{"id":733,"date":"2010-06-18T11:51:14","date_gmt":"2010-06-18T15:51:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ceetar.com\/optimisticmetsfan\/?p=733"},"modified":"2010-06-18T13:32:29","modified_gmt":"2010-06-18T17:32:29","slug":"mets-slowly-vanquishing-their-demons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.ceetar.com\/optimisticmetsfan\/2010\/06\/18\/mets-slowly-vanquishing-their-demons\/","title":{"rendered":"Mets Slowly Vanquishing Their Demons"},"content":{"rendered":"
The Mets are slowly but surely erasing the negatives of the past few seasons and vanquising their demons into the nether.\u00a0 They are putting the past behind them and setting it up nicely for a bright future.<\/div>\n

David Wright’s Power:\u00a0 David Wright has already surpassed his home run totals from last year, proving it was just a fluke.\u00a0 He’s had big home runs, multi-home run games, and some absolute bombs.\u00a0 Maybe now that the league realizes his power his back they’ll pitch to him a little more tentatively and he’ll be able to cut back on some of the strikeouts.<\/p>\n

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\"David<\/dt>\n
David Wright, split seconds from launching a 2-run home run in Camden Yards<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n
\u00a0Sloppy Play: Few losses were more gut-wrenching than the Castillo dropped pop-up, but so far this year the Mets have played very solid defense all around.\u00a0 Jason Bay is a very good outfielder, with good instincts.\u00a0 Angel Pagan has been playing a good centerfield and has stopped making blunders; who else to vanquish Mets demons than an Angel? \u00a0Blanco throws out just about everybody that tries to steal on him, and the infield defense is much improved, especially with a lefty first baseman that isn’t learning the position for the first time in Ike Davis.<\/div>\n

Jose Reyes: Jose Reyes is back.\u00a0 He’s stealing bases, he’s lacing triples into the gaps, he’s hitting the ball out.\u00a0 He’s terrorizing pitchers and reasserting that he’s one of the most exciting players in this game.\u00a0 He’s smiling and having fun, and if there is any singular factor that’s making this clubhouse better than it was last year, it’s Jose Reyes’ infectious baseball attitude.\u00a0\u00a0 I’m still waiting for more home run handshakes though.<\/p>\n

Citi Field: No longer is Citi Field where home runs go to die.\u00a0 If Citi Field was intimidating Mets hitters, it no longer is.\u00a0 The Mets have had plenty of home runs at home, and have had some fun walk-off homers.\u00a0\u00a0 The park is starting to feel like home and it’s become a big asset to the Mets, who\u00a0have more home wins than anyone\u00a0in the majors.\u00a0 It’s better decorated this year as well.<\/p>\n

The Bullpen: The bullpen has been a sore spot for a while, being one of the biggest parts of the two collapses.\u00a0 So far the bullpen looks pretty solid.\u00a0 Francisco Rodriguez makes things a little shaky sometimes, but he gets the job done.\u00a0 There is still a state of flux with Takahashi and Mejia but the bullpen has come through, even more so now that the starters have been able to keep them from being overworked.\u00a0 The arms and talent are there, so it’s no longer about trying to find someone, anyone, that can do the job.\u00a0 As the season rolls on and the rotation gets more settling with Takahashi, Maine and\/or Perez coming back and contributing, or acquiring another quality starter, the roles in the bullpen will become a little more settled and we’ll know who we can trust.\u00a0 One things for sure though, we no longer think the game is doomed when the bullpen gets into it, and this knowledge probably helps the offense know they don’t have to score a billion more runs as well.<\/p>\n

The Mets are a good solid team.\u00a0 There are plenty of holes they could patch up, plenty of places to improve, and plenty of losses that will happen.\u00a0 This team seems to have turned\u00a0the corner and put the past behind them so that when things aren’t going as perfectly as they are now, I trust that the good times will return and that the Mets will be a fun team to watch all season.\u00a0\u00a0 They are no more flawed than anyone else in the league, and they’ve got the talent, the resources, and the desire required to make this season a successful one.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Mets are slowly but surely erasing the negatives of the past few seasons and vanquising their demons into the nether.\u00a0 They are putting the past behind them and setting it up nicely for a bright future. David Wright’s Power:\u00a0 David Wright has already surpassed his home run totals from last year, proving it was … <\/p>\n

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