Mets Blob's Facebook Wall

Saturday, July 23, 2011

• The Mets Should Bail on Bay •

Monday night Jason Bay hit his first double in 186 at bats. Quick, trade him before the deadline! Seriously, it's time for the NY Mets to abandon Jason Bay. Leave him at the doorstep of PNC Park in Pittsburgh, ring the bell, and run. Send in The Adjustment Bureau, hit him with the Men In Black white light, and let him wake up in a bed with Suzanne Pleashette and tell him it was all a dream. It will be like the scene at the end of the Wizard of Oz, when creepy farm hands and Aunt Em and Uncle Henry were watching Dorothy sleep. "Boston, New York, and a west coast concussion! You really tell a tall tale, Jason!" a random PNC grounds keeper would say. And just like that, Jason Bay could go to a land far, far away, or at least Pennsylvania.
Jason Bay's drastic fall from All-Stardom has baffled Mets Blob and just about everyone in Baseball. Jason's now season and a half of absolute disfunction with the Mets defies his baseball resume. He was 2004's NL Rookie of the year, an All-Star in 2005, 2006, 2009, Silver Slugger 2009, and maybe most remarkably was how he handled going from the cellar in Pittsburgh to a pressure cooker in Boston. With the Red Sox, Jason had the very big dreads to fill of RBI machine and human pharmacy, Manny Ramirez. He shocked everyone and had the best year of his career with them in 2009.

Presently Bay is described by most as struggling, but struggling does not even come close to describing the offensive void that Jason Bay has become. His swing is more out of sync than an old Kung Fu movie, and he stands so far off the plate that it looks as if he'd need a pool skimmer to reach an outside pitch. It's become tough to watch Jason and even harder to cheer for him. Met fans now dread Bay's at bats as much they do mandatory colonoscopys and Mike Pelfrey starts.
What happened to Jason? Who knows? At 32, Bay is not old enough for his career to have suddenly hit the wall. Speaking of hitting the wall, some wonder if Jason ever fully recovered from the concussion he suffered when he crashed into the wall at Dodger Stadium mid-season last year. But the truth is Bay sucked in 2010 before his concussion. The pressure of playing in New York should not be the issue with the success he had in Boston, a town equally demanding and unforgiving to players who under perform. Was Jason a juicer? Does his decline time out with MLB's overall offensive decline since testing began for performance enhancing drugs? Maybe, but at this point the answer doesn't matter anymore to Met fans. Met fans have hoped, and waited, and rooted for Jason to break out and be the guy Omar thought he signed. And now Mets fans just want him gone.
September 1st, 2010: The Mets traded Jeff Francoeur to the Texas Rangers. The Mets' front office felt Francoeur's poor offensive production didn't justify his $5 million a season price tag. Like Bay, Fancoeur was touted as a good clubhouse guy and a hard worker. Plus, Jeff is a great outfielder with a superior throwing arm. No one questioned Jeff's departure from the Mets, and even the most casual Met fan knew Francoeur was offensively challenged. But if you compare Francoeur's 2010 first half numbers to Bay's 2011 first half numbers you'll find Francoeur, as bad as he was, was better than Bay. Francoeur's batting average at .253 was 16 points higher than Bay's. Jeff also had 17 more hits, 11 more doubles, 2 more home runs, and 14 more RBI.  Jeff played in 21 more games in the first half of 2010 than Jason did in the first half 2011, giving Francoeur 52 more at bats. But more at bats only seem to make it worse for Jason. Since the All-Star break, his average has dropped another 7 points to .230 after Monday night's game against the Reds. And at about $16 million a season, how do we justify keeping Jason Bay when he costs us $11 million more a season? 
As much as we are done with Bay, Bay is done with New York. No matter what he does at this point, he can't redeem himself to Met Fans. The hole he has dug is so deep he has no way to climb out of it. To rid the Mets of Bay, a big chunk of his bloated contract would have to be eaten, but it may be worth it. So what can we do with him? There are a few days left before the trade deadline...maybe Sandy Alderson could work some magic? Here are a few ideas:


None of these options are perfect, but the Blob feels it's worth thinking about. Sandy could try the problem for problem trade. Adam Dunn for Jason Bay. Dunn's first year with the White Sox has been so bad Bay would look good to Chicago. The thought here for both the teams and players is the change alone could be enough to jump start each player by simply going to a new town. Dunn is not the fielder Bay is, but he is at home in the National league east, and when he's hot, he has so much power even Citi Field can't contain him. 


Another idea is to work a trade with now contending Pittsburgh. We'd have to eat some contract to send Jason back to his former Pirates to see if he can regain the shine of where his baseball stardom began. Maybe we could get some prospects and the move could spark Jason to lead the young Bucs to the post season.


Finally, the Mets could send him down to the minors to work it out. The Blob has often wondered why the SNY-driven media continues to give Bay pity and a free pass? When Ollie Perez was awful, the Mets gave him the opportunity to go down to the minors to straighten himself out. Perez initially refused, and he was ripped for being a selfish player. Why can't Jason Bay hit Buffalo or Binghamton for a few weeks in an attempt to find a clue? Better yet, why doesn't Bay volunteer to be sent down for the good of the team? Maybe Jason is a bit selfish too. Wait. Did Mets Blob actually equate the nut job that is Oliver Perez with Jason Bay? Yes. In truth, Oliver Perez' career in a Met uniform dwarfs anything Jason Bay has done to this point. Wow, the Blob feels nuttier than a Perez sundae with a Pelfrey on top just saying it, but oddly it's true. No matter what we do, keep Bay or deal Bay, it will be expensive. But like Charlie Sheen once said, "You don't pay a hooker to have sex you. You pay a hooker to leave." Jason, now that you've screwed us...please fly away.
When Ralph Kiner was asked in the SNY booth what he thought of Jack McKeon ripping pitcher Chris Volstad in the papers, he said in his day not only would Bay be ripped in the papers, he wouldn't even be playing. Ralph is the only SNY broadcaster who has ever spoken frankly about the abyss that is Bay. When Beltran is dealt, the official dog days of summer will begin for Met fans. So let's rip off another band-aid and throw this Jason Bayby out with the bath water. Leave him at the door of some other team that can love him and give him a good home. Because there is no love left in New York for Jason Bay.




• Bye Bye, Beltran •


Sadly, Mets Blob knows Carlos Beltran's days are numbered as a Met. At the start of the season, even the most optimistic of Met fans would never have imagined that Carlos could be  this healthy, this productive, and this much of a leader for our young team. Most of us figured he would have only played half the number of games he has at his point. Instead, he has been our Iron Man.
We thought he'd pout about playing right field, even if it is better for his now fragile knee. He didn't. Instead he took it in a graceful stride-even with a brace on his leg. We wondered who would even take him off our hands at the trade deadline? Now half a dozen contending teams want him. In this new era of performance enhancement-free, offensively starved baseball, a Gold Gloved, switch hitting Vet who leads the NL with 30 doubles is obviously a hot commodity. 
Playing the Cards tonight reminds us all of 2006. Many Met fans and Freddy "Fed Pen" Wilpon have never forgiven Carlos for taking Adam Wainwright's vicious curve for strike 3 to end the 2006 NLCS. It's a sad legacy for a guy who, with 41 home runs and 116 RBI, was a huge reason the Mets even got that far in 2006.

When the incompetent Mets medical staff told Carlos he didn't need surgery for his knee, he played on, made it much worse, and no doubt shortened his career. Mets Blob understands he has to be dealt but can't help but fear what this team will be like without him. Carlos could be gone before the weekend and no doubt will be gone before August.
It's great to be able to see Wright back in time for Jose, David, and Carlos to play a few more games together as NY Mets before Sandy gives Carlos an express ticket to the playoffs. We will miss you, Carlos, and thank you for proving us skeptics wrong. Unless you go to the Phillies, Braves, or Yankees, we wish you well. Just do us Met fans one last favor...wherever you go...jam Pelfrey in your duffle bag and take him the fuck with you.

Friday, July 22, 2011

* Wright Where He Belongs *

• The Happy Wright-Cap •
- Mets 7 - Marlins 6 -
David Wright returned to the Mets lineup tonight and drilled two run scoring doubles leading the Mets to a 7-6 win in Florida. David's first two bagger came in the top of the 1st giving New York an early lead. His second double broke a 5-5 tie in the top of the top of the 8th. Both of Wright's ropes were hit down the right field line, reminiscent of early David Wright. It was nice too see. Mets Blob has gotten all over David for his silly - Howard Johnson inspired - all or nothing approach; so it is only fair that we applaud him for shortening his stroke and hitting the ball where it was pitched.


Wright has the talent to hit the ball with authority from foul line to foul line. We hope his looping, home run hack is a thing of the past. Though David did strike out tonight; his approach was sound. His swing was level and controlled. When David bears down and looks to make solid contact he can be a line drive machine. Keep it up David.


As for the game, it was a seesaw battle from the start. Much of this lies at the over-sized feet of Mike Pelfrey who continues to be a ball of confusion on the mound. When the Mets get a lead, Pelf coughs it up. It's like clockwork. Fortunately, for the Mets, Marlins starter Chris Volstad matches Pelf symptom for symptom on the instability meter. 
At one point, it looked like Marlins senior skipper Jack McKeon wanted to choke Volstad. He should have gone for it and pleaded dementia.
Daniel Murphy had two hits and 2 RBI's and Jose Reyes added 2 hits for his 45th multiple hit game of the season.



Thursday, July 21, 2011

• THE METS STINK UP THE JOINT •

- CARDINALS 6 - METS 2 -
A young group of baseball campers took a Citi Fieldtrip today-campers who probably dream of being Major Leaguers themselves some day. Perhaps to show them that you don't have to be perfect to go to the show, the Mets played like the Bad News Bears before Kelly Leak joined the team, making the dreams of the children seem that much more obtainable. (Aren't those Mets swell?) Camper Diego Ramirez from PS 132 in Brooklyn said, "Man, Duda drilled that playa running to second in the back! Yo, that's hard core nasty. Is his name seriously Duda? He's gotta change that shit bro, like pronto."

Jon Niese stunk, the offense was dead, and at one point Angel Pagan threw the ball to an empty first base. Seriously. There was not a Met within 100 feet. Maybe Angel thought St. Louis first base coach Dave McKay would kindly pick up the ball and tag out his own runner as a courtesy. Or maybe the noon start time was a little rough on the Mets who were no doubt celebrating late last night after their 10th inning walk off win. I know it was a tough turn around for Mets Blob, and the Metropolitans were taking BP before the Blob ever had to put on pants.
Carlos Beltran went 0-3 with a walk in what was more than likely his last day in a Met uniform at Citi Field. We did get a lot of heroics from Carlos this week in the first 2 games against the Cards, and we thank him for that and for all his years as a Met.
For more on Mets Blob's take on Carlos' impending departure, please check out: BYE BYE, BELTRAN on Mets Blob.


Friday night, David Wright returns from the DL to join the Mets in Florida to play the Marlins. Welcome back, David!




Wednesday, July 20, 2011

• PA-GONE! METS WIN ON PAGAN WALK OFF •


* The Happy WALK OFF Nightcap *
• Mets 6 - Cardinals - 5 •
Angel Pagan's pop powers the NY Mets to a walk off win over the Cardinals. The Mets turned around a rough start by R.A. Dickey into a bottom of the 10th victory. By the bottom of the 3rd Dickey and the Mets were trailing 4-0; but battery- mates Dickey and Josh "New Papa" Thole each drove in a run to cut the lead in half.

The Mets tied the game in the bottom of the 5th with a 2 out, 2 run, upper deck blast by Carlos "Enjoy Him While You Can Folks" Beltran. Beltran's blast came close to landing in SNY's special Pepsi Porch booth. The ball left the yard so quickly Mets Blob feared for Gary Cohen's life. No worry - unless Keith Hernandez was engrossed in a Citi Field Taco, the Gold Glover would have snatched the ball before it made contact with Cohen's Lindsey Nelson inspired shorts.

The game remained tied until the top of the 8th when Gerald Laird laid down a pretty bunt to bring the go ahead run in from third. Laird was inspired to bunt by Daniel Murphy who, for reasons known only to Daniel Murphy and Canadian Geese, was positioned in short left field. In the bottom of the 8th Thole brought Pagan in from third with a clutch 2 out single to pull the Mets even.


The game remained tied until the bottom of the 10th when Angel Pagan drilled a one out game winning home run that smashed off the Subway sign in deep right. Pagan's teammates mobbed him at the plate and the Citi Field faithful went home happy.
The Mets were given the opportunity to steal this game thanks to terrific relief work from Pedro Beato and Jason Isringhausen. Beato got Albert Pujols to pop up in the 7th, stranding a man on third; and Izzy pitched a scoreless 9th and 10th.



• BYE BYE, BELTRAN •

Sadly, Mets Blob knows Carlos Beltran's days are numbered as a Met. At the start of the season, even the most optimistic of Met fans would never have imagined that Carlos could be  this healthy, this productive, and this much of a leader for our young team. Most of us figured he would have only played half the number of games he has at his point. Instead, he has been our Iron Man.
We thought he'd pout about playing right field, even if it is better for his now fragile knee. He didn't. Instead he took it in a graceful stride-even with a brace on his leg. We wondered who would even take him off our hands at the trade deadline? Now half a dozen contending teams want him. In this new era of performance enhancement-free, offensively starved baseball, a Gold Gloved, switch hitting Vet who leads the NL with 30 doubles is obviously a hot commodity. 

Playing the Cards tonight reminds us all of 2006. Many Met fans and Freddy "Fed Pen" Wilpon have never forgiven Carlos for taking Adam Wainwright's vicious curve for strike 3 to end the 2006 NLCS. It's a sad legacy for a guy who, with 41 home runs and 116 RBI, was a huge reason the Mets even got that far in 2006.

When the incompetent Mets medical staff told Carlos he didn't need surgery for his knee, he played on, made it much worse, and no doubt shortened his career. Mets Blob understands he has to be dealt but can't help but fear what this team will be like without him. Carlos could be gone before the weekend and no doubt will be gone before August.
We would love to see Wright back in time for Jose, David, and Carlos to play a few more games together as NY Mets before Sandy gives Carlos an express ticket to the playoffs. We will miss you, Carlos, and thank you for proving us skeptics wrong. Unless you go to the Phillies, Braves, or Yankees, we wish you well. Just do us Met fans one last favor...wherever you go...jam Pelfrey in your duffle bag and take him the fuck with you.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

• Reyes & Beltran Come Back Strong •

* METS 4 - CARDINALS 2 *
( The Happy Nightcap & Bye Bye, Beltran )
- GEE, BELTRAN, AND REYES DOMINATE - 

Gee pitched a great 7 innings, and aside form giving up a solo blast to Lance Berkman, looked like a seasoned pro. The big news was both Reyes and Beltran came back strong to once again carry these battered, rag tag Mets to victory. Reyes went 2-5, ran hard without issue, and made a couple of great plays in the 8th to save Bobby Parnell's shaky ass. Pagan and Murphy each hit 2 run doubles in clutch spots. 


Other Met bright spots were Ronny Paulino going 3-4 with a double, Justin Turner going 2-5, and Carlos Beltran going 3-3 with 2 doubles, 2 walks, and a run scored after returning from the Flu. Izzy closed it out clean in his first chance to do so since K-Rod got traded to the Brewers.
- BYE BYE, BELTRAN -
Sadly, Mets Blob knows Carlos Beltran's days are numbered as a Met. At the start of the season, even the most optimistic of Met fans would never have imagined that Carlos could be  this healthy, this productive, and this much of a leader for our young team. Most of us figured he would have only played half the number of games he has at his point. Instead, he has been our Iron Man. 
We thought he'd pout about playing right field, even if it is better for his now fragile knee. He didn't. Instead he took it in a graceful stride-even with a brace on his leg. We wondered who would even take him off our hands at the trade deadline? Now half a dozen contending teams want him. In this new era of performance enhancement-free, offensively starved baseball, a Gold Gloved, switch hitting Vet who leads the NL with 30 doubles is obviously a hot commodity. 
Playing the Cards tonight reminds us all of 2006. Many Met fans and Freddy "Fed Pen" Wilpon have never forgiven Carlos for taking Adam Wainwright's vicious curve for strike 3 to end the 2006 NLCS. It's a sad legacy for a guy who, with 41 home runs and 116 RBI, was a huge reason the Mets even got that far in 2006.


When the incompetent Mets medical staff told Carlos he didn't need surgery for his knee, he played on, made it much worse, and no doubt shortened his career. Mets Blob understands he has to be dealt but can't help but fear what this team will be like without him. Carlos could be gone before the weekend and no doubt will be gone before August.  
We would love to see Wright back in time for Jose, David, and Carlos to play a few more games together as NY Mets before Sandy gives Carlos an express ticket to the playoffs. We will miss you, Carlos, and thank you for proving us skeptics wrong. Unless you go to the Phillies, Braves, or Yankees, we wish you well. Just do us Met fans one last favor...wherever you go...jam Pelfrey in your duffle bag and take him the fuck with you.


* This Happy Nightcap is for you, Carlos! *

Monday, July 18, 2011

• Letting Bay Bat Was A Mistake •


• Marlins 4 – Mets 1 •
Flushing Bay

The Mets fell to the Marlins tonight 4-1 in a makeup game at Citi Field. The Mets already depleted lineup took another blow early in the game when Scott Hairston was forced to the bench after fouling a pitch off his shin. Chris Capuano hung in there for 7.2 innings, giving his usual professional performance. Mike Pelfrey should be forced to study Capuano tape to learn how a pro is supposed to carry himself on the mound.
( Photo Caption )
- Jason, a Canadian never questions the lumber -



The Mets loaded the bases with one out in the 9th for Jason Bay. The right move would have been to bring the flu ridden Carlos Beltran off the bench to bat for the feeble Bay but Terry Collins did not pull the trigger. Instead we were treated to the sight of Bay lofting a harmless sacrifice fly to center to score the Mets only run. Bay apparently thought this was an accomplishment; high fiving and fist bumping his teammates in the dugout. Mets Blob was disgusted by Bay’s antics. It was a 4-1 game, Jason, and you made the second out in the bottom of the 9th. The Marlins are looking for outs in that spot and were thrilled when you hit your fly ball. Look, we know you have lost the ability to play the game but you must be aware that a sac fly in that spot is meaningless.
( Photo Caption )
- Wheel me in Coach, I'm ready to play! -



Maybe Beltran’s weakened Theraflu condition scared Collins away from making such a bold move. Nonsense. Beltran could roll into the batters box in a wheel chair and be more of a threat than Jason Bay. No joke here. Mets Blob is serious.



•The Madness of Being Pelfrey•

(Photo insert of Mike Pelfrey as a Monty Python Lumber Jack)

• Phillies 8 - Mets 5 •

Mike Pelfrey is a pitcher, and he's not ok. Not by a long shot. Mets Blob's fingers are damn near bloody from typing about Mike Pelfey's mental breakdowns. It is getting very, very old.  To watch a team we love give their all in a mid-season, trade deadline fight, to simply keep our team together is hard enough without watching Pelfrey give up before the game even starts. This is a team without Reyes, Wright, Davis, or Santana, and K-Rod is already dealt, and Beltran is next. Never the less this scrappy bunch of journey men and Bison never give up, even if they are up against the best team in baseball. They fight, claw, play beyond their means, and never stop trying until the game is over. That is what we love about them, and at the same time, this is exactly what we hate about Mike Pelfrey.

Mike Pelfrey, simply, is a mental midget with multi-million dollar talent.  He is a gutless quitter, who some how is fine with not being able to get the opposing pitcher out, giving up a first career 3 run home run to a no name, and getting taken out in the 5th inning. 

The rest of the Mets ( aside from Jason Bay ) did everything they could today to get back into the game, a game that Mike Pelfrey never showed up for. This was a great day for Mike to show up, be a man, and guide this team to a win when they needed him, but no chance. We all knew Mike was never going to fill the shoes of an ace and would not be a number one starter this year, but we thought he would be better than a number 9 starter.

All we ask for as Met fans is this: If we are about to sit through the mid-season fire sale because of the Wilpons crooked dealings and inability to run a team in New York, the least, the very least Sandy Alderson could do for us Met fans in between jerking off Bud Selig and getting a nice crease in the legs of his kakis is figure out a way to deal Mike Pelfrey. To Met fans, Pelfrey is the last of the the mentally challenged pitchers that needs to go in an effort to cleanse this team. Perez is gone, and Maine is gone, and now Pelfrey needs to go. There is no fixing him. Cut him loose, and set us Met fans free. If you do nothing for us this year Sandy, aside from dismantling our hopes and dreams, please figure out a way to deal Mike Pelfrey.