Since my last post we have learned something very important: the New York Mets evidently read my blog.
Scroll down a little bit and you will read about me ripping the Mets apart, how its unbelievable that they can spend so much and still be so bad. Well, to say that they have turned things around since that point would be an understatement.
My beloved Metropolitans have enjoyed a 9-1 homestand, including sweeps of the Braves and Dodgers. All of a sudden their pitching (with the exception of Ollie Perez, of course, who will never be good), is dominant. Mike Pelfrey has thrown 24 consecutive scoreless innings, Johan Santana is looking in form, and the rest of the gang (John Niese, John Maine) have pitched above their heads in getting some wins.
The other noticeable difference? Ike. The Mets called up first baseman Ike Davis, something they were clearly hoping to be able to hold off on at the beginning of the season, and it has coincided with the run to first place in the NL East. Now, is Ike the only reason for the wins? Of course not. Other players have finally started to hit as well, but Ike's .355 batting average has certainly made a difference in comparison to whatever garbage Mike Jacobs and Frank Catalanotto were bringing to the table. They weren't doing anything like this either.
At 13-9, the Mets actually look like a legitimate team this again. Keep an eye on their results this weekend, though, when they have to take on the Phillies in Philly. Then we'll see if they actually have a chance of contending come September.
Yeah, good for the Mets. Maybe it won't be such an interesting race to see who finishes with a worse record, them or the Tribe.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that you bring up the Ike Davis situation. The Indians are in a similar predicament, with Lou Marson hitting below the Mendoza line in Cleveland and Carlos Santana chomping at the bit in Columbus with 20 RBI and 5 HR. But unlike the Mets, the Tribe would never call up Santana until they were assured he would not be a Super 2, in order to save money on his arbitration status. As a result, the Indian's current .429 baseball, which is largely a byproduct of a DREADFUL offense, will likely continue for the forseeable future. (And by dreadful, I mean five "starters" hitting sub-.200).
Things have not so well since that homestand. Two of three losses to the Phils and 2 extra innings, walk-off homer losses to the Reds? There is no consistency. The only good news is that no one else in the division (read Phillies) is running away with it either. You Gotta Believe!
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