GIBSON6594

An outfield of Floyd, Beltran and Green is good enough, especially with an infield of wright, reyes, LoDuca and delgado. He will add some power and extra base hits. I like Endy out there, but Randolph needs him coming of the bench. It's a good move.

RyeCL

i'm thinking subway world series again... that would be cool...

TLofNYC

honestly....I don't want another subway series.....Yanks are a tough team to beat, especially in a short series....I'd rather go against Detroit or Chicago

PillsburyChoboy

If there's any queasiness over the Mets, it's definitely their starting pitching. A lot of big "if's" about their starting 4 (assuming the 4-man rotation in the playoffs) ...

Everyone knows about concerns over Pedro's health/effectiveness and Glavine's health/effectiveness. They both have the "been there, done that" mentality come postseason but it would be a shame if one or both are less than 90% health-wise in October. Also Trachsel may have 13 wins but he is a crappy pitcher. Can't expect more than 6 innings (though he takes 2.5-3 hours) ... he's just fortunate that he has the best run support of any pitcher in the NL (close to 7 runs a game). Put him on a sub-.500 team and his W-L would be flip-flopped. El Duque is off-and-on ... great in wins (ERA under 2.00), very bad in losses (ERA over 9.00). For all that's said about his big-game and playoff experience, there's no guarantee he will live up to his reputation.

So yeah, Met's line-up ... great with a nice mix of veterans and young 'uns. But they definitely have weaknesses that can be exploited in a 5-game divisional playoff. All in all, the playoffs are unpredictable and the element and importance of LUCK in the outcome is vastly underrated.

GIBSON6594

So then who has a perfect team? I can crete a list like this for every team in the majors.

Yumcha

CWS 10, DET 0



Not too shabby. And MLB's quietest 15-game winnah: Garland. The ChiSox may be a little battered and bruised...but, they are not out. GO CHISOX!

Mokos23

How long is Thome out and who was the DH today?

Yumcha

The current word is 5-8 days...so, he's out for the Minny series.



Paulie took DH today with Gload in 1B.

peacefrog

Karma is a mutha fucka

IlliNorge

Emphasis on little. The White Sox are they only AL team not to have a position player on the DL this year. Either Herm Schneider is a miracle trainer, or <gasp> they are lucky.

That being said, I'm glad we don't face Garland this weekend.

Yumcha

I love reading the Sun-Times. Mariotti is such an idiot. The minute the Sox lose, he goes apeshit. No wonder nearly all Chicago athletes, coaches, managers hate him...

His solution for everything: trade everything and spend it all at all costs. His column about how the ChiSox are done is lame.

PillsburyChoboy

No one has a perfect team. That wasn't my point. It just seemed like too many people are looking at the Mets' record and great line-up and ASSUMING that their big name pitchers will "do their thing" come September/October. I think another issue people are overlooking is that Minaya failed to pull the trigger for a quality starting pitcher at the trade deadline (pitching has been a concern for the Mets since spring training). Sure we can succumb to hindsight and play Monday Morning QB but the front office goofed.

IlliNorge

Just as lame as Harrelson's contention that the "Sox" are the best thing since sliced Venezuelan bread and can do absolutely nothing wrong, are victimized by the umps, etc.

Yeah, Mariotti is trying to sell newspapers (or just his name) while Harrelson is trying to sell the White Sox. I wish those two would come to blows....and neither would win.

Yumcha

LOL...Yeah, Hawk's a bit over the top...but, you gotta love his enthusiasm for his own team.


Didn't Hawk challenge Jay to a fight recently?

GIBSON6594

So you're point is that the big name pitchers MIGHT not perform the way they could? OK, the Tigers young staff might not perform the way they could in the playoffs, the Yankees underperforming staff might not compensate for their offense. The Twins weaker lineup might not be able to cover their strong pitching.

Glavine is perfectly healthy, Pedro has a minor injury, Maine, Pujols aside, has been practically unhittable lately, El Duque is 4-1 since the break and has better playoff success then most pitchers in the league, I completely agree with you on Trachsel. Their bullpen is the best in the NL and may even be the best in the majors.

This game is based on assumptions dude. People assume Pujols is going to tear the cover off the ball, people assume Johan is going to strike everyone out. This is how the players play, they live up to the assumptions. It's so easy to say, "well people assume Mussina is going to pitch well in the playoff, but if he doesn't the Yankees aren't going anywhere." But the thing is Mussina probably will pitch well.

IlliNorge

No. I. Don't.


In the Metrodome last year, they brushed shoulders. Jay said "I ought to bust you one right now." and Harrelson said "You do what you gotta do." Both are supposed to be impartially reporting on events, and neither realizes that neither of them does. They're both assholes.

Yumcha

Well, the thing is with Hawk, he's enthusiastic. Sure, it's a bit over the top...but, he truly loves the team. And you can't question that loyalty and devotion.


Mariotti? He's an idiot. His MO is to blast any team/management at the first sign of a slump. This-manager-sucks. This-trade-should've-happened. This-player-should've-been-signed. Blah blah blah. Everything is in hindsight. In his world, any Chicago team should sign a player of A-Rod amounts to a contract. THAT'LL be the solution to winning it all.

michimonster

awesome hun! hope you have a good time

PillsburyChoboy

Nope. I'm saying assumptions should be based on current level of performance rather than past. Going into September, the Mets' starting rotation is very shaky. Glavine had an angiogram but apparently "seems" healthy. Pedro has had a nice share of stints on the DL (strained calf, sore hip; also tweaked back and toe issues earlier in the year) and tho he has looked great most of the season, he has been lit up on several occassions. Maine is obviously an unproven commodity. El Duque might have better playoff success than 90% of the league but that doesn't mean too much considering he hasn't won a playoff game since the 2001 ALDS. If you think about it, the starting rotation was a big question mark GOING into the season. But rather than be thankful of the luck and performance of their core staff (and a bunch of off-the-radars who filled in), and look to improve it, the front office remained complacent.

Hey, I'm hoping for the best and would like to see the Mets do well in the postseason but I'm saying they could've done more at the trade deadline. Rather than be proactive and bolster their shaky staff, the front office sat on their hands. Look, big-spending teams can't guarantee success but they do everything in their power to put themselves in a position to attain that success. The Mets didn't do it.

Doom878

I agree that I'm not crazy about the Mets' starters. After Pedro I'd be worried and that's assuming he's healthy.

RyeCL

there isnt much good pitching out there to go after

GIBSON6594

Pedro, Glavine, El Duque. What team has a better 1-2-3 punch than that in the AL with a lineup and bullpen that compares to the Mets?

I'm not saying it's a great 1-2-3, but it compares with any other team, except the Twins, but they can't score runs like the Mets.

RyeCL

I think El Duque is the #1 guy....he has some nasty stuff

GIBSON6594

Really? Over Pedro? A healthy Pedro makes most hitters look foolish.

TLofNYC

People all want to say the same thing about the Mets....but you name me a team in the NL that is making the playoffs that can through 3 or 4 strong starters at you in the playoffs.....no one can...including the Mets, so that theory doesn't hold water. that goes for the AL too.

TLofNYC

The Mets make up for what ever starting pitching problems they may have with one of the strongest bullpens in the league. People all want to hate on the Mets pitching staff, but you can;t name many if any teams that have a better pitching staff from starters, to bullpens to closer.

Chr8808

iTrader: (1)

That was true.
Who was suposedly out there?

Zito? for a rental
Dontrelle? price was too high
Livan Hernandez, yea, but would he of been an improvement?

TLofNYC

Honestly....i think the Mets should have paid the price to get Dontrelle. He's an outstanding pitcher who can pitch late into games.....What were they asking for Dontrelle?

GIBSON6594

Thats what's killing me about PillsburyChoboy's arguments. He's pointed out the flaws of the Mets to the detriment of the team, but no onther team is leaps and bounds better, in fact most are worse. Hence the Mets dominance in the NL. EVERY team has weaknesses that can be exploited.

GIBSON6594

Florida wasn't giving up Dontrelle, it didn't make sense for them to trade him. Florida has a decent team and they are paying him very little. Dontrelle might lead them to the promised land next year.

TLofNYC

I think FL has a great young team....they will be in the playoff hunt again in a year or two...

GIBSON6594

It's pretty amazing, half the team is in the hunt for the rookie of the year award

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

Aren't they moving in 2 years? I thought know one wanted to build them a ballpark.

TLofNYC

True....but if they can keep that team together they will be in the playoffs again regardless of what ball park they play in. But historically it has been hard for the Marlins to keep any team together for more than 2 years....

PillsburyChoboy

Why the circling of the wagons? What's there to defend? Mets have question marks in their rotation (health and performance-wise). Another quality starter could have definitely fortified the staff for the postseason (when starting pitching generally trumps all). Front office knows this but failed to act before the trade deadline. These issues are pretty clear-cut. What's there to argue?

You're being a typical fan ... too stubborn and blind to understand that my arguments is based on the fact that the Mets COULD have and SHOULD have picked up a quality starter before the trade deadline. Every team is flawed ... no kidding. So that's your argument? Every team is flawed but the Mets are least flawed so all's good? That's pretty short-sighted. And if a contending team has a weakness that can be exploited, shouldn't they try their best to fill that gap, especially a team like the Mets that have the resources and $$$ at their disposal?

Bottom-line is that the front office should do everything in their power to improve their roster. The Mets are in a position this year that they simply cannot take for granted ... they had a double-digit lead in the NL East before the trade deadline and all but assured a spot in the playoffs. But the front office failed to pull the trigger.

GIBSON6594

Tell me this starter that would have made such a difference, who could they have picked up without compromising their future that would have been such an improvement to the staff.

And you're wrong, they shouldn't do everything in their power to improve the roster if it compromises the future. Yea, they could have rented Zito for Milledge, but 3 month rental at the expense of a future all star? Is that your idea of good managing? Glad you don't manage the Mets

And my problem is that you're arguments are flawed in the sense you simply state the flaws of a team without relation to the opposition. It would be the same thing as me going on and on about how great things are looking for the Blue Jays this year, they have made some great pickups and built a solid team, without mentioning their status in the league and how they will most likely will not make the playoffs. It was argument without a valid point.

IlliNorge

The Mets in the past have had enormous payrolls and crappy teams to show for them. This year they also have an enormous payroll, so what is the difference? It has to be better chemistry and the home-grown talent. Wright, Milledge, Maine, Reyes, Heilman are the guys from the minors and Beltran and Delgado are the good clubhouse leaders with the chemistry. Bringing in a screwball like Zito creates resentment every time the guy throws a hanging curve, not to mention puts even more pressure on the Mets not to become the Mariners of a few years ago.

History has shown that mid-season trades almost never help those teams win. Shannon Stewart and Beltran are two exceptions, but that kind of talent wasn't out there this year.

GIBSON6594

Thank you

Chr8808

iTrader: (1)

I think it would of been Milledge, Heilman, Nady and another top pitching prospect according to rumors circulating at the time.


But at least they did not overpay to force a trade for someone over-rated has been like mabe Jon Lieber. I think they were fine until that cab accident that screwed their bullpen, then the trade of Nady and Floyd going on the DL . . .

AN Abreu + Lidle trade woulda been perfect for them

GIBSON6594

I agree, in hindsight, The Abrue trade would be great. Losing Sanchez was major, I am just happy that Hernandez has been great so far and hope he keeps it up. Along with the hope that Mota can pitch like he used to might make they me in good shape.

And I totally agree about being happy they didn't overpay for a lieber/Livan type guy. I think they are good enough right now to possibly pull off a world series if they get hot at the right time. Plus are in a good position to win in the future.