Fourteen hits. Seven runs. Even a two-out RBI by Ramon Castro. The mystifying part about last night's 7-4 win over the Cardinals is why the Mets can't do that more often. On paper, they have the personnel to do it. But as David Wright said, it seems like they stack all their clutch hits into one game and then go the next week without one.
Like all of you, I'm sick of hearing a million different versions of "consistency" or the lack thereof for this Mets team. But that's what has made this season so frustrating, and when you're 41-42, there's no getting around it. Despite all that, the Mets showed a few encouraging signs last night.
Manager Jerry Manuel intends to get Ramon Castro more playing time and that should help -- as long as Castro can stay healthy. We know he has a history of back and hamstring problems. Also flip-flopping Ryan Church and Carlos Delgado worked like a charm, not to mention starting Damion Easley in place of the perpetually aching Luis Castillo.
I say there's one last change to make. Get Carlos Beltran out of that No. 4 spot and put David Wright there. I'm not sure what Manuel is waiting for, but it's worth a try. Once Alou comes back, I think this would be a good looking lineup:
Reyes (ss)
Castillo (2b)
Beltran (cf)
Wright (3b)
Church (rf)
Alou (lf)
Delgado (1b)
Castro (c)
I'd take my chances with that one. That has the potential to do some damage with a nice righty-lefty balance. Or when Castillo sits, stick Church in the No. 2 hole and go something like this:
Reyes
Church
Beltran
Wright
Alou
Delgado
Easley
Schneider
For all of you wondering about those dramatic day-night splits with Delgado, I wrote a little something on it for today's paper. Of course, a few hours after I filed that story, Delgado ripped three hits against the Cardinals -- at night, no less. There was a late sunset, though, so I think he benefited from the extended daylight hours.
Comments (8)
Hey David - 2 points here:
Castillo...his effectiveness is dramatically reduced when he is outside the 2 hole, and is still a great fit for that spot...here is why:
1)Castillo is very good at taking pitches, allowing Reyes more
chances to steal.
2)Castillo has en excellent batters eye, rarely swings outside the
zone, and would be a great guy to hit and run with, should
Manuel decide to do that more often
3)He has a very good OBP -north of .360, despite taking a lot of pitches, and gets on base in front of the big guys
4)Castillo is an excellent switch hitter, and a majority of the time,
is at least able to move Reyes over.
Moving Luis down in the order will only expose his weaknesses further, while making his strengths more or less irrelevant. Ryan Church has shown he can succeed in both the 2 hole, and an RBI spot. Why not maximize the effectiveness of both players?
My second point is that I also disagree with flip flopping WRight and Beltran. Here is why:
1)Wright is still the better all-around hitter. He his at a better clip, and is not nearly as streaky as Beltran is. You need that consistency out of the 3 spot.
2)Beltran is still the better power hitter. Wright's HR total may be higher, but that is due in large part to the black hole that bats 5th. See Beltran's uncharacteristically high walk rate in 2008. Having Church in the 5 spot would provide protection. So would Alou, but batting Church 5 would break up the lefites with Delgado batting 7th.
Before we all start throwing out lineup solutions for when Alou gets back, lets let the opening day lineup have a few cracks at it, considering they likely have less than 10-15 games together.
Ravi - great post! Really. It's refreshing to see someone write an informed, reasoned and sane post. I agree with everything you wrote. You're 100% correct.
Well, played, Ravi. You make some excellent points. I guess I'm just impatient after watching this team sputter for so long now.
This team would have to play 20 games OVER .500 to win 90 games....Aint gonna happen....They are a .500 team with old age and bad contracts.....OMAR MUST BE FIRED TODAY !!
p.s Castillo is part of the major problem here...His ridiculous 4 yr contract....HE is a slpa hitter that made a name for himself on TURF !!! Not in a pitchers park like SHEA !
I agree w/ FIRE OMAR and have been saying that all year. When you have a team w/ the 3rd highest payroll in MLB and mortgaged the future to get it, and are only a .500 team, the man who designed the team must be held accountable.
http://www.myteamrivals.typepad.com/mr_mets_daily
Until they win 5 in a row I am going to have to be convinced that they can win enough games to make the playoffs. That being said Ravi you made good points with the exception that Mr. Lennon never said he thought they should take Luis out of the 2 hole. He said if he plays then he should bat 2 but if he sits Easley should be moved down in the order. Everything else I agree with. Lets get um tonight.
I disagree with FireOmar. First of all, Castillo made a name for himself with the Marlins, not the Twins. The Marlins do not play on turf. And Omar has generally done a good job with the team so quit with the Fire Omar thing. It ain't gonna happen.
I too think that Castillo has to remain in the 2-spot to be of any benefit. He almost always puts the ball in play which is what you want when Reyes is on base.
Guiness....Drink too many tonight?
Done a good job ?
Oldest team in MLB, No true utility player on the team, No clutch hitter, No chemistry, Depleted the Farm System, Highest PAyroll in NL, Castillo for 4 years, Signed Aalou, Biggest collapse since the 60's...etc. etc. etc.
WAKE UP !
HE will be fired and you WILL remember that I said to do it GAME ONE....