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Carlos Beltran Beats The Phillies

Last night I watched Carlos Beltran play right field and beat the Phillies.  Even though he went 0-4, you can tell he’s going to be a great fit on that team.  He makes the team so much better, and can provide the offensive boost they really need.

 

There are so many great Carlos Beltran moments with the Mets that it’s impossible to name just one.  He’ll be sorely missed regardless of how the team does.  Carlos Beltran was a truly Amazin’ Met and one of the greatest players in franchise history and one day he just might be a Hall of Famer wearing a Mets cap.

 

Good luck in San Francisco Carlos.  Maybe we’ll still see you again at Citi Field this year..

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Mets Fans at Last Night’s Giants Game

At least, it felt like that didn’t it?  The truth is there weren’t that many Giants fans at Citi Field, but the Mets fans had very little to cheer about.  There were a lot of isolated groupings of Giants fans, and pretty much all of 302 in the Pepsi Porch was loud and cheering, as well as a group behind the visitor’s dugout.  The few times the Mets fans did get some chants going when the game was still tied, the Giants fans were drowned out.

 

Initially we boo’d, or Lets Go Mets’d, over the Giants cheering, but by the end of the game a lot of people had left and we were cold and there just wasn’t anything to cheer for.  Cowbell Man seemed awfully pitiful with very few people joining in.

 

The game was cold, it felt like April, or San Francisco.  Even with the Giants and Tim Lincecum on the mound, it felt like a poor showing of fans.  Mets Police did a little digging and found that a local bar sponsored a Giants Fan trip to Citi Field.   If the Mets continue to flounder I imagine you can expect more of these types of events becoming affordable for groups.

 

I’m tired of Willie Harris.  He hit two double play balls and failed to even get a sacrifice in a key spot.  He’s quickly approaching Gary Matthews Jr levels and I hope he’s quickly off this team.   I know some have soured on Jason  Bay, but this game would’ve been a lot different if he’d been in the lineup.  I don’t begrudge him the paternity leave, but the Mets missed him.

 

In all three games against the Cy Young award winners lately I felt like the Mets have done a good job, but really they failed to get the big hit when it matter.  Key walks, singles and long AB to drive up pitch counts are nice and all, but if you don’t capitalize, it’s all for naught.  I really miss Johan Santana.  Get well soon Johan.

 

Still, Tim Lincecum is quite good.  

 

I do feel like the Mets will win the finale.  I sense a seven inning Pelfrey performance in which he gives up merely two runs on a double after a walk and a hit.  Izzy, K-Rod, game over.  5-2 Mets.

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Did Wednesday’s Lost Cost the Mets Millions?

Animated Gif Money (18)How much money did Wednesday’s loss cost the Mets?  The different between 15-13 and 16-12 is huge, as is bouncing back from a bad series with the Phillies with a winning one against a lesser team.  The Mets after their awesome home stand had a ton of good will brewing in the fan base, but they threw it all away with a miserable road trip.

Even if the Mets split the road trip, I think most fans would still be feeling good about the team.  They’d buy tickets, they’d head out to Citi Field to see the Giants, and more importantly, to see the Mets.  The Nationals come in again next week, and who really wants to see the Nationals if the Mets are playing poorly?  (Besides die-hards like me, who’s probably going to two of those games)

So, how many fans are going to now stay home for this stretch of games? 5000 a game? 10000?  The Mets haven’t been drawing well, it’s not yet summer, and they’re coming off some bad play. Between ticket prices, parking, concessions, and souvenirs the Mets are going to end up missing out on a lot of money that they may have gotten just off one more win.

I’m sure the Mets are aware of this.  They know what the perception of the team is, and they have access to their own records and attendance figures.  While the answer isn’t as simple as a player move, or a bad lineup, you wonder where the Mets would be and how we’d feel about the team if they’d cut Gary Matthews Jr, Frank Catalanotto, or Fernando Tatis for Chris Carter, Nick Evans or Jason Pridie.  How much better would we feel if Jerry Manuel rested relievers better, didn’t rest Castillo for Cora one game in each of the last three series, or didn’t stick with guys like Gary Matthews or Mike Jacobs when everyone else realizes they have nothing to offer?

So the Mets are aware of the problem, and know some of the problem areas.  It seems unlikely they’ll wise up and get a decent manager in here, but I’d definitely bet on the roster being shaken up a bit.  I think the Mets trust a guy like Carter over some kind of center field replacement like Jason Pridie or Jesus Feliciano, but I’ve been wrong before.  Maybe the Mets are leaning towards sparking excitement through young players, such as they did with Ike Davis when Chris Carter may have done.  Could it be that Fernando Martinez could be the starting centerfielder on Friday against the Giants?