s is 3.83, …
J Platt, Hot Stove Philly – I think to give an actual answer on this you need to factor in a healthy Billy Wagner. Even putting aside all the ill-will I have for Wagner, the better closer is Brad Lidge. While Lidge hasn’t been as sharp as he was earlier this season (which relates to some arm tendonitis), he’s 34 for 34 in save opportunities this year. Also Wagner doesn’t possess an actual out-pitch, whereas Lidge has arguably the best slider in baseball. Not just one either. One he can throw for a strike and one he buries that batter’s chase.
Jeff Freier, Hot Stove New York - The Mets don’t really have a closer right now (I guess it’s Ayala) so the answer is Lidge. But when Billy Wagner’s healthy the answer is…still Lidge. He seems to be past his Houston meltdown phase, and Wagner always seems to have a meltdown coming right around the corner. …
Jeff Freier, Hot Stove New York - If everybody were healthy, I’d say the Mets. But right now they’re both in the same boat – they have three guys they can count on (Hamels, Meyers, Moyer / Santana, Pelfrey, Perez) and then it’s a crapshoot. Joe Blanton’s been pedestrian, Kendrick’s been terrible, you don’t know what you’re going to get with Pedro and do the Mets really have a fifth starter right now? Jon Niese? If Maine were healthy that would give the Mets the edge, but the Phillies have healthy bodies to throw out there so that gives them the edge.
Jon Atwood, Hot Stove Philly - The Phillies have a better starting rotation. Johan Santana and John Maine are the only two solid pitchers on the Mets rotation, whereas Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, and Jamie Moyer are all serious hurlers. Granted, Santana is the best pitcher of the group and is arguably the best pitcher in the major leagues, but Hamels …
J Platt, Hot Stove Philly – This is a tough one. Both players are irreplaceable cogs to their team. Wright has been more consistent overall, while Utley started like a house on fire, but cooled after the All-Star Break. While Wright possesses more power, Utley is more dependable for the big hit. Defensively, Utley has improved but Wright has developed into a Gold Glove caliber third baseman. If you factor in position (which does contribute to overall value), Utley is the best offensive second baseman in baseball, while Wright has stiff competition at third base right in his own city. When it comes to intangibles, I don’t think there are many who hustle more then Utley, so I’ll give him the edge, but Wright is clearly superior in the leadership department. Wright has become the leader of the Mets, while Utley maintains a strong presence, he isn’t the Phillies leader.
It wouldn’t surprise me to see …
Jeff Freier, Hot Stove New York - This year it’s clearly Jose Reyes. He towers over Jimmy Rollins in every statistical category, and leads the league in hits, multiple hit games, triples, is fourth in runs scored and second in stolen bases. His OPS is .854 to Rollins’ .778. And the fielding slump Reyes was in at the beginning of the year has disappeared long ago. So statistically and talent-wise, Reyes is obviously superior. And Rollins’ intangibles – leadership, hustle, etc. – have disappeared this year. The one issue Reyes had was the night in Anaheim when he tweaked his hamstring and was pulled from the game, but got pissed (and pissy) because he wanted to stay in. Meanwhile, Rollins shows up late for a game and gets benched for not hustling. He seems to have an MVP hangover.
J Platt, Hot Stove Philly – Statistically this year it’s Reyes. If you look at the numbers, Reyes surpasses …
Thoughts going into the Mets biggest series of the year…
The Mets go into this series 3 games up and have won 10 of 15 against the Phillies this season. However this doesn’t make me feel at ease.
While I think being able to add 15 new players to a team in September is absurd, the added bodies, most notably the added arms, is huge for Jerry Manuel. He was already nursing his way through the late innings with what I call “the most exciting bullpen in baseball”. Now he’s almost to the point where he can use a reliever per out before he goes to Luis Ayala or whoever is the closer of the day.
Speaking of Ayala, he certainly fits right in with the rest of the bullpen. It’s to the point where I don’t even get scared anymore at the end of the game. Drama at the end of games is just a way of life for …
For 45 years the Mets and Phillies never had a rivalry, despite their close physical approximation and being in the same league and division (since 1969). The problem has been that for the most part they just haven’t been good at the same time. When the Phillies were winning, the Mets were at the bottom, and vice versa.
But finally, we have a full flat-out rivalry. Phillies fans hate Jose Reyes because of his handshakes and high jinks and Billy Wagner because he’s, well, Billy Wagner. Mets fans hate Jimmy Rollins because he’s constantly whining and crying about the Mets and Shane Victorino because of his taunting and celebratory antics. Rollins recently made comments about getting extra motivation playing against the Mets because of their shenanigans (hey, Jimmy, you’re 5-10 against them and can’t be bothered to show up for …
Baseball was on the verge of a player’s strike, There appeared to be a chance of peace in the Middle East, and Willam Clinton was inaugurated as President of the United States. These events all that occured in the year 1993, the last full season of baseball in which the New York Yankees missed the postseason. It appears that the Yanks will miss this season’s playoffs and will be taking an extended vacation for the first time in over a decade.
In his first season as manager, Joe Girardi has had a lot to deal with. Injuries to staff aces Chien Ming Wang and Joba Chamberlain, as well as disappointing performances from pitching prospects Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, have really set the Yankees pitching back a year or so. Girardi is not to blame for the Yankees shortcomings this season and has done well in dealing with all of the issues the team has faced this season.
While over in Queens, the Mets are playing the best …
Let’s drift back to 1978. The TV show Lou Grant captured the nation’s collective conscious, as evidenced by children everywhere naming their imaginary friends ‘Ed Asner.’ Teenage boys were dying their hair red as Ralph Malph Mania was at an all-time high. And ‘Captain Stubing’ topped ‘Bubba’ as the most popular nickname for high school football players. Musically, the Bee Gees showed us how important having chest hair is for a nation to feel good about itself. And at the movies, America couldn’t get enough of 35-year-old, singing, dancing teenage delinquents in Grease, and 30 years later I’ve proven Animal House’s point that you can get through life fat, drunk and stupid.
While American culture was at its zenith, the New York Mets were hitting rock bottom. They finished in last place for the second of three consecutive seasons. And they had the worst record in the National League, with a 66-96 …
The Mets entered their series in Milwaukee with a slim one-game edge over the Phillies. When it was over they snuck out of Wisconsin with a three-game sweep and a three-game lead over the Phils. With Milwaukee legend Bob Uecker up in the TV booth and an aging Fonzie, resorting to selling peanuts in the stands and still living above Mr. C’s garage, looking on, here’s what happened.
Monday, Mets 4-2: Delgado Blasts Way to Win
I guess it’s time to stopped being surprised by anything Carlos Delgado does anymore. After Daniel Murphy led off the eighth with a double, Delgado stepped up to the plate and smashed a two-run blast that proved to be the game winner. Carlos Beltran followed with a single and Ryan Church drove him in with a double for an insurance run. Beltran would leave the game after bruising his knee while sliding …
The Mets go to Milwaukee for a bratwurst and beer fest (and will try to squeeze in three games at Miller Park while they‘re there). They have a one game lead over Philadelphia in the standings. And reinforcements are on their way, as they called up nine players now that rosters can be expanded (Jon Niese, Bobby Parnell, Carlos Muniz, Al Reyes, Ricardo Rincon, Marlon Anderson, Argenis Reyes, Ramon Martinez and Gustavo Molina). The first game features an old-fashioned pitcher’s duel between Johan Santana and Ben Sheets. Niese will make his major league debut tomorrow. And the Mets will miss CC Sabathia, who may or may not have thrown a no-hitter yesterday. The Mets are 1-2 against Milwaukee this season.
The Brewers are making a bid for their first playoff appearance since 1982. After contending last year until they faded at the end, this season they have a commanding five-and-a-half-game lead in the wild card race. Milwaukee has only made the playoffs twice in their 40-year …
The Mets went from raucous Philadelphia to listening to crickets chirping in the stands of Dolphin Stadium. They started the series one up on the Phils. And that’s where they stand now. Here’s what happened.
Friday, Mets 5-4: Thanks, Kevin Gregg
The Mets were one pitch away from losing a sluggish 2-1 game, when Luis Castillo singled up the middle. Then David Wright singled to left. Carlos Delgado was hit in the leg. And Carlos Beltran took the first pitch he saw and deposited it into the right field stands. And just like that the Mets were leading 5-2. Marlins closer Kevin Gregg couldn’t have set himself on fire any faster. But it wasn’t over yet. Luis Ayala recorded a “John Franco save” by allowing two runs of his own and stranding runners on second and third. Yes, you actually get a save for that. Beltran also picked up a sacrifice fly in the first to drive in all five Mets runs. Oliver Perez walked five in six innings of work …
