For those of you who root day in and day out for the Mets I really feel for you.  Rooting for such an abusive front office is very damaging to everyone who takes the time out to do so.

After being bludgeoned by the Marlins, the Mets pitching staff will look to regain some respect when they travel to the nations capital.  Last night Mets pitchers surrendered 17 hits to the Marlins, but amazingly allowed only 5 runs in the Mets 6-5 win.  This came after the Marlins had scored 10 runs on Monday night in a win and collected 13 hits in a walk-off win on Tuesday.  Just like Tuesday night, the Mets failed to hold on to a 3-run lead, but this time were able to get the lead back and hold on for the win.

Marlins offense in 3 game series vs Mets

BA        .348

Hits         39

Runs       22

HR            5

David Wright had an outstanding series for the Mets, who after struggling offensively on Monday night, erupted for 12 runs and 22 hits in the final two games of the series. Jason Bay collected 5 RBI in the series.

David Wright – Last 3 games vs Marlins

H-AB          7-13

BA               .538

Runs               2

RBI                 2

On Tuesday night the Mets rallied for 2 runs in the 9th to tie the game, but once again lost in walk-off fashion as Dan Uggla drove in Jorge Cantu with the winning run in the bottom of the 9th.   The Mets now have 8 walk-off losses this season.

David Wright finished the month of June with a .404 BA and 29 RBI.  He is the first player in Mets history to record a BA of .400 or higher with 25 or more RBI in a single month. (SOURCE: ELIAS SPORTS BUREAU)

David Wright – June Stats

BA         .404

OBP      .447

Slug       .683

HR             6

Runs        20

RBI          29

Tonight the Mets and Johan Santana take on ex-Met Livan Hernandez in a rematch of a prior meeting this season between these 2 pitchers.  On April 11th the Nationals pounded Santana for 4 runs in the first inning while Hernandez kept the Mets bats silent all day long as he went 7 innings allowing 0 runs and 5 hits.  The Mets only runs came when Mike Jacbos homered off of Brian Bruney in a 5-2 loss.

The Mets third venture into Hiram Bithorn Stadium went as well as their first 2 visits when they went 2-5.  Last night they were humiliated by a team with no manager and in complete disarray.  In doing so the Mets fell to 9-20 on the road against NL opponents and a abominable 3-9 on the road vs NL East opponents, including now 0-5 vs the Marlins.

Mets on road vs NL East – 2010

W-L           3-9>>

ERA           6.78

BA             .224

Runs PG    4.0

>>0-5 vs Marlins

R.A. Dickey finally showed signs of being human as the Marlins slapped him silly, scoring 5 runs in 5 innings against him.  Fernando Nieve and Ryota Igarashi quickly added gasoline to the flaming inferno by allowing 5 runs on 3 home runs.  It’s very disturbing to me how the Marlins seem to toy with the Mets.  Despite being 7 games behind the Mets, the Marlins have enjoyed beating up on them.

Mets last 20 games at Florida

W-L           7-13

ERA          4.54

BA             .268

Runs PG     4.4

Another point of frustration for the Mets is how badly Jose Reyes plays when put head-to-head against Hanley Ramirez.  On mere talent, Reyes seems to have just as much if not more than Ramirez.  However, Ramirez has continually outplayed Reyes when these 2 teams have met.

Reyes vs Ramirez Since 2009

Reyes             Games: 14       BA:  .143      Runs: 4     RBI: 4

Ramirez         Games: 26       BA:  .324      Runs: 15   RBI: 17

Another sore spot for Mets fans is the fact that the Marlins TWICE ended the Mets season in consecutive years when the Mets had a chance at the postseason and both times in New York.  Met killers rain up and down their lineup.  Cantu, Ross, Baker, Coglhan, Sanchez, all seem to love beating up on the Mets pitching staff.  Some hit for high average (Coglhan .308, Sanchez .378, Ross .419) others hit for power and drive in runs (Cantu 30 RBI, Uggla 14 HR, 39 RBI).  Chris Coglhan has 14 career HR, 5 which are against the Mets.

Jason Bay finally breaks out

Despite the Mets putting their tail between their legs and getting abused last night, Jason Bay finally showed some of the power that Mets fans have been yearning for as he hit 2 HR and drove in 3 runs. Although both his home runs were the result of the band box the Mets played in, which made the fact that the Mets have hit so poorly there (.189 BA, 5 HR, 18 runs scored in 8 games) much more disturbing.  Both of Bay’s HR would have been fly balls in Citifield, but you can only do what the elements allow you to, and last night Bay was terrific.

Reyes back in slump

After ripping up the AL during interleague play, Reyes has sharply declined over his last 3 games, going 1-13 with no runs scored and no stolen bases.  Simply put, when Reyes struggles the Mets don’t win.  Mets fans have been inspired by Reyes play prior to this stretch, however disturbing trends started to develop during the last 2 days of his hot streak as a few of his hits were bloopers that just avoided the SS grasp.  Since then he has once again made it a habit to pop up to the left side of the infield which is the absolute worst sign for Reyes.  When he gets into those habits, that’s when he puts together a .140, 4 runs, 3 RBI month long stretch.  Let’s hope that he will snap back to form tonight against a pitcher he should crush.

Perhaps the most alarming thing about Reyes season so far is how awful he has been on the road vs NL opponents.  He ended his road woes for a brief stretch when the Mets traveled to Baltimore, Cleveland and the Yankees, but against NL opponents on the road, he has been an abortion.

Jose Reyes – 2010 on road

vs NL opponents   Games: 27   BA  .180     OBP  .213      Runs: 10    RBI: 12

vs AL opponents   Games: 9     BA: 375      OBP: .390     Runs: 10    RBI:  6

Robertson takes on Takahashi tonight as Mets look to rebound

Tonight the Mets get a chance to end their 5-game road losing streak to the Marlins on the road this season when they take on Nate Robertson.  Obtained in spring training from the Tigers, Robertson has struggled a bit this season, going 5-6 with a 4.89 ERA in 15 games.  Robertson will be making his 4th start against the Mets this season, which he has 2 of his 5 wins against despite posting a 5.28 ERA and a .313 opponent BA.

Hisanori Takahashi will take the mound for the Mets.  Takahashi was pounded in his last start by the Tigers and bets are that if he gets pounded again tonight, or doesn’t give the Mets a chance to win, then this might be his last start. Look for runs a plenty tonight, as the Marlins pounded Takahashi in their 4 meetings vs him this season scoring 8 runs in 9.2 IP while hitting 3 HR and posting a .324 BA. The Mets have gotten much more than expected out of Takahashi and Dickey but play time is over. If the Mets want to seriously be a contender in the NL East they need another 1 if not 2 strong starters.

Cliff Lee would be nice, but not at the price of our young talent, especially since the Mets can get him for free in the FA market.  Ted Lilly, Fausto Carmona or Ben Sheets would be nice at a much less price tag.  Let’s hope that stuttering John (aka Omar Minaya) will pull the trigger and soon before the Mets hit a skid where Dickey and Takahashi are exposed and the team loses 15 of 20.

Help Fund for Cancer Survivors

I might as well use this blog to educate people that cancer survivors out there need your help.  Many of us (myself included) have suffered awful side effects from the chemotherapy and radiation.  As a result of my treatment, I now suffer from Hemochromotosis, Crohn’s Disease and Lymphedema.  I had to retire in April 2008 after being diagnosed with Hemochromotosis. Disability payments are not NEARLY enough to live on and many of us in situations like mine need help.  PLEASE help me by donating to a fund to start a foundation for cancer survivors.  If you want more information or are looking for something like this and want to become involved, check out our facebook page or email me.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Help-Start-a-Foundation-or-Fund-for-Cancer-Survivors/108359165870155?ref=ts

For the third straight start Johan Santana was slapped around by an American League team.  It’s a good thing Santana left the American League because judging from his last 3 starts, he might not win too many games anymore.  The Twins jumped on him for 4 runs in the first inning, and much like when the Mets played the Nationals earlier in the season and they jumped on Santana for 4 runs in the first, the Mets offense went into a slumber.

Carl Pavano, yes the same Carl Pavano that was laughed out of New York while pitching for the Yankees, dominated the Mets lineup so easily that the Mets didn’t even get a runner past 2nd base.  Jeff Francoeur had 2 of the Mets 3 hits on the day as the rest of the lineup might of well stayed home.  Games like this against inferior pitchers just shows how far the Mets are from seriously competing among the baseball elite.

Carl Pavano allowed just 3 hits in winning his 8th career game vs the Mets.

Pavano has now defeated former Cy Young Award winners Roy Halladay and Johan Santana in consecutive starts, so at least the Mets can hide their shame by pointing out that the Phillies also lost to Pavano.  However, unlike the confidence the Phillies still have in Halladay, the Mets have now lost confidence in Santana.

Santana leaving the game with his head down has become a familiar site this season.

Since scoring 7 runs for him against the Indians on June 15, the Mets have gone scoreless in Santana’s last 2 starts in losing to the Yankees (4-0) and the Twins (5-0). Despite his lack of run support, the Mets still seem to suffer from shock when Santana allows runs early.  This is the 4th time now this season that Santana has allowed 4 runs or more before the 5th inning and in 3 of those starts the Mets have lost and scored a total of 2 runs in those 3 games.

Johan Santana – Allowing 4 runs or more by 5th inning – 2010 season

June 25        allowed 4 runs in first                         Mets were shutout

June 15        allowed 4 runs in first 4 innings         Mets rallied to win

May 2           allowed 10 runs in first 4 innings      Mets failed to score after

April 11        allowed 4 runs in first inning              Mets scored 2 runs in loss

What this tells us is that the Mets seem to go into shock when Santana is slapped around.  Although since the calendar almost reads July, this should no longer be a shock.  Perhaps no one on the Mets has been as disappointing as Santana this season. Yes, the Mets have failed to provide him adequate run support in many of his ND or losses, but he has also failed to either continue win streaks or end losing streaks at some bad times this season.

Santana needs to get back the form that rewarded him with a $137.5 million contract.

I think the term “ACE” no longer applies to Santana.  What the Mets have to think about is whether or not they can continue with him and his huge contract.  In 2008 Santana signed a 6-year deal worth $137.5 million deal.  Perhaps the Mets should look at the example Santana has set when deciding whether or not to sign Cliff Lee to a huge contract in the offseason.

Santana was 29 when the Mets signed him.  Cliff Lee will be 32 next season.  Can they risk another long-term contract on a pitcher who is almost past his prime?  If Santana faltered and was 3 years younger upon his signing, is it wise for the Mets to invest another large contract on a over 30 pitcher?

Mets W-L Since May 13th

When Santana starts   W-L:  2-7   Runs PG: 2.1   BA: .189  Runs PG allowed: 3.7

When others start       W-L: 23-7   Runs PG: 5.5  BA: .293  Runs PG allowed: 3.8

Mets take 2 of 3 from Twins

Entering this home stand I mentioned how important it was that they continue their solid play and take at least 2 of 3 in each series.  The Mets accomplished that feat and were a David Wright strikeout away from winning 5 of 6.  The Mets threw their 11th shutout of the season yesterday which is the most in MLB.

Niese helped the Mets record their 11th shutout of the season which is the most in the majors.

Most shutouts – MLB 2010

Mets            11

Padres         10

Rockies         9

Athletics       8

Phillies          7

Blue Jays      7

Other notes on Mets win and interleague play

David Wright collected 24 RBI in interleague play this season which ties an NL record previously set by Hanley Ramirez of the Marlins last season.  Jon Niese finished June with a 4-0 record.  The only other Mets rookie pitcher to win 4 or more games in June was Ron Darling who won 5 games in 1984.  The Mets have now won 6 straight home series, their longest streak since 2008.  The Mets won their 13th interleague game this season which sets a new team mark for most wins in a single-season vs AL opponents.

Most Wins vs AL teams – Single season

2010        13

1999        12

2008         9

2000         9

1998          9

Most RBI, Interleague Play – Single-Season

Frank Thomas     2000      26

Jim Thome           2001      25

David Wright        2010      24

Hanley Ramirez   2009      24

David Wright tied an NL record for most RBI in a single season in interleague play with 24 this season.

As the Mets travel to Puerto Rico to take on the Marlins they now face another opponent that embarrassed them earlier this season on the road. The Marlins are having their own trouble right now as they recently fired manager Freddi Gonzalez and were thought to have named Bobby Valentine as their manager, but that has not happened as yet.  They have lost 4 straight games.  Unlike the series in May, this series will be played in Puerto Rico, not Florida.  The Marlins have done very well playing at Hiram Bithorn Stadium as they won 5 of 6 games there when the Expos played games there during the 2003-04 seasons.

The Mets and Marlins will play this series in Puerto Rico.

The Mets have not faired so well in their 7 games played in Puerto Rico.  Overall the Mets are 2-5 there, having lost all 4 games in 2003 and won 2 of 3 in 2004.

W-L at Hiram Bithorn Stadium

Marlins:   5-1     ERA: 1.87   Opp. BA: .203   Runs PG: 6.0

Mets:        2-4    ERA: 3.10   Opp. BA: .243   Runs PG: 2.1

>>Marlins won their last 3 games all by shutout

Top 10 Mets regular season moments (to see moments 10-2 look at previous entries of hopeisthebestofthings)

1. – 6 way tie: Mets clinch postseason berths - It’s hard to argue with games that officially put you in the postseason as the most important moments in a teams history. On September 24, 1969 the Mets secured their first postseason berth with a 6-0 win over the Cardinals at Shea Stadium.  On October 1, 1973 the Mets secured their 2nd NL East title with a 6-4 win over the Cubs.  On September 17, 1986 Doc Gooden pitched a complete game in the Mets 4-2 win over the Cubs.  That clinching date actually took 6 days to reach as the Mets failed in their first 5 tries.  On September 22, 1988, Ron Darling threw a complete game in a Mets 3-1 win over the Phillies to clinch the team’s 4th NL East title.  On September 18, 2006 the Mets clinched their 5th NL East title with a 4-0 win over the Marlins.  Last but not least, on October 4, 1999, the Mets defeated the Reds 5-0 to win the NL Wild Card.  I did not put the clinching of the 2000 NL Wild Card since that was pretty much anti-climatic and the team didn’t even celebrate.  It’s actually very interesting how in all the Mets clinchings in team history, they have pitched excellent.

David Wright celebrates the Mets 2006 NL East title.

Dates of Mets postseason clinchings – Team History

September 18, 2006    Clinched NL East       SP: Trachsel (W)       Final Score: 4-0

September 27, 2000    Clinched Wild Card    SP: Reed (W)             Final Score: 6-2

October 4, 1999            Clinched Wild Card    SP: Leiter (W-CG)    Final Score: 5-0

September 22, 1988     Clinched NL East       SP: Darling (W-CG)  Final Score: 3-1

September 17, 1986     Clinched NL East        SP: Gooden (W-CG) Final Score: 4-2

October 1, 1973             Clinched NL East       SP: Seaver (W)          Final Score: 6-4

September 24, 1969     Clinched NL East       SP: Gentry (W-CG)  Final Score: 6-0

Bedlam rained on Shea Stadium when the Mets clinched their first postseason berth since 1973 on September 17, 1986.

This might seem lame to some of you, but there’s nothing quite like knowing your team will be in the postseason and getting excited for that clinching date.  Also after that date, you get to finally relax as your team now can rest it’s players and you even get a chance to see some of the younger talent ready to come up.  I remember in 1986, Dave Magadan playing for a flu-ridden Keith Hernandez and getting 3 hits and 2 RBI.

Part of the disappointments of the 2007-08 seasons was that once the magic number count down came into play (I start counting down at 10), that’s when the Mets seem to self-destruct.  On September 14, 2007 the Mets magic number was at 11.  It then took them 6 days to cut the number to 9 while the Phillies trimmed 5 games off the Mets lead.  To be honest, I still have nightmares about the Mets final 17 games of that season in which they won only 5.  One day I’ll write it out just to finally slay the demons that torment me.

Help Fund for Cancer Survivors

I might as well use this blog to educate people that cancer survivors out there need your help.  Many of us (myself included) have suffered awful side effects from the chemotherapy and radiation.  As a result of my treatment, I now suffer from Hemochromotosis, Crohn’s Disease and Lymphedema.  I had to retire in April 2008 after being diagnosed with Hemochromotosis. Disability payments are not NEARLY enough to live on and many of us in situations like mine need help.  PLEASE help me by donating to a fund to start a foundation for cancer survivors.  If you want more information or are looking for something like this and want to become involved, check out our facebook page or email me.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Help-Start-a-Foundation-or-Fund-for-Cancer-Survivors/108359165870155?ref=ts

Trailing 6-1 in the 6th inning on Thursday, the Mets rallied for 4 runs and had the tying run on third with 1 out and David Wright at the plate.  Wright struck out on a few pitches that would have walked in the tying run and the Mets never got that close again.  Even though Wright has picked up the pace considerably of late, he still has way too many of these instances where he fails to come through especially late in the game.

David Wright since 2008 – Runner on 3rd less than 2 outs tied or behind by 2 runs or less in the 7th inning or later

H-AB      2-10

RBI            2

K                6

Despite being on a recent hot streak, Wright still tends to choke in big spots.

Last night, Mike Pelfrey again was without his best stuff but fought enough to get the win.  He went 6 innings and allowed 2 runs in earning his 10th win of the season.  Jose Reyes had 2 hits and scored a run, while David Wright, Jason Bay and Ike Davis each had hits that scored runs.  K-Rod came on to earn his 17th save despite once again allowing 2 base runners in an outing.  Pelfrey is now 6-0 at home this season and 8-0 in night starts.

Mike Pelfrey fought threw 6 innings to earn his 10th victory of the season for the Mets.

Most consecutive wins at home to start season – Mets SP last 20 seasons

2010  Mike Pelfrey         6

2005  Jae Weong Seo     5

2000  Al Leiter                5

2004  Al Leiter                4

SOURCE: ESPN

Mike Pelfrey – 2010 night vs day starts

Day Starts            5 starts   W-L: 2-2   ERA: 5.28   Opp. BA: .303   WHIP: 1.57

Night Starts       10 starts   W-L: 8-0   ERA: 1.57   Opp. BA: .216    WHIP: 1.07

Last night the Mets won their 12th interleague game which ties the most wins against the AL since interleague play began in 1997.  In 1999 the Mets also won 12 games vs the American League.  The Mets have the next 2 days to break the record.

Thanks to great instinctive plays, like this Ruben Tejada slide to avoid Joe Mauer's tag, the Mets are one win away from setting a team record for wins vs AL opponents in a single season.

Most Wins vs AL teams – Single season

2010        12>>

1999        12

2008         9

2000         9

1998          9

>>have 2 more games remaining vs AL opponents

Tonight Johan Santana will face his former team.  Santana will become the 9th pitcher since 2003 to start a game against a team that they previously won a Cy Young Award with.  Last night Roy Halladay defeated the Blue Jays in the same situation. Carl Pavano will go for the Twins.  Pavano will be making his 20th career start vs the Mets (his first since 2005 with Florida).

Carl Pavano – Career vs Mets

Games           20 (19 starts)

W-L               7-7>>

ERA               3.60

Opp. BA        .259

>>6-1 since 2002 vs Mets

Carl Pavano will be making his 20th career start vs the Mets tonight.

Top 10 Mets regular season moments (to see moments 10-3 see previous editions of hopeisthebestofthings)

2. Piazza lights up New York after 9/11 – the date was September 21, 2001 and America and especially New York was in mourning after the terrorist attacks of September 11th.  The Mets were in the midst of an amazing run that had seen them knock 7-and-a-half games off the Braves lead in the last month.  Trailing the Braves by 5-and-a-half games entering this game, the Mets had a chance to cut the lead to 2-and-a-half with a sweep with 12 more games remaining.  A pitchers duel between Bruce Chen and Jason Marquis saw the Braves break a 1-1 tie with a 2-out RBI double by Brian Jordan off Armando Benitez.  Down to their last 5 outs, Edgardo Alfonzo worked a walk off of Braves reliever Steve Karsay.  Mike Piazza then stepped to the plate.  Piazza crushed Karsay’s 0-1 pitch deep over the CF wall to give the Mets a 3-2 lead and send Shea Stadium into a frenzy.  Combined with all the emotion of 9/11 their wasn’t a dry eye in the stadium.  Benitez then went out and after giving up a lead off single, got B.J. Surhoff to strikeout and Keith Lockhart to ground into a double play to give the Mets the win.

Piazza HR sent Shea Stadium into chaos, while giving the Mets a key win down the stretch.

With everything else that was going on in the world, Piazza helped baseball fans forget about things for a moment with his dramatic HR.

Help Fund for Cancer Survivors

I might as well use this blog to educate people that cancer survivors out there need your help.  Many of us (myself included) have suffered awful side effects from the chemotherapy and radiation.  As a result of my treatment, I now suffer from Hemochromotosis, Crohn’s Disease and Lymphedema.  I had to retire in April 2008 after being diagnosed with Hemochromotosis. Disability payments are not NEARLY enough to live on and many of us in situations like mine need help.  PLEASE help me by donating to a fund to start a foundation for cancer survivors.  If you want more information or are looking for something like this and want to become involved, check out our facebook page or email me.

After the Mets loss on Sunday, I said that this home stand coming up was one that would make or break this season.  So far the Mets have responded.  Last night they got another strong performance from R.A. Dickey, throwing 8 shutout innings and Jose Reyes, who had 3 hits, scored 3 runs and homered.  The 5-0 win was the Mets 10th shutout of the season which leads the majors.

Most shutouts – MLB 2010

Mets           10

Rockies        9

Padres         9

Athletics      7

R.A. Dickey allowed 4 hits in 8 shutout innings last night to lead the Mets to their major league leading 10th shutout.

Reyes is back to form

After looking overwhelmed and overmatched for most of the 2010 season, Jose Reyes has finally returned to his 2006-07 form.  The low point of the season for Reyes came on May 19th when suffering through a 4-32 slump his average had dipped to .210. Since then Reyes has raised his average to a now season-high .283.

Jose Reyes – 2010 Season

Through May 19  BA .210    OBP .248    Slug .280    Runs  20    HR 0    RBI 11

Since May 19>>   BA .372    OBP .413    Slug .620    Runs  28     HR 6    RBI 19

>> .435 BA, 5 HR, 9 RBI, 18 runs in last 14 games

When Jose Reyes is hot, there is no more exciting player in baseball to watch.

Last night Reyes had his 2nd straight game with 3 hits and scoring 3 runs.  Only 4 other players in Mets history have accomplished that feat.

3+ Runs, 3+ hits in consecutive games – Mets History

Jose Reyes                  June 22-23, 2010

Edgardo Alfonzo        September 10-11, 1997

Kelly Stinnett             June 6-7, 1994

Gary Carter                September 3-4, 1985

Ron Hunt                    May 14-15, 1966

SOURCE: Elias/ESPN

Gary Carter is one of 5 Mets to collect 3+ hits and score 3+ runs in consecutive games.

Back to Dickey

R. A. Dickey won his 6th straight start last night, becoming the first Mets since Mike Pelfrey in 2008 to win six straight starts.  Including his no-decision in his first start with the Mets, Dickey has gone at least 6 innings in all of his starts.  Since starting his six game win streak, no pitcher in the majors has more wins the Dickey.

Most Wins – Starters Since May 25th

R. A. Dickey             6

Freddy Garcia         5

Phil Hughes              5

Mets love interleague play

With their win last night, the Mets improved to 11-3 in interleague play and 8-0 against teams other than the Yankees.  The Mets 11 wins this season are the 2nd most in a single season against the American League since interleague play started in 1997. In 1999 the Mets won 12 games vs the AL, but that year the Mets played 18 games vs the AL, not the 15 that they have played every year since 2001.

Most Wins vs AL teams – Single season

1999        12

2010        11>>

2008         9

2000         9

1998          9

>>have 4 more games remaining

The Mets 11 wins this season vs AL opponents is their 2nd most since interleague play began in 1997.

Takahashi takes on Mr. Should-Be-Perfect game tonight

Hisanori Takahashi will get a chance to extend the Mets winning streak to 3 games tonight and sweep the Tigers when he faces off against Armando Galarraga.  Since throwing his perfect game (that didn’t count), Galarraga has had 3 straight no-decisions while posting a 4.24 ERA.  Galarraga is 4-3 with a 4.99 ERA in 11 career starts vs NL teams.

Armando Galarraga covers first base as Jason Donald hits the bag and first base umpire Jim Joyce looks on. Joyce called Donald safe robbing Galarraga of his perfect game.

Since getting knocked around by San Diego and Florida, Takahashi has responded well in his last 2 starts, winning both of them while allowing 1 run on 10 hits in 13 innings. In his 3 starts vs AL opponents this season, Takahashi is 2-0 with a 0.47 ERA.

Hisanori Takahashi vs AL opponents

Starts          3

W-L           2-0

ERA           0.47

Opp. BA    .221

K per 9       4.3

Takahashi has been outstanding in his 3 starts vs AL opponents.

Top 10 regular season moments in Mets history (to see moments 10-4 look at previous dates of Hopeisthebestofthings)

3. Ball on Wall Miracle Keys Mets win vs Pirates – the date was September 20, 1973.  The Mets entered the game trailing the 1st place Pirates by 1-and-a-half games.  Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the 9th the Mets were down to their final out with the tying run on 2nd and only backup catcher Duffy Dyer to pinch hit for pitcher Harry Parker.  Dyer doubled off Ramon Hernandez to tie the game at 3.  In the top of the 13th Dave Augustine of the Pirates was at the plate with 2 outs and Richie Zisk on first base.  Augustine hit a drive that appeared to be going for a home run. Instead, it hit the point at the very top of the wall, going directly on a fly into Cleon Jones’ hands. Jones whirled and threw to Wayne Garrett, who had been moved to shortstop, who then threw to Ron Hodges at the plate for the out.  In the bottom of the inning, Ron Hodges singled in John Milner to give the Mets a 4-3 win and move them within a half-game of first place.  The next night the Mets beat the Pirates bad, 10-2, to take over first place where they would remain for the rest of the season.

Mets catcher Ron Hodges not only tagged out Zisk, but got the game-winning hit in the bottom of the inning.

Help Fund for Cancer Survivors

I might as well use this blog to educate people that cancer survivors out there need your help.  Many of us (myself included) have suffered awful side effects from the chemotherapy and radiation.  As a result of my treatment, I now suffer from Hemochromotosis, Crohn’s Disease and Lymphedema.  I had to retire in April 2008 after being diagnosed with Hemochromotosis. Disability payments are not NEARLY enough to live on and many of us in situations like mine need help.  PLEASE help me by donating to a fund to start a foundation for cancer survivors.  If you want more information or are looking for something like this and want to become involved, check out our facebook page or email me.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Help-Start-a-Foundation-or-Fund-for-Cancer-Survivors/108359165870155?ref=ts

The Mets had perhaps their most impressive win of the season last night with their 14-6 dismantling of the Tigers and Justin Verlander.  Verlander entered the game 11-1 in 15 career starts vs NL opponents.  From the first batter of the game, the Mets came out very aggressive and took the game right to Verlander.  Angel Pagan continued his terrific play with 4 hits and 4 RBI and 3 runs scored.

4 hits, 4 RBI and 3 runs in a single game – Mets since 2001

Angel Pagan         June 22, 2010 vs DET

Mike Jacobs         August 24, 2005 at ARI

David Wright       August 10, 2005 at SD

Mo Vaughn          September 13, 2002 at MTL

Angel Pagan continued his recent stellar play with 4 hits, 4 RBI and 3 runs scored.

Rain delay affects Niese

Thanks to an hour rain delay and an 8-run inning by the Mets, Jonathon Niese quest for his 4th straight win fell short last night despite being handed a 10-0 lead when he took the mound in the 4th inning.  Niese allowed 5 runs and departed with the bases loaded and 2 outs in the top of the 5th, falling 1 out short of picking up the win.

Perhaps the biggest hit in last night’s game came via Jose Reyes in the third inning. With the Mets up 5-0 and Niese having just failed to move the runners along via a bunt, Reyes singled with 2 outs to drive in Jeff Francoeur and keep the inning going. RBI hits by Angel Pagan and Ike Davis followed as a 5-0 lead quickly became a 10-0 lead thanks to Reyes.  Driving in runs with 2 outs and RISP has been a real issue for Reyes over the last 3 seasons.

Reyes hit with 2 outs and RISP in the third inning last night was just the 5th hit in 26 AB with 2 outs and RISP this season.  When the Mets won the NL East in 2006, Reyes was outstanding in that spot.  However since then he has really struggled.

Jose Reyes, 2 outs RISP

May 24, 2006 to end of season     H-AB   23-43     BA   .535    RBI   36

2007 to current                               H-AB   42-187   BA   .224    RBI   55>>

>> .159 BA (10-63) since July 30, 2008

Jose Reyes recent solid play has kick-started the Mets 2010 season, however, he still has struggled with 2 outs and RISP.

Beltran to start minor league rehab on Thursday

In a press conference yesterday, GM Omar Minaya laid out a time table for the return of Carlos Beltran to the Mets.  He will begin a minor league rehab regimen on Thursday in St. Lucie.  From there the Mets have 20 days to move him from the DL to the 25-man roster.

The main talk yesterday was who sits once Beltran comes back?  If I was Jerry Manuel I would end that speculation right now.  Manuel should announce that unless Jason Bay starts to produce like he has throughout his major league career, that his playing time will be the most effective.  Bay went 1-2 with 2 RBI last night to improve his massive RBI total to 29.  If this doesn’t strike a chord in Bay to get going then nothing will.  Whether Manuel means that or not isn’t the issue.  The issue is if Bay was faced with a perform or sit situation, perhaps this would finally snap him out of his slump.

Carlos Beltran – Season averages with NYM

BA        .281

OBP     .368

Slug.    .505

HR          25

RBI         93

Runs       94

View This Poll

Tonight the Mets face another hard throwing RH in Jeremy Bonderman.  On the season Bonderman is 3-4 with a 4.06 ERA in 13 games (12 starts).  He is 1-1 in his career vs the Mets, losing to them at Shea in 2004 and defeating them at Comerica Park in 2007.  Bonderman’s loss against the Mets is his only one in 7 career starts vs NL East teams as he is 5-1 vs them.  Overall, Bonderman is 8-7 in 23 starts vs NL opponents.

Jeremy Bonderman – Career vs NL opponents

Starts          23

W-L            8-7>>

ERA            5.05

Opp. BA     .271

>>5-1, 4.62 ERA in 7 career starts vs NL East teams

Jeremy Bonderman is 8-7 in 23 career starts vs NL opponents.

Top 10 regular season moments in Mets history (to see moments 10-6 look at previous dates of Hopeisthebestofthings)

5.  Beltran beats STL, tops off comeback - the date was August 22, 2006 and the Mets were taking on Albert Pujols and the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2nd game of a 3-game series at Shea Stadium.  In the previous 2 seasons the Cardinals had proven they were the team to beat in the NL, and they were on track to win the NL Central again.  This night the Mets wanted to prove that they were now the best club in the NL.  Pujols got the Cards quickly ahead with  a 3-run HR in the 4th and a grand slam in the 5th both off Mets starter John Maine.  Trailing 7-1 entering the bottom of the 5th the Mets started to chip away.  Carlos Delgado connected on his 400th career HR off Jeff Weaver, a grand slam, to cut the lead to 7-5.  Jose Reyes ground out in the 6th cut the lead to one.  Meanwhile the Mets bullpen held the Cardinals scoreless for the last 4 innings.  Trailing 7-6 entering the bottom of the 9th the Cardinals brought in their closer Jason Isringhausen.  Izzy got Reyes to ground out to lead off the 9th, but Paul LoDuca followed with a single.  Izzy’s next pitch was slammed by Beltran deep over the RF fence to give the Mets an exciting 8-7 win.  The Mets went on to sweep the series and prove that there was now a new leader in the NL.

Beltran's HR was the final blow in the Mets rallying from 6 runs down to defeat the Cardinals.

Help Fund for Cancer Survivors

I might as well use this blog to educate people that cancer survivors out there need your help.  Many of us (myself included) have suffered awful side effects from the chemotherapy and radiation.  As a result of my treatment, I now suffer from Hemochromotosis, Crohn’s Disease and Lymphedema.  I had to retire in April 2008 after being diagnosed with Hemochromotosis. Disability payments are not NEARLY enough to live on and many of us in situations like mine need help.  PLEASE help me by donating to a fund to start a foundation for cancer survivors.  If you want more information or are looking for something like this and want to become involved, check out our facebook page or email me.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Help-Start-a-Foundation-or-Fund-for-Cancer-Survivors/108359165870155?ref=ts

In my prior blog I was perhaps a bit to negative.  I didn’t mean to belittle the Mets accomplishments over the last month.  They have played much better and with a different attitude that they showed much of the last 3 years.  However, when you root for a team like I have interest in the Mets, you want to see them take the NEXT step. Beating the Yankees on Friday night was a great step.  Then watching them lose the next 2 days without any fight or passion or attitude just made me realize that this team still has a long way to go before they are ready to compete with the elite teams in this league.

I addressed some of the areas of concern (lack of SP depth, bullpen, bench, Jason Bay), so it would be nice to see Omar Minaya do something to help this team and fire up the fan base.  Cliff Lee would be nice, but not for a rental.  If the Mets get him they need to know he would re-sign with them.  We can’t be giving away our best prospects for a guy who will bolt come November.  We aren’t the Brewers.

Every now and then I will get after this team, but only because I want them to achieve greatness.  I’m sick of seeing them settle for 2nd rate.  I’m sick of them bowing to the Yankees.  I’m sick of them losing out of the best players because they don’t have the same aggressiveness of the Yankees or Red Sox.  When I say “Hope is the best of things” I mean it, and with this team it starts with hope.  From there we need the 25 players in uniform and the front office to move from “hope” to reality.

Fans can hope and pray, but management and the players are the ones who need to make it a reality

Mets host AL Central opponents

Tonight the Mets come home to Citifield to take on the Tigers.   Jonathon Niese gets the start against Justin Verlander.  Niese has won his last 3 starts since coming off the DL and gone at least 7 innings in all 3 starts (he is the first Met rookie to win 3 straight starts while throwing at least 7 innings since Jae Seo in 2003).

Jonathon Niese 2010 Averages per start; before and after DL stint

Before    W-L: 1-2   ERA: 4.79  IP: 5.1  WHIP: 1.79   Opp. BA: .322

After:     W-L: 3-0  ERA: 1.57   IP: 7.2  WHIP: 0.78  Opp. BA: .188

Jerry Manuel has not had to take the ball from Niese since coming off the DL.

Verlander has also won his last 3 starts and gone at least 7 innings in those starts.  On the season, Verlander is 8-4 with a 3.54 ERA.  In his career, Verlander has been excellent against National League opponents.  In his 15 career starts vs NL teams, he is 11-1.

Jason Verlander career vs NL opponents

Starts         15

W-L            11-1

ERA            3.10

Opp. BA     .216

K per 9       10.1

>>Threw a no-hitter vs the Brewers on June 12, 2007

Verlander has been excellent vs NL opponents, going 11-1 in his 15 career starts.

The Mets are 10-5 all-time vs AL Central opponents at home.  All of those games were played at Shea Stadium.  The Mets are 3-0 vs the Tigers at home, having swept them at Shea in 2004.  However, that was a Tigers team that was coming off a 119-loss season, not one that is currently 8 games over .500 with one of the best pitchers in the game taking the mound.

The Mets have struggled against RH starters this season.  Despite their 26-22 record in those games, the Mets offense has struggled when facing a RH starter.

Mets W-L all-time vs AL Central opponents at home

Detroit               3-0

Cleveland          2-1

Kansas City       2-1

Minnesota         3-3

Top 10 Mets regular season moments (to see moments 10-6 look at previous dates of Hopeisthebestofthings)

5.  Matt Franco beats Rivera and the Yankees – the date was July 10, 1999. The Mets were hosting the Yankees in the 2nd of a three-game series at Shea Stadium.  In a back and forth game that saw 5 lead changes, the Yankees took a one-run lead into the bottom of the 9th.  With 2 outs and the bases loaded, Matt Franco was sent to the plate to hit for Melvin Mora.  Mariano quickly got ahead in the count 0-2 and threw what looked to be a game-ending strike three, but home plate umpire Jeff Kellogg called it either low or inside.  On the next pitch, Franco lined a single past Chuck Knoblauch into RF.  Rickey Henderson scored the tying run and Edgardo Alfonzo raced home with the winning run.  Mets won 9-8.

Matt Franco provided Mets fans a moment to remember when he beat Mariano Rivera and the Yankees on July 10, 1999.

Help Fund for Cancer Survivors

I might as well use this blog to educate people that cancer survivors out there need your help.  Many of us (myself included) have suffered awful side effects from the chemotherapy and radiation.  As a result of my treatment, I now suffer from Hemochromotosis, Crohn’s Disease and Lymphedema.  I had to retire in April 2008 after being diagnosed with Hemochromotosis. Disability payments are not NEARLY enough to live on and many of us in situations like mine need help.  PLEASE help me by donating to a fund to start a foundation for cancer survivors.  If you want more information or are looking for something like this and want to become involved, check out our facebook page or email me.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Help-Start-a-Foundation-or-Fund-for-Cancer-Survivors/108359165870155?ref=ts

After Friday night’s win, the most negative Mets fan figured that the Mets would get at least 1 of the next 2 games with their 2 aces on the mound.  However, in typical Mets form, they failed once again to put their foot on the throat of a better opponent.

Much like the 2007 and 2008 season, the Mets will bring you to a point where it looks impossible for them to fail, and then they pull a performance out of the blue that makes you want to rip all your hair out.  What we are left with is yet another embarrassing episode in our long history of bowing to the team from the Bronx in losing 5-3 yesterday and 4-0 today.

Let’s face facts.  The Mets are nothing near the Yankees.  Even with injuries all over the place and facing our so-called “aces” and with the Yankees getting just 2 hits with RISP this entire series, they still stomped all over the Mets.  An offense that obviously only feeds on the bottom feeders of the league was shut down on three straight days. On Friday, Takahashi was up to the task. However, Pelfrey and Santana, yet again, Santana let the Mets down.

After putting together a very impressive 19-5 run, after losing 2 straight the Mets find themselves still 2-and-a-half games back of the Braves.  Here are some of the Mets biggest concerns this season.

Jason Bay has been a DISASTER

Slumps happen to the best hitters.  Three month long power outages and toothpick hitting OF with RISP only happen to Jeremy Burnitz and Jason Bay.  I love it how Yankees fans whine about the struggles of A-Rod or Teixeira and you look up and both of them have over 8 HR and 40 RBI.  If you want to know what “struggles” are, then look at the abortion of a season that the Mets starting LF is having.

Jason Bay power numbers through 67 games

2010     4 HR    27 RBI

2009   18 HR    65 RBI

2008   14 HR    36 RBI

2007   11 HR     46 RBI

2006   19 HR     52 RBI

2005   12 HR     33 RBI

2004   14 HR     46 RBI

Compared to last season through the same amount of games, Bay has 14 less HR and 38 less RBI.  Any Mets fan would take the DIFFERENCE in the power numbers from last season to this season.  It makes you think that why would the Red Sox let go of a player in his prime that drove in 119 runs and hit 36 HR for them last season for Mike Cameron and Jeremy Hermida?  Did they know something the Mets didn’t know??? Obviously, because Jason Bay is making the decision VERY easy for Mets management if and when Carlos Beltran comes back.  Forget about Francoeur and Pagan going to the bench, Bay should be escorted to his favorite spot and not move until someone needs a day off.

The Rod Barajas obsession is OVER

He was a nice story through the first 2 months of the season, belting HR every few games, and coming up with his share of clutch hits.  Somewhere in the last month, however, his career caught up with him.  Since Barajas hit his last HR on May 31, he has just 2 XBH with no HR and no RBI while seeing his BA drop over 25 points.  He has worked very well with the pitching staff, which I guess is his main reason for being on this team, but the offensive threat he was earlier this season is gone.

Rod Barajas – Since June 1

H-AB      8-44

HR            0

RBI           0

XBH          2

Whaddya Bench?

The next area of concern is the Mets bench.  While fans are infatuated with Chris Carter, a career-minor leaguer does not a good bench player make.  After hitting his 2nd 3-run HR of the road trip last Sunday, Carter went 3-22 with 0 HR and 0 RBI for the rest of the trip.  Overall he is hitting .231.

With his 0-3 today, Fernando Tatis now has gone almost a calendar month without a hit, going 0-14 since his single in the 8th inning on May 23.  His BA on the year is a robust .179 with 2 HR and 6 RBI.

Alex Cora and Henry Blanco have been excellent defensive players for the Mets, but no one will ever brag about their offense. Cora by far this season has been the Mets most productive offensive player, driving in 14 runs in just over 100 AB.

Overall their pitching has been very solid.  However, the inability of their aces to step up in first the Phillies series and now the Yankees series is a BIG cause for concern. Perhaps the Mets biggest problem over these last 3 seasons has been their lack of killer instinct.  In 2007 and 2008 they took leads of at least 2 games into the final week of the season which were played at home.  In both cases they failed.  They had multiple chances earlier in each season to bury their opponents but failed to do so (lost final 8 games vs Phillies in 2007).

Fast forward to 2010.  Early in the season they were riding a 9-game win streak after defeating the Phillies in the first of a 3-game series at Philadelphia.  They then lost the next 2 games by a combined score of 21-5 with their 2 aces on the mound.  That sent them into a funk where they lost 14 of their next 20 games.

After taking the first game of this series, the Mets had an 8-game winning streak. Again, with their 2 aces on the mound, on the road against a rival they get embarrassed, losing the final 2 games of the series by a combined score of 9-3 and not scoring for the final 15 innings.

I mentioned in a previous blog that the aura of this team had changed.  That the loser, quitting mentality and overall victim, woe is me, status of this team had changed. Perhaps I spoke to soon, or perhaps I was blinded by hope.  Whatever it was, this team now has the next few weeks to show us what it’s true colors are.

In order to keep the fans feeling good about this team and for their own self-psyche, the Mets need to end the losing streak right here and take at least 4 of 6 in this next home stand.  However, if they continue to have problems scoring runs and their pitching reverts back to mid-May, then we will have seen the best of the 2010 Mets and their season will be over.

Top 10 Regular Season moments in Mets history

6.  Piazza tops 2-out rally with blast off Mulholland - the date was June 30, 2000 and the Mets were playing their hated rivals the Atlanta Braves at Shea Stadium.  Trailing 8-1 in the bottom of the 8th, Robin Ventura grounded out to drive in Derek Bell and move Mike Piazza to third base, however there were now 2 outs. Todd Zeile then singled to drive in Piazza and make the score 8-3.  Jay Payton then followed with another single to put runners on 1st and 2nd which prompted Braves manager Bobby Cox to go to his bullpen and bring in Kerry Ligtenberg.  Ligtenberg walked Benny Agbayani to load the bases, then walked PH Mark Johnson and Melvin Mora to cut the Braves lead to 8-5.  Cox again went to his bullpen, this time bringing in lefty Terry Mulholland.  Mulholland then walked Bell to cut the lead to 8-6 and make it 4 straight bases on balls for Braves pitchers.  So…situation is bases STILL loaded, STILL 2 outs and the score now 8-6 with Edgardo Alfonzo coming to the plate.  Fonzie quickly fell behind in the count 1-2.  Fonzie then ripped the next pitch into the 3b-SS hole and into left field.  Joe McEwing (who had PR for Mark Johnson) scored and Mora raced home with the tying run.  Shea Stadium was now in a frenzy.  Up stepped Mike Piazza with the chance to give the Mets the lead.  Piazza hammered Mulholland’s first pitch like a bullet down the left field line.  Never getting any higher than 10-12 feet off the ground, the ball caromed off the padding in between the auxilary LF scoreboard and the fence to give the Mets a 10-8 lead.  Shea Stadium had now reached a noise level where the stadium was shaking.  Piazza was greeted by high-fives and a curtain call. Ventura grounded out to second to finally end the inning, but the damage was more than done.  Armando Benitez then closed out the Braves in the top of the 9th to give the Mets an improbable 10-8 victory.

Writing for 8 people to read a blog is very disheartening, especially since two days earlier I had over 100 people visit (thanks to Mark Simon’s article on ESPN.com). What that tells me is the people who did visit, didn’t think to much of this and didn’t come back.  To go from 104, 48 to 8 is absolutely humiliating and makes me feel like I’m wasting my time.  Hopefully people will come back, but for those few of you who do read this, please let me know what you like or don’t like about this blog.  To lose 96 viewers in 2 days is almost impossible, even for a moron like me.  For those who do read, I appreciate you very much.

Mets win streak now at eight

Now that I got my whining and crying out of the way, the Mets won their 8th straight last night with a glorious 4-0 win over the Yankees.  Hisanori Takahashi was outstanding throwing 6 scoreless innings and Pedro Feliciano followed with 2 scoreless innings of his own.  Angel Pagan had a huge 2-run single in the 8th to give the Mets some breathing room.  K-Rod survived a scare in the 9th to retire Derek Jeter and Nick Swisher with the bases loaded.

Ike Davis' 2-out single and David Wright's terrific slide, gave the Mets an early 1-0 lead.

With his second straight outing of 6 innings and no runs allowed, Hisanori Takahashi joined 3 other pitchers since 1920 to allow zero runs to the Yankees in their first 2 starts vs them while throwing at least 6 innings in each start.

1st 2 Career Starts vs NYY, 6+ IP, 0 R – Since 1920

Hisanori Takahashi  NYM     2010

Sidney Ponson          BAL       1998

Scott Sanderson       OAK       1990

Ray Culp                    BOS       1968

Takahashi joined rare company with his 2nd outing of 6 innings of shutout baseball vs the Yankees.

The Mets win last night was only the second shutout by a visiting team at the new Yankee Stadium.  The first one was also by a National League team, exactly one year earlier: Craig Stammen and four Washington relievers blanked the Yankees, 3-0, on June 18, 2009. (SOURCE: ELIAS SPORTS BUREAU/ESPN)

The Mets record now stands at 39-28 which is tied for the 2nd best record in the NL with the Padres.  Considering where this team was just a month ago, this is remarkable.  After a 2-1 loss to the Yankees on May 21st the Mets were 3 games under .500 at 20-23 and 7 games out of first place.  Since then they are 19-5 and have moved to within a half-game of first place.  If the Braves weren’t playing as well as they have been, the Mets would easily be in first right now.

Mets since May 22th

W-L                     19-5   (best in majors)

BA                        .287

Runs PG             5.1

Starters W-L     17-2

ERA                     3.32

WHIP                  1.30

Sv-Sv Op.           11-12

The Mets have now won 8 straight games overall and 7 straight games on the road. This is the 4th time the Mets have had as many as two win streaks of 8 games or longer in a single season.  The Mets 7 game road win streak is their longest since winning 9 straight in 2006.

Mets seasons with at least two separate win streaks of 8 or more games

1969     3 streaks (11, 10 and 9 game streaks)

2010     2 streaks (two 8 game streaks – one current)

1986     2 streaks  (11 games and 8 games)

1985     2 streaks (both 9 games)

Longest road win streaks, team history

2006      9 games   June 7-23

2001      8 games   August 18-September 8

1988       8 games   May 16-June 6

2010       7 games   June 11-Current>>

>>Mets have won 7 straight road games 5 other times in their history

Jose Reyes recent play is a big reason the Mets have their longest road win streak since 2006.

Mets win streak vs Yankees

The Mets have now won 3 straight games vs the Yankees.  Since interleague play began in 1997, the Mets have never won 4 straight games vs them.  This is their 4th time winning 3 straight games vs them.  The other times occurred in 1999, 2004 and 2008.

Big Pelf looks to win 10th game

This afternoon Mike Pelfrey will look to extend the Mets win streak to 9 games and his record to 10-1.  Pelfrey will look to become the first Mets pitcher since Al Leiter in 2000 to start a season 10-1.  Only Terry Leach started a season better than both Pelfrey and Leiter when he started 10-0 in 1987.  Leiter and Leach are the only pitchers to start a season 10-1 or better for the Mets.

Al Leiter is one of two Mets pitchers to start the season 10-1 or better.

Top 10 New York Mets regular season moments – to see moments 8-10 visit Hopeisthebestofthings from June 16-18.

7.  Mlicki shutouts the Yankees – In their first ever regular season meeting, the Mets traveled to the Bronx on June 16, 1997.  Dave Mlicki wasn’t much of a Mets pitcher. Despite possessing tremendous stuff, Mlicki finished his career 24-30 with a 4.15 ERA with the Mets.  However, this one night in the Bronx he was great.  Mlicki (who entered the game with a 2-5 record) allowed 9 hits and 2 BB, but pitched out of trouble all night.  When the final out was recorded via a Derek Jeter strikeout (Mlicki had 8 that night), Mets fans everywhere got to celebrate a win over the Yankees…and not JUST a win, but a shutout!  No matter where he is or what he does with the rest of his life (Mlicki retired after the 2002 season with a career record of 66-80) he will always be remembered for that single moment in Mets history.

Todd Hundley congratulates Dave Mlicki after his 9-hit shutout of the Yankees.

Help Fund for Cancer Survivors

I might as well use this blog to educate people that cancer survivors out there need your help.  Many of us (myself included) have suffered awful side effects from the chemotherapy and radiation.  As a result of my treatment, I now suffer from Hemochromotosis, Crohn’s Disease and Lymphedema.  I had to retire in April 2008 after being diagnosed with Hemochromotosis. Disability payments are not NEARLY enough to live on and many of us in situations like mine need help.  PLEASE help me by donating to a fund to start a foundation for cancer survivors.  If you want more information or are looking for something like this and want to become involved, check out our facebook page or email me.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Help-Start-a-Foundation-or-Fund-for-Cancer-Survivors/108359165870155?ref=ts

Before I start on the Mets, I want to send out my congratulations to the Lakers for winning their 16th NBA title.  They overcame a 13-point 2nd half deficit to rally for the win, outscoring the Celtics 47-30 in the final 20:23.  Kobe Bryant was named MVP of the NBA Finals.  Bryant now joins Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Jordan as the only players in NBA history to win multiple Finals MVP awards, regular season MVP awards, and NBA titles.

Most Championships NBA History

Celtics     17       last won in 2008

Lakers    16       2010

Bulls          6       last won in 1998

Spurs        4        last won in 2007

Kobe helped the Lakers franchise finally defeat the Celtics in a Game 7. The Lakers now have won 16 NBA titles, one less than Boston.

Dickey improves to 5-0, sets new Mets record

R.A. Dickey worked 6 innings last night allowing 7 hits and 2 ER in the Mets 6-4 win last night.  Dickey became the first Mets starter in team history to start a career with the Mets 5-0.  Pedro Feliciano and Elmer Dessens worked the 7th and 8th innings, while K-Rod came on the earn his 15th save of the season by striking out the side in the 9th.

R.A. Dickey improved to 5-0 on the season, becoming the first starter in Mets history to win his first 5 decisions.

Elmer Dessens pitched a perfect 8th inning for the Mets, and has literally come from nowhere to become the Mets dependable 8th inning man.  In his last 8 appearances, Dessens has thrown 9 innings, allowing zero runs and just 3 hits, walking 2 and striking out 4.

Elmer Dessens last 9 appearances

W-L           1-0

ERA           0.00

IP                9

Opp. BA    .120

K-BB          4-2

Holds           4

Elmer Dessens has become a reliable reliever for Jerry Manuel and the Mets this season.

Wright sets new career-high for consecutive games with RBI

David Wright went 1-5 last night with an RBI.  He has now driven in a run in each of his last 7 games.  That is the longest RBI streak for a Mets player since both Carlos Beltran had a streak of 8 straight games in 2006.  Wright is hitting .413 with 20 RBI since May 30th.

Longest Mets RBI streaks, Since 2001

Edgardo Alfonzo       July 2002          9 games

Carlos Beltran           June 2006         8 games

Carlos Delgado          June 2006         8 games

David Wright             June 2010         7 games

Jeromy Burnitz         July  2003         7 games

>>Mike Piazza holds the Mets record with 15 consecutive games with an RBI

David Wright's current RBI streak is the longest one for the Mets since Carlos Beltran and Delgado each put together 8-game streaks in June of 2006.

Mets explosive offense in last 4 games

The Mets offense has been outstanding the last 4 games of this road trip, as they have scored 32 total runs over that span.  The Mets have posted a .365 BA while collecting 58 hits and hit 5 HR.  The Mets have at least 12 hits in each of their last 4 games. That is one game shy of the all-time Mets record for consecutive games with at least 12 hits.

Most consecutive games with 12+ hits – team history

June 11-15, 1990             5 games

April 17-21, 1976             5 games

June 13-17, 2010             4 games>>

>>7 other times Mets have collected at least 12 hits in 4 straight games.  The most recent streak before this current one was from May 13-16, 2009.

Mets offensive totals, last 4 games

BA             .365

Hits              58

Runs            32

HR                5

RBI              31

Slug Pct.    .541

OBP           .380

The Mets offense, led by David Wright and Jose Reyes, have put up great numbers recently.

Mets get ready to take on Yankees in Subway Series 2010 Part II

Tonight the Mets travel to the Bronx to take on their fellow NYC occupant.  The Mets took 2 of 3 from the Yankees at Citifield in May and both teams are playing extremely well right now.  The Yankees had won 4 straight overall and 9 straight at home before losing the last 2 nights vs the Phillies.  The Mets are on a 7-game winning streak, having won 6 of them on the road.  The Yankees, like the Mets, have enjoyed much success at home this season.

Best home winning percentage – 2010 season

Braves           .750    21-7

Yankees        .719     23-9

Mets              .706     24-10

Tigers            .697     23-10

Rangers         .676     23-11

The Yankees have played excellent baseball at home this season losing just 9 of 32 games there.

The Mets will look to do something that they haven’t done much, and that’s win a season series from the Yankees.  Going back to their first meeting in 1997, the Mets have only taken the season series from the Yankees twice, in 2008 and 2004.

Mets season series record vs Yankees

Series wins           2

Series losses         6

Series ties             5

>>Mets are 14-22 all-time at Yankee Stadium (new and old).  They have only won 2 series at the Yankees (swept them in 2008 and won 2 of 3 in 2005).

Mets take on familiar foe in Vazquez

Tonight the Yankees will throw Javier Vazquez who won the Yankees only game at Citifield earlier this season when he went 6 innings and allowed just one run.  In his career Vazquez is 10-8 vs the Mets with a 3.24 ERA.

Javier Vazquez career vs NYM

Starts             24

W-L                10-8

ERA                3.24

Opp. BA         .234

K/BB              145/35

Vazquez will also be looking to expand upon a very impressive streak.  He has struck out at least one batter in 333 consecutive games.

Most Consecutive Games With Strikeout – Expansion Era (Since 1961)

Nolan Ryan         382

Randy Johnson   351

Dwight Gooden   349

Javier Vazquez   333<<

Curt Schilling      331

<<Active streak

New York Mets top 10 moments in regular season history

8.  Hojo takes Worrell Deep; leads to sweep of STL - the date was April 24, 1986 and the Mets were in St. Louis for the first of a 4-game series.  The prior season the Mets had lost the NL East to the Cardinals, and in their first meeting of 1986, the Cards had won in extra-innings in the only game of a series at Shea thanks to rainouts. The Cardinals took a 4-2 lead into the 9th inning and put their closer Todd Worrell on the mound.  With 1 out and George Foster on third, Howard Johnson crushed a Worrell fastball over the right field wall to tie the game.  The Mets wound up winning the game in the 10th inning on a Foster RBI single.  From there on the Mets swept the remaining 3 games of the series and set the tone for the 1986 season.

For his career Howard Johnson was 6-13 with 4 HR vs Todd Worrell.

Help Fund for Cancer Survivors

I might as well use this blog to educate people that cancer survivors out there need your help.  Many of us (myself included) have suffered awful side effects from the chemotherapy and radiation.  As a result of my treatment, I now suffer from Hemochromotosis, Crohn’s Disease and Lymphedema.  I had to retire in April 2008 after being diagnosed with Hemochromotosis. Disability payments are not NEARLY enough to live on an many of us in situations like mine need help.  PLEASE help me by donating to a fund to start a foundation for cancer survivors.  If you want more information or are looking want to become involved, check out our facebook page or email me.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Help-Start-a-Foundation-or-Fund-for-Cancer-Survivors/108359165870155?ref=ts

Mets stay on roll with 6th straight win

Behind consistent pitching by Jonathon Niese and a potent offense that has seemed to find its way, the Mets defeated the Indians 8-4 last night.  Niese has now won 3 straight starts since coming off the DL and has 4 wins on the season overall.  Niese has now pitched at least 7 innings in all of his starts since coming off the DL and in all 4 of his wins this season.  Niese is the first Mets rookie to win three consecutive starts while pitching at least seven innings in each game since Jae Seo in 2003 (May 31–June 11).

Jonathon Niese 2010 Averages per start; before and after DL stint

Before    W-L: 1-2   ERA: 4.79  IP: 5.1  WHIP: 1.79   Opp. BA: .322

After:     W-L: 3-0  ERA: 1.57   IP: 7.2  WHIP: 0.78  Opp. BA: .188

Jonathon Niese has been a revelation since coming off the DL as his numbers have improved drastically.

Angel Pagan went 3-5 with 3 RBI last night.  Pagan is now batting .370 with RISP which is first on the Mets and one of the highest in the NL.  Pagan now has 29 RBI on the season which is 3 shy of a career-high 32 that he drove in last season.  Pagan has now hit in 5 straight games and scored a run in his last 3 games.

Highest BA with RISP; 2010 NL leaders

Adam LaRoche        ARI       .373

Angel Pagan             NYM     .370

Jorge Cantu              FLA      .370

Albert Pujols             STL      .362

Ian Desmond            WSH     .358

>>Minimum 54 AB

Pagan has given Mets fans a dependable substitute for Carlos Beltran this season.

Mets continue streak of 5 runs in an inning

The Mets scored 5 runs in the third inning last night, marking the third straight game that they have put together a 5-run inning.  This was the 7th time that they had accomplished this in team history, and the first time since August 2004.

Most consecutive games; 5 or more runs in an inning – team history

June 14-17, 2010            3

August 3-5, 2004            3

August 2-5, 2003            3

April 22-23, 2000           3

May 24-27, 1998             3

June 12-13, 1990             3

September 7-9, 1988       3

Wright continues RBI streak

David Wright smoked a 2-run double in the third inning to extend his consecutive games with an RBI to six games.   This is the 5th time Wright has driven in a run in 6 straight games, and the first time since 2007.  Wright has never driven in a run in 7 straight games in his career.

David Wright – Most consecutive games with RBI

June 10-16, 2010                                6    (13 total RBI)

July 18-24, 2007                                 6    (10 total RBI)

August 28-September 2, 2006         6    (15 total RBI)

June 9-15, 2006                                  6    (10 total RBI)

April 3-11, 2006                                  6    (10 total RBI)

David Wright has tied a career-high with RBI in 6 consecutive games.

No MINOR thing

Last night, the three Mets affiliates in action won their games by a combined score of 29-2.  Binghamton won 11-2, St. Lucie won 6-0 and Savannah won 12-0.  Perhaps most impressive of these wins was Savannah pitcher Mark Cohoon.  The 22-year old LHP out of Burleson, TX is now 7-1 on the season with a 1.30 ERA.

Mark Cohoon last 3 starts

W-L          3-0

ERA          0.00

IP              27

Opp. BA    .118

K/BB         22/4

Mark Cohoon threw his third straight SHO last night for the Mets Single-A affiliate Savannah Sand Gnats.

R.A. Dickey takes on Cleveland tonight

R.A. Dickey will take the mound for the Mets tonight hoping to improve to 5-0 on the season.  So far Dickey has been a revelation for the Mets this season, posting a 2.78 ERA and able to consistently pitch around trouble.  Dickey is one of 4 Mets starters in team history to go 4-0 in their first 5 starts with the Mets.  Dickey will hope to join Terry Leach as the only Mets starter to go 5-0 in his first 6 starts with the team.  The Mets will be looking for their first 6 game road win streak since August 2008.

R. A. Dickey – 2010 Season

Starts                5

W-L                 4-0

ERA                 2.78

K/BB              24/10

IP per Start     6.2

Mets starters to go 4-0 in first 5 starts – team history

R. A. Dickey        2010            2.78 ERA

Terry Leach        1981-85      0.76 ERA>>

Harry Parker       1973            2.41 ERA

Ray Sadecki          1970           3.11 ERA

>>Terry Leach started his career 6-0 in first 7 starts.

Dickey is 1-0 in 8 career appearances (2 starts) against the Indians.

Top 10 Mets regular-season moments

9. Strawberry hits the clock at midnight – the date was October 1, 1985 and most of NY was in the dark because of Hurricane Gloria.  My family had lost power for a week and I was forced to listen to the game on my transistor radio.  With six games remaining the Mets trailed the 1st place Cardinals by 3 games.  This was game 1 of a three game series the Mets needed to sweep.  Ron Darling matched John Tudor pitch for pitch for 9 innings, allowing just 4 hits and no runs in perhaps his best performance as a Met.  Tudor went one better, throwing 10 scoreless innings.  Jesse Orosco relieved Darling in the 10th and struck out Jack Clark with the winning run on 2nd to end the inning.  Ken Dayley then took over for Tudor and promptly struck out Hernandez and Carter to start the 11th.  Upped stepped Darryl Strawberry who proceeded to crush a Dayley fastball about 500 ft to right center field that wound up hitting a clock.  Orosco then worked around a Mookie Wilson error in the bottom of the inning to nail the win down for the Mets.  The next night Gooden won 4-2, but the Cardinals then took game 3 of the series to end the Mets chances of a division title in 1985.

Help Fund for Cancer Survivors

I might as well use this blog to educate people that cancer survivors out there need your help.  Many of us (myself included) have suffered awful side effects from the chemotherapy and radiation.  As a result of my treatment, I now suffer from Hemochromotosis, Crohn’s Disease and Lymphedema.  I had to retire in April 2008 after being diagnosed with Hemochromotosis. Disability payments are not NEARLY enough to live on an many of us in situations like mine need help.  PLEASE help me by donating to a fund to start a foundation for cancer survivors.  If you want more information or are looking want to become involved, check out our facebook page or email me.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Help-Start-a-Foundation-or-Fund-for-Cancer-Survivors/108359165870155?ref=ts

The Mets set a new team high for a single-season with their 4th straight road win vs an American League opponent.  After struggling through the first 4 innings, Johan Santana was reprieved of a 4-1 deficit thanks to a 5-run 5th inning for the Mets.     After being given the lead, Santana retired 9 of his final 10 batters, handing a 7-4 lead to the bullpen.  K-Rod survived a 2-run HR by Shelly Duncan in the 9th, but held on to record his 14th save in 17 chances.

Jose Reyes continued his hot play, going 1-4 and scoring 2 runs, including scoring from 2nd base in the 5th inning on a David Wright ground out.  Reyes has been hot again over the last 7 games hitting .448 with 6 runs scored.

The Mets rallied from down 4-1 in this game marking the 4th time (all since May 11th) that the Mets have rallied from at least 3 runs down to win a game this season.

Mets largest deficits overcome to win game – 2010 season

June 6 vs FLA          Down 5-0  heading into bottom 6th      Won 7-6

May 11 vs WSH        Down 6-1 heading into bottom 8th       Won 8-6

June 15 at CLE         Down 4-1 after 4 innings                        Won 7-6

June 4 vs FLA          Down 3-0 heading into bottom 3rd       Won 4-3

Thanks to Santana's grit and Reyes aggressive base running, the Mets won their 5th straight game.

Longest single-season road win streaks; vs American League opponents

2010         4  (June 11-Current)

2008         3  (May 17-June 16)

2003         3  (June 11-13)

2001         3  (June 10-13)

1999          3  (June 6-July 16)

Wright continues on hot streak

David Wright went 3-5 last night with 3 RBI.  Since May 30th (span of 14 games) Wright has been on a roll.  Over that span he is hitting .453 with 17 RBI.  Perhaps the most impressive thing for Wright is that he is averaging a strikeout every 5 AB over this stretch, compared to striking out every 2.7 AB from the start of season through May 29th.  Another striking number during this streak is Wright is hitting .545 with RISP over that span.

David Wright Since May 30th

Games                14

BA                     .453 (24-53)

HR                        4

RBI                     17

BA with RISP   .545 (6-11)

K per AB             1 every 5

David Wright deserves all the high-fives he can get for the way he has played in the last 2 weeks.

Wright has also now driven in a run in 5 straight games.  This marks the 10th time in his career that Wright has done this, and the first time since September 21-25, 2008. He can tie his career-high for most consecutive games with an RBI tonight if he does so for the 6th straight game.

David Wright – Streaks of at least 5 consecutive games w/RBI; by seasons

2010  -   1 (5-game streak)

2009  -   0

2008  -   2 (both 5 game-streaks)

2007  -   3 (two 5-game streaks and a 6-game streak)

2006  -   4 (three 6-game streaks and one 5-game streak)

2005  -   0

2004  -   0

David Wright recorded 3 hits and drove in 3 runs for the 2nd straight game yesterday. This was the 2nd time he has done that, as he also did that in 2009.  Only two other players in Mets history have accomplished this feat.

3 hits/3 RBI consecutive games Mets history

2010  David Wright        June 14-16

2009  David Wright        May 15-16

2008  Carlos Delgado      September 7-9

1985   Gary Carter          September 3-4

Source: Elias/ESPN

The Mets have now won 16 of their last 21 games and are 10-2 in the month of June.   The 10-2 record is the best in the majors for June.  Recently, Mets teams have struggled during this month as the Mets have just one season above .500 since 2000.

The Mets have been celebrating wins at a much greater pace recently.

Best W-L in June – MLB

NY Mets              10-2        .833

NY Yankees        10-3        .769

Texas Rangers    10-4        .714

LA Angels            10-5        .667

Tonight, Jonathon Niese goes for his 3rd straight win as he takes on Mitch Talbot of the Indians.  Both are making their first appearance against either team.  The Mets are now 8 games above .500 for the first time since the end of the 2008 season.

Jon Niese will look to build off his dominating performance of a week ago tonight against the Indians.

In yesterday’s blog, I listed the Top 10 (+2) worst moments in Mets history, at least my perspective of them.  Today I will start on the Top 10 greatest moments in Mets history.  However, this list will be a little different as I will break it up into regular season and postseason. Each day for the next 20 days I will add another.  So…here is number 10 starting with the regular season.

10 Greatest Moment in Mets Regular Season History

10. – Mets pitchers SHO, drive in runs in DH (9/12/69) - Entering their doubleheader vs the Pirates on September 12, 1969, the Mets held a 2.5 game lead over the Chicago Cubs.  In game one Mets starter Jerry Koosman threw a 3-hit SHO in the Mets 1-0 win.  Koosman also drove in the Mets only run of the game with a 5th inning single to score Bobby Pfeil.  In game 2, Don Cardwell threw 8 scoreless innings, allowing just 4 hits, while Tug McGraw came on in the 9th to retire the side as the Mets won again 1-0.  Like Koosman in game 1, Cardwell also drove in the Mets only run when he singled in Bud Harrelson in the 2nd inning.  The Mets won both games 1-0 with the pitcher driving in the only run in both games.  Amazing.  The Mets lead grew to 3.5 games and 13 days later they clinched the NL East.

Help Fund for Cancer Survivors

I might as well use this blog to educate people that cancer survivors out there need your help.  Many of us (myself included) have suffered awful side effects from the chemotherapy and radiation.  As a result of my treatment, I now suffer from Hemochromotosis, Crohn’s Disease and Lymphedema.  I had to retire in April 2008 after being diagnosed with Hemochromotosis. Disability payments are not NEARLY enough to live on and many of us in situations like mine need help.  PLEASE help me by donating to a fund to start a foundation for cancer survivors.  If you want more information or are looking for something like this and want to become involved, check out our facebook page or email me.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Help-Start-a-Foundation-or-Fund-for-Cancer-Survivors/108359165870155?ref=ts

Perhaps one of the worst moments in Mets history occurred at the “old” trading deadline in 1977.  However, first, lets examine the trading deadline history.  Prior to 1986 the deadline to make NON-WAIVER trades was June 15.  After the 1985 season, MLB decided to extend the date to July 31st, with the reasons being that too many teams aren’t ready to throw in the towel with over 3-and-a-half months left in the season and a month before the All-Star break.

The title of the Daily News that day broke many a Mets fans heart.

Now, back to June 15, 1977.  Tom Seaver and M. Donald Grant did not get along. Seaver was unsatisfied with the direction the Mets were going in and blamed Grant.   Grant was the Mets Chairman of the board since the Mets inception in 1962.  He was very close with Joan Payson, who owned the Mets from the beginning until her death on October 4, 1975.  Payson and Grant were members of the New York Giants board of directors and the only ones who voted against their move to San Francisco.

Upon Payson’s death in 1975 her daughter, Lorinda de Roulet, assumed ownership of the team and delegated a great deal of authority to Grant.   The mid-70s were a time of great change in baseball with free agency now being throw into the mix.  Grant hated free agency and thought it would eventually be the destruction of baseball.

M. Donald Grant will always be hated for his treatment of the Mets "Franchise".

Flashback to the summer of 1977 in New York.  You had the Bronx Zoo with Reggie Jackson and Billy Martin almost fighting each other in the dugout, you had the Son of Sam killer on the loose, and you had the bickering between Grant and Daily News columnist Dick Young on one side, and Tom Seaver on the other.

Seaver was very critical of Grant for not improving the Mets or having any plan to. Seaver’s happiest days with the Mets was when Gil Hodges was managing (who was brought to the Mets by Grant).  Hodges was a sound baseball man who everyone loved and respected.  No one questioned his knowledge of the game or decisions. However, Gil passed away suddenly from a heart-attack on the cusp of the 1972 season.  Some say the Mets never really got over that tragedy.

Mets players, especially Seaver (with Koosman and Ryan here), loved and respected Gil Hodges knowledge of the game.

Grant was not considered a sound baseball man.  Whitey Herzog, who was the Mets director of player development from the late 60′s until 1972, once told Grant the “he didn’t know beans about baseball”.  On June 12, 1976 a new collective bargaining agreement was brokered between the players union and the owners.  Seaver, who had signed a three-year deal worth $675K ($225K per year) four months earlier to temporarily become baseball’s highest paid pitcher, was happy that the players finally got some power, although he would not get a chance to reap the rewards right away.

During that offseason which was the first one in which free agents could be signed and go to the highest bidder, 11 pitchers (including the Yankees Don Gullett) signed multi-year contracts of $1 million or more.  Seaver’s former teammate and good friend Nolan Ryan, who was not eligible for free agency until 1979, was given a raise to $300K a year by notoriously generous Angels owner Gene Autry.

Seaver, Koosman and Ryan were all young and good friends and helped the Mets win the 1969 World Series. Ryan was traded after the 1971 season, Koosman after the 1978 season.

After the offseason concluded, Seaver was furious with the Mets front office who were not allowed to pursue any free agents.  Seaver, frustrated by years of a lack of offense on the Mets, desperately wanted them to sign some players considering the Mets considerate financial advantage over many teams.  When this didn’t happen and when Grant didn’t even try for players (most notably Seaver wanted Gary Matthews to play CF – whom the Braves signed for 5-years at $1.2 million), Seaver was very distraught and questioned Grants desire to see this team improve.  He also realized he was now very underpaid.

As for his own contract, which had been finally settled after a lot of public acrimony with Grant (the one for $225K per year, which was now chump change to a pitcher of Seaver’s ability), Seaver said: “I was made an example of. I was pictured as the ingrate after nine years with the club. I was to be punished…I still resent the way they did it.”  Now that he was grossly underpaid, Grant would not even listen to any of Seaver’s suggestions or willing to work with him.  Young also vilified Seaver in the papers comparing him to perhaps the most hated man in New York NL sports history, Walter O’Malley, calling him “greedy”.

Jack Lang, who was the Mets beat writer with the Daily News, liked Seaver and desperately wanted him to stay a Met, didn’t agree with fellow columnist Young.  Lang suggested to Seaver that he go above Grant and talk directly to owner de Roulet, which he did.  On June 14, Seaver and de Roulet worked out a deal that instead of getting a salary increase, his deal would be extended by three years, at $300K the first year and $400K the next two years.  Seaver then called Mets GM Joe McDonald, who was in trade talks with the Reds, and told him not to proceed any further.  He was staying a Met.

The next day Seaver was sitting in an Atlanta coffee shop when he heard that Young had attacked him again in the papers.  The last line of the battle page segment on Seaver read this “….Nolan Ryan is getting more now than Seaver,” wrote Young, “and that galls Tom because Nancy Seaver and Ruth Ryan are very friendly and Tom Seaver long has treated Nolan Ryan like a little brother.”  Seaver was sent into a rage.

After reading Dick Young's article, Seaver wanted out of NY and was traded to Cincinnati.

Bolting from his chair in the coffee shop, Seaver stormed back to his room and rang up Mets public relations director Arthur Richman. “Get me out of here, do you hear me?” he bellowed. “Get me out of here!” He then told Richman to call Mrs. deRoulet’s daughter, Whitney, and inform her that the contract deal was off. “And tell Joe McDonald everything I said last night is forgotten.”

Seaver and Ryan remain good friends to this day.

McDonald again dialed up his Reds counterpart, Dick Wagner, and in short order the two completed negotiations on the deal they’d had in place – Seaver alone would go to Cincinnati and in return the Mets would get four young players: pitcher Pat Zachry, second baseman Doug Flynn and outfielders Steve Henderson and Dan Norman.

To this day, Seaver still looks upon Grant, who died in 1998, with contempt.  ”There are two things Grant said to me that I’ll never forget, but illustrate the kind of person he was and the total ‘plantation’ mentality he had,” Seaver says. “During the labor negotiations, he came up to me in the clubhouse once and said: ‘What are you, some sort of Communist?’ Another time, and I’ve never told anyone this, he said to me: ‘Who do you think you are, joining the Greenwich Country Club?’ It was incomprehensible to him if you didn’t understand his feelings about your station in life.”

NOTE:  Many thanks to an article written by Bill Madden in the Daily News on June 17, 2007 for most of this info.

Top Ten Worst Moments in Mets History

After going through the painful ordeal of the Midnight Massacre, I now offer to the room the 10 (+2) worst moments in NY Mets history.

Before I get to my top 10, I must include an Armando Benitez two-fer, as exhibits 10a and 10b.  For more of Benitez’s career as a Mets see this link.  http://a.espncdn.com/mlb/s/2003/0717/1581988.html

10 B. – Benitez 9th inning of September 23, 2001 – In a post 9/11 moment the Mets had come from no where (13.5 GB on August 18) to win 22 out of 27 and move within 3.5 games of Atlanta.  Up 4-1 in the 9th inning, the Mets were about to cut that lead to 2.5.  However, with 2 outs and a runner on, Benitez allowed a HR to Brian Jordan to cut the lead to 4-3.  Still no sweat…2 outs, no one on…However…three straight singles tied the game and finally prompted Bobby Valentine to remove Benitez.  In the 11th inning, Jordan struck again, homering off of Jerrod Riggan to give the Braves the win.

10 A – Benitez walk of Paul O’Neill in Game 1 of 2000 WS – With the Mets holding a 4-3 lead and one out in the bottom of the 9th, Mets fans were on the edge of their seat crossing their fingers hoping to take a 1-0 lead in the series.  Up to the plate stepped a cripple – Paul O’Neill – who was playing on mere guts and pride.  After getting ahead of him 1-2, Benitez just couldn’t put O’Neill away as he fouled off pitch after pitch after pitch before finally working a walk.  The Yankees went on to tie the game later that inning and win it in the 12th.

If Todd Zeile's drive would have gone 2 inches higher, and if Timo Perez WASN'T celebrating instead of hustling, perhaps Benitez walk of Paul O'Neill would have been easier to take.

10.  Willie Randolph’s HR off Don Aase – Many Mets fans don’t remember this moment, but it’s the first thing I thought off when Randolph took over as manager in 2005.  I still hated him for hitting that HR.  The Mets led the Dodgers 3-1 with 2 outs and nobody on base in the top of the 9th.  After back-to-back singles to offensive stalwarts Lenny Harris and Alfredo Griffin, Willie Randolph then hit Aase’s first pitch over the RIGHT-CENTER FIELD fence…WHO KNEW RANDOLPH HAD THAT POWER!!!.  I don’t exactly remember why Davy Johnson let Aase stay in or why he didn’t bring in closer Randy Myers, all I remember is the shock…the Dodgers then added another run off of Jeff Innis, which made the defeat all the more painful as the Mets scored on consecutive hits to lead off the bottom of the 9th.  The tying run (Keith Miller running for Mackey Sasser) was on third with one out for Keith Hernandez who popped out to short.  Gregg Jefferies then made the final out against Jay Howell.  That win would have put the Mets 1.5 GB of the Cubs in the NL East and would have given the Mets their 16th win in 20 games.  However, after this game the Mets went on to lose 16 of their next 26 games and fall out of contention.

Very few remember Willie Randolph's career with the Dodgers, but psychotic Mets fans do.

9. The 1988 offseason and 1989 season – After being shocked by the Dodgers in the NLCS, the Mets then made a bunch of stupid decisions that lost them key players. Gone via free-agency was Wally Backman – a gritty gamer who LOVED being a Met. Gone during the season were Lenny Dykstra, Roger McDowell, Rick Aguilera, Terry Leach, Mookie Wilson, Lee Mazzilli, Kevin Tapani and most of the Mets depth.

The trade of Dykstra was one of many bad moves the Mets made during the 1989 season.

8. Not drafting Reggie Jackson – The Mets had the number one draft pick in the 1966 amateur draft and used it on high school catcher Steve Chilcott.  Chilcott bounced around the minors posting a .248 career BA.  The 2nd pick went to the A’s who selected Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson.

The Mets failed to pick Reggie with the first pick in the 1966 draft.

7. – The hype and downfall of Generation K - For more info on this see Hopeisthebestofthings blog on June 10…final article.

6. – Terry Pendleton’s HR off of Roger McDowell – I remember the moment as clear as day.  I was getting ready to celebrate the Mets moving to a half-game of the first place Cardinals.  Ron Darling had pitched 5.1 innings of no-hit ball, but his first hit cost him the rest of the season as he tore ligaments in his thumb trying to scoop and throw a Vince Coleman bunt with 1 out in the 6th.  Ronnie finished the inning, but was taken out after one batter in the 7th.  Roger McDowell was handed the ball with a 4-1 Mets lead to get them the win.  After a leadoff walk to Ozzie Smith in the 9th, McDowell then retired Tom Herr and Dan Driessen.  With the Shea crowd pumping, McGee singled to center to cut the lead to 4-2.  Up came Pendleton who the crushed a HR over the 410 sign in CF to tie the game.  The Mets had their chances in the bottom of the inning as Wilson, Teufel and Hernandez each batted with the winning run on 2nd, but couldn’t get him in.  Jesse Orosco then came in for the 10th inning and allowed 2 runs giving the Cardinals a 6-4 win.  The Mets never got that close to first again.

Terry Pendleton ruined the 1987 season for a certain 13-year old on Long Island, NY.

5.  The Trade of Nolan Ryan – Who knew that Ryan would become the greatest strikeout pitcher in the history of baseball and throw 7 no-hitters?  He was a Met from 1966-71, but was 11 games under .500 in his 105 games with them.  Nonetheless, the no-hit curse followed, as he threw 7 and the Mets still have not thrown one.

Who knows if Nolan Ryan would have ever thrown a no-hitter while pitching for the Mets?

4. The Downfall of Doc and Darryl –  Perhaps the two most promising prospects to enter the Mets system since Tom Seaver, were hurt by drugs and bad decisions. This led to the Mets bad feelings with Darryl and his departure via free-agency after 1990, and in the countless chances they gave Doc before he ran out of them for the Mets.  I still love these two athletes dearly, and beyond their careers I pray for them and that they are granted strength to walk away and deal with the demons that ruined their baseball careers.

3.  Mike Scioscia’s HR - Up 2-1 in the best-of-seven NLCS against the Dodgers, the Mets took a 4-2 lead into the 9th inning of Game 4.  After walking John Shelby to lead off the inning (Doc had him 0-2), Gooden then allowed a first pitch HR to Mike Scioscia that tied the game at 4.  The Dodgers eventually won the game in 12 innings thanks to a Kirk Gibson HR and Orel Hershiser getting Kevin McReynolds to pop out to CF with the bases loaded to end the game.  The Dodgers won the NLCS in 7 games and the Mets didn’t recover until the late ’90s.

The sky was the limit for both of these players who debuted with the Mets within 11 months of each other.

2.  Midnight Massacre – the trades of “the franchise” Tom Seaver and Dave Kingman on the same night, June 15, 1977.

1.  Death of Gil Hodges – Hodges passed away suddenly on April 2, 1972.  Not only did they lose Hodges, but because of bad decisions by management they lost director of player development Whitey Herzog.  Although they made the World Series in 1973 and should have won it, this set the team back at least 5-7 years.

Gil Hodges' number 14 is one of three numbers retired by the Mets.

Help Fund for Cancer Survivors

I might as well use this blog to educate people that cancer survivors out there need your help.  Many of us (myself included) have suffered awful side effects from the chemotherapy and radiation.  As a result of my treatment, I now suffer from Hemochromotosis, Crohn’s Disease and Lymphedema.  I had to retire in April 2008 after being diagnosed with Hemochromotosis. Disability payments are not NEARLY enough to live on and many of us in situations like mine need help.  PLEASE help me by donating to a fund to start a foundation for cancer survivors.  If you want more information or are looking for something like this and want to become involved, check out our facebook page or email me.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Help-Start-a-Foundation-or-Fund-for-Cancer-Survivors/108359165870155?ref=ts

Mets travel to Cleveland after sweep at Baltimore

Thanks to 5 first-inning runs and 6 determined innings by Mike Pelfrey, the Mets swept their first road series since September 2008.  David Wright hit two two-run HR, Chris Carter hit a three-run HR and (wait…HOLD IT!!!) JASON BAY hit his first road HR since September 2009.

Thanks to David Wright's 2 HR and 4 RBI, the Mets completed a 3-game sweep of the Orioles.

Jason Bay BREAKS THROUGH!

Jason Bay’s long awaited first HR of the season occurred during Sunday’s 11-4 win over the Orioles.  Bay homered in the 5th inning off of Kevin Millwood and it was his first road HR since September 21, 2009.  Overall, Bay had one of his best days as a Met, going 4-4 with a BB and scoring 4 runs.

Mets players to reach base 5 times and score 4 runs on road; Since 2003

Jason Bay                 June 13, 2010 at BAL

Fernando Tatis        July 2, 2009 at PIT

Luis Castillo              June 27, 2008 at NYY

Mike Jacobs             August 24, 2005 at ARI

David Wright           August 24, 2005 at ARI

Sweeping an American League team on the road is rare enough (only happened once previously – vs NYY in 2008 – and that was separated by six weeks thanks to a rain out).  On Tuesday the Mets will try to do something they have never done before on the road against the American League and that is win 4 straight games.

Longest single-season road win streaks; vs American League opponents

2008         3  (May 17-June 16)

2003         3  (June 11-13)

2001         3  (June 10-13)

1999          3  (June 6-July 16)

Big Pelf joins rare company

Mike Pelfrey improved to 9-1 yesterday with his win over the Orioles.  Pelfrey is the first Met pitcher to win at least 9 of his first 10 decisions since Al Leiter did it back in 2000.  Terry Leach had the best win pct for any Mets pitcher through 10 decisions when he started 10-0 in 1987.  Of the Mets starters who won at least 9 of their first 10 decisions, only David Cone went on to win 20 games.

Mike Pelfrey became one of just 5 Mets pitchers to start the season with 9 wins in their first 10 decisions.

Best W-L through first 10 decisions; Single-season Mets pitchers

Terry Leach           1987           10-0

Mike Pelfrey          2010             9-1

Al Leiter                 2000             9-1

David Cone             1988              9-1

Doc Gooden            1988              9-1

Johan Santana will take the mound tomorrow night against Justin Masterson of the Indians.  Though Santana is the undeniable number one starter on the Mets, the Mets have not performed in his recent starts, while they have for the other 4 starters in the rotation.

Mets in Santana starts vs rest of rotation – Since May 18th

When Santana starts:    1-4

Rest of rotation starts:  15-4

>>Santana: 1-1 over span; rest of rotation: 11-2

Despite Johan's best efforts, the Mets just have 1 win in his last 5 starts.

In total, the Mets have as many losses in their last 19 games started by their other starters, compared to 4 losses in 5 games when their ace starts.  If the Mets figure out how to hit in Santana starts, who knows how good this team can be?

OFFENSIVE numbers – Johan Santana’s last 5 starts (team averages)

BA       .196

HR        1.0

Runs     2.1

BB         2.0

K           9.2

Rest of staff

BA        .289

HR         1.1

Runs      5.4

BB          3.1

K            5.7

Help Fund for Cancer Survivors

I might as well use this blog to educate people that cancer survivors out there need your help.  Many of us (myself included) have suffered awful side effects from the chemotherapy and radiation.  As a result of my treatment, I now suffer from Hemochromotosis, Crohn’s Disease and Lymphedema.  I had to retire in April 2008 after being diagnosed with Hemochromotosis. Disability payments are not NEARLY enough to live on and many of us in situations like mine need help.  PLEASE help me by donating to a fund to start a foundation for cancer survivors.  If you want more information or are looking for something like this and want to become involved, check out our facebook page or email me.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Help-Start-a-Foundation-or-Fund-for-Cancer-Survivors/108359165870155?ref=ts

According to a Mike Vaccaro article in the New York Post, Carlos Beltran is “working hard” to return as soon as possible.  After reading the article there is nothing in there that tells us anymore than his return is still at least 4-6 weeks away.

From the article: “This week he plans on refining the work more. After that? ”After that,” he said, “I hope.”  Hope is a good thing, especially now that the knee — “Thank God,” he says — is pain-free. He will rest today, play again tomorrow, maybe start running in fourth gear soon, then fifth. He watches the Mets on his computer and on his cell phone, likes what he sees. And doing that can try his patience. ”Soon,” he says. “I’ll be there soon. You can believe that, because I believe that.”

For the complete article go here: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/answering_the_bel_RtSha5za8mXpEfhiE22vyN

Even the most optimistic outlook will have Beltran out until after the All-Star break.

THE STREAK IS OVER!!!

Last night the Mets snapped a 56 game streak of not winning consecutive road games. Hisanori Takahashi completed 7 strong innings allowing just 6 hits and 1 run, while Pedro Feliciano allowed 1 hit in the 8th and K-Rod pitched the 9th to earn his 13th save.  On offense, Jose Reyes continued his hot hitting of late, going 2-3, while leading off a game with a HR for the 15th time in his career (9th time on the road).

Most road games without winning consecutive games – team history

1963-64          64 games

1962-63          60 games

2009-10         56 games>>

>>Streak ended with yesterdays 3-1 win over the Orioles

Jose Reyes and Hisanori Takahashi both played big parts in the Mets ending their streak of not winning consecutive road games.

Most Leadoff HR – NY Mets History

Jose Reyes            15

Lenny Dykstra       8

Tommie Agee         8

Mookie Wilson        6

Kaz Matsui              5

The daily Jason Bay update

Jason Bay continued his recent struggles and his season struggle on the road going 0-4 last night.  Bay is now hitless in his last 16 AB and has 1 hit in his last 26 AB.  On the road, Bay has just 1 RBI in his last 13 games and 5 RBI total on the season.  Despite the effect Mets fans feared Citifield would have on his power numbers, it’s been on the road where he has lost his power stroke.

Jason Bay – 2010 Home/Road Stats

Home –  .311 BA    .516 Slug Pct.    3 HR    19 RBI

Road  -  .226 BA    .283 Slug Pct.    0 HR>   5 RBI

>Has not homered in his last 128 AB (September 21 at KC)

Although Bay has 3 HR at home, it is still far below his average HR total for this time of the season.  So far in 2010 Bay has homered on ONE day in each month with the exception of June (April 27th – HR vs LAD and May 23rd – 2 HR vs NYY).

When the Mets signed Jason Bay, they didn't realize that on June 13th the Rangers would have more April wins (4) than Bay HR (3).

Jason Bay HR by Month

April       1    (Career average is four)

May        2    (Career average is eight)

June        0   (Career average is four)

Jose Reyes has righted himself after a brief 1-20 slump, and is 10-20 (.500) with  2 HR and 4 runs scored in his last 5 games.  Reyes’ .262 BA is the highest it’s been since April 13th (.308).  With his HR last night, Jeff Francoeur has now hit in 14 of his last 15 games.  He is hitting .423 over that span with 2 HR and 10 RBI.  Despite hitting .124 over a 29-game stretch from April 17-May 17, Francoeur still has solid numbers this season, hitting .267 with 7 HR and 35 RBI.  Here is a breakdown of his season before and after his slump.

Jeff Francoeur – 2010 season Before and After and During Slump

Before and After Slump (April 5-16/May 18-Present)

Games               33

BA                     .398

HR                       6

RBI                     23

Multi-hit gms    14

During Slump (April 17-May 17)

Games                29

BA                      .124

HR                        1

RBI                      12

Multi-hit gms      0

Jeff Francoeur has rebounded from his month long slump to become a key member of the Mets.

Pelfrey looking for 9th win today

Mike Pelfrey goes the for the Mets today and will be looking to build on his terrific start to the season.  Pelfrey is 8-1 with a 2.23 ERA.  Pelfrey’s 8-1 start is one of the best for Mets starters through their first 9 decisions in team history.

Other Mets with 8 wins in first 9 decisions – Starters only

Mike Pelfrey    2010

Al Leiter           2000

David Cone       1988

Doc Gooden      1988

John Matlack   1976

Mike Pelfrey will look to join David Price and Ubaldo Jimenez as the only 9-game winners in the majors this season.

Mets looking for road sweep

Since interleague play began in 1997, the Mets have only swept a road series once.  In 2008, the Mets defeated the Yankees in the first 2 games of their series at Yankee Stadium.  The third game was rained out, so the two teams played a day-night DH on June 27th with the day game being played at Yankee Stadium.  The Mets won that game 15-6 to complete the three game sweep.

Overall, the last time the Mets swept a series of 3-games or more on the road, was September 1-3, 2008 vs the Brewers.  That was one of 3 road sweeps during the 2008 season.

Mets road sweeps by season – Since 2006

2010 –   None

2009 –   None

2008 –   3

2007 –   4

2006 –   5

Help Fund for Cancer Survivors

I might as well use this blog to educate people that cancer survivors out there need your help.  Many of us (myself included) have suffered awful side effects from the chemotherapy and radiation.  As a result of my treatment, I now suffer from Hemochromotosis, Crohn’s Disease and Lymphedema.  I had to retire in April 2008 after being diagnosed with Hemochromotosis. Disability payments are not NEARLY enough to live on an many of us in situations like mine need help.  PLEASE help me by donating to a fund to start a foundation for cancer survivors.  If you want more information or are looking want to become involved, check out our facebook page or email me.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Help-Start-a-Foundation-or-Fund-for-Cancer-Survivors/108359165870155?ref=ts

R. A. Dickey continued his excellent performance this season as a Mets improving to 4-0 in his 5 starts as the Mets won 5-1.  Dickey went 7 innings allowing 7 hits, striking out a career-high 8 batters and stranding runners all over the place.  Most impressive for Dickey was escaping a bases loaded no out situation in the 4th inning on just 7 pitches!  Chris Carter helped the game get put out of reach when he hit his first career HR, a 3-run shot in the 4th.

R. A. Dickey – 2010 Season

Starts                5

W-L                 4-0

ERA                 2.78

K/BB              24/10

IP per Start     6.2

R. A. Dickey struck out a career-high 8 batters in the Mets 5-1 win over the Orioles.

Dickey has gone 4-0 his first five starts with the Mets.  In doing so he has become the first Met to do that since Terry Leach did so.  Leach, however, did this over a 4-year span as he was mostly used as a reliever in his career with the Mets (he also didn’t pitch in 1983-84).  The others to do so are Harry Parker (1973) and Ray Sadecki (1970).

Mets starters to go 4-0 in first 5 starts – team history

R. A. Dickey        2010            2.78 ERA

Terry Leach        1981-85      0.76 ERA

Harry Parker       1973            2.41 ERA

Ray Sadecki          1970           3.11 ERA

Source: Elias Sports Bureau

Terry Leach was terrific in his first 5 career starts for the Mets going 4-0 with a 0.76 ERA.

I remember thinking earlier this season that many Mets fans just had a bad feeling about this roster.  So many fans were still angry over the collapses of 2007 and 2008 and the injury plagued 2009 that I didn’t think much could be done with this group of players.  However, recently fans are seeing a different aura around this team.  One of the biggest differences is that this team doesn’t seem to quit anymore like it appeared they had done in recent seasons.  In watching last night’s game, the camera showed the players coming into the locker room area and the players (Jose Reyes especially) were exciting and looking determined.

The aura and attitude of the Mets seems to have changed in the last few weeks.

The win last night moved the Mets to a season-high five games over .500 just as they were after defeating the Phillies on April 30th at 14-9.  I’m not sure how this season will play out, but I do as most Mets fans now have a good feeling about the future for this team.  When you add in the inevitable though seemingly improbable return of Carlos Beltran, and Mets fans could just be seeing the beginning of a special season.

Mets W-L by month – 2010 Season

April  14-9

May   12-17

June     7-2

Today the Mets will try to do something they haven’t done in their last 56 road games and that’s win consecutive games.  The last time the Mets won 2 straight on the road was July 25th and 26th at Houston.

Most road games without winning consecutive games – team history

1963-64          64 games

1962-63          60 games

2009-10         56 games>>

>>Current streak

The daily Jason Bay breakdown

Travelling to a stadium where he has had success didn’t do much last night for Jason Bay, who went 0-3 last night.  Bay is now hitless in his last 12 AB and has just one hit in his last 22 AB.  On the road, Bay still has not homered this season and has now gone 124 consecutive road AB without hitting a HR.

Jason Bay gets high-fives from his teammates after scoring on Chris Carter's 3-run HR in the 4th inning.

Jason Bay on road – 2010

Games          27

H-AB        24-102

BA                .235

Slug Pct.      .294

HR                  0>>

RBI                 5

>>Has gone 124 AB since his last HR (September 21 at KC)

Tonight the Mets will throw LH  Hisanori Takahashi and the Orioles will counter with Brian Matusz.  The Orioles have lost 6 straight starts vs LHP and are 5-16 overall vs them this season.  The Orioles won Matusz last start against Boston, snapping an 8-game losing streak in his starts.  Overall the Orioles have lost 13 of their last 15 games and have lost 3 straight and 4 of last 5 vs NL opponents.

Help Fund for Cancer Survivors

I might as well use this blog to educate people that cancer survivors out there need your help.  Many of us (myself included) have suffered awful side effects from the chemotherapy and radiation.  As a result of my treatment, I now suffer from Hemochromotosis, Crohn’s Disease and Lymphedema.  I had to retire in April 2008 after being diagnosed with Hemochromotosis. Disability payments are not NEARLY enough to live on an many of us in situations like mine need help.  PLEASE help me by donating to a fund to start a foundation for cancer survivors.  If you want more information or are looking want to become involved, check out our facebook page or email me.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Help-Start-a-Foundation-or-Fund-for-Cancer-Survivors/108359165870155?ref=ts

Yesterday was a rare occasion where each team dominated in a very similar fashion. In the first game, Mat Latos handcuffed the Mets, as did Luke Gregerson, Mike Adams and Heath Bell, as they retired the final 22 Mets to come to bat.  Those are the types of games where most fans cry about their team not trying.  This was not the case yesterday.  As much as I asked myself “Who are these guys” that seem to grow on the Padres bullpen tree, I quickly found out after looking up their numbers.

As shocked as I was the see the names and the ERAs of the pitchers on the Padres, these guys can throw.  Latos has NASTY stuff, and who really knows where Gregerson or Adams came from, but combined they have allowed just 13 ER in 60.2 IP this season (1.92 ERA) while holding opponents to a .133 BA.  They also have not allowed a run in their last combined 22.2 IP.

Pitchers like Luke Gregerson are the reason the Padres are 9 games over .500 this season.

Luke Gregerson and Mike Adams – Combined Stats in 2010

Games         57

W-L             2-2

ERA             1.92

Opp. BA      .133

K/BB           71/11

After Henry Blanco went deep in the second inning to give the Mets a 2-0 lead, the Mets didn’t have another player reach base.  Sometimes you have to tip your cap to the other team, and these pitchers on the Padres deserved it in Game 1.

Game 2 was a very different story.  Jon Niese took the mound for the Mets looking for his second straight victory.  What he gave the Mets almost mirrored the output of the Padres from the 2nd inning on in Game 1.  Niese allowed just one runner to reach base (Chris Denorfia) who led off the 3rd inning with a opposite-field double.  From there on out, Niese faced 21 batters and retired them all.

Niese joined Tom Seaver and Steve Trachsel as the only Mets to throw CG shutouts allowing just one baserunner.

Overall it was probably the most effective Mets performance I have ever seen from a Mets starter.  The start was just Niese’s 18th in his career.  Thanks to good friend and ESPN researcher Mark Simon, he helped put Niese’s accomplishment in perspective.

Niese became just the just the 8th pitcher in baseball history to throw a shutout where only ONE player reached base.  Niese became just the 2nd Met pitcher to throw a SHO where 1 player reached base (joining Tom Seaver in 1969).  Amazingly, Game 1 starter Mat Latos accomplished this same feat less than a month ago. Overall, it was the 23rd time during the regular season a Mets pitcher has thrown a complete game one-hitter of nine innings or more (Bobby Jones threw a one-hitter in the 2000 NLDS).

Pitchers to throw CG of 9+ IP – First 18 games

Allowed 0 or 1 base runner – MLB history

2010 Jon Niese                NYM-18th start

2010 Mat Latos                   SD -17th start

2008 Hiroki Kuroda         LAD -16th start

1986  Jimmy Jones              SD -1st start

1970  Vida Blue                 OAK -16th start>

1966  Woody Fryman        PIT -17th start

1958  Von McDaniel           STL -9th start

1922  Charlie Robertson  CHW -5th start>>

> No-hitter

>> Perfect game

(Special thanks to Mark Simon and Baseball-Reference for their help on this.  For a deeper perspective on Niese’s accomplishment, see Mark’s article on ESPN.com http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/4574/10-things-to-know-nieses-one-hitter)

Vida Blue threw a no-hitter in just his 16th major league start.

For the series with the Padres the Mets hit a combined .196 with 7 runs scored.  I kept wondering how the Padres could be 10 games over .500.  Now I know that they are because they have great pitchers who no one knows.   Jason Bay had by far the worst series for Mets hitters, going 0-9 with ZERO RBI and ZERO runs scored.  In his last 9 games Bay is hitting just .189 with 1 RBI and 1 run scored.

Jason Bay – Last 9 games

H-AB       7-37

BA            .189

HR               0>

Runs            1

RBI              1

BA RISP   .100 (1-10)

>Has not homered in his last 58 AB (3rd longest streak this season)

Jason Bay acknowledged to the press yesterday that he has really struggled this season.

Mets travel to Baltimore to take on the Orioles

Tonight, the Mets travel to Camden Yards to face the team with the majors worst record in the Baltimore Orioles.  This will be the Mets 2nd straight season playing at Camden and the 6th time since interleague play started in 1997.  Overall the Mets are 8-6 in 14 games played there.

Mets W-L at Camden Yards

2009         1-2

2001         2-1

1999          2-1

1998          1-1

1997          1-2

Overall this will be the 7th time that they have faced the Orioles as the Mets have won 13 of the 22 all-time regular season matchups between these two teams (don’t forget the Mets won the 1969 World Series vs the Orioles in 5 games).   Hopefully Jason Bay will be able to regain some of his offensive touch as he has historically done well at Camden Yards.

Jason Bay – Career at Camden Yards

Games            13

H-AB             16-51

BA                  .314

HR                     5

RBI                  10

Runs                13

R.A. Dickey takes his perfect 3-0 record as Met out there against Jeremy Guthrie whom the Mets beat last season in there only win against the Orioles.  This will be the Mets first visit to an AL park this season.  They also travel to Cleveland and the Bronx to face the Yankees.  Historically, the Mets have not done well playing on the road against the AL, as they have had just 2 seasons of winning records since inter-league play began in 1997.  Overall they are 44-63 (.411) on the road in inter-league play.

R.A. Dickey will look to improve to 4-0 tonight as the Mets take on the Orioles.

Mets W-L on road vs American League opponents

2009       4-5

2008       5-1

2007        2-4

2006        3-6

2005        3-6

2004        2-7

2003        4-5

2002        3-6

2001        4-5

2000        4-5

1999         5-4

1998         4-4

1997         1-5

Before we get to the Mets, I want to first congratulate the Chicago Blackhawks who last night defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals to win the cup for the first time in 49 years.  Patrick Kane became the 16th player to clinch the cup on an OT goal.

The only team that had a longer historic cup drought than the Blackhawks, was the Rangers who had gone 54 years without winning the cup from 1940-1994.  Jonathon Toews takes home the Conn-Smythe Trophy as the playoffs MVP.  At 22 years and 41 days, Toews is the 2nd youngest player to win the trophy, trailing only Patrick Roy in 1986.

Most Seasons Without Winning Stanley Cup – Active Streaks

Maple Leafs      42        last won in 1966-67

Blues                  42        never won

Kings                  42        never won

The Blackhawks finally ended the Stanley Cup drought with their win last night.

Mets to play day-night doubleheader today

Since last night’s game was rained out, the Mets will host a separate admission doubleheader today with the Padres.    This is the second doubleheader the Mets will play this season, as earlier this season the swept the Dodgers at Citifield, but that was an old-fashioned Twi-Night Doubleheader.

This will be the Mets 33rd doubleheader since 2000.  This will be their 22nd DH played at home.  The Mets have not lost a DH at home since June 8, 2003 when they lost both games to the Seattle Mariners by a combined score of 20-1.

From August 3, 2002 to June 27, 2004 the Mets played in nine DH, six of which were at home, two were on the road and one was a split venue DH.  During that span the Mets went 0-7-2 in DH, including 0-5-1 at home.  Since then, they are 4-2-12 in DH.

Mets in doubleheaders since 2000

Played in     32 (21 at home, 8 on road)>>

Won               7  (5 at home, 2 on road)

Lost              10 (5 at home, 3 on road)

Split              15 (11 at home, 3 on road)

>>Played 3 multi-venue DH since 2000 going 0-2-1 in them (all vs NYY)

Johan Santana will go for the Mets in Game 1, while Jon Niese will take the mound in Game 2.  For Santana, he has been absolutely brilliant in his last 5 starts, going 1-0 with a 0.74 ERA, but the Mets have lost 4 of those 5 starts because they have only totaled 10 runs in those 5 games.   For his career, Santana is 2-2 with a 1.99 ERA in 6 starts vs San Diego.

Despite posting a 0.74 ERA in his last 5 starts, Santana has only one win as the Mets have only scored 10 total runs in those starts.

Johan Santana – Last 5 starts

W-L    1-0

ERA    0.74

K/BB  22/13

WHIP  1.04

>>Mets have lost 4 of 5 starts

For the Padres, Mat Latos will start against Santana.  Latos has been excellent as well lately, going 4-2 with a 1.96 ERA in his last 7 starts.  Latos won his only previous start vs the Mets on August 8, 2009 at San Diego.  Jon Garland will go for the Padres in Game 2.

Mat Latos takes on Johan Santana in Game 1 today. Latos won his only previous start vs the Mets.

David Wright has been right on lately

David Wright is enjoying his best stretch of the season.  After going 2-4 in the Mets win on Monday night, Wright now has six multi-hit games in his last 8 games.  Overall Wright is batting .517 over the stretch with 8 runs scored and 6 RBI.  Perhaps what is the most impressive thing about Wright’s recent stretch is that he has cut down on his strikeouts drastically.  Over this 8-game stretch, Wright has struck out just 4 times in 29 AB.  His current streak of 14 AB without a strikeout is easily his longest streak of the season.

David Wright – Last 8 games

H-AB                      15-29

BA                            .517

Runs                           8

RBI                             6

Multi-hit Games       6

Strikeouts                  4>

>Has not struck out in a season-high 14 straight AB

Mets fans are smiling along with David Wright with his outstanding recent play.

Generation K – Revisited

With the much hyped debut of Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg, it got me thinking the last time the Mets faithful were really excited about a young prospect coming up to the majors.  Mike Pelfrey, Octavio Dotel, Alay Soler, Grant Roberts, Tyler Yates, Brian Bannister and Phil Humber all come to mind, but none of them really got people excited.  In 1996 the Mets had not one, not two, but THREE big-time pitchers who were supposed to be the Glavine, Smoltz and Maddux of the next 15 years.

The trio of Wilson, Pulsipher and Isringhausen had Mets fans thinking of a dynasty.

First to arrive on the scene was Pulsipher who made his MLB debut on June 17, 2005. Pulse finished the rest of the season with the Mets, going 5-7 with a 3.98 ERA in his 17 starts.  Next to arrive was Jason Isringhausen on July 17, 2005.  Izzy also finished the season with the Mets, going 9-2 in 14 starts with a 2.81 ERA.  The Mets themselves went from buried in last place with a 25-44 record at the All-Star break, to finishing with the majors second best record in the second half, going 44-31 and rallying the team to a second place finish.  Beyond the strong finish, you could see the raw potential in both Pulse and Izzy.  Pulse was very confident, challenging batters with his fastball and not afraid to come inside.  Izzy had a devastating knuckle-curve along with a blazing fastball.

Perhaps the most exciting thing Mets fans looked forward to was that Paul Wilson, who was the first overall pick in the 1994 draft, was ready to take his spot in the rotation for the 1996 season.  Wilson dominated the minors in 1995, going 11-6 with a 2.41 ERA in 26 starts with 194 K in 186 IP.

Paul Wilson making one of his 12 career starts at Shea Stadium, a place where he was supposed to be the next great Mets starter.

The hype surrounding these three entering the 1996 season was unreal.  ”Generation K” as they were dubbed, were being thrown on magazine covers and TV spots.  I had a joke I told that offseason to my friends that went “Name 2 reasons why Paul Wilson won’t win the Cy Young Award this season”.  People would not know what to say, so I would chime in “Jason Isringhausen or Bill Pulsipher will win it instead.”

I remember reading an article early in spring training that year where one of the writers said he heard what sounded like gunshots coming from the Mets bullpen.  When he got there he realized it was the sound of Paul Wilson’s fastball hitting the catcher’s mitt. WOW!!! I was pumped!

However, as usual with things that are too good to be true, the first sign of bad things to come was the lefty in the crew, Bill Pulsipher, injured his elbow in spring training. The Mets were never crazy about Pulse’s wild delivery and were trying to get him to become more fluid.  Who knows what that did to his head or his body, all I know is that he was out for the season with a torn ligament that required Tommy John surgery.

Pulse spent the next few seasons bouncing around the minors as he was unable to get command back of his pitches.  His walks totals were very high and he had lost velocity on his fastball.  Pulse was so distraught he began suffering from major depression and wound up on Prozac.  He made it back to the Mets in 1998, but Bobby Valentine had lost all confidence him and he posted a 6.91 ERA in his 15 appearances. He was traded to the Brewers at the trading deadline in 1998.

Pulse made it back to the Mets in 2000 when the Brewers traded him back, but he was awful allowing 12 hits and 9 ER in his 2 starts.  He then wandered around the Independent Leagues before making a brief return to the majors with the Cardinals in 2005, but pitched poorly and was released in September of that season.

After suffering a torn ligament in his elbow in the spring of 1996, Pulse was never the same.

Things still were looking up for the Mets as they still had Isringhausen and Wilson to carry them into the season.  Opening Day 1996 started great for the Mets as they rallied from down 6-0 to defeat the Cardinals, 7-6.

Two days later, Izzy made his first start of the season and gave little reason for concern as he held the Cardinals to 3 runs on 5 hits in 6 innings and got a ND in a game the Mets lost.   The next day on April 4, Paul Wilson made his debut for the Mets and threw 6 innings allowing 3 runs on 6 hits. Wilson departed with a 8-3 lead and was on track for his first major league win.

However, the Mets bullpen (1996 would be one of the WORST in team history) of Doug Henry, Blas Minor, Bob Macdonald and John Franco allowed 6 total runs in the 8th and 9th innings to give the Cardinals the lead and cost Wilson his win.  However, the Mets rallied with 2 outs in the 9th to beat Dennis Eckersley and post their 2nd come-from-behind win in 1996.

Wilson and Izzy had their good moments in 1996, but overall they were a huge disappointment.  For the season Wilson posted a 5-12 rec0rd with a woeful 5.38 ERA in 26 starts, while Izzy went 6-14 with a 4.77 ERA in 27 starts.  The 1996 season was the last season these two got to pitch together.  Surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right (pitching) shoulder cost Wilson most of 1997 and ’98.

After joining the Mets and pitching well in spring training in 1999, Wilson learned he had torn a ligament in his right elbow.  When he returned to the Mets minors in 2000, Wilson was barely reaching 90 on the radar gone.  Gone was the explosion in his fastball and slider.  The Mets traded him to the Rays at the trading deadline in 2000.

The Mets traded Paul Wilson to the Rays at the deadline in 2000 along with Jason Tyner for Bubba Trammell and Rick White.

For Izzy, he had arthroscopic surgery on his elbow and shoulder at the end of the 1996 season.  Not sensing he was fully recovered yet, the Mets demoted him to the minors to start the 1997 season.  After a poor first inning in his first minor league start, Izzy took it out on a trash can, and fractured his wrist, putting him out 6-8 weeks.

Later that season, Izzy was diagnosed with tuberculosis.  He finally made his debut in late August, but posted a 7.58 ERA in 6 starts to finish the season.  While pitching in winter ball in the offseason, Izzy tore a ligament in his right elbow, causing him to miss the entire 1998 season.

When he returned to the Mets in 1999, Izzy was used mostly out of the bullpen as he made just 5 starts in 13 appearances going 1-3 with a 6.41 ERA.  He was then traded to the A’s for Billy Taylor, where he went on to be a top-notch closer for the rest of his career.  As for Billy Taylor, he finished the 1999 season with a 8.10 ERA in 18 appearances with the Mets.

Jason Isringhausen went on to be a top closer with the A's and Cardinals before his career ended in 2009.

So, that’s the sad story of Generation K.  So much promise, so little return (at least with the Mets).  Together the three appeared in 120 games for the Mets, making 98 starts.  They finished with a combined record of 28-42 with a 4.82 ERA and 1.51 WHIP in 630.1 innings pitched.

Generation K totals with Mets

Games          120

Starts              98

W-L              28-42

ERA               4.82

WHIP            1.51

IP                   630.1

K/BB             435/275

Help Fund for Cancer Survivors

I might as well use this blog to educate people that cancer survivors out there need your help.  Many of us (myself included) have suffered awful side effects from the chemotherapy and radiation.  As a result of my treatment, I now suffer from Hemochromotosis, Crohn’s Disease and Lymphedema.  I had to retire in April 2008 after being diagnosed with Hemochromotosis. Disability payments are not NEARLY enough to live on an many of us in situations like mine need help.  PLEASE help me by donating to a fund to start a foundation for cancer survivors.  If you want more information or are looking want to become involved, check out our facebook page or email me.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Help-Start-a-Foundation-or-Fund-for-Cancer-Survivors/108359165870155?ref=ts

In his much anticipated first major league start (shown nationally on the Baseball Network) Stephen Strasburg was everything the Nationals and their fans could have hoped he would be.  He threw 7 innings allowing 4 hits, 2 runs, ZERO walks and 14 Ks. What a debut!  Is it wrong to wish that he suffer a career-changing rotator cuff injury (like Paul Wilson) or suffer other arm troubles (like Bill Pulsipher).  Since he is SURE to be an awful thorn in the side of the NY Mets for many years to come, I can’t help but hope (the sinful side of me hopes this…the same one that hopes Tom Brady gets injures himself skiing in the offseason and must end his football career) that Strasburg suffers some sort of setback that will slow his progression, because the way he looked last night it looks like the Nationals have a franchise-type starter to help them for the next 10-15 years.

Rookie Pitchers to not allow a walk a strikeout at least 14 batters – since 1969

Stephen Strasburg          6/8/2010  vs PIT        14 K

Kerry Wood                      5/6/1998  vs HOU      20 K

Doc Gooden                      9/17/1984 at PHI        16 K

Doc Gooden                      9/12/1984 vs PIT       16 K

Roger Clemens                 8/21/1984 vs KC        15 K

>>Elias Sports Bureau

Stephen Strasburg was everything Nationals fans hoped he would be in winning his first MLB start.

John Starks – Redeemed?!?!?!

All Knicks fans will never forget two MAJOR individual games/moments/players during their what now was (thanks to ONE playoff appearance in the last 9 seasons) the glory days of the 1990s.  Game 1 is STILL the most exciting sporting event I have ever been to, and that is Game 5 of the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals.  The name is Charles Smith and the moment was him missing multiple chances to put the ball in the basket underneath the basket.   The other occurred in Game 7 of the 1994 NBA Finals when John Starks went 2-18 from the field in the Knicks loss (including 0-11 from 3-point range).   This coming after Starks single-handedly almost won the Knicks the NBA title in Game 6 with a 27-point effort (9-18, 5-9).

Well, last night Ray Allen stepped into John Starks territory.   After scoring 32 points in their Game 2 win of the NBA Finals on Sunday and making a NBA Finals record 8 three-point shots, Allen went 0-13 from the field (0-8 from behind the arc) and scored just 2 points in the Celtics loss.  It wasn’t quite the same as doing it in Game 7, but maybe John Starks can rest a little easier knowing that he wasn’t the only player to self-destruct in the NBA Finals.

Knicks fans will never forget Starks dismal Game 7 performance in the 1994 NBA Finals.

More notes on Ray Allen

- His 0-8 from behind the arc was the 2nd most 3-Pt FGA without a make in NBA Finals history (you guessed it, Starks is first with his 0-11)

- His 0-13 from the field was the 3rd most FGA without a make in NBA Finals history (Dennis Johnson went 0-14 for the Sonics in 1978 and Chick Reiser of the Baltimore Bullets went 0-14 in 1948 – source: ESPN)

- His 2 points in Game 3 tied for the fewest in NBA Finals history for a player the game after posting a 30-pt effort (Dave DeBusschere also did this in the 1973 Finals – source – ESPN).

Ray Allen could only wish his shots were falling like he was in an historic evening for dismal performances.

…And Now on to the METS

The Mets won their 9th straight home game last night, marking the 2nd time this season that they have won 9 straight home games.

Two win streaks of 9 or more games at home in one season – team history

2010 –  9-game streak and 9-game streak (current>>)

1990 – 11-game streak and 10-game streak

>> started on May 22nd

Mike Pelfrey had his Johan Santana moment last night for 7 innings as he only allowed 1 run, but the Mets could not get to Clayton Richard despite having a few chances with RISP (paging Jason Bay…Jason Bay…).  Jose Reyes HR in the 7th prevented Pelfrey from being on the losing side, but after 9 brilliant innings Big Pelf left with a ND.  If I was Jason Bay I would have stayed away from Pelfrey through the entire game.  Bay came up with a Angel Pagan on third and one out in the first of a 1-0 game and left Pagan there by striking out LOOKING (nothing makes me more annoyed than watching a player go down LOOKING with a runner on third and less than 2 outs).   Bay then came up with Reyes on third and Pagan on first in the 5th with 2 outs and – you guessed it – struck out AGAIN.

Mike Pelfrey was outstanding again yesterday, throwing 9 innings and allowing just one run in a no-decision.

To be fair to Bay, Jeff Francouer also had multiple chances to drive in a run in the first 9 innings but failed to deliver.  After singling in the 2nd, Francouer had 2 separate chances in his next 2 AB to drive in David Wright but struck out in the 4th and flew out in the 6th.

Pelfrey left after 9 BRILLIANT innings that saw his ERA drop from 2.39 to 2.23.  K-Rod threw a perfect 10th and Pedro Feliciano and Elmer Dessens worked around a David Eckstein single in the 11th.  However in the 10th, Angel Pagan JUST missed a game-winning HR (sometimes I really HATE this field’s dimensions – and WHERE is Jeffrey Meier when you need him?!?!?!) with 2 outs that set the stage for – guess who – Jason Bay AGAIN to be the hero…the 10th ended when Bay failed for the 3rd straight time to drive in a run from 3rd base when he weakly grounded out to Chase Headley (by the way HOW GOOD IS THIS KID VS THE METS?!?! – he is batting .529 (9-17) vs the Mets in 2010 and has a .423 BA (23-52) vs them overall in his career).

Chase Headley loves seeing the Mets on the schedule as his career .423 career BA vs them proves.

Highest career BA vs Mets – Active Players with at least 50 AB

Chase Headley       SD       .423

Derek Jeter            NYY   .381

Ivan Rodriguez      WSH   .373

Garret Anderson   LAD    .360

Ike Davis then led off the 11th and hit a ball that almost went to where I was sitting when I went to “bark at the park”.  I mean this ball was CRUSHED!!!  I think it even went farther than his first ML homer which I also saw in person vs the Braves at Citifield that went over the Shea Bridge in right CF).  The more I see of Davis, the more I like him.  He seems to be patient and hasn’t let any miniature slumps get in his head so far.  He also seems to be able to adjust pretty quickly to how the pitchers are pitching him.  Ike Davis’ walk-off HR was the 2nd fewest career games that a Met has hit a walk-off HR (this was his 45th career game).  Do you know who had played in the fewest games before hitting a walk-off HR?  For those of you who remember Craig Brazell, you WIN!!  Brazell’s walk-off HR on September 25, 2004, came 2 innings after Victor Diaz hit a game-tying 3-run HR off of Cubs closer LaTroy Hawkins.  Cubs fans remember that game as the game that cost them the postseason as they were a game-and-a-half up in the wild card heading into that game and proceeded to win just 2 of the final 9 games to miss the playoffs.

Mets fans everywhere jumped up when Ike Davis hit one into Nassau County in the 11th inning of the Mets walk-off win last night.

What else can be said about the inability of Jason Bay to drive in runs?  Overall, Bay has been solid.  He’s a very good base runner, a much better fielder than I thought he would be, and he hustles and tries hard all the time.  Saying that, 24 RBI in 250 PA is NOT what the Mets gave him that big contract for.

Jason Bay – Fewest RBI through first 250 PA of season

2010             24   –  3  HR

2005             27   – 11 HR

2008             29   – 13 HR

2007             43   – 10 HR

Jose Reyes snapped a 1-20 streak with a single in the 3rd inning. Reyes HR in the 7th snapped a streak of 5 straight games without scoring a run.  It was also just the third extra-base hit Reyes has this season coming in the 7th inning or later.

More to come later on my thoughts of Generation K…

Help Fund for Cancer Survivors

I might as well use this blog to educate people that cancer survivors out there need your help.  Many of us (myself included) have suffered awful side effects from the chemotherapy and radiation.  As a result of my treatment, I now suffer from Hemochromotosis, Crohn’s Disease and Lymphedema.  I had to retire in April 2008 after being diagnosed with Hemochromotosis. Disability payments are not NEARLY enough to live on an many of us in situations like mine need help.  PLEASE help me by donating to a fund to start a foundation for cancer survivors.  If you want more information or are looking want to become involved, check out our facebook page or email me.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Help-Start-a-Foundation-or-Fund-for-Cancer-Survivors/108359165870155?ref=ts

The Mets take on the Padres tonight at Citifield and hope to extend their home winning streak to nine games. This is the Mets 2nd win streak of at least 8 games at home this season, as they won 9 straight games from April 22 – May 8.

Two win streaks of 8 or more games at home in one season – team history

2010 –  9-game streak and 8-game streak (current)

1990 – 11-game streak and 10-game streak

1969 –   9-game streak and 8-game streak

Mets will be looking for their second 9-game win streak at home this season with a win tonight.

Mets look to reverse recent trend against Padres

The Mets have not enjoyed much success in their season series vs the Padres. Last week the Padres took 2 of 3 in San Diego. Since 1989 the Mets are 4-15-2 in season series vs the Padres, winning the season series only in 1990, 1999, 2005 and 2006. Last season the Padres played the first ever game at Citifield which they won 6-5. Since winning 7 straight vs the Padres at home from 2005-07 (including sweeps in 2005 and 2006), they are just 3-5 vs them at home including losing 2 of 3 last season.

Fewest season series wins vs opponents – Since 1989

Padres         4

Cardinals     8

Cubs             8

Dodgers       8

David Wright and the Mets will look to reverse a trend of losing vs the Padres.

Mike Pelfrey goes the for the Mets tonight and will be looking to build on his terrific start to the season.  Pelfrey is 8-1 with a 2.39 ERA.  Pelfrey’s 8-1 start is one of the best for Mets starters through their first 9 decisions in team history.

Other Mets with 8 wins in first 9 decisions – Starters only

Mike Pelfrey    2010

Al Leiter           2000

David Cone       1988

Doc Gooden      1988

John Matlack   1976

In 1988 David Cone started 8-1 on his way to a 20-3 season.

Help Fund for Cancer Survivors

I might as well use this blog to educate people that cancer survivors out there need your help.  Many of us (myself included) have suffered awful side effects from the chemotherapy and radiation.  As a result of my treatment, I now suffer from Hemochromotosis, Crohn’s Disease and Lymphedema.  I had to retire in April 2008 after being diagnosed with Hemochromotosis.  Disability payments are not NEARLY enough to live on an many of us in situations like mine need help.  PLEASE help me by donating to a fund to start a foundation for cancer survivors.  If you want more information or are looking want to become involved, check out our facebook page or email me.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Help-Start-a-Foundation-or-Fund-for-Cancer-Survivors/108359165870155?ref=ts

Jeff Francouer continued his hot hitting as he went 2-4 with a HR and 3 RBI as he extended his hit streak to 10 games and his RBI streak to four games.  The Mets have now won 8 straight home games (this is the Mets second win streak of at least 8 straight games at home this season).  The last time the Mets had 2 separate winning streaks of at least 8 games at home was in 1990).  The Mets completed their first 3-game sweep of the Florida Marlins at home since June 26-28, 2000.

New York Mets Series Sweeps at least 3 games vs Marlins in team history

June 4-6, 2010

June 26-28, 2000

June 22-24, 1999

Thanks to Jeff Francouer, the Mets swept the Marlins at home for just the third time in team history.

Jose Reyes seems to be falling back into his slump again as he has just one hit in his last 19 AB.  Reyes has also not scored a run in his last 5 games.  With Reyes not having scored during the Mets 3-game win streak, this marks just the 7th time in his career with the Mets that the Mets have won 3 straight games WITHOUT Reyes scoring a run (keep in mind these are only games that Reyes plays in).  If the Mets win on Tuesday and Reyes does not score it will tie the record for longest Mets win streak without Reyes scoring a run.

Mets longest win streaks without Reyes scoring a run

August           17-20      2006      4 games

June                4-6         2010      3 games*

September     1-3         2008      3 games

August            7-9         2008      3 games

July                 8-10       2008      3 games

July                20-22      2006      3 games

Sept/Oct       29-1         2005      3 games

>Spans Jose Reyes’ entire career (2003-Present)

*Active streak

Jose Reyes' recent play has very few people jumping for joy.

David Wright went 3-5 and is blistering hot over his last 7 games in which he has hit safely in all 7 games.  Wright has already equaled his HR total for all of last season when he hit his 10th HR on Saturday.     Wright’s strikeouts are also way down over the last 7 games, having not struck out in 5 of those 7 games.  His current streak of 10 AB without a strikeout ties a season-high for most AB without a K.  His current 3-game stretch without a K is the longest streak of consecutive games in which he has not struck out this season.

David Wright – Numbers during current 7-game hit streak

H-AB                    13-25

BA                          .520

HR                             2

RBI                            6

Runs                          8

Strikeouts                 4>>

>>Has not struck out in 10 straight AB (tied for season-high)

David Wright has found his stroke recently hitting over .500 with 8 runs scored in his last 7 games, while cutting down on the strikeouts.

Ryota Igarashi came on to pitch the 7th inning yesterday and continued his HORRID pitching since coming off the DL.  Igarashi threw 32 pitches in the 7th inning allowing 1 run while giving up a hit and 2 walks.  After a promising beginning to the season in which Jerry Manuel even handed him the 8th inning role, Igarashi has been beyond terrible since coming off the DL.

Ryota Igarashi – Before and since return from DL

Games        7              6

IP               6.2          4.0

H                 3              11

ER               1              12

ERA           1.35       27.00

K/BB          3/4          1/5

WHIP        1.13         4.00

The Mets won't keep standing around if Igarashi continues to implode like he has since coming off the DL.

Sunday’s game marked the 4th time this season that the Mets have rallied from down by at least 4 runs and tie or take the lead.  They are 2-2 in those games.  In all of those game the Mets have rallied in the 6th inning or later in each of them.

Mets rallying to tie/go ahead when down by 4+ runs at home in 2010

vs Marlins          June 6          trailed 5-0 in 6th         W, 7-6

vs Nationals       May 11         trailed 6-2 in 8th         W, 8-6

vs Giants            May 9           trailed 4-0 in 6th         L, 6-5

vs Marlins          April 7           trailed 6-1 in 7th         L, 7-6

Around the majors

- Ubaldo Jimenez improved to 11-1 despite his consecutive scoreless inning streak ending at 33.  He has a 0.93 ERA through 12 starts this season which is fourth-best in major league history.  The Rockies snapped a 3-game losing streak with their 3-2 win over the Diamondbacks.

Best ERA Through 12 Starts – MLB History

Dutch Leonard           0.83        1914

Al Benton                    0.89        1945

Walter Johnson          0.93        1918

Ubaldo Jimenez          0.93       2010

Walter Johnson          0.95        1914

Ubaldo Jimenez continued his dominance yesterday to improve to 11-1 on the season with a 0.93 ERA.

- The Brewers defeated the Cardinals 4-3 in 10 innings despite another strong performance by Cardinals rookie starter Jaime Garcia.  Garcia allowed 2 ER in 6 IP and has not allowed more than 2 ER in any of his 11 starts this season.

Most Consecutive Starts; 2 or Fewer ER – To Start Season Last 10 Years

2008    Edinson Volquez       CIN     12

2010    Ubaldo Jimenez        COL    12<<

2010    Jaime Garcia             STL     11<<

2009    Zack Greinke            KC       10

2004    Jake Peavy                SD       10

<<Active streaks

Jaime Garcia has been dominant so far in his rookie season.

- The Padres defeated the Phillies in extra-innings 6-5 thanks to 8.1 scoreless innings from their bullpen.  The Phillies threatened in the bottom of the 10th but Tony Gwynn threw out Placido Polanco trying to go to third with one out on a single by Chase Utley.  After giving up what would have been a game-tying single to Ryan Howard, Heath Bell struck out Jason Werth to end the game.

- Matt Capps blew his 4th save in his last 6 save opportunities as the Nationals lost to the Reds 5-4.  The Nationals rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth after a Scott Rolen HR had put the Reds up, but allowed a run in the 10th to lose for the 5th time in their last 6 games.

Matt Capps waits for the ball back from the umpire after allowing a HR to Scott Rolen blowing his 4th save in his last 6 opportunities.

- The Dodgers defeated the Braves 5-4 in 11 innings giving the Braves their 3rd walk-off win in their last 5 games.  Martin Prado extended his hit streak to 11 games going 3-6 on the day.  Prado also scored a run in the game which extended his run scoring streak to 11 games (longest in majors this season).

Most Hits – National League 2010

Martin Prado                   ATL      80

Ryan Braun                      MIL      71

Chase Headley                    SD      66

Albert Pujols                     STL      66

Andrew A. McCutchen    PIT       66

Around the majors

- Rays defeat the Rangers to avoid the sweep and improve to a MLB best 22-8 on the road this season.

- Angles win their 5th straight with a 9-4 win over the Mariners.  The Angels are now just a 1/2 game back of the AL West leading Texas Rangers.  The Mariners have lost 3 straight and are a MLB-worst 5-16 in day games this season.

- The A’s improve to a MLB-best 11-4 in one-run games and avoid a sweep with a 5-4 win over the Twins.

The A's improved to a MLB-best 11-4 in one-run games with their 5-4 victory over the Twins yesterday.

- The Orioles defeat the Red Sox in 11 innings, snapping their 10-game losing streak and reward Juan Samuel with his first victory as a manager.  The Red Sox are now a MLB-worst 1-7 in extra-innings this season.

Worst W-L this season – Extra Inning Games

Red Sox     1-7<<

Mariners    1-6

Nationals    1-5

<<0-4 vs Orioles

The Orioles defeated the Red Sox in 11 innings to improve to 4-0 vs them in extra-innings this season.

- The Yankees score 4 runs in the 8th inning to overcome a 2-0 deficit and avoid the sweep from the Blue Jays.  Javier Vazquez won for the 4th time in his last 5 starts.

Help Fund for Cancer Survivors

I might as well use this blog to educate people that cancer survivors out there need your help.  Many of us (myself included) have suffered awful side effects from the chemotherapy and radiation.  As a result of my treatment, I now suffer from Hemochromotosis, Crohn’s Disease and Lymphedema.  I had to retire in April 2008 after being diagnosed with Hemochromotosis.  Disability payments are not NEARLY enough to live on an many of us in situations like mine need help.  PLEASE help me by donating to a fund to start a foundation for cancer survivors.  If you want more information or are looking want to become involved, check out our facebook page or email me.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Help-Start-a-Foundation-or-Fund-for-Cancer-Survivors/108359165870155?ref=ts

John Wooden passed away last night in a hospital in Los Angeles. The former UCLA head coach was 99.  Wooden was the greatest college basketball coach of all-time, appearing in 12 Final Fours and winning 10 championships.   He appeared in 10 consecutive Final Fours from 1967-76, during which he won 7 straight championships from 1967-73.  He also coached UCLA during it’s record 88-game win streak for Division I schools.  He will be very dearly missed.

Most Final Four Wins – Head Coaches

John Wooden, UCLA             21 <

Mike Krzyzewski, Duke         12

Adolph Rupp, Kentucky          9

Dean Smith, North Carolina     8

< 21-3, .875 win pct

The "Wizard of Westwood" won 10 NCAA Championships at UCLA

Mets defeat Marlins 4-3 behind R.A. Dickey

The Mets snapped their 6-game losing streak vs the Marlins last night with a 4-3 win. The Mets rallied from down 3-0 to win their MLB best 20th game at home.  R.A. Dickey improved to 3-0 as a starter this season and K-Rod notched his 11th save despite making it interesting again in the 9th.  Jeff Francouer continues his Dr. Jekyll season as he is now hit in 8 straight games going 14-28 over that span.  This after coming off a 18-105 (.171) span from April 21 to May 26.

Jeff Francouer continued his hot hitting of late (14-28 during current 8-game hit streak) as the Mets won their MLB best 20th home game.

Jose Reyes in the clutch – What once was to what now is

During the Mets 2006 season Jose Reyes drove in 81 runs for the Mets despite hitting in the leadoff spot.  A major reason why he drove in that many runs was because he collected a large number of hits with 2 outs and RISP (runners in scoring position).  Reyes had an uncanny knack to always seemingly come through in those spots.  However since that 2006 season, Reyes has completely done a *180 as far as coming through in the clutch.  Here are some numbers for Reyes with 2 outs and RISP.

Jose Reyes; RISP with 2 outs

5/24/06 to end of season          2007-Current

H-AB                           23-43                                  41-183>

BA                                 .535                                     .224

RBI                                  36                                         54

> .153 (9-59) since 7/30/08

Jose Reyes needs to look to the heavens to help him get back his 2 out stroke

Jose Reyes – The next Gary Templeton?

For those of you who thought they at one time remember Reyes being very clutch, these numbers back up your memory.  Why has Reyes performed so poorly in the clutch the last few years? Will he ever revert back to what he was in 2006?  That brings up another interesting trend that I think about with Reyes.  He was so good and had such a promising future after the 2006 season and through much of the 2007 season, people thought of him as one day being a possible MVP candidate. After seeing him perform in the last couple seasons and noticing the trend his career is taking, I’m reminded of another SS who at one time was considered the next greatest thing.  Here is how Reyes compares with that player through his first 3,569 AB.

Jose Reyes vs Gary Templeton; Through 3,569 AB

Reyes         Templeton

BA                    .284                .296

OBP                 .335                .318

Slug                  .429                .408

Hits                  1,014              1,055

Runs                 581                  523

RBI                   346                  349

3B                       77                     77

All-Star App.      2                       2

Silver Sluggers   1                       1

The numbers are eerily similar.  The unfortunate thing about Templeton was that after a great start to his career (he was one of two switch-hitters in MLB history – Willie Wilson in 1980 was the other) to collect 100 hits from each side of the plate when he had 111 batting left-handed and 100 batting right-handed during the 1979 season.  Templeton had speed (has the same number of triples as Reyes)  hit for average (currently 12 points higher than Reyes) and was an excellent fielder (no gold gloves, mostly thanks to the player he was later traded for – Ozzie Smith).  No one really ever explained why Templeton dropped off so much after the 1981 season.

Much like Jose Reyes, Gary Templeton was considered "Mr. Do it All" by major sports publications.

Gary Templeton – Per Season Averages

1976-81         1982-1991

BA                    .305                 .250

OBP                 .325                  .291

Slug Pct.          .418                  .338

Hits                    152                  119

Runs                   74                    45

3B                        12                     4

That is a HUGE drop-off.  Looking at Reyes numbers the last 2 seasons I’m starting to worry that he might be headed in the same direction.  The first time I noticed that Reyes was beginning to struggle was in September of 2007.  Not only did the Mets suffer a historic collapse, but Reyes seemed to popup to SS every other AB (a trend he has continued this season) .  Starting with September 1, 2007 until last night is a span of 273 games.  I have compared his last 273 games with his previous 273 games going backwards from August 31, 2007.  Here’s how the numbers line up.

Jose Reyes Last 273 games compared to previous 273 games

Last 273 Games              Previous 273 Games

BA                          .277                                     .300

H                            323                                      346

Runs                      179                                       210

HR                           21                                         28

RBI                         112                                       122

SB                             86                                       132

Reyes numbers have slipped enough in the last 3 seasons to warrant a concern.

A key stat there is stolen bases, as Reyes has stolen 46 less bases over that span. These numbers don’t SCREAM out, but there is a bit of cause for concern.   Hopefully this will be the last time that Reyes and Templeton are mentioned by me.  That would mean that Jose has returned to 2006-07 form.

Honorable Mention

Florida International shortstop Garrett Wittels doubled yesterday to extend his hit streak to 55 games.  It’s the 2^nd-longest streak in Division I history. Wittels is one of 9 players in NCAA or Professional baseball history to have a hit streak of 50 games or more.  Wittels is just 3 games shy of tying Robin Ventura for the longest hitting streak in NCAA Division I baseball history.

Garrett Wittels extended his hit streak to 55 games last night. He is just 3 shy of tying Robin Ventura for the NCAA Division I record for hits in consecutive games.

Players with Hits in 50 Consecutive Games – Professional and NCAA Baseball History

1919 Joe Wilhoit                           Wichita Jobbers (Independent)            69

1933 Joe DiMaggio                       San Francisco Seals (AA)                       61

2001-03 Damian Costantino      Salve Regina (D-III, Rhode Island)      60

1987 Robin Ventura                     Oklahoma State (D-I)                             58

1941 Joe DiMaggio                       New York Yankees                                  56

2010 Garrett Wittels                   Florida International (D-I)                    55

1954 Roman Mejias                      Waco Pirates (Class B Minors)              55