Walking to Wins
The Mets are fourth in the NL in walks with 187 — though, there are several teams within four or five free passes, so you could say they’re middle of the pack.
Those 187 walks translate to an average of close to 4 bases on balls per game (3.8, to be exact).
In May, however, I’d like to point out a few details.
May record: 9 wins, 14 losses.
Of those 14 losses, they walked 3 times or less 11 times. And of those 11 times, 9 times it was 2 walks or less.
Among their 9 wins, they walked 4 times or more 6 times.
So, when they drew at least four walks in a game, their record was 6-3.
Interestingly, when the Mets won 14 and lost 12 in March/April, they averaged nearly 5 walks per game (4.77 to be exact). So far in May, they are averaging a hair under 3 walks a game (2.8).
Again: 14-12 record while drawing close to 5 walks a game. 9-14 record while taking under 3 free passes per game.
Added bit of trivia: in 9 games vs. the Braves, the Mets drew 20 walks (about 2 per game), and have a record of 2 wins, 7 losses. In two of those losses, they did not draw ANY walks, and drew only one in two of the others.
Coincidence? Not likely.
Ironically, the one guy on the Mets who is (was) hitting — Ryan Church — credits HoJo for his early season success. Why can Church listen and no one else?
Again: I think leadership is the issue. I have NEVER criticised Omar, but i do think his stubborn support of Willie could be his undoing.
I was listening to the Sat gameon WFAN, but had FOX TV on. They showed the Atlanta game with Randy Johnson. The point is that the announcer made a huge point about Cox and Melvin as 2 managers that aggressive challenge the umpires on close calls and strikezones…..is it any wonder that Glavine gets pitches 6 inches off the plate at home? that the braves are 22-7 at home?
Isuzu: why does a team respond after a managerial change? IF the central point is that this team sucks then THE best way to show it would be to fire Willie and see if it continues to suck. MY view is Santana, Maine, Ollie, Pedro, DW, Reyes, Church and Schneider represent among the most talented cores of players in baseball. Add some confidence and this team will take off……………..(i am para-phrasing your point from 20 games ago. the difference is your catalyst was supposed to be a winning streak.)…….my point is we need that 50 game overdue change in leader.
The change in leader will take time to manifest- But it needs to happen.
BTW: Essentially SK (?) was right. Benching IS the answer. Obviously you cant bench everyone. And benching is not always a punishment. In the case of DW and Reyes they need to slow the game down. They are having the baseball equivalent of a nervous breakdown or academic burnout. The game is not fun, relaxation is no longer apart of their make up. They are trying to hit grand slams every time up…………on pitches out of the zone.
Where we slammed in Atlanta…………….I dont think so. They feasted on a team with no MOJO. they sat and waited for fat pitches, took 2thousand walks and singled us to death………hardly a beat down.
I beleive this team will rip the NL apart. But Willie wont be here when that happens.
Mic, don’t worry, Willie is as good as gone, IMHO. My guess is that the Wilpons didn’t fire him yet because they want to find a suitable replacement. Omar has to stand by Willie — otherwise, he would have been fired.
And I still have to point out that the personality of the manager will mean little if the Mets don’t trash a few of the current players and replace them with some on-field leaders. Show me an NL or AL champion, at any time in history, who didn’t have at least one guy who was a strong leader.
Omar has a problem; I dont think he wants to replace willie too soon, nor is there any obvious candidate. I’d like Wally. But i think the Media in NY would castrate him. Possibly he could come in as a bench coach. That leaves Gary Carter as the next best name I can think of. a 3rd name is Lee Mazzili, there is also John Gibbons and Buck Showalter.
One of my friends is a Twins fan. He had said Twins fans hate Gardenhire. I said I’d love to have Ron Gardenhire. Gardenhire was lauded this past weekend on his work with the younger twins. I think Omar wants someone…possibly someone that is not available yet and does not want to simply have an interim manager…….See link below. Gardy is a FA this yr.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Wally_Backman
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Gardenhire
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Mazzilli
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Carter
I’d be surprised if Gardenhire went anywhere; he’s been with the Twins since Tom Kelly left (what’s this, his 7th year?), and seems quite happy. Why leave a good thing? The Twins kept Kelly around for 15 years — like the Braves and similarly strong, well-run organizations, they are built on stability. I could be wrong, though. Even if he is interested, what kind of effect would he have on the “win-now”, veteran-heavy Mets? He’s been leading kids all these years, and with Johan in place, the Mets will replace their current veterans with more veterans … there will not be a youth movement.
I wouldn’t worry about replacing Willie right now … I’d worry about moving Carlos Delgado as quickly as possible, and replacing him with someone who will either lead, follow, or get out of the way. Omar needs to think about how he can make this David Wright’s team.
Note MLB rumors has Scott Hatteberg and Julian Tavarez as options….and a ‘blow something up’ (attitude) on Metsblog. Tavarez might not be here in the end …I dont think pitching is our issue. I think the offense is. Would they DFA Delgado? I think a trade to Seattle makes sense (vidro at DH?).
methinks del could be done. remember mike dejean? He who was cut when he said’ its just a game’. Did that have a ripple effect? Did cutting alay soler after he imploded in that yankee game?
could this be the biggest cut yet? Really they eat 10 M if they do. Hatteberg? I thinkhe’d put up del numbers or better, pave the way for carp, AND help balance the clubhouse.
RE: gardy. WILLIE was brought in to help mentor the YOUNG Mets….having weaved great stories of how he helped Jeter, Posada, Rivera etc. In don omar’s scheme there is always talent coming thru. as such we need mentorship for Evans, carp, F-mart, Muniz, niese and Kunz.