Dude

“Just write some (nonsense), man,”-Lucas Duda

Duda is quickly becoming the most fascinating player on the roster.  First, for his potential, particularly in the power department.  More intriguingly so, for his personality.

I’ve read that he is shy, quiet, doesn’t believe in his ability, has a dry sense of humor, that he only cares about playing the game, and doesn’t think too highly of all of the other non-essential parts of being a big league player.

Let’s assume what we hear about Lucas Duda’s potential from the Met’s baseball people is true for the purpose of this post.  You can debate whether or not it is a smoke screen at another time.

This means the mental aspect of playing in New York will lead to one of three things for Duda:

1. He will thrive as a Met because he just doesn’t give a shit.  The owners are a calamity of errors?  The media hover around like a swarm of locusts and have to create news on a daily basis?  Who cares.  He just wants to play ball.
2. He buckles due to the immense frustration of having to deal with the sheer volume of the ridiculousness that is playing professional baseball in New York City.   This is one aspect of following the Mets that irritates me a bit.  Things that, in the grand scheme of things, do not matter are magnified into apocalyptic levels and the players are asked repeatedly about them.  This scenario has Duda hitting .225 with over 200 strikeouts leaving pro ball to coach at a high school somewhere in California.
3. Duda winds up getting released or traded because he can’t handle dealing with the horse shit that Mets players have to put up with.  He signs with the Brewers and winds up becoming a perennial All-Star averaging 40 homers a year driving Bernie the Brewer and all of the Brew Crew nutty with excitement.

Personally, I’m pulling for scenario #1.

We’re Still Watching

At the beginning of the season, April 4th to be exact, I shared something with you that is contrary to what most bloggers believe:

“A message to new readers of this blog:

I am not a believer of forcing the issue,  in terms of providing content for this blog that is.  I do enjoy the stolen base and the squeeze bunt however.

Although I have been writing quite frequently lately, there will be times when that is not the case.  You see, I believe in quality not quantity.  The quality part is a matter of debate for some of you I’m sure.

There are a number of great Mets Blogs out in the blogosphere which helps makes this team fun to follow.  There are also a number of them out there that aren’t so great.  One reason for this, in my humble opinion, is some people tend to force the issue and post content just for the sake of posting content.”- Me

I share this because I wanted to let you know that we’re still here, and still watching.  There hasn’t been much that has inspired us to write.  New developments and interesting subject matter have been hard to come by.

There are three reasons for this:

1. The Mets are not in playoff contention and haven’t been for quite some time.
2. The trading deadline has come and gone.
3. Due to injuries, we are quite familiar with the Mets’ young talent.  In reality, their September call-ups found themselves on the MLB roster in April and June.

Just like you, we are keeping a close eye on the following situations :

• The Jose Batting Title Chase:  I am a bit surprised that this hasn’t received more attention.  After all, the Mets have never had a batting champion.  I realize it may be counter productive, but I am pulling for Jose.  I don’t care that it adds value to his side of the negotiating table.  I want it to happen.
• Is Lucas Duda A Full Time Solution In The Outfield?
• The Bench Mix:  Tejada, Murhpy, and Turner have all played well this season.  Now Nick Evans is showing his stuff for his homies as well.
• Pitching Woes:  The weak link that needs the most attention on this team.  Who stays?  Who goes?

I guess we could share our thoughts on the topics above each day.  The problem with that is, I for one, am taking this time to observe.  I haven’t made up my mind on what I think should happen and I want to play the season out before I start weighing in.

So never fear friends, we haven’t left you.  As exciting as Scott Hairston’s strained oblique is, it doesn’t make the cut.  Once things get a little more juicy, you’ll hear from us more frequently.

Until then, stay thirsty my friends.

Isringhausen, Duda, and Getting Dumped In High School

Belated Congrats Izzy

I have a confession to make.  It’s 9:05pm (eastern standard time for our west coast Midwestropolitans out there), and I just finished watching portions of last night’s game.

Does this make me less of a fan?

Nah.

The combination of this west coast swing and it being one of the busiest times of the year for my job, has taken away from the number of innings I have been able to watch.  Suffice it to say this means the in-depth, play by-play, recaps you have come so custom to receiving from me will be on a short hiatus until the Mets return to this side of the Mississippi.

I hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive me.

For now, I’ll drop a few quick hits your way.

Quick Hits Volume 1

• It was pretty cool to see Izzy close out his 300th save.  I’m also a fan of Terry Collins giving him the opportunity to do so.  It was the right thing to do in my humble opinion.  Now it’s time to see what Bobby Parnell and Pedro Beato can do in that role.
• Did anyone else notice how cowlike Izzy and Lucas Duda were during the post game hand shakes in terms of chewing their gum?  I mean easy fellas.  You do realize you play for the Mets and are aware of their injury history the last few years right?  I would hate to see either of you find yourselves on the DL due to a freak case of lock-jaw.
• I am trying to stop myself from getting my hopes up that Lucas Duda will become a stud for the 2012 Mets.  Not because I am one of “those guys” that thrives on misery or that I don’t want him to.  It’s more of a defense mechanism.  Similar to when you prepare yourself for inevitably getting dumped by the current girl you were dating in high school.

A Win Is A Win

My tweet after the game sums up my thoughts about tonight’s win…

I’ll take it.

In Their Own Words

One thing I like about Terry Collins is he seems to be pretty up front with how things go down.  For the most part, the players seem to follow that style these days.  When there are things Terry wishes to keep private, he simply says so.

The only way this works is if the manager holds the same conversations with the players.  TC seems to have this down.

“I was hoping it worked out.  If it didn’t, then why bunt your four-hole hitter? You look like an idiot.”- Lucas Duda

“Make no mistake about it, he came in and said, ‘Do you want me to bunt here?’ And I said, ‘If you want to.’ I said, ‘Can you?’ And he said, ‘Yeah,’ and he dropped the bunt down. I was pretty impressed.   I hit him fourth for a reason. He felt he could get the bunt down and get those guys in scoring position. He did it.” – Terry Collins

“He looked good. He looked good running to first base looking back at the bunt, too. But that’s Lucas. It’s good to see him, like people say, coming out of his shell a little bit and having some fun. He’s going to be a heckuva player.”- Jason Isringhausen

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A Nifty Win

Ignore the fact the Mets are slightly injury plagued and need some help in the pitching department for one night.

Allow yourself to give them an “atta boy” for a change.  It is enjoyable to see them play with some sticktoitiveness and fight for a win after yesterday’s crushing blow.

A few feel good highlights for me tonight,

• David Wright’s three RBI night including a two run bomb and a big RBI single in the ninth inning. Amazing what the guy can do when his back isn’t broken.
• Lucas Duda is quietly becoming quite a run producer.  His two run, walk off single, gives him 10 RBIs in his last 11 games.  That’s almost one a game for you math majors out there
• Jason Bay goes deep again.  Nothing really witty to say here, I just liked his home run.
• Last but not least, I really got a kick out of Mike Baxter’s family’s reaction to his eighth inning, pinch hit, double.  Sweet.

Of course, a Midwestropolitan.com “Air Claw” goes out to each one of them.  While we’re at it, give yourself one too.

That my friends, is all.  Have a pleasant evening.

Hmpf

This game pissed me off so I’ll react in grunts…

• Pelfrey good game
• Confirmed, Angel Pagan back to his old head scratching ways after hiatus in 2010
• Lucas Duda’s could only enjoy his biggest home run as a Met for a half of an inning
• Daniel Murphy’s lack of a natural defensive position is glaringly hurtful
• Murph can still hit
• Jason Bay hit a home run…..yay
• Jose Reyes is still chilly
• Wish Wright would throw the ball over hand
• Izzy probably wishes he threw a curve ball to Stanton in the 10th
• Mets lose out on an opportunity to gain ground on the Braves

I feel better now.  The good thing is the Mets can still win this series.

All Things Considered…..

It has been fun to watch this current group scratch and claw for every win.  But its games like these that make me miss Ike Davis and David Wright.  You see, power in your lineup affords you more room to make mistakes.

As I have said before this current lineup has to be practically perfect to win, especially in close games.  Giving up potential runs because of idiotic base running blunders doesn’t exactly help the cause.

It’s difficult for this team to make one critical base running mistake.  Tonight’s contest showcased two base running errors.

In the top of the fifth Daniel Murphy’s aggressiveness got the best of him as he tried to break to third early on a bunt attempt by Mike Pelfrey.  The only problem was that Pelfrey missed and Pirates catcher Michael McKenry fired a dart down to second to pick off Murph after an awkward rundown.

The second gaffe that we were treated to was yet another sacrifice fly double play brought to us by Lucas Duda.  In Duda’s defense, there was some question as to whether or not Jose Reyes’ liner to left field had hit the ground.  At any rate, Duda was doubled off of first and the Mets found themselves without a tying runner on base.

All things considered, I am still in a pretty positive state of mind regarding the Mets.  Big Pelf threw his second consecutive quality start, they continue to give themselves a chance in every game they play, and they are still only 5.5 games behind in the Wild Card Chase.

National League
	W	L	GB	Left
Milwaukee Brewers	38	29	—	95
Atlanta Braves	38	29	—	95
St. Louis Cardinals	38	29	—	95
Arizona Diamondbacks	36	30	1.5	96
Cincinnati Reds	34	33	4.0	95
Florida Marlins	32	32	4.5	98
Pittsburgh Pirates	32	33	5.0	97
New York Mets	32	34	5.5	96
Colorado Rockies	31	34	6.0	97
Los Angeles Dodgers	31	36	7.0	95
Washington Nationals	30	36	7.5	96
San Diego Padres	29	38	9.0	95
Chicago Cubs	26	39	11.0	97
Houston Astros	25	42	13.0	9

 

Don’t Forget About Pagan

Five days ago I made the following statement:

“It’s official.  Dillon Gee is my new favorite pitcher on the New York Mets.” -Me

So who’s with me after tonight’s start?  Eight innings, one run, and more importantly, NO WALKS.  Gee is now 7-0 with a 3.05 ERA and probably doesn’t have to pay for a meal in New York for quite some time.

What a top-notch way to begin a series.

Along with Jose Reyes’ continuation of owning opposing pitchers, plenty of people will laud Lucas Duda’s performance in his first game back.  Deservedly so.  He was able to drive in 20 % of Jason Bay’s total RBIs in just one game.

At this rate, Duda will catch up with Bay in four more games.  Sorry I had to go Rain Man on you there.

Many others will also be singing the praises of Justin Turner, who yet again came up with a huge hit for the Amazin’s.

Let us not forget about Angel Pagan my friends.  It is no small coincidence that the Mets have been playing a better brand of baseball while Angel is warming up.  He is hitting .350 in his last ten games.

This squad may not thrill the ladies with the long ball but they’ll certainly slowly bleed an opponent to death with bunches of singles.  You know what?  I don’t have a problem with it either.

I’m not the only one either.  Check out what #17 had to say tonight during the game:

“You don’t need a lot of power in your lineup to score runs.  Baseball got away from that.”- Keith Hernandez

The current offense is much like an annoying little brother that keeps poking you repeatedly with his index finger until you acknowledge his presence.  He’s too tiny to deliver a massive upper cut that will knock you out cold so you’re not worried about him initially.   However, he does have the ability to annoy the absolute shit out of you.

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