Bench Woes

The Mets bench is usually solid...this year..not so much

The Mets bench since their 2006 NL championship game appearance has always contributed to winning in Flushing. Whether it was a spectacular defensive play by Endy Chavez or a clutch hit from journeyman Marlon Anderson, the bench always found a way to make it through.

In good company

 

David Wright became the youngest Mets player to record his 1,000 career hit

The Mets ascended into first place after sweeping a double-header from the Dodgers on Tuesday.  What a difference 10 days make as the Amazing’s were left for dead after a 4-8 start.  Now, the Metropolitans will attempt to complete a 9-1 homestand Wednesday afternoon before a trip to Philadelphia against the struggling Phil’s. 

The Mets Spring Training Report: Volume 5

The light at the end of the tunnel

Any Met fan knows how tough it has been to be 100% supportive of the organization over the last four to five years. Nothing but perennial heartbreak and embarrassment after lofty expectations each year, combined with despicable starting pitching and lack of clutch hitting.  Nevertheless, this spring we saw the emergence of two young studs in Ike Davis and Jenrry Mejia to go along with the continued progression of Fernando Martinez.  Jason Bay is also here, Wright is hitting home runs, and Santana is healthy, and with a bona-fide ace there is hope that the pitching staff and this entire Mets team can be competitive.  Likewise, the re-emergence of Jose Reyes has been a weight off the shoulder for many.

“It’s great to see him back, smiling and just doing Jose,” said David Wright.  “I think everyone was concerned when he had the health issue but now I think spirits are back up.” 

The Mets Spring Training Report: Volume 3

The Big Apple will not phase Jason Bay

Jason Bay arrived this spring as cool as he entered Boston in 2008.  He immediately befriended David Wright, Alex Cora and Jeff Francoeur, and clearly was not overwhelmed by the abundance of reporters and cameras. 

“He’s coming into another situation — we didn’t have a great year last year, everybody knows with the injuries and all that stuff,’’ said Cora. “He comes here and you see him walking around with his coffee, it seems like he’s been here for five, six years, and that’s great for us. That’s refreshing for us.’’

Few doubted whether Bay could adapt to New York because he did such a great job in Boston replacing Manny Ramirez.  However, with the injury to Beltran, and the mysterious aura surrounding Jose Reyes, Jason Bay’s role just got larger, and a fast start from him will go a long way in erasing the dark cloud engulfing the Mets organization.  

Microcosm of the Mets failure

Coming off a season in which the team lost 92 games and had to endure injury after injury, you would think  Omar Minaya and the Mets would do everything they could to ensure “The Amazing’s” would put an elite squad on the field for 2010.  Rewind to the collapses of ’08 and ’07, and it becomes even more vital that the ownership rejuvenate a disgruntled fan base.

Plenty have knocked Omar and the Wilpons over the past few months for their lack of aggressiveness and downright ineptitude, so I won’t put them on full blast anymore. 

Instead, I’d like to take a look at two players who exemplify everything that is wrong with the Mets — Daniel Murphy and Luis Castillo.