The Mets 10-Game Report: Volume 4

Hello, boys and girls, and welcome to the 4th installment of the Mets 10-Game Report.  

Previous results:

Volume 1: Games 1-10: Record: 5-5

Volume 2: Games 11-20: Record: 4-6

Volume 3: Games 21-30: Record: 8-2

And the latest:

Games 31-40

Record: 4-6

vs ATL L 8-3

vs ATL W 4-3

vs ATL L 8-7

@ SFO W 7-4

@ SFO W 8-6

@ SFO W 9-6

@ SFO L 2-0

@ LAD L 3-2

@ LAD L 5-3

@ LAD L 2-1

Runs Scored: 44

Runs Allowed: 47

Team BA: 101/355 = .284

Team BA with RISP: 25/96 = .260

Team BA with RISP and 2 outs: 8/42 = .190

HR's: 2  (2?)

HR’s Allowed: 4

Team ERA: 90.1IP, 37ER = 3.69 

Starter ERA: 61IP, 27ER = 3.98

Bullpen ERA: 31IP, 10ER = 2.90

Team BAA: 103/363 = .283

Errors: 12 (gasp!!!)

GIDP: 13

Fielding DP: 11

SB: 17 (nice)


Volume 3 MVP's:
Starter: Mike Pelfrey: he has been very steady over his last few starts, and is very economical with his pitches - which I love.  
Reliever: K-Rod: this guy is a winner.  But we knew that.  
Hitter: David Wright: Wright appears to be in first-half 2006 clutch mode.  Welcome back, David.  

Volume 3 Makers Mark Specials:
Starter: John Maine: he wasn't even that bad, but he got roughed up a bit in his most recent start.  
Reliever: J.J. Putz: this man needs to stop giving up a run every time he comes into a game.
Hitter: Fernando Tatis: he has been very cold at the plate.  

Summary Analysis: Obviously this is a disappointing result.  But I would submit that things are not as bad as they seem.  Sort of.  The Mets started this volume after having won 7 in a row, so we can tolerate that they started off by losing two of three to the Braves (even though they lost those games in typical frustrating Mets fashion).  Then they went to San Francisco and won 3 in a row, and - wow - did they look good doing it.  All of the sudden (and this started shortly before the San Fran series) the Mets began to get those big clutch hits, to rake with runners in scoring position, and they began to score lots of runs late in games.  They looked stellar.  

Then they lost 4 in a row: they lost the last game in San Fran, and then they got swept by the Dodgers.  They were in every one of those games until the very end, and - no - I don't want to talk about Church not touching third base in game 2 against the Dodgers.  If there is any positive to look at over this mediocre 4-6 result, it's that the pitching was still very, very good.  And at the end of the day it's all about pitching.  

The problem was the offense.  On this recent 4 game losing streak, they couldn't get any hits with RISP.  But this time, injuries have played a much bigger role in the offensive struggles.  No Reyes, no Delgado.  Delgado I believe can be made up for - especially with Daniel Murphy manning first base.  And the Mets did alright for a little while with Reyes out of the lineup.  But then - and this really killed them - Alex Cora went down with a thumb injury.  Enter Ramon Martinez.  Mr. Martinez, you have no business being in the major leagues.  In any case, the Mets lineup has been a mess over the last few days because of this.  

On the one hand - this is comforting, since we can be confident that once the lineup is back in tact, everything will be fine.  But on the other hand - who knows how long it will be in flux?  Reyes will likely go on the 15 day DL now.  Will we have to watch Ramon Martinez play short stop or second base all this time???

In any case - it's worth noting that after 40 games last year, the Mets had the exact same record as they do now.  They did it a bit differently last year, going 5-5, 6-4, 5-5, 5-5.  I have to say that I feel much, much more confident about the team right here right now than I did after 40 games last year.  The Mets posted a putrid 3-7 in volume 5 last year, so this next 10-game stretch for the Mets right now is very crucial I think.  They have 3 against Boston at Fenway, and then they come home to play the Nats and Fish.  6-4 would be perfectly fine.  

Around the NL East:

Phillies: 4-6, 7-3, 5-5, 5-3

Braves: 5-5, 5-5, 4-6, 6-3

Marlins: 9-1, 3-7, 4-6, 3-7, 0-1

I saw an interesting stat on the Phillies recently.  They are 7-2 against the Nats this year.  Take away those games, and they are one game under .500.  The Braves appear to be playing better, but they are still a .500 team until they prove otherwise.  And the Marlins - well they are quickly making a case for being pulled off the list here.  They just can't seem to get out of their own way.  

In other news, the Yankees look pretty hot right now.  Ah, baseball is so funny and so fickle.  Things change so quickly.  One week, the Yankees are losing everything and look awful and the Mets look like world beaters, and then the very next week things are completely reversed.  This weekend is going to be very, very interesting, and - I hope - a hell of a lot of fun.  Mets @ Red Sox; Phillies @ NYY.  I'll be rooting for the pinstripes for the first time in my life.