Mets Game 75: Win Over Rockies
Mets 3 Rockies 2
They win yesterday, they win today … if they win tomorrow, now that’s called a “winning streak.”
Mets Game Notes
This was an exciting come-from-behind win for the Mets. Which means that yes, I missed the game due to a work thing. That’s becoming a habit lately, but it should be easing off in the next few weeks.
Please post your observations in the comments. Thanks.
Next Mets Game
The Mets return home to host the Nationals. Game one begins at 7:10 p.m. Friday night. Matt Harvey goes to the hill against Ross Detwiler.
About the Author
Joe Janish began MetsToday in 2005 to provide the unique perspective of a high-level player and coach -- he earned NCAA D-1 All-American honors as a catcher and coached several players who went on to play pro ball. As a result his posts often include mechanical evaluations, scout-like analysis, and opinions that go beyond the numbers. Follow Joe's baseball tips on Twitter at @onbaseball and at the On Baseball Google Plus page.
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Is Marlon Byrd trade bait, and if so, what can the Mets get for him?
Of course, they might have given the Rays all their young talent already… We could try to buy low on Moustakas, but (a) we have a 3B, and (b) when was the last time the Mets took a struggling player from another organization and fixed them? Rick Reed?
I wish I could be happy about today’s win, but I really do not care about wins and losses in 2013 any more. All I care about is progress toward contention. If Byrd and Parnell just bumped their trade value, great. Otherwise, ehn.
Nieuwenhuis riding the pine and demonstrating the lack of an organizational plan is more troubling to me than anything else. “Let’s let this kid heat up in AAA, and once he’s in a groove, send him to the majors to do nothing and lose the groove and halt any progress he might have been making.” He hit a walk-off homer and started 1 of the next 5 games, for pete’s sake. Kirk should be thinking “please trade me to an organization that actually takes player development seriously”.
What’s with all the strike outs and double plays recently?
It displeased me to see Costas back pedal on his comments to the point of trying to make himself out to be the “victim” of the fans outrage. Costas has allowed his “fame” to cloud his judgement and common courtesy, thinking to highly of himself, above reproach in his mind. Costas, take responsibility for your actions.
Although the lack of common courtesy and not taking responsibility for one’s actions unfortunately seems to have become the norm in today’s society.
Excellent point. Alderson got lambasted for signing Ankiel. Signing Ankiel wasn’t the problem, it was how he was used relative to the young players. A guy like Ankiel should be used to protect the young guys, meaning he rides the pines, plays every 5th day, PHs, etc.., which a kid with a chance at upside based on age/devlopment either plays ahead of him or is sent to AAA to play daily. They finally got Lagares regular time, but they are much better off sending Kirk to Vegas to play every day and bringing a guy like Baxter back for the limited role. Or, I bet Ankiel is still available, maybe they can take a mulligan with him and try over.
Collins made a mind-boggling statement in the postgame that I would love your take on, although I am pretty sure what you will say. Byrd was asked about his big throw in the 9th to cut down Cuddyer at 2B, and he said it was a function of repeated practice…he practices throwing to every base every day before a game. Collins in a separate interview said the same thing, and went on to say Byrd was one of the only OF to do this, and that the young players should follow his example. If found this to be very self-incriminating. How is it possible that he as the manager doesn’t mandate this type of preparation? Are manager’s that powerless or fearful of offending players? Are most players that arrogant that they can’t routinely practice the basic plays/throws? I know it is a long season, and they need to avoid burnout, but 5 minutes of OF throws to each base before a game shouldn’t burn out a professional baseball player, should it?
Simply further indictment of Collins and his staff – IMHO.
Mainly, I just listen to Met interviews on various outlets for comedic purposes, be it “Metspeak” – or Collins’ Jerry Manuel jibberish impressions…..but this one was more like:
“…………what?!!!”
For starters, I can’t believe this to be true on a Major League roster – full of young, inexperienced (poor)outfielders.
Granted, they’ve gotten a bit better of late…..but the fact remains. They don’t go out and take extra reps.
Secondly, how the hell does Collins admit to it — seeing as how his club’s looked terrible and unprepared at points (still, even with this little string of success – 32 games under-.500 since July 2012) for a full calendar year?
Granted, I’m realistic about players and their pregame preparation…..but to hear that Byrd (a veteran of so many years) is essentially THE ONLY GUY to be doing so?
That’s terrible, and more proof that things are pretty lax amidst a bad ballclub.
Additionally, to Byrd…..for exceeding expectation. Can’t even say how many were in favor of cutting him out of ST, just because they didn’t like him.
I hoped to get maybe a “1st Year Tatis”-type season from him, but he’s turned out to be best we’ve got in that outfield.
(Though, I wouldn’t expect him to bring much value back, provided they do explore a mid-summer deal.)
I am sorry but you opened a door . I might be in the minority but you simply laid out on a line why I think terry cannot be seen a long term manager. It IS that simple, AND what makes it worse is he chastises Kirk, Ike, bobby and other young players but marlon is leading by example, but is terry using him appropriately as a communicator and leader?
This is also a huge example of what good veterans can bring to a ball club.
I think the real issue here is EY came in on fire, lagares started performing and needs his opportunity as much as kirk (if not moreso). That leaves one spot: Byrd.
Now there is an argument to be made that as a veteran player Byrd is meaningless to our future and we’d be better off tossing out a young guy like kirk to develop. I made this argument myself when Byrd was signed.
And I know W/L don’t necessarily mean a whole lot this year.
But they cannot be COMPLETELY ignored when it comes to player development. There is something to be said for learning to be a part of a “winning” culture.
How much were these guys developing a month ago when seemingly no one on the team could even get on base? Balls were flying over Duda’s head, etc.
Now players like EY are getting on base, all of a sudden it becomes easier to hit (defensive positioning, covering SB, pitching out of the stretch, etc. all make it easier for the batter). In regards to Byrd specifically, he is producing both offensively and defensively, and in doing so, giving our young players a chance to prove themselves in WINNING games.
Ok, I don’t think I did a great job of making my point there. To summarize, Byrd puts our team in a chance to win games, and younger players thus learn what it takes to win, have a higher chance of succeeding due to runners on base, and gain confidence which further increases their chance of success.
It still is a matter of individual games too. I’m sorry. Do you expect players to play if winning doesn’t matter? They aren’t automans just playing for the future. They also want to win too. They are happy when they win. Fans are too. Why? After all, wins don’t matter. A good pitched game etc. should be a reason to cheer. Doesn’t really QUITE work that way.
As noted, winning also is important for development. The win the other day involved a lot of doing the fundamentals, including some great infield play. Wins tend to follow from that. Overall, wins often are based on that. So, wins are a sign of the team doing a good job, the players of the future playing well.
Winning only matters so much in years like this, but it still matters. Anyway, Hefner again shows something. He can’t continuously pitch six or more innings with a good ERA and be given faint praise as a AAAA player. He is what a team needs — a pretty steady slot in the rotation. He also is what a growing / bad team needs. The same thing, cheap.
Byrd has more value than Hairston did last year. He’s playing every day, hitting better than we thought, and is playing better defense than Hairston did. Trade him only if a can’t miss opportunity presents itself. Otherwise keep him and let him serve as a role model for younger players. He’s not getting paid a lot of money. I agree with Walnutz that he probably won’t bring back much in a trade.
Dave Schneck is correct about Baxter. He has value as a bench player, whereas Capt. Kirk doesn’t and should be sent down to play regularly.
Finally, DanB, you are not alone in your diagnosis of the
Mets ailment and the cause (Wilponitis).
Mets management should not act like your average fan.
As for the value of bringing players up into a winning culture, I don’t think winning 65 games instead of 60 counts. For any player in the Mets organization to learn what winning feels like, they’d have to do that in the minors. Yet another benefit to Kirk being down there.