Image via Wikipedia The Mets opened up registration for a random drawing for tickets to the first playoff series. You have to register by September 15 and you’ll be notified by email on September 18 if you won. Register at the Mets website.
The rain and wind are imminent today so the Mets decided to postpone today’s game and play a split double header tomorrow at 2:15 and 8:05pm. Tickets for today’s game will be honored for the 2:15pm game tomorrow.
I’ve talked up Jerry Manuel on this blog before. But I have to say that the most impressive thing, in my mind, about his tenure with the Mets is the team’s resilience. Clearly, the motivation for this post is the Mets series this week against the Phillies. Losing the first game in dramatic, ninth inning fashion was devastating. Coming back to win the next two games showed incredible ability to be down but not out.
There are several other examples of this during Manuel’s tenure as well. On July 2nd the Cardinals left the Mets on the field in St. Louis. Troy Glaus hit a home run with two outs in the ninth inning off Carlos Muniz to win 8-7. The next day the Mets came back to beat the Cardinals 11-1.
On July 4th the Mets got left on the field again with two outs in the ninth inning against the Phillies. Shane Victorino hit a 1-2 pitch off Duaner Sanchez to right field to score Pedro Feliz and top the Mets 3-2. The next day the Mets beat the Phillies 9-4 and the Mets took the last three games over the Phillies.
The best quality this team has shown under Jerry Manuel is the ability to pick themselves up after extremely difficult loses and live to fight another day.
Image by Getty Images via DaylifeThe New York Mets have an option for Carlos Delgado to come back next year. The option can vest for $16 million if Delgado achieves a specific ranking in MVP voting which isn’t going to happen. Delgado’s not even on the radar for National League MVP. The option will be mutual if it doesn’t vest for $12 million or a $4 million buyout.
Delgado though has begun to pick up his offensive game over the last month (.333/ .431/ .656 over the last 28 days). Don’t be fooled! Delgado’s always been a streaky hitter. His batting average and slugging go up and down like a roller coaster during the season.
I’m not surprised that this offensive outburst comes in the second half of his option year. He wants to play his way into the $12 million for next season. Sure, he’s made over $140 million during his career. But why not take home another twelve if it’s right there?
In my opinion, Delgado quit on the Mets and Willie Randolph in the first two months of this season. He’s got no game other than power hitting and he isn’t very good at that anymore. He’s got no glove, no arm, no speed, and can’t hit for average. He’s a one dimensional player in decline.
I don’t want to watch him again next year. Don’t join the Delgado bandwagon… I know that I won’t.
Image by Getty Images via DaylifeThe Mets go into the traditional second half of the season tonight with a nine game winning streak, confidence, and swagger. The last two weeks have seen Mike Pelfrey dominate all competition like the next coming of Roy Halladay. His recent performances have symbolized the Mets turnaround from the most lifeless team that money could buy to a team of united players that are achieving, if not exceeding, their potential.
As the Mets series in Cincinnati begins tonight, there will still be questions about Ryan Church’s foggy head, Carlos Delgado’s resurgent bat, Pedro Martinez’ ability to stabilize his spot in the rotation, and Billy Wagner’s ability to close “the big game”, and the crater in left field that Moises Alou left behind.
But there won’t be questions about the Mets desire to win and intestinal fortitude. There were plenty of those questions during the first two months of this season. That has miraculously changed under the direction of manager Jerry Manuel and pitching coach Dan Warthen.
It’s difficult to quantify how much the managerial and coaching changes have changed the Mets. I haven’t seen Dan Warthen throwing seven shutout innings but I have seen that from Oliver Perez and Pelfrey. I haven’t seen Jerry Manuel have a 9 RBI game but I did see that from Delgado. But something clearly changed on this team when the manager/coaching purge occurred. The Met took a little time to stabilize… Then caught fire!!!
The biggest change for me, as a fan, is that I like watching this team over the last month. I didn’t for the first two months of the season. It wasn’t fun or enjoyable. I understand that the Mets winning streak won’t carry into September, that’s not what I’m talking about. What I like about this team is their resiliency, their ability to mount a comeback, and the appearance that they want to win as badly as I want them to. That’s the kind of team that I’ll pay to watch.
Image via WikipediaThe Chicago Cubs acquired pitcher Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin from the Oakland A’s for pitcher Sean Gallagher, outfielders Matt Murton and Eric Patterson, minor leaguer John Donaldson. Harden is signed through 2009 and has number one starter stuff. His problem is that he’s frequently on the disabled list. He spent a month on the DL earlier this season for a shoulder strain. It was his sixth time on the DL in his six year career.
After the Brewers traded for C.C. Sabathia from the Indians on Sunday, the Cubs obviously felt like they had to make a counter move. The NL Central is really heating up to get the trade season started.
Harden is 5-1 with a 2.34 ERA in 13 starts this season.
Image by Getty Images via DaylifeI have to admit that I was shocked to see that Texas Rangers outfielder Milton Bradley had authored a column for the esteemed New York Times about his first selection to the All-Star game. Probably not unlike yourself, I had an opinion on Milton Bradley… He’s crazy. He’s always fighting with somebody, etc.
I read this column and it completely changed my mind. It’s so well written and conveys his feelings so well. I’m thoroughly impressed. Terrific job by the Times to get Bradley to do this.
Check it out here.
The Mets Report 